The February Edit | Every Book I Read in February
The February Archive: Every Book I Read in the Month of February
An unintentional escape into the fantasy realm led me to read solely fantasy books in the month of February. Fear not, it wasn’t all Romantasy. I read a Medieval Horror book and a Dark Gothic Fantasy novel, a first time reading experience for me for either genre. And yes, yes I may have found my first 5 star read of 2026.
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Once Was Willem by M. R. Carey
“Once Was Willem” by M. R. Carey
Standalone
Dark Fantasy/Medieval Horror
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: In short, this story is about a boy who dies from illness and is brought back to “life” so that he may save his village from an evil sorcerer. There’s strong themes of longing for recognition, acceptance and enforcement of what has past must remain in the past, and the courage to face the unknown weave throughout Once-Was-Williem’s perspective of what happened in his village.
Thoughts: Once Was Willem was an incredible story of resilience in a time of mass hysteria. Despite this being a Medieval Horror Fiction story, the complexity of the main character exceeded expectations. M. R. Carey has done a fantastic job injecting distrust, longing, and humanity into a character, yet leaving enough youthful naivety to allow room for growth. I’ve honestly never felt more connected to a fictitious child character than I did to Once-Was-Willem.
“Once Was Willem” by M. R. Carey
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A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
“A Fate Inked In Blood” by Danielle L. Jensen
(Book 1 of 2 in the Saga of the Unfated Series)
Romantasy
3/5
Synopsis:
Freya spends her childhood with a secret that only a few close people know about. Once day her village’s jarl tricks her into getting what he wants: he forces her to marry him and unveil her magic, making her step into the role of Shield Maiden, the one who is prophesied to unite the kingdom, a role she is destined to become.
But Freya dreams of becoming a fierce warrior as she guts fish day after day. And one day she takes the opportunity to un-alive her cruel husband, but in doing so, she’s immediately forced to marry the man who gave her the opportunity: the regional jarl.
Her new husband takes Freya as a second wife, purely a political move since she is the Shield Maiden and he ultimately wants to become king of all the land. In becoming the jarl’s special wife, he entrusts his son, Bjorn, to be Freya’s bodyguard. The two end up falling for each other and a future unfolds from there.
Thoughts: A Fate Inked in Blood had a great deal of “man vs. self” themed situation throughout the story that resonated with me. I kept asking myself how long would I last if I had to betray myself day and night?
I was utmost impressed with Frey’s show of restraint throughout-I wanted to punch pillows several times. I also wondered what I’d do in modern situations of similar likeness.
Overall, I thought this was a great story of coming into oneself.
“A Fate Inked in Blood” by Danielle L. Jensen
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A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen
“A Curse Carved in Bone” by Danielle L. Jensen
(Book 2 of 2 in the Saga of the Unfated Series)
Romantasy
3/5
Synopsis:
A Curse Carved in Bone picks up right were Fate Inked in Blood left off. We follow Freya as she navigates her newly unveiled powers between the kingdom, Bjorn, and herself.
Thoughts: In A Curse Carved in Bone we get a huge revelation that seems up upend quite a bit from the first book in the duology. We get action and answers. And we get the ending that makes absolute sense.
Overall I really enjoyed this duology with its clever use of norse mythology.
“A Curse Carved in Bone” by Danielle L. Jensen
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Anathema by Keri Lake
“Anathema” by Keri Lake
(Book 1 of 2 in the Eating Woods Series)
Gothic Dark Romantasy
Rating 4/5
Synopsis:
Maevyth Bronwick is the oddball of the village, the one the villagers blame when something goes awry in the desolate town. No-one is to enter the forest that borders the village, known as the Eating Woods because it is cursed. It’s also where Maevyth is believed to be from since she was found at its entrance when she was a baby together with a single black rose. One day Maevyth does enter the forest to save someone and is transported to a realm beyond hers. There she meets a group of warriors who protect her from an evil group of mages who are trying to destroy her. One of the warriors is Zevander, the cursed lord of Ediolon. Zevander helps Maevyth to find out who and what she really is to the realm, and to him.
Thoughts: Anathema is the first gothic dark romantasy book I have ever read. I received this book from my husband as a Christmas gift; I had added it to my Holiday TBR along with book genres I have never read before in hopes to reach my 2026 goal of branching out and exploring unfamiliar book genres. Anathema did not disappoint. Anathema is well known for being atmospheric. From the dark and daunting woods that border the village, to the representation of social status depicted by dwellings, every page was steeped in eeriness. The overall tone of the character conversations were full of melancholy: a strong desire to climb social status through marrying well and of rebellion suppressed by those who dared to disagree with the Red Veil.
I am a big fan of Keri Lake and I look forward to reading her other works.
“Anathema” by Keri Lake
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Eldritch by Keri Lake
“Eldritch” by Keri Lake
(Book 2 of 2 in the Eating Woods Series)
Gothic Dark Romantasy
Rating 4/5
Synopsis:
Maevyth and Zevander renter the mortal realm, chased by the Red Veil and seeking many answers in Maevyth’s past. Together they survived getting through the Eating Woods and are back in Maevyth’s desolate village only to discover that the entire town has gone mad—monsters are everywhere. Zevander also begins to go mad without his supply of vivicantem which helps him stay sane, being as it was left behind while they escaped to the mortal realm. Zevander and Maevyth find help in an unexpected place and they now must navigate Zevander’s deep trauma and his descent into madness.
Thoughts: Incredible. As soon as I finished Anathema, I ordered Eldritch. I was particularly pleased with getting Zevander’s backstory and why he was the way he was. Eldritch revealed a devastating history of physical and emotional abuse endured by a man that was inflicted by an evil woman in great power. It’s an usual dynamic that I have not seen before, but I don’t read dark fantasy. I’m eagerly looking forward to book 3, Vesmora, when it is released.
“Eldritch” by Keri Lake
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The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
“The Everlasting” by Alix E. Harrow
Standalone
Fantasy
4/5
Synopsis:
The Everlasting is the story of Owen Mallory traveling in time loops to meet Sir Una Everlasting, a lady knight, and help make sure she lives up to the hype she is known for in Owen’s own time period. What Owen didn’t plan on was that he must write and re-write Sir Una’s story until he gets it right, or that he would fall in love Sir Una time and time again.
Thoughts: The Everlasting was full of shocking moments I didn’t see coming, the smallest detail later revealing what is really going on as the story progressed and and then regressed through time. It is a story with star-crossed lovers, looping time travel, and plays heavy with gender role reversal. At times I felt this was a “choose your own adventure” only to wonder if there really was a “choice” at all? The answer: there is always a choice and perhaps you really can go back in time to fix things, but after the fix has been made, the future may not have the same outcome you intended. The Everlasting was at times heavy with grief and best intentions that did not fare well in the end. Don’t get me wrong, this story was sad but did have a wonderful happy ending.
“The Everlasting" by Alix E. Harrow
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The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sara Beth Durst
“The Enchanted Greenhouse” by Sara Beth Durst
Standalone
Cozy Fantasy
3/5
Synopsis:
Terlu Perna is a lonely librarian in the Great Library of the capitol. Longing for another sentient being to keep her company, she uses magic that is forbidden to her and gives a plant life. As a result Terlu is cursed, turned into a statue, and is placed in the great library for all to see as a reminder that magic outside of your station is forbidden.
Six years later, Terry wakes up on a remote island. She is herself again and goes off in search of someone who can help her get her bearings. She discovers a large greenhouse full of dying plants, tended by the only other being on the island: the pessimistic gardener who prefers to be alone. Terlu learns that the greenhouse is one of many on the island that are dying due to a curse a deceased sorcerer placed after his daughter’s death. Together with the help of some unexpected companions, Terlu uses magic to undo this curse and revive the greenhouses and the entire island.
Thoughts: The Enchanted Greenhouse was a much-needed departure from the high-stakes fantasy novels that have become my “norm.” The Spellshop books are a series of inter-connected standalone novels. In the Enchanted Greenhouse we follow the story of Turlu, the librarian who created the sentient plant Caz, featured in book 1, The Spellshop. As a gardener myself, I appreciated the cleverness of the multiple ecosystems featured in each greenhouse, as well as the reason why the greenhouses were failing. This was a low-stakes sweet story of personal healing and growth.
“The Enchanted Greenhouse” by Sarah Beth Durst
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And there you have it! This is my February Archive: Every Book I Read in the Month of February
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