Hello! I know it has been a while since I last posted, and that is because all of last month, I really began committing to my writing. I decided that I would really utilise the time that I have at the moment thanks to Lockdown 3.0 and write.
Due to this, I have been slacking on blogging. I don’t want to commit and say that I will be better – because for the foreseeable future I don’t think I will be! But please continue to stick around as I attempt to balance this all.
One thing I didn’t slack on was my reading. I know we are eleven days into the month, but I am going to give you my February Wrap Up! I read seven books last month, which I am still amazed I managed to do considering how much I was writing and plotting during the month.
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas
First up, I finished the last instalment in the Throne of Glass series: Kingdom of Ash. I loved it. I thought it was such an amazing conclusion to the series. I take back everything I said about the serious previously to this year – well maybe not everything, I still think that Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight and The Assassin’s Blade were slow, and the writing style wasn’t what I was used to from Sarah J Maas. That is to be expected though. They were her first novels, and really she only got better in the series. I can definitely see myself rereading this in the future. A little sidenote: there are talks of there being a spinoff series between the Throne of Glass series, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series and the Crescent City series and after this read through I am no longer that indifferent about it and would actually really enjoy it if it comes out.
Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
Next I read Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron. If you have been following me for a while, you’ll remember how this book was on all of my lists to do with books I wish I read last year. I was so excited to read this when I finally got a copy in January, however I didn’t mesh with the writing style. I wanted so desperately to read this story. The premise of it sounded incredible. I just couldn’t mesh with a fantasy novel written in first person, present tense. I don’t know what it was about it, but I just felt very disjointed from the story. I like contemporary novels written this way, but with a fantasy novel, it couldn’t keep me engaged. I did like the story, though! Although things did happen very quickly, but I think that is expected from a standalone novel. This was Kaylnn Bayron’s debut novel and I am still looking forward to her book this year: This Poison Heart, which is the first book in a new series.
The Sad Ghost Club by Lize Meddings
I also read The Sad Ghost Club by Lize Meddings which I was kindly sent a copy by the publishers. I still need to get round to getting my review of that up – I will try to get this up soon! I’ll let you know more of my thoughts in the review, but I loved it. It was such a cute graphic novel that followed the loneliness in mental health, and how reaching out and having people around you is very necessary when it comes to healing.
A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight and A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas
I finished off my reread of the ACOTAR series with: A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Frost and Starlight. They were both great. I always enjoy them – I think A Court of Frost and Starlight gets a lot of hate, but I love seeing the characters that I love so much in a celebratory setting and I really enjoyed it. I also focused a lot more this time on the Cassian chapters and the chapter we got from Nesta and it got me even more excited for the new instalment. Which brings me onto A Court of Silver Flames. I know a lot of people had mixed feelings on this one. This book very much focused on character development rather than plot – but I still really loved it. I am in the minority where Nesta was always one of my favourite characters. I could really relate to the way she reacted to many situations. I thought this was continued beautifully in A Court of Silver Flames and I loved seeing Nesta’s healing journey. The plot we did get, I think is a great set up for the next books and I can’t wait to see who the next book is going to be about (please be Azriel).
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Lastly, I read From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I was suffering from a bit of a book hangover from A Court of Silver Flames and this book was recommended to me multiple times and I know the last book is coming out next month, so I thought what better time to get to it. I did really enjoy it – I did get spoiled a little bit for one of the twists in the book, but I don’t think that took away from my enjoyment of the novel. I will definitely be continuing with the series, but I am not sure if I will read any of her other series. Let me know if you have read any other books by Jennifer L. Armentrout and if you enjoyed them or if I should pass them by.
I am really happy with how many books I read during February – March is also looking really good so far. I am still focusing on my writing, however. I work in non-essential retail, and currently non-essential shops are due to reopen on 12th April. So, my plan is to finish this first draft of my first novel by then, and then during the rest of April which is Camp NaNoWriMo, I intend to work on another project, one that is less intense that my current WIP, whilst also getting used to balancing writing, reading, and working again. I did weekly updates during NaNoWriMo that I quite enjoyed, so I think I will do the same during Camp NaNo. Until then – I can’t promise that I will be posting, but I will be back!
Let me know what you read during February and what you’ve been reading so far in March!
Kira Jeanette 
Leave a comment