I’ll be honest, I haven’t read as many books this month as I did in March. I’m rewatching Game of Thrones with my family, so that takes up my time in the evenings. When I’m at work, I read on my lunch break and I try to dedicate time to reading on the weekends. Every day, I try to read as many pages as I can within the time I have allotted to read. I’ve read all new books this month (not a single reread!) and I’ve enjoyed them all for the most part. Here are the books I read in April–and the books I plan to read after finishing my current read!
Covet by Tracy Wolff (Crave Series #3)
Summary: I may have reached my breaking point. As if trying to graduate from a school for supernaturals isn’t stressful enough, my relationship status has gone from complicated to a straight-up dumpster fire. Oh, and the Bloodletter has decided to drop a bomb of epic proportions on us all… Then again, when has anything at Katmere Academy not been intense?And the hits just keep coming. Jaxon’s turned colder than an Alaskan winter. The Circle is splintered over my upcoming coronation. As if things couldn’t get worse, now there’s an arrest warrant for Hudson’s and my supposed crimes—which apparently means a lifetime prison sentence with a deadly unbreakable curse. Choices will have to be made…and I fear not everyone will survive.
My Thoughts: I have enjoyed the Crave series since September of last year. The second book is by far my favourite. The third book came out just last month and I finished it at the beginning of April. I had high expectations for this book and unfortunately it fell a bit flat. I ended up giving it four out of five stars because there were some redeeming qualities, but it just wasn’t the book I was expecting. I’ll be reading the fourth book when it comes out later this year!
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer (Cursebreaker #1)
Summary: Fall in love, break the curse. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope. Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s pulled into a magical world. Break the curse, save the kingdom. Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.
My Thoughts: This book surprised me in the best way. It was very fast paced and easy to read. I liked the characters and became invested in their plot lines. I cared about what happened to them and wanted to them break the curse. All of the characters were three-dimensional and seemed to leap off the page. Harper was by far my favourite character, followed by Grey and Jake. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of fantasy!
A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer (Cursebreaker #2)
Summary: Find the heir, win the crown. The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers. Win the crown, save the kingdom. Rumoured to be the heir, Grey has been on the run since he destroyed Lilith. He has no desire to challenge Rhen–until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother’s violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?
My Thoughts: This was a great sequel. All of the loose ends from the first book were solved and there were new dangers introduced to the characters. Lia Mara, the newest character in the series, has my heart. She’s my new favourite! While there were different challenges in this book, I enjoyed it just as much as the first one. We didn’t see as much of Rhen and Harper in this book, but Grey and Lia Mara did a great job being the protagonists. I gave it four and a half stars out of five!
A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer (Cursebreaker #3)
Summary: Face your fears, fight the battle. Emberfall is crumbling fast, torn between those who believe Rhen is the rightful prince and those who are eager to begin a new era under Grey, the true heir. Grey has agreed to wait two months before attacking Emberfall, and in that time, Rhen has turned away from everyone—even Harper, as she desperately tries to help him find a path to peace. Fight the battle, save the kingdom. Meanwhile, Lia Mara struggles to rule Syhl Shallow with a gentler hand than her mother. But after enjoying decades of peace once magic was driven out of their lands, some of her subjects are angry Lia Mara has an enchanted prince and magical scraver by her side. As Grey’s deadline draws nearer, Lia Mara questions if she can be the queen her country needs. As two kingdoms come closer to conflict, loyalties are tested, love is threatened, and an old enemy resurfaces who could destroy them all, in this stunning conclusion to bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreaker series.
My Thoughts: I thought this was a great end to the series. I was surprised to see on Goodreads that the average rating was around 3.92, but I gave it a 4.5. I enjoyed the series and was happy with the ending. The characters had fully-fleshed character arcs and had rises and falls throughout the series. There were real moments where the characters were tested and had to overcome their foils. I was very satisfied with the ending!
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
Summary: She will reign. As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer — the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic. When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic. But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder — and more peril — than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever. I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.
My Thoughts: I am currently reading this one (and I believe I will be able to finish it today!) and I have to tell you, there are so many twists and turns. Right when I think I know what’s going to happen next? Boom. Plot twist. Adalyn Grace is a new author and this is her debut novel. While I haven’t been able to be fully consumed by it, I have enjoyed the book when I’ve had the chance to read it. I’m looking forward to the sequel, All the Tides of Fate!
TBR
All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace
Summary: Through blood and sacrifice, Amora Montara has conquered a rebellion and taken her rightful place as queen of Visidia. Now, with the islands in turmoil and the people questioning her authority, Amora cannot allow anyone to see her weaknesses. No one can know about the curse in her bloodline. No one can know that she’s lost her magic. No one can know the truth about the boy who holds the missing half of her soul. To save herself and Visidia, Amora embarks on a desperate quest for a mythical artifact that could fix everything―but it comes at a terrible cost. As she tries to balance her loyalty to her people, her crew, and the desires of her heart, Amora will soon discover that the power to rule might destroy her.
Sweet and Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley
Summary: Tamsin is the most powerful witch of her generation. But after committing the worst magical sin, she’s exiled by the ruling Coven and cursed with the inability to love. The only way she can get those feelings back—even for just a little while—is to steal love from others. Wren is a source—a rare kind of person who is made of magic, despite being unable to use it herself. Sources are required to train with the Coven as soon as they discover their abilities, but Wren—the only caretaker to her ailing father—has spent her life hiding her secret. When a magical plague ravages the queendom, Wren’s father falls victim. To save him, Wren proposes a bargain: if Tamsin will help her catch the dark witch responsible for creating the plague, then Wren will give Tamsin her love for her father. Of course, love bargains are a tricky thing, and these two have a long, perilous journey ahead of them—that is, if they don’t kill each other first..
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
Summary: After losing spectacularly to her ex-girlfriend in their first game since their break up, Scottie Zajac gets into a fender bender with the worst possible person: her nemesis, the incredibly beautiful and incredibly mean Irene Abraham. Things only get worse when their nosey, do-gooder moms get involved and the girls are forced to carpool together until Irene’s car gets out of the shop. Their bumpy start only gets bumpier the more time they spend together. But when an opportunity presents itself for Scottie to get back at her toxic ex (and climb her school’s social ladder at the same time), she bribes Irene into playing along. Hijinks, heartbreak, and gay fake-dating scheme for the ages. From author Kelly Quindlen comes a new laugh-out-loud romp through the ups and downs of teen romance.
Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli
Summary: Contrary to popular belief, best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are not codependent. Carpooling to and from theater rehearsals? Environmentally sound and efficient. Consulting each other on every single life decision? Basic good judgment. Pining for the same guys from afar? Shared crushes are more fun anyway. But when Kate and Andy’s latest long-distance crush shows up at their school, everything goes off script. Matt Olsson is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him. She really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson. Turns out, communal crushes aren’t so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson’s friendship.
Those are all of the books that I read in April, along with the books on my TBR that I am going to be reading next! April was a really good month for book releases–almost a dozen books that I am interested in came out. I’m hoping to have more time to dedicate to reading so that I can enjoy these authors’ newest works…but I’m also happy to have time to watch Game of Thrones. Do you recognize any of these titles? Have any recommendations? Let me know down in the comments! And, as always, thank you so much for reading!
Love,
Kaitlin
Kaitlin H Powell 