Happy weekend, friends! I have to work today, but only until 2. Then I plan on getting caught up on some cleaning and reading the rest of the day. Which is honestly what I did yesterday on my day off. For the Week of 3/13, I read 9 books! It was a great reading week for me. A couple of graphic novels and audiobooks! Plus, I have a lot of review books for April, so be prepared for those coming in the next couple of weeks.
Bite Size Reviews: Week of 3/13
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson (3/13)
After the last year that Pip had, she’s sworn off playing detective. She’s released a true-crime podcast with her boyfriend, Ravi, that’s gone viral. But that all changes when her neighbor, Jamie Reynolds, goes missing. I listened to this in audio format, and I highly recommend it that way! Parts of it are told podcast style and it works so well for the story. And Jackson is great at plot twists! I didn’t see the ending coming (4 stars).
The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold (3/15)
When a fly flu wipes out the majority of the human race, there are packs of survivors around the country. This book follows Nico and her dog as she meets packs of survivors on a journey to find a mythical portal. Normally, I love David Arnold books, but this one just didn’t click for me. It felt a little bit like Station Eleven, but with a more cyclical timeline. Honestly, I’m still not quite sure what happened by the end of the book (3.5 stars).
Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas (3/16)
Five years have passed since Wendy and her brothers disappeared in the woods. And Wendy was the only survivor. Now, children are disappearing again. Then, Peter Pan shows up. And finding his shadow might be the only way to save all the children. This was quieter than Thomas’s debut, but still an enjoyable read. I loved the interactions between characters the most. You can read more in the review I posted earlier this week! (4 stars).
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake (3/17)
Mirabella, Katharine, and Arsinoe are triplets in line for the crown in Fennbirn. It will go to whichever one can kill the other two first. It depends on how well each of them can use their gifts. This was extremely slow moving in the beginning, but definitely picked up in the last half/last third. The cliffhanger at the end really makes me want to read the rest of the series, though! It hooks you in with just that, even if the characters weren’t all that likable (3.5 stars).
Shuri by Nic Stone (3/18)
When the heart-shaped herb used to give the Black Panther starts dying, Shuri has to get to the bottom of it. Especially since challenge day is coming and there’s a possibility that Shuri might have to take over the throne. Nic Stone does an excellent job of capturing Shuri’s voice in this book, making it entertaining and fun to read. I love Shuri and the Black Panther world. This was definitely a fun read! (4 stars).
The Vanished by Nic Stone (3/19)
This is the sequel to Shuri and this time, Shuri is investigating the disappearance of girl STEM prodigies around the world. If no one else is paying attention to them, Shuri will. We get a little more action and suspense in this one, and the message was really strong. Shuri fights for girls in STEM to have a voice, and I’m definitely here for it (4 stars).
You Brought Me the Ocean by Alex Sanchez (3/19)
Jake doesn’t swim, ever since his father died from drowning. But that hasn’t stopped him from wanting to study oceanography. His best friend Maria wants him to stay close to home. When Jake starts feeling attraction toward Kenny, his life feels like its spinning out of control. Now, his future is even more uncertain. Overall, the art was great in this graphic novel, but the story lacked character development for me. Honestly, I just wanted it to be longer. With the way it ended, it could definitely be a series, too! (3 stars)
Haikyu!! Vol. 4 & 5 by Haruichi Furudate (3/19)
The Karasuno volleyball team is back at it again, working on their ability to work as a cohesive team. I love the way the volleyball action is done in these, as it really moves you from panel to panel really quickly. Plus, the characters are just what make this series great. I love being able to see them all work together.