I’m glad that this month is over because it was a mess and I was a mess.
I procrastinated endlessly, was stressed 100% of the time, and felt like trash! I’m hoping March will be a little bit better in terms of everything.
BOOKS
I read 7 books (2346 pages) in February!That’s the same amount of books that I read in January so technically if I keep this up I should read 84 books by the end of this year which is pretty cool! Obviously, that’s if reading slumps and stress don’t happen.
Also, if you check my January recap you’ll find that I wrote “I read 6 books” and not 7, but that’s because I finished a book on the last day of January, so I didn’t get to include it. (note to self: do not write recaps before the month is over!) So I’m going to be talking about my re-read of The Raven King in this post because I’m useless.
Vicious by V.E Schwab ★★★★☆ // I thought this was really cool! This was very plot-driven and dark but towards the end, I lost interest because it began to drag and slow down. However, the last sentence has me really excited to read Vengeful!
The Monsters We Deserve by Marcus Sedgwick ★★★☆☆ (3.5) // This is part essay collection part fiction and it’s just so STRANGE. I really enjoyed how weirdly put together this was – and even though the book, in general, felt like a cluster of writer’s block and ramblings, it was still surprisingly deep and very thought-provoking!
Mirage by Somaiya Daud ★★★☆☆ // I won’t lie – this book was definitely a little disappointing. The info-dumps of history and world-building and the insta-love were unappealing, but I have to admit that I fell in love with the intricate writing.
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare ★★★★☆ // So obviously I was expecting to love this and I DID! There was some really good angst in this and I loved the world SO MUCH. It was funny and really enjoyable!
The Surface Breaks by Louise O’ Neill ★★☆☆☆ (2.5) // This had some very powerful feminist messages which I adored but the story itself annoyed me too much and was poor-quality overall.
An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir ★★★★★ // My ONLY five star of the month and it deserves it. I was scared this was over-hyped but damn, I was invested the whole time and it was EXTREMELY enjoyable.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman ★★★☆☆ // I did enjoy this but it just wasn’t THAT great (compared to The Ocean At The End Of The Lane). It was really hard to get into, but SILAS IS MY LIFE AND I LOVE HIM.
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater ★★★★☆ // So apparently I still really liked this, but Bluesy was so,,, bad in this and I’m shocked to be honest because they’re my OTP!
BOOK HAUL
Thank you to Ink Road Books for the free copy of Summer Bird Blue, and to Titan books for the free copy of The Devouring Gray.
NetGalley: The Truth About Keeping Secrets, Internment, The Boy Who Steals Houses.
LIFE
- I went to see a play at the theatre. IT WAS A REALLY AESTHETIC THEATRE and the play was SO good!! I’m so glad I went because it was so dramatic and moody if that makes sense?
- I watched Dumplin’. I really should have read the book first but uh, just give me a break. It was a really sweet movie though and I just thought it was super cute and enjoyable!
- I went Ice Skating and tried to skate,,, but I’m a failure at everything so I just walked and slipped on the ice for two hours. i cry.
- I had to write and perform a speech for English class at school and it was like, super nerve-wracking and I almost died but I’M GLAD IT’S OVER NOW.
- I started using my library again (sometimes I just abandon it) and it’s GREAT. I’m probably not going to go there next month because I have a lot of ARCs to read and catch up on!
- I had a one week break from school AND IT WAS GREAT!! I went to friend’s houses, relaxed and just de-stressed.
- I unhauled some books (like 10) and it was really refreshing! My bookshelf is now de-cluttered and it makes me very happy!
- I started up my bullet journal again. I won’t share spreads for this month because they look horrendous but maybe for March? It’s so helpful in keeping me organised though.
- Global warming is REAL!! The weather was scarily GOOD in the UK even though it’s winter and should not be this warm.
- My words blurbed A Thousand Perfect Notes in Cait’s new book and I’m just SCREAMING. This is one of the BEST things to happen to me! So yeah my pun is in The Boy Who Steals Houses!!! Casually freaking out!!
BOOK NEWS
- Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone are COMING TO THE SCREEN. I’m pretty sure this was announced before Feb but I’m only screaming about it now! BUT YEAH. I’m excited. (But also I don’t want Shadow and Bone (trash!) to be merged with one of my fave series? I’m trusting Leigh though!)
- Call Down The Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED with the release date (November) and cover and I’m just SO EXCITED. Ronan is getting his own series and it’s going to be BEAUTIFUL. I SCREAM SO MUCH.
- His Dark Materials is coming to the BBC and EEK I am just so?? happy?? THE TRAILER LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
BLOG OF THE MONTH
Every month I will shout out a blog I really enjoy! For this month, I want to show some appreciation to…
Honestly, Fadwa had some AMAZING posts this month and I loved every single one of them. While I’m pretty sure a lot of you know about her blog, I don’t think her posts can ever receive too much love because they’re just so awesome!
Some of my favourites from this month include:
- We are more than our marginalisations – this post discusses things I have never been able to put into words and I love it.
- Emoji book recommendations – this is such a fun post and I trust Fadwa’s recs so much.
- Bookstagram tips – this was SO helpful and insightful, especially since my bookstagram is terrible!
BLOGOSPHERE
- Lu @ Lu Reads lists all the hyped books she loves!
- Ju @ Paper Blots does the Chinese new year tag.
- Cait @ Paper Fury talks about her favourite romance tropes
- Taasia @ Librae Paints Pages discusses ARC Hoarding and it’s problems
- Ju @ Paper Blots (again!) talks about anticipated releases in an obviously entertaining post.
- Sasha @ The Stylish Dreamer writes a cute guide on how to make a vision board.
- Kimberly @ Free Perspectives discusses if hype ruins a book.
- Inside my Library mind talks about the 5 star rating system.
- Chaima @ Run Away With Dream Thieves tells us 10 things that make her want to read a book.
- Vicky @ Vicky Who Reads convinces me I need this book in my life!
- Headscarves & Hardbacks reviews Internment by Samira Ahmad.
GOALS
goals from last month:
- complete one buddy read ❌
- work one collab with another blogger ✓
- drink a water bottle daily ❌ (only on some days!)
- do homework on time!! don’t procrastinate!! ❌ (literally got a detention for not doing homework)
- KEEP ON WRITING ❌ (oops)
- carry on having strange moods ❌
- brainstorm blog post ideas ✓
- make a new blogging friend (can already be a mutual!) ❌
- read for a bit every day ✓
goals for next month:
- DON’T PROCRASTINATE HOMEWORKS.
- Write! More! of WIP!
- START REVISION!
- Stick to one post a week.
- Read 3 ARCs.
- Carry on with Bullet Journal.
How was your February? What was your best read of the month? What are you looking forward to next month? Let me know in the comments!!
A Whisper Of Ink 
I love Vicious so much, but for some reason it was hard for me to feel motivated to read it?????? like i would actively refuse to sit down and read it, but then once I WAS reading it I was deeply invested and in love with Victor Vale.
and Mirage, the opening chapter which featured the protagonist and her brothers was what i based the entire book uponnnnn. i gave it about 3 stars but onlyyyyyyyy for them, and sometimes the weird friendship between the protagonist and the girl she worked for????? Which is v irrational and irresponsible BUT I COULD NOT HELP IT AT ALLLLL.
Unhauling books = the best way to relieve stress sometimes. I just unhauled a bunch of old books that honestly i’ll never read & now my bookshelf has only books i’ve read and loved which it feels so refreshing. it’s like a glass of ice water or something c: c: c:
Lowkey i’m not v excited about Ronan’s series????????????? and I DON’T KNOW WHY HOW CAN THIS BE SLFJLSDKJF. Idk it’s just one of those things where i have no idea why i’m like this
LikeLike
Hmm I found it SUPER addicting but I definitely found the last 50 pages to be really slow and I felt so demoviated because fo that.
I WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT HER AND HER BROTHER’S RELATIONSHIP!! it sounded so adorable and cute shjhdfjh. and yeah her and maram’s relationship was so complex and well-developed? i hated the romance though.
yes!! i know right. i had been procastinating unhauling them for a while but now that i got rid of them i feel so mucb lighter!!
FDSHGFJDHGF NO FORC YOURSELF TO BE EXCITED OKAY!? maybe you’ll feel more happy when it’s closer to the release date?
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Write more of WIP” I can totally relate to that one, I need to get a move on with my story, so hopefully we’ll both reach that goal! ☺️
I’m so glad you enjoyed City of Bones! Be prepared for the angst because this series is definitely on the angsty side of things (though I’ve heard The Dark Artifices is even more angsty) ☺️I plan to start my reread of The Mortal Instruments this month so this should be fun!
LikeLike
jhsggdshfv I KNOW. the angst is going to increase and i can already feel myself descending into madness because of it aha. good luck with your re-read and have a great march ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
This post was so entertaining to me! 🙂 First of all HUGE CONGRATS for getting quoted in A Thousand Perfect Notes, that is AWESOME! I also really need to be working on WIP more, but I’m finding it so hard to be motivated.
LikeLike
Aww yay! I’m glad. And thank you so much, I don’t think I’ll ever fully let the news sink in because it all feels very surreal. aha same! i need to focus on my WIP but motivation is nowhere to be found!! have a wonderful march ❤
LikeLike
Have a great march, lovely 😊 xx
LikeLike
Aww thanks, you too xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
“it was a mess and I was a mess” is a good description of this month and I definitely approve of it. i couldn’t possibly feel anymore strongly about stress and procrastinating than i dO RIGHT NOW. I’m literally drowning in a pile of essays and papers that i still have to start/finish to get my credits for this semester and my personal deadline is already long long gone and the academic deadline is the end of March and I can not for the life of me beat my anxiety and motivation to be less stressed out. It’s the WORST. So long story cut short: i feel you. I absolutely dig the vibe of the The Monsters We Deserve cover?? it just seems so dark and ominous and atmospheric. It is SO COOL that you blurbed Caits first book in her second novel?? like life goal achieved!! also, so so so so hyped for all the things you mentioned on the book news part because i’m so excited for all of them! The last two goals “DON’T PROCRASTINATE HOMEWORKS. Write! More! of WIP!” really resonate with my and i feel them on a deep emotional level. i feel lowkey and high key called out lol. this is a sign. wishing you lots of luck next month! you’ve got thiiisss
LikeLike
AHHHHHHH *melts into puddle* why was February such a mess though? For all of us? Must have something to do with it being unfairly short. And good luck!! I have so many homeworks to do and I just keep putting them off and it’s the worst. here’s to both of us sorting out lives out in march!! ❤ and yeah i'm still slightly shaken at the fact that i blurbed her book!! and here's all my love and support being sent virtually through the screen. thanks so much ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely wrap up, sweets! I’m so happy you enjoyed An Ember in the Ashes! It’s one of my favorites! I read it years ago, and still adore it! I need the last book in the series already! Haha! Also, I’m so happy for you for getting quoted for A Thousand Perfect Notes! That is SO EXCITING! ❤ Also, I seriously need to read Vicious soon. 🙂
LikeLike
It was a mess and I was a mess – THAT LINE IS ME. ALL OVER. I started at a new school where I knew no one and I have been really stressed and messed up (lol that rhymed). AAHH IM SO EXCITED FOR THE SOC ADAPTATION LEIGH YOU’D BETTER DO THIS RIGHT. And omggg congrats on getting blurbed!!! For Cait!!!! Aahhhh I’m screaming for you!!! Also DONT PROCRASTINATE HOMEWORKS is a big mood for me…. whoops. Have an amazing March lovely xxx
LikeLike
let’s just cry and have a mental breakdown TOGETHER. no but seriously, i hope we get our crap together in march!! i’m rooting for you. i’m sorry school has been difficult – changing schools always brings on an emotional rollercoaster and confusion – but you got this okay!! and i’m just SO worried about how they’re going to merge the timelines or shadow and bones and SoC?? like what. but leigh is a genius. she knows what she’s doing. Have an awesome MArch and thank you! ❤
LikeLike
AHHHHHH! Well done for having your words blurbed! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 I’m so proud of you!!
One of my friends is having an ice skating party this month and I am TERRIFIED! I just know I’m going to slip up and fall 😳😂
LikeLike
I’m still slightly shaken that my words! in one of my fave author’s books! HOLD ME.
and ahh i hope you have fun!! ice skating is so tricky (for me) but hopefully it won’t be too bad!
LikeLiked by 1 person
February really was a trash fire. And Call Down the Hawk is so beautiful and we get Ronan books and I AM SO EXCITED. Also, Summer Bird Blue is so amazing and it’s just SO PRETTY. Hope you have a great March and thank you for including my post!
LikeLike
I JUST WANT RONAN TO BE HAPPY!! and i’m so excited to see more of him and Adam agh! Thanks so much, I hope you have a wonderful March as well ❤
LikeLike
omg the cover of that Little Mermaid retelling is so pretty?? also we MATCHED SM THIS MONTH!! Like I also started using my library again this month even tho I kind of abandoned it earlier!! and I also just saw the Maggie Stiefvater news this month too! Also I kind of (tried to) unhaul some stuff!! And I went to a musical!
you got THE DEVOURING GRAY I’m jealous bc the uk cover is soooo much prettier than the US cover!! I hope you love gay Stranger Things.
LikeLike
IT IS!! Is it bad that I only picked it up because of the cover? In my opinion, No.
I love my library but I already have so much to read in March and it’s STRESSING me out. and wydm tried to?? i don’t see why are you aren’t being the defintion of marie kondo.
i know. the us cover is usually prettier but i LOVE the cool neon vibes that the uk cover has for tdg. I’M GENUINELY SO EXCITED TO READ IT (my copy has pink! sprayed! edges!)
LikeLike
An ember in the ashes is such a good book!! Everything was happening in that plot!!!
Omg summer blue bird is the prettiest colour ever 😍😍
Dumlin’ was a really sweet film and it did made me want to see to Dolly Parton 😂
I am a terrible ice skating– I grip onto the side so I don’t fall 😂
So excited to see six of crows on the screen *excited dance* and very excited for call the hawks down– I am so ready for that book!!! More Ronan– YESS!!!!
I hope you have a great March and it is less stressful for you!! 💛
LikeLike
It’s amazing. Now I know why people like it so much (though i feel like it’s not that hyped?) and omg same with ice skating. I’M SO SCARED TO LET IT (the wall) GO. (Frozen Pun intended!) I just want more Ronan being happy in my life to be honest!! And thank you, hope you have a wonderful March too ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
So good right?!?! No I don’t see loads talking about it but those that do really love it!!
Omg that pun was the best!!! And I think I am the slowest ice skater 😂
Yes me too– he deserves all the happiness!!
Thank you 💛
LikeLike
I liked Mirage but also think the world building was lackluster. It’s hard to even remember it’s supposed to be sci-fi and in space.
LikeLike
Oh i totally agree! There’s only slight mentions of the moon and it being set it space! It read much more like a fantasy to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m just interested what she does with the sequel. Make it more sci-fi so it doesn’t match book 1? Or just keep acting like it’s actually fantasy?
LikeLike
Great post! I feel you about being a complete mess in Feb…I hope we both have a better march! I love love love love love Vicious and An Ember in the Ashes and I’m glad you enjoyed them 🙂 I’m not really liking the mortal instruments unfortunately. I think I gave City of Bones 2 stars and City of Ashes 1 star, but IM IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD!!!!!!1!1!1!1!1!!!!!!111!!111!!! Also, IM DYING FOR CALL DOWN THE HAWK I LOVE THE RAVEN CYCLY SO MUCH AND RONAN IS GREAT AND I NEED THIS BOOK
LikeLike
GKDKDKDKDKD DO YOU WANT TO MAKE ME CRY? 😭😭😭 THIS IS SO SWEET OF YOU!!! ILY ❤1
Also, it sounds like you had an awesome February and i’m so glad!!! I hope your year just keeps on getting better!
LikeLike
I’m so glad you enjoyed An Ember in the Ashes and that it lives up to all of its hype ahh, I can’t wait for you to read the sequel. I’m too nervous to read A Reaper nooooooow hahaha. 🙂
You had such a great book haul this month, yay!! I’m so excited to read The Devouring Gray and Summer Bird Blue, and both books look SO beautiful, too! ❤
I hope you will have an amazing March, wishing you all the best and sending you tons of love ❤
LikeLike
It’s so nice you get the chance to read The Boy who Steals Houses earlier! And even nicer that your words are actually printed in the physical copy!
I hope you share more of your thoughts in the Ember in the Ashes series when you carry on with it. I have yet to read A Reaper at the Gates, but I have *a lot* of feelings about the first two books. Helene is my favorite, even though she is not the best. I also adore Marcus, because apparently I love to read about characters who are absolutely awful???Oh well.
I also watched Dumplin’ this February and I liked it so much! Netflix doesn’t have the best history with body positive shows/movies – like Insatiable and Sierra Burgess is a Loser -, but I think they redeemed themselves with this one. The characters were adorable and all the Dolly Parton references *heart eyes*.
Overall, February was a great month as far as movies go for me. I finally watched Bohemian Rhapsody and I don’t know if it is or not deserving of all the awards it got, but it was for sure entertaining. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Queen since watching it, and I guess I had forgotten how amazing their songs are.
Hope you have an amazing March, Ilsa!
LikeLike
Omg that’s so cool and exciting that you’re in Cait’s book!! Ahh can’t wait for the grishaverse adaptation!! Hope you have a lovely March 🙂
LikeLike
im SORRY february wasn’t a good month for you but it’s over now, it’s cancelled.
i agree, mirage definitely wasn’t a perfect book. the info-dumping and the romance wasn’t my thing but i really liked the story and the characters grew on me. YOU LOVED AN EMBER IN THE ASHES FHDJAFKA IM SO HAPPY JUST WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOKS they slayed me.
congrats on all the arcs, im so excited for the boy who steals the houses bc i love to cry apparently
dumplin’ was SO CUTE fdhjafka i loved the friendship and tbh i tried reading the book and it was,,,,,,,,,,not the best, so you’re probably better off with the movie lol
good luck with your WRITING (we NEED your book!!!!) and your bullet journal! i hope march is a much better month for youuuu
LikeLike
I loved this wrap-up, Ilsa! February was kind of a mess for me too, lol, but you still managed to read so much which is amazing!! Vicious and An Ember in the Ashes are both really high up on my tbr and you’ve made me super excited to get to both of them! I’m also SO EXCITED for the Grishaverse tv show–I know it’s super early on but I already can’t wait.
LikeLike
eeep I’m so stoked they quoted you in TBWSH arc!!! AHHHH. 😭💛💛Although very much wish they’d sent you a finished copy!? Idk what my publishers are doing sometime, but my HEART IS SO THANKFUL FOR YOU. 💛And also omg Call Down the Hawk will kill me with the waiting and I am 10000 x ready for it. And I’m so glad you got some breaks last month and time to destress! I’m also in the midst of unhauling (like so so many books) and it’s really good having things a little less cluttered and also donating is nice so 🤗
LikeLike
UHM ME TOO!! Let’s hope I’m quoted in all your books ahah. I’m still not over TBWSH i feel like i rant to you about how much i love it all the time I’m SORRY. I want Ronan to be happy with Adam and hfdfjg. but Maggie said on Twitter that you can read this series independent from The Raven Cycle and I get that…but also I don’t? DOes that mean there’s going to be very little of Blue and Gansey because if so?? I CRY!
LikeLike
[…] get lost? Of course here are many teen bloggers that I know of and admire so much (like Taasia, Ilsa, May, Dezzy and so many more!), but so many popular voices in the community are adults, and in a […]
LikeLike
ilsa i am so sorry for being so late on commenting (i’m pretty behind on responding) on this amazing post!! firstly, thank you so much for shouting out my post, and i’m so glad you enjoyed it! you had such a thoughtful, smart comment on it that really made me think, thank you for such a great contribution to the post!!
i hope you LOVE summer bird blue when you read it, it was so good and that cover is absolutely stunning!! i’m so glad you had a great february, it sounds like you had a lot of fun!! i love fadwa and her blog so much too, she has THE most important posts that everyone must read!
all the posts that you shouted out sound seriously amazing, i can’t wait to check them out!! i hope you had a great march (literally otw to reading your march recap, i’m seriously way too behind on your posts and it’s absolutely tragic), and an amazing april!!
LikeLike