Welcome to March's Reading Roundup, where I give a quick little summary and a few opinions on all the books I read this month!
As a quick little note, a title's inclusion on this list does not mean my endorsement. As always, you can find my review with content on Goodreads.(https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/170359201?ref=nav_profile_l)
What Once Was Mine | YA Fantasy | 2.5 stars
For that one moment, everything was perfect. And then that moment ended.
While What Once Was Mine was incredibly funny and enjoyable retelling of "Rapunzel", it did have a number of unfortunate content issues, namely a "good" witch, and some questionable worldviews.
The Forest of Stolen Girls | YA Historical Thriller | 4 stars
There are two types of people. Those that retreat and huddle together like frightened birds, overwhelmed by the darkness of this kingdom, and those that grasp their freedom to struggle on the behalf of others, their eyes fixed on a great light that will always shine for those who seek it.
An intense read for teens and adults, The Forest of Stolen Girls was well written and action-packed. Set in 1426 Korea, it follows two estranged sisters who must discover the villain behind a series of kidnappings in a small island village.
Calvin | YA Contemporary | 4 stars
Everything I'm going to say in this letter is true with some real stuff thrown in.
What is real? In Calvin, you don't know...
Teen schizophrenic Calvin sets off with his best friend Susie and his tiger Hobbes to find Bill Watterson and demand a final Calvin & Hobbes cartoon.
Airman | YA Historical Fantasy | 4 stars
Conor Broekhart was born to fly; or, more accurately, he was born flying
An adventurous tale of flight and justice set at the turn of the century, Airman is an exciting tale with tones of The Count of Monte Cristo.
Merlin | Adult Historical Fantasy | 4 stars
Many years have come and gone since I awakened in this worlds-realm. Too many years of darkness and death, disease, war, and evil. Yes, very much evil.
Darker than Taliesin, the first book of the Pendragon Cycle, Merlin is not without hope. Told in first person past tense, Merlin's narrative voice is at the same time despairing and hopeful. As a true bard, he sees what will come, yet cannot stop it. This book brings in more of the Arthur story, with Uther, Ygerna, and Arthur's birth, as well as the sword in the stone. A good deal of violence and darker content makes this series more suited for mature teens and adults.
The Taming of the Shrew | Classic | 3.5 stars
Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tamed so.
I'm playing Katherina in a production of In Juliet's Garden this spring, so I figured it was high time I read the original Taming of the Shrew. My takeaways: Lots of wordplay. Petruchio's kind of a jerk. Mixed feelings overall.
Arthur | Adult Historical Fantasy | 3 stars
There will be no bringing back the light once it has gone.
Arthur has pulled the sword from the stone, but he still has to win a kingdom. Book 3 of the Pendragon Cycle wasn't as interesting to me as the first two, perhaps because Arthur doesn't have a POV - the story is told by three men who knew him - Merlin's best friend, Arthur's childhood friend, and Merlin's student.
Crown of Secrets | YA Fantasy | 3 stars
It was a dream worth holding onto.
A romantic take on a magic academy setting, Crown of Secrets has political intrigue, magic, and romance. The first part was hard to get into, partially due some awkwardly worded (grammar wise) sentences, but the story improved, and made for a decent YA romantic fantasy.
Sense and Sensibility | Classic | 3.5 stars
Marianne could never love by halves.
While not as masterfully written as Persuasion, S&S was still a classic exploration of sisterly love, and how two sisters that are opposites can support each other as they search for their Prince Charming.
Reclamation | YA Science Fiction | 3.75 stars
The hour has come
The Merchant's mission must be accomplished, and Brae and Rhett will play a bigger role than they can imagine in the redemption of the galaxy. The epic scale of the Starlore Legacy is developed and expanded in new ways, with edge-of-your-seat space battles and new and incredible tech. I loved seeing Brae and Rhett's relationship develop, and their character growth was definitely one of my favorite things.
Forbidden Child | YA Dystopian | 5 stars
We're both here because someone died so that we could live.
She had to turn from this darkness even though there might be no light ahead.
Wow. Y'all, this is a masterpiece of YA dystopian lit. Piper is a unlikable character- a traitor, a snitch, responsible for dozens of deaths...yet I still found myself on the edge of my seat, rooting for her - because her redemption is so beautiful. The world of Forbidden Child is so dark, but there is such beauty in the end.
Calor | Adult Fantasy | 5 stars
Falling in love, they called it. Because once you were falling it was impossible to catch yourself, and your fate depended entirely on the degree to which the ground you landed on would be forgiving.
I was not expecting this book to be so incredibly written. JJ Fischer made me care about Cassius, which is remarkable, considering I normally strongly dislike characters with his particular flaw. Sephone, Dorian, and Cassius are all flawed and broken people, with no moral guide or hope, as they're living in a world where faith has died. But as Sephone notes, she can see light more clearly because of all the darkness she's witnessed.
Coral | YA Contemporary | 5 stars
Her soul was bleeding.
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this retelling of "The Little Mermaid". I certainly wasn't expecting such a beautiful and heart-wrenching novel as Coral. It's not an easy read. But it's an important one. And it's written with such sensitivity and care.
Swift | YA Fantasy | 3 stars
Her mother had been taken by the spriggan.
I really loved how RJ Anderson wrote about piskeys - they feel like an overlooked fantasy demographic. I also really liked Molly. It was a good, clean YA fantasy. It just didn't impress me like some others.
The Wizard of Oz | Classic | 3 stars
I think you are wrong to want a heart. It makes most people unhappy. If you only knew it, you are in luck to not have a heart.
First thought: so here's where ND Wilson got some inspiration for his 100 Cupboards series. Second thought: boy this is violent for a kids' book. Third thought: there are no ruby slippers. Fourth thought: 100 Cupboards is better.
Ignite | YA Science Fiction | 5 stars
Don't lose your fire.
An amazing clean superhero novel with found family tropes, Ignite was a good read.
The Vault Between Spaces | YA Fantasy | 4 stars
She appeared out of nowhere.
Though confusing at first, the beautiful prose of The Vault Between Spaces led me to mark this novel as 4 stars.
Under a Painted Sky | YA Historical Fiction | 1 star
They say death only aims once and never misses.
Yeah, I didn't like this book. Negative content plus unrealistic scenarios made this a miss for me, despite the violin-playing protagonist.
Pendragon | Adult Historical Fantasy | 4 stars
If death ever wears a human face, this day its face is mine.
Men always give over the best of their birthright for the small comfort of the moment.
Better than Arthur (book 3), but not quite as good as Taliesin and Merlin, Pendragon is nonetheless an epic tale of courage and kingdoms.
The Angel Experiment | YA Science Fiction | 2.5 stars
Congratulations. The fact that you're reading this means you've taken one giant step closer to surviving till your next birthday.
Was it a fun story? Yes. Was it well written? Not particularly. Did I enjoy the genetic mutation stuff? Yes. Did I love the found family? Yes. Did it take God’s name in vain a lot? Unfortunately, yes.
The Prisoner of Cell 25 | YA Science Fiction | 3 stars
Close only counts in horseshoes and nuclear weapons.
Exciting superhero adventures begin in The Prisoner of Cell 25. While the writing feels stilted in some parts, it's still an enjoyable read.
Heart of Belonging | YA Contemporary | 4 stars
Maybe that was enough.
Another excellent Riverbend novel, Heart of Belonging follows Shay as she struggles with finding a family...and learns the family you find is always there for you.
The Forgetting | YA Dystopian | 3 stars
I have forgotten.
A fascinating sci-fi/dystopian novel, The Forgetting was well-written and interesting. Some heavier content makes it suited best for mature teens and up.
A Monster Calls | YA Urban Fantasy | 5 stars
The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do.
When I was recommended this book by a writing friend, I was expecting a monster story, and I got that. What I wasn't expecting was a poignant tale of grief, loss, and letting go. A Monster Calls is a monster story, yes, but it is so much more. It's the story of a boy losing his mother, the tales of people who aren't good or bad, and the waking of an ancient creature who can heal...if someone could be healed.
Grail | Adult Historical Fantasy | 4 stars
Not for nothing am I called the Queen of Air and Darkness.
Following the Arthurian legends of the Holy Grail and Lancelot's betrayal, Grail is the darkest of the five main Pendragon Cycle books.
Storm Siren | YA Fantasy | 2 stars
Fourteen circles for fourteen owners.
An average YA fantasy, with too dark and heavy of content to recommend to younger teens.
Favorite Book:
A Monster Calls and Forbidden Child are tied for my favorite this month!