An On Track February Reading Wrap Up + March TBR

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February started off rough. I was struggling through Onyx Storm and just not really finding anything I enjoyed. My TBR is full of books I want to read vs listen to, so that kinda held me back a little too. I’m trying to be less picky about audiobook narrators, but it’s a struggle at the moment. 

So, with that being said, February did get a lot better. So let’s dive into what I did manage to read. As well as a brief list of books I’d like to read in March. 

Goodreads / Storygraph

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

Summary

As war looms closer than ever and enemies within their very walls, Violet knows there is no more time for lessons and pretending to know who to trust. 

In order to strengthen their chances in the war, Violet journeys beyond the failing Aretian wards to unfamiliar lands, hoping to find allies. 

Instead, the trip tests her strength and luck, making her more determined than ever to save everyone she loves. 

Even if it means she has to hold on to a devastating secret while doing so. Because what Navarre needs more is an army, power, and magic. 

But a storm is quickly approaching and not everyone will stand firm in its wake.

Overall Thoughts

If you read my review, you’ll know that I was not happy with Onyx Storm.

The plot was all over the place. The characters didn’t read like they had in previous books. Even the romance felt lackluster. 

I don’t want to keep dragging this book, so 2 stars out of 2 stars. 

Let’s move on. 

Goodreads / Storygraph

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Summary

Grady Green has just hit an exciting milestone in his career as an author, but the best day of his life is turning into his worst.

As Grady is preparing to share the news over the phone with his wife, Abby, he hears her suddenly slam on the brakes, get out of her car, and then silence. 

When Grady eventually finds her car stopped on a cliff side, the headlights are still on and the driver’s door is open, but there is no other sighting of Abby. 

A year goes by after Abby’s disappearance and Grady finds himself still overcome with grief. He hasn’t written a word since the day she disappeared. 

So when his agent offers him a cottage on a tiny Sottish Island for some reprieve and to give him one last chance to try writing another book and get his life back on track, Grady takes the offer.

But the island isn’t really as it seems and Grady finds more than inspiration on the tiny Scottish island. 

Overall Thoughts

I listened to this book as an audiobook, and the narration between Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton is fantastic.

The beginning of the story really pulled me in and made me curious about what would happen as the plot unfolded. 

Grady and Abby do not have a perfect marriage by any means, and it seems as though time has only pushed them apart. 

Grady is a very unreliable narrator. He sees things very differently from Abby, which is unfortunate as a reader, because we get such a small amount of Abby’s perspective. 

The twists at the end were kind obvious, and I actually didn’t like the ending. 

Most of it didn’t make sense, and the twist with Grady was more humorous than anything else.

Like imagining that scene just had me laughing. 

Overall, 3 stars out of 5 stars from me. This one just didn’t sit that well with me. 

Goodreads / Storygraph

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli 

Summary 

After the events of Heartless Hunter, Rune Winters has left the Republic and finds herself working alongside Cressida. The last Roseblood, whose hell bent on caging Rune and capturing not just the Republic for herself, but also Gideon Sharpe. 

The same Gideon who finds himself wrapped up in a deadly scheme with Rune. But as Rune and Gideon work together to defeat Cressida, both of them find that the feelings they thought dead and buried, resurfacing. 

Now Gideon finds himself between sacrificing the girl he loves to stop Cressida from taking power, or choose the girl he loves and watch the world he has fought so hard for burn. 

Overall Thoughts

While I am still devastated that this series is only a duology and this book is its conclusion, I love this book. 

The ending was bittersweet and what I was hoping for. 

I loved how imperfect Rune was in this book. She wasn’t every other fantasy FMC, and that made me love her more. 

The opening was a bit jarring. I expected something different after Heartless Hunter ended. 

I can’t complain too much. The stakes were much higher in this book and the resolution was satisfying and I love that there are playlists for Rune, Gideon, and Cressida in the back of the book.

No surprise, this book gets 5 stars out of 5 stars from me.

March TBR

If you watched my January recap video with my February TBR, it’s kinda obvious I bit off more than I could chew. 

The only book I actually read was Rebel Witch. I’m currently reading Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas, so I guess technically 2 books from my February TBR?

Either way, I’m trying to be far more realistic for March. 

So my top 3 TBR reads for March are:

A Crown So Silver by Lyra Selene – I am dying to get back to this series! Metal Slinger by Rachel Scheinder – I can’t keep seeing people say how crazy good this book is and not read it. A Kiss of Iron by Clare Sager – This book reminds me of my early days of getting into Fantasy Romance and feels right up my alley. The cover also gives me Blood & Steel by Helen Scheurer vibes, so I am SO IN!

This list doesn’t include audiobooks; I tend to just stumble into books with narrators I like and then listen to them. 

So overall a fairly simple month of reading with much more to look forward to in March! 

In terms of reading goals, I am currently on track with 3 books a month, but I am hoping to read closer to 5 books in March, so we shall see.

But otherwise, how is your reading goal coming along?