April 2026 Reading Recap
I only managed to finish three books in April. It was a bit of a crazy month. I spent a ton of my free time working on my new online portfolio, and trying to keep my lawn in check from the spring rains. Work has been quite busy too, with National Library Week, building projects, and outreach events. I've had to work a few Saturdays this month, which is pretty rare for me.
"Trade of Blood" by Robert Jackson Bennett
Robert Jackson Bennett’s A Trade of Blood is the third book in his Shadow of the Leviathan series. This Romeo and Juliet inspired murder-mystery tale explores the costs of food production and technology in a fantasy setting. I loved it.
You can read my full review of it here.
It All Makes Sense Now by Meredith Carder
I have written before about my struggles with ADHD. I was diagnosed as a kid, and heavily medicated. I eventually gave up the meds and just live my life. I cope well, but I do have days where my ADHD gets the best of me.
This book felt like it was written for me. Each chapter title feels like a checklist of all the things I struggle with. Perfectionism, masking, impulsivity, hyperactivity, burnout, rumination… I don’t want to list all the chapters here, but you get the idea.
If you have ADHD, or suspect that you do, I highly recommend this book. It really helped me understand myself better and how to leverage my abilities.
King by Ben Kane
This is the third and final installment of Kane's series on the life of Richard the Lionheart. Despite knowing how it would end, I was truly sad when Richard passed. Kane brought these historic figures to life. I grew attached to them. I felt for them. I wanted to charge into battle on a destrier of my own alongside them. The friendship between Rufus and Rhys is something to be admired. When the final page came, I didn't want it to end. I felt part of this world and it was hard to leave. I've read an innumerable amount of medieval historical fiction series, and this was one of the best. It has the typical tropes, of revenge, unrequited love, and unchivalrous knights, but I think that's part of the appeal.
Despite only finishing three books, I did start a number of books that I will hopefully finish in May.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig I'm not sure how I feel about this one yet. So far, Pirsig seems like a pretty terrible father, and an awful friend. It's hard to imagine how this book was so popular, but the zeitgeist of 2026 is not the world of 1974.
Malice by John Gwynne I bought this book ages ago when I had finished Gwynne's "Bloodsworn Trilogy." I'm only a few chapters in, but the vibe is very different. I've heard good things about the series though.
I’ve also been working through “The Body Keeps Score” by Bessel van der Kolk. It’s a highly interesting, but dense read. I may end up tossing it in the DNF pile, but we will see.
If you've read any of the above books, I'd love to hear your thoughts on them. I can be reached on Mastodon, or Email.
You can get all these books and more at your local public library, but if you're the type that has to own the book, please consider picking it up through my bookshop.org page. I’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you. You get a book, and you get the happy feelings that come with supporting small business.
Thanks for reading!