March 2025 Wrap-Up

Happy April!

They say April showers bring May flowers, but all we’ve gotten are snowstorms 😅 Luckily, snow makes for the best reading weather, aside from thunderstorms, so I managed to get quite a bit of reading done this month! It also helped that I had a little editing break for my birthday. I ended up reading 2 books and listening to 3 audiobooks.

Editing Update: I essentially completed one proofread in March, and that was the extent of my editing work. However, I’m fully booked until my vacation in May, so it’s just going to be go-go-go until then.

My Library

I’ve been trying to read more ARCs, so I haven’t been reading any of my own books. However, that didn’t stop me from getting a gigantic book haul for my birthday 😂

Netgalley eARCs

I’m really looking forward to the time when Netgalley files will work on my Kobo again.

Other (e)ARCs

From Tor Books

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite

Review:

This is the first book I have ever read that is exactly 100 pages long. I’m really impressed with how that worked out! Even though it’s a very short story, I really enjoyed it. It was just such a cozy vibe even with the murder. It’s a queer mystery with not too much focus on any romantic relationships and way more focus on the suspects, the atmosphere, and the deduction process. I loved the world-building and totally would’ve loved to live on that spaceship. I would also love to try the cocktails on that ship. They sounded so whimsical and imaginative. Also, this book played out like a movie in my head, which has never really happened to me before. I usually imagine the story as it progresses, but this played out like a black-and-white, old-time mystery movie, complete with the femme fatale and crackling film quality. The reason for the murder really fit in with the sci-fi vibes, but I almost enjoyed the characters and the knitting more. I would definitely recommend this for a quick, intriguing read!

4/5⭐

From Candlewick Press

Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies by Megan McDonald, illus. by Lenny Wen

Review:

This was such a fun book and I’d definitely recommend it for children! It’s made with picture book–quality paper even though it’s more of a chapter book—totally random, but I thought that was a nice touch. The illustrations were absolutely stunning and they were on practically every page. I think they’d keep a child entertained while they read it for sure. I can’t remember if there are really any lessons taught in the story, but it’s just a fantastical and imaginative tale. I love the trope where you get to escape to a magical world. On a side note, the synopsis of the book essentially spoils the entire story, but it’s still a fun read regardless.

4.5/5⭐

Audiobooks

The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Review:

I loved this book! I really enjoyed the other 2 books that are set in the same world, so I was super happy to find out that Lloyd-Jones had written another one. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job, and also had a really pleasant voice. I loved the world-building and fantastical vibes of the story. I always just want to immerse myself in that world, but I wouldn’t want to die in the Hunt 😅 I honestly thought the trio would’ve made such a great throuple, but then plot twists ruined everything, in the best way possible for maximum betrayal. The characters were very morally gray. The ending was so well written too. It had a very story-time feel to it. I highly recommend this entire series!

4.5/5⭐

Jezebel by Megan Barnard

Review:

This book pissed me off to no end. I loved it! This book just gave me all the feels. I was so hooked. I loved the narration. The characters were all well written, and I thought all the minor characters were well fleshed out. I thought Jezebel’s character was a bit self-absorbed, but I could see her motivations for everything and I loved her focus. People tend to villainize women when they want to be in power and focus on that instead of having a family. It’s rare to read a book where the woman has kids but doesn’t have that supposed inherent desire to be a mother. I honestly loved that about her character. I understood her motivations and could really believe this was how her life could’ve actually played out in history, instead of her being the supposed wicked woman religious texts portray her as. Elijah . . . I have so many words to say about Elijah . . . many of them not appropriate for this review 😅 I just love how he wanted to take her away from power and thought she’d be happy as the wife of a goat herder. In any other book, she definitely would be, so it was nice to see her scoff at this fantasy because he clearly just loved his idealized version of her. Also, even though I knew exactly what was going to happen during the main events of this story, everything still hit me hard with a gut punch. All the bloodshed and murder was hard to read because it was just so infuriating and sad. The female rage is very strong in this book. My blood pressure definitely rose a few times while reading this. Overall, I highly recommend this and can’t wait to read more of Barnard’s works! This book will definitely stick with me for a long time.

5/5⭐

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis

Review:

This is such an entertaining story. I chose it because it seemed similar to a book I enjoyed editing, especially with the supposed dark lord turning out to be anything but. I was absolutely obsessed with the characters in this story. I love how they all just turn the character stereotypes on their heads and you never know what’s going to happen with them. Orla was such a sweetheart and I loved all scenes with her and her cooking. I literally cried when her feast turned out the way it did. Grribeetle was hilarious as well. I’m a huge fan of garlic, so I really wanted to attend the garlic festival that was hosted in the book. I think the only thing that got redundant was how often Gavrax pondered his morality. Also, the battle scene and the planning for it took up quite a large portion of the book (or felt like it did anyway) and I feel like I blanked out for some of it, but there were definitely some fun and unexpected twists! Finally, the voices for this audiobook were spectacular. The voices were everything in this story. If you can, I would highly recommend listening to this instead of physically reading it. It’s so much more of an experience that way. Overall, this was just such a fun story and I am very satisfied with how it ended.

4/5⭐

What was your favorite read from March? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy reading 😄