As always, I’m posting my reading wrap up a little late, but despite a bank holiday weekend, I have been fairly busy. I spent the first two days with a big migraine, so I just didn’t have the strength to look at the screen, and April has started which means CampNaNoWriMo and a lot of writing for me this month.
But I have put down some of my favourites from March here. I read 39 books in March, which is a little insane, but I’m blaming a binge of Regency romances for that – you can read surprisingly quickly and they add up! I haven’t finished any audiobooks in March, which is weird for me, because I usually listen a lot on my walks or when exercising, so I think I will have to pick up a few more in April.
My Top 5 Books in March
The Last Bear by Hannah Gold
My rating: 5/5
Genre: Children’s, Nature
Links: Book Depository & Amazon
(Big thanks to Kaleidoscopic Tours and the publisher for my copy)
I loved this book and the message 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘳 spreads. I firmly believe that in order for a change to be possible, we must involve the youngest in our efforts. For that, things they will learn as children will guide in many ways later in life. And 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘳 definitely brings some important topics to our attention. In 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘳, 11-year-old April travels to a remote island in the Arctic with her father for a scientific research expedition. But there are no polar bears left there. Or at least everyone believes so until April meets one and decides to save him. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘳 has a friendship and family at its heart, all while showing us the environmental impact of people’s actions.
While Paris Slept by Ruth Druart
My rating: 4.5/5
Genre: Historical Fiction
Links: Book Depository & Amazon
(Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy)
While Paris Slept is an intense historical fiction, and definitely one of the best ones I read in a while. The split narrative interchanges two different timelines, with the events set in the 1950s in California, and the 1940s in France during the Nazi occupation. I think what I liked the most about While Paris Slept is the fact that it’s a powerful story about ordinary people who must find the courage to do the right thing both during the war and in the years after. The story shows that the right thing isn’t necessarily easy or obvious, and that the consequences of one’s actions will stay with them for the years to come. I think that ‘While Paris Slept’ is especially powerful because it doesn’t offer an easy answer or an easy way out for any of its characters, leaving the reader with far too many moral questions.
Thought Economics by Vikas Shah
My rating: 4/5
Genre: Non-fiction, Interviews
Links: Book Depository & Amazon
(Big thanks to LoveBookTours and the publisher for my copy)
Full review: here
𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴 is an insightful collection of interviews with some of the greatest minds – from entrepreneurs and artists to athletes and renowned scientists. For nearly fifteen years, Vikas Shah has been interviewing people shaping our world on a wide range of topics, such as identity, social responsibility, humanity, war, peace and justice. Not all interviewers respond in the same manner to similar questions, but what they all have in common, is curiosity – of themselves, people and the world in general. I really enjoyed this book, and I will seek some full interviews or works mentioned by people in Thought Economics.
City of Spells by Alexandra Christo
My rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Links: Book Depository & Amazon
(Big thanks to Pride Book Tours and the publisher for my copy)
𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 is a follow up into 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦. I really enjoyed the second part of this duology, and I have enjoyed this instalment more than the first book in the series. The action picked up at the end of 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, and it remains intense for the whole of this instalment. It felt like we got to know Wesley, Tavia, Saxony, Karam and Zavia more here, and their stories entangled even more. The stakes are even higher in 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴. The Kingpin’s dark magic is spreading, and the world our heroes known is about to cease to exist. New alliances are made, friendships are tested, and family is found in unexpected places. 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 is a great conclusion to the series.
Witches Aren’t Wicked by Hannah Baldwin
My rating: 3.5/5
Genre: Children’s, Fantasy
Links: Book Depository & Amazon
(Big thanks to the publisher for my copy)
Set in the Degosi Island, 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘞𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 follows six young girls on their journey and quest to fight for equality. Because they are witches. And in their world, women aren’t allowed to perform magic. If discovered, witches are to be killed, and the danger comes even from those closest to you. Flo, Addy, Ottie, June, Dru and Clydia form their own family, and are determined to survive against all odds. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘞𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 has an important message at its heart – with all the characters essentially fighting to equality for women!
What are your recent favourites?
Take care,
Alicja
Alicja Writes 