February 2019 Reading & Blogging Wrap-Up

Hello bookworms!

After a crazy nonstop weekend, I’m actually relieved that it’s Monday.  In case you missed it, you can catch up with all the wonderful things happening in my personal life in my bookish weekly wrap-up for this past week 🙂

I read 10 books in February! 4 of these books were in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth!  I am very pleased with both my reading & blogging month in February.

» The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black

The first 200 pages of The Wicked King were very disappointing, but the last 130-ish were up to expectations… Still interested in seeing where this story goes in the 3rd book.

You can read my review here ⇒ The Wicked King

» Arrow’s Fall (Heralds of Valdemar #3) by Mercedes Lackey

Underwhelming conclusion to a series that was missing that spark for me despite having wonderful things going for it.

You can read my review here ⇒ Mini Reviews: Heralds of Valdemar Trilogy #ReadingValdemar

» The Poppy War (The Poppy War #1) by R.F. Kuang

*4.5 Stars*

#YARC2019

This book is worth all the hype!  Epic, brutal, and morally gray.  The book did lose some steam at some points, hence the half star deduction.  This will be another book in my “top books of 2019” list.

» Akata Witch(Akata Witch #1) by Nnedi Okorafor

*4.5 Stars*

#BlackHistoryMonth

A book set in Nigeria about an albino girl that discovers she is a Leopard person.  Loved the magic system based on west African culture & folklore.

» Once Upon a Riverby Diane Setterfield

A Gothic style mystery with a touch of magic realism.  Would recommend to fans of Kate Morton.

» Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz

#BlackHistoryMonth

A middle grade book I read for #BlackHistoryMonth.  This books talks about the early life of Betty Shabazz growing up in Detroit Michigan.  Betty was the wife of Malcolm X.  Their daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, wrote the book.  A beautiful tribute to her mother’s early life.

» The Rejected Writers’ Book Club (Southlea Bay #1) by Suzanne Kelman

DNF @ 20%  This book just isn’t my cup of tea.  Far too cheesy & cliche.

» Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary by Walter Dean Myers

*4.5 Stars*

#BlackHistoryMonth

A well executed memoir of an important figure in black history.  I feel like I now have a better understanding of Malcolm X’s beliefs, and why he felt the way he did.

» Daughters of the Silk Roadby Debbie Rix

*2.5 Stars*

The concept of this story was intriguing: following a vase as it passes from generation to generation starting in the 1440s.  Unfortunately, the execution of the story didn’t completely work for me.

» When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoirby Patrisse Khan-Cullors & Asha Bendele

#BlackHistoryMonth

A memoir of Patrisse Khan-Cullors, activist & #BlackLivesMatter movement co-founder.  This memoir was heartbreaking and eye-opening.  I wanted more about the founding & logistics of the BLM movement.

» Circeby Madeline Miller

Worth all the hype!  I just love how Madeline Miller spins her Greek mythology retellings.  I cannot wait to see which myth/mythological figure she tackles next.

Goodreads Challenge Update:

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#YARC2019 Update:

Year of Asian Reading Challenge TBR + Progress Tracker #YARC2019

I’ve read 1 book towards #YARC2019 in March.  I read The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang.  I’ve read 3 books total for this year-long challenge.

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2019 Goals Update:

» 80% NetGalley feedback ratio = 15 backlist ARCs ⇒ 4/15 complete

I read The Rejected Writers’ Book Club which I DNFed at 20% and I read Daughters of the Silk Road.

» 30 physical TBR books ⇒ 5/30 complete

I read Akata Witchby Nnedi Okorafor.

» No buying new books ⇒ Success?

Technically I did buy books this month BUT hear me out.  I purchased a few books with a gift card I received from Christmas – totally doesn’t count.  I also purchased the hardback copy of the 20th anniversary edition of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson to get singed at her book event in March.  If you remember, I stipulated that purchasing books to get signed at author events didn’t count towards my 2019 book buying ban either.  So yes, thank god for loop holes 🙂

» Complete mini reviews for all books read ⇒ Yes!

Mini Book Reviews: February 2019 (Part 1)

I’m also almost done drafting all my mini-reviews for the rest of the books I read this month, I just haven’t posted them yet.

» Two creative blog posts per month ⇒ 2/2 posts published

The Dos & Don’ts of Attending Author Signings/Book Tours

Book Recs: Books to Read for #BlackHistoryMonth

» Read long books I’ve been putting off ⇒ 0/3

I will be putting one of these books on my April TBR.

January 2019 Reading & Blogging Wrap-Up

February 2019 TBR

Book Review: The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa

Mini Book Reviews: February 2019 (Part 1)

The Dos & Don’ts of Attending Author Signings/Book Tours

Mini Reviews: Heralds of Valdemar Trilogy #ReadingValdemar

Book Recs: Books to Read for #BlackHistoryMonth

Kids’ Corner: Picture Books to Read in Honor of #BlackHistoryMonth

Book Review: Where the River Parts by Radhika Swarup

Cover2CoverMom Celebrates 3 Years Blogging + Q&A Session

Kids’ Corner: Diverse Children’s Picture Books (February 2019)

» The Children’s Collectible Edition Boxed Set (Barnes & Nobel Collectible Editions)

*Books included The Story of King Authur and his Knights, Greek Myths, Treasure Island, Peter Pan, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

*Gift card used to purchase*

» The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth #1) by N.K. Jeminsin

*Gift card used to purchase*

» The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth #3) by N.K. Jeminsin

*Gift card used to purchase*

» Bright We Burn (The Conqueror’s Saga #3) by Kiersten White

*Gift card used to purchase*

» Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

*Purchased for author event*

» The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin

*Sent by publisher for review*

Which books did you read this month?

Have you read any of the books I read or hauled this month?  If so, what did you think?

Did you buy any books?  If so, which ones?

Comment below & let me know 🙂