Hoohoo, friends of the blade.
March was a bit of a weird month for me. Normally, I can always sleep. And when I say always I mean I can sit down somewhere, close my eyes and fall asleep even though I’m not even tired. But in March, I basically couldn’t sleep at all. Which made me cranky and tired all month and I couldn’t really focus on any books I read. So glad this episode is over, but I didn’t get much reading done. Or anything else, for that matter.
But the weather is turning warmer and spring is definitely in the air and instantly my mood gets better. I used the few warm and sunny days of March to meet up with friends for walks and I’m also taking my bike to work again which feels very good as well.
Then there was the event of the year, my beloved Leipzig book fair where I checked out new books, met lovely friends and new people and spent a lot of time looking at art and then buying many, many stickers and prints. Did I buy a single book at book fair? No. All my money was spent on journal supplies and prints and I regret nothing.
I also saw a fun operetta, Die Fledermaus. But basically, that’s all I did in March besides suffering from exhaustion. Let’s have a look at the bookish side of the month…
BOOKS I’VE READ IN MARCH
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
Welcome to Phantasma.
There are only two rules to the game. Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.
When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish.
Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals.
Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain.
Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life.
Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer.
Her life is on the line. But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart…
After reading so many rave reviews and people praising this book, I had to pick it up and see what the fuss was about. And it was really good with such an interesting concept of games, hell and magic and how all of it is intertwined. I liked Ophelia and her sister a lot. I somehow expected more of this book, though, maybe more twists towards the ending. I really liked the setting, though.
Tideborn by Eliza Chan
Drowned World #2
The people of Tiankawi have been irrevocably changed. Once divided into two factions – humans and the underwater ‘fathomfolk’ – now every citizen is able to breathe underwater. But this new commonality is not enough to heal the scars of years of oppression. Mira, a siren and activist, must uncover a deadly conspiracy while persuading her divided people to band together to rebuild their city after a tsunami. And dragon princess Nami must undertake a daring sea voyage to do the to find a way to convince a Titan not to destroy their city for its crimes.
I absolutely love these books. I loved Fathomfolk and I also loved Tideborn. The world building is amazing and I love the women narrating this story so much, each in their own way contributing to it and shaping the future of the city they live in. The Drowned World is definitely one of my favourite series! You can read my full review of Tideborn here.
Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese
Wilmot Sisters #3
Since heartbreak entered the scene, Juliet Wilmot, once a hopeless romantic, has sworn off love. But when she’s presented with the chance to revisit romance-purely for practice-with the gorgeous, off-limits guy she keeps serendipitously running into, it feels like a sign from the universe.
Quiet, shy Will Orsino knows happily-ever-after isn’t on his horizon. Problem is, for the sake of the family business, marriage is. Resigned to the inevitable, but with no confidence he can woo a wife, he can hardly say no when fate hands him the alluring, unattainable woman he keeps crossing paths with, offering to help him learn the ropes of romance.
Neither of them looking for love, Jules and Will agree they’re the perfect pair to practice romance. Except that practicing to perfection leads to an irresistible attraction. Their once smitten hearts, though still twice shy, might have happily-ever-after written in the stars for them, after all.
There’s just somethign about Chloe Liese’s books that I love and Once Smitten, Twice Shy was no different. I simply love the Wilmot family and I really liked Juliet and Will who was basically such a wonderful man. The two of them together made my heart full and happy. I just kind of wish they would have gone from practice dating to real dating sooner because it was obvious from the very beginning that it would happen eventually anyways. To me, the reason for them to use each other to practice dating, eluded itself. But we’re doing it all for the plot. I enjoyed this book immensely anyways.
The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
Kim Hani, the once-terrible gumiho known as the Scarlet Fox, spends her days working at a café and trying not to let a certain customer irk her. Seokga, a trickster god thrown from the heavens for his attempt at a coup, spends his days hunting demons and irking a particular gumiho. When a demon of darkness escapes the underworld, and the Scarlet Fox emerges from hiding before quickly vanishing, Seokga is offered a chance at redemption: kill them both, and his sins will be forgiven. But Hani is prepared to do anything to prevent Seokga from bringing her to justice, even trick her way into his investigation.
This was so much fun! I absolutely loved how Hani can’t keep her mouth shut if her life depended on it while Seokga is quiet and grumpy all the time and also frustrated but just blooms in her presence. Opposites really do attract, huh. The God and the Gumiho was exactly the book I needed at the right time and I’m absolutely looking forward to read book 2!
BOOK HAUL
Homegrown Magic by Jamie Pacton & Rebecca Podos
Yael Clauneck is the only scion of an obscenely wealthy banking family with its fingers in every pie in the realm. They’re on the precipice of a predetermined life when they flee their own graduation party, galloping away in search of…well, they’re not sure, but maybe the chance to feel like life can still be a grand adventure.
Margot Greenwillow—talented plant witch, tea lover, and greenhouse owner—has never felt further from adventure in her life. She’s been desperately trying to keep what remains of her family’s magic remedies business afloat. So when her childhood friend and former crush, Yael, rides back into her life, she’s shocked. But perhaps this could be a good thing. After all, Margot could use an assistant in the greenhouses.
Yael has no experience or, honestly, practical skills, but they’re delighted to accept. They can lay low for a while, flirting with Margot while they figure out what to do next. Meanwhile, Margot has plans of her own—but plans are notoriously unreliable things, unlikely to survive a swiftly blooming mutual attraction, not to mention the machinations of parents determined to get their heir back . . . no matter the cost.
The Golden Raven by Nora Sakavic
All for the Game #5
Jeremy Knox is no stranger to damage control, but his last season on an Exy court is off to a disastrous start. The relentless crusade against his newest teammate threatens the haven he and his friends have worked so hard to build. He promised Jean a fun senior year, but tragedy and ugly truths make every step forward an uphill fight.
Jean Moreau promised the USC Trojans a championship trophy, and he intends to deliver. Granted, it would be significantly easier if they’d slide off their high horses and throw a few elbows on the court. Their steadfast refusal to do things his way is nearly as aggravating as their unwanted affection, but maybe they’re not the ones that need to change.
With so many ready to drag him down, how can he learn to fly?
The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
Kim Hani, the once-terrible gumiho known as the Scarlet Fox, spends her days working at a café and trying not to let a certain customer irk her. Seokga, a trickster god thrown from the heavens for his attempt at a coup, spends his days hunting demons and irking a particular gumiho. When a demon of darkness escapes the underworld, and the Scarlet Fox emerges from hiding before quickly vanishing, Seokga is offered a chance at redemption: kill them both, and his sins will be forgiven. But Hani is prepared to do anything to prevent Seokga from bringing her to justice, even trick her way into his investigation.
Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese
Wilmot Sisters #3
Since heartbreak entered the scene, Juliet Wilmot, once a hopeless romantic, has sworn off love. But when she’s presented with the chance to revisit romance-purely for practice-with the gorgeous, off-limits guy she keeps serendipitously running into, it feels like a sign from the universe.
Quiet, shy Will Orsino knows happily-ever-after isn’t on his horizon. Problem is, for the sake of the family business, marriage is. Resigned to the inevitable, but with no confidence he can woo a wife, he can hardly say no when fate hands him the alluring, unattainable woman he keeps crossing paths with, offering to help him learn the ropes of romance.
Neither of them looking for love, Jules and Will agree they’re the perfect pair to practice romance. Except that practicing to perfection leads to an irresistible attraction. Their once smitten hearts, though still twice shy, might have happily-ever-after written in the stars for them, after all.
The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon
The Bone Season #5
Paige Mahoney is outside the Republic of Scion for the first time in more than a decade – but she has no idea how she got to the free world. Half a year has been wiped from her memory.
As she makes her way back to the revolution, her journey takes her to Venice, where she learns a dangerous secret – one that could change the face of the war between humans and immortals. Before she can return to London, she must help the Domino Programme unravel the sinister Operation Ventriloquist.
And it soon becomes clear that the one person who could recover her memories – Arcturus Mesarthim – might also hold the key to saving Italy.
Saison d’Os by Samantha Shannon
The Bone Season #1
2059. Depuis que la République de Scion a pris le contrôle de toute l’Angleterre, être clairvoyant est un crime. Capables de voir et d’interagir avec l’éther, ces “anormaux’ sont traqués inlassablement.
Paige fait partie de la pègre et se fait une place grandissante dans le monde du crime. Elle est aussi une marcherêve, capable de s’immiscer dans l’esprit des autres.
Après un faux pas, elle est capturée par Scion et envoyée à Oxford, une ville que tous pensaient détruite. Au sein de cette colonie pénitentiaire, les clairvoyants ne sont rien d’autre que les armes d’une guerre séculaire opposant des êtres mystérieux à des monstres assoiffés de sang. Cible de toutes les convoitises, le pouvoir unique de Paige pourrait devenir la clé de sa survie ou l’instrument de son trépas.
Quand rien n’a plus de sens, la seule solution semble être de former des alliances inattendues. Mais à quel prix?
Saison d’Os by Samantha Shannon
The Bone Season #1
À Scion-Londres, les clairvoyants n’ont pas droit de cité. Ils sont pourtant nombreux à vivre et à travailler dans la clandestinité, comme Paige, dont le job consiste à voler des informations dans l’esprit des gens pour le compte d’un baron de la pègre. Un soir, la police psychique l’appréhende et l’envoie à Oxford, dans un camp de rééducation où des êtres dotés d’un pouvoir inimaginable, les réphaïm, font régner la terreur. L’un d’eux, le gouverneur Arcturus, la prend sous son aile et lui propose même de l’aider à développer ses talents. Mais Paige n’a qu’un seul objectif : l’évasion.
L’Ordre des Mimes by Samantha Shannon
The Bone Season #2
Paige s’est échappée de la colonie pénitentiaire de Sheol I, mais ses problèmes ne font que commencer, car elle est désormais la personne la plus recherchée de Londres. La marcherêve a pourtant des révélations à faire devant l’assemblée des Anormaux. Et cela n’est pas du goût de tous, y compris au sein de la communauté des clairvoyants, ébranlée par de profondes dissensions. Paige doit absolument continuer à se cacher, des Sept-Cadrans à Westminster en passant par les catacombes secrètes de Camden, jusqu’à ce que le sort du monde souterrain puisse être décidé.
Le Chant se lève by Samantha Shannon
The Bone Season #3
Au terme d’une sanglante bataille, Paige Mahoney s’est élevée au rang de suzeraine de l’ombre et règne désormais sur la pègre londonienne grâce au soutien du gouverneur et des rantiens. Mais maintenant qu’elle a tourné le dos à son mentor et à ses partisans, la tâche d’unifier le monde souterrain semble plus difficile que jamais. Engagée dans une course contre la montre pour asseoir son autorité et déjouer les pièges inédits que lui tendent les autorités de Scion, Paige doit chercher de nouveaux alliés. Mais une redoutable ennemie se dresse sur son chemin…
Le Masque Tombe by Samantha Shannon
The Bone Season #4
La marcherêve Paige Mahoney a de nouveau échappé à la mort. Arrachée aux griffes de la captivité, elle a trouvé refuge au coeur de la citadelle de Scion-Paris. Prise entre les factions qui cherchent la chute de Scion et celles qui tueraient pour protéger l’empire des Rephaïm, elle connaît un répit de courte durée. Le mystérieux programme Domino a des plans pour elle, mais Paige a ses propres ambitions. Avec Arcturus – son ancien ennemi – maintenant à ses côtés, elle se lance dans une aventure qui la mènera des catacombes de Paris aux couloirs étincelants du château de Versailles.
ON THE BLOG
Underrated Books That Deserve More Hype
Tideborn by Eliza Chan | ARC-Review
Leipziger Buchmesse 2025 Bericht
How was March for you? What was your personal highlight? What was your favourite book?
Until next time,
