February was a relatively slow month for reading. How slow? 2011 was the last time I “only” read thirteen books in February.

And that’s ok.

I discovered two new series this month: Lydia Sherrer‘s Lily Singer Adventures, and Jessica Rosenberg‘s Baking Up a Magical Midlife series. Both are cozy and distracting, and although they have weaknesses, I still want to know more, so that’s really a win for the author.

Especially since the lead of one series is middle(ish) aged, and has a tween daughter.

I also read the second book in The Janet Watson Chronicle. I wanted to mention it because this was a case of me recognizing when a book is good, while also knowing it wasn’t something I especially enjoyed, yet I wanted to know what happened, so I devoured it, all the while not enjoying the dystopian elements.

In other words, that rating is heavily biased by my personal preferences.

I also stumbled upon the latest SPI files book, which was good, and might be a final book in the series. And I’m ok with that. Would I like other stories set in that world? Definitely. I’d love some short stories based on various cases SPI deals with, but I don’t think Lisa Shearin writes a lot of short stories, so I’ll have to be ok with what I have.

Oh, I finished my relisten to The Raven Boys series, and now I’m grumpy because I am again trying to figure out what I want to listen to that will draw me in and keep me exercising / cleaning / whatever thing I need done.

~Audio~

• The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater narrated by Will Patton
  Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Audio Edition (2014) 8/10, The Raven King, Audio Edition (2016) 8.5/10

~Mystery~

• Tommy & Tuppence series by Agatha Christie
  N or M? (1941) 8/10, By the Pricking of My Thumbs (1968) 7/10

~Science Fiction~

• The Hound of Justice (2019) Claire O’Dell (The Janet Watson Chronicles) 7/10

~Fantasy~

• Grilled Cheese and Goblins: Adventures of a Supernatural Food Inspector (2018) Nicole Kimberling 8.5/10
• The Gorgon Agenda (2023) Lisa Shearin (SPI Files) 8/10
• Open for Business (2016) Angel Martinez (Brandywine Investigations) 8/10
• The Lily Singer Adventures by Lydia Sherrer
  Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Beginnings (2016) 8/10, Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Revelations (2016) 7.5/10, Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Allies (2017) 7.5/10
• Baking Up a Magical Midlife by Jessica Rosenberg
  Butter, Sugar, Magic (2022) 7/10, Bread, Coffee, Magic (2022) 6.5/10