My February Reads: Dungeon Crawling, Sci-Fi, and a Bit of Struggle

February turned out to be a solid reading month. I made my way through five books, most of which I thoroughly enjoyed—though one left me scratching my head. I even had one book I had to set aside for now. Another first for me this month: every book I read was on my Kindle. I’m trying to cut back on buying so many physical books because they take up so much space, and honestly, I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed the digital reading experience.

From the action-packed insanity of Dungeon Crawler Carl to some unique sci-fi and cozy contemplative reads, here’s how my February shaped up.

Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 3: The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook – ★★★★★

The Dungeon Crawler Carl series continues to be one of my absolute favorites. Book three, The Anarchist’s Cookbook, ramped up the stakes, the chaos, and the dark humor. Matt Dinniman has a way of balancing intense action with laugh-out-loud moments, and I couldn’t put this one down. Carl and Donut’s journey deeper into the dungeon took some wild turns, and I’m still in awe of how creative this series manages to be. Five stars, no hesitation.

Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 4: The Gate of the Feral Gods – ★★★★★

I didn’t slow down after finishing book three—I jumped right into The Gate of the Feral Gods. This one had even crazier fights, deeper lore, and some moments that genuinely caught me off guard. The humor still hits, the worldbuilding is fantastic, and the emotional beats land hard. By the time I reached the end, I knew I wasn’t stopping here. Another easy five-star read.

A Frost of Time and Tears – ★★★★½

This book was a beautifully written, emotional read. It had a gripping plot, solid worldbuilding, and characters I actually cared about. It wasn’t quite a perfect five-star experience for me, but it came really close. The atmosphere in this book was what stuck with me the most—there was a cold, haunting feel to it that worked perfectly for the story. Definitely worth picking up if you like fantasy with a melancholic edge.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built – ★★★★½

I finally got around to reading A Psalm for the Wild-Built, and it did not disappoint. This book is like a warm hug—quiet, introspective, and thought-provoking. It’s not action-heavy, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a meditation on purpose, choice, and what it means to be human (or a robot). The dialogue between Dex and Mosscap was so well done, and I found myself slowing down to savor the writing. I’ll definitely be continuing with the series.

The Terraformers – ★★½ - ★★★

This one was a struggle. I really wanted to like it—there were great ideas here, and I appreciated the ambitious worldbuilding, but for whatever reason, I just couldn’t stay engaged. Which is weird because I absolutely loved her other books. I kept finding myself zoning out or needing to reread sections to figure out what was happening. Maybe it was the pacing, maybe it was the way the narrative was structured, but this book just didn’t work for me the way I hoped it would. I’ll give it a generous 2.5 to 3 stars, but I doubt I’ll revisit it.

DNF: The Blacktongue Thief

I tried. I really did. The Blacktongue Thief had a promising premise, and I know a lot of people love it, but I just couldn’t get into it. Something about the writing style or the pacing wasn’t clicking for me, so I ended up setting it aside. I might give it another shot down the road, but for now, it’s a DNF.

Currently Reading: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 5 – The Butcher’s Masquerade

Because I can’t get enough of Dungeon Crawler Carl, I’m already deep into book five. So far, it’s delivering everything I love about the series—insane action, absurd humor, and some genuinely great character moments. I have a feeling this one’s going to be another five-star read.

Closing the Book on February

February was a great reading month overall. I found some new favorites, stuck with a series I love, and even though The Terraformers didn’t quite hit for me, I’m glad I gave it a shot. And while The Blacktongue Thief didn’t work out (at least for now), not every book is for every reader.

Looking ahead, I’m definitely going to finish The Butcher’s Masquerade in March, and who knows—maybe I’ll even finish Dungeon Crawler Carl book six before the month is over.

What did you read in February? Let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought!