Books Read 19-25 April 2024 || Book Reviews (2024)

Happy Monday!

How have you been surviving the school holidays so far? It’s been another interesting feat here because there’s just not a single moment of silence from sunrise these days up until my kids go to bed to get a moment alone to just breathe.

Here are reviews for the books I read in the second last week of April; quite a few to read through and some of them I loved, others not so much that are due to be published soon or recently published.

Remember to check out the question at the end and leave a comment.

Disclaimer: All posts/reviews are based on my personal views and opinions.

Books Read 19-25 April 2024 || Book Reviews (1)

fourth wing by rebecca yarros

Published: 2023 | Source: Digital Library | Genre: Fantasy, Romance | Pages: 650
Rating: 5/5

This was an exhilarating read that captivated me from the first page. The richly detailed world-building and compelling characters drew me into a story filled with adventure, magic, and heartfelt moments. Yarros’ writing was both vivid and immersive, making it easy to lose oneself in the narrative. The plot was well-paced with twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. I particularly loved the strong, relatable heroine and the intricate relationships she navigated. “Fourth Wing” is a must-read for fantasy lovers, offering a perfect blend of action, emotion, and imagination. Highly recommended!

Prompt: 2023 Goodreads Choice Award, April Fantasy/Paranormal/Retelling books

The She book by tanya markul

Published: 2019 | Source: Digital Library | Genre: Poetry | Pages: 146
Rating: 3/5

This collection didn’t quite meet my expectations. While the poetry aimed to be empowering and introspective, I found the themes to be repetitive and the language lacking depth. Many of the pieces felt overly simplistic and didn’t resonate with me on a deeper level. The book’s emotional tone seemed forced at times, making it hard to connect with the poet’s intended message. Although some readers might find solace in its affirmations, it just didn’t have the impact I was hoping for.

My lesbian experience with loneliness by kabi nagata

Published: 2016 | Source: Digital Library | Genre: Graphic Novel | Pages: 148
Rating: 1/5

I found the storytelling disjointed and the artwork lacking in appeal. The narrative, which aimed to be deeply personal and insightful, felt repetitive and failed to engage me emotionally. The exploration of mental health and sexuality, while important, was not handled with the depth and sensitivity I expected. Some extreme red flags made my skin crawl reading and I felt uncomfortable sometimes, which takes a lot to feel with a book.

once upon a swine by tracey west

Published: 2014 | Source: Digital Library | Genre: Mystery, Fantasy | Pages: 95
Rating: 4/5

This was a delightful read that captured the whimsical spirit of the “Gravity Falls” series. The book’s humour and charm made it a fun experience for fans of all ages. The characters were well-portrayed, staying true to their TV counterparts, and the story was filled with clever twists and engaging adventures. The illustrations added an extra layer of enjoyment, bringing the quirky world to life. While the book was a quick read, it was thoroughly entertaining and a great addition to the “Gravity Falls” universe.

time enough by jay martel

Published: 202 | Source: Audible | Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction | Hours: 4h56m
Rating: 4/5

“Time Enough” was a thoroughly enjoyable audiobook experience. The intriguing premise and well-crafted plot kept me hooked from start to finish. The narrator did an excellent job, of bringing the characters to life with distinct voices and engaging delivery. The story balanced humour and suspense effectively, providing both laughs and moments of genuine tension. While a few sections felt slightly rushed, the overall pacing was solid and kept my interest throughout. The characters were relatable and well-developed, making their journeys compelling.

stan lee by maria isabel sanchez vegara

Published: 2024 | Source: NetGalley | Genre: Picture Books, Biography | Pages: 32
Series: Little People, BIG DREAMS | Rating: 5/5

I enjoyed this short book about Stan Lee’s life. I loved the illustrations and the to-the-point narration about his life, the very beginning of his career, and what put him on the map to become one of the most famous people on earth. This is a great way to teach kids about important people and how they impact our lives.

haunting adeline by h. d. carlton

After all the hype around this book on all social platforms, I had to find out why. The book had an intriguing premise but ultimately fell short for me. The plot was slow and often dragged, making it difficult to stay engaged. The characters weren’t all that great, and everyone losing their minds over Zade went over my head. While he does some good in his personal life, in no way does it excuse his behaviour towards Adeline and everything he put her through? No way do I excuse her behaviours either because, let’s face it, she egged him on and got off on much of what happened, if not all of it. While I’m not here to kink shame anyone, there were some parts in this book that felt uncomfortable and terrifying. Take away all the terrifying things that occurred throughout the book and focus on just the sex, that was good to read and it had its hot moments, but I wouldn’t mix it with everything else that happened. I don’t feel like I ever got to know the characters outside of the chaos, and that sucked because I’m sure there was more to them than just sex, stalking, and violence. The writing was good, even though there were slow parts of the book I needed to get through, and there were moments I really enjoyed the faster pace. The book ended on a cliffhanger, and I’m still unsure if I want to read the next book.

Prompt: Over 500 pages

lane by peter grainger

This was an audiobook that left me lost even after finishing it. I started off not understanding what the story was about and then by the end of it, I still hadn’t grasped the plot nor connect with any of the characters. The mystery itself wasn’t that attention-grabbing and the only good part about this audiobook was that it was free.

happy stories for animal lovers by leisa stewart-sharpe

Published: 2023 | Source: NetGalley | Genre: Educational | Pages: 32 |
Rating: 2/5

This was a short picture book that didn’t inspire any happy feelings reading. The stories included were average pieces you could find online with a simple search. They were educational but there was nothing ‘happy’ about them, just a message about endangered animals. As this book is aimed at young children, I didn’t find it all kid-friendly with the facts included which might not have the right impact and not be understood by younger minds. The illustrations were sweet and that was the only real brightness in the book.

torla and smorla and the lower than average cloud by kes gray

Published: 2024 | Source: NetGalley | Genre: Childrens’ Books | Pages: 24 |
Rating: 2/5

There wasn’t much to this book other than descriptive language used way too much and it became boring after the first few pages. The two giraffes weren’t interesting to follow along on their journey and I still don’t have much of an idea what this book was supposed to bring to the table. The illustrations were okay and I did like all the other animals introduced far more than the two giraffes.

respect the insect by Jules Howard

Published: 2024 | Source: NetGalley | Genre: Science | Pages: 80 |
Rating: 5/5

This was an educational book for children that I enjoyed! It was filled with amazing facts, some I didn’t know and was fascinated reading about. This book highlighted the importance of insects and how they each contribute to the natural flow of the world, as pesky as some of them might be. I loved the illustrations and the vibrant colours used to bring the insects to life.

julieta and the diamond enigma by luisana duarte armendáriz

Published: 2020 | Source: NetGalley | Genre: Mystery, Mythology | Pages: 177 |
Rating: 4/5

This was an interesting story following a young heroine travelling to Paris with a mix of art, mythology and history. While some of the scenes seemed a little unrealistic, this could be a great inspiration for young detective-wannabees to enjoy a good mystery. For a nine-year-old heroine, some of her behaviours and decisions seemed too mature to integrate into her character and that took a star off my rating. Overall, this kept my attention up to the very end.

gabriel’s tooth fairy tale by Sharon Leya

Published: 2024 | Source: NetGalley | Genre: Picture Books | Pages: 29 |
Rating: 3/5

This was an interesting take on the whole tooth fairy tale we grow up knowing. Who doesn’t want to know where the teeth go and what happens behind the scenes? The illustrations were nice and the story was sweet but there wasn’t much mind-blowing about it. A fun read for young audiences but not so much for an adult.

of lost things by dani de luca

Published: 2024 | Source: NetGalley | Genre: Poetry | Pages: 35 |
Rating: 3/5

I struggled to connect with this collection. I understood all the themes explored within the pieces but I couldn’t connect with the writing. Poetry is personal so I don’t want to break down the poet’s experiences but I couldn’t find the depth and the rawness in the pieces when talking about topics like grief, death, motherhood and femicide, to name a few.

In the comments:

How many of these books have you read? What did you think of them?