Hi all!

Welcome to my O.W.L’s Magical Readathon Wrap-Up! This Harry Potter themed readathon went for the entire month of April and it was so much fun. You can learn more about it and my TBR here. In this post, I’m going to be sharing all the books I read, what I thought of them and the exams I completed. I’m happy to report, I fulfilled all my requirements to become a Magizoologist, plus I got to read a couple of extras. I’ve got quite a bit to get through, so let’s get started!

HERBOLOGY EXAM – READ A BOOK WITH A PLANT ON THE COVER 

I’m not going to go into any of the plot details, as they were all originally outlined in my TBR (link above). This was the Books With Friends pick for the month of April and I absolutely loved it. I gave it 4.5/5 stars (stupid Goodreads won’t allow me to add a half star). I loved the characters, the story, the mystery, the world-building, the pacing and the humour. It lost half a star, purely because the ending was a tad underwhelming and rushed. Maureen Johnson does such a good job representing anxiety. It is probably the most accurate I’ve read in a young adult novel. I am very curious to read the sequel and see how the trilogy will end. 

CHARMS EXAM – READ AN ADULT BOOK 

Sigh! This book was a massive disappointment. I honestly thought it would be a favourite of the year. Sadly, it wasn’t. I can see why others liked it, but it just didn’t live up to the hype for me. The pacing was super slow. It dragged. I did not connect with a single character, or the story. It’s only redeeming features were that it was well-written and it tied together the six main characters in an interesting, clever way. Aside from that, I was severely underwhelmed. I gave it a 2/5 stars.

POTIONS EXAM – READ A SEQUEL 

This is the 5th book in the Robert Langdon series and the only Dan Brown book, I had not yet read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn’t my favourite of his but it was still entertaining and wrapped up nicely, with a twist I didn’t see coming. I saw a lot of people complain that Robert Langdon books are all the same. He’s always on the run with a beautiful woman by his side. Yes, this is true, but that’s the same with any James Bond or Indiana Jones movie. That is just what you get. I was really interested in the science vs. faith themes. I felt it was quite respectful on both sides. I ended up giving it 4/5 stars. 

CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES EXAM – READ A BOOK WITH A LAND ANIMAL ON THE COVER 

The library copy does not have the cover with the bear on it, but the one on my Readathon TBR does, so it still counts! This book had been hyped by EVERYBODY on Booktube, so naturally, I had high hopes for it. It definitely delivered. I ended up giving it 4.5/5 stars. As a parent, I really felt the pain of the other parents, that wanted so badly to protect their children, but couldn’t. Trigger warning for rape, so be warned. I appreciated that a male author outlined how difficult it can be for females that have been raped/sexually assaulted. Immediately, they are the ones questioned, as though they deserved it, rather than making the rapist accountable for his crimes. It was a highly emotional, gripping read and even if you don’t like hockey, I still think you can enjoy the deeper messages within. 

After completing all the exams required to become a Magizoologist (and with days to spare), I decided to tick some more off the list. 

HISTORY OF MAGIC EXAM – READ A BOOK PUBLISHED AT LEAST 10 YEARS AGO 

A girl I follow absolutely raves about Chris Carter and his Robert Hunter series, so I decided to pick up the first book. It was published in 2009, making it exactly 10 years old. As this was not on my TBR, I will give a quick summary. It follows Detective Robert Hunter and his partner, Carlos Garcia, as they scour L.A, searching for the evil Crucifix Killer. This twisted torturer leaves a crucifix marking on their victim’s corpses. From start to finish, I was hooked! I love a good thriller, with a satisfying twist. This story had it all. The chemistry between Robert and Carlos was so fantastic. They made such a great pair. I really love Chris Carter’s style of quick-witted writing and how he manages to keep you guessing. I am definitely going to be continuing on with this series. I gave it 4.5/5 stars. 

ARITHMANCY EXAM – READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY MORE THAN ONE AUTHOR

This book was written by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu. It is a spin-off trilogy from the Shadowhunter series, called The Eldest Curses. I have literally read every single book set in this world, so naturally, I jumped on this one the moment it was released. It follows my favourite literary couple: Alec and Magnus. The pair are on vacation in Paris, when they encounter a demon-worshipping cult called The Crimson Hand. Together, they must track down the elusive leader and save humanity from evil; all whilst learning to trust each other. 

What can I say? I loved this book! I literally couldn’t fault it. I gave it 5/5 stars. Alec and Magnus are so well-suited to one another. They provide important representation as well. Not only are they the same sex, they are also bi-racial. We need more of this in young adult fiction. From Paris, to Venice, and finally Rome, this novel is action-packed, hilarious, heartfelt and so much fun. I cannot wait for the sequel. 

MUGGLE STUDIES EXAM – READ A CONTEMPORARY NOVEL

I’ve raved about this beautiful book cover before. It’s stunning. The author signed it for me at the Melbourne Writer’s Festival, so it’s extra special. This is a contemporary YA novel about two very different teenagers. Sophia is ridiculously book-smart and Joshua is obssessed with magic tricks. He will do anything to win her heart, but like all love stories, timing is everything.

Unfortunately, this was my first 1 star read of the year. I had so many issues with it, but the biggest was the plot – or rather lack thereof. There was no storyline. Nothing happened and when things did happen, they were all over the place. It was extremely messy. Characters and concepts were introduced, but then never seen or heard from again. The parents had no involvement whatsoever. The characters felt like cheap knock-offs of what we’ve seen before and most of it didn’t make sense. For example, the lead character had been in love with Sophia for years, despite never speaking to her. He decides it’s finally time to make his move but never explains why now. Sophia is clearly on the spectrum, yet she is criticised by her best friend and brother for having no social skills. They have known her all her life but decide to confront her about it. Again, why now? They are quite harsh, trying to change her into someone she isn’t. There is more but I don’t want to turn this into an essay. I wish I had liked this book but I honestly hated it. 

In total, I completed 7 exams, giving me an overall grade of: EE (Exceeds Expectations). Yay! My favourite read was definitely Bear Town. My least favourite, The Secret Science of Magic. 

I hope you enjoyed my wrap-up! If you took part in this readathon, please let me know what you read. I am excited to partake in my N.E.W.T’s, which will commence August 1st – August 31st. Stay tuned for my TBR closer to the date. Thanks for reading! 

Peace & Love xoxo