I’m thrilled to report that the quality of books I read in March surpassed that of February. Despite life throwing a few curveballs towards the end of the month, causing me to read less, I’m incredibly satisfied with my reading progress. However, I must admit that March didn’t yield a clear 5-star reading highlight. While I didn’t encounter a book that earned a coveted 5-star rating this month, I appreciate the diverse array of stories that crossed my path. Each book contributed to my growth as a reader and offered its own merits, whether through engaging characters, thought-provoking themes, or masterful prose. Oh and I haven’t purchased one single Book YEEAH ! Book Buying Ban is going great 🙂
Stats
Total Reads: 13 📚
Total Pages: 4106 📃
Average Rating: 3.33 ⭐
My March Reads
Unfortunately, the beginning of the month didn’t quite start off on the right foot. I was so hyped for “Age of Assassins,” as it’s beloved by many in the community, but sadly, it didn’t quite win me over. Despite having a promising concept, there wasn’t anything that truly excited me about it. Check out my detailed Review.
Rating
Plot ★☆☆☆☆
Characters ★★☆☆☆
Excitement ★★☆☆☆
Atmosphere ★★☆☆☆
Writing Style ★★★☆☆
An epic fantasy pirate adventure awaited me within these pages, and it was an absolute joy to read. While I must admit that towards the end, it didn’t hold my interest quite as strongly, this book remains fondly remembered in my mind. Check out my detailed Review.
Rating
Plot ★★☆☆☆
Characters ★★★★☆
Excitement ★★★★☆
Atmosphere ★★★★★
Writing Style ★★★☆☆
I absolutely loved “What Moves The Dead.” It’s such an atmospheric book, and the second installment didn’t disappoint. I believe this book is all about the vibes rather than the plot, as the plot tends to falter a bit, especially compared to the first book. However, it’s perfect for an atmospheric read in the bathtub.
Rating
Plot ★★☆☆☆
Characters ★★★★☆
Excitement ★★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★★★
Writing Style ★★★☆☆
For those who weren’t particularly fond of the first book in the “Twelve Kings in Sharakhai” series (you can read my review here), I strongly advise waiting until the second book before passing judgment on the series, as it truly becomes epic here. While the first book primarily focused on one person in a city, in this installment, we delve into the lives of many characters and embark on journeys. The book is much darker and at times even evokes Diablo vibes. A very, very strong recommendation here.
Rating
Plot ★★★★☆
Characters ★★★★★
Excitement ★★★★☆
Atmosphere ★★★★★
Drawing Style★★★★★
Oh, the next Kingfisher book? Yes, I was absolutely hyped after reading “What Feasts at Night,” so I immediately added the author’s next book to my TBR pile. It’s a truly charming fairy tale story that shifts the focus away from the princess, demonstrating that princesses aren’t always the sweet and beautiful beings they’re often portrayed as. While it was enjoyable to read this short story, it ranks among Kingfisher’s weaker books.
Rating
Plot ★★☆☆☆
Characters ★★★☆☆
Excitement ★★☆☆☆
Atmosphere ★★★★☆
Writing Style ★★★☆☆
This book has left me craving stories set in historical settings with a magical twist! It has ignited a newfound passion within me. An incredibly emotional tale, it portrays the horrors of war not just on the front lines but also delves into the aftermath for soldiers and those affected by the conflict. While I felt the magical elements were a bit overwhelming, this story is still a must-read. Read my detailed Review.
Rating
Plot ★★★☆☆
Characters ★★★★☆
Excitement ★★★☆☆
Atmosphere ★★★★★
Writing Style ★★★★☆
Honestly, I understand the hype around this book. While it may not have the most riveting plot, it managed to blend many wild and creepy ideas together, delivering a truly atmospheric read. I definitely want to read more from this author. However, I can’t recommend this book because the incestuous part of the story triggered me deeply. While I understand why many readers enjoyed the book, it ultimately left me feeling disgusted. So no rating!
My journey into Witch Hat Atelier continued with volumes 4 and 5, and I must say, this series just keeps getting better and better. Initially, it’s all sweet and enchanting, but now it’s slowly ramping up the stakes, and I’m loving it! It’s becoming darker, and I have a feeling that there will be some tears shed later on. I’ve reviewed volumes 1-5, and you can read all about it here.
Rating
Plot ★★★☆☆
Characters ★★★★☆
Excitement ★★★☆☆
Atmosphere ★★★★★
Art Style ★★★★★
And onto the next manga that made it into March. Soon, you’ll also be able to read my reviews of the first three volumes, so stay tuned for that. However, I have to admit that after Witch Hat Atelier, Frieren unfortunately didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It’s a truly fantastic fantasy story with a vast world and a genuinely peculiar yet endearing main character. However, I found that everything was told too quickly, which diminished my enjoyment of reading it.
Rating
Plot ★★☆☆☆
Characters ★★★☆☆
Excitement ★★★☆☆
Atmosphere ★★★★☆
Art Style ★★★☆☆
And my final book in March. I wanted to love this book so much because of its cover. Despite rather mediocre reviews, I hyped myself up so much for this book, even followed the author on Instagram because I wanted to be obsessed with it. However, unfortunately, it turned out to be rather disappointing. Once again, there are good ideas here, but they weren’t fleshed out well enough. Read my detailed Review.
Rating
Plot ★☆☆☆☆
Characters ★★☆☆☆
World Building ★★☆☆☆
Atmosphere ★★★☆☆
Writing Style ★★★★☆
My February DNFs
I was looking for my next adventurous read after finishing Amina Al-Sirafi and was met with something truly subpar. I’ve rarely encountered such a simplistic and uninspired writing style. So, no thank you!
DNF at 8%
Here, it wasn’t the book that was the issue, but rather me. The book starts off really excitingly, offering an atypical fantasy story with strong female characters. But somehow, I just wasn’t in the mood for it.
DNF at 10%
Favourite Book of March
And now, drumroll please, for my favourite book of March…
The Reading Stray 