Read in April 2026
April was a bit of a month of ups and downs on the reading front. When I look back on those weeks, I mainly remember many days when I barely read and, to be honest, didn’t really feel like picking up a book. Part of that was probably due to my resolution to finally take some older books off my TBR. Not because I suddenly felt a huge urge to do so, but rather because I feared that the ideal reading moment for some of those books might have already passed and I just wanted to tick them off the list.
Of course, that isn’t exactly the best mindset for starting a book. Reading books with the idea that you might not appreciate them anymore doesn’t exactly boost your reading enthusiasm. At the same time, I always want to keep giving books a chance, because sometimes that is precisely how I get completely surprised. Unfortunately, that didn’t really turn out to be the case this month for the older titles I picked up.
Fortunately, April wasn’t just disappointing. A beloved re-read and a great start to a new series fortunately managed to tip the balance a bit more towards the positive. In the end, I finished 5 books in April, totaling 2364 pages. That brings the average to 473 pages per book. Additionally, there were 3 DNFs, in which I read a total of another 389 pages.
This mixed reading experience is also clearly reflected in my ratings. The ratings for the books I finished ranged from 2 to 5 stars, resulting in an average score of 3.4 stars.
Because I deliberately wanted to tackle some older books from bookboxes, a large part of my reading month consisted of Young Adult. In total, I read or attempted 4 Young Adult books and 4 adult books. Not really surprising, but no fewer than 7 of the 8 books I picked up this month came from my own physical bookshelf.
In terms of genres, I kept it limited for a change and switched between only 2 genres: romance (1) and fantasy (7).
Below you will find the list of books I read in April, along with my star rating.
Click on the link to jump to the blurb and my review! As always: be mindful that both the blurb and the review may contain spoilers, especially when it concerns sequels in a series. Sometimes I hide spoilers behind a fold-out element or blacked-out text.
- Mix, Rebecca – The Ones We Burn (DNF)
- Dare, Tessa – The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1) ★★★★★
- MacLean, S.A. – The Phoenix Keeper ★★
- MacLean, S.A. – Voidwalker (Beasts of the Void #1) ★★★
- Kemmerer, Brigid – Defy the Night (Defy the Night #1) 🎧 ★★★
- Kemmerer, Brigid – Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night #2) 🎧 (DNF)
- Fuston, Margie – Cruel Illusions (DNF)
- Barker, R.J. – The Bone Ships (The Tide Child #1) ★★★★
Mix, Rebecca – The Ones We Burn (DNF)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Ranka is tired of death. All she wants now is to be left alone, living out her days in Witchik’s wild north with the coven that raised her, attempting to forget the horrors of her past. But when she is named Bloodwinn, the next treaty bride to the human kingdom of Isodal, her coven sends her south with a single directive: kill him. Easy enough, for a blood-witch whose magic compels her to kill.
Except the prince is gentle, kind, and terrified of her. He doesn’t want to marry Ranka; he doesn’t want to be king at all. And it’s his sister—the wickedly smart, infuriatingly beautiful Princess Aramis—who seems to be the real threat.
But when witches start turning up dead, murdered by a mysterious, magical plague, Aramis makes Ranka an offer: help her develop a cure, and in return, she’ll help Ranka learn to contain her deadly magic. As the coup draws nearer and the plague spreads, Ranka is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her power, her past, and who she’s meant to fight for. Soon, she will have to decide between the coven that raised her and the princess who sees beyond the monster they shaped her to be.
But as the bodies pile up, a monster may be exactly what they need.
I ended up DNF’ing The Ones We Burn at around 17%, which is always a bit disappointing when the premise initially sounds this promising. On paper, it had all the ingredients for a dark, intriguing fantasy, but in execution I found the world-building far too confusing and underdeveloped to really hold my attention. The way information was introduced felt jumbled and illogical, leaving me with more questions than intrigue: what exactly makes witches different from humans, why are they feared and burned when humans also seem to have magic, and what is the actual foundation of the conflict and treaty at the heart of the story? By the time I reached page 73, I realized I simply didn’t have the energy to keep pushing through in the hope that it would eventually start making sense, so this ended up being a DNF for me.
Dare, Tessa – The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1) ★★★★★
Genre: Romantiek (historisch)
Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.
His terms are simple:
– They will be husband and wife by night only.
– No lights, no kissing.
– No questions about his battle scars.
– Last, and most importantly… Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.
But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:
– They will have dinner together every evening.
– With conversation.
– And unlimited teasing.
– Last, and most importantly… Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love…
Revisiting The Duchess Deal felt like returning to an old favourite, which absolutely held up well despite my fears. This was the first Tessa Dare I ever read back in 2019, and I’ve always remembered it as one of her best for my taste, so it was good to see that feeling was accurate. This story is exactly what it promises to be. Tessa Dare’s writing style just works for me: the humour, the sarcasm, the slightly dramatic flair, and characters that lean into their clichés in the most entertaining and charming way.
It’s definitely not historically accurate, and at times even a bit ridiculous if you think about it too much, but honestly, that never bothered me. This is the kind of book you read for the vibes rather than realism, and it delivers exactly what you’d want from a light, romantic escape. Cute, sweet, tender, and genuinely funny, it made for a very enjoyable reread, which I immediately upgrade by a few stars, because in its genre it will probably always remain a favourite!
MacLean, S.A. – The Phoenix Keeper ★★
Genre: Fantasy
As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, Aila’s childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There’s just one glaring caveat: her zoo’s breeding program hasn’t functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix heist sabotages the flagship initiative at a neighboring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins.
But saving an entire species from extinction requires more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks, mischievous dragons… Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. Inspiring zoo patrons? That’s another story. Mustering the courage to ask for help from the hotshot griffin keeper at the zoo’s most popular exhibit? Virtually impossible.
Especially when that hotshot griffin keeper happens to be her arch-rival from college: Luciana, an annoyingly brooding and insufferable know-it-all with the grace of a basilisk and the face of a goddess, who’s convinced that Aila’s beloved phoenix would serve their cause better as an active performer rather than a passive conservation exhibit.
With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila’s success isn’t only a matter of keeping her job: the future of a species depends on her.
When I started The Phoenix Keeper, I actually had fairly high expectations. I had heard so many positive things, including from a friend who absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, for me, it ended up being a rather underwhelming read. There were certainly elements I appreciated, and the scenes with the fantasy creatures were the highlight for me. Beyond that, however, the world never really came to life. It felt more like our own world with a few random fantasy names slapped on it, rather than a fully unique, well-developed setting. The worldbuilding was simply limited to listing places without much depth or substance.
I also struggled quite a bit with the characters. Although they are meant to be in their late twenties, they came across as much younger, with behaviour that often felt immature and, at times, frustrating. Aila in particular was a difficult protagonist for me. I appreciated the attempt at anxiety representation, but it often felt like it was used to justify selfish behaviour and poor communication, which made it harder to support her.
As for the romance, I personally found it completely unnecessary. It was very formulaic, underdeveloped, and added absolutely nothing to the story.
Additionally, certain plot developments, including the role of the villain, were very predictable. The pacing didn’t help either, feeling somewhat uneven and a bit all over the place, which made it difficult to stay fully engaged.
In the end, while I didn’t actively dislike the book and I did enjoy the animal elements, it never really managed to pull me in or leave a lasting impression. I finished it, but mostly out of habit rather than genuine investment. Overall, this was not a terrible read, but ultimately quite lacklustre.
MacLean, S.A. – Voidwalker (Beasts of the Void #1) ★★★
Genre: Fantasy
Fi ferries contraband between worlds, stockpiling funds and stolen magic to keep her village self-sufficient – free from the blood sacrifices humans have paid to Antal’s immortal species for centuries.
Only legends whispered through the pine forests recall a time when things were different, before one world shattered into many, and the flesh-devouring beasts crept from the cracks between realities, with their sable antlers and slender tails, lethal claws and gleaming fangs. Now, mortal lives are food to pacify their carnivorous overlords, exchanged for feudal protection, and the precious silver energy that fuels everything from transport to weaponry.
When Fi gets planted with a stash of smuggled energy, a long-lost flame recruits her for a reckless heist that escalates into a terrorist bombing – and a coup against the reigning immortals, with Fi’s home caught in the crossfire.
She’s always known the dangers of her trade – and of the power she’s wielded since childhood, allowing her to see the secret doors between dimensions, to walk the Void itself. But nothing could have prepared her for crossing paths with Antal. For the deal she’ll have to make with him, a forced partnership to reclaim his city that begins as a desperate bid for survival, only to grow into something far more dangerous.
A revolution.
And a temptation – for how sweet the monster’s fangs might feel.
Going into Voidwalker, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect after my experience with The Phoenix Keeper, but this ended up being a genuinely pleasant surprise. I read most of it during a city trip to Athens, in those small, quiet moments in between exploring, and it turned out to be the perfect kind of read for that: easy to slip into, entertaining, and engaging without demanding too much focus.
The writing pulled me in quite quickly, even if I was initially unsure about the main character. The decision that sets the story in motion felt very much like a plot device, and she definitely has a tendency to ignore red flags and take risks, but I never found myself truly frustrated with her. Her thought process made sense to me, and I could follow her reasoning, even when she made questionable choices. The dynamic between the main characters was a highlight: the banter, the humour, and the chemistry all worked really well, giving the story a fun, flirty energy that carried me through.
There’s also more to this book than the “monster smut” label might suggest. I found the core ideas, the magic system, and the political and religious undertones genuinely interesting, even if the world-building itself remains quite surface-level. I often wished for more depth, more explanation, and a clearer understanding of how everything fits together, especially when it comes to the different planes, Fi’s abilities, and the daeyari. The writing can be a bit repetitive at times, but it never bothered me enough to pull me out of the story.
Looking back, I can definitely see the flaws more clearly, but while I was reading, I was simply having a really good time. It’s an easy fantasy read, bordering on YA in its simplicity but with steamy adult elements, and it delivers an enjoyable, satisfying story that doesn’t necessarily demand a sequel, yet still leaves me curious enough to continue. Overall, this was a fun and surprisingly engaging read, and one I enjoyed far more than I expected.
🎧 Kemmerer, Brigid – Defy the Night (Defy the Night #1) ★★★
Genre: YA Fantasy
King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents’ shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King’s Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion–it’s the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.
Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most–but it’s still not enough.
As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King’s Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it’s even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.
My expectations for Defy the Night were fairly low. YA more often than not fails to convince me nowadays. With my previous experience with this author, via the Cursebreakers trilogy, I mainly remember them as rather pleasant, but not very memorable books. So it was a genuinely nice surprise to find myself quite enjoying this audiobook.
In many ways, this story feels similar in tone to Cursebreakers, but it worked better for me here. The dual perspectives were engaging, and the pacing was strong enough to keep me listening without losing interest. The plot is definitely predictable, both through familiar tropes and fairly obvious foreshadowing, but it felt more comforting than frustrating. It’s the kind of predictability that makes for an easy, enjoyable reading experience rather than something that constantly tries to outsmart you.
What stood out most to me was the focus on political nuance. I really appreciated how the story explores different sides of the conflict, moving away from a simple “us versus them” narrative and showing how complicated these situations actually are. That said, while the writing is stronger than in many YA books I’ve read recently, with solid pacing and believable character dynamics, the world-building itself remains fairly light. Kandala never fully came to life for me beyond what was necessary to support the plot.
Overall, this was an entertaining and easy audiobook, one that fit perfectly into moments where I wanted something engaging without requiring too much focus. I’m not entirely sure how it would have worked for me in a physical read, but as an audiobook it did exactly what I needed it to do. It may not stand out strongly within the genre, but it was a pleasant surprise and an enjoyable experience nonetheless.
🎧 Kemmerer, Brigid – Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night #2) (DNF)
Genre: YA Fantasy
The kingdom of Kandala narrowly avoided catastrophe, but the embers of revolution still simmer. While King Harristan seeks a new way to lead, Tessa and Prince Corrick attempt to foster unity between rebels and royals.
But the consuls who control the Moonflower will not back down, and Corrick realizes he must find a new source for the lifesaving Elixir. When an emissary from the neighboring kingdom of Ostriary arrives with an intriguing offer, Tessa and Corrick set out on an uncertain journey as they attempt to mend their own fractured relationship. This could be their only chance to keep the peace and bring relief to the people of Kandala, but danger strikes during the journey to Ostriary, and no one is who they claimed to be. . .
DNF p.201 (around 48% in)
After enjoying Defy the Night more than expected, I was really hoping Defend the Dawn would build on that momentum, but unfortunately this ended up being a DNF for me around the halfway point. What frustrated me most was how much the characterisation seemed to regress. It felt as though much of the growth from the first book had been undone, particularly with Tessa and Corrick. Here, their relationship became driven by miscommunication, constant conflict, and an entirely unnecessary love triangle.
A lot of the political plotting also started to strain credibility for me, particularly decisions that felt illogical simply to keep the story moving. But more than anything, I struggled with how Tessa was written in this sequel. She had felt strong-willed and compelling in the first book, whereas here she often seemed reduced to reacting to others, and doubting Corrick in ways that felt disconnected from everything they had already been through. At some point, the frustration outweighed the enjoyment.
It was especially disappointing because I had gone into this wanting more time with characters I’d genuinely liked in book one. Instead, I found myself increasingly irritated, particularly by the forced conflict and relationship drama, and eventually I lost the motivation to continue. I ultimately DNF’ed not just this book, but the series as a whole.
Fuston, Margie – Cruel Illusions (DNF)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Ever since a vampire murdered her mother, Ava has been determined to get revenge. This all-encompassing drive has given her the fuel she needed to survive foster home after foster home.
But it’s been ten years since anyone’s seen a vampire, and Ava has lost hope that she’ll ever find one…until she stumbles across a hidden magic show where she witnesses impossible illusions. The magicians may not be the bloodsuckers she’s hunting, but Ava is convinced something supernatural is at play, so she sneaks backstage and catches them in acts they can’t explain.
But they’ve been waiting for her.
The magicians reveal they’re part of an ancient secret society with true magic, and Ava has the same power in her blood that they do. If she joins them, they promise to teach her the skills she needs to hunt vampires and avenge her mother. But there’s a catch: if she wants to keep the power they offer, she needs to prove she’s worthy of it. And to do so, she must put on the performance of her life in a sinister and dangerous competition where illusion and reality blur, and the stakes are deadly.
The premise and the books it is compared to, made me really interested in Cruel Illusions. After loving Caraval earlier this year, the promise of illusion, magic, and even vampires seemed impossible to resist. I was hoping to be swept into another lush, mysterious world and story. And to be fair, the opening briefly made me think that might happen. Unfortunately, while the premise remained intriguing, the execution never quite delivered that sense of enchantment for me, and I ultimately decided to DNF around 23%.
My biggest struggle was the main character. Ava’s voice and behaviour felt far younger than her age, and despite understanding that trauma shapes part of who she is, I found her difficult to connect with. Her hostility towards people offering her genuine care often felt disproportionate, and many of her choices and reactions left me more frustrated than invested. Combined with a writing style that leaned heavily on telling over showing, info-dumps that disrupted the flow, and the looming suggestion of a very familiar YA love triangle, the story kept leaning into tropes of the genre that no longer work very well for me.
At some point I realised I was rolling my eyes more than I was feeling intrigued, and that’s usually my cue to stop. I’ll chalk this one up to no longer being the target audience for this story.
Barker, R.J. – The Bone Ships (The Tide Child #1) ★★★★
Genre: Fantasy
Two nations at war. A prize beyond compare.
For generations, the Hundred Isles have built their ships from the bones of ancient dragons to fight an endless war.
The dragons disappeared, but the battles for supremacy persisted.
Now the first dragon in centuries has been spotted in far-off waters, and both sides see a chance to shift the balance of power in their favour. Because whoever catches it will win not only glory, but the war.
I went into The Bone Ships with a mix of excitement and hesitation. The praise for this trilogy has been hard to ignore, and I’ve been looking forward to diving into it, but the beginning immediately proved more challenging than I expected. The learning curve is steep, with a flood of unfamiliar terminology and names, and very little hand-holding. For a while, I genuinely had to push myself to keep going, even though I could feel there was something intriguing beneath the surface.
And then, at some point, it simply clicked.
I can’t quite pinpoint when it happened, but suddenly the world started to make sense, and I found myself completely drawn in. Looking back, I actually appreciate the author’s decision to throw the reader straight into this world without relying on heavy exposition. It requires a bit of patience, but once everything begins to fall into place, it creates a deeply immersive experience that feels both natural and rewarding.
The world-building is easily one of the strongest aspects of this book. It’s brutal, strange, and fascinating, shaped by harsh societal rules and traditions that are introduced almost casually, yet leave a strong impression. There’s a constant sense that there is far more beneath the surface, whether it’s the ongoing war, the rigid social structures, or the mysterious elements woven through the story. I was especially intrigued by the creatures and the hints of something larger and more magical still waiting to be explored.
What surprised me most is how vivid this world feels, even though I’m not someone who easily visualises what I read. The writing has a fluid, almost hypnotic quality that conveys atmosphere and colour incredibly well, creating a setting that feels far more vibrant than I initially expected. It’s immersive without being overwhelming once you settle into it.
That said, there were a few elements that didn’t work as well for me. Some of the naval battle scenes and technical descriptions occasionally lost my attention, and because the story is told through a narrator who keeps a certain distance from others, I found it harder to form a strong emotional connection with the wider cast of characters.
Still, by the end, I found myself genuinely invested. The story closes in a satisfying way without relying on a major cliffhanger, while still leaving plenty of questions and intrigue for what’s to come. What started as a somewhat difficult read ultimately turned into a highly engaging and immersive experience, and I’m very curious to see how the world, and its deeper mysteries, will unfold in the next book.
