April was a month of sluggish progress for me. I spent much of the month trying and failing to read the same couple of books. I really don’t do well with assigned reading, haha, whoops. Compounding that is just normal depression and anxiety which makes me want to read nothing but light and fluffy books. Oh well, it happens.
I did manage to complete reading 11 novels, 1 novella, and 1 artbook–7 SFF books and 6 romances. Because of my struggles this month on progress, my ratio of SFF to other genres was a bit off! Since I read a lot less SFF than normal I also started to fall behind a bit with having a lot of reviews already in the can and pre-scheduled.
Favorite Reads of the Month:
Slim pickings this month!
- The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. This was a reread but it’s still one of my favorite books! I hadn’t reread this one for a while so it was nice to revisit it, like hanging out with an old friend.
- Enchantée by Gita Trelease. I didn’t expect to like this one as much as I did. No one in this book is perfect, everyone is just trying to do the best they can in the way they know how, some more successfully than others. I think that’s why I liked it so much.
April’s Book Reviews:
Not a bad month for book reviews, managed to get 10 reviews posted despite not reading much fantasy in April. I think my review for The Goblin Emperor is probably one of my favorites I’ve written so far. I still could have covered more things about the book in my review, but I also think I said enough already about why I love it so much. 🙂 On to the reviews!
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin – 4.5/5 stars
Pocket Full of Tinder by Jill Archer – 3.5/5 stars
Once & Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy – 2.5/5 stars
The Silver Queen by Josie Jafrey – 5/5 stars
The Spirit Eater by Rachel Aaron – 4/5 stars
The True Queen by Zen Cho – 3.5/5 stars
The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston – 4/5 stars
Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis – 4.5/5 stars
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison – 5/5 stars
Elsewhere – The Fantasy Art of Jesper Ejsing – 5/5 stars
Other Posts:
I actually managed a few posts this past month that weren’t book reviews, woohoo! I’ve gotten caught up on a few tags this month, I still have one or two I need to do but looks like those will be up in May. 🙂
- 2019 r/Fantasy Book Bingo Reading Challenge
- Song Request Book Tag
- 2019 Audiobook Challenge – 1st Quarter Update
- Introducing the HEA Book Club, for fans of Fantasy Romance!
- OMG THAT SONG TAG
- The Currently Reading Book Tag
Plans for May:
Well, on a whim I decided to go to our local SFF convention this year, Balticon! Mainly because my husband said he’d go with me, so I don’t have to be all awkward by myself. I’m excited, this will be my first Balticon and I hope to run into some folks I’ve met at other events around town. So that’s Memorial Day weekend near the end of the month. Before that I may have my Fancy Tea book club meeting if everyone’s available, if not that may be scheduled for June, I have to see about that still.
Goals from last month didn’t really get accomplished at all, womp womp. I did manage to get two reviews from my drafts folder down and have been keeping up with new reviews as I finish off books. So now I only have five reviews in my drafts folder instead of seven, I guess that’s something, haha. Anywho, I’ll be working on trying to make progress on that list from last month until I get it all done, eventually. 🙂
Here’s the list as a refresher:
- Catch up on review requests. I have a total of 6 review requests to get through, if I can tackle one a week or even just three this month then I can be all caught up in the next two months (I’m currently closed for requests so I can catch up)
- Keep catching up on my drafts folder — currently have 5 reviews I need to get to writing.
- Read and review my eARC of The Dragon Republic.
- Read my fancy tea book club selection – Good Omens. I’ve already read this one. A couple of times. But I should probably read it again as a refresher to discuss with my peeps.
- Continue catching up with February, March, and April new releases that I’m behind on. (eeek!)
- Work on my series tracker bullet journal.
- Work on updating my yearly reading tracker spreadsheet.
- Discworld at some point. (should I just give up at this point?)
How was your month? Leave a note in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!
Way Too Fantasy 
I added Masks and Shadows and the Goblin Emperor to my tbr because of your blog. Great reviews!
Thank you, hope you enjoy them both!
My month didn’t go too badly but I didn’t read anywhere near 11 books, so congrats on that! I’m also still catching up with March and April review books, I fear I’ll always be one step behind being caught up😁
I guess I just have super high standards for myself Hhaha. And I almost don’t even count the romance novels because I read them so quickly, so it feels like I didn’t accomplish much at all lol.
I think most of the reviews I’m behind on are from January and February. 😱
That cover of Masks and shadows look beautiful!
(www.evelynreads.com)
I love that cover!
For a sluggish month, you read a lot of books! I hope you like The Poppy War. My month was kind of “meh”. I participated in the O.W.L.s readathon, but quickly abandoned it because I struggle with structured TBRs.
😮 Balticon!! Am so glad you mentioned it. That’s Memorial Day weekend so I already have some plans, but I’m gonna see if I can go at least 1 day.
At least it’s 4 days so there is some wiggle room. Hope you can make it up!
Wow, you still managed to read and review a lot! You during a slow month is me during a good month
Yeah, I think I just got in a rhythm of reading a ton over the last few years so now I have really high expectations for myself lol. I realize I am probably an outlier.
Haha from the other bloggers I follow most of them are like you! I read particularly slowly so anything more than 3 books a month seems like a good month to me :’)
From everyone I follow, I think it really varies lol. Some of the bloggers that have been doing this the longest that I follow don’t read as many books, some folks read more than me! Like 300 or so books a year! There were times when I didn’t read as much so really we should count any books a month as a good month. 🙂
You achieved loads – and now you have a con to look forward to with your hubby. Things are looking good.
Lynn 😀
Thanks! I’m excited about the con, a few authors I’ve met before will be there so I’m hoping to run into them at some point and say hi. 🙂
I’m so sorry you struggled this month! I hope May is better for you ❤ You still read a lot of books in April 🙂 your slow months are faster than my fast months 😂😂
Thank you! Yeah, I may have unreasonable expectations for myself lol. 🙂
I think I’ve gotten to the point where I’m–well, not *content*, but less panicky when it comes to falling behind on reviews? Which is just another way of saying that I have newer, bigger anxieties that are overriding this one. 😀 And I’m excited to see what you’ll think of The Poppy War!
Here’s to an awesome May! ❤
Lol, totally get that. I actually already read The Poppy War and loved it, I wrote that by mistake hah, I meant The Dragon Republic. 🙂
Oh haha well then, I look forward to your thoughts on Dragon Republic! 😛 I’m wondering if I should read it soon or wait until we’re closer to the release date
I think I’m just trying to read it now so that I’m not procrastinating as per usual and then getting all stressed over it lol!