2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - Update #3

Happy Friday everyone and welcome to my third 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge update with mini reviews!   In March, I read 4 books for a total of 21 completed out of 50.  I'd say I'm doing pretty well so far.  Keep reading to see my thoughts on the books I read in March:

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The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna is a somewhat disappointing cozy fantasy. It's definitely aiming for The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune, but it never quite manages it at all. None of the characters are nearly as memorable, it's feels like it's trying to hard to be twee/ cute/ cozy, it's much too long, and the reveal towards the end was more off putting than anything. Also, I felt like I must have missed something in terms of the romance between Mika and Jamie. After all that I will say that I was interested in the world of the witches, but in the end I was just left wanting more. If anything, I was hoping for more answers than what we got.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

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The Paleontologist by Luke Dumas sounded like it could be a fun horror novel.  I mean, I like dinosaurs and the idea of a haunted paleontologist sounded pretty cool.  While this book mostly worked for me there were some elements I could have completely done without.  By the way, thinking back on this I wouldn't call it very memorable since it hasn't really stuck with me.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

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The Change by Kirsten Miller was a new-to-me fantasy novel when I selected it for my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge.  I don't know how it escaped my radar and  I had no idea what to expect with it, but I ended up being pretty impressed.  I don't want to give anything away, but this is a must read especially if you're looking a fantasy novel with a lead that older than what you usually see in the genre.  As always, January LaVoy does a great job bringing the characters and their world to life with her narration.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

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Moon of the Crusted Snow (Moon #1) by Waubgeshig Rice is a post-apocalyptic thriller that I had no particular expectations for going in.  I'm glad I decided to read because it really hooked me.  I haven't read a story of this genre quite like this one before.  If you're a fan of Stephen Graham Jones, Louise Erdrich, and Cherie Dimaline, you'll have to try this as well.  I highly recommend the audiobook as narrated by Billy Merasty and I'll have to read the sequel soon.

My review is also on Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

Are you taking part in this challenge?  Have you read any of these books?  As always, thanks for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!