Wednesday, April 1, 2015

March Wrap Up and April TBR

Read in March: Fantasy Reads
Well, what a month it was. I read a total of thirteen books in March. THIRTEEN. That for me is out of control. I also read some absolutely amazing reads. I read my second 10 star review of the month and a few other amazing reads.

I am also doing really well on my challenges. I two more books for the Debut Author Challenge getting me to seven for the year, well on track to meet the goal of 12 debuts. I also read four books for the Netgalley/Edelweiss Challenge putting me at eleven for the year. And I read two books I owned before 2014 for the TBR Pile Challenge, so I am at a total of seven in that challenge. I've also read a total of 32 books for the year. I'm probably going to extend my Goodreads challenge to 120, but we'll see how I do in April.

The Books:

1.) A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab Rating: 10 out of 10 [Full Review]
2.) The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson Rating: 7 out of 10 [Full Review]
3.) Seraphina by Rachel Hartman Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [Full Review]
4.) The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkowski Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [Full Review]
5.) Nightbird by Alice Hoffman Rating: 8 out of 10 [Full Review]
6.) Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver Rating: 7 out of 10 [Full Review]
7.) Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [Full Review]
8.) The Storyspinner by Becky Wallace Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [Full Review]
9.) We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [Full Review]
10.) The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma Rating: 9 out of 10 [Full Review]
11.) Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch Rating: 9 out of 10 [Full Review]
12.) The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkowski Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [Full Review]
13.) The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss Rating: 8.5 out of 10 Full Review to Come


Other Posts:
Discussion: Bookish Descriptions and Buzzwords


To Read in April: Historical Fiction
So I am really excited to follow up a fantasy month, my favorite genre, with a historical fiction month, my second favorite genre. There are some books in my TBR for the month that have been on my list for so long. Seriously, there are some books I am ashamed to say I haven't read. Here is the list with my plan.

ARCs



The World Before Us by Aislin Hunter - Add to Goodreads
I have been steadily working my way through this for a few weeks. I'm not loving it but it's a historical thriller and I'm curious to see how it ends

At Water's Edge by Sara Gruen - Add to Goodreads
This is historical fiction set during World War II, which I don't always love but it's set on the homefront and it involves the Loch Ness Monster. Sold

The Revelation of Louisa May by Michaela McColl - Add to Goodreads
A historical thriller about the author of Little Women, my favorite classic. I am seriously so excited for this book!

The Winter Family by Clifford Jackman - Add to Goodreads
This is which is set during the Civil War, which I don't always love, but this is also a Western, which intrigues me so I'm interested. 

The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey - Add to Godreads
So this isn't historical fiction, it's fantasy. But it comes out at the end of the month and I have heard great things so I'm reading my ARC before it's released.

New Releases


Skandal by Lindsay Smith - Add to Goodreads
I loved Sekret and the sequel comes out next week. I'm so excited to read the sequel to check in with this world and Yulia.

Under A Painted Sky by Stacey Lee - Add to Goodreads
I have heard great things about this book which came out a few weeks ago. YA historical fiction about the Oregon Trail? Sign me up.

Backlist Books


The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak - Add to Goodreads
It's happening you guys. I am finally reading this book. Anyone who likes YA and/or historical fiction loves this books so I can't wait any more, it's happening.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker - Add to Goodreads
This is a historical fantasy set during the end of the 19th century, which is one of my favorite periods of history to read about. It's a total "me book."

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton - Add to Goodreads
This is my classic for the month. It's the perfect fit because it was written in the 1920's but it's about the 1880's which is sort of the period of the month for me.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - Add to Goodreads
Well I guess, World War II could be the period of the month for me. I've heard great things about this book that it's full of feels so I'm making it my audiobook for the month.

There you go. Those are my plans for the month. I hope to finish them all but it may be ambitious after last month's stellar reading. It is also not a lot of YA and lately I just haven't had the patience with adult books. We shall see. What are you reading this month? Have you read any of these? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

15 comments:

  1. I love that you have a theme for every month! I wish I could do that, but I feel like I'd get totally off track really fast... I hope your historical reads are awesome!

    Tracy @ Cornerfolds

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    1. I like it too. It does make things difficult for review books. I had to save two March releases and I'm reading at least one book not based on the theme but that's okay. I'm not that strict with it. Plus I usually pick it based on my ARCs and it gives me the incentive to read some backlist books I have been meaning to read. It works for me, I like it.

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  2. 13 books this month? Go Girl!
    Glad to see you enjoyed The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma. I'm going to her signing at the end of April and the signing requires you to buy the book, so I have to wait until then. It's killing me not being able to read it.
    I've been hearing really great things about The Girl at Midnight, so I hope you like it!

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    1. I KNOW! I'm so impressed with myself. Yeah, I loved it. I know you like horror and it's not particularly scary but it's a really twisty thriller. I hope you enjoy. And I'm a little jealous you are going to a signing. You have been to some amazing signings Elizabeth!

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  3. I've got ATLWCS in mind for this month, too! (And like you, I really need to read The Book Thief.) Historical fiction really is one of my favorite genres. ♥ Great post! Looking forward to your thoughts on this list!

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    1. YEAH! I've heard such amazing things about ATLWCS. It sounds amazing and sad. I hear the audio is fantastic too. I'm excited!

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  4. Loved The Golem and the Jinni - hope you do too!! And I'm really excited to read Storyspinner and The Winner's Curse (so need to get to that series soon).

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. That's good to hear. It's a total me book so I'm excited. The Storyspinner and The Winner's Trilogy are amazing. I hope you enjoy!

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  5. That's a really impressive list! I like your themes. I also read Winner's Curse and Winner's Crime this month. SO amazing. I'm on Shadow Scale right now and I have several of the others on my TBR. Golem & Jinni, Sekret (and Skandal), and Book Thief have been on my TBR for ages... sigh.

    C.J.
    Sarcasm & Lemons

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    1. I hope you love Shadow Scale. I enjoyed it a lot. I'm glad to know I'm not the last person to read The Book Thief. I feel like everyone else in the world has read it. I hope you get a chance to read the other books.

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  6. AGH ALL THE AMAZING BOOKS!! You've read a lot of GOOD books, that's a pretty awesome ensemble of books/ratings! :) <3
    The Winner's Crime, Vanishing Girls and Snow like Ashes have been on my TBR for a while, I need to up my reading game... tooo little time!
    I recieved an arc of The Walls Around Us, but I couldn't get into it (currently reading your review).

    You also need to read The Book Thief ASAP, it's my favorite book.. EVER! But, have a great reading month <3

    - Jumana
    http://booksbyj.blogspot.com/

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    1. I did read some amazing books. I read two of my top three favorite books of the year this month. Fantasy is my favorite genre so that's not much of a surprise. I'm hoping to start The Book Thief this weekend. I've put it off long enough and everyone loves it.

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  7. Great wrap up and great TBR for April! I will be reading At the water's edge this month as well. I read All the light we cannot see last year and LOVED it!!

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    1. Thanks Cynthia. I hope we both enjoy At Water's Edge. It definitely sounds interesting. I'm so excited for All the Light. Everyone raves about it. I'm not a huge fan of HF set during WWII (which may surprise you based on my TBR) but these ones comes so well recommended.

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  8. So I really love that you're doing themed months - that's awesome! I don't know if I could stick to something like that, but it's a great idea (esp for your TBR)! I hope you enjoy all of your April reads, lady. <3

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