March was probably my best month of reading so far this year. I read eleven books, started two others, and not only did I get through seven 5-star reads, but I rated every book I read 4 stars or higher! I can't remember the last time I had a month when I vibed with every book so well.
So, let's round-up what I read in March, and then I'll recommend some favourites:
March Reading Stats:
📖11 books completed, 2 started.
📖 3 hardbacks.
📖 1 paperback.
🎧 7 audiobooks
📖 1339 pages (4945 pages including audiobooks).
🎧 79.85 hours listened at 1.1x or 1.2x speed.
📖 7 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reads!
📖 1 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 read!
📖 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reads!
📖 Average rating: 4.68 stars.
📖 Average book length: 349 pages.
📖 Average time to finish: 5 days.
Not too shabby!
I Read:
📖A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher. 4⭐
📖Snake Eater by T. Kingfisher. 5⭐
📖Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree. 4.5⭐
📖Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree. 5⭐
🎧Dead in the Water by John Marrs. 4⭐
🎧You Killed Me First by John Marrs. 4⭐
🎧House of Earth and Blood (Graphic Audio Part One) by Sarah J. Maas. 5⭐ (Reread).
🎧House of Earth and Blood (Graphic Audio Part Two) by Sarah J. Maas. 5⭐ (Reread).
🎧House of Sky and Breath (Graphic Audio Part One) by Sarah J. Maas. 5 ⭐ (Reread).
🎧House of Sky and Breath (Graphic Audio Part Two) by Sarah J. Maas. 5 ⭐ (Reread).
🎧House of Flame and Shadow (Graphic Audio Part One) by Sarah J. Maas. 5 ⭐ (Reread).
And I Started:
🎧House of Flame and Shadow (Graphic Audio Part Two) by Sarah J. Maas. (Reread).
📖Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi.
I read some cosy fantasy, a couple of thrillers, a little horror, and happily immersed myself in urban fantasy for most of the month by going in for a Crescent City Graphic Audio reread. I had hoped to listen to more new audiobooks, but some delightful person somehow stole my bank details, so I had no choice but to reread from my Audible library while I waited for a new bank card to arrive. And once I started Crescent City, I found I was unwilling to stop! I regret nothing; that series just gets better with every read!
Favourite Reads: I devoured some great books last month, but I think my favourites were Snake Eater and Brigands and Breadknives.
Snake Eater was one of the most imaginative and creative books I've read in ages, and one of my favourite T. Kingfisher novels to date. It's a unique mix of fantasy, reality, and a little bit of horror, blended with the author's signature brand of humour and eccentricity. It's about a thirty-something woman who runs away from an abusive relationship to visit her aunt in the desert, but when she arrives, she learns that her aunt has died a year before. With barely any money in her pocket, she's at a loss of what to do next, until the keys to her aunt's house are thrust into her hands. She insists she'll only stay a night or two, but as the locals welcome her like one of their own, and she makes friends with a colourful older lady, and a catholic priest with a surprising double-life, she realises she doesn't want to leave. However, as she settles into small town desert life, weird things start to happen, and she soon finds herself the recipient of some unwelcome attention from a roadrunner god, who swears vengeance when she declines his advances. As monsters swarm her home, and her friends are threatened, it seems the only thing for it is to enlist the help of her friends and go to the gods to stop him once and for all. But can three people and a Labrador really take on a god and live to fight another day? I could tell you, but where would be the fun in that? Haha! Go read it! It's so good! It made me want to go live in the desert with my dog, get myself a cute cottage and some eccentric neighbours, and start growing vegetables for the vegetable gods. I think I'll pass on the scorpions and roadrunner god, though. The world-building was so vivid and immersive, and I enjoyed the uniqueness of the story- like how the villain was a roadrunner, there were gods who helped the vegetables thrive, and a character who could turn into a peccary. Seeing the main character healing from an abusive relationship was also interesting, particularly as Selena had to learn to undo years of conditioning and manipulation. Although, if I had to choose my favourite thing about this book it would be Grandma Billy, who was an absolute riot, and made me laugh a lot! Take my word for it, if you read this book, you're going to love her!
My other favourite, Brigands and Breadknives, was a charming adventure story that blurred the lines between cosy and high fantasy. It's about a rattkin who runs away from her life as a bookseller and tries to find her place in the world, as she heads off on the road with a bounty-hunting elf, and her prisoner- a shambolic goblin with a cutlery-stealing fetish. It was packed full of humour and had me laughing out loud throughout- especially at everything Zyll, the goblin, said and did because she was just so cute and chaotic. The melodramatic talking breadknife also made me chuckle, as did Fern's foul mouth, and biting remarks. It reminded me of the kind of children's fantasy adventure novels I loved when I was little- just with a little more swearing, violence, and mid-life crises. I also found Fern's desperation to escape her current life just to avoid having an honest conversation about how she felt about it somewhat relatable- who hasn't wanted to run away from it all at some point? Her story raises a strong message about how life is far too short to waste doing something that no longer makes you happy, and to always seize the day- as well as the importance of belonging and how we can find friends in the most unexpected of places. I enjoyed this book even more than Bookshops and Bonedust, but I think Legends and Lattes is still my favourite. I'd highly recommend all three.
Favourite Listens: I had such a fun month doing an audio reread of most of the Crescent City series, and particularly enjoyed reacquainting myself with House of Earth and Blood, and House of Flame and Shadow (Part One). It's one of my favourite comfort series. If you want an urban fantasy with a plucky half-fae party girl teaming up with a hot angel of death to solve her friends' murders by demons in a metropolis full of fae shifters, witches, necromancers, mer, sprites, and other magical beings, this is the fantasy series for you! Their post is also delivered by cute otters, if that helps? (Side note: I'd strongly recommend reading ACOTAR and Throne of Glass first)!
Least Favourites: I don't think I can pick a least favourite for March- everything I read was brilliant!
So, that's what I read in March. I'll be back soon with what I read in April.
Have you read any good books lately?
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