The First Quarterly Wrap-Up | confession: i love reading

🚀 January – March 🦚

Welcome to my first wrap-up of 2023! I actually had the most enjoyable time reading this quarter, more than I have done in years. I more or less made time to read every day, even if only a page or two and I’d missed having it in my daily routine. There were a lot of books I loved, so I can’t wait to discuss them with you.

🍄 Graphic Novel Reviews | ghosts, space and, scariest of them all, the theatre

Blogging had felt a little bit less magic as I haven’t gravitated towards it so much. In fact, I am very surprised I got as much content out as I have. I am sorry my blog hopping has been so minimal though as I genuinely miss talking to everyone. It’s what makes you feel connected to the community. I wish I could say I will promise I will do better next month, but we will see. I am hoping to do Camp NaNoWriMo in April *wish me luck* so I imagine most of my spare time will be used for that. All my content has been prepared for April so at the very least I hope I will be quicker with replies.

top of the pops

THE DRAGON REPUBLIC BY R. F. KUANG // my favourite of the series. The plot itself was so thrilling and we got more from certain side characters which I loved. What stood out most was the focus on the emotional state of Rin. The aftermath of war and her need for a leader to tell her what to do. I felt like it was smartly keyed into and elevated my reading experience. Plus, the ending! It really got to me. I just can’t stop thinking about how *SPOILER* Nezha’s kind actions towards Rin often involved touching her back and then the ending. KILL. ME. NOW.

A LESSON IN THORNS BY SIERRA SIMONE // A different series for me, but it ended up being such a fun reading experience. The plot contains things that if I had to explain it to you, I would question the book. But, I just went with the flow. It was written really well and confidently so it was remarkably easy to do so. In fact, the writing was my favourite thing about the book/series. It was so pretty! The romances were written with the perfect amount of beauty and pain. THE. ANGST. AND. EMOTIONS. (you are damn right I want a paragraph about someone’s thumb touching her shoulder).

MAKING A SCENE BY CONSTANCE WU // Constance is an actress, but to me, this memoir was more about being an emotional woman than any story of fame. From childhood to falling in love, she talks about life intimately. I loved that it felt like catching up with a friend and big displays of emotions. It was entertaining, heartwarming and quietly revelationary. My favourite memoir to date.

great books

THE DEEP BY RIVERS SOLOMON // The Romantasyathon Reading Diary | a weekly readathon 🥀

THE FINAL STRIFE BY SAARA EL-ARIFI // The Romantasyathon Reading Diary | a weekly readathon 🥀

THE ATLAS PARADOX BY OLIVIE BLAKE // If you like the first book, you will probably like this. In fact, I enjoyed this one more. I was shocked to find Callum and Libby as the most intriguing characters this time. It can be a marmite series, but I enjoy the experience it provides. I think it does character studies really well, by focusing on reactions. Especially as there are many perspectives, you can see characters through different eyes. The first section of this book had an activity that highlighted this. There is a lot of ambiguity with this series so you tend to get what you put into it. I like “filling in the blanks” so to say, but I can see why it doesn’t work for everyone. I love the writing as well, bar the occasional line. It reminds me even so slightly of Stiefvater, especially that scene where Reina was describing someone in the cafe.

THE JADE SETTER OF JANLOON BY FONDA LEE // I love the green bone saga A LOT, but I was still surprised by how much it made me feel to step back into this world. It was pure elation. The story itself is a small-scale mystery. One I enjoyed but wouldn’t have any strong feelings towards if it wasn’t for my prior love and knowledge. It talked about clan relations focusing on impartiality and I enjoyed how these themes were discussed as it added to what I already knew, but from a different perspective. This was a clever opportunity for a novella and I enjoyed that most of all.

🍄 REASONS TO READ THE GREEN BONE SAGA BY FONDA LEE | flipping through fantasy

NETTLE AND BONE BY T. KINGFISHER // A different reading experience. A slow-paced fantasy focusing on the journey over anything else. In fact, the resolution itself was easily gained. But this was not a book about the challenges but what causes people to start their journey and how they will get to the end. It had a fairytale feel which is ultimately what made it a great read for me; comic moments, a whimsical style and that dashing side of “cuckoo” magic.

power of loving prior books

avoid if you haven’t read the previous books in these series.

THE BURNING GOD BY R. F. KUANG // I was disappointed with the final book. Rin’s situation seemed to swing from having everything to nothing multiple times, with no suspenseful rise or downfall meaning it weirdly felt anti-climatic. Then the last 100 pages or so had a tone shift for the ending. Personally, I think if you are going to do that ending, you need more than a last-minute tone change. Yes, the action of the entire series suited the ending, but I needed the emotional side to match in a larger capacity. I am going to be more critical because I hate that type of ending. I was still entertained and invested because I wanted to see more from these characters and how their journey was going to end. It just felt a bit shamble-y.

HELL BENT BY LEIGH BARDUGO // After reading Ninth House, I didn’t think Bardugo’s strength was writing mystery. It was the characterisation and fantasy elements I adored. So it was a shame the sequel didn’t have those strengths I’d come to expect. Most disappointing was the characters. I felt like I learnt nothing new about them in this book. There were more or less in the same place at the end as the start. They just repeated a few of their struggles, in a similar motion to the first book. Plus, this novel was about going to hell. How was that not the main attraction of the novel? All it was was a massive presumption, then a two-step dance to get there. It should have been more. I still liked it on a generic level (Turner is my favourite character), but all I kept thinking was wasted potential.

FEAST OF SPARKS BY SIERRA SIMONE // As mentioned this series was a little different for me and included things I’d normally turn away from. I don’t know if I was in the honeymoon phase in the first book, but in this one, it felt more noticeable. I still devoured the book quickly and loved the flashbacks as I finally saw the history that was so often hinted at. Simone writes angst so impeccably well and that is what keeps me coming back. The ending revelation was awful and I can’t wait for that to be rewritten.

HARVEST OF SIGHS BY SIERRA SIMONE // Calling this Rebecca and Delphine’s book was quite a stretch, but I am glad we got to experience their story a little more. Rebecca’s past explaining why she reacts to emotions the way she does was definitely the most dominant (*wink wink*) part of the plot. I really enjoyed this emotional explanation and whilst the ending felt like one that could have been easily avoided, it made sense for the story. Once again, it was the well-written angst that kept me hooked. Other elements of the plot felt weaker as Prosperina, once the main character, felt like she doesn’t have much to do but say yes to anything. I wish she had more to the story.

DOOR OF BRUISES BY SIERRA SIMONE // The final book in the Thornchapel series that had taken over my life for a while. My interest did slowly dwindle with each book that I read but reading the afterward made me more aware of the intent of the series which did help me rethink some parts in a good way. I could give you a list of things I liked about the series and things that could have been improved, but ultimately it comes down to me enjoying the emotional explorations and the writing, which is mostly what I want from romance.

good stuff

THAT TIME I GOT DRUNK AND SAVED A DEMON BY KIMBERLY LEMMING // The Romantasyathon Reading Diary | a weekly readathon 🥀

ELATSOE BY DARCIE LITTLE BADGER // The book felt like it was written for a younger audience than it was intended. I kept thinking what the character was doing was a little unrealistic, only to remember she was in fact 17, not 12, so it actually made sense. But. I. Kept. Forgetting. Again. And. Again. She also didn’t react to most things. She got sad news and it was “okay, what’s next?”. I understand this can be a personality type and it helped with pacing, but something more than the occasional “I feel sad, but whatever” was needed. Despite that, it was an easy-to-enjoy fantasy mystery. I liked the little nods to humour throughout the story, it made it more engaging and easy to like the characters. The plot itself was relatively straightforward, but I did enjoy the small spins on conventional supernatural creatures. The vampires not being welcome felt like a special moment.

EXO BY FONDA LEE // As the writer of my favourite series, I wanted to check out Lee’s other books despite the premise not necessarily appealing to me. Hard to determine whether I found this successful or not as it matched expectations even though I was secretly hoping for a new love. The first half is exactly what the synopsis promises and it showcases Lee’s skill in world-building, but it was the second half which felt more impressive for the ability to add to politics, emotions and the world. I think Lee is very talented and you can see the promise of her potential in the second half. It didn’t make it my cup of tea still and, sadly, the characters didn’t have a lasting impression. There was one thing I hated as well; the romance. It felt so forced and unnecessary.

*cricket sounds*

DEATH OF A DENTIST BY M. C. BEATON // Simply, not for me. It was successful at what it wanted to be, like a daytime crime show. I only had the book because of a gift. Thankfully it was easy to follow and had some different personalities. I just struggled to care about any of it.

COURT OF THE VAMPIRE QUEEN BY KATEE ROBERT // The Romantasyathon Reading Diary | a weekly readathon 🥀

★★★★★

★★★

★

★★★

RESERVATION DOGS S2 // Season 2 confirmed it as one of my favourite ever shows. I love the music, the characters, the filming style, the message and more. All of it. It feels like being part of a friendship group, sometimes serious, sometimes fun. I love it.

OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH // This took me a while to get into but by the end, I did enjoy it. It is silly which I do like but it felt a little generic for such a unique concept. I think the plot actually won me over in the end as Stede truly became a Captain by the end.

ROMANTIC GETAWAY // I love Romesh a lot, but I didn’t like this show. It went from humour to seriousness when it should have leaned more toward one and fully embraced it. I was glad when it was over. Romesh is still perfect though.

I HATE SUZIE // This show was really good at following a messy female character, unflinching in allowing her to express big emotions. In this way, it was a great show, but I think I was expecting a comedy of some sort and I had to reshift my narrative. Suzie was unlikeable to an extent as well. In some ways, it is what made the show good but it felt too apologetic at times. Realistic in its own way as that was how she was taught to act, yet a little tiresome. On a technical level, I liked it but the actuality of watching occasionally felt like hard work?

★★★★

★★★

★★★★

★★★★

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S1 // I finally watched the game of thrones prequel and I enjoyed it as expected. It was a little choppy but given the nature of the book it’s based on, no surprise. I was shocked to discover my favourite scenes were typically based around the king. Paddy Considine’s acting was incredible and if you’ve seen it, you can guess what scene is *the* scene. I liked how it made mediocrity an interesting trait, even the mirroring of when he and Rhaenyra each killed an animal in episode 3 felt powerful. It was the other characters that I got emotionally attached to though but I hope it remains unafraid to make characters lose.

WELCOME TO CHIPPENDALES // The rise and fall of a male strip club, focusing on the people behind the business. The character types were subtly different from the typical ones included in these kinds of stories so it gave this one a welcome edge. I have a soft spot for *SPOILER* the human way it showcased the downfall. Whilst the rise was about being smart, the fall was built on pettiness.

YOU S4 PART 1 // The Romantasyathon Reading Diary | a weekly readathon 🥀 (I haven’t watched part 2 yet, please no spoilers)

THE SEX LIVS OF COLLEGE GIRLS S1 // This was such an entertaining show. It is a teen drama full of love, failures and friendship. Not necessarily something new, but the tonality provided fun, fresh voices. It was comedic and buoyant in execution. I was glad to see the end of certain plotlines in season one, but I am very eager to see more from these characters.

★★★

★★★★

★★★★

★★★★

CLARK // This was such a quirky show and I loved it for all the differences. It was chaotic and Clark was a unique character to follow, at once lovable and frustrating. All his antics were entertaining and the way he viewed life was almost aspiring in his carelessness (until you saw the consequences). I wouldn’t have any improvements for it. It was exactly what it wanted to be and I enjoyed that. But, it still isn’t something I will be raving about forever due to my personal taste. Still, I am glad I watched it and recommend more people looking into it.

DAISY JONES & THE SIX // The show the book community had long been anticipating. It was a good adaptation. It completely brought to life the setting and music as I imagined it. The plot and characters were very close to how I pictured too, only factional differences which made the plot feel a little more generic. Therefore, I still feel the book was more special, even though I had hoped the show was going to elevate what the book gave. Nonetheless, I loved how everything was brought to life and that last episode was more emotional than I expected (I didn’t find the book that sad tbh).

THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY // I adored this show so much more than I expected. Often with teen shows, comedy is used to bring excitement to it, but this show took every emotion seriously and it felt heartfelt because of it. I also loved this because teen girls’ emotions get enough belittlement so they deserve an unapologetic spotlight. The aesthetic of the show was very satisfying from location, music, cinematography to pacing. It was well-made and I actually liked the love triangle. It felt more about timing than vying over Belly. Plus, it gets audiences talking.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN // One of the strongest written shows I’ve watched and it is such a shame that it is only getting one more season. Whilst it could have been a story of isolation, it felt like an empowering story about community. Max, in particular, was a great character and the story gave her the chance for full expression; the pain, the joy and the determination.

favourite posts I’ve posted

Simply The Best… of 2022

Would I Rather? | fantasy edition

Authors I Know: Alice Oseman | what’s most popular, my favourite or deserves more love?

The Wailing Writer | the chaos of crafting characters

from the blogosphere

End-Of-Year Content:

• 24hr.YABookBlog wrote a post talking about her reading goal and challenges for 2023 & YA Latinx books releasing in 2023! Plenty of great goals and books.
• Katja @ Life and Other Disasters shared her favourite TV shows from 2022 and I always love hearing her thoughts on TV, so seeing her highlights was wonderful.
• Line @ First Line Reader talked about each new-to-me author, using gifs to show her thoughts on each one and if she would read them again. It was such a fun post that I thoroughly adored!
• Ruby @ Ruby Rae Reads posted about her movies & TV shows for 2021-2022. A recap of stats, favourites and upcoming releases for 2023.
• Prutha @ Moonchild Lexicons posted a 2022 recap; from stats, favourite books, blogging and life. I loved how the post was presented.
• Caro @ BookCheshireCat shared her most anticipated books and authors she discovered in 2022! Great for finding new books to read.
• Charlotte @ Bewitching Books, Ravenous Reads makes amazing anticipated books posts. There were so many exciting books for 2023 she needed two glorious posts; part one and part two.

Recommendations:

• Kristin @ Kristin Kraves Books compared US vs UK covers for upcoming releases & haunted house book recommendations. Two fun and useful posts.
• Kat @ Life And Other Disasters shared her favourite books and how themes of grief were often included. Full of heartfelt recommendations.
• Fanna @ Fanna For Books provided 40 SFF books written by women of colour. An excellent post for any in need of new sci-fi or fantasy recommendations.
• Lila @ Hardcover Haven is taking part in the astrology readathon so shared her TBR whilst giving plenty of recs. It was beautifully set out and I loved hearing about all the books.
• May @ Forever & Everly recommended 12 books to read if you are in a slump. Reading slumps happen to the best of us and this post will be your saviour.
• Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books shared what books you need to read based on your favourite seasons. Full of thoughtful recommendations.
• Naemi @ A Book Owl’s Corner recommended fantasy books based on weird Duolingo sentences and it was as fun as it sounds. Plus, who doesn’t want more fantasy books in their life?

Other:

• Elli @ AceReader shared things in romances that annoy her which was entertaining and relatable to read.
• Charvi @ Not Just Fiction played the would you rather fantasy game like I had done earlier in the year so it was a lot of fun seeing her answers.
• Morgan @ Morgan Is Reading Again discussed whether star ratings matter. It was great to hear more thoughts on this topic.
• Riddhi @ Whispering Stories had amazing news; she has a published book, World of Words! I am so happy for her and the book is beautiful!

What books have you read so far in 2023? Have you found any new favourite books? What did you think of the Daisy Jones & The Six adaptation? Any favourite characters or songs?