I've traveled independently in Morocco a number of times now, it became my favorite destination from the first trip 15 years ago. You've made a good choice.
Regarding your reading, literature aside, I have a number of guides and my first choice is still Lonely Planet, bought prior to my first visit and subsequent editions as the years have gone by. If you don't have one I suggest you get one.
I won't suggest you not go in February but don't think because it's largely desert that it's guaranteed to be warm. One trip in March was miserable due to rain & cold in Marrakech, combined with no heat at my accommodation, not unusual in riads, the most interesting & atmospheric places to stay. So be prepared for possible cool & wet conditions that time of year. I usually go in April and have never had bad weather then.
Practically speaking you have a week to play with for the fun stuff. Not a lot of time. You may, at this point, have a list of places you'd like to visit. What are they? And will you be arriving in Casablanca or somewhere else? Tell me these things and we'll go from there.