April was a crazy month. I was very stressed leading up to our trip. And I was hoping to get the April 2022 Wrap Up post up after I got back at the beginning of May, but then I was sick for a couple of weeks after we got back and just didn't have the energy to do it. And lately our internet has been awful, so that was another hurdle. So for these two months, I am doing a combined post.
Our trip to India and Nepal was incredible! If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter or are friends with me on Facebook you have seen some of the photos. People ask me what my favorite part was and it is hard to choose. I liked Jaipur and the Taj Mahal was absolutely beautiful. Paragliding in Pokhara was a pretty unforgettable experience. It was just really great and we had a good group of people on our tour, which made it even better of course. And Kevin and I didn't even get sick of each other!
And then when I got back I was sick and working and that has been life for the most part. And I will be going to Colorado for a few days in June to see friends and family so I am really looking forward to that.
I figured with vacation I would not read many books, but I read more than I thought! Here are the books I managed to finish in April and May. Due to the number of books and doing two months, I am going to try to make them extra brief (aside from Vengeful which I typed up before I left).
Synopsis: Ariadne, famously associated with the labyrinth and the Minotaur, finally gets her own story. After falling in love with Perseus and his abandonment, her life takes a drastic turn.
Thoughts: This was neat, it was nice for Ariadne to have the spotlight and to see her story all in one place instead of in the background of the myths, which is what I am used to. If you enjoyed Circe, this is a good book for you.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: I hardly feel like this classic tale needs a synopsis. Briefly, this story follows two sisters as they navigate the land of romance and society.
Thoughts: I wanted more after I finished Pride and Prejudice, so I decided to pick this one up. I was a bit disappointed, I just didn't enjoy it as much as I did Pride and Prejudice. That being said, I still liked it alright and am glad I read it.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: These graphic novels follow the stories of Charlie and Nick as they become fast friends and their feelings develop into something more.
Thoughts: I had a couple of these on my Kindle, which was handy while I was traveling. These were pretty easy, enjoyable reads and definitely cute and fluffy.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: Nick is obsessed with the mysterious people in his city called the Extraordinaries. Motivated by his enormous crush on Shadow Star (the Extraordinary hero of the city) Nick decides to become an Extraordinary himself. His best friend (and maybe soulmate?) Seth, seems oddly on the fence about Nick's endeavors.
Thoughts: This had been sitting on my Kindle for a while and I read it while I was in Nepal. I LOVED this book. I swore I saw the plot coming and the twist surprised me. It was funny and clever and just so great. I can't wait to read the next book (whenever it comes out).
Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: When Harry first met Herryy (also called Henry by his friends), they couldn't stand one another. But their paths are fated to cross over and over again. Eventually they become friends but maybe they could be more.
Thoughts: I can't even remember how/when this book crossed my radar. But I have to say, I didn't love it. The first half to three quarters of the book was actually alright, but after that I seriously lost interest and I'm not really sure why. Maybe it just felt too drawn out and overdone.
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: Aru Shah is the reincarnation of Arjuna from the ancient Mahabharata. Aru doesn't feel much like the ancient hero though. Through a series of events, she releases the Sleeper from his prison and kicks off the next big war. Aru, along with her sisters (the other reincarnated Pandavas) and their friends, have to stop the Sleeper and end the war.
Thoughts: I had to re-read the first four books since the last book was just released and I wanted everything fresh in my memory. I love these books. I love the mythology and stories and the characters are great: funny, flawed, and heroic. It makes me want to read the Mahabharata (and maybe the Bhagvad Gita) to learn more about the stories and characters referenced throughout the series. But I definitely recommend this series.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars for each
Synopsis: I'm sure I have reviewed these books before because I have read them countless times. But real quick, this series follows Daine who has lost her family and comes to Tortall. She finds that her "knack" with animals is actually wild magic. As she learns how to use her magic, Carthak is gearing up to go to war with Tortall.
Thoughts: These are comfort books for me. I'm not sure why, but I had the urge to read them. I seriously have read them more times than I could count since I discovered them in middle school. And I love Numair, so there is that, too.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars for each
