Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

February is almost at its end. How was your reading this month?

Answer the following questions:

- Title
- Author
- Rating
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio)
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable)
- Brief reason why it was the best

2023 Best Books Listopia

- Title: People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present
- Author: Dara Horn
- Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Format: Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for: A book with an unusual or surprising title
- Brief reason why it was the best: This was an excellent, thought-provoking book. I learned a lot because Dara Horn is brilliant, and it was a surprisingly fast and easy read for such a heavy subject. This is a book I wish everyone would read.

The book bogged down strangely with a middle chapter that seemed endless; after I finished the book I realized it was actually a collection of previously published essays and it made more sense why the pacing suddenly changed for a single chapter.

- Title: The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina
- Author Zoraida Córdova
- Rating: I don't rate
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): currently slotted in a book about returning home
- Brief reason why it was the best: An Ecuadorian grandmother with mysterious powers, a magical house, too many grandchildren to count (helpful family tree at beginning of book): It's Encanto for grown-ups!

My only 5 star book this month was The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams. I’m sure lots of us are suckers for books about books and readers… this was heart warming and a fun look at a corner of modern London. I used it for prompt 6, a book where books are important.

- Title - Love Marriage
- Author - Monica Ali
- Rating - 5 star
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - 21. A book by an Asian diaspora author
- Brief reason why it was the best - A complex story of relationships both familiar and sexual interwoven with issues of race and healthcare.

I have had a great February. I read 54 books and these are my top 3:

Recently published fiction:
Title: Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
Author: R.F. Kuang
Rating: 5*
Format: audio
ATY Prompt: 3. A book that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the 2023 list (linguistics)
Brief reason: It is an anti-colonialist narrative that uses a magical realist element related to silver, which stands for the many resources that colonial powers extracted from the countries they occupied. The characters are easy to root for and exhibit growth. It is easy to become immersed in, especially for readers who don’t mind a slow build to a dramatic climax.
My Review

Older fiction:
Title: Flaubert's Parrot
Author: Julian Barnes
Rating: 5*
Format: e-book
ATY prompt: It would fit prompt 6. A book where books are important (but I used a different book for that one)
Brief reason: It is a humorously written clever work of creative brilliance that deals with both obsession and the drive to gain meaning from tragedies in one’s life. I have only read a couple of Flaubert’s works so I do not think it is necessary to be well-versed in his writings to appreciate this book. It will not be for everyone, but I enjoyed every minute of it and will likely re-read it in the future.
My Review

Non-Fiction:
Title: The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World
Author: Max Fisher
Rating: 5*
Format: audio
ATY Prompt: Could be used for 18. A book related to science
Brief reason: This book examines the role social media has played in the rise of conspiracy theories, racism, nationalism, disinformation, hate speech, outrage, polarization, and fear. Anyone who regularly participates in social media nees to understand what algorithms and machine learning are doing to society, and how they are engineered to direct users’ attention to more extreme content, regardless of whether or not it is true.
My Review

Title: A Case of Possession
Author: KJ Charles
Rating: 5 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 48 - with an unusually large version of an animal
Brief reason why it was the best: Combines magic & m/m romance in 19th Century London, with a beautifully rendered setting, great nuanced characters, snarky and fun dialogue, and an interesting mystery.

- Title: Demon Copperhead
- Author: Barbara Kingsolver
- Rating: 5*
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): Set in a place starting with A, T, or Y (Appalachia)
- Brief reason why it was the best: An engaging and striking story of a region and an unlikely hero, but also a brilliant retelling/adaptation of Charles Dickens' David Copperfield. It was fascinating to see how Kingsolver brought in various characters and plot elements that worked just as well today as in the 19th century. The audio was excellent, conveying the sense of place by the narrator's accent.

My best book of February

- Title: The Cruel Prince
- Author: Holly Black
- Rating: 4.5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): print, hardcover
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 28 - a book that is dark. Cruelty is dark, and the hardcover beneath the dustjacket is black.

- Brief reason why it was the best: It's a solid YA fantasy with faeries and I can't wait to read the sequels. I like how the faeries here are depicted. They can't lie, but they can use their words cleverly. They have a totally different moral compass from humans, so it's hard to predict what they'll do next. And the political intrigue was so... intriguing.

My ATY challenge

- Title: The Keepers of the House
- Author: Shirley Ann Grau
- Rating: 5*
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): e-book
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): book with inter-racial relationship
- Brief reason why it was the best: this is a rich family saga with in depth characters, taking place in the United States Deep South. This is also a picture of the community, where everyone knows what’s going on with everyone, and has opinions about it. Fast-paced.

Title: Kinauvit?: What’s Your Name? The Eskimo Disc System and a Daughter’s Search for her Grandmother
Author: Norma Dunning
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format: hardcover
Prompt: none
Reasons: A piece of history I knew nothing about. The author is also a talented writer.


Title: The Sweetest Betrayal
Author: Natalie Mae
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format: Ebook
Prompt: none
Reasons: Series ender of a fun ya fantasy. I wanted to re-read the series after I finished it.

- Title: The Starless Sea
- Author: Erin Morgenstern
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 6. A book where books are important
- Brief reason why it was the best: Written beautifully. Some books are about the characters. Some about the story. Erin Morgensterns are about the setting. She creates magical worlds that I want to believe in.

- Title: The Marriage of Opposites
- Author: Alice Hoffman
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 19. a book related to the arts
- Brief reason why it was the best: This historical fiction novel is set on the island of St. Thomas and this setting felt luxurious. This is the story of the mother of impressionist artist Camille Pissaro. The characters are all well-drawn.

Joy D wrote: "I have had a great February. I read 54 books and these are my top 3:

Recently published fiction:
Title: [book:Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revo..."

Wow! That's a lot of books. 🤩

Only one stand out this month! But it was a very big stand out. :D

- Title: Cupid Calling
- Author: Viano Oniomoh
- Rating: 5/5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 15-17. Three books, each of which is set in a different century (Set in the 2020s!)
- Brief reason why it was the best: It was so cute! I've had a slightly sloggish month reading wise, everything new I tried was less than impressive, and this was such a sweet thing to liven my reading up. A reality show romance where two bachelors fall in love instead.

I have two that I can't choose between.
- Title Mad Honey
- Author Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
- Rating - 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) both ebook and audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - 13. an object that is repeated on the cover
- Brief reason why it was the best - Right now I am in a period of reexploring what I enjoy reading and this just worked. I think I appreciated the mix of mystery and contemporary fiction - what the mystery lacked the rest of the story made up for. I felt like the duel perspective were really well done - a great use of both the authors voices.

- Title - Carrie Soto Is Back
- Author - Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Rating - 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) mix of ebook and audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - Multi week century prompt - 20th century.
- Brief reason why it was the best - Taylor Jenkins Reid made me enjoy a book that was based on tennis. After DNFing Apples Never Fall I was leery of picking up another tennis book by a favorite author. But this worked! I think it was the relationships that made the this a winner for me. I listened to most of the tennis completion part on audio and they were pretty fun that way. In any case I went in pretty skeptical and was shocked by how much I enjoyed it.

- Title: Unlikely Animals
- Author: Annie Hartnett
- Rating: initially 5 stars, dropped to 4.5 the morning after (it could really go either way)
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): I am fitting things in multiple prompts this year, so: A book with the theme of returning home; A book with an unusually large version of an animal in the story (120 lb dog); Three books, each of which is set in a different century (21st century) -- it applies to way more (especially the one with ghosts and birds/bees/bunnies, off the top of my head) but I already filled those
- Brief reason why it was the best: Hartnett is great at taking disparate elements and weaving them together in interesting and compelling ways and building a group of completely unique characters that you just can't help but root for. What's a good synonym for quirky? Her books are that while also touching on serious topics (the opioid crisis, a likely-fatal brain ailment, family dysfunction/troubled relationships, Titanic the musical, etc.) and are balanced in a way that is just perfect for my reading taste.
I read her book Rabbit Cake for a book club a few years ago, and imo it had a similar feel (serious topics, complex but mostly lovable characters, poignant and funny situations), which is what made me pick up this one.
This book is definitely not for everyone, but if you like a book that is sad and funny and relatable and will also make you (or at least me) sob on the last page, try this one out!

(P.S. Titanic the musical is mostly a joke re: serious topics, but it is in there, also a lot of ghosts)

- Title: The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives
- Author: Dashka Slater
- Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 20 / route of travel
- Brief reason why it was the best:
Heartbreaking true story, which makes you questioning what's right and what's wrong, what is justice and injustice ...

- Title:
- Author: Alena Mornštajnová
- Rating: 5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A book that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the list this year (A book with a character who is an orphan)
- Brief reason why it was the best: A sad but beautiful book about horrors of WWII and its consequences.

- Title:
- Author: Bonnie Garmus
- Rating: 5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A book with a school subject in the title / A book related to science / An author's debut book
- Brief reason why it was the best: Fun book set in 1960s that shows obstacles women faced in everyday life.

- Title: Above Ground
- Author: Clint Smith
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format: Ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for: none (I'm going in order, there are probably some it could've fit if my timing was different)
- Brief reason why it was the best: A tender, raw, funny, moving collection of poetry by one of my favorite new(ish? when do you stop being new, in poetry?) talents in the field.


- Title: The Maker of Swans
- Author: Paraic O'Donnell
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format: Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for: none (I'm going in order, there are probably some it could've fit if my timing was different)
- Brief reason why it was the best: It was the first book I finished in February, and I'm still thinking about it. It hit all the right notes for me - historical fantasy that plays with the idea of language, with a dreamy, wondering quality, never bothering with rules and systems of magic but letting it be...magical.

Hi. I have three books this month. 2 fiction & 1 nonfiction.
Nonfiction
- Title: From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home
- Author: Tembi Locke
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): paperback
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): #37 A book with a theme of returning home.
- Brief reason why it was the best: I knew nothing about the book. I was drawn to the cover. I love the expressions on their faces. I love the colors. I also liked the story. Very honest & open story about grief.

Ficttion
- Title: Memphis
- Author: Tara M. Stringfellow
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): #9 A book nominated for an award beginning with w
- Brief reason why it was the best: I like generational stories. This story was very believable. I bonded quickly to the characters & the setting.

- Title: The Violin Conspiracy
- Author: Brendan Slocumb
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): #8 An author"s debut book
- Brief reason why it was the best: It caught me in the who done it from the beginning. Very easy read & the chapters went fast. I read it in one day.

What Moves the Dead
by T. Kingfisher
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was just the perfect mix of gothic ambience, mysterious happenings, and intriguing characters for me.

Listopia updated through here!

I had three "Best" books this month, but I'm going to list one fiction and one non-fiction.

Nonfiction:
- Title: The Climate Book: The Facts and the Solutions
- Author: Greta Thunberg
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): N/A
- Brief reason why it was the best: This is an urgent message to the governments of the world to act on Global Warming, and to act now. It is not a feel good book, and was hard to listen to in some parts, but it contains such good information that everyone should read it.

Fiction
- Title: Someone Else's Shoes
- Author: Jojo Moyes
- Rating: 4 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): N/A
- Brief reason why it was the best: I'm not sure this author can write a bad book. This is an engrossing and feel-good contemporary novel about things that come to pass when you grab the wrong bag at the gym.

And for those who are browsing here, I also loved The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean.

2 thrillers

- Title :Woman on the Edge
- Author: Samantha M. Bailey
- Rating : 4 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) : A book with a cover or title that includes a route of travel
- Brief reason why it was the best: The book gets off to a flying start with a woman begging the MC to take her baby, seeming to know her while she doesn't know the woman before leaping in front the train. From there, it's a tight thriller.

- Title: Survive the Night
- Author : Riley Sager
- Rating: 4 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable); A book where the cover design includes text that is not completely horizontal
- Brief reason why it was the best: The plot on the book made it seem not as interesting as some of his other books, but he's one of the better modern thriller writers and kept me hooked.

-Title: The Murder of Mr. Wickham
-Author: Claudia Gray
-Rating: 5 stars
-Format: Print
-ATY Prompt used for: Pride
-Brief reason why it was best: Really interesting development of Austen characters and their relationships. Also, Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney made wonderful amateur sleuths.

Title Faithful Place
Author Tana French
Rating 5 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio) Print
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) A book set in a UNESCO City of Literature (Dublin)
Brief reason why it was the best I've never actually been to Dublin but after reading this book I feel like I have. The way the accent was written I could hear it. The writing is captivating. I may have figured out The Mystery before it was officially revealed but how the characters dealt with it was so well written. I will be thinking about this one for a while.

Title- One Hundred Twenty-One Days
Author- Michèle Audin, a French mathematician
Rating- 5
Format (Print, eBook, Audio)- Print, published by Deep Vellum Publishing of Dallas, Texas
ATY Prompt- #11 A book about a person/character with a disability
Brief reason why it was the best- the story of French Mathematicians from WW1 to WW2, some injured and left disabled (mentally and/or physically), some murdered in the camps. It is written using a constrained style of writing called Oulipo: part diary, part reference material, part fable, part novel. She is only the second woman to ever write for the Oulipo group.

- Title: Every Heart a Doorway
- Author: Seanan McGuire
- Rating: 4 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 34: A novella
- Brief reason why it was the best: This book is beautiful in a dark way. It's about not fitting in, being different, finding where one belongs. It's about the dreams we lost as we grew up.

Oh my gosh - I had NINE five star reads this month and nothing else under four stars. It was a good month. Narrowing down the list is painful - LOL, but here goes:

- Title: Crooked Kingdom
- Author: Leigh Bardugo
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 11. A book about a person/character with a disability
- Brief reason why it was the best: This book was full of twists and turns, and I wasn't always sure where it was going! I love a book that keeps me guessing. The cast of characters, while not always likable, is always intriguing. There is a character with a physical disability as well as a character with a learning disability.

- Title: Becoming
- Author: Michelle Obama
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 29. A book that is light
- Brief reason why it was the best: I enjoyed almost every page of this book. I loved reading about her life and her love story with Barack. Reading about her reluctant journey into a life of politics was fascinating. I put her book under "light" because I feel like she is a light in the world.

- Title: Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia
- Author: editor: Anita Heiss
- Rating: 5 Stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 26. A book related to pride
- Brief reason why it was the best: This book was our second Books by Indigenous Women book club selection. It was a book of different stories and essays by Aboriginal individuals in Australia. I learned a lot and realized that I know very little about Aboriginal communities in Australia. I had originally planned on using an LGBTQ+ focused book for this prompt, but as I read through these stories, what shown through loud and clear was a strong pride of heritage. I figured this book fit beautifully with this prompt.

Title Horse
- Author Geraldine Brooks
- Rating 5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) 19. Book related to the arts (painting plays a big part)
- Brief reason why it was the best For me, it was a very engaging story. Historical fiction at its best with lots of interesting facts (who knew there are 34 bones in a horses head).

Title: This Is How It Always Is
Author: Laurie Frankel
Rating: 5 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Kindle
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 32. A book set in a UNESCO City of Literature (Seattle) — could also have been 21st century (for multi-week multi-centuries prompt), cover w/ sun, moons, or stars (at least my edition), related to pride.
Brief reason why it was the best: I loved that this was a story about a very real feeling family and how they did the best they could to help their transgender daughter/youngest child to be happy. The four older brothers were each unique characters (even the twins), and all fully supported their youngest sibling, even if it wasn't always apparent. I learned a lot about the medical part of living with gender dysphoria (no perfect options), and about how you can't assume what other people's reactions are going to be to your struggles. I enjoyed other things in this book very much, but don't want to include spoilers or other things that are joyful to discover on your own.

This is the second book I've read this year that had realistic discussions about what it is to be transgender, without it being all dramatic and depressing (like one I read last year - Detransition, Baby). I had really wanted to read more on this topic and was hoping for more neutral to upbeat stories involving gender dysphoria. Glad I found Laurie Frankel's book.

Title: A Psalm for the Wild-Built
Author: Becky Chambers
Rating: 4 stars
Format: Hardcover novella
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): I used it for Popsugar's 'favorite prompt from a previous year' - A book with a robot, AI or cyborg character.
Brief reason why it was the best: For the second month in a row, I've picked a Chambers book. Basically, it's set in a future world, where people are much more environmentally conscious, and it features a monk and a robot having discussions on the meaning of life. It's quietly funny and hopeful.

- Title : Something to Live For
- Author : Richard Roper
- Rating : 5 stars
- Format : eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for : A book that has an object that is repeated on the cover
- Brief reason why it was the best : It's a quirky story but it is really uplifting. The characters are loveable and realistic.

Title Iron Widow
- Author Xiran Jay Zhao
- Rating 5 stars
- Format eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): A character that might be called a Tinker, Tailor, Soldier or Spy
- Brief reason why it was the best: mecha, angry YA with no love triangle, great characters and cool setting
Title: Go As a River
- Author Shelley Read
- Rating: 4.5 stars
- Format eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): an author's debut book (she has edited before but this is her first book)
- Brief reason why it was the best: great sense of place (Colorado, where I live), interesting characters, love of nature.

- Title: Catwoman: Lonely City
- Author: Cliff Chiang
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format: ebook comic
- ATY Prompt you used it for: Asian diaspora author
- Brief reason why it was the best: Cliff always uses beautifully bright colors, and his writing is excellent here too. One of my favorite Batverse comics!

- Title: Babel
- Author: R.F. Kuang
- Rating: 5 Stars
- Format: Audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for: Three books, each of which is set in a different century
- Brief reason why it was the best: This was a very wellwritten Historical and fantasy novel with the perfect.

Listopia updated through here!

Title: The Quick and the Dead
Author: Joy Williams
Rating: 4 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): It would work for several, but I’ll likely be using it for #2 (author read last year) or #42 (ghost, spirit, or specter)
Brief reason why it was the best: The characters and the plot are delightfully odd and the author’s use of language is luxuriant and subversive.

Title: War in Ukraine
Author: Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J.S. Davies
Rating: 4 stars
Format (Print, eBook, Audio): eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): #3 (colonialism or imperialism) or #22 (faceless person on cover)
Brief reason why it was the best: It’s a wonderful primer on the background of the conflict, the dangers inherent in the West’s response to the conflict, and the possibilities for a more peaceful resolution. The authors are both pacifists and their biases are on full display, but I don’t consider that to be a major flaw, as I’ve long been of the opinion that it is utterly impossible to find unbiased sources of information about any war and I generally find the assessments of pacifists to be more reliable in such matters.

Updated the listopia (before realizing Jackie was one step ahead of me lol)

My favorite book was also Babel, for all the reasons everyone already listed!

- Title - The School for Good Mothers
- Author - Jessamine Chan
- Rating - 5/5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) - eBook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) - 21 A book by an Asian diaspora author
- Brief reason why it was the best - This is a dystopian book about how parents who neglect or abuse their children are sent for 'reschooling' to see if their parental rights will be revoked. This was my favourite read from February. I can't wait to read another book by this author.

- The Book Eaters
- Sunyi Dean
- 5/5 stars
- Print
- An author's debut book
- Fascinating and original fantasy elements stuck into the real world, starring a queer mother. Plus, a book about books that loves books AND video games!

- The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
- Sangu Mandanna
- 5/5 stars
- Print
- A book with an interracial relationship
- Sweet and funny, with beautiful magic and a found family you'll want to be a part of. Touches on some important and deep topics (and made me cry!) but ultimately it felt like a warm hug.

I'm a little behind in posting this.

Title: Our Last Days in Barcelona
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (my only 5 one this year)
Format: eBook
ATY Prompt you used it for: A book set in a Unesco city of literature - Barcelona
Brief reason why it was the best: I love this author's writing. It makes me feel like I am actually there. And it was interesting to get some back story into the Perez family.

- Title: A Spool of Blue Thread
- Author: Anne Tyler
- Rating: 5 stars
- Format: Print
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): 9. A book nominated for an award beginning with W (Women's Prize for Fiction 2015)
- Brief reason why it was the best: I enjoy books that are about family and getting to know this family was a blast. I was at home with them.

- Title The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times
- Author Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams
- Rating 5 Stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) audio
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) A book related to science
- Brief reason why it was the best Who doesn't need a little hope? The audiobook was amazing, Jane Goodall is an amazing human being and hearing her voice made the message even more powerful.

Listopia updated through here!

At the beginning of February, I discovered Tessa Afshar, an author who writes historical fiction set during biblical times, and spent the rest of the month reading every book of hers I could find. It's hard choosing a favorite but I finally decided on...

- Title The Hidden Prince
- Author Tessa Afshar
- Rating 4/5 (actually a 4.5)
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio) Ebook
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable) Undecided. It could be used for several different prompts.
- Brief reason why it was the best: Set during the time of the Babylonian exile, we not only see Biblical characters like Daniel, but the intrigues of power and politics among the rulers of the time. Ms. Afshar's books always have a love story, but this novel has an equal amount of adventure as well.

A little late, but here is mine:

- Title: The Six Deaths of the Saint
- Author: Alix E. Harrow
- Rating: 4.5 stars
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): Ebook/Kindle
- ATY Prompt you used it for (if applicable): None
- Brief reason why it was the best: It's a short story from a second person POV, repeated timeline and lovely twist.

listopia updated through here!

Best Books of February

Title: The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Author: Hiro Arikawa
Rating: 5 stars
Format: ebook
ATY Prompt: #4 four colours on cover
Reason: a delightfully quirky book which recounts the story of a young man, Saturo and his cat companion Nana, on a road trip through Japan. The cat has the perfect blend of wisdom and supercilious sarcasm you would imagine if a cat was to narrate and draws you into this enchanting and poignant story. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review