Another month has passed by and I’ve collected my reading list from March. It was a pretty chaotic month (and is continuing into April) so the overall list is here and some have mini-reviews and some do not. Forgive me! If you want to chat about any of them though, say hi on Twitter or Instagram and I’ll share my thoughts.
- All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1) by Martha Wells
- A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson – A sapphic, polyamorous love story surrounding the partners of Dracula? HECK YES. I picked this up on a whim and flew through it in barely two days. The writing is so fluid, smooth, and dreamy, following a compelling story that most of us are familiar with but from a different POV. I loved seeing this story through the eyes of his beloved and how things played out from her perspective. Everything about this book was just so damn good and I highly recommend it.
- The Airless Year by Adam P. Knave, Valentine Barker, and Frank Cvetkovic – A highly relatable and empowering story that explores those awkward transition years that all young people experience—the ones where everything feels up in the air as you desperately try to discover who you are. The Airless Year is filled with delightful wit, dry humor, and themes that will hit home for many young people. The art is simplistic but effective in conveying the story. With an especially excellent focus on artist Valentine Barker’s character expressions that expertly bring you into each moment on the page.
- Hooky by Míriam Bonastre Tur
- Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 1 by Kamome Shirahama – Stunning and delightful. I can’t wait to dig into the rest of the series ASAP.
- The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison
- Paws: Gabby Gets It Together by Nathan Fairbairn and Michele Assarasakorn –
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – What an incredible book! I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish, drawn in by the engaging characters and brilliant prose. A haunting story that I couldn’t put down! It’s obviously called Mexican Gothic as an ode to its gothic romance genre…and although I am a firm believer that Crimson Peak is incredible (seriously who doesn’t like that film??), I haven’t explored a lot of other gotchic stories. But this made me want to find more. And this was a top notch read and I highly recommend it, ESPECIALLY if you too believe that Crimson Peak was criminally underrated.
- Katie the Catsitter: Best Friends for Never by Colleen A.F. Venable and Stephanie Yue – This continues to be an incredibly fun series! As I said in my summary of the first book, THIS is the middle-grade (unofficial) Catwoman book of my dreams. And not with her as the full-on leading lady but as the classic anti-hero who is training their loyal sidekick/catsitter. Lovely messages in here about friendships and the growing pains that can come with all relationships. Plus family, doing what’s right, and knowing your limits. An excellent addition to this series.
- Salt Magic by Hope Larson and Rebecca Mock – Really spectacular. I feel like I do a lot of comparisons to Studio Ghibli but this has an air of that too it, embodying bits of stories like Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. I love the strong family bond that sets our protagonist on her quest and the journey that it takes her on. It’s magical and beautifully brought to life on the page.
- This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede – An engaging new YA series for fans of Kendare Blake’s Three Dark Crowns series. Featuring a compelling lead character wrestling with a powerful gift…or curse? And a fun cast of supporting characters – OUT JUNE 28, 2022
- Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker, Wendy Xu, and Joamette Gil – Witches! Werewolves! Queer romance! This graphic novel has it all and it’s every bit as good as you’ve probably heard. Beautiful art, engaging story, and a delight from start to finish.
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – What a great book. While I didn’t love this quite as much as Daisy Jones, I’ve clearly and quickly become a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid and her body of work. I can’t wait to dig into more going forward.
What did you read in March?