February 2017 Recap

Thought I'd do a quick run down of the books I read in February 2017.

First, I'm involved in a group called Buddies Books and Baubles over on Goodreads, and every Wednesday we pick up a book in a UF series. I've convinced them all to read Jane Yellowrock, which I've been dying to reread.  We read the first four (Skinwalker, Blood Cross, Mercy Blade, and Raven Cursed), all of which got five stars on the second read, because, well, Jane + Beast = epic.  I've also read the shorties up through book five in the Blood in Her Veins anthology, which I'll be reading alongside the main series reads each week until I finish it.

I read a few ARCs as well.  Strange Magic by James Hunter came out a couple of years ago, but the whole series is up on Netgalley, so I gave it a shot. It wasn't terrible, but it certainly didn't turn out to be as fun as it was trying so desperately to be. It felt overdone and like it was trying WAY too hard to be hip and cool -- like Dresden, but with a pop culture reference EVERY SINGLE PARAGRAPH.  I doubt I'll pick up the others in the series when this barely over 200 pager took me almost two weeks to finish.

I was super excited to read the ARC of The Turn by Kim Harrison. I miss her Hollows world so much, especially Jenks, and this prequel hit the spot.  It had a few great characters, but I think my heart belonged to Orchid. Something about the way Kim Harrison writes pixies just works so well!  And of course, Al/Gally was involved, and he's just fantastic.

I also read the first in a new trilogy by an author named Vic James, who created a really fun new world and a really intricate plot in Gilded Cage. I am VERY excited to get book two later this year (*crosses fingers*).

I also had the chance (finally!) to pick up A Symphony of Echoes, book two in the Chronicles of St. Mary's by Jodi Taylor. This is a fun romp through history and the future with the time-traveling historians of St. Mary's.  I definitely plan on getting to book three in March... hopefully. :)

Lastly, I've made some progress in A Conjuring of Light, the final book in V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic trilogy.  I'll be sad when it's over, because it's turned out to be one of the best series I've ever read.  Schwab has certainly perfected her craft and become an excellent writer.  I hope she writes more beautiful worlds and stories like this trilogy in the future.