Month in Review: February 2023

February has been a true whirlwhind–has it been hectic for anyone else? This latest storm we've had here in Southern California has absolutely thrown us for a loop and as much as I love the rain, I think I'm pretty much done with it at this point, haha. We officially have four big leak points in the house we're renting, the largest of which is in our bedroom and has grown so much that I'm genuinely concerned about the structural integrity of the ceiling at this point (and we won't even think about the other potential issues...). So far, it's stayed far away from my bookshelves, so the important things have been saved, at least. Let's cross our fingers that that's the end of the rainy season for us!

This was probably one of my worst reading months I've had in... well, a really long time. 🤣 Things have been very chaotic in my life reading has been really hard to fit in. At least half the time I actually have had time to sit down and read like I want to, I end up being too stressed or anxious to actually focus very well on the book, so it's just been a slow process. I'm really hoping that March calms down a little, but I'm not sure if that will be the case–at this point, I'm already just rooting for a good second half of the year, haha! The best reading news I have from the month of March is that I finally read The Fall of Koli, the third book in the Rampart Trilogy which I've been procrastinating on since it came out, and it was amazing, as expected. 

My slow reading also meant my blog activity was a bit slow as well, and I apologize if I've been a bit AWOL with commenting and visiting blogs and everything–I've been trying to catch up when I can, but it's taking me a while. :) I'm starting to realize that me reading a number of 2023 ARCs early at the end of 2023 was a life-saving move because March is pretty full with reviews so far (as long as I can finish them all!) so I'm hoping it will be a more active month. I'm currently reading a number of fantastic books, including the newest upcoming Jekua release, Makanuele Rumble by Travis Riddle, The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller, and The Sapphire Altar  by David Dalglish. I'm moving slowly through them all, but I'm really enjoying them all as well. 

How was your reading month of February?? What books did you read? Let me know!

# books read: 6
   

The Fall of Koli (Rampart Trilogy #3) by M.R. Carey

Source: Publisher | Format: Paperback

Thoughts: What an ending! M.R. Carey wrapped this trilogy up incredibly well and I can't believe it took me so long to finally read this.

Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: This was a really fun and unexpected read! I enjoyed this introduction to a new fantasy world and found the characters really engaging. 

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: I didn't connect with this one quite as much as I'd hoped to, but it was still a fun new sci-fi world to explore, and I think this will be a big hit for mystery fans. 

Tantalus Depths by Evan Graham
Source: Audible | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: This was such an interesting sci-fi. I think it went a little too heavy into info dumping at times and had a very hard sci-fi feel to it occasionally, but overall I thought the plot itself was fascinating and I would happily read more from Evan Graham in the future. 

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: I have a lot of mixed thoughts on this one. I liked some aspects, but also just couldn't really get into this. I can see a lot of people liking this one, though!

The Broken Darkness by Theresa Braun
Source: Author | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: This was a really fun collection of short horror stories. I was very impressed by Theresa Braun's creativity and was excited to explore each story. 

DNF/To-Be-Finished:

The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson

Why: I will absolutely be finishing this book! This is temporary DNF because I had a feeling once I started it that I was really going to like it, so I wanted to wait to read it in a month where I could hopefully give it a bit more focus. It's not out until June, so it felt reasonable to hold off on for now. But I can't wait to get back into it!

 

The Magician's Daughter by H.G. Parry
Sister, Maiden, Monster by Luca A. Snyder

The Broken Darkness by Theresa Braun
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten

(other than reviews)

Month in Review: January 2023

Anticipated March 2023 Releases

Can't-Wait Wednesday:

2/1: A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher, The God of Endings by Jacquline Holland, & Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton, Justina Ireland

2/8: The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi & The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller

2/15: Infinity Gate by M.R. Carey, A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen, & The Curator by Owen King

2/22: Piñata by Leopoldo Gout, Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati, & In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

Top Ten/Five Tuesday:
2023 Debuts

The Friday Face-Off:

Recent Read: No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

Current Read: The Fall of Koli & Some Desperate Glory

Anticipated February 2023 Releases

February is absolutely packed with awesome releases this year and even though I attempted to start reading 2023 ARCs early this year, I'm already behind and will forever be behind, but that's okay. I will never complain about having too many awesome books on the horizon, so let's just go ahead and check them out! What books are you most excited to read in February?

Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones || February 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Tyranny of Faith (Empire of the Wolf #2) by Richard Swan || February 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon || February 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty || February 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes || February 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi || February 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Endless Song by Joshua Phillip Johnson || February 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood || February 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Magician's Daughter by H.G. Parry || February 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix || February 17th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill || February 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez || February 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Boy in a White Room by Karl Olsberg || February 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Island by Natasha Preston || February 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran || February 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Wolfish: Wolf, Self, and the Stories We Tell About Fear by Erica Berry || February 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Curse of the Marquis de Sade by Joel Warner || February 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz || February 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah || February 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Revelle by Lyssa Mia Smith || February 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong || February 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Alpert Florin || February 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Nocturne by Alyssa Wees || February 21st -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury || February 28th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Such Pretty Flowers by K.L. Cerra || February 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

My Flawless Life by Yvonne Woon || February 14th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Brutes by Dizz Tate || February 7th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

What are your anticipated February releases?

Can't-Wait Wednesday: She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran, The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz, & The Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang

  

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
Publication: February 28th, 2023
Bloomsbury YA
Hardcover. 352 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"A house with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic. 

When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She’s always lied to fit in, so if she’s straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised.

But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound, while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don’t belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can’t ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves her cryptic warnings: Don’t eat.

Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believe that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house—the home her family has always wanted—will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house’s rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all."

I love a house that's alive, and the comparison to Mexican Gothic has me knowing I shouldn't get my hopes up.. but the hopes are already up. Really excited for the Vietnam setting as well! I think this cover is incredible as well. 

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
Publication: February 21st, 2023
Atria
Hardcover. 320 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"The Plot meets Please Join Us in this psychological suspense debut about a young author at an exclusive writer’s retreat that descends into a nightmare.

Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement.

But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell—they must all complete an entire novel from scratch during the next month, and the author of the best one will receive a life-changing seven-figure publishing deal. Determined to win this seemingly impossible contest, Alex buckles down and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza’s erratic behavior, Wren’s cruel mind games, and the alleged haunting of the mansion itself. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she’s desperate to discover the truth and save herself."

I'm such a sucker for a locked room mystery at any level, and this sounds like it will be quite a ride. 

The Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang
Publication: February 21st, 2023
HarperCollins US
Hardcover. 400 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"France, 1918. In the final days of the First World War, a young Chinese woman, Pauline Deng, runs away from her uncle’s home in Paris to evade a marriage being arranged for her in Shanghai. To prevent the union, she needs the help of her cousin Theo, who is working as a translator for the Chinese Labour Corps in the French countryside. In the town of Noyelles-sur-Mer, Camille Roussel is planning her escape from an abusive marriage, and to end a love affair that can no longer continue. When Camille offers Pauline a room for her stay, the two women become friends. But it’s not long before Pauline uncovers a perilous secret that Camille has been hiding from her. As their dangerous situation escalates, the two women are forced to make a terrible decision that will bind them together for the rest of their lives.

Set against the little-known history of the 140,000 Chinese workers brought to Europe as non-combatant labor during WWI, The Porcelain Moon is a tale of forbidden love, identity and belonging, and what we are willing to risk for freedom."

I've really enjoyed Janie Chang's historical fiction in the past and I'm so glad to see a new release from her coming up. I'm really curious about the premise for The Porcelain Moon.