April Wrap Up/May TBR

I read seven books in April, but did I stick to my TBR?

Gerald's Game by Stephen King
I really don't know how to talk about this one, because I thoroughly enjoyed it, but at the same time I didn't like it. I feel so disgusting for having read it, despite the fact that it's purely fiction and I am an adult, as it deals heavily with sex, child abuse, and mental instability. The real horror, though? Just damn compelling the story is. You need to know if Jessie will be okay after everything so you can't help but continue reading.

Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall
This is definitely my favourite book of the month, if not 2017 so far. I can't even begin to explain how important this book was for me personally, and on a much bigger scale in the world of mental health. I saw so much of Norah in myself and was even able to stop looking at my compulsive skin picking with so much shame and disgust. Just... If you've ever looked at this and thought about giving it a go, please do. It won't let you down.

The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell
This short story has to be one of the best little black classics I've read. It's so chilling and haunting, perfect for if you're new to Victorian literature or are just looking for a quick scare. The second story in this, however, is really not worth reading so depending on the edition you have, give it a miss.

The Fearless Defenders vol. 1: Doom Maidens by Cullen Bunn
If you're looking for an all female lead comic with an LGBTQ+ element, pick this up. It's quick, it's fun, it's action packed, it's full of girl power and overcoming demons. Even if you know nothing about Valkyrie and Misty Knight it's still a nice little volume to try.

Legend by Marie Lu
And then this is where things took a turn for the worse. It's not that I didn't like Legend, it was more that it felt very rushed and undeveloped. I couldn't really get on with either Day or June, and I didn't understand the Republic or anything going on as there were no explanations for anything. If there had been less action I would definitely not have given the rest of the series a chance.

Prodigy by Marie Lu
Probably the worst book I read this month. It started to explain and expand upon the things mentioned in Legend but it didn't the same action packed fast pace so I lost interest. And the ending... The dual POVs make so much sense with that ending and I am not happy about it. Such a shame that I didn't like this, as there's so much praise for this trilogy.

Champion by Marie Lu

This was better than Prodigy but still nothing special and I can't get my head around why people love this trilogy so much. It's just another standard young adult dystopian with too much romance and not enough explanation. I think I've left the series more confused about things than I was when I first picked it up.

My exams start in May so I'll either go one of two ways: I'll read everything I can get my hands on in order to stay calm and procrastinate, or I'll read nothing as I panic and do some last minute cramming. Either way, there are a few things I'd like to pick up if I get the chance. Dolores Claiborne will be my King of the month because I feel like it and Gerald's Game need to be read together due to the eclipse mentioned in both. A Hippo Banquet and The Wicked + the Divine will both be very quick reads and will help me with cutting through the little black classics and graphic novels I still have yet to read, so I don't see myself facing many (if any) issues with May's TBR.

What did you read in April? What do you want to read in May?