March 2021: Reading Wrap Up

This was the month of mystery, space exploration, and dystopian dilemmas. It felt like a slower reading month to me, but it really didn’t turn out that way! I did struggle with some of these reads which is why I think I felt that way. It almost like I was going through a reading slump, honestly. I also took some reading breaks and spent time with my old friend Netflix catching up on recent documentaries like Seaspiracy, The Social Dilemma, and Trial By Media with hubby. We also squeezed in a Game of Thrones Season 8 rewatch and signed up for HBO Max! Reading-wise, though, it really ended up being a great month and I’ve knocked 6 more books off my TBR. My favorites were Firekeeper’s Daughter, Dark Lullaby, and Darkness Made! Here is my reading wrap up for March 2021.

Blog Contents

The Books

Best of the Bunch

Stunning Series Spotlight

The Stats

Diversity Breakdown

Currently Reading

Shop My Library

The Books

1 // Red Rising | ★★★★

Red Rising by Pierce Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Overall, I really liked this book. I was beyond intrigued by the space opera feel at the start of the story and the end was SO exciting. The middle lost me just a tad with all the strategy and fighting. And I honestly hated not being able to tell that we were in space. It felt more like the open plains of The Lord of the Rings with low gravity and space suits. I also found that I didn't overly connect with any character, so that was kind of a bummer. The banter and character interaction were pretty minimal, too, which typically doesn’t help in my connection efforts. We’ll see how this one continues. Still excited to see where things go!

Steamometer: ❤️- There’s no steam, but the romance is evident and pulls at those heartstrings! It’s nice and sweet.

Content Warnings: Abuse, rape, enslavement, killing, murder, off-screen cannibalism

Diversity: ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽🏳️‍🌈👨🏻

2 // A Trial of Sorcerers | ★★★

A Trial of Sorcerers (A Trial of Sorcerers, #1)

A Trial of Sorcerers by Elise Kova
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬."

I was sooo excited about this story because of how much I loved A Deal With The Elf King, BUT. It didn’t have the same effect on me. It fell a little flat overall.

This story is light and bright and full of magic. It's about a girl coming into her own and owning herself and her power, breaking away from the expectations and control of others. There's elemental sorcery, a mysterious pirate queen, a competition, and hidden agendas everywhere.⁣

Eira Landan lives her life in the shadows — the shadow of her older brother, of her forbidden magic, and of the person she killed. But her life changes when she decides to compete for a spot in the Tournament of Five Kingdoms. Pitted against the best sorcerers in the Empire, Eira fights to be one of four champions. But stepping into the spotlight is not without risk. By day she navigates the royal court with the "Prince of the Tower," by night she prepares for the trials with a handsome elfin ambassador, but the greatest threats are secrets she never knew were haunting her. She went into the trials ready for a fight. She wasn't ready for what it could cost her.⁣

I loved the perfect pace and feel of the story. It never felt rushed nor did it ever feel like it was dragging. It was the perfect sweet spot of plot progression and interweaving storylines. I enjoyed the magic system and overall coming of age story. I struggled a bit with how awful Eira was treated by a lot of the other characters, but otherwise, I really liked the premise of the story and can’t wait to see how Eira continues to grow into her own!⁣

Steamometer: 🌵- It was pretty much nonexistent. A few stolen kisses, but nothing to write home about.

Content Warnings: Verbal abuse and belittlement

Diversity: ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽🏳️‍🌈💚🎗⁣⁣

Thank you to the author and Book of Matches Media for my early copy!

3 // Firekeeper’s Daughter | ★★★★★

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a beautiful story. On the surface, it's a thrilling YA murder mystery with shocking twists that will keep you guessing until the very end. At its heart, this is a story of family, community, strength, love, and tradition filled with the richness and celebration of Ojibwe culture.

Boulley weaves an elegant tale of a biracial, Native teen and hockey star, Daunis, who doesn't quite fit in, both in her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. When she bears witness to a shocking murder, Daunis becomes determined to root out the corruption in her community and ensure the safety of its members. Along the way, she also meets Jamie, a newcomer to town who is definitely hiding something, and together they begin to piece things together and fall in love.

"I sought to write about identity, loss, and injustice... and also of love, joy, connection, friendship, hope, laughter, and the beauty and strength in my Ojibwe community."

"With Daunis, I wanted to give Native teens a hero who looks like them, whose greatest strength is her Ojibwe culture and community."

- Angeline Boulley, Author's Note

I was moved by so many things and tiny moments in this story. Angeline just has a way with words. I would encourage everyone to pick up this book!

Steamometer: ❤️- Beautiful and heartwarming with stolen kisses, secret rendezvous, and the promise of Someday.

Content Warnings: murder/suicide, drug use, assault/sexual assault, addiction

Diversity: ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽💚🎗✍🏾

Thank you Fierce Reads, MacMillian, and Angeline Boulley for my advanced copy.

4 // Golden Son | ★★★★⁣

Golden Son by Pierce Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have mixed feelings. I really loved the beginning and the end of this book, just like Red Rising and holy cow THAT ENDING was really crazy! I did NOT see that coming. But I again had a hard time connecting fully with any characters or feeling really invested in the story. I do recognize how good it is, though, and am still intrigued to see how things end!

Steamometer: ❤️- Again, no steam, but the romance is evident and pulls at those heartstrings! It’s nice and sweet.

Content Warnings: Abuse, rape, enslavement, killing, murder

Diversity: ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽🏳️‍🌈👨🏻⁣⁣

5 // Dark Lullaby | ★★★★

Dark Lullaby by Polly Ho-Yen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Chilling. Eerie. Suspenseful.⁣
⁣
In this dystopian sci-fi infertility is the norm, the human population is rampantly decreasing, and the words brother and sister are basically obsolete. The totalitarian government regulates everything surrounding human reproduction including parenthood if and when a child is brought into the world. As difficult as it is to conceive in this world, the ease with which your child can be taken from you is terrifying.⁣
⁣
It's told in a gripping dual timeline that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time and leave you feeling shocked and slightly spooked. The premise of the story is chilling and eerie; a sinister exploration of the government’s regulation over parenthood and, in some ways, incredibly reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale. ⁣

Steamometer: 🌵- Nada. There’s familial and parental love, but that’s about it!

Content Warnings: Infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy and conceiving difficulties, political and government forward, child abduction/trafficking

Diversity: ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽🏳️‍🌈💚🎗💘⁣✍🏽⁣

Thank you to the author and Titan Books for my advanced copy!⁣

6 // Darkness Made | ★★★★⁣★ ⁣

Darkness Made by Charlotte E. Pool
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞. 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝..."

YOU GUYS. This book was so unexpected. I LOVED IT. It's a sinful twist on your traditional vampire trope. It's dark, ominous, and foreboding. And it feels haunted, old-timey, and wicked. There's a small town, a shocking secret, a mysterious newcomer, and a prophecy!

It gave me Twilight, The Beautiful, and TVD vibes all rolled up into one. The setting was Forks and the people a mixed cast between TVD and The Beautiful. By the end, I was also getting Shadowhunter vibes!

The writing is ominous and suspenseful drawing you into its depths effortlessly. I found myself reading just one more chapter because I haaad to find out what was going on and what would happen next!⁣

The plot is incredibly dynamic with lots of interesting side characters and POVs. The story hops around a bit without warning or prelude adding to the edge-of-your-seat vibe. For me, it really added to the overall plotline and kept me hooked on every word. This story has a huge backstory element as well which fueled my interest a lot. I loved how atmospheric it was and can’t wait to see what happens next.

You’ve gotta like backstory, a whole lot of POVs, a little bit of steamy smut that’s not necessarily explicit, a super-fast romance, and a chosen one + fated mates trope.⁣

Steamometer: 🔥🩸💋 - deliciously provocative without being explicit... oh and there's blood.

Content Warnings: Blood and killing

Diversity: ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽🏳️‍🌈

Thank you to the author for my advanced review copy!

View all my reviews

𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 |⁣ Firekeeper’s Daughter

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | Darkness Made

The Stats

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 | ⁣291
𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 | ⁣2,396
𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒 | ~869,027

Diversity Key

✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽 characters of color⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

✍🏿✍🏾✍🏽 written by a BlPOC author⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

👨🏼👨🏻👨🏾 written by a male author⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQIA+ characters⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

💚🎗mental health awareness⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

💘 infertility awareness⁣⁣

Currently Reading

Shop My Library

Oh hey, friend!

I’m Leah. Cozy connoisseur and bountiful book buyer. I have a minor obsession with getting lost in the pages of a good book, guzzling coffee, and thriving at home. Yoga pants, wine, and essential oils are also my jam. I'm truly just a homebody at heart with a knack for content creation, flatlays & cozy shots. This is my creative space.