Every month I am shocked by how many books I have read. Reading should never be a competition so if you read one book this month then that is more than most people. Also bear in mind with this list that 50% of the books I read I listened to on audiobook in the car and my work requires a lot of driving which helps me devour the books I do.
So in no particular order here are the books that thrilled me and bored me in March.
The Pearl - John Steinbeck ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
While this is not the normal location for many of the Steinbeck novels I have read, it proved to be just as engaging and deeply atmospheric as his California-based stories. There is a rhythmic, fable-like quality to the writing that pulls you in immediately, but don’t let the simplicity fool you; it is a devastatingly powerful narrative.
Much like Of Mice and Men, this story deals with the American Dream and how it corrupts people. It explores the tragic irony of how a “blessing” - the finding of a magnificent pearl, can quickly transform into a curse when greed and status come into play. Steinbeck brilliantly illustrates how the hope for a better life can be twisted into an obsession that destroys the very things we hold most dear.
It is a thought-provoking, quick read that packs an incredible emotional punch. The ending is haunting, serving as a stark reminder of the cost of ambition and the fragility of peace. This is a story that will live with me for many years to come, and it reinforces why Steinbeck remains one of the greatest observers of the human condition and one of my favourite writers.
A Time of Blood - John Gwynne ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
If there is one thing you can always count on with John Gwynne, it is that he always excels at Book 2. Just as he did with his debut series, he has taken the foundation laid in the first instalment and elevated every single element.
The emotional core of this book is its greatest strength. The characters are so engaging and vividly drawn that I genuinely love spending time with them. There is a rare sense of intimacy in Gwynne’s writing; these aren’t just figures on a page, but people who feel like friends. In fact, I am actually sad there are only three books in this series, because this is a world and a cast of characters that I could spend my life with.
The stakes are significantly higher this time around. The sense of dread from the first book has blossomed into a full-scale struggle for survival, and the action is so well-written—visceral, clear, and emotionally charged. You aren’t just watching a battle; you are feeling every heartbeat and every blow alongside the characters you’ve grown to love.
True to form, the pacing is relentless. The ending leaves you wanting to grab the next book straight away, desperate to know how these souls will survive the coming storm. It is a masterful middle chapter that proves why Gwynne is a modern titan of epic fantasy. I absolutely love it.
I Who Have Never Known Men - Jacqueline Harpman ⭐️ ⭐️
I went into I Who Have Never Known Men wanting to understand the deep, existential dread that so many readers rave about. I certainly understand the premise, it is a bleak exploration of identity and the harrowing reality of a life lived as a lab rat, stripped of every human comfort. However, while the concept is powerful, the execution just was not for me.
The reading experience felt boring and monotonous. Even in the rare moments when the action finally picks up, the story seems to slow down to a crawl almost immediately after. This constant stuttering of momentum made it incredibly difficult to stay engaged with the world.
A major hurdle for me was the lack of pace and characters that you can relate to. While I understand the protagonist is supposed to be detached due to her upbringing, that distance made it impossible for me to care about her journey. To top it off, the book concludes with what I consider to be one of the worst endings ever. It felt less like a profound mystery and more like a lack of resolution.
Despite the philosophical layers, the actual act of reading it was a chore. I really cannot see what all the hype is about with this one, it’s a story that promises a lot of depth but, for me, delivered only a very long, very slow walk through a void.
Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Wuthering Heights will always remain a classic favourite for me, but for reasons far removed from the versions we see on screen. The biggest thing that the movies get wrong is that they concentrate almost entirely on the first quarter of the book, attempting to twist this dark, visceral tale into a conventional love story.
Let’s be clear: this is not a love story, and it is all the more brilliant for it.
The novel is a masterpiece of psychological depth, unflinchingly looking at generational trauma, racism, abuse, and the incredibly complex aspects of family life. It explores how pain is passed down from parent to child, and how a toxic environment can warp the human soul. Brontë’s exploration of the “true” story, the cyclical nature of revenge and the ghosts of the past, is haunting and far more impactful than the sanitised Hollywood version.
A film that did the book justice would be a masterpiece, because the book itself is exactly that. It isn’t about two soulmates pining on a moor; it is a raw, often uncomfortable examination of what happens when love turns to obsession and hate.
This is a book everyone should read to experience the real Heathcliff and Cathy, not the romanticised icons they’ve become, but the broken, destructive, and deeply human characters Brontë actually wrote. I will always champion this book for its true story, not what Hollywood would like us to believe.
Golden Son - Pierce Brown ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Golden Son is a fantastic second instalment that succeeds in exactly the way a sequel should: it expands the world while allowing you to spend more time with those you have fallen in love with. While the first book was a struggle for survival, this is a struggle for the soul of a civilisation.
What makes this series so haunting is how it carries on asking questions about not just their society, but our own. As I read, I couldn’t help but wonder how close we could be to a system as described in the book. The parallels between the “Golds” and our own global elite are uncomfortable and thought-provoking. It makes you realise that we might already be living in a version of this hierarchy, where power is concentrated in the hands of the few while the many are kept in the dark.
If I had one criticism, it would be that the fight scenes become a bit repetitive. At times, it felt like there were too many of them, and the constant barrage of action began to lose its impact. I found myself wanting to return to the political manoeuvring and character dynamics rather than another skirmish.
Having said that, I am straight onto the third book. The cliffhangers and the emotional weight of Darrow’s choices are too compelling to put down. This series has a momentum that is hard to resist, and I am desperate to see if the system can truly be broken.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Reading Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief with my daughter has been such a highlight. As a parent, you’re always looking for that “Goldilocks” book, one that is exciting enough to hold their attention but doesn’t cross the line into being overwhelming, and this was perfect.
It is a good, fast adventure story that she could easily follow and understand. The plot is action-packed from the very first chapter, keeping her (and me!) eager to see what monster or challenge Percy would face next. What I appreciated most was that while there are stakes and battles, it was not too scary for a younger listener, making it a safe but thrilling gateway into the world of fantasy.
We both loved the Greek god knowledge woven throughout the story. It’s a brilliant way to introduce mythology, turning “lessons” into part of the fun. Seeing her eyes light up as she learned about Zeus, Poseidon, and the quirks of the Olympians made the reading experience even more special.
This was a fantastic introduction to the series, and we will definitely be reading more. It’s a rare book that manages to be educational, hilarious, and genuinely heart-pumping all at once.
A Time of Courage - John Gwynne ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I find it hard to put into words the feeling of finishing this book; I can’t believe my journey in the Banished Lands has finished. John Gwynne has achieved something truly remarkable here. Despite being set 100+ years after the original series, the connection to the first set of books is so profound that the entire saga feels like one cohesive, epic whole rather than two separate series.
The characters in this trilogy were every bit as engaging as those I fell in love with in The Faithful and the Fallen. Gwynne has a way of writing heroes that you don’t just admire, but truly care for. However, the absolute main standout for this series is the character of Drem.
As I’ve noted before, Drem is clearly autistic, but he is written with such deep, lived-in empathy. It is the kind of portrayal that any parent of an autistic child would be proud to read to their child. Drem is a complete hero—not “despite” his nature, but with it. He never lets his specific ways of seeing and interacting with the world get in the way of his adventures, his bravery, or his loyal friendships. To me, he is my favourite character ever in fantasy. Seeing him find his courage and save his world was deeply emotional.
The action is, as always, cinematic and heart-stopping, but it is the heart of the story that lingers. This finale is a masterclass in how to end a series: it provides closure, honours the history of the world, and leaves you feeling like you’ve been part of something truly special. It is a time of courage, indeed, and a journey I will never forget.
Morning Star - Pierce Brown ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Morning Star is a perfect end to the trilogy. After the relentless, massive scale of the previous book, this instalment feels much more grounded. There is less mass war and more individual stories, focusing on the personal stakes and the heavy emotional toll of the revolution. This shift in focus is exactly what makes this one of the best books I have read in a long time.
The tension builds brilliantly throughout, but the last 20 pages are some of the best I have ever read. Pierce Brown masterfully weaves together suspense and payoff in a way that leaves you breathless. It is a conclusion that feels earned, honouring the journey Darrow and his friends have taken since the first page of Red Rising.
However, I find myself in a strange position now that I’ve finished it. The ending was so satisfying and so complete that I am not sure I want to read on into the second trilogy. This felt like the perfect end, and there’s a part of me that wants to let these characters rest in the peace they fought so hard to achieve.
Whether I continue or not, this trilogy will stay with me. It is a powerful, visceral, and ultimately hopeful story about the cost of freedom and the enduring strength of human connection.
The Strength of the Few - James Islington ⭐️
I am struggling to process how I could love The Will of the Many so deeply, it was a contender for my book of the year, and yet find myself disliking this sequel so much. It is a rare and painful experience to have a series go from a “six-star” high to a total DNF, but that is exactly where I landed.
The biggest issue for me was that everything I loved about the first book was gone. The atmosphere, the tension, and most importantly, the characters I had grown to love were not there. Instead, the story pivots into new worlds that bored me to tears. The shift in focus felt jarring and lacked the spark that made the original so addictive.
I tried to push through, but full disclosure: I DNF’d this book after 50%. I found myself waiting for the magic to return, for the pace to pick up, or for a connection to the characters to rekindle, but it never happened. Even the philosophical depth that I praised in the first book felt buried under a narrative that didn’t move me.
I can’t tell you how disappointed I was with this one. It felt like a betrayal of the foundation laid in the first book. While others might enjoy the expansion of the universe, for me, it lost the heart of what made this story special. A truly gutting experience for a series I had such high hopes for.
What was your favourite read of March? Drop it in the comments because I am always looking for more books to add to my out-of-control TBR list.
Until next time: Read to learn. Read to escape. Read to smile.