Overall mood: dedicated, but a little distracted. There has been a fair number of interruptions to my reading this month, but I have not let them dissuade me from my books completely. Another day spent reading the same book here and there, maybe a few DNFs to keep the ball rolling when I would have otherwise stewed on it for a while longer. i can’t beat myself up over these things too much though because life gets in the way of everyone’s ideal day every now and then. I am happy for the time I did have reading this month and excited for my plans in the future.

Books read:

A Study in Scarlet By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 4/5

As the first novel, A Study in Scarlet does a great job at introducing the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson to the reader. It is a simple story told in two parts, the second part not so exciting but nevertheless interesting for the readers of the time. It gives a touch of exotic experience to a naive traveller or reader and I can see how it thrust Sherlock Holmes into celebrity status.

The Sign of the Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 4/5

The second Sherlock Holmes novel, this time bringing up Sherlock’s drug habits and integrating it into his character and the story. The Sign of the Four is an intriguing tale with more action than A Study in Scarlet and a little less exposition dumping in the finale, making it a sharper and more engaging Sherlock Holmes novel.

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness, 4.5/5

I love the immersion into the historical context and the fine details and characterisations we see in Shadow of Night. I appreciate getting a longer time with the main characters falling in love with each other, especially with this new side of Matthew we see. The setting is rich and gritty and the plot is full to the brim with action and dialogue and interactions between characters. A great addition to the All Souls trilogy.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, 4/5

What a joy it is to reread this trilogy for the tenth time (I’ve lost count but it is up there), but this time I get to document it. Clockwork Angel is the introductory book in the trilogy so things feel slow considering the machinations and wider context of the setting and groups. Nevertheless, the characters are well established, their interactions and relationships with each other feel authentic and believable, and their reactions to the plot are fun, interesting, and exciting.

The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox, 3.5/5

I wasn’t expecting as much of a romance as there is in The Widow of Pale Harbor, which isn’t always a bad thing. What turned me away from this book was the underdevelopment or underutilisation of the darker themes, ideas and tone found in The Witch of Willow Hall and The Last Heir to Blackwood Library. Edgar Allen Poe’s works are mentioned numerous times here, but the execution of the themes and imagery falls flat and the inclusion of the sombre and dark tone of the work could have been better instilled in the story.

Ask Not by Maureen Callahan, DNF

Let me start out by stating I did not DNF this book because it wasn’t good. It is very interesting and attention-grabbing. I am all for reading about history and real-life events. What’s more, this is a book I will recommend to anyone looking for something different, something thought-provoking and possibly a little controversial. Ask Not, and more specifically Maureen Callahan, is doing something very few people would attempt – publicly question the power and authority of the Kennedy family. Not only that, but highlighting the many women attached to the Kennedy name and given them back their power. I will be returning to this book over the summer (if it hasn’t been erased from libraries by then because this book goes there).

A Lullaby for Witches by Hester Fox, 4.5/5

This is the kind of Hester fox book I wanted to read. Her previous works I’ve read didn’t include a modern day perspective, so it was really fun to see what she would do with it and how she weaved past and present together. The paranormal themes are handled wonderfully, the historical restoration and exhibition of the house and its contents made me think of the potential other life I could have led had I done a history major (or been a witch, you never know).

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch, 4.5/5

Scott Lynch has done it again and given an adult fantasy that is superb and captivating. Not only are the three parts engaging, hilarious, intense and action-packed, but they support each other and the world established in The Lies of Locke Lamora. This book is so immersive and raw and it is a stellar example of what adult fantasy should be.

The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness, 4.5/5

The Book of Life doesn’t feel like an ending, which is great because I can continue to read all the additional stories within the story world. That being said, the shift in direction and attention felt a little strange to me as the solution to the group’s troubles went from one thing to a completely different issue. I love it anyhow as the characters and action make this novel an engrossing, tense finale.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, 4/5

There is a lot going on with this YA series starter; paranormal themes, supernatural themes, romance themes, sci-fi themes, dystopian themes, historical fiction themes, and so on. All of these come together to create a unique, jam-packed novel that is sure to fill an afternoon. I struggled to see the direction this series would go in from this book alone, but I think I will give the second book a go and decide from there if I will continue with the series or not.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken, 4/5

It has been many years such I last read The Darkest Minds, but I throughly enjoy it even with a more critical and more mature reading lens. Most of the themes feel like they work in the story setting, maybe a few details don’t feel well integrated into the whole story world, but I don’t think it takes away too much from the messages of the story. I highly recommend this as a YA dystopian scifi for anyone interested.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 4/5

The most popular Sherlock Holmes novel, and for good reason with its subject matter, eerie setting, narrative structure, narrative style, and plot. Again, I can see how this novel became very popular at the time of its release and in the years following. I don’t know if it carries the same punch it did as scarier, more convoluted tales have been released in past decades that make The Hound of the Baskervilles feel tame, but it doesn’t deter from the impact of this novel. If you read any of the Sherlock Holmes novels, let it be this one.

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare, 5/5

It’s my favourite, hands down. Clockwork Prince may not contain as much action and tension as the finale Clockwork Princess does, but it delivers in the romance plot and oh does it strike hard. This is the best example of a truly effective romance triangle I have come across in YA fiction, or fiction as a whole for that matter. What there is with the action plot aids in the story’s trajectory wonderfully and the character interactions, conflicts, relationships and reactions feel genuine and appropriate for each person. It is a must-read, so read the Infernal Devices trilogy ASAP if you haven’t already.

The Valley of Fear by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 4/5

Returning to the narrative structure of A Study in Scarlet, but with a few added extras, The Valley of Fear leans back into the exoticism of America with another set of characters hailing from over the pond and their backstories heavily situated in some remote area of the land. While the transition between parts felt less jarring, I didn’t particularly like the reuse of the narrative structure as I didn’t think it worked well the first time. Overall, its an entertaining tale and we see Moriarty introduced by mention, setting us up for what we all know is an adventure we wouldn’t want to miss.