February Reads: My Month of Middle Grade

Hello!

The end of the shortest and most difficult month is here (it was more stressful than January!) and I’m back with a wrap-up.

I’ve had a rather weird reading month, not necessarily with the number of books I read (that was pretty good for me), but more in terms of what I read. I decided I was in the mood for Middle Grade and it’s an age-range I rarely read, however, I think I needed it so I’m glad I let my mood take control. Two Adult/YA books are thrown into the mix as well, but it is primarily Middle Grade, and UK Middle Grade in particular, which makes me even happier. Anyway, ramble over, let’s just dive into the stats and my books for February.

Book and Reading Stats:

Total number of books read: 6
DNFs:
Audiobooks: 1
Ebooks: 0
Physical books: 5
Books from my TBR: 1
Books hauled: 3

Audiobooks

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

I decided February was the time to get some of the languishing books off my ‘currently reading’ shelf so I finally forced myself to finish Daughter of the Moon Goddess on audiobook, which I enjoyed a lot. I did zone out on occasion, so perhaps picking up the last third of the book on audio wasn’t the best idea, especially as I was reading it during a very manic and stressful week, but I only had five hours to listen to and I knew that if I’d tried to read my physical copy, it might still be languishing on the shelf. However, I’m glad I’ve finished it as then means I can read Heart of the Sun Warrior at some point. I don’t see myself picking it up soon as there’s a chonker of a book that will be taking up most of my March reading, but I think I do want to read it fairly soon after that.

Physical Books

The Nightsilver Promise by Annaliese Avery

The book that set me off on this month of Middle Grade books, and the only one to come from my shelves so it is officially the first book read from my TBR in 2023. That cause for celebration aside, I enjoyed everything about this book from the setting, to the characters, and the messages it promotes about forging your own path and finding the light/magic within yourself to shine. That’s incredibly powerful for the intended, target audience (8-12yr olds), but it also hit me as a nearly 31yr old, and I think that’s what makes this book or any children’s book readable for anybody. It is instilling and reminding us about those qualities that we can still pass down and take for ourselves.

The Octunnumi: Prologue by Trevor Alan Foris.

A very niche, YA-esque fantasy that I’ve been reading on and off for about a year and a half, and I say niche because it has to be bought via a dedicated website and not in a traditional book shop – according to the website it started out as an online, virtual book. I can’t really tell you why it has taken me so long to read it, (maybe a combination of its size, the rather fun yet confusing world the story’s set in, and my mood), but I’ve finally got my hands on the second but official first book in the series so I needed to finish it. It’s a difficult book to describe and part of me wants to simply say go to the Goodreads page as some people can talk about it quite eloquently, but at the same time, it is best to go into it blind. It does have mixed reviews because not everybody gels with the world and the writing (I’d say the banter and humour is VERY British) and it does get confusing, but I’ve enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to getting into the next book.

The House at the Edge of Magic, The Tower at the End of Time, and The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond by Amy Sparkes.

I’m not usually the best at reading series all in one go, hence why I picked up The House at the Edge of Magic rather than The Doomfire Secret by Annaliese Avery, but once I read this first book I could not get enough of the craziness and the hilarity of this world and the characters. They’re bonkers and I love them all, particularly the house itself and Eric, the huge troll who makes bone pancakes and only speaks in monosyllables. However, underneath all this craziness is this overarching thread of discovering your true identity, becoming yourself, and it again it is something that transcends the genre and audience.

Books Hauled

It has been a long wait for my two pre-orders, both of which I ordered last year, and I’m so glad to have them now so I can read them as soon as possible! The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond was a necessary purchase so I could continue reading that series. Thankfully it will be going on my sister’s shelves rather than mine so I only have to make space for the pre-orders, which is both good and a challenge due to their size!

Anyway, I don’t think I have any more ramble so that is it.

What did you read in February?
Have you any books that you want to read in March?

As always, thanks for reading and have a brazzle dazzle day!
xx