March Wrap Up

So it's now April. That's a thing (how is that already a thing?!)

This month I read a total of 12 things (8 books, 4 manga) which I am extremely impressed with because I felt like I was reading sooo slowly for the first half of the month. *Pats self on back*

Here are my thoughts/feelings/ramblings about everything I read, in the order that I read them:

The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman

Ok so this book is ridiculously beautiful. It is also the first book I have read by Neil Gaiman (other than Good Omens which is by both him and Terry Pratchett) and it left me sitting there wondering

1. what do I now do with my life?

2. adults are stupid and kids have the right idea and growing up seems to be a trap.

3. why have I not been reading all of the Neil Gaiman before now? WHYYYY?! ?! I plan to rectify this. It will happen. One day... the dude has a lot of books...

Knowing absolutely nothing about this before going into it just made it even more wonderful to experience so I'm going to say NOTHING about the plot (easiest book review ever... but seriously... Go into this book blind). I found myself completely swept up in the fantastical storytelling and just couldn't put it down. One of my new favourite books of all time, and an easy 5 stars from me.

A Conjuring of Light - V. E. Schwab

Excuse me while I scrape myself up off the floor because this series is over and I still want more. MORE KELL MORE DELILAH MORE ALUCARD MORE RHY MORE ALL OF THEM.

As this is the final book in the Shades of Magic trilogy, I won't say anything about the plot (man, this book blogging thing is so easy when you don't have to summarise plots). But reasons you should read this series include:

1. MAGIC. LIKE REALLY COOL MAGIC. Magic that makes sense and actually has consequences and everyone doesn't have the same amount/control of magic and just MAGICAL MAGIC.

2. Delilah Bard. She's a treat. Well actually, she's not. Which is why I love her. She is hands down one of the most interesting and entertaining characters I've ever encountered. She is flawed (not that I would be brave enough to say that to her face) but still so strong and feisty and I love that she is such a well-rounded character.

3. Magical coats. Worn by a precious magical smuggler named Kell. *pats Kell on head*

4. Where does he smuggle? Why between DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF LONDON. Because one London just isn't enough.

Overall the first two books were 4-4.5 star reads for me, but ACOL was a solid 5 stars. Such a great conclusion and even though I want more, it was definitely a satisfying end to the series. Still holding out for potential novellas that have been hinted at...

Contest - Matthew Reilly

I listened to this on audiobook, which is my preferred way of reading any of Matthew Reilly's books. They're the kinds of books I can listen to without having to pay close attention and I still know what's going on. Most of the time I can still even predict what's about to happen.

This book was about a intergalactic competition set on Earth, where there can only be one winner. It's kind of Hunger Games meets any action movie you've ever seen meets aliens. It was... ok. Lots of action, lots of cliche one-liners, lots of saving the day/world/child/random-new-alien friend in the last 0.01 second of a countdown from some bomb/other explosive thing/random-new-alien enemy trying to kill everyone.

2 stars for this one - I did enjoy listening to it while I did mundane tasks such as mow the forest that is my backyard but that's about it.

This Savage Song - Victoria Schwab

Second V. E./Victoria Schwab book of the month! She has fast become one of my favourite authors and I will now read ANYTHING she writes. ANYTHINGGGGG.

I picked this up spontaneously from the library and to be honest I didn't have super high expectations. I don't really know why I just wasn't *quite* as intrigued as I was with her other books going in? All I really knew was monsters and a YA book with no romance. And that was apparently enough to convince me (let's be real... I'm pretty easily persuaded when it comes to books). I didn't expect to get so emotionally invested in the characters (HAH I should know better by now) as they each come to terms with who/what they are and what that means in the messed up world they live in.

The world of this book is just so cool. I mean it would totally suck to live there, but reading about it was COOL. People's crimes become monsters. You murder someone and then bam there is a monster. Different crimes form different monsters. And then these monsters roam the city. This was such a dark and well thought out world and I couldn't get enough. Also, August is just the most precious cinnamon bun of a monster. I love him and I just want him to be ok and live happily ever after with his violin.

5 stars. Boom.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J. K. Rowling

No, YOU started re-reading Harry Potter again this month....

No comment

5 stars. Obviously.

Replica - Lauren Oliver

This book is somewhat conflicting to me so I'm going to summarise using bullet points some of thoughts I had whilst reading:

1. Ooooo clones. Clones are cool.

2. How do I read this damn book (if you haven't seen the book it's told from two perspectives in two parts. You can read either section in it's entirety first, or read alternating chapters. I read alternating chapters and I felt like it was super predictable so I'm not sure if reading it differently might have made a difference).

3. Pretty sure I know what's going on here.

4. Why are you so obsessed with how pretty every boy you meet's eyelashes are. THERE ARE CLONES AND STRANGE SHIT GOING ON. SORT OUT YOUR PRIORITIES.

5. Oooo clones. Clones are cool. Poor clones.

6. OMG high school girl drama. no thank you.

7. Oh look, more hormones. More descriptions of eyelashes.

8. Yep, totally called what was going on.

9. OMG NOT YOU TOO WHY ARE YOU NOW ALL BOY-CRAZY AND HORMONE-Y. STAHP.

10. Meh ?

Overall, I liked this. I don't think I care enough to keep reading the series though (when I bought it I didn't actually realise it was going to be a series). I may just read a summary of what happens next online because I still do kind of want to know, I just can't be bothered to read about it (I'm a bad person. I know this). I rated this 3 stars. Ish.

Attack on Titan Volumes 1-4 - Hajime Isayama

So after what felt like a lifetime of trying to read Replica, I felt like reading something quick and super fast paced. I have watched most of the Attack on Titan anime aaaaaages ago but have forgotten a lot of the plot so it was great to jump back into the world. I have to say I think I prefer the anime though, or at least watching the anime first. I just feel like a lot of the dramatic scenes play out better in the anime because they don't seem so rushed. Either way, this story is hectic. There are giant humanoid creatures called titans that eat humans. The humans, not liking being eaten, have constructed protective walls to live behind. One day, the walls aren't enough. *cue dramatic music* (actually *cue the theme song from the anime*... even if you've never watched it/read it just go listen to the theme song. It will make you want to do all the things all at once. It's epic. It's like Red Bull for your ears.

I rated volumes 1-3 4 stars and volume 4 3 stars.

Captive Prince and Prince's Gambit - C. S. Pacat

So everyone I've heard talk about these books either seems to love them with all of their soul or hate them with a raging passion. I, apparently not wanting to conform to the masses, was just somewhere in the middle after the first book (seriously I finished the first book and was like 'yeah I liked that and hell yeah I do want to keep reading'... but that was about the extent of it). Then I read the second book and was like DAMN I AM SO IN NOW. I read both of these in a day without really meaning to, have already started book 3 and will immediately go back to reading it once I've finished writing this.

IMPORTANT THINGS

There are a lot of trigger warnings for these books - rape, torture, pedophilia, slavery and abuse. These warnings are not to be taken lightly. The first book especially features a lot of content that is particularly graphic and disturbing. I did find parts of it hard to read. That being said, I don't think it unnecessarily focused on these unsettling scenes. They didn't feel like they were just there for the sake of controversy. I also didn't feel like they were fetishised or glamorised, but that is just my opinion and I fully understand and respect that other people may feel differently and have a different experience reading these books.

The reason why I am now so invested in this series is because of the characters (this isn't the most plot-driven book) and because of the political scheming. SO MUCH SCHEMING AND PLOTTING. Also, sexual tension. But mostly scheming and plotting. The political intrigue is intense and I am there for it. The best way I can describe this book without giving away any of the story is that it feels like it could be one of the storylines in Game of Thrones. You know how George R R R R R R Martin likes to have approximately 23818 characters all going on their own complicated storyline which is somehow connected to the other 23817 characters' storylines? Well this is just like one of those storylines, but streamlined and only following 2 main characters. And instead of there being a billion kingdoms/rulers/continents, there are 2 main rival kingdoms. But it could totally slot into the Game of Thrones world. Does that at all make sense? I hope so.

I rated Captive Prince 3 stars (probably more of a 3.5 but Goodreads won't let me...) and Prince's Gambit 4 stars (again.. probably more of a 4.5)

Woooooowowwwwww this is a long post. Of course the first proper post I write is a monthly wrap up and I read more books in that month than previous months. OF COURSE. THIS IS FINE. If you made it to here, thanks! You are awesome!