March 2018 Recap

Where is spring? Does anyone know because it sure as hell isn’t here in England.

After the insane weather we had at the end of February and March I cannot wait for summer and for the warmer weather to finally arrive, but will it ever arrive, who knows at this point? Another month has been and gone; and I officially started my new job, read and re-read some incredible books, and overall just had a pretty decent month.

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Books I Read

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor – Five stars
Check out my review here.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor – Five stars
Check out my review here.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – Four stars
Check out my review here.

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – Five stars
Check out my review here.

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – Five stars

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian – Four stars

The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid – Four stars

The Empress by S.J. Kincaid – Currently reading

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I am officially behind on my Goodreads Reading Challenge. Maybe 125 books was too ambitious. I’d fallen behind on my blogging and my reviewing so this month I let my reading fall in the wayside while I caught up. Still it’s only the end of March, I still have nine months to go to get back on track and now I’m caught up on my blogging I can catch up on reading again.

The best book I picked up in February was – and this will come as no surprise considering how excited I was for its release during my February Recap post – Obsidio. It lived up to the hype I created for it in my head and had me on the edge of my seat. There was plenty from all my favourite characters, especially AIDAN, and all in all it was a perfect ending to the series.

The worst book I picked up this month was also Obsidio, because as amazing as it was the fact that it’s been released and I’ve read it means one of my all-time favourite series is now over. I have nothing left to come from the world or the characters I loved so much, there is nothing more Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff will be writing for this series.

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My WIP

Am I on track to start re-writing my WIP now it’s nearly April? No. Am I going to start re-writing my WIP now it’s nearly April? Yes.

I’ve discovered that on its own planning and researching aren’t strengths of mine. The main reason is that my WIP changes so often once I start writing it, I go off on so many tangents, that half of my outlines and research notes are never used.

I have a solid-ish plan for the first ten chapters – which includes a plot outline and chapter-by-chapter breakdown, character names, world building notes, and plenty of aesthetics. After that, for chapter eleven onwards, I’m going to see where my story takes me and plan as I write. Based on the work I did for NaNo last November that’s where my strengths lie; editing and researching as I go along.

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Life in General

There was a Winnie-the-Pooh exhibition at the V&A, and the second I saw it advertised I knew I had to go. Alongside Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland it was the Winnie-the-Pooh stories that defined my early childhood. The exhibition was amazing, going through the history of the author and his inspiration for the books, and how the stories have been developed throughout the years.

Every year I go to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London, and this year was no exception. No matter how many times I’ve been (and it’s been quite a few times now) there’s always something I love seeing and there’s nothing quite like seeing the doors open onto the Great Hall at the very beginning of the tour.

I finally got around to seeing The Greatest Showman at the cinema, better late than never right? It was just as amazing as everyone told me it was, and the second I left the cinema I was on Amazon buying the soundtrack and pre-ordering the DVD.

Other notable things that happened this month were that I started my new job – so I was very busy at work this month – brought a new car, and started baking again – unfortunately there are no photos to share with you yet, but come next month’s recap there will be pictures I can share of the yummy things I’ve made.

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More books were brought in March, and while not all of those books have been read yet I actually think my buying habits were pretty well controlled this month.

Books

• The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
• The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon
• Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
• The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
• The Empress by S.J. Kincaid

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Platform 9 3/4

• Hufflepuff notebook
• Hufflepuff socks
• Ticket to Hogwarts
• Hufflepuff lanyard
• Hedwig keychain

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Harry Potter Studio Tour

• Newt Scamander scarf
• Exploding Bonbons
• Chocolate wand

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Fairy Loot

• State of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury

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Book wise I don’t think there’s much I’m desperately excited for being released in April, Leah on the Offbeat being the one exception to that statement. We also have the Love, Simon movie coming out in the UK next month so I’ll be able to see the movie and read Becky Albertalli’s new release all in the same month. I am definitely going to get around to Children of Blood and Bone, but other than that my TBR list is a mystery for me(the life and trials of a mood reader).

There is nothing worthy of noting here that I have planned for April, asides from a few birthdays coming up (so I need to get present shopping). However this may be a good thing because it gives me a chance to catch up on reading and get to grips with re-writing my WIP; wish me luck.

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I hope everyone else had a good March, and I hope you all have an even better April as well.

Let me know what books you’ve read during the third month of the year, and if you’re holding out hope for warmer weather to arrive soon? Is April a quiet month for you like it seems to be for me, and what do people who’ve seen it think of the Love, Simon movie, no spoilers please?

Happy reading!