Monthly Wrap-Up – March 2023
Hello book fiends, I hope all is well in your world. It’s time for a Monthly Wrap Up. You may have noticed I did not do one of these for February. There is a simple explanation for that, I only read two books and felt it was a waste of time. Last month I read Shattered Souls by Beck Michaels and The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller. Both excellent.
Shattered Souls is the third installment of The Guardians of the Maiden series. Not to wish away time, but I cannot wait to find out how this seven book series ends. As far as I am aware, book four – Rising Dawn is still scheduled to be released in the fall/winter of this year. Before that though, we are getting book one in Michaels Chronicles of Urn series – Kings Bride. Check it out :
He’s the God of Death. She’s the bride sent to kill him. Their union may be the end of them both.
The Everfrost is ruled by the King in his castle of ice. Some call him the Ice Phoenix, others the God of Death. The clans survive by one law alone: pay the King the homage he is due and never take what belongs to him. But when Sunnëva Morkhàn’s brother falls gravely ill, she will have to do exactly that.
Against every warning, she sneaks into the castle to steal the one thing that would save him—a magical rose. But you don’t steal from the King and live to tell the tale. When the Ice Phoenix discovers her theft and demands payment, the cost is too steep. Mourning and enraged, she challenges him, only to lose. To spare her clan from the King’s wrath, her father offers her as a bride, and for a reason she cannot fathom, the King agrees.
Revenge is a delicate game Sunnëva is determined to play, even if killing the God of Death is no easy feat. But as secrets unfold around the alluring King, and dark threats emerge from the shadows, Sunnëva struggles to hold on to her hatred—and her heart.
Inspired by Beauty and the Beast, King’s Bride is the first book in Beck Michaels’ companion prequel series, the Chronicles of Urn—dark fables founded in forbidden love and strong-willed women who bring kings to their knees.
Coming May 23, 2023
Alright, on to what I read in March. I started the month off with What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher. What Moves the Dead is a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe. I picked it up after reading Shattered Souls for a pallet cleanse and flew through it. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did honestly, but you may have noticed I did not post a review for it. I’ve read The Fall of the House of Usher before and didn’t feel the need to review this retelling. I definitely recommend it if you are a Poe fan.
The Hits
I absolutely loved One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. I’m mad at myself for not waiting to read it until the fall when Two Twisted Crowns comes out.
The Prince of Prohibition was sent to me in exchange for a review and honestly, I am still surprised by how much I liked it. Fingers crossed Marilyn Marks keeps delivering on this series.
I enjoyed the conclusion to The Dracula Duet by Karina Halle. Black Rose may have ended with too many happily-ever-after vibes for me, but I definitely recommend the series.
The conclusion to the Vicious Lost Boys series, The Fae Princes was, well it was the same as the rest of the series – spicy af. Will it ever be the first series that pops into my mind as a recommendation? No. But if that question was narrowed down to a spicy peter pan retelling recommendation? Or a spicy reverse harem? Yes.
Fate and Flame, I’m not sure how I feel about this one. I loved book one, A Fate of Wrath and Flame. But everything fell apart for me in book two A Curse of Blood and Stone.
The Misses
A Curse of Blood and Stone, was a complete disaster. It’s possible Romeria has become my least favorite annoying character. I don’t know if I can continue to read the series. Her holier than thou attitude drives me bananas.
The last place goes to When Wishes Bleed and it pains me to say it. This one just wasn’t for me and it is as simple as that.
Good Bye March !
Drop a comment below and let me know what you read in March. Did we read any of the same books? Will you be adding any of these gems to your to be read list?
The Aphantasia Bookworm 
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