Was it only me or did March seem to go by quite quickly this year? I'm not sure what happened to March (or what I accomplished, but that's something else entirely...), but it's now April and I get to tell you all about the reading I did last month. I did a couple of KJ Charles audiobook rereads in March and also read some knew to me books I enjoyed:
Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia: In this mystery, Black girls are being kidnapped and murdered in 1920s Harlem. Louise, who survived a kidnapping attempt several years earlier, is pushed into helping to solve the crimes. The mystery is good, and the details of time period and setting are excellent. Louise's established relationship with another woman in her boarding house is mostly in the background, but it's lovely. I'm sure I'll keep reading this series.
Fluke and the Frontier Farce by Sam Burns: I'm enjoying this series so much. And I'm so sad that there's only one book left after this one—and eagerly looking forward to it at the same time. This installment was one of my favorites in the series. The time travel element was fun, and I loved the characters that we meet in the past. Fox familiar Fluke continues to be delightful, of course. There's lots of magic, mystery, suspense, romance, and family in this series, and I'd recommend it (but start with book one).
All the Queen's Men by SJ Bennett: This is the second book in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates series, in which Queen Elizabeth II is an amateur sleuth solving mysteries with the help of her assistant private secretary, Rozie. In this installment, there is a murder in the Buckingham Palace pool plus a lot of mysteriousness surrounding a painting. I found it utterly entertaining and delightful fun.
A Walk in the Park by Rebekah Weatherspoon: This novella is an Audible Original, though I believe it will be released in ebook at some point. It's the adorable (and just a bit steamy) story of two people who are mistakenly promised the same dog (Zeus, also adorable) at the shelter and decide to coparent him rather than one of them having to give him up...and, of course, they fall in love along the way.
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo: The Chosen and the Beautiful is a retelling of The Great Gatsby and it's loyal to the original, only with the addition of mysterious, intriguing magic and a change of narrator to Jordan Baker, a queer, Asian American immigrant adopted and raised in high society by a rich white family. There's still a contemplation of wealth and status and the American dream, but through Jordan's eyes and with exploration of her identity as a Vietnamese American woman in that world. The reimagining is fascinating, and the writing is lush and beautiful.
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater: I have no idea who recommended this series to me, but I'm so glad I finally started it! This is a fairy tale-like take on the Regency period with a young woman missing half her soul due to a pact with a fairy her mother entered into before her death and an extremely grumpy sorcerer who tries to help. The characters are engaging, and there's a lot of depth to discussion of issues relating to treatment of the poor. I listened to it and enjoyed the audio. I'll definitely continue the series.
What have you read and loved lately?
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