As with January, I managed to complete five books in February 2022. They were a good mix of romance, mystery and mythology and I’m pleased to say I enjoyed them all!
Here are the books I read in February 2022:
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Xingyin has spent all of her young life living on the moon with her mother, the moon goddess. She is accustomed to being alone with her mother, not realising that they were banished there by the powerful Celestial Emperor. This life of solitude was issued as punishment against her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality The Celestial Emperor has no idea of Xingyin’s existence as he believes her mother is living completely alone on the moon. However when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered and she is forced to flee her home and leave her mother behind, completely alone.
Xingyin has no knowledge of life outside the quiet existence with her mother and, with no one to turn to, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom. She disguises her true identity and wins the opportunity to train alongside the emperor’s son, learning to master archery and magic. She plans to use her skills to free her mother from her confinement on the moon but the path to victory is not a smooth one.
I’ve not read anything based on Chinese mythology before so I found the story really interesting. It was fun, enjoyable escapism and I’ll be looking forward to reading the second book.
Click here to read my full review of Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan.
Elektra by Jennifer Saint
The House of Atreus is cursed. For generations, the family is tainted by betrayal, violence and vengeance. Three women’s fates are tied to the curse and the actions of the men around them.
With war coming to Troy, the women must do what they can to survive. Clytemnestra’s loyalties are split. Her beloved sister Helen is now in Troy with Paris while her husband Agamemnon is launching a war on Troy to get Helen back to his brother. Elektra is the youngest daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon and is fiercely loyal to her father. Cassandra, meanwhile, is the princess of Troy. She has been cursed by Apollo to see the future but never be believed so she stands helpless as she knows her city will fall.
Will the women be able to avoid the curse and bloodshed? Or are all their destinies bound by violence and chaos?
I really enjoyed this book. I was already familiar with the story of the Trojan War but I was only really aware of it from a male perspective. So often in retellings, the focus is primarily on figures such as Agamemnon, Achilles, Hector and Paris and so I really enjoyed reading about it from a feminine point of view.
Click here to read my full review of Elektra by Jennifer Saint.
Meet Me At The Wedding by Georgia Toffolo
The final book in the four-part series, Meet Me At The Wedding focuses on Lily, the last of the friends’ stories to be told. Lily is happy living in Hawke’s Cove and is excited to be planning her friend’s wedding at her place of work, the Hawkesbury estate. However, when the owner dies and leaves his son in charge, Lily’s calm existence is thrown into disarray. The son is none other than Henry Hawkesbury, a man she hasn’t seen since the night of the car accident ten years ago.
Henry wants to get as far away from Hawke’s Cove as possible. The place holds bad memories and the last thing he wants is to stick around to run Hawkesbury estate. He especially wants no part in organising the wedding that is supposed to be held there. However, when he discovers he needs Lily’s help with the estate, she reluctantly agrees with one condition: the wedding must go ahead.
As Henry and Lily work together they are forced to face up to their pasts and embrace their futures. But for two people scared of love and commitment, can either of them claim the future they both secretly want?
Another lovely read by Georgia Toffolo. I really enjoyed Meet Me in London and found Meet Me at the Wedding to be an excellent end to the series. Utterly predictable but also utterly charming.
Click here to read my full review of Meet Me at the Wedding by Georgia Toffolo.
The Birdcage by Eve Chase
Lauren, Kat and Flora may have different mothers but they all share the same father, famous artist Charlie Finch. Over the years they have all gone on to lead completely different lives yet they are all drawn back to Rock Point, the location of their childhood summers when their father mysteriously invites them all back.
Rock Point is not just a place of rugged beauty overlooking the Cornish coastline, it’s a place full of secrets and scandal. The three half-sisters haven’t returned to Rock Point in twenty years as they’ve tried to escape the memories of a summer where their lives all changed forever.
The sisters should feel safe back in their family home, but somebody isn’t happy that they are back. As threatening notes start to appear, they realise they’re not the only ones living with the consequences of that summer night two decades ago.
It was an unsettling read at times but also perfectly displayed the complexities of sibling rivalries and familial love. Another great book from Eve Chase that I would definitely recommend.
Click here to read my full review of The Birdcage by Eve Chase.
The Maid by Nita Prose
Molly has grown accustomed to going unnoticed. She’s invisible in her job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. After all, nobody ever takes notice of the maid. In her personal life, she is alone since her beloved Gran passed away. Molly, though proud of her job, feels like a nobody. However, her quiet existence is thrown into chaos when she discovers a guest dead in his bed. The infamous Mr Black is dead and his wife, Giselle, was seen fleeing the hotel in tears. This is one mess Molly can’t easily clean up.
As Molly hunts for the truth she realises she has a power that others do not. She sees things nobody else does. Could Molly be the key to unlocking the case?
I really enjoyed this book. For a book with murder at its centre, it was a fun, quirky read. It’s not a fast-paced thriller so don’t expect any explosive action. It’s definitely more of a cosy mystery with an Eleanor Oliphant meets Agatha Christie vibe.
Click here to read my full review of The Maid by Nita Prose.
You may also be interested in reading the books I read in January 2022 and my other previous monthly reads.