This was a crazy reading month for me. I felt really slumpy back in March and then had to transition into working from home. I expected that I wouldn’t really get a lot of reading done this month despite participating in both the OWLs Magical Readathon and our Loyal Book-a-Thon. I figured I’d read those, and that would be about it. However, I ended up getting through a lot of books and finished off both readathons pretty early in the month. Working from home meant that I could listen to audiobooks while working, and it’s made me a lot more efficient reader. So I’m pretty proud of the fact that in April I read 34 books/novellas. You’ll find everything I read below the cut. 🙂
1. Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline
Prompts: Transfiguration – Includes shapeshifting
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I picked this book up because I really loved The Marrow Thieves, however; this book is quite different than The Marrow Thieves. I still really enjoyed it, but I guess I didn’t realize it was an adult novel and so that took me a little bit by surprise. However, the story was really interesting and I was motivated to find out what had happened and what had caused the protagonist’s husband to disappear. I liked reading the different points of view and the way the First Nations stories mixed with European mythology. It had one of those endings that really leave you hanging, but I really enjoyed that. Totally worth checking out if you haven’t already.
2. My Story by Elizabeth Smart
Prompts: Arithmancy – Something outside usual genre; Shop Local/Small – Local bookstore/library book; Sanitize – genre you don’t normally read
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I didn’t really know a lot about Elizabeth Smart before I picked this up. The name was vaguely familiar, but I was curious. So I listened to the audiobook, which was voiced by the author. I found it really interesting. It was definitely horrifying to read about what happened to her, and it was interesting to see how she coped with what had happened to her. I’m not particularly religious, but I was impressed with the dedication she had to her faith despite everything that had happened. I also liked that she has manage to do well in her life. It’s hard to rate a memoir, but overall I had a positive experience with this story.
3. The Midnight Star by Marie Lu
Prompts: Divination: Use a number generator to choose from TBR
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I finally finished this series! It took me a long time because it took me awhile to get back to wanting to read about Adelina, because she’s kind of the worst. However, I really enjoyed her story arc in this book. It was decently fast paced, and a pretty good conclusion to the series. I certainly can’t complain about that! It didn’t really blow me out of the water, but I definitely enjoyed the ending.
4. Mary, Queen of Scots: Queen Without a Country by Kathryn Lasky
Prompts: Care of Magical Creatures – hippogriff – beak on the cover; Soap and Water – title longer than four words; Face Mask – face on cover
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I love these Royal Diaries books, and I had fun with this one. I didn’t know as much about Mary and it was interesting to read more about her childhood. I did really feel for her. She didn’t have the best luck.
5. Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan
Prompts: Day ## – Document read (vlog or review)
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: I have a full review for this book here.
6. DarkDawn by Jay Kristoff
Prompts: Charms – white cover; Memes – funny book; Animal Crossing – set far away
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: Ugh, this was another super good conclusion to a series. I wasn’t really sure how everything was going to come together here, but I was pretty happy with how it all concluded. I also really enjoyed listening to the audiobook. The narrator did a good job, and I found the footnotes more tolerable in this format. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say that this book gave me all the feels: laughter and sadness and everything in between. I highly recommend this series.
7. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Prompts: History of Magic – features witches
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: Kari has been bugging me to read this for awhile because she knows I like Rachel Hawkins. It was definitely a fun time. I liked the main character and I liked the basics of the world. I definitely love a magical boarding school read, and it was interesting to read this interpretation. I think I will be continuing with this series.
8. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling
Prompts: Potions – Shrinking Solution – under 150 pages; Toilet Paper: Multiple copies; Family Time – illustrated edition; Self-Care – re-read; Highly Motivated – Big Book; Do This All Day – read in one sitting
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I loved the illustrated editions of the Harry Potter books and the companion stories. I loved this one as well. It was light and fun, and I liked the addition of Dumbledore’s commentary in between the various stories. The illustrations were a perfect touch to this book and I really, really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it.
9. My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton
Prompts: Herbology – Starts with an M; Delivery – gifted/recommended
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book very much when I first picked it up. I really enjoyed Jane Eyre, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this story. However, I had a lot of fun listening to it. I liked the various perspectives and the alternate take on a rather familiar story. I’m definitely going to have to read My Lady Jane now.
10. The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
Prompts: Muggle Studies – from a muggle perspective (contemporary); Pajamas – cosy read
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: As always, this is another series that has taken me forever to finish. I love Ginny as a character, and I was glad that she was able to get closure from what happened with her aunt and the last letter. This has a very comfortable and familiar kind of story, and it gave some soft and squishy feelings. I definitely recommend this series if you haven’t already read it.
11. His Hideous Heart edited by Dahlia Adler
Prompts: Ancient Runes: Heart Rune – Heart in title or on cover; Napping: short story collection; Home is Where the Heart Is: Heart in title or on cover
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I have been anticipating this short story collection for awhile, and I was super happy with it. I liked the pairing of the inspirational materials along with the retellings. I liked how each of the authors took the story/poem they were inspired by in a different way and often in ways that I didn’t really expect. I definitely enjoyed this collection and it’s one of my favourites that I’ve read in a while.
12. Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
Prompts: DADA: book set at the sea/coast; Stay Hydrated: set at sea; News Fatigue: keep hearing about
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I have a full review of this up on the blog. You can find it here.
13. You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce
Prompts: Work From Home: Format you don’t usually read
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: I have a full review of this up on the blog. You can find it here.
14. The Shadowglass by Rin Chupeco
Prompts: Astronomy: read the majority at night, Binge Watch: read a sequel, Snacks for Days: Book BF/GF, Social Distancing: Book with friend group, Zoom: buddy read
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I loved this book. It was the perfect conclusion to the series and I devoured it. I really had no idea how Rin Chupeco was going to bring the story around to its conclusion after all that build up. I loved the way that the story grew and grew, and how the pay off was so worth it. I loved the characters and the world. Rin Chupeco made a masterpiece to be honest.
15. Tithe by Holly Black
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I have been wanting to read this series for awhile, so I was excited to be able to find the audiobook. I really enjoyed the development of the story and seeing the main character discover her true identity. I just really enjoy the way that Holly Black does fae. It feels very dark and gritty and as realistic as magical creatures could be.
16. Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I think the first book in this series was my favourite, but I really enjoyed the development of Audrey Rose and Thomas’s relationship. That was the real standout of this book. I liked the mystery as well, and how I definitely thought it was going to be supernatural, but it really wasn’t. I also really like the narrator of this series. She brings the story to life.
17. Valiant by Holly Black
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a very dark story. I didn’t really know what to expect when I picked it up, but it was definitely fascinating. I like the way that Holly Black does fae. It’s very dark and gritty. This story was especially gritty, and it was fascinating to see how the story played out.
18. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I’ve heard a lot about this book, and I really wanted to enjoy it more than I did. The book was okay, and I just didn’t really like the narrator. He was kind of obnoxious and sometimes that’s a really hard sell for me.
19. The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: I had heard about this book, but didn’t really know what it was about. I wanted to pick it up to see what it was all about. I don’t read a lot of creative non fiction, but this one was really good. It set up the story of what happened really well. It gave you both sides and made you feel sympathetic with both of the main players. I really enjoyed the overall structure of the narrative, as well as the writing style.
20. All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I picked this book up for my book club with some of my friends. We haven’t yet met to discuss it, but I’m excited to talk about it with people. I really liked the main character, Amora. I think that the world building that Adalyn Grace did was really cool. The magic and lore of the world was really intriguing and the way that this book ended made me really want the next one. I also really liked the dynamic of the main group of characters and the romance that developed. I can’t wait to see where things are going to go.
21. Catwoman: Soul Stealer by Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I haven’t read any of the other books in the DC Icons series, but I really ended up liking this one. I don’t know much about DC and its characters. However, I really liked Selina and the way she was portrayed in this story. Sarah J. Maas is a good writer and I’m happy with the story. Selina’s motivation made sense, and I highly recommend this particular story.
22. Welcome to Nightvale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: My favourite thing about this book was the climax sequence. I liked the build up and the way it played put. However, most of the rest of it was kind of weird and nonsensical and it just wasn’t really my favourite. I have to admit that I’m not really the target audience for this book and so I’m not really surprised it didn’t blow me away.
23. I am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This book had a bit of a slower start, but once I got into it, I really couldn’t put it down. I liked the setting, and I really liked Jess, the main character. I enjoyed how the book started out going with the before and the after and seeing the contrast between where Jess’s story started and how it played out. Seeing her struggle to survive made for an exciting story. I also really liked the dog in this story. He was so sweet and protective. I was really rooting for them.
24. Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was an interesting addition to the series. I really liked the setting of being trapped on the boat and not know who was doing all the killing or why they were doing it. I found it really amped up the stakes of what was happening. I still really like the characters of Audrey Rose and Thomas. However, I didn’t like the introduction of the love triangle that happened in this book. I just want Audrey Rose and Thomas to get married already. I’m definitely intrigued to see how the series ends.
25. More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: I will have a full review of this coming up on the blog soon.
26. Life as We Knew It by Sarah Beth Pfeffer
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I have to admit that this is not the best book to read during a pandemic. This isn’t about disease or anything, but it is about a global disaster and there are definitely some parallels to the current situation. However, I have to admit that I still enjoyed this story. The start was a little hokey because they were literally hearing about an asteroid hitting the moon and no one seemed to be worried about it, which is like very weird to me? Admittedly I wasn’t concerned about coronavirus until it really came to North America, but you’d think you’d freak out a little bit if an asteroid was going to hit the moon. I really enjoyed the way this novel was written. Diary style books are always interesting and Miranda was a really interesting character. I liked the way she was just doing her best to get buy and it all felt very realistic to me.
27. Henry VI Part II by William Shakespeare
Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I finally got back into my Shakespeare read through with this one. It took me a really, really long time to find the motivation to do it, but I did it. I have to admit that I’m less interested in the historical plays, but it was interesting enough. I do enjoy the Tudors, and I know that the events of this one are a part of the build up to that. I was confused at points, but overall I’m glad I read it.
28. Cast Long Shadows by Cassandra Clare
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I found this story really interesting. The introduction of the next generation of shadowhunters post The Infernal Devices is awesome to me. I found Matthew a compelling character. I understood his struggles and while I didn’t agree with his actions, I could understand why he did what he did. I was impressed by how much emotion the short novella could make me feel.
29. Every Exquisite Thing by Cassandra Clare
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This is my favourite novella so far. Anna was such a compelling character and she developed a lot over the course of the story. I really, really loved her personality and her character arc. It was really interesting to see her navigate her sexuality and perhaps even gender identity in the early 1900s. It made me tear up a little bit, hence the 5 stars.
30. Learn About Loss by Cassandra Clare
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This story was really interesting too. I liked that it had more of a straight up focus on Jem/Brother Zachariah. I also liked the perspective of the future Iron Sister. It provided some interesting back story as well.
31. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I heard about this book from a panel I watched at Yall Stay At Home. It wasn’t quite what I expected, or what I was sold on. However, I still found it really interesting to listen to and ended up really enjoying the main character’s story arc, whereas I thought I’d be more interested in the mystery it included. However, part of my lower rating (rather than a full five stars) was that the mystery was a selling point, but it felt more like an after thought than anything.
32. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a really neat adventure story. I learned a lot about the different mythology. Tristan was a compelling main character and I liked reading about his adventures and how he got wrapped up in things. I liked his emotional arc as well. I think it was very compelling. Personally, this wasn’t my favourite thing ever that I read, but I definitely know that there are a lot of people who would love this and I totally understand why.
33. Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I absolutely loved this book. It was well written and well structured. I loved the main character and how loyal she felt towards her friend and how much she fought for her. This book made me cry and it’s not very often that an audiobook makes me have such an emotional reaction. I absolutely loved this story.
34. The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was really interesting. I liked how it combined the factual events but also included the perspective of a person who knew Ted Bundy. I’m definitely interested in true crime stuff, so it’s worth checking out if you are too.
That’s everything I read in April. What did you read?
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