April 2023 Wrap Up

Well, that month went by quickly. I guess let’s do my April 2023 Wrap Up. Seriously, if the months could slow down that would be great.

Weyward

Synopsis:

I am a Weyward, and wild inside.

2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind rooted in the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous. And as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.

1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family’s grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives–and for her mother.. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.

My Rating: 4/5

My Full Thoughts:

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Dawnshard

Synopsis:

When a ghost ship is discovered, Navani Kholin sends an expedition to make sure the island hasn’t fallen into enemy hands. Knights Radiant who fly too near find their Stormlight suddenly drained, so the voyage must be by sea.

Shipowner Rysn Ftori lost the use of her legs but gained the companionship of Chiri-Chiri. Now Rysn’s pet is ill. And any hope for Chiri-Chiri’s recovery can be found only at the ancestral home of the larkin.With the help of Lopen, the formerly one-armed Windrunner, Rysn must accept Navani’s quest and sail into the perilous storm from which no one has returned alive. If the crew cannot uncover the secrets of the hidden island city before the wrath of its ancient guardians falls upon them, the fate of Roshar and the entire Cosmere hangs in the balance.

My Rating: 5/5

My Full Review:

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Killing Jesus

Synopsis:

Now the anchor of The O’Reilly Factor details the events leading up to the murder of the most influential man in history: Jesus of Nazareth. Nearly two thousand years after this beloved and controversial young revolutionary was brutally killed by Roman soldiers, more than 2.2 billion human beings attempt to follow his teachings and believe he is God. Killing Jesus will take readers inside Jesus’s life, recounting the seismic political and historical events that made his death inevitable – and changed the world forever.

My Rating: 4/5

My Full Thoughts: I read this around Easter. I really enjoyed the historical approach that Bill O’ Reilly took at writing this book. I’ve heard the resurrection story all of my life from a spiritual perspective, but I enjoyed the chronological order of this book. He also gave a backstory to the political movements of the time period. That helped to put everything in perspective.

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American Predator

Synopsis:

The names of notorious serial killers are usually well-known; they echo in the news and in public consciousness. But most people have never heard of Israel Keyes, one of the most ambitious and terrifying serial killers in modern history. The FBI considered his behavior unprecedented. Described by a prosecutor as “a force of pure evil,” Keyes was a predator who struck all over the United States. He buried “kill kits”–cash, weapons, and body-disposal tools–in remote locations across the country.

Over the course of fourteen years, Keyes would fly to a city, rent a car, and drive thousands of miles in order to use his kits. He would break into a stranger’s house, abduct his victims in broad daylight, and kill and dispose of them in mere hours. And then he would return home to Alaska, resuming life as a quiet, reliable construction worker devoted to his only daughter.

My Rating: 4/5

My Full Thoughts: I really enjoyed the contents of this book. The fact that a serial killer of such magnitude is still relatively unknown is interesting. However, the audiobook narration of American Predator drove me nuts. When the book quoted a male she would lower her voice and try to sound like a man. I just don’t think that’s necessary in a non-fiction book. Especially when she was trying to act out the voice of the killer himself. These are real people in a tragic situation. I just think the victims, and law enforcement, deserved a bit more respect.

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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Synopsis:

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town,

Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned. Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read.

My Rating: 5/5

My Full Thoughts: This is probably the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to. I loved that it was narrated by the author. By the end of the book, it felt like I had grown up beside Mrs. Angelou. I absolutely loved it.

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So that’s my April 2023 wrap up. If you read my April 2023 tbr it’s pretty obvious that I didn’t stick with it. I decided about a quarter of the way into the month the only book that would satisfy was Rythm of War, so I’m making my way through that right now. And I’m enjoying it.

Let me know what you read in the comments below. I love to chat.