Books I Read in February!

After a pretty disappointing January in reading, I read a lot more this month. I wanted to get through some of the review copies I’ve been sent and I’m hoping to continue in March because the TBR pile is getting a little intimidating! But I did good this month, I re-read for the first time since I’ve started my blog, finished a series and did a little required reading…

This Raging Light by Estelle Laurie*
This was a majorly hyped book, the proof cover is literally quotes from people at the publishers raving about how good it is. It’s a powerful story idea about a daughter abandoned by her mother after her father has a breakdown and is sent away, with her little sister to care for and I was so ready to dive in but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me.
It was a quick read because for a book where the main character was 17, the narration was really juvenile mixed with flowery descriptions and I struggled to believe that Lucille wasn’t a 13 year old who just discovered Keats for the majority of the story. Things kept happening with no conclusion and by the end of the book I would have expected 100 more pages to reach a satisfying ending. I was stuck between wanting more, and just wanting it to be over.
“How does a barely noticeable star become your very own sun?”
✮✮

Red Rising by Pierce Brown**
In preparation for the third and final book in the trilogy, and meeting Pierce Brown, I decided to re-read the first two books. I’ll be doing a series review soon but this book didn’t really live up to my original feelings.
✮✮

Golden Son by Pierce Brown**
I wrote a full review of this book when I first read it and found that I didn’t enjoy it as much as Red Rising. That flipped when I re-read the two and Golden Son ended up being the one I enjoyed more. Again, look out for my series review because I have a lot to say!
✮✮✮

Morning Star by Pierce Brown**
Full review here!
✮✮✮

The Widow by Fiona Barton**
You can read my full review here!
✮✮✮✮

Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlow
This was required reading for my degree but I ended up really enjoying it unlike the required reading from my past. I went to see Doctor Faustus performed years ago and I really enjoyed it so maybe that had something to do with it. But the script is just as good as I remember, and I read along to an audio dramatisation. It’s hard not to mention the language since I’m currently halfway through an essay about it but Marlowe has written something that could really appeal to a contemporary audience even 400 years later. If you like a good story about selling your soul, the ideas of good and evil or just the pursuit of knowledge through questionable means then Faustus is for you.
I would’ve liked one female character though who wasn’t the ghost of Helen of Troy or an unnamed pregnant duchess. Just one that had some lines and character definition but I guess that’s the 1600’s for you.
“Why, this is Hell, nor am I out of it.”
✮✮✮✮✮