2026 Books - February!

1.  Empire of the Vampire, Jay Kristoff - Not only was it my goal to slow down and go deeper in 2026 with my reading, but I also decided it was time to get over my anti-male writer bias. (husband excluded, of course!)  Having survived the bad old days of fantasy where male authors couldn't create a realistic female character to save their lives and/or relegated them to window dressing and/or made every one of them a victim of some sort, I've been primarily reading books by women for decades.  But I recognize my own bias, particularly as I've been exploring my own feelings around the history of fantasy and current trends, including the 'romantasy' label.  So I decided to challenge myself. 

Kristoff kept coming up in the fantasy v. romantasy debate, and I really liked what I heard - especially from Bromantasy on Instagram.  Also, I listened to the conversation he had with V.E. Schwab on her podcast and was intrigued.  So...he felt like a great first step! 

And wow, I was blown away by this book.  Easily a contender for top five of the year.  I loved the writing, I loved the characters, I loved the framing device, I loved the emotional impact...it was just delicious. AND....AND....it's illustrated!  The little kid in me was thrilled to have so many pretty pictures!  (and there are a LOT of illustrations)  This is exactly the sort of deep dive that I was wanting, and I can't wait to read the rest. 

But - reading note - Because of the complex and deep writing, this was a very, very slow read for me.  Not only did it physically take longer to get through the pages, but I found myself stopping often to ponder for a while before continuing on.  This isn't a bad thing at all, but it is different than how I usually read.  

2.  Automatic Noodle, Annalee Newitz (wheel spin!*) - This little gem was a NPR Books We Love 2024 selection, and I'm glad I tried it.  I don't often read science fiction, but this is well within my wheelhouse of what I do read in that genre.  It was cozy and sweet, and while it was maybe a little bit on the nose with the social issues it addressed what it did have to say was important.  I did just take a look at Newitz's catalog, and I have read and appreciated one other of her books.  May need to read more.

3.  Reel, Kennedy Ryan - I picked this up last year when Apple books did a special on five romance books recommended by Emily Henry.  I delayed reading it for a long time, though, because of the simple fact that I'm not a Hollywood/celebrity romance girl.  Silly me.  It was an amazing read.  Truly one of the best romances I've read since I jumped into the genre.    

4.  Out of the Woods, Hannah Bonam-Young - Bonam-Young's books are very gentle romances, and they feel soothing.  She's put herself into this series, and it shows.  Second-chance romance is a trope that I can be iffy with, so maybe it's better to say that this is a married couple rediscovering each other and themselves.  

5.  Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus - Not going to lie.  I read this because I've seen so many of the clips from the tv series.  Lol.  The scenes I've seen are pretty direct adaptations.  (Important to note that I read the show's synopsis and a lot was actually changed.) It's an oddly light read for a book that's actually dealing with some serious issues.  The overall vibe was refreshing.  

6.  and 7. - Saga of the Unfated duology, Danielle L. Jensen (audio) (wheel spin!)

• A Fate Inked in Blood
• A Curse Carved in Bone

True story, I had no intention of reading this because I have not particularly enjoyed viking inspired stories before and the online attention didn't tempt me. Best laid plans, and all.  I picked up the first book on the apple sale page, and then checked out the audio from the library.  I enjoyed this series WAY more than I expected to.  Despite previous experiences I actually enjoyed the Viking inspired setting and plot, and Freya's character arc through the two books was deeply satisfying.  I don't think these are the best books in the world, but that character arc alone made them more than worth it.  

8., 9., and 10. - Part of Your World, Abby Jimenez (wheel spin!)

• Part of Your World
• Yours Truly
• Just for the Summer

I follow Jimenez online, and am fascinated by her personal story.  Also, she's absolutely one of the top romance writers these days, and so I knew I would eventually get around to reading this series.  (I read, and enjoyed, two of her other books last year.)  I decided to gift myself with an at-home reading retreat, and in 48 hours blasted through all three books.  I appreciate that this series isn't just romantic fluff, that each book delves deeper with characters exploring personal trauma and individual personality needs.  After all, with its garunteed Happily Ever After, romance provides a safe space to explore those issues.  Plus, I love it when the lead characters are a bit older.  

11.  Two Can Play, Ali Hazelwood - I do love Hazelwood, and this is now my favorite of all of her novellas.  Usually end up feeling like her novellas just didn't give me enough, but this one was perfect.  Light, sweet, funny and sexy, with just the right balance between characters, plot, and spice!  

12.  Nightshade and Oak, Molly O'Neil (audio) - I really wish that I'd enjoyed this better, because I loved O'Neil's last book, Greenteeth.  Maybe it's a right book, wrong time thing...but I had trouble focusing and never really got sucked in.  I say that as someone who genuinely enjoyed the plot and the characters  In fact, there were parts that were laugh-out-loud funny.  I still want to follow O'Neil's work...but yeah, this wasn't the best read, and I think it was me and not the book. 

13.  If Looks Could Kill, Julie Berry - This was a bookstagram find last fall.  A Medusa/Jack the Ripper/Salvation Army mash-up sounds crazy, and it really is.  BUT, it was also a very smart way to talk about issues of violence against women and what it means to fight back.  I enjoyed it, and more importantly, I'm going to be thinking about it for a very long time.  If you decide to try it, please do check out the historical context in the back.  Also, please read The Five, by Hallie Rubenhold.  I was deeply affected by that work several years ago and am not surprised Berry used it in her research. 

14.  Empire of the Damned, Jay Kristoff - Back we go, for book 2!  Also awesome, but it was a little bit slower to get into for me.  Once it got going, though, it really took off.  I'll leave any more comments for when I finish the series.  

15.  And Now, Back to You, B.K. Borison - I adored First-Time Caller last year, so was really looking forward to a return to that world.  I enjoyed it, but didn't love it as much as its predecessor.  Borison has definitely improved as a writer since her first series, which just makes me happy.  I did laugh a bit.  Yeah, I'm a sucker for the Just One Bed and Snowed In tropes, but they were very over the top in this book.  

*Yes, yes I did set up three random wheel spinners to help decide on books when I'm stuck.  I have one for standalones, one for completed series, and one for incomplete series.