Loves, my reading this week was all over the place...

I made a dent in The Poppy War and another in House of Frank. I enjoy both — though for entirely different reasons, as you might imagine.

Additionally, I finished Halfling by S.E. Wendel, which had its charming moments along with its steamy ones and is a significant improvement from my previous venture into orc-ish romantasy (Bound to the Orc Ranger by Krista Luna was simply not to my taste at all).

Did I also get just a little sidetracked by Forged in Blood (and subsequently Promised in Blood) by Sadie Kincaid? Yes, I did. I'm very unsure why I bothered with either because even if it was intended to scratch a reverse-harem-vampire-academia sort of an itch, I can't say it necessarily... did. Blame my sick need for resolution and a meager wish that a series has the potential to improve.

On that note, remember my mention a few days ago that I rarely offer one-star ratings but that Cloak of the Vampire was among them? Well, folks. It has a second book, Blood of the Gods by Sapir A. Englard. I sampled it and DNF-ed at 10%, which should tell you all you need to know.

Now, on to happier topics!

Grappling with dissertation proposal research led me right into the arms of Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi, Destroyer of Light by Jennifer Marie Brissett, and Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald, all of which I plan to sink my teeth into within the next few weeks. Any guesses as to what my research might entail...?

I also think we're honing in on the perfect time for a Legendborn and Bloodmarked reread in advance of Tracy Deonn's Oathbound release on March 4th.

Anyone else have an ambitious TBR to wrap up February?