February Reading Wrap-Up

Hey there, readers! I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to March. I took a very lovely staycation to work on my book and to be lazy, so as much as I wanted to read (because, of course, I took seven books with me to the hotel), I didn’t read as much as I hoped or wanted. But I have no regrets, and I still managed to read 10 books, so it’s all good.

Anyway, how did everyone else do this past month? Meet any personal goals?

Within the Sanctuary of Wings

The final novel is about Lady Trent, and it was simply masterful! I absolutely loved this novel and the way it concluded Lady Trent’s journey. Within the Sanctuary of Wings is an immersive novel that feels so real, even though it’s fantasy. The fact that it is written as a memoir makes it even more immersive. I’m not someone who typically reads non-fiction, but that added another element to the story that had me hooked.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but it was a fantastic read, and I loved it so much.

• Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The Bright Sword

I’ve never read anything by Lev Grossman before, and I don’t think this was the right introduction for me. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed it, but it was long. There’s a lot of exposition and backstory to build the layers of the story.

It felt very medieval, which wasn’t exactly what I had expected. I don’t know what I was expecting, and that’s part of why I liked it.

I am glad that I made this book my 30-page-a-day read because it allowed me to absorb all the information without feeling overwhelmed by it.

I enjoyed the feel and atmosphere of the book, but there was a lot of backstory, exposition, and world-building, so be prepared; this is not a fast-paced story.

Turning Darkness Into Light

I wish that I loved this book as much as the first five in the series, but that’s not the case.

Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed it, but I was expecting something similar to the Lady Trent stories.

This novel follows the exploits of her granddaughter, who studies the dragon languages. She aspires to be like her grandmother, which is understandable; her grandmother was a pretty formidable dragonologist.

My issue is that, whereas the previous novels had only one POV, this novel goes between characters, and the story is told through letters and diary entries. It had a different feel to it, but one that was less immersive. I was also missing the artwork.

Return to Del

As usual, what can I say that I haven’t already said? I love this story and the characters here. The bond between the characters and the plot twists is incredible. And I love how it makes my son excited to learn how to read. When I told him we were done with this series, he got so sad. But then I told him I had the sequel series, and he got happy again. It’s a great series and I stand by my statement that it would make a great show for families and even for audiences of Percy Jackson.

Dragonlance Chronicles

This series is the best series ever. There is a reason I have this tattooed on my arm. Oh my god, I loved re-reading this series. I loved every minute, every smile, every joke, and every heartwrenching moment. I love how the story flows, how it just moves. I forgot how much it moves and truly feels like a DnD campaign. And you know something, things for me have changed. It could be reading Dragonlance: Destinies, but I have a different connection with these characters. I never liked Sturm; he was always annoying. Don’t get me wrong, it is still annoying, as all lawful good characters are, but I have a new respect for him, and it did affect me emotionally, which had never happened the two previous times I read this trilogy. I love this trilogy, and I will always love it.

The Rose Bargain

Okay, this was a good book. First of all, I loved the pacing. It moved, and Smith kept the story going. I loved the feel of the novel, how it reminds me of The Cruel Prince in a way but also feels very unique. My friend Gina said it reminded her of The Selection, which I’ve never read, but if you love that series, you will enjoy it.

I also love the characters. There is a level of complexity to these characters, especially when you think about the world they live in. Just think, this is a reimagined 1840s England where a faerie queen holds sway over the realm. She is eternal; now, her son wants to marry, so she must pick a bride. Sometimes, you want to hate her, but you can tell there is more to her story.

The dynamic between the girls who have to battle it out is fantastic. They form a sisterly bond that I appreciate, and I enjoy the little vignettes they are given because they break up the story without breaking up the pacing.

Also, Emmet and Ivy, their romance is swoon-worthy!

The Night Ends with Fire

My book club picks were terrific! I absolutely loved this book. It was amazing.

My friend Jeff summed it up perfectly when he said this book is like a perfect blend of Disney’s animated Mulan and the live-action Mulan.

It has aspects that fans of Mulan will enjoy while also tapping into some feminine rage. Look at the original tale; she is not commended or rewarded; she is told she will be a concubine, and what does Mulan do? She goes to her father’s grave and kills herself. Here, she says no. I love the message of “greed” here because all she is greedy for is power, but she wants power because it is the only thing that will give her respect and equality. But, of course, in the eyes of this misogynist society, she is an abomination.

I could go on and on, but I love the mythos here, the storytelling, and even the subtle hint of the love triangle. Both guys are great in different ways, and it kills me.

Destroy the Day

Yo, this book had me going! I loved how King Harriston changed and grew and how Corrick and Tessa developed. Even Corrick and Lochlan! Their bromance—I’m here for it; I loved it. These two began as enemies, and now, they are such bros, and I love it.

The pacing of this novel was pretty much nonstop. Even at those moments when the plot slows, there’s so much tension in those scenes that keep your eyes glued to the story.

I’m happy that Tessa and Corrick were able to uncover the plot and really change their kingdom. It was a wonderful conclusion, and it kept me engaged from beginning to end. And speaking of that ending, oh my god, Kemmerer gave me a heart attack. She broke my heart and then stitched it back together. But still, it was a great ending.

All Better Now

This was an unexpected delight. Once again, thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book.

I had never read Neal Shusterman before, so I didn’t quite know what to expect when I read it, but I was blown away.

The story is about a pandemic that eliminates all your negative emotions and is just so mind-twisting. I mean, I can see the argument for both, but damn, if this isn’t a novel, that makes you think. It also switches between characters a lot, but not in a distracting way. YOu’re seeing the world and the war for the virus and the war against the virus and it’s masterful how it was told. Honestly, this story blew me away. I’m still trying to wrap my head around how best to review it.

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, Vol. 3

I love Sailor Moon. I’m so happy to have It here in my house. I’m slowly going through the manga after finishing another re-watch of the original 90s adaptation and the newer version. I love both, but I appreciate the newer one more because it has less filler. The more I read the manga, the more I love how close the new Sailor Moon is to the manga because it’s such an excellent manga. Sailor Moon is amazing, and the story here, how she breaks it up, the framework, and the pacing, I mean, I’m hooked.

• Rating: 5 out of 5.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband, two kids (the perfect pair), and their two cats Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx (aka Girl).