Welcome to The Monthly Round-Up. Join me as I look back on the past month to see which books I’ve read, the reviews I’ve posted, the goals I’ve completed and my all important Book of the Month!
| The Monthly Round-Up: March 2016 |
This month has been so hectic I’m surprised I managed to get through as many books as I did! With work coming out of my eyeballs, a virus which feels like someone’s taken a sander to my throat, the death of my reading companion Felix – RIP Piggle 😦 – and two new guinea pigs springing into my life, I feel like I’ve barely touched ground this March. My review count has suffered a little and my posts have been somewhat erratic (or non-existent in the case of Bookish Beats!) but all in all, the books I’ve read have given me some much needed relief. So let’s take a look at the literary delights I’ve been consuming:
| Books Read |
| 1. |
Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart
Read as part of the official blog tour, Girl Waits With Gun, with its gun-toting, feisty real-life heroine and its exciting storyline, was an excellent read with which to start my month.
| 2. |
A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
A Gathering of Shadows, the sequel to A Darker Shade of Magic, was most definitely a highlight of March. This was an excellent follow-up which, in my view, surpassed the first in terms of narrative and excitement. I certainly can’t wait for the third!
| 3. |
Envy of Angels by Matt Wallace
Envy of Angels, the first Sin du Jour novella, was a book I’d had my eye on ever since reading a review for it a few months back. It certainly lived up to expectations by proving itself to be tremendous fun and ever so slightly grotesque.
| 4. |
Stranger of Tempest by Tom Lloyd
Stranger of Tempest has been on my reading list ever since the wonderful cover reveal in January. Luckily for me, it proved just as good as its wrappings and has once more placed Tom Lloyd at the top of my reading list!
| 5. |
Skinshaper by Mark Gelineau and Joe King
Another day, another Gelineau and King novella! These guys certainly know how to write a captivating piece of short fiction and Skinshaper is no exception. This novella, with its enigmatic characters and abhorrent creations, is one of the most disturbing and captivating to date.
| 6. |
The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan
The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter, a steampunk piece of alternative history, brought about a change of pace with its steady narrative and gorgeous prose. A surprising and delightful novel, I’m looking forward to my next venture into the Gas-Lit Empire.
| 7. |
A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire
For March’s Read Along we returned to the world of October ‘Toby’ Daye in the second novel of the series by Seanan McGuire. After something of a rocky start, A Local Habitation turned out to be a rather enjoyable read and I cannot wait to get stuck into the third in the series this April!
A Gathering of Shadows
by V.E. Schwab
| March Goals |
To finish NOS4R2 and Emma before the month is out!
Yes, yes another roll over!
Status: Incomplete
… Perhaps it’s time to stop posting this goal and accept that they’ll be read when they’re read! – I hate to think how many months it’s been rolling over!
| Goals for 2016 |
Goodreads 2016 Reading Challenge: 25/100 Books Read (25%)
Status: +7% in March
| Reviews Posted |
The Copper Promise by Jen Williams
Legend by David Gemmell
Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart
Broken Banners by Mark Gelineau and Joe King
Occupy Me by Tricia Sullivan
| Other Posts From March |
This month ushered in a change to the schedule with The Friday Face-Off becoming a weekly meme! I love posting and comparing book covers every Friday and it’s fantastic seeing the covers other bloggers post! So thank you for joining in and long may it continue!
Announcement: The Friday Face-Off – A Weekly Meme
The Friday Face-Off: March 04 – Dragon Hunters by Marc Turner
The Friday Face-Off: March 11 – First Friday Freebie
The Friday Face-Off: March 18 – Here be Dragons
The Friday Face-Off: March 25 – Green With Envy
The Monthly Round-Up: February 2016
Cover Reveal: The Waking Fire by Anthony Ryan – US Edition
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten… Books When You’re in the Mood for Axe-Wielding Maniacs
Top Ten Tuesay: Top Ten… Books on my Spring TBR
Teaser Tuesdays: March 01 – A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
Teaser Tuesdays: March 08 – The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan
Teaser Tuesdays: March 15 – Envy of Angels by Matt Wallace
Teaser Tuesdays: March 22 – Under the Empyrean Sky by Chuck Wendig
Teaser Tuesdays: March 29 – Tomorrow the Killing by Daniel Polansky
Book Haul: March 02 – Swords of Good Men & Blood Will Follow
Book Haul: March 31 – Angel of Storms & Legion: Skin Deep
Read Along: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire – Week 1
Read Along: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire – Week 2
Read Along: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire – Week 3
Read Along: A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire – Week 4
Books by Proxy 
I am sorry to hear it has been a hectic month for you and that you lost your reading companion Felix. It is good to hear you have found books to comfort you. I had a very busy month too. I hope you have a calmer month in April and still read some great books!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🙂 And to you too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m currently reading Stranger of Tempest, I’m finding it really good so far, it’s my first Tom Lloyd book, I shouldn’t go on aesthetics but the cover lured me in to!
I’m sorry to read about you losing your reading companion, pets are such a large part of their owners lives. I lost my Dog 6 weeks ago, she was an elderly girl and would lay on the sofa as I was reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Definitely a fantastic series opener.
Thank you. And sorry to hear about your dog, it’s always hard losing a pet – they do become part of the family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sorry to hear you lost your reading companion and that March was a bumpy month for you. For all that, you still managed to read a great bunch of books and post an impressive number of blogs. I was impressed with Tom Lloyd’s The Stormcaller, so was interested to see how much you enjoyed Stranger Tempest. Also LOVED Copper Promise by Jen Williams. I hope April is a much better month for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂 I unearthed The Stormcaller from the dusty recesses of my bookshelf last year and really enjoyed it. And after Stranger of Tempest I’m determined to finish the Twilight Reign! Similarly LOVED The Copper Promise so can’t wait to continue with that series either! 😀
LikeLike
Fantastic job on your challenges, even with the occasional roll over 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you thought of Envy of Angels, I really enjoyed it, though I’ll never look at a chicken mcnugget the same way again…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🙂 And haha I’m not surprised!! It’s such a fun book though and it was actually your review which led me to it 😀
LikeLike
Great month. Thanks for introducing me to so many worthy books to give a try. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 😀
LikeLike