The start to 2026… has been a lot. I think I’ll leave it at that.

But, it’s been a great time to dive into books. I read 13 books over January and February and had a good mix of fiction and non-fiction.

The list includes:

• The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
• The Jasad Crown by Sara Hashem
• Pathfinders by J.L. Collins
• Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
• The Burning God by R.F. Kuang
• Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
• When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur
• The Last Town by Blake Crouch
• Run Like a Pro (Even If You’re Slow) by Ben Rosario and Matt Fitzgerald
• The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas
• The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino
• Private Rites by Julia Armfield
• Empire of AI by Karen Hao

Let’s get into the reviews!

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem

I know it’s still early in the year, but this might end up being one of my favorite books of 2026!

Sylvia has a secret. She isn’t just Sylvia, she’s actually the heir to Jasad that everyone believes was killed. Since then, all magic has been outlawed and being Jasadi is a crime. If anyone knew she was Jasadi, much less the heir, she would be killed. So, when the heir to Nizahl catches Sylvia singing a Jasadi song, a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse begins. Will Arin uncover her biggest secret, or will Sylvia be able to fade back into anonymity?

If you read this, go ahead and have the sequel ready to go. It ends with some major drama!

Rating: 10/10

The Jasad Crown by Sara Hashem

This is the second book in The Scorched Throne duology. So, spoilers for the first book (above) might be ahead. Proceed with caution!

After the shocking ending to the first book, Sylvia and Arin find themselves reeling from how everything unfolded. Sylvia has been “rescued” by a Jasadi rebel group who have big plans for her, but she knows what they’re asking of her will cost her everything. Meanwhile, Arin finds his entire world has been turned upside down. He has no choice but to begin digging through all the lies he’s been told about Nizahl, Jasad, his father, and himself.

This duology was incredible! While I found this book to be a little slower paced than the first, the epilogue left me an emotional mess. Be prepared.

Rating: 9/10

Pathfinders by J.L. Collins

After tearing through The Simple Path to Wealth (check out my review here), I was excited to dive into this book. It was promoted as a series of stories from people who followed J.L. Collins’ path to financial independence.

Some of the stories were interesting, but to me, I found most to be surface level. I had been hoping to get into all of the details regarding budgeting and how people managed to save 50% of their income. Did they use special budgeting apps? How did they keep grocery costs down? I think if you’re looking to feel inspired, it may be best to re-read The Simple Path to Wealth.

Rating: 6.5/10

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

On average, we live 4,000 weeks. You may get more; you may get less. So, how do you move forward knowing that time is so short? Oliver Burkeman makes the case that you must accept you will never feel like you are doing enough. Things will slip through the cracks. You can’t do it all. And that’s OK.

Some parts of this book really resonated with me and felt reassuring. Other parts were a bit depressing. It leaves you with a lot to think about.

Rating: 8/10

The Burning God by R.F. Kuang

This is the third book in the Poppy War series (my review for The Poppy War is here and my review for The Dragon Republic is here), so spoilers may be ahead. Proceed with caution.

After the big betrayal at the end of book two, Rin retreats to her home in the south to regroup and find a way to take on the Dragon Republic. She ends up aligning with some unlikely allies in her journey to end the war once and for all. But once the fight is over, what will remain of her and her people?

This series was such a journey, it’s hard to even explain all the emotions you experience. I need someone I know to read it, so I can really talk it out.

I can’t wait to check out R.F. Kuang’s other books!

Rating: 10/10

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Set in Pre-Columbian Americas, this was different than most fantasy books I’ve read.

In the city of Tova, the Sun Priest is preparing for the solar eclipse while feeling threatened by those closest to her. The others on the Council have always treated her differently and wished for her power. Meanwhile, Xiala, a ship captain, has just been bailed out of jail by a man who wants her to take a mysterious passenger to Tova in time for the eclipse. From the moment she sees him, Xiala knows there’s more to this passenger than she’s being told. A dangerous journey begins.

I struggled a bit with the worldbuilding in this one, but I really enjoyed the characters, especially Xiala and Serapio. I may read the sequel just to see what happens to them.

Rating: 7/10

When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur

In Carrion, Georgia, devils lurk and prey upon the town. While some may think it’s just a myth, Sam and Neera know it’s the truth. There is something deeply wrong with the town and when someone they know goes missing, Sam and Neera find themselves drawn into the mystery along with a true crime podcaster and the son of the area’s richest family. What they uncover is worse than any of them could have imagined.

This book had creepy Southern gothic vibes that I loved, but it felt just a bit too slow at times.

Rating: 7/10

The Last Town by Blake Crouch

This is the third book in the Wayward Pines series (Check out review for Pines here and my review for Wayward here), so spoilers may be ahead. Proceed with caution.

It’s hard to end a series in a satisfying way, but this book did a pretty good job!

After Dr. Pilcher powered down the gates protecting Wayward Pines, Ethan realizes they have no choice but to try to flee up into the mountains as a swarm of “abbies” is approaching. But trying to escape when there’s nowhere to go is an impossible task. Ethan soon realizes he needs to get to the control room and face Dr. Pilcher one final time. A battle for the survival of the human race ensues.

The ending to this one… I need more.

Rating: 8/10

Run Like a Pro (Even If You’re Slow) by Ben Rosario and Matt Fitzgerald

As someone that reads a lot of running books and listens to a lot of running-related podcasts, I may not have been the best audience for this book as it covered many ideas I’ve heard before.

Ben Rosario and Matt Fitzgerald examine different topics like recovery, nutrition, and more from the perspective of elite athletes. While not everything elite athletes do is feasible for a normal person with a job, there were some interesting lessons. If you’re new to running, this could be a good starting point for thinking about the big picture of running. Personally, I really enjoyed looking through the various training plans toward the end. I’m very intrigued by the 50k training plan!

Rating: 7/10

The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas

This was a short, informative read!

Leah Thomas examines environmentalism and environmental issues from the perspective of people and the communities that are most impacted. She dives into the history of environmentalism and how that has evolved over time and what evolutions are still needed for the future. When we talk about protecting the environment, we need to remember that humans are part of that too!

Rating: 8/10

The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino

Grey is a well serving in the military alongside, Kier, a mage that she’s known since childhood. Kier and Grey not only share magic, but each other’s secrets. When the two are tasked with bringing a mysterious girl, who claims to be the missing heir to Locke, to a neighboring kingdom, Grey and Kier are forced to make life-altering (maybe even world-altering) decisions.

I don’t want to say too much more and risk spoiling anything, but I will say there are some parallels between this book and The Jasad Heir (though I am partial to The Jasad Heir).

Rating: 7/10

Private Rites by Julia Armfield

Three sisters, Isla, Irene, and Agnes, are struggling to navigate the death of their father, a famous architect. While none of them were particularly close to their dad, his death is emotionally confusing as it brings up memories from their childhood – including the death of Isla and Irene’s mother and the strange disappearance of Agnes’ mother. What happened to Agnes’ mom and why does Agnes feel like she’s being watched?

This book was strange and I’m not sure how I feel about it. It was literary fiction. It was horror. It was a love story. It was a family drama. And it was very bleak. Set in a world wrecked by climate change, the constant rainfall and flooding was almost its own character. Don’t even get me started on the ending…

Rating: 7/10

Empire of AI by Karen Hao

I feel like this book becomes more relevant with each passing day.

Karen Hao, a journalist, dives into OpenAI (the organization behind ChatGPT), its mission, and its leaders. It’s a very interesting read as the world seems to be surging ahead toward AI in everything and everywhere. What does that mean for people, the environment, and the future?

If you have questions about AI, I would recommend checking this out. It’s a bit long, but a thought-provoking read.

Rating: 7/10

Want more reviews? Check out what I read in December 2025!

As always, I want to know what YOU are reading. Please leave a comment below with some of your latest favorites!