February is the shortest month, but it is also the coldest in the UK which means lots of hiding at home and reading. This is a mixed bag, some audiobooks, some I read with my daughter. There were a couple of larger books and then some short 100-page books.
I also had one DNF because life is too short: The Birds by Tarjei Vesaas. I have since learned how the book ended and I have to say I am quite relieved I didn’t finish it.
Red Rising - Pierce Brown ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
It is easy to see why Red Rising has so much hype. From the very first chapter, it is an enthralling story that grips you and keeps you constantly wanting to know more about the brutal hierarchy of this Martian society.
Experiencing this via audiobook was a joy; the narration is superb and ensures the story never strays so far that you lose track of the plot. While many draw parallels to other dystopian hits, this is truly The Hunger Games on steroids. The stakes feel more visceral, the violence more meaningful, and the world-building significantly more expansive.
Beyond the adrenaline-pumping action, there are profound philosophical questions at play. The book explores the tragic ways the lower classes are kept suppressed, not just through force, but by being manipulated into always craving what the elite want. It is a scathing look at the corruption of power and high status, and how those at the top maintain their position by devaluing the humanity of those beneath them.
This was a solid opening to the series, and I am incredibly excited to continue. Knowing that many fans consider this one of the “worst” of the series (only because the sequels are so legendary) makes me even more eager to see where Darrow’s journey goes next. If this is the starting point, I can’t wait to see how high the stakes can go.
84 Charing Cross Road - Helene Hanff ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Recommended by Ryan Holiday, which is how I first discovered this gem, 84 Charing Cross Road is a rare and beautiful reading experience.
Part memoir and part historical exploration, the book is composed entirely of letters sent between Helene, a witty and sharp-tongued American, and Frank, a reserved, polite Englishman, as she searches for rare books in London.
The emotional weight of this book sneaks up on you. Set just after the war, it offers a poignant glimpse into the reality of rationing in Britain and how the world was slowly changing. Through their correspondence, you feel the blossoming of a profound, long-distance friendship built on a shared love for the written word. There is something deeply moving about their connection, Helene’s brash generosity and Frank’s steady, quiet professionalism create a bond that feels more real than many face-to-face relationships.
This is such an engaging tale that you will likely read it in one sitting. It is a short, punchy, and incredibly heartwarming look at human kindness and the bridges we build through our passions. Despite its brevity, it leaves a lasting impression on your heart. It is absolutely worth an hour of anyone’s time; it’s a small book with a very big soul that reminds us of the power of connection in an often-fragmented world.
A Time of Dread - John Gwynne ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Returning to the Banished Lands felt like coming home, yet everything has changed. A Time of Dread sucked me in straight away; there is an incredible sense of discovery as you begin to work out all the connections and see how the legacy of the first series has shaped this new, darker era.
The emotional intensity is exactly what I’ve come to expect from John Gwynne, but this story feels even more urgent. It is fast-paced with epic battles that leave me breathless, yet it never loses sight of the heart behind the blades. I loved the characters, they felt like real people with real burdens, making every victory feel earned and every loss feel personal.
I was particularly moved by the character of Drem. He appears to be written as autistic, and the portrayal is handled with such profound empathy and nuance. It is obvious that Gwynne has a son who is autistic by the way he portrays Drem’s internal world; it isn’t a caricature, but a deeply respectful and authentic representation of a different way of experiencing the world. Seeing Drem find his strength and place in the Banished Lands was one of the most rewarding parts of the book for me.
In typical Gwynne style, the momentum was so irresistible that I found myself unable to stop. I had to go straight onto the next book again, abandoning my habit of taking breaks between series instalments. This book is a triumph of epic fantasy that balances massive, world-altering conflict with the small, quiet moments of human connection that make us care.
Recursion - Black Crouch ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Experiencing Recursion on audiobook was a journey all in itself especially as I listened in the car. There were moments where the story became so overwhelming that I actually had to turn it off just to catch my breath.
The story is a brilliant puzzle that has you questioning everything you thought you knew about memory and time. Crouch forces you to look at the fragility of our pasts and the terrifying idea that reality might not be as solid as we believe.
However, beneath the science and the mounting dread, I was struck by the fact that at its heart, it’s a love story. That human connection is the only thing that keeps the reader grounded amidst the chaos. It all builds toward a killer ending, one that completely satisfied me.
I absolutely loved this and will definitely be reading more from Blake Crouch. It is a haunting exploration of what makes us human and whether changing your fate actually works.
Chronicles of Whetherwhy Seasons of Flame - Anna James ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
If the first book in this series planted the seeds of a new world, Seasons of Flame is the moment it truly bursts into magnificent, fiery life. This book is everything you would want from a children’s fantasy book: it is a masterclass in engaging characters, suspense, and high-stakes adventure. And, of course, there are dragons.
One of the greatest joys of this instalment is seeing the world expand while feeling more connected to its inhabitants. I liked the fact that some of the characters reappear in this book; it creates a sense of continuity and warmth that makes the reader feel like they are returning to see old friends. The emotional stakes feel higher, the magic more vivid, and the world-building even more immersive.
Honestly, this series is as good as Pages & Co., and I would argue that this book is even better than the first. Anna James has a way of writing adventure that feels both classic and fresh, capturing that wide-eyed wonder that is so essential to great middle-grade fiction. The sense of discovery as the seasons shift and the flames rise kept both my daughter and me completely spellbound.
However, the “unfortunate” side effect of such a brilliant book is the inevitable finish line. We reached the end of the adventure with a mixture of awe and desperation. Now how do I tell a six-year-old she has to wait for the third instalment?
Day of Infamy - Walter Lord ⭐️ ⭐️
Having really enjoyed Walter Lord’s work on the Titanic, I went into Day of Infamy with high expectations, but unfortunately, this one was just not for me.
While Lord is a master of research, I found this account of Pearl Harbour very hard to follow. There were simply too many facts and names thrown at the reader in quick succession, making it difficult to find an emotional hook or a narrative thread to hang onto.
It was not my thing at all, and I think it highlights how much interest in the subject matter matters. Maybe because I love Titanic stories, I found his style in A Night to Remember much easier to digest and more compelling. In this instance, the sheer volume of data overwhelmed the human story, making it a bit of a struggle to get through.
The Will of the Many - James Islington ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
It is always difficult to approach a book surrounded by immense hype; so often, they inevitably disappoint. This is exactly why it took me so long to finally pick this up. I shouldn’t have worried. On paper, this is a Roman-inspired cross between Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, but in reality, it is so much more.
The story poses haunting, thought-provoking questions about the nature of tyranny: are everyday people just as much to blame as the tyrants if they remain complicit?
These moral dilemmas are brought to life through characters so deeply developed that you find yourself feeling for the villains as much as the protagonists. The emotional complexity is staggering.
I became so addicted to this book that I found myself carrying it everywhere, desperate to sneak in five minutes of reading here and there. I was even reading it between tasks while teaching and during every possible break; it was truly that compulsive. The world Islington has built is so immersive that the “real” world felt like a distraction.
Just when you think you finally understand the direction of the story, the ending hits you like a physical gut punch. I finished it in a daze, wondering, “What did I actually just read?” This is a book that I am going to be thinking about for months. I don’t usually believe in six-star reviews, but if I did, this would be one. The Will of the Many is a real contender for my book of the year, and it is only February.
The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson ⭐️ ⭐️
What was your favourite book of February, let me know in the comments.
Until next Friday: Read to learn. Read to escape. Read to smile.
Sam