Okay respectfully, what the fuck happened to April? Where did it go?!?! Though it seemed t disappear in a SNAP I did read some absolute bangers.
Below is my breakdown as always, which includes my rating, what I liked, and where to read. I also will earn commissions if you make any purchases from links below, and I thank you earnestly for doing so. It allows me to keep putting together these recaps for you!
Let’s get into this April reading breakdown:
Game On
📚 book 3 in the Into Darkness series
❤️🔥 SPICY
🎧 Duet narrated audiobook
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 (my full review)
My Thoughts: I had a saucy little blast with this. Lights Out is still my favorite in this series but this is #2 & came much closer to that, due to the MCs having very solid banter. There’s a group aspect to this, so heads up for people who don’t want sharing in their stories, but it does follow a singular couple.
This book has: brat kink, brilliant banter that made me laugh out loud, hidden identities, hate to love, fake dating
Where to Read:
Child of Shivay
📖 book 1 in the incomplete Veils of Terr series
❤️🔥 spicy
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 stars (my full review)
My Thoughts: This was SO fun from a story puzzle perspective; like I was having a blast trying to figure out what everything was. This is proper epic fantasy with a very interesting romance dynamic that had me turning pages. But the FMC by the end just grated on me and the thing that annoyed me specifically is a thing I don’t like in any MCs. And that thing is not asking questions when people are literally waiting to tell you stuff, and it ESPECIALLY didn’t make sense for her character. So I may or may not continue this series? But if you do start it, you MUST read the bonus chapter after. It’s crazy it’s not included in the book.
This book has: faerie creatures, an ongoing mystery, an assassin FMC, bodyguard trope-ish, unique world/story
Where to Read:
When the Tides Held the Moon
📘 Romantic historic fantasy standalone
🎧 Duet narrated audiobook
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 (my full review)
My Thoughts: Omg I ADORED THIS. It was so sweet and unique and just beautiful throughout. I just loved everything about it to be honest; from the historic New York setting to the theme of otherness throughout and then how the romance developed. GAH! My HEART!
This book has: queer romance, BIPOC rep, a merman, circus environment, found family out the wazoo
Where to Read:
The Silversmith
📖 book 1 in the incomplete Selvaren series
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
❤️ No spice yet…
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.25 (my full review)
My Thoughts: This was VERY fun and absolutely for the romance lovers of the genre. The man in this YEARNS, MY GOD. King of yearning?! Per chance! And while the rest of this was very fun outside of the romance, there weren’t a lot of surprises. However? Truly? Honestly? I didn’t care, I was so invested in the romance. I’m genuinely pumped for where book 2 is going and this was a grand ol’ time.
This book has: memory loss trope (done right!), bodyguard trope, chosen one, he’s obsessed with her but she doesn’t know why, forbidden romance
Where to Read:
The Obelisk Gate
📖 book 2 in The Broken Earth fantasy/sci-fi trilogy (book 1 is The Fifth Season)
🎧 solo narrated audiobook
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 (my full review)
My Thoughts: Genuinely I don’t even know how to describe what it feels like reading this trilogy other than insane in the best way. This is so unique, so in depth, so RICH, and these characters are MASTERFULLY crafted. No wonder this trilogy won 3 back to back Hugo stories.
This book has: I don’t even know where to start, but unique earth magic, oppression/bigotry, unique relationships, interesting lore, fascinating politics
Where to Read:
Rites of the Starling
📖 Book 2 in the incomplete Shield of Sparrows romantasy trilogy
☑️ On Kindle Unlimited
❤️🔥 Has spice
🎧 Duet audiobook
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟 3.75 (my full review)
My Thoughts: I’m going to be so real, I was a bit let down by this. Not that it’s BAD, but it proved to me that this trilogy should have been a duology. I also think I got negatively affected by the hype/reactions. This is a series with lots of questions and puzzle pieces and I LOVE that, but I was surprised by exactly 0 things by the end of this, which was just kind of a bummer. I will read book 3 because I love the story/world, but for me, this was a bit of a thriller book.
This book has: hilarious banter/inner monologues, vampires, mates
Where to Read:
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
📘 YA romantic fantasy standalone
🎧 Solo audiobook
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.25 (my full review)
My Thoughts: This was a tough one for me to actually rate, because per usual it’s beautifully written. CG Drews is one of my favorite authors. And this book had me turning pages and I was physically uncomfortable, which a good horror should do. But by the end, I wasn’t rooting for any of the adults, and that becomes hard for me to enjoy. I don’t like when I don’t have someone I’m supporting, and I just kind of hated everyone. So if you’re a horror/haunted house lover, you’ll probably love this. If you’re looking to root for a main character a la their other recent books (Don’t Let the Forest In or Hazelthorn, for example) you won’t get that here.
This book has: generational trauma, dysfunctional family and abuse, autism rep
Where to Read:
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