Monthly Wrap-Up: May 2023

May was an interesting and busy month. The weather was almost winter like for the first half of the month, and then we went into summer for about a week and ended back at a more spring like time. But that is the weather in the Pacific Northwest, it can never make up its mind! But weather aside, it was a pretty good reading month.

I finished 18 books and one very short novella. I also read all of the books that I had planned on my May TBR. For the most part I enjoyed all of them, with only a couple that ended up being soso. I even read two non-fiction books this month, which must be a new record for me! As usual I have done these books in the order I read them, and the ones with the asterisk * are the ARCs I read and reviewed.

The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant books 4 and 5 were very quick reads. I kind of liked book 5 because we finally got to see the story from Miriam’s point of view, but the ending, I’m sorry was just plain stupid. But except for that I mostly enjoyed the series.

Marion Lane and the Deadly Rose was a reread and I really enjoyed this one just as much this time around. I just love the gadgets and the characters and the story is always quite interesting.

*Ruling Destiny was good, but I did have a few issues with it. Mostly the love triangle just didn’t work for me and Natasha kind of got on my nerves.

A Winter Grave was an awesome near future mystery thriller that I really enjoyed. I loved the setting and the characters as well as the mystery.

Killers of the Flower Moon was a nonfiction that I really enjoyed. I did the audiobook this time around and that was a good way to go. It is coming out as a movie this fall I think, and I can’t wait to see it.

*Marion Lane and the Raven’s Revenge was just as good as the first two. This one ended in such a way that it might be the last one, but open enough to possibly there being more. I am hoping there are more coming!

I loved Paladin’s Grace. The characters were awesome and the story was very well done. I am hoping to start the second one in the series soon.

Eyeshot was Taylor Adams debut novel and the last one that I needed to read by him. I listened to the audiobook and I just loved it! This was such a gripping story and so hard to put down.

*The Only One Left is the newest book by Riley Sager and I loved this one as well. It was a mystery thriller with a gothic feel to it. The characters were not very likable, and the epilogue went a bit far, but otherwise it was perfect.

The Angel Makers was the second nonfiction book I read this month. It was good, but kind of depressing. I felt sorry for many of the women who felt that the only way out was to commit murder, but the women who were assisting them, the midwives were mostly doing it for gain which was totally despicable.

*The Water Tower was an ok book. It had some good bones to it, especially with the mystery, it just needs some work and a good editor.

Never Never part 3 was the very short novella that I read. I had read the other two parts earlier this spring but for some reason it took forever for my hold to come for this one. I wasn’t a big fan of the ending. I was expecting a bit more from it, but at just a little over 100 pages, I guess there wasn’t room for more.

Little Thieves was great! I listened to the audiobook which I would highly recommend. I enjoyed the characters and the world building was perfect. I have the next book on hold at the library and hope to get it soon.

Malibu Rising was good, but it was a bit too character driven with not much of a plot for my taste. But I enjoyed the characters and the setting.

*The Road to Roswell was a lot of fun. I loved the alien, Indy, but the romance fell flat for me. The road trip and a lot of the other stuff made up for that. I am hoping there will be a sequel though.

On a Pale Horse was also delightful, although very dark and philosophical at times. I do recommend the audiobook the narrator does an excellent job. This is a story that has aged fairly well since it was first published in the early 80’s.

One of Us is Lying was a reread and I still enjoyed it the second time around. I don’t usually reread mysteries, as once you know who did it it kind of takes the fun out of the story. But it had been so long since I’ve read this that I forgot most of the details, so it was still a good read.

Dragonfall was a really good book. I enjoyed the characters and the story, although it was perhaps a tad too long. The world building was also solid and there were some nice moments between the two main characters.

I don’t think I can name a favorite book from this month, there were too many that were just so good. But if someone was to twist my arm, I would probably go with Little Thieves. I just really enjoyed that one and I am really looking forward to reading the next one.

Until next time, Happy Reading!