April Reading Wrap Up

Hey there, readers! I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to May. I surprised myself by reading a whopping 15 books last month! Go me! And, for the most part, I really enjoyed a bunch of them.

Anyway, how did everyone else do this past month? Meet any personal goals?

Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of this book! I genuinely enjoyed it. This is the seventh book in the Salem B&B series and follows Mrs. Morris during a murder at a theater opening. I love that it takes place in Salem, as I grew up in Cambridge and went to college in Boston, making the atmosphere feel familiar.

The book is short and sweet, and I appreciate how the mystery intertwines with the main character’s personal life, making her more relatable. Overall, I highly recommend this novel!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Our Violent Ends

The sequel to These Violent Delights features a Romeo and Juliet theme in Shanghai, centering on two rival gangs. I enjoyed the novel, but the ending left me pondering its implications. Although it’s categorized as young adult sci-fi fantasy, I feel the genre elements are minimal.

I appreciated the increased number of perspectives compared to the first book, but the pacing was slow at times, making it hard to stay engaged. Overall, I enjoyed the novel, and the ambiguous ending keeps me questioning whether the characters are alive or dead, which I think is a strong aspect of the story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Isle of Illusion & The Shadowlands

These books are the second and third in the Deltora Shadowlands trilogy, a sequel to Deltora’s Quest. The main characters, Jasmine, Barda, and Lief, return for exciting adventures. I love rereading them with my son at bedtime, sharing chapters, maps, and his curious questions.

Despite some darker elements, my son finds the stories engaging and not scary at all. The action and strong character dynamics make it a great read. I often find myself wanting to continue reading even after he falls asleep. If your child struggles with reading, I highly recommend this series—it’s truly worth it!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Anna K: Away

Anna K Away serves as a sequel to Anna K, which is a young adult retelling of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. While I enjoyed reading Anna K, I felt that something was lacking in this sequel.

In the original Anna Karenina, the main character tragically takes her own life by train. However, in this sequel, Alexi sacrifices himself to save a dog on the train. The story focuses on themes of grief, moving on, and rediscovering oneself after experiencing love. I appreciated the message and the storytelling, particularly the inclusion of multiple characters’ perspectives.

That said, my biggest complaint is that I don’t think the sequel was necessary. While I like seeing what happens after the events of the original story—something we don’t get to explore in Anna Karenina—it still felt somewhat redundant. Nonetheless, I was glad to see Anna find closure.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Blood of Troy

Blood of Troy is the second novel in the Daughter of Sparta trilogy, and I’m so happy I finally got to read it—it was amazing! I love Greek mythology, and this book immerses us in the battle for Troy. We all know how that story ends, but this retelling presents a twist: it doesn’t unfold the way the original tale does.

What I found particularly interesting is the portrayal of Menelaus and Agamemnon, who are not depicted as the “good guys.” Instead, the narrative shows that Menelaus wasn’t just spurned; rather, Helen willingly left with him and Paris to save her own life, rather than being kidnapped.

The Greek gods and the pantheon also play significant roles in the story, adding depth to the narrative. The twists involving the Titans are especially captivating. Overall, it’s a riveting tale that I absolutely devoured—hands down, it’s amazing!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

All We Lost Was Everything

This book was gifted to me by the publisher, and I had the opportunity to read it as an ARC. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by it. The novel is filled with many plot twists that I did not see coming, which kept me on my toes throughout the story.

My only issue with this novel is the romance between the two main characters. It develops too quickly for my taste, making it feel somewhat unrealistic. While I understand why the author chose this direction, I don’t necessarily agree with it.

Overall, the story’s pacing is excellent; it’s fast-paced and filled with mystery, featuring numerous twists and turns. Even as the story progresses and you begin to assemble the pieces, the final reveal caught me entirely off guard.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Storm of Olympus

The final novel in the Daughter of Sparta trilogy picks up immediately after the conclusion of the previous book, “Blood of Troy,” which was phenomenal. I loved watching this story unfold; I enjoyed seeing the pantheon come to life, experiencing the distinct personalities of the gods, and delving into their rich lore. Andrews really explored the origins of the gods in a way that I haven’t seen before, presenting it as both unique and imaginative. I was captivated by the story from beginning to end and felt elated by the conclusion. This series is excellent, especially for fans of Greek and Roman mythology. Additionally, Andrews incorporates Norse mythology into this novel, which adds a surprising twist and enhances the overall story, making me appreciate it even more.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Dead and the Gone

This is the second novel in the Last Survivor series, which began with Life As We Knew It. I absolutely loved the first book; it captivated me with its diary entries and the dystopian world where a meteor collides with the moon. The impact is so significant that it pulls the moon closer to Earth, creating devastating gravitational effects.

In this installment, we are introduced to a new character, Alex Morales, who lives in New York with his two sisters. His parents are missing, and he has no idea what is going on. As the story unfolds, he slowly comes to realize their dire situation. Alex has to grow up quickly, take care of his sisters, and resort to some difficult choices to survive.

This series showcases a lot of complexity, both in its themes and characters. The only reason I didn’t find myself as engrossed in this book as in the first one is that it is written in the third person, although it still includes diary entries. I believe the author chose this to help differentiate between Alex and Miranda. Unfortunately, this stylistic shift made it harder for me to fully absorb the story.

Despite this, I genuinely enjoyed the novel and am eager to continue reading the series. I love the world the author has crafted; it is riveting, captivating, and thought-provoking.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Demon Tide

I absolutely love the Black Witch Chronicles; I think it is amazing. This book addresses real-world issues such as xenophobia, racism, and homophobia through a fantasy lens, and that makes it powerful. Each race depicted in the book can be equated to a real-world minority or issue that exists today, which is what makes this story so relevant.

I once had a professor who claimed that genre fiction isn’t real fiction, but this book proves her wrong. It shows that you can tell impactful and relevant stories through a fantasy medium, and it can still resonate deeply with readers, just as it did with me.

The character development is incredible; you see them fighting for their lives against genocide and battling against mages who believe they are the chosen ones seeking racial purity. It’s incredibly impactful to read. I cannot wait for the next book; I am so excited to see how it all ends. I can’t wait to see our Black Witch triumph over her enemies and all the hate. It’s going to be great, and I am really looking forward to it!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Immortal

I recently read the newest book by author Sue Lynn Tan, who also wrote Daughter of the Moon Goddess, and I have to say, I loved it! This book is quite different from her previous novel, particularly regarding characterization. It was my book club pick for April, and I had great discussions about it.

What I found particularly interesting was the overall story and how it unfolds. Many plot twists took me completely by surprise, which I really appreciated. This book kept me on my toes! I loved the character growth, the pacing, and the relationship between the protagonist and the God of War. Their tension was palpable, and I enjoyed how their relationship evolved throughout the story.

Overall, the narrative was thoughtful and engaging, and I loved it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Heir of Storms

The opening line of this book was incredibly powerful. I was captivated from the moment the little girl is born into a family of fire. What does she do? She summons a rainstorm that almost drowns the world. I thought it was a fantastic way to start the story, and that feeling persisted throughout the rest of the novel.

The protagonist, Blaze, is chosen by the gods for a competition. A water droplet on her wrist glows, signaling her as the next heir to the Water Kingdom. I love how the story evokes an atmosphere similar to Avatar: The Last Airbender while also incorporating a competitive element reminiscent of The Hunger Games. Each court has its tributes, and they must compete in various tasks that push them to their limits, determining who should inherit the throne of that kingdom.

However, there is much more to the story than just the competition. There’s a mystery involving the three Magi sisters and the tools they possessed to see the past and glimpse the future, granting them ultimate power. The novel is rich with court intrigue, and I believe this combination works exceptionally well for the author. She has created a new world that reminds readers of familiar fandoms without feeling like a mere copy of them. While there are elements that harken back to other stories, this novel feels fresh, imaginative, and unique. I was thoroughly engaged, and I can’t wait to see what the sequel will bring!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This World We Live In

This novel continues the story of Miranda from the first book of the Last Survivor Series while also introducing Alex Morales and his sister, Julie. Alex and Julie are brought into the narrative through Miranda’s father, who has returned home. He never made it west with his new wife to find her parents and instead decided to go back and check on his ex-wife and relatives, bringing along a few survivors.

I appreciate how we see the dynamic between Miranda and Alex. However, I feel that Miranda often comes across as younger than her age. Despite being in a situation where maturity is essential, her thoughts and actions sometimes resemble those of a 14-year-old, which I find a bit off-putting. There are moments when she demonstrates a maturity that reflects the harsh reality of their world, yet other times; she sounds like Julie from the second book. It’s clear she has grown, but her voice doesn’t always convey that growth, especially considering Alex is now 18.

Life as they once knew it has drastically changed, and they are just trying to survive. I enjoy the return to the first-person perspective and the diary entries that illustrate how Miranda is pushed to her limits. She makes decisions that carry significant consequences. Ultimately, this story is compelling, and the ending—wow, just wow—pulled at my heartstrings much like the first book did.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Ashfall Prophecy

This is the second novel in the Ashfall series by Pittacus Lore. I really enjoyed the book, especially the multiple points of view included in the story. However, I’m left wondering about the ending. Is this it? There were so many prophecies that were mentioned. The space dragons, as I like to call them, seem to have the ability to see the future and they bestowed prophecies on Darcy and Syd. One prophecy suggests that Syd is going to be a world destroyer, but we don’t actually get to see how that unfolds.

Darcy experiences a vision of him destroying the future and believes she should have killed him, but we abruptly cut off without seeing more of the story. It feels very unfinished, and I’m uncertain if there will be another novel to continue this plot. I haven’t been able to find any information about a potential sequel, which leaves me feeling quite unsatisfied.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, Vol. 5

I plan to mention how much I miss that man every single month until I finish the series! I absolutely love “Sailor Moon,” and I think this installment is another great addition to the series. The author does an excellent job of telling the story. As I’ve mentioned before, watching the new “Sailor Moon” anime gives me a deeper appreciation for how closely it sticks to the source material while still being translatable. I love the overall feel of this series, the colored artwork in these editions, and the interesting notes at the end. The notes provide fascinating insights and snippets that add so much depth to the story. If you’re reading the manga, be sure to check out those notes at the end, as they really help you view the story in a different light.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Like this review?

Don’t forget to follow Cyn’s Workshop on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads | LinkedIn to stay tuned for future reviews.

About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband, two kids (the perfect pair), and their two cats Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx (aka Girl).