Hey bookworm friends! Happy April and I wish only the very best of books for you this month 🌠. I’ve decided to wrap-up my reading on a quarterly basis, instead of monthly, because otherwise I feel like I’m permanently writing check-ins 🫠. This also gives me the chance to document my progress on various reading challenges. So, welcome to my first quarterly reading check-in! Read on to see which books I read from January to March.
Reading Check-In Stats – Q1
Total Books Read: 24
| Format Read |
|---|
| 📱E-Books: 9 |
| 📚 Physical: 8 |
| 🎧 Audiobooks: 7 |
| Genre * |
|---|
 🐲Fantasy: 12 |
| 🌐Nonfiction: 2 |
| 🚀Science Fiction: 2 |
| 💞Romance: 3 |
| 🚀🐲Sci-Fantasy: 1 |
| 🕵️♀️Mystery: 3 |
| 🏠Contemporary Fiction: 1 |
| Book Format |
|---|
| Graphic Novel: 6 |
| Manga: 1 |
| Target Audience |
|---|
| Adult: 13 |
| Young Adult: 8 |
| Middle Grade: 3 |
| Source |
|---|
| Library Borrow: 17 |
| Owned: 4 |
| ARC: 3 |
| Misc |
|---|
| 🔁Re-Reads: 2 |
| 🧑🤝🧑Buddy Reads: 5 |
* There’s often a lot of cross-over in terms of genre. In the interest of simplicity, I’ll list each book under the genre I feel describes it best.
What I Read
To get an idea of which books I loved the most and which I disliked the most, I’ll mark my tops with🏆and the flops with👎.
📚The Physical Books📚
🐲Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare│YA│Owned│🧑🤝🧑Buddy Read,🔁 Re-Read -🏆
🐲Leaf by Daishu Ma│YA│Library Borrow│Graphic Novel
🐲The Arrival by Shaun Tan│MG│Library Borrow│Graphic Novel – 🏆
🚀Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld│YA│Library Borrow │🧑🤝🧑Buddy Read,🔁 Re-Read
🚀Goliath by Scott Westerfeld│YA│Library Borrow🧑🤝🧑Buddy Read – Series Review
🌐An Outbreak of Witchcraft by Deborah Noyes with M. Duffy│YA│Library Borrow│Graphic Novel -👎
🐲 Robot Dreams by Sara Varon│MG│Library Borrow│Graphic Novel
🏠 The Park Bench by Christophe Chabouté│Adult│Library Borrow│Graphic Novel
📱The E-Books📱
🐲 Miss Amelia’s List by Mercedes Lackey│Adult│ARC – Review
🐲Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire│Adult│ARC – Review
🌐The Fright Before Christmas: Surviving Krampus and Other Yuletide Monsters, Witches, and Ghosts by Jeff Belanger│Adult│Library Borrow
💞Morning Glory Milking Farm by C. M. Nascosta│Adult│Owned│🧑🤝🧑Buddy Read
💞Death’s Obsession by Avina St. Graves│Adult│Owned│🧑🤝🧑Buddy Read – 👎Review
🐲Upon A Starlit Tide by Kell Woods│Adult│ARC – 🏆Review
💞Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent│Adult│Owned
🐲 Witch Hat Atelier, Volume 13 by Kamome Shirahama│Adult│Library Borrow│Manga
🐲Korgi: The Complete Tale by Christian Salde│MG│Library Borrow│Graphic Novel
🎧The Audiobooks🎧
🐲Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross│Narrator: Chloe Dolandis│YA│Library Borrow
🐲Phoenix Heart: Season 2 by Sarah K.L. Wilson│Narrator: Elise Hoffman│YA│Library Borrow
🚀🐲Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde│Narrator: John Lee│Adult│Library Borrow
🕵️♀️An Impossible Imposter by Deanna Raybourn│Narrator: Angele Masters│Adult│Library Borrow -🏆
🕵️♀️A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn│Narrator: Angele Masters│Adult│Library Borrow -🏆
🐲Penric and the Bandit by Lois McMaster Bujold│Narrator: Grover Gardner│Adult│Library Borrow -🏆
🕵️♀️Stars, Hide Your Fires by Jessica Mary Best│Narrator: Natalie Naudus│YA│Library Borrow
Out of the 24 books, there were only 2 flops and they were the ones that actively disappointed me. The rest I enjoyed to varying degrees but there are 6 standout tippy-tops! Which, yes, include a re-read because I had a fantastic time revisiting that world.
Reading Challenges Progress
At the beginning of the year, I included 5 yearly challenges in my reading goals for 2025. I decided to drop one of them because I needed to make space for participating in the Magical Readathon. There’s only time for so many challenges and readathons in a year. So the section below will be quick updates on how I’m doing on the remaining 4 challenges.
SFF101 Challenge on IG
Hosted by @wellreadwyvern on Instagram.
Finished Prompts (3/9):
- Mystery – Stars, Hide Your Fires.
- Dystopian – Shades of Grey
- Portal – Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear
2025 Finishing The Series Challenge
Hosted by Carla @Carla Loves to Read & Jonetta @Blue Mood Café. Learn more here.
The level I’m targeting for this challenge is “Mini Series” which means I will hopefully finish 5-8 series by the end of the year. Here are the series I’ve finished or made progress on so far in 2025:
- Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld – Read Books 2 & 3. Status: FINISHED ✅
- Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire – Read Book 10. Status: CAUGHT UP TO MOST RECENT. 😊
- Phoenix Heart by Sarah K. L. Wilson – Read Season 2 Omnibus. Status: WORKING ON IT 🔨
- Veronica Speedwell by Deanna Raybourn – Read Books 7 & 8. Status: WORKING ON IT 🔨
- Penric & Desdemona by Lois McMaster Bujold – Read Book 13. Status: CAUGHT UP TO MOST RECENT. 😊
- Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama – Read Volume 13. Status: CAUGHT UP TO MOST RECENT. 😊
# Of Series Finished / Caught Up: 4
The Sound of Madness 2025
Hosted by Timy @Queen’s Book Asylum
Song
I’ve never heard this song before.
Prompt
Read a story with a hero, a protector.
Book
Adrenaline is off my favourite Shinedown album!
Read a book that gives you an adrenaline rush. Or where the characters do something that gives them adrenaline – fighting, racing, jumping from places, etc.
Woah, it’s been years since I heard the name Hinder! What a throwback.
Read a book with a character who makes the same mistakes, or makes a decision/action despite knowing better.
I love Breaking Benjamin but Home is not one I’m particularly familiar with so this was a fun pick.
This prompt is all about ‘Home’. It can be a book that’s set in the MC’s hometown, it can be about finding a home, etc.
I had no clue this movie existed. This song isn’t for me though.
A Book with a blue cover. Or about a character who always sees the ‘blue side of the sky’ in their endless optimism or a character who finds a happy ending.
My first thought: What am I listening to? Second thought: OMG I know this melody from another song! Apparently it’s a Breton folk tune.
A book that features the sea, a fisher (doesn’t have to be the main character), or it could be a book that features a market, or a deal.
Another new to me song. The contrast of the silly boy band vibe mixed with lyrics about accidentally offing poor ‘ol Rudolph was definitely a surprise.
Read a book with humor, a holiday-themed book, or a book that turns tropes upside down. Or a book with an accident that alters the story in some way.
Well that was catchy :).
Read a book with humor, a holiday-themed book, or a book that turns tropes upside down. Or a book with an accident that alters the story in some way.
Finished Prompts: 8/25
The 2025 SFF Title Challenge
Hosted by Annemieke @A Dance With Books
I made a post of possible choices for this challenge but I have yet to actually read any of them! I still fully intend to try and I have time but I better get on it soon!
Let’s chat in the comments!
What’s your best read of the first quarter? Or, are you participating in any reading challenges this year?
Pingback: First Quarter Check in: 2025 Finishing the Series Challenge Participants – Carla Loves To Read
Well done! So many interesting books and omg you took me down the memory lane with Clockwork prince and Breaking Benjamin!? BB was constantly on repeat during my metal years! Dear Agony, I will not bow, Give me a sign, the diary of Jane! Just to name a few of the songs on repeat! Thank you for that i have forgotten about them! Happy reading and listening 🙂
Thanks so much Lin 😀 & ahah always happy to reminisce with some old favs that I still love. Apparently Breaking Benjamin has a new album out this year which I’m pumped about! Ugh,all such great songs and Ben’s voice is one of my favs 😭Happy to bring you some good mems 🥰Happy reading to you right back!
Nice stats!
Yes, Leaf was so so gorgeous, loved it!
Thank you. I said to myself I won’t do a lot of stats on my quarterly post and then I proceeded to ignore my own self 😂The art for Leaf is certainly gorgeous!
Did not know volume 13 of Witch Hat Atelier is out. I need to get it! And the Arrival is such a good read! One of my favs.
Ah yes, I was surprised by that too hehe! Aw I’m so glad you loved The Arrival too, I’ve never heard of it until recently and I’m loving seeing how many fans it has out there 🖤!
Wow it looks like you’ve had a fantastic start to the year reading wise. You’re doing wonderfully 🥰 I love that The Clockwork Prince was still a hit for you. I think I fell for it even more the second time around. It’s a shame that the witchcraft graphic novel was a flop though. I can’t wait to finally read Upon A Starlit Tide. The artwork on Korgi looks gorgeous too 😍 it’s nice to see Veronica & Penric both continuing to get hit ratings too, yay 🥰
Looking at your challenges if we did end up buddy reading Impossible Creatures as we mentioned once it fits for your magical creatures prompt. Although I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding a book that fits there anyway.
You’re doing fantastically catching up on your series. Yay. I definitely think you’ll make it.
I don’t know any of the songs from your challenge but it looks like you’re making great progress.
And I’ve also failed to read anything for that last challenge yet 🙈 but our buddy read fits for one prompt at least 😂 I’m sure we’ll both get there. Or at least tackle half the prompts (I’m unconvinced about a few as I had less urgent options but we’ll see 😂)
I hope you have a wonderful next quarter and discover lots of fantastic books. Good luck with the challenges going forward too.
Thanks & yeah I’m happy about how my reading has been going thus far 🙂 Aw that’s so great and yes I was relieved that I still adored it! Yeah the witchcraft one was just hard to follow and like a weird mix of nonfiction but with enough creative liberties that it’s also historical fiction so it’s not exactly what I wanted from it.
I can’t wait for you to read Upon a Starlit Tide also and the Korgi Art was so so gorgeous! Yes I’m glad that my favs are still going strong too lol
That’s a good point and I have not forgotten we talked about Impossible Creatures so we can definitely keep that in our back pocket & thank you for pointing that out! 🥰 But you’re right luckily there’s no shortage of magical creature books 🙂
I am the most proud of my series continuations so thanks for saying that 🥰
For the songs challenge I’m not picking them purposefully just seeing what fits where which helps. Maybe that strategy will have to change later 🤔
Aha I’m glad it’s not just me and haha that’s funny we both noticed that our buddy read works for this challenge! I’m also currently reading a ‘Forest’ one so that’s some progress. Hopefully we at least do some prompts even if it’s not the entire board! lol That’s fair, some prompts stand out more than others.
Thanks so much and I hope you discover tons of fabulous books too! 🖤
This is so impressive! 😀
I’ve hit 25 books for the year (including the 2 I finished in April/last week), and it’s actually been a pretty good mix of mine + library + NetGalleys. I feel like I’m more balanced in my reading this year, which is good. I still need to shift a little bit further into my own shelves, but hey: progress!
My only real challenge for the year is the Canterbury Classics Jane Austen one, and so far I’ve completed all the prompts: 2 rereads, a needlework project, and most recently: a bookstore trip 😀
Thank you 😊! Oh very nice, we’re at at very similar number hehe and I love that you have a good mix of different sources. Progress is progress! 🙂
Ah, cool that sounds like a great challenge, perfect for the anniversary and it includes prompts that aren’t reading too? That’s so fun!! 🙂 Did you end up getting anything on the bookstore trip?