I enjoy doing these posts at the end of each quarter. It makes me feel as if I’m making immense progress on my reading goals, even if I’m not, and I like being able to reflect on my progress in this way.
The second quarter of the year was good to me, reading-wise. I managed to get through 25 books, and that’s largely because of Wyrd & Wonder, a monthlong celebration in May of all things fantasy. I read much more than I expected for that event and the majority of them were good reads too.
Well, with those 25 books, I’ve managed to complete 80% of my reading goal this year, which is to read 50 things, so HOORAY for me! 😀
Anyway, here are the stuff I got through this quarter.
Books | Audio | Comics | Picture Books
Books by month
April
The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner ★★★★★
Dragon Wing by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman (Death Gate Cycle, book 1) ★★★☆☆
Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst ★★☆☆☆ ½
May
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris ★★☆☆☆
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold (World of the Five Gods, book 2) ★★★★★
Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, book 14; Witches, book 4) ★★★☆☆ ½
June
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (His Fair Assassin, book 1) ★★☆☆☆
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie (First Law, book 1) ★★★☆☆ ½
Audiobooks by month
April
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn, narr. by Rosalyn Landor (Bridgertons, book 2) ★★★☆☆
May
June
Eragon by Christopher Paolini, narr. by Gerard Doyle (Inheritance Cycle, book 1) ★★★☆☆ ½ [reread]
Picture books by month
April
May
Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest by Phoebe Wahl (illus.) ★★★☆☆
Oona by Kelly DiPucchio, illus. by Raissa Figueroa ★★★☆☆
The Widow’s Broom by Chris Van Allsburg (illus.) ★★★★☆
Ramayana: Divine Loophole by Sanjay Patel (illus.) ★★★★★
June
Comic books by month
April
Deadpool: World’s Greatest, Vol. 1: Millionaire With a Mouth by Gerry Duggan, illus. by Mike Hawthorne ★★★☆☆
May
Wizard Beach by Shaun Simon, illus. by Conor Nolan ★★★☆☆
Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins, Vol. 1 by Matthew Colville & Matthew Mercer, illus. by Olivia Samson ★★★★☆
Manor Black, Vol. 1 by Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt, illus. by Tyler Crook ★★★☆☆
1602: Witch Hunter Angela by Marguerite Bennett & Kieron Gillen, illus. by Stephanie Hans, Marguerite Sauvage, Irene Koh & Jordie Bellaire, Frazer Irving, and Kody Chamberlain & Lee Loughridge ★★★☆☆
Marvel 1602, #1 by Neil Gaiman, illus. by Andy Kubert ★★☆☆☆ ½
Moonstruck, Vol. 2: Some Enchanted Evening by Grace Ellis, illus. by Shae Beagle & Kat Fajardo ★★★☆☆ ½
The Wizard’s Tale by Kurt Busiek, illus. by David T. Wenzel ★★★☆☆
Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham, illus. by Lan Medina, Steve Leialoha, and Craig Hamilton ★★★★★
June
Conspiracy of Ravens by Leah Moore & John Reppion, illus. by Sally Jane Thompson ★★★☆☆
DCeased by Tom Taylor, illus. by Trevor Hairsine, Stefano Gaudiano, Laura Braga, Richard Friend, James Harren, Darick Robertson, Trevor Scott, Neil Edwards ★★★★☆
**Rereads aren’t considered for most categories below.**
Favorite(s) of the bunch
Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry
Least liked
The Other Black Girl
Did Not Finish
Kink: Stories edited by R.O. Kwan & Garth Greenwell
Best stories
Paladin of Souls
Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
Best writing
Paladin of Souls
The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry
Best narration (audiobooks)
Eragon
Best illustrations (illustrated books & comics/mangas)
Ramayana: Divine Loophole
The Widow’s Broom
Outstanding character(s)/people
Delly from The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry
Great world-building
Paladin of Souls
Most fitting title(s)
DCeased
Paladin of Souls
Most unique/impactful story
DCeased [unique — I’ve never encountered superhero zombies before]
Cover love
Reading Challenges Hits ‘n’ Misses
Goodreads Challenge
books read = 40/50
Books I MUST read this year
books read = 0 | total so far = 0/8
Read some comics/graphic novels
comics read = 11 | total so far = 14/20
Deadpool: World’s Greatest, Vol. 1
Wizard Beach
Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins, Vol. 1
Manor Black, Vol. 1
1602: Witch Hunter Angela
Marvel 1602, #1
Moonstruck, Vol. 2
The Wizard’s Tale
Fables, Vol. 1
Conspiracy of Ravens
DCeased
Read some picture books
books read = 4 | total so far = 4/8
Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest
Oona
The Widow’s Broom
Ramayana: Divine Loophole
Pick up a classic
books read = 0 | total so far = 0/4
Three terrifying reads
books read = 2 | total so far = 2/3
Manor Black, Vol. 1
DCeased
Where are the middle grade ones?
books read = 3 | total so far = 3/12
Wizard Beach
The Wizard’s Tale
Ramayana: Divine Loophole
Turtle Recall
books read = 1 | total so far = 2/5
Lords and Ladies
Read my own stuff
books read = 11 | total so far = 16/30
Dragon Wing
Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins, Vol. 1
Manor Black, Vol. 1
1602: Witch Hunter Angela
Fables, Vol. 1
Paladin of Souls
Lords and Ladies
Ramayana: Divine Loophole
Marvel 1602, #1
Eragon
Grave Mercy
Reading stats
Longest book
Grave Mercy = 566 pages
Shortest book
Oona and The Widow’s Broom = both have 32 pages
Format
Physical = 17
E-book = 6
Audio = 2
Genre
Fantasy = 18
Horror = 2
Romance = 2
Nonfiction = 1
SciFi = 1
Thriller = 1
Age group
Adult = 16
YA = 3
MG = 3
Kids = 3
Protagonist gender
Female = 12
Male = 11
Ensemble = 2
Author gender
Male = 13
Female = 10
Both = 2
Ownership
Mine (bought before January 1, 2021) = 11
New (bought on/after January 1, 2021) = 6
Library = 5
ARC = 3
Free = 0
Other loan = 0
Currently reading
Zezee with Books 
On one hand, I feel like I’m aware we’re halfway through 2021, because I’m trying to be more reasonable about what I can fit into the remaining months; on the other hand, I don’t quite believe it’s July and I haven’t even glanced at my log. Sheesh. Now, do I mend that gap…or do I go read instead? 😀
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Read instead!! 😀 All for the fun.
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Glad to see how great a reading quarter you had! And I love what you said about even when things might not go as well as you’d hoped these look backs make you feel like you’re doing well. I’d think that might help keep you motivated to keep reading and enjoying. And speaking of enjoying, I’m also glad to see you enjoyed the majority of what you read and only had the one you didn’t finish. Here’s to a great third quarter! 🙂
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Thanks! 🙂 Yep, it was a really good second quarter.
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A fantastic quarter of reading, I see! I also noticed that you checked out the first issue of Marvel 1602. Do you think you’ll give the whole graphic novel a shot someday or is that idea dead? 😛
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Thanks! It sure was a good reading quarter.
I’m not sure yet if I’ll read the entire volume of Marvel 1602. I wasn’t fully sold on the first issue, although it felt like just a taste of what’s to come. If it’s at my library, I’ll most likely pick it up.
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Looks like you’re making good progress towards your reading goals. 🙂
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It does seem so 🙂
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You did really good! And I am so intrigued by the cover of Cinnamon and Gunpowder. I need to know what’s going on😁
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Thanks!
I’m halfway through Cinnamon and Gunpowder and am really liking it. I love this cover too, but they changed it for the paperback 😦
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