March Wrap-Up and Mini-Reviews

I’m finally back to normal with 7 books read this month. I think January was a fluke with 14 books… I did, however, have a TBR list this month which I managed to follow somewhat in the beginning before books with reading-deadlines sneaked in.

As a reminder: To me, a 5⭐️ is an amazing book that stuck with me, surprised me, one I could stop thinking about, I got lost in, etc. A 4⭐️ is an enjoyable read something I really liked, but that’s it. A 3⭐️ are either a disappointing read, or the book is just OK.

So to break it down, I read 5 ebooks and one physical book, and listen to one audiobook, I gave three 5⭐️ and four 4⭐️.

Let’s dive in.

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Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows, book 2)

Audiobook – Owned

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Story: This is the second book in the Six of Crow duology and the final instalment so I won’t say too much. But it follows the six main characters from where the second books left us on the cliffhanger. As if you thought the first book was impossible the second is even more impossible.

My Opinion:  I loved it! the ending of the series was wonderful. I did cry, but not too much. The audiobook provides different voices to the different characters giving them all their own voices.

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The Story of Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting

Ebook – Owned – ReadHarder

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Story: It’s a children’s book which follows the animal-loving Doctor Doolittle. Not many people can talk to animals but Doctor Doolittle can, and he makes the effort of learning more languages so he can speak with more animals. He has so many pets living in this house, dealing with his housework and the cooking and the shopping that he himself doesn’t really have to do anything apart for getting an income, which he is not very fond of. On a request from the monkeys in Africa, he sets out on a journey to see them an heal them of a sickness that is plaguing them. There are adventures and explorations all with the help of all the animals which the good doctor can converse with.

My Opinion: This was a very entertaining book. I never saw the movie so I didn’t really know what would happen, but I really enjoyed it.

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The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Physical book – Owned – ReadHarder

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Story: This is a high adventure book in a fantasy land. There are technically two stories in here; firstly about Buttercup and Westly and their adventures, and secondly the narrator and his life around writing this book. Both stories are fictional.

My Opinion: Firstly I saw the movie when I was younger and loved it. So much action! and funny and great and everything. Reading the book, made me confused in the beginning with the two parallel stories, one about Buttercup and one about the narrator. It was annoying to read about the narrator and it wasn’t interesting, but I stuck to it, and it became a tad more interesting as it dragged on.

Secondly, and this might be an unpopular opinion but I didn’t like Buttercup. I’ve recently read a lot of books with strong independent females as leads, which Buttercup is not. She is a damsel in distress… and it becomes tedious very quickly. The story and the adventure was the only reason this book got a 4starts instead of something less. Sorry, not sorry.

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Magic Study by Maria V Snyder (Poison Study Trilogy book 2)

Ebook – Owned

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Story: This is the second in the series about Yelena so I won’t say anything as it will spoil the first book.

My Opinion: It was lovely returning to the world of Yelena won’t say too much as it’s the second book in the series. But we follow Yelena in her adventures which follows in form the second book. Follows as she gets into trouble and finds her way out. Some stuff can be perceived as convenient, but to me, it’s interesting how her abilities have different effects on different people. Can’t wait to start the third book.

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And this is where I get sidetracked from my TBR list. One of the books I put on hold on Libby the library app became available so that’s what I read next.

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An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

Ebook – Libby the Library App

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️

The Story: This is a strong story set on a spaceship which left Earth in search of the promised land, but something isn’t right. Aster, the main character, is from the lower decks of this ship and works hard to both gain some lift purpose and to work out her mother clues for what’s wrong with the ship and its direction.

My Opinion:I wrote a full review of this book here.

I love this book soooooo much!! It discussed so many difficult topics including slavery, gender, colour, sexual orientation, romantic orientation, and not wanting children. All pressed into one book while they are floating around in space. Absolutely loved it!!❤️❤️

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The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton

Ebook – ARC from NetGalley

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review. This book is published 27 March 2018.

The Story: This is a multi-perspective adult fantasy book and a retelling of King Lear by William Shakespear. It follows the King of Innis Lear and his three daughters as he makes the decision to step down. There are intrigue and drama of GoT portions. There is a political fight for the throne which is fought on all sides, including the neighbouring countries and the island itself. There is a fascinating magic system which I don’t fully understand the limitations of.

My Opinion: I didn’t know this was a retelling (of some sort) of King Lear. I have never read King Lear so I can’t compare the two. However, I wrote a full review of it here. I enjoyed the book, but it has issues.

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The Power by Naomi Alderman

Ebook – Libby the Library app

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Story: This I a multiperspective book which follows the changes in the world as females suddenly gain an electrical power. It starts from the discovery, through uprisings in different ways around the world.

My Opinion: Its a very fascinating read. Very thought provoking for a lot of different aspects. Naomi Alderman has done incredibly well turning the gender roles 100% around.  Not just the gender roles but the arguments as well and reactions. It’s as if she wrote a book about the current world and its past, then just changed the pronouns. It’s that well done.

We follow several females through their journey with this new ability, and a male journalist without this power but capturing event through the globe. Having one male perspective was really good in this book. Not only is he providing the international events to the reading by him being a journalist, but you get his view on being someone without the power but still in the middle of it all.

It got quite intense at times and I had to put the book down. I got angry. I got happy. I felt powerful. I felt shameful. All of it, I felt reading this book. This is not just a book about females being in charge. It’s about the importance of balance in the world.

Read it!

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That’s it! It was a great month with a diverse list of books.

Have you read any of these? Do you agree/disagree with my opinion? Let me know!