Jan. & Feb. 2026 Book Reviews
I have read 6 books so far this year. Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry, Hollow by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty, The Rage of the Woodlands by B.B. Aspen, People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, and The Lies of the Eternals by B.B. Aspen Book 2 of her Realm Weaver Trilogy. I’m currently reading her 3rd book The Dreams of the Descendants. Here are my 6 book reviews! I have really quite enjoyed them all.
WARNING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Book 1 of 2026: Shield of sparrows by Devney Perry
I give Shield of Sparrows 5 out of 5 Stars. I really enjoyed the world building and the plot twists. I'm not really too critical on writing styles, but I think it flowed perfectly! I know there were some reviews that people didn't like it in the perspective of the FMC thoughts. I don't mind it in books to know what the character is thinking. I did guess pretty early on who one character actually was. It's funny how well I am good at guessing some twists in books. Which makes it fun to read! You do find out later on the truth. Now I'm super curious about the monsters in the books now. Can they shapeshift?! It's definitely a possibility. Now I'm much anticipating the 2nd book coming out in April. I will definitely be reading it once it's released. I do already have it on pre-order.
Book 2 of 2026: Hollow By Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
I read this book in 4 days as it was that good and I could not put it down. This is my first book to have read by The Twisted Sisters. The Sister Author’s nickname for Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. I don’t know yet know why! I haven’t looked it up. I have never read any of their other series of books yet. But I might pick up to read some more at some point. I definitely recommend this one.
This book had a lot of interesting plot twists. Ferris tried to sneak into the cursed forest that has been growing and swallowing up their land for years to try and save her Sister that was sacrificed to the forest. They blame the Fae for the cursed land. Every 50 years the forest opens for the Great Hunt, Humans and Fae both try to capture the spirits to receive the winning boon.
I loved the banter between Ferris and Hendrix, the dark fae she encounters on her dangerous journey. Definitely a love and hate with Hendrix. But you feel sorry for him because he only wants to save his Family just like Ferris wanting to save her Sister. They both want to break the curse but to save their loved ones.
It’s a slow burn but the tension is there and finally does collide later on with some very spicy scenes. 👀 🥵 They both end up working together to gather what spirits they could find. Ferris finds out that she has been reborn in different lifetimes to break the curse and has yet to succeed. I thought this definitely was an interesting twist. I kept thinking she had to have some kind of magic or be part of the forest itself And why the spirits were drawn to her in a way but not really attack her.
And of course Hendrix is Prince Bane the Necromancer that created the Hollows. He wants the boon to let his family rest in peace instead of being hollows. Which was his fault because he’s a traitor among his kind. He went against his own kind because he had enough of what they were doing to the Humans. So you do love his character for that.
Ferris in the end wins the boon but then becomes cursed to die if Bane doesn’t find what the Great Elm wants.
Book 3 of 2026: The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty
I give 3 out of 5 Stars for this book. Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed this with the time travel and the Arthurian legend reimagining. The main Character is Queen Guinevere! But called Vera for short. She doesn't have any of her memories. She was killed and Merlin saved her but had to send 3 of her essences [souls?] into the future with magic to grow up and then return back in time to help Camelot at a certain age. The book was very slow going and I think it went straight to hey you need to come back in time with me to save Camelot. I do think it could have started out what happened with Guinevere. Then got the Vera part where she then had to go back in time. I of course want to read the next 2 books as I saw it’s supposed to be a trilogy. Hopefully the next two will be better.
Book 4 of 2026: The RAge of the Woodlands by B.B. Aspen
This is one of my 2nd Indie Author books I have purchased back in the summer last year at the John S Knight Center in Akron, OH. I finally got around to reading it! It took me 2 weeks.
In the beginning of the book I had a hard time figuring out what was going on. It was very confusing. There is definitely a lot of world building and Characters. So many Characters! But it did get better towards the end and I really enjoyed the story and can't wait to find out what happens next. Definitely a slowburn and very spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ scenes in this book. Of course I do love my spicy romance fantasy books! So if your into that kind of thing I definitely recommend it. ❤️
Book 5 of 2026: People We meet on vacation by Emily Henry
My 5th book of the year read. 1st one in February to finish. This is one I watched the movie before I read the book. 5 stars for the book! As always the book is always better!
I really enjoyed this book. Loved the writing style and the characters. I was disappointed how much they changed in the movie! But of course books are always better than their movies 100%. That's why I love reading! Movies always cut out a lot of details.
I'm glad that Alex and Poppy realized that they were in love with each other all along! This one is not a detailed spicy romance book but I still enjoyed it anyway. I definitely recommend it! One of those cozy romance reads.
Book 6 of 2026: The Lies of the Eternals by B.B. Aspen
A lot going on but I love how the story progresses in Book 2. Sometimes I did get confused. Wisteria ends up falling in love not only with Zander, but Nikki too. Which eventually turns into a threesome. 🌶️ So if you're not into that I wouldn't read it. I'm not into it either but it's still a good fantasy read for me. As I believe in having only one person to love and marry. This book does have Multiple point of views unlike the 1st book in her trilogy.
Wisteria also finds out about the lies from the Eternals. How she is a vessel now and awakens to having powers from her dead ex-lover Anna who was actually an Eternal, Anthromancia [I hope I spelled that right!]. I was so excited that in the end Wisteria ends up becoming immortal. 😱 Nikki gave her his second heart! I’m like ahhh! Just when I thought he was going to end up getting killed in the book.
I'm currently reading the 3rd book and can't wait to find out what happens next. Poor Zander got controlled and kidnapped in the end of the 2nd book.