MY JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2026 READING WRAP-UP

Eiyo dearies,

I'm back after a one-week break ^_^ Happy May! A new month has arrived. Weeeeee!!! How was your April? I hope you guys had a good month. And I pray May will be better for us. Aamiin. Syukur alhamdulillah, April was a good month for me. I'm grateful and happy with all the things I achieved during April. During April, I launched my third novel, Manchester Epiphany, participated in the UKM Book Fair 2026, and made awesome sales for my third novel. Syukur alhamdulillah. I hope to achieve better in May and June. Aamiin.

Okay, since it's already May, let me share with you guys my March & April 2026 reading wrap-up. Check out all the books I've read during March and April ...

#1 SEJARAH UMAT ISLAM

AUTHOR: Hamka

PUBLISHER: PTS

GENRE: Non-Fiction & History

LANGUAGE: Bahasa Indonesia

PAGES: 1059 pages

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sejarah Umat Islam (The History of Islam) is an Islamic version of Peter Frankopan's The Silk Roads. This book takes you to explore Islam, starting from the ancient Arab era to the 17th-century Nusantara times.  This book helps you to broaden your knowledge of Islam. Besides Islam, you can also learn the history of Arab, Indian, Mongol, Turkish, and Nusantara by reading this book.

MY REVIEW

I've started reading Sejarah Umat Islam at the beginning of Ramadan, and finished reading it at the end of Ramadan. I'm glad that I chose to read this book. Sejarah Umat Islam is a good book to read during the beautiful holy month. Plus, it makes a good company. Alhamdulillah, I made the right choice ^_^

Reading Sejarah Umat Islam makes me learn more about my religion, Islam. It also makes me question myself on the things I thought I knew about Islam. Islam is a very beautiful religion. I'm grateful that I'm born Islam. Syukur alhamdulillah.

Learning about how Islam came to Nusantara is very interesting. Nusantara does have a connection with Arab. Oh wow!!! Overall, I'm giving this book a 10/10. I highly recommend Sejarah Umat Islam by Hamka to those who want to learn and know more about Islam, Arab, Indian, Mongol, Turkish, and Nusantara.

#2 SITI: QUEEN OF THE EASTERN SKIES

AUTHOR: Ninot Aziz

PUBLISHER: Hikayat Fandom

GENRE: Historical Retelling

LANGUAGE: English

PAGES: 169 Pages

THE STORY

Siti tells the story of Che Siti Wan Kembang, the legendary and beloved Queen of Tanah Serendah Sekebun Bunga (present-day, Kelantan).  The story begins with Che Banum, a princess from Pahang, who travels to Kelantan to become the wife of Raja Ahmad. From their marriage, the couple had a daughter named Che Siti Wan Kembang. Later, Raja Ahmad appointed Che Siti as his successor. Kelantan is going to have a lady ruler after Raja Ahmad. The king believes that his princess will become a mighty queen to the kingdom, despite the court's disagreement.

After the sudden death of Raja Ahmad, Che Banum sends her daughter on a courageous journey through Patani, Champa, and Aceh to seek wisdom and forge her destiny. This journey is also to protect Che Siti from a forced marriage to the King of Siam. 

Che Siti returns to her kingdom at the age of 24. She becomes the Queen of Tanah Serendah Sekebun Bunga. Being a queen is never easy. Che Siti faces numerous challenges, from politics to betrayals to battles. She even has to put her personal interest aside. But Che Siti remains unbroken. Guided by courage, loyalty, and love, Che Siti becomes sovereign. Till now, her name still echoes in history ...

MY REVIEW

Growing up, I was always fascinated with Che Siti Wan Kembang. To me, Che Siti is one of the most inspiring women in Malaysian history. Reading Siti helps me to broaden my knowledge of Che Siti Wan Kembang and Kelantan. Besides learning history, this novel also makes me learn the Kelantanese culture. That's awesome!

Siti is beautifully written. I like Ninot Aziz's writing style in this novel. Very artsy, yet precise. Ninot Aziz's writing style makes it easy for me to visualize the story. And thanks to the beautiful illustrations. Those help me to visualize the story too. Like The Tales of Genji, reading Siti also makes me feel like I've travelled back in time. Yup, I feel like I've been transported to ancient Kelantan and met Che Siti Wan Kembang. That's super awesome!

Overall, I'm giving this novel a 10/10. It's a brilliant work by Ninot Aziz. I highly recommend it to my fellow bookworms, especially those who are history buffs. Siti: Queen of the Eastern Skies is a novel you must not miss!

#3 THE LITTLE PRINCE

AUTHOR: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

PUBLISHER: Egmont

GENRE: Classic Literature & Fantasy

LANGUAGE: English

PAGES: 91 pages

THE STORY

A young pilot is forced to land in a desert. In the desert, he meets a little prince. The prince comes from a small planet that looks like a meteoroid. With three volcanoes and a haughty flower. The little prince shares fascinating stories about his planet.

Together, they embark on an adventure. The little prince shows the pilot other planets nearby his. They met different kinds of personalities on each planet. From the little prince, the pilot learns a lot of new things about life. And he begins to question everything he thought he knew about life ...

MY REVIEW

This is the second time I've read The Little Prince. I first read it when I was 31. Reading it for the second time makes me understand and appreciate the story better. The Little Prince is a deep story about life and self-discovery. It tells you about life from a child's perspective. Yes, there are times children see life more deeply than adults. And yes, you can see everything better if you open your heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.

I love The Little Prince a lot. This book is one of my all-time favorite classic reads. It's a very beautiful book to read, indeed. Overall, I'm giving this masterpiece a 10/10. I highly recommend it to all my fellow bookworms. The Little Prince is a novel that all bookworms and literature buffs must not miss.

KING OF PRIDE

AUTHOR: Ana Huang

PUBLISHER: Piatkus

GENRE: New Adult Romance

LANGUAGE: English

PAGES: 347 pages

THE STORY

King of Pride (KOP) is the second book in Ana Huang's Kings of Sin series. The story follows an Asian conglomerate named Kai Young. Kai is reserved, almost flawless, and proud. He is one of the candidates to become the new CEO of his family's company, DigiStream.

Kai has everything under control. He protects himself from getting involved in any scandal that could ruin his reputation. But along comes purple-haired beauty, Isabella Valencia. Isabella is bold, impulsive, and unapologetically herself aspring author. Yes, she dreams of becoming an erotica thriller author.

Isabella is so the opposite of Kai. But Kai instantly connects with her. Isabella's present brings color to Kai's life. His life is no longer just about work and business. To Isabella, Kai is not her type. But she can't deny that, beneath his iceberg persona, Kai is a man who could make her melt with just one touch. Isabella sees the side of Kai that others don't see.

But Kai and Isabella still have to face obstacles, no matter how strong their feelings are for each other.  And they are from two different worlds. Plus, both have different dreams that they don't want to give up ...

MY REVIEW

Firstly, I absolutely love KOP. Mostly, I like the moral messages that Ana Huang wants her readers to bring home. To achieve anything good, you have to face loads of obstacles. But just because there are obstacles, it doesn't mean you have to give up. No, never! Especially on dreams and true love! And yes, true love comes to you when you start to work on your dreams. 

I like the electrifying chemistry between Kai and Isabella. Their relationship is so mature and gentle. Kai and Isbaella's relationship are build on trust, support, and patience. And they are always ready to forgive each other. They are so honest with each other. This is the kind of romantic relationship that I have always dreamed of having <3 <3

Like most of Ana Huang's male leads, Kai Young is definitely a swoon-worthy hero. I like the way he shows his love for Isabella. He loves her quirkiness, sees her as whole. And I definitely like that he supports her throughout her writing journey. Kai and Isabella are a match made in heaven. Right now, I can't decide between Kai Young and Asher Donovan. Hehehe >_<

Isabella Valencia is now my favorite Ana Huang's female lead. I like that she is unapologetically herself. She's a character full of life. As an author, I can understand Isabella and feel her. Writing your manuscript to become a published author is not easy, guys. It takes courage and unwavering faith. Yes, you'll face obstacles, doubts, and even heartbreaks. But this doesn't mean you have to give up. What Isabella faced is also what I faced before publishing Fail Merah (my first novel).

Overall, I'm giving KOP a 10/10. I love this novel a lot. I can also strongly relate KOP with my second novel, Saranghaeyo Namsan ^_^. Saranghaeyo Namsan is also about an aspiring author who faces loads of obstacles to achieve her dreams. But her courage and unwavering faith make her score more than just her dream. She finds true love <3  I highly recommend KOP to my fellow bookworms who are into the new adult romance genre, and those who dream of becoming authors like Isabella and me. Hehehe ^_^

DRASIN KINGDOM

AUTHOR: Bella Chu

PUBLISHER: Manes' Wordworks

GENRE: Romantasy

LANGUAGE: English

PAGES: 483 pages

THE STORY

Drasin Kingdom is a land ruled by faes. There are no humans in it. Most faes in the Drasin Kingdom own a dragon. Dragons are mighty creatures that protect the kingdom. King Victor is haunted by his own prophecy. The old king keeps having nightmares that his son and heir, Prince Alaric, is going to bring the Drasin Kingdom to its downfall. Prince Alaric fights to prove his father and everyone wrong. Yes, he is going to be a great ruler! And at the same time, Prince Alaric cannot deny his desire for Helena, a half-fae and half-human. He needs her. 

Helena has spent years hiding her power to travel between realms. She never sought the crown's favour. But her powers become the Drasin Kingdom's last hope. And her heart is tested~ especially for the man who once shattered it. 

With magic and betrayal threatening Drasin Kingdom, Helena and Prince Alaric must work together. They need to find a cure and protect the kingdom. But are they strong enough to fight their enemy? Will King Victor's prophecy come true?

MY REVIEW

Whoa! First of all, I have to admit that Drasin Kingdom is one of the best fantasy novels I've read. Everything about this novel is amazing! Also, I can relate Drasin Kingdom to some of my all-time favorite fantasy reads, such as Eragon, Orakel Dewata, Divine Rivals, and Ruthless Vows.

I highly salute Bella Chu for her amazing imagination and world-building. Drasin Kingdom is such a beautiful place to be. I hope Drasin Kingdom will be adapted into a movie someday. And I wish to see Rowoon as Prince Alaric, and Anna Jobling as Helena. Hehehe ^_^

Prince Alaric and Helena are both amazing main leads. These characters are strong but still have their flaws. I like the way they love each other. Their chemistry is so lovely. Their romance is clean, but I can still feel their love for each other. Yes, it's strong! Well done, Bella Chu!

I like Bella Chu's writing style. It's precise and sharp. It makes the story so enjoyable to read. Plus, her English is perfect. Congrats to the editor as well. The quality of editing is very good. It makes this book deserve to go international. Seriously, Drasin Kingdom has the potential.

Overall, I'm giving Bella Chu's work a 10/10. It deserves full marks. I highly recommend Drasin Kingdom to fellow bookworms who are into the romantasy genre. Drasin Kingdom is a novel you must not miss! I'm now looking forward to reading the sequel, Drasin Knight. Yay!!!

#6 DI ANTARA DUA SUJUD

AUTHOR: Thyora (Fathyakan & Ora Mawaddah)

PUBLISHER: Thyora International

GENRE: Islamic Romance

LANGUAGE: Bahasa Malaysia

PAGES: 329 pages

THE STORY

Di Antara Dua Sujud (DADS) is a tale of two broken souls meeting each other unexpectedly. Their meeting leads them to healing and a journey of self-discovery. Zayd Zafriel is the son of two Islamic preachers. At a very young age, Zafriel was told to follow in his parents' footsteps. Zafriel never hesitates. But as he grows older, Zafriel starts feeling empty. He suddenly realised that he didn't want to be like his parents. Zafriel wants to be himself. But who is the real Zafriel?

Wounded by the ghost of her past, Inara Lyadra refuses to fall in love again. She doesn't trust men. Inara trains herself to become a hyper-independent woman. When Inara was a child, she witnessed her mother being betrayed by her father. Inara was also once hurt by the man whom she loved deeply.

Meeting each other makes something inside Inara and Zafriel stir. Inara starts to believe in love again. Zafriel feels seen for the first time. But unhealed wounds create obstacles in their relationship. To surrender to true love, both must heal from the core. And to heal, both must learn to love inwards and face their shadows ...

MY REVIEW

DADS is a very deep love story about two people who are searching for divine love. It's a very beautiful love story, indeed. It makes you strongly believe that Allah SWT is all-loving. And it makes you believe in true love.

Inara and Zafriel have a very electrifying chemistry. Their relationship involves healing, awakening, and transformation. They are more of a twin flame couple instead of soulmates. Plus, their relationship is very deep. Inara and Zafriel are two amazing main leads. They are so human and make-believe characters. I like that Thyora portrays them as vulnerable human beings. It makes me able to feel them deeply. Yes, I cried towards the end of the story.

Reading DADS helps me revise everything that I've learned about true love, unconditional love, and self-love. It's important to love yourself before you love others. True love is built on trust, respect, sincerity, and unwavering faith. Real love is quiet and gentle. It doesn't need to be loud. It doesn't need love bombs. And doa is the best gift for the person you love. To achieve happiness, you have to face obstacles first. And yes, true love is not for the faint of heart.

Overall, I'm giving DADS a 10/10. It's a very enjoyable read, indeed. I highly recommend DADS to my fellow bookworms who are into the romance genre. If you love The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks and The Devil In Winter by Lisa Kleypas, you are going to love Di Antara Dua Sujud as well. Right now, I'm looking forward to the second book. Yup, DADS has a sequel.

Okay, so these are the books I've read during March and April 2026. Have you guys read any of these books? If yes, share your thoughts with me. I want to hear your opinions. Hehehe ^_^

Okay, see you guys again in my next post. Thank you for reading ^_^

XoXo,

Fadima Mooneira ^_^

(Authorpreneur, Novelist, Blogger, Illustrator & Crafter)

#MyMarchAndApril2026ReadingWrapUp #BookReviews #SejarahUmatIslam #Hamka #NonFiction #SitiQueenOfTheEasternSkies #NinotAziz #HistoricalRetelling #TheLittlePrince #AntoineDeSaintExupéry #ClassicLiterature  #KingOfPride #AnaHuang #NewAdultRomance #DrasinKingdom #BellaChu #Romantasy #DiAntaraDuaSujud #Thyora #IslamicRomance  #FadimaMooneirasLibrary #Edutainment #FadimaMooneiraDotCom

MY PREVIOUS READING WRAP-UPS

MY JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2026 READING WRAP-UP

MY NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2025 READING WRAP-UP

MY SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2025 READING WRAP-UP

MY JULY & AUGUST READING WRAP-UP

MY MAY & JUNE READING WRAP-UP

MY MARCH & APRIL 2025 READING WRAP-UP

MY JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2025 READING WRAP-UP