This month was short and also really busy, so I only read a couple of books. Both were great fantasies, though very different! Unrelated, but the best piece of bookish news I received this month was that the final installment of the Alex Stern/Ninth House series by Leigh Bardugo, Dead Beat, is coming this September! I have waited more than three years for this and I can hardly even wait a few more months.
Stats:
- Read: 2 books
- One 4 star read, one 5 stars
- Favorite book of February: The Second Death of Locke
Violet Thistlewaite is not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz
If you are looking for a very good cozy fantasy with a genuinely wholesome romance, this is for you. The small town of Dragon’s Rest, its townspeople, and the competing flower and apothecary shops were so quaint and adorable. Violet and Nathaniel both went through a ton of development and their romance was so cute. I also loved the themes of what it means to be “good” and of starting over after an abusive situation. I can’t wait for more from this author! (P.S: How cute is this cover!?) Rating: 4 stars
The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino
This was an absolutely riveting fantasy with strong worldbuilding, a unique magic system, found family, a strong female main character, and a romance with so much emotional depth. The concept of mages, who use magic, and wells, who store the raw power of magic, created a very interesting dynamic between the FMC and MMC. I love reading about slightly unhealthy, codependent relationships (especially when they are quite literally bonded and can read each other’s emotions) and the friends-to-lovers romance in this was full of mutual yearning and a small dose of toxicity. I enjoyed the quest aspect that took up the first half of the story, although the second half dragged out a little bit. There were themes of sacrifice, grief, and taking up the mantle of leadership. The only thing that will probably keep this from becoming a favorite of the year was that the will-they-won’t-they part of the romance only lasted until the 50% mark, and after that I was a teensy bored of the relationship because they had already gotten together. Despite this, the romance was devastating and beautifully written and this was a very strong standalone fantasy. Rating: 5 stars