☘️ March Reviews 🌈
March 1st-31st
In March, I read 21 books with 5002 pages. My new favorites were: The Little Library by Kim Fielding and Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Throughout the month, I participated in Middle Grade March where I read the group read and books that fit each of the prompts created for the group by the Youtube channel: Middle Grade March.
Here is a link to my Middle Grade March post to see what books I read for that: Middle Grade March 2026 Wrapup
Hope everyone enjoyed what they read this month! Happy Reading. 📖
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Book 36: The Girl & the Galdurian
(Lightfall, #1)
By Tim Probert
Read March 1st
Pages: 247
Release Year: 2020
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March 1st, 2026 reread:
I adore this graphic novel so much. Bea and Cad's adventure was great fun to follow along with again. Tim's illustrations are spectacular and fit the story very well. I love the world he created.
November 5th, 2020 read:
This was a wonderful graphic novel. Enjoyed it so much. Tim's illustrations were stunning and the story was great!
I adore this graphic novel so much. Bea and Cad's adventure was great fun to follow along with again. Tim's illustrations are spectacular and fit the story very well. I love the world he created.
November 5th, 2020 read:
This was a wonderful graphic novel. Enjoyed it so much. Tim's illustrations were stunning and the story was great!
Book 37: Shadow of the Bird
(Lightfall #2)
By Tim Probert
Read March 1st
Pages: 249
Release Year: 2022
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March 1st 2026 reread:
I think I may have enjoyed this even more the second time around. It is absolutely wonderful in every way. This series is the perfect way to start Middle Grade March.
July 31st, 2022 read:
This book was just as excellent as the first one, and I want to see more and more from this world. Tim's story and art style are some of the best I have seen in graphic novels. I definitely recommend this to middle-grade readers out there. I wish I could have had this book when I was a kid. I cannot wait to see where Tim takes the story from here.
I think I may have enjoyed this even more the second time around. It is absolutely wonderful in every way. This series is the perfect way to start Middle Grade March.
July 31st, 2022 read:
This book was just as excellent as the first one, and I want to see more and more from this world. Tim's story and art style are some of the best I have seen in graphic novels. I definitely recommend this to middle-grade readers out there. I wish I could have had this book when I was a kid. I cannot wait to see where Tim takes the story from here.
Book 38: The Dark Times
(Lightfall, #3)
By Tim Probert
Read March 1st
Pages: 256
Release Year: 2024
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It took me way too long to get back into this series. The third volume is my favorite so far. I'm glad I decided to reread the others in a lead up to the new release. Tim's art style really shines throughout every page of this. I cannot get enough of looking at it, especially some of the pages near the end. Absolutely stunning! Looking forward to seeing what will happen next in Bea and Cad's adventures.
Book 39: A Place Between
(Lightfall, #4)
By Tim Probert
Read March 2nd
Pages: 256
Release Year: 2026
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Lightfall is one of my favorite graphic novel series. Tim Probert has created a world that I love visiting in each new book and an art style I cannot get enough of.
In A Place Between, we get to meet more of the spirits and see what they think of what is going on in Irpa. The most interesting one to me was definitely Mirko, who is the spirit for the realm of A Place Between. I'm very intrigued to learn about this realm and I'm looking forward to seeing where Tim will take this in future books.
It has been so entertaining learning more about the world of Irpa throughout each of these stories. In this book, Tim chooses to separate Cad and Bea in a shipwreck. I liked what this brought to the story as they continue on their quest and search for each other.
A wonderful addition to a fun middle grade adventure series that I will be adding to my collection. I highly recommend this series.
*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Tim Probert for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
In A Place Between, we get to meet more of the spirits and see what they think of what is going on in Irpa. The most interesting one to me was definitely Mirko, who is the spirit for the realm of A Place Between. I'm very intrigued to learn about this realm and I'm looking forward to seeing where Tim will take this in future books.
It has been so entertaining learning more about the world of Irpa throughout each of these stories. In this book, Tim chooses to separate Cad and Bea in a shipwreck. I liked what this brought to the story as they continue on their quest and search for each other.
A wonderful addition to a fun middle grade adventure series that I will be adding to my collection. I highly recommend this series.
*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Tim Probert for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 40: Wilder
(Body Heat, #1)
By Marina Pirlimpou
Read March 3rd
Pages: 230
Release Year: 2025
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I enjoyed this story a lot. Hurt/Comfort stories are some of my favorites and Marina did a wonderful job mixing that with Ethan and Ollie's romance. Beautiful story. I'm interested in picking up the future books in this series and reading more from Marina Pirlimpou. Love her writing style.
Book 41: Earwig and the Witch
By Diana Wynne Jones
Read March 4th
Pages: 144
Release Year: 2026
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A
fun little novella with all of Diana Wynne Jones's charm. She had such a
distinct writing style that stood out in everything she wrote. This was
an enjoyable read, but it was not as good as Diana's other stories.
Book 42: Grounded
By Aidan Wayne
Read March 4th
Pages: 120
Release Year: 2026
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There was so much I was wishing for from this though. First, I felt like the martial arts part was only really used to introduce the characters, which is fine, but it really didn't feel needed. It would have been nice to see more of those classes or get a competition. I wanted it to feel like more of the story instead of something just there.
Also, I would have loved to get scenes with Terry and the other people in the classes. A major part of his story is how he has a hard time connecting with others. I love that he was able to find this with Baz and Camille, but it would have been nice to see him interacting with others more. Grounded would have benefited from having Terry's perspective too, so we could better understand his character motivations.
I love novellas quite a bit, but I think Terry and Baz's story would have been much better if it were more fleshed out.
Book 43: The Little Library
By Kim Fielding
Read March 5th
Pages: 290
Release Year: 2018
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A perfect book to read on World Book Day. I love how important literature was to these characters and also how important Elliot's academic work was. I'm a big fan of academia and I enjoyed the little tidbits of history from Elliot. His and Simon's relationship was so sweet. I loved seeing their interactions in the beginning of the book and then following as they fell in love. Their first meeting was adorable.
It was wonderful to see the community Elliot was able to build with his free little library. Really shows the power books can have in people's lives. Beautiful.
Elliot and Simon were great and so were most of the side characters. One of my favorite things in a romance other than the main couple are the other important people in their lives. I love that we got both Elliot and Simon's families and that they played important roles in the story. These characters come alive on every page and I loved them almost as much as the two mcs, especially Amy, Ladd, and Miri. Also, we get a cute dog named Ishtar that I loved.
This is my second book by Kim Fielding and I highly enjoy her writing style. Her characters are so endearing and lovely. I love how this book had me laughing out loud in moments and emotional in others. Elliot and Simon's first date was such a perfect scene. It was awkward, hilarious, and so darn special. I knew I was going to adore this book from that scene alone. There were so many scenes that stood out, especially the last chapter. The Little Library is a book I know I will think fondly of for years to come.
It was wonderful to see the community Elliot was able to build with his free little library. Really shows the power books can have in people's lives. Beautiful.
Elliot and Simon were great and so were most of the side characters. One of my favorite things in a romance other than the main couple are the other important people in their lives. I love that we got both Elliot and Simon's families and that they played important roles in the story. These characters come alive on every page and I loved them almost as much as the two mcs, especially Amy, Ladd, and Miri. Also, we get a cute dog named Ishtar that I loved.
This is my second book by Kim Fielding and I highly enjoy her writing style. Her characters are so endearing and lovely. I love how this book had me laughing out loud in moments and emotional in others. Elliot and Simon's first date was such a perfect scene. It was awkward, hilarious, and so darn special. I knew I was going to adore this book from that scene alone. There were so many scenes that stood out, especially the last chapter. The Little Library is a book I know I will think fondly of for years to come.
Book 44: Brume, Volume 2:
The Forest of Lost Souls
By Jérôme Pélissier
Read March 7th
Pages: 64
Release Year: 2026
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Another adorable adventure with Brume, Hubert, and Hugo. I love how the story is narrated by Hubert, the pig companion of Brume, as they all go out in search for information about the witch Naïa. His narration is one of my favorite parts of this story. I love how the reader knows more about what is going on than Brume and Hugo do because of what Hubert is relaying. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and the story is quite enjoyable. It has been interesting to learn more about this world.
The only thing I wish was that these stories could be a little longer. They just go by so quickly. I'm glad that Brume's adventures have been translated into English. These are perfect for younger readers and for those young at heart. I know I would have loved these growing up. This is a fun little witchy book.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this wonderful book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 45: Castle Swimmer: Volume 3
By Wendy Martin
Read March 7th-8th
Pages: 288
Release Year: 2026
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The artstyle is as beautiful as ever. I liked the new design for Kappa and loved the little axolotl companion. It was so cute!
I enjoyed seeing both Kappa and Siren interacting with different characters this time around. The octupi witches were a great addition to the story. They are some of my favorite characters so far. Hopefully, we'll get to see more of Kappa and Siren together soon, but I would like to see more of their adventures with the new characters.
*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Wendy Martin for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 46: Echo
By Pam Muñoz Ryan
Read March 1oth-11th
Pages: 597
Release Year: 2015
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I love how seamlessly Pam Muñoz Ryan was able to combine both the fantastical elements of this book with historical fiction. Each of the children's stories were interwoven through the magic of the harmonica and I could not get enough of this book.
This was one of the best middle grade novels I have read in a long time and I highly recommend picking it up. If you do choose to read this story, you should do so with the audiobook. There are four narrators for each of the children and music playing throughout the entire book. It is one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had while listening to a story.
Book 47: These Are the Words:
Fearless Verse to Find Your Voice
By Nikita Gill
Read March 12th-13th
Pages: 192
Release Year: 2022
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A beautiful collection of poems, but not my favorite of Nikita's work. There are so many great poems from this volume.
Book 48: I Hate Fairyland
Vol. 9: Back on My Bull Ship
By Skottie Young
Read March 13th
Pages: 128
Release Year: 2026
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Definitely one of my least favorites from the new volumes, but I did enjoy some of the issues in this. I'm glad the series is still continuing on.
Book 49: Luka and the Fire of Life
(Khalifa Brothers, #2)
By Salman Rushdie
Read March 14th
Pages: 223
Release Year: 2010
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I enjoyed this book just as much as the original. It is quite strange with an interesting fantasy world. The story is about Haroun's younger brother Luka, who goes on an adventure with his bear named Dog and his dog named Bear, to save his father from a sleeping curse. It is absurd and silly at times, but also quite enjoyable. Salman Rushdie has created a fantasy world that is powered on stories and we see elements from many famous ones throughout this book.
Book 50: Minor Mage
By T. Kingfisher
Read March 15th
Pages: 176
Release Year: 2019
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Book 51: The Great Ghost Rescue
By Eva Ibbotson
Read March 16th
Pages: 167
Release Year: 1975
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Eva's writing reminds me of Diana Wynne Jones style, which makes me want to read more of her books. I love how she mixed historical references along with the fantastical elements. The British setting was perfect.
Also, I enjoyed the paranormal elements, which reminded me a bit of John Bellair's Lewis Barnavelt series. A wonderful selection for younger readers or those young at heart who love a fun ghostly story. I'm going to check out more of her books soon, especially The Secret of Platform 13 and Which Witch? which I already own. Love her style. Another author I wish I had found in middle school.
Book 52: Kindred Dragons
(Kindred Dragons, #1)
By Sarah Mensinga
Read March 17th
Pages: 208
Release Year: 2025
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Book 53: Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories
By Amal El-Mohtar
Read March 19th-21st
Pages: 208
Release Year: 2026
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These stories and poems are stunning and I highly enjoyed most of them very much. Below, I will give my thoughts for each one. I highly recommend this collection to fantasy and science fiction fans. The stories are quite strange at times and beautiful.
My ARC was an audiobook copy of the work. The narration was done by Rachel Elizabeth Smith, who does a wonderful job. Though, I would recommend following along with many of the stories because of the formatting. I would love to listen to more books that she has narrated. Amal El- Mohtar has become a writer I know I will read anything from. I'm hoping she writes a novel, because I would love to read it.
I will definitely be picking up a copy of this book for my own collection.
~ Seasons of Glass and Iron- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved this dark fairy tale very much. Perfect dark tale.
~ The Green Book- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: The idea of the woman's conciseness in a book was so intriguing. I love stories with books that are sentient in some way. Also, I highly enjoyed the epistolary aspects of this story. Love the strangeness of this story.
~ Madeleine- ⭐⭐⭐⭐: So intriguing. I want to know more about Madeline's story after this.
~ The Lonely Sea in the Sky- ⭐⭐⭐: Another epistolary story set in the future, this time told through journal entries. This is a science fiction story which tells a middle-aged woman's journey. I like how we are getting the story through the scientist's thoughts in her journal entries but didn't enjoy it as much as the others in the collection.
~ Song for an Ancient City- ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Beautiful poem
~ And Their Lips Rang with the Sun- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Love the writing style for this story, how it is from the perspective of an older woman who is talking about these young women. This is one of my favorite stories from the collection.
~ A Tale of Ash in 7 Birds- ⭐⭐⭐: A poetic story split into seven sections of seven birds: a sparrow, a crow, a cormorant, a swallow, a hummingbird, a great horned owl, and phoenix.
~ Qahr- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: A stunning poem.
~ The Truth About Owls- ⭐⭐⭐⭐: A beautiful story about a young girl who is getting used to life in a new country with various facts about owls. This is the only piece from this collection that I have read/listened to before. Levar Burton did a series where he read stories called Levar Burton Reads and this was one of the stories he narrated. I love both versions.
~ Wing- ⭐⭐⭐: A very short story about two people connected through books
~ A Hollow's Play- ⭐⭐⭐: The longest story in the collection. Told through prose and letters.
~ Thunderstorm in Glasgow-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: I looked up this poem online because I wanted to find the formatting for it, as I did for many of the other poems and stories. I definitely recommend checking out this page with the stunning illustrations: https://firesidefiction.com/thunderstorm-in-glasgow-july-25-2013
This is a wonderful poem. Beautiful.
~ Anabasis- ⭐⭐⭐⭐: A very short story. I highly enjoyed this piece.
~ To Follow the Waves- ⭐⭐⭐: One of my least favorites from the collection.
~ Pieces- ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Another beautiful poem
~ John Hollowback and the Witch-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: I love the stories in this collection that feel like fairy tales. This was a great witchy story.
~ Florilegia; or, Some Lies About Flowers-⭐⭐⭐⭐ : A take on the Welsh mythology figure of Blodeuwedd. I have never heard about this character from Welsh mythology, but the story definitely made me very interested in her character.
~ Pockets- ⭐⭐⭐⭐: A story about a connection between two women through the objects appearing in their pockets.
*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Amal El-Mohtar. All opinions are my own.*
Book 54: Pilu of the Woods
By Mai K. Nguyen
Read March 23rd
Pages: 151
Release Year: 2019
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Pilu of the Woods follows a young girl named Willow who is trying to learn how to control her pent up emotions while dealing with grief. It is a heartwarming story filled with friendship, family, and an interesting magical realism world.
I loved the little bits of fantasy we got in this story along with the journey Willow and her new friend named Pilu go on. This is a world I would love to see more of in the future.
I loved the little bits of fantasy we got in this story along with the journey Willow and her new friend named Pilu go on. This is a world I would love to see more of in the future.
Book 55: Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic
By Sangu Mandanna
Read March 24th
Pages: 176
Release Year: 2024
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A delightfully charming story perfect for fans of witchy stories. I enjoyed this quite a bit, especially the talking cat. Absolutely adorable.
Book 56: Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II (Operation Kinderspion #1)
By Adam Gidwitz
Read March 24th-26th
Pages: 320
Release Year: 2024
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Book 57: A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm
By Philip C. Stead
Read March 28th
Pages: 328
Release Year: 2026
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The story follows a young girl named Bernadette who is a goatkeeper. She lives in a kingdom whose king's castle rests on the backs of twenty-four goats. One day one of the goats escapes and Bernadette has to go on a mission to bring it back along with also trying to save her beloved turtle friend.
With the chapters all out of order, the reader goes on quite an interesting journey with Bernadette, a forgetful wizard, a Boat That Does Not Grant Wishes, the author of the story himself, Steve the three-legged goat, and many other characters. I have always loved books with interesting formats and this is one of the best I have found for younger readers. It is quite a fun story. Though the formatting may confuse some readers if they do not pay attention to what is going on.
Loved Philip Stead's sense of humor and the absurdity of the many different characters in this book. The idea of the story being all out of order was such a cool idea and I found it to work very well for me. It feels like a longer fairy tale. Also, the narrator Daniel Henning did a wonderful job creating voices for each of the characters.
I will definitely get a copy of this book for my collection and I look forward to seeing his illustrations for the book.
*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Phillip C. Stead for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
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