Forever Lost in Literature: Month in Review: February 2024

February has been a busy month for me! It's been a bit of a slow blogging month for me as a result of the other business of the month, so I apologize for that, but I already have a number of reviews planned for March so hopefully things will be picking up!

In reading news, apparently fourteen is just the number of the year so far because I–shockingly–read fourteen books once again this month. I'm not going to complain about that at all! I read some wonderful books in February, such as The Tainted Cup and Stone Blind, both of which have become some favorites of mine. I also read the anti-war classic Johnny Got His Gun and thought it was truly thought-provoking, incredible, and frankly horrifying read that I heartily recommend to people, but with some warnings that it is a fairly intense subject matter. I also read my second Cormac McCarthy book, All the Pretty Horses, and... I didn't love it. I see why it's a classic, but it wasn't for me–I still think I'll try out Blood Meridian sometime, though, since I didn't hate The Road. Have a look below to check out some of the other books I read in February, as well as what else I posted on the blog!

How was your February? Let me know how your month was below and what you've been reading!

# books read: 14

The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett ★★★★★
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC

Thoughts: I absolutely loved this fantasy mystery and pretty much can't wait for the sequel (which won't be for a while, I know).

Stone Blind by Natalie Naynes ★★★★★
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover

Thoughts: I've read so many Greek myth retellings lately that I keep thinking I'm burnt out on them, but then I start reading one like Natalie Haynes' Stone Blind and I can't help but forget that I'm tired of them–this was stunning, hilarious, and tragic all at the same time.

What Feasts at Night (Sworn Soldier #2) by T. Kingfisher ★★★.75
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC

Thoughts: I didn't love this one as much as I've loved some of T. Kingfisher's other books (including the first Sworn Soldier book), but this was still a solid, enjoyable read with some trademark Kingfisher wit.

The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert ★★★★
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: Since I don't read a lot of YA these days, I'm always pleased when I come across one that I have a great time with, and this was one of those times. I really liked Albert's ability to create a tense, ominous atmosphere that really drew me in.

Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo ★★★★★
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback

Thoughts: This was a intense, difficult read, but such a worthwhile one. I really recommend it, but keep in mind it's a story about the effects of war so can be a lot to take in sometimes.

The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss ★★★★
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover

Thoughts: I actually hadn't planned to read this until I decided to do a re-read of the Kingkiller Chronicles (which I plan to do once the third book is officially/finally announced), but my husband decided to read it and since we so rarely read the same books I thought it'd be fun to read it at the same time! I had a fun time with book, and it really reminded me how much I do love Rothfuss' writing.

The Bitter Crown (Eidyn #2) by Justin Lee Anderson ★★★★
Source: Publisher | Format: Paperback

Thoughts: This was a really great sequel! I didn't like this quite as much as the first book, but it was still a really excellent fantasy and I can't wait for the next book.

The Broken Places by Blaine Daigle ★★★★
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: This was a horror that I picked up on a bit of a whim and I'm really glad I did because it was excellent!

Swim Home to the Vanished by Brendan Shay Basham ★★★
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: This was another somewhat random pick and it ended up being a very interesting read. It was a little hard to follow at times and the pacing was a bit off, but overall I found it a worthwhile read.

Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai ★★★★

Source: | Format:

Thoughts: I read one of this author's books a year or so ago and was really captivated by her historical fiction that brought a lot of light to important topics, so when I came across this one I was really intrigued by the premise. This was another great historical fiction that once again was very informative and really shared some struggles that Vietnam has faced both during and since the war.

House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3) by Sarah J. Maas ★★★★
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: This was definitely a book meant to start bridging some gaps and fill in information that has been built up to in the first two books. I'm not sure if it's been my favorite so far, but I still had a great time with it and enjoyed learning so much more about the world and lore.

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy ★★★
Source: Owned | Format: Paperback

Thoughts: I really didn't care much for this one, I'm sorry to say. There were moments throughout the book that I enjoyed, but overall I just didn't care about what was happening. I feel terrible saying that about a prize-winning classic, haha, but this one just wasn't for me. I didn't mind The Road, so I do plan to check out some of McCarthy's other work still.

Under the Influence by Noella Crooks ★★
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: This was a perfectly fine contemporary story about the current state of influencers and social media, but nothing about it was really that meaningful or stuck out to me.

Scarlet Angel (Mindf*ck) by S.T. Abby
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: Somehow I've been drawn into this series and I'm pretty curious to see how it ends now.

DNF/To-Be-Finished:

The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless
There was nothing immediately wrong with this book, but I just wasn't finding myself overly invested in the story so decided to set it aside for the time being.