Here’s a look back at what I read in March. I started the month with two books I was in the middle of reading, the first of those being The Haunting of Hill House.

I really loved the descriptions in the book – of Eleanor’s drive, of the way the doors in the house wouldn’t stay open, and how the house itself was the main character. The more they learn about the house and how all the angles of the house are just “off-square”, which gives it this jarring, unsettling, uneasy feeling. This was really good, somewhat creepy, and definitely my brand of gothic supernatural spooky. I will definitely be reading more Shirley Jackson.

After finishing Hill House, I read a couple more Jade West books (because they’re basically like potato chips at this point), and then I went back to Captive of the Vampire King by Bella Klaus. This is the second book in the Blood Fire Saga (I think there are seven in total). I enjoyed this one and of course, it also ended on another freaking cliffhanger.

After finishing up another vampire book, I happily started the next book in the ACOTAR series. I purchased the original hardback so that I can add it to my growing library of Sarah J Maas books. This is book 4 in the series (although sometimes you’ll see it referred to as 3.5, because technically it’s considered a novella). I started reading this and unfortunately the first few days I barely got five minutes to read and hadn’t found time to read more than the first couple of chapters. Finally, I gave myself time to lose myself in this book – to have a good cry, to experience hope and wonder and possibilities. And when I read the ending and closed the book, I realized it was exactly what I needed. Rekindling my love of reading has been nothing short of a “lightning bolt that cracks me open so more light can get in,” After reading this book, I felt renewed and more in alignment with my word of the year – Open. This was my twentieth book of the year and I can’t wait to discover what awaits me in A Court of Silver Flames.
“All of us — in our finery for once — lifted ours in suit. I’d opted to wear my Starfall gown, forgoing my crown but wearing the diamond cuffs at my wrists. It sparkled and gleamed in my line of vision as I stood at Rhys’s side, taking in every plane of his beautiful face as he said, ‘To the blessed darkness from which we are born, and to which we return.’ Our glasses rose, and we drank.”
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas

After finishing ACOFAS, I picked up the next book in the Blood Fire Saga, Soul of the Vampire King. I read this one in about a week. I’m still enjoying them, although I’m becoming increasingly aware that Mera gets these feelings/intuitions that things aren’t as they seem, but she just ignores them. Having done this myself for years, I wonder if others have watched my behavior as I said to myself “hmm, this doesn’t feel right. Eh, I’m sure it’s fine.” Anyway, of course this one also ended on, you guessed it, a cliffhanger. But, I’ll come back to this series later.
I snuck in another Jade West palate cleanser, and then it was on to A Court of Silver Flames…finally.

As you can see, this is a totally new cover design from the first four books. That’s what prompted me to add the others to my library before I couldn’t get those beautiful hardback covers anymore. But, after days of letting this taunt me on my desk, it was finally time to read Nesta and Cassian’s story. But, since I’m carrying this one over into April, those are thoughts for another post. (I, too, can use a cliffhanger. lol)