Not a lot of reading got done today because the day started with a very rainy holiday 5k where I set a new best time for myself!
I mean, that little yeti is just adorable! This is possibly the best race shirt I’ve ever received.
So I ran, hung out with friends, ate a lot of delicious Christmas cookies, enjoyed two different fires in fireplaces, got to play with a cat, and went out to dinner at my in-laws’ local tavern. Basically, it was the perfect winter Sunday. Or it will be as soon as I get my pj’s on, climb into bed, and get back to the book I’m reading.
I haven’t made much progress yet, but I will say, Manslaughter Park had me hooked as soon as I read the dedication (“To all the readers who thought Fanny Price deserved better.”). I’m excited to see what this author does with this retelling.
Finished reading Full Moon Over Freedom and now I get to pick my first read for Lightfall!
It’s been a long day. After driving all morning and visiting with my in-laws. I’m finally sitting down near their Christmas tree to squeeze in a little reading before dinner.
I only brought my Kindle on this short weekend trip, so I’ve been trying to decide between heading straight to the Wanimals store and reading the holiday romance on my TBR (A Holly Jolly Ever After), or starting at the Old Tails Bookstore and going with the cozy mystery (Manslaughter Park).
I think I’m not quite ready to start another romance just yet, so I’m going with the cozy mystery! Also, who am I kidding? Of course the bookstore would be my first stop on this festive holiday visit to Old Favor Pass!
Here we go! Happy Lightfall to all who are participating in this fun readathon!
The Lightfall Magical Readathon begins tomorrow! I am so excited! I’m planning on doing daily reading updates though the readathon, talking about what I’m reading. Hopefully with lots of pictures.
But before we get started on that, I thought today would be a good day to do a quick Inbox / Outbox post and discuss what I’ve read so far in December.
Outbox
The first book I finished this month was System Collapse by Martha Wells (aka Murderbot #7). I listened to this on audiobook during my long travel day on Sunday. That turned out to be a very poor choice on my part. I found it really hard to follow most of the action scenes because most of the bots in this book are numbered instead of named, or they have numbers attached to their names. For some reason, that just made it really hard for me to follow which one was doing what and keep them all straight in my head. It was still really enjoyable, even if I think about a third of it went right through my brain unprocessed. I fully intend to re-read the entire series back-to-back at some point, so no big deal.
I am nearly finished reading Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina M. Lopez. My plan is to finish reading it tonight so that I can start one of the books on my Lightfall TBR tomorrow. I’ve been really enjoying it, maybe even more than the first book in this series. The characters are great, and I love how the author is interweaving the events the historical storyline alongside the present-day romance.
Inbox
I met with my “Camp Book Club” friends yesterday, and we decided to read Paladin’s Faith this month (book #4 in T. Kingfisher’s Saint of Steel series). The only problem is, I haven’t read book #3 yet (Paladin’s Hope). So I need to catch up before our discussion at the end of this month. These should be pretty quick reads for me, so I’m thinking I’ll dive back into this world as soon as the Lightfall Readathon is over.
I am also falling behind on my Adventure in Aeldia prompts. I am still reading November’s book (This Golden Flame), and I still have to read the book I picked out for December (Woven in Midnight). Since I have not been finishing the books in the month I’m supposed to read them, I’m not counting reputation points for this quest. I’m just doing this for fun. But, I still want to finish all of this year’s prompts before the end of the year. Mostly because reading these books was my one reading goal for 2023, and I am SO CLOSE to achieving it! But I have some catching up to do.
The day got away from me, and then we spent the evening hanging out with my niece while her parents went to a work holiday party. It didn’t help that I hadn’t picked a topic for yesterday’s post, and I didn’t like any of the back-up topics I’d brainstormed.
Then I decided to set up a spread in my reading journal (such as it is, currently), but the color printer that we have refused to print anything from my computer. So, I decorated the pages I intended to use with some wrapping paper scraps, and then I gave up.
This morning, I finally got the map and passport and my TBR printed (using a different computer). Now that it’s all set up, I can finally share it with you.
I printed out the map with the prompts and my TBR as well as the Old Favor Passport. I considered gluing the passport into the spread, but I don’t expect to fill up all those circles this year. Instead, I think I might make a washi backing for it and then keep it in the back pocket of my 2024 planner (which I will also be using as my reading journal next year). I’m also planning to do some doodling in the leftover white space.
Once I have that all set up, I’ll post a picture. Probably as part of my daily Lightfall Readathon updates which will be starting on Saturday! And that’s not all… there will be a second post coming today. This is just a make-up post from yesterday. So, check back later for my actual day eight post…
It’s Wednesday! A long time ago, I used to participate in “Top 5 Wednesday” posts on my blog. I don’t know if anyone is still doing that or not, but if you’ve been here a while, you’ll know that I love a top five list. So, I decided to bring back my own top five lists for this Countdown to Winter Solstice Blogmas. And what better day to do that than on Wednesdays?
Today, I thought I’d share the top five new releases I’m looking forward to in 2024. I haven’t really gone looking at ALL the books that are going to be released next year, so this top five list is based mostly on new books by authors whose books I’ve already read and liked.
Books:
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett — The first book in this series was one of my FairyLoot hardcovers from 2023, and I loved it. I’m hoping they offer a special edition of this book as well, but if they don’t I’ll definitely be buying a hardcover edition to add to my shelf.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna — The first book in this series (The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches) was the very first book I finished reading in 2023, and I loved it so much that it is probably going to end up on my top five books read in 2023 list. Basically, what I’m saying is, I am definitely here for more in this series/world.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark — There’s not much of a blurb for this one, but I don’t really care. I trust the author and the premise sounds excellent, so I’m in.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst — I really like Sarah Beth Durst’s fantasy books, but her recent releases have all been either horror or middle grade. I don’t usually read those genres, so I skipped those. When I saw that she was releasing a fantasy romance book for Tor’s new romantasy imprint, Bramble, I nearly jumped out of my chair with joy.
What new release(s) are you most excited to read in 2024? Any that you think I should add to my list?
Yesterday was all about the books I haven’t yet bought for myself, so today let’s talk about the books that I HAVE recently purchased. It’s time for a little pre-holiday book haul. Here’s what I’ve bought since the beginning of October:
Chasing Holiday Tail — This was a limited availability holiday anthology where 100% of the proceeds went to the authors’ local Humane Society. My friend had a story in it about two dogs falling in love (kind of like Lady and the Tramp), so of course I grabbed a copy before it disappeared!
Warrior of the Wind by Suyi Davies Okungbowa — Book two is here! And it is on my Kindle! Now if I can just squeeze it into my reading plans for the end of this year…
Generation Ship by Michael Mammay — You know I love everything by this author. His books have become an auto-buy for me, and I’m really excited to check out this one because it’s his first space opera!
Marked by Magic by Lindsay Buroker — The first book in a new series by this author. I’ve only read one other book by her, but the blurb for this one sounded great, and the price was right, so I decided to one-click.
Writing the Shadow by Joanna Penn — I definitely do NOT need another writing craft book, but somehow I couldn’t resist buying this one. I’m sneaking it in before my 2024 one-year ban on new writing craft books and workshops goes into effect.
The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem — I just purchased this one today because I saw that Orbit was having a sale on books from some of their debut authors. They have been publishing a lot of stuff that I’ve been enjoying recently, so I immediately clicked the link to check it out. I recognized this book from the Goodreads Choice awards (under the new “romantasy” category), remembered thinking that it looked like something I might like, and grabbed a copy.
Have you read any of these? Or do you have any on your TBR? Anything you highly recommend that I push the the tippy top of my TBR? Let me know what you think in the comments.
Before I begin this post, I will make two disclaimers. #1: Mom, this post is not meant for you. And #2: I don’t really expect to receive any of the books I mention in this post. This post really should be called “books I’ve been tempted to buy for myself while book shopping for other people.” But that’s a very long (and a lot less catchy) title. 🙂
I usually don’t ask for books as gifts. I’m too picky about format. Plus, if it’s something I’m not sure if I’m going to like, or not planning to read immediately, I’d much rather get it from the library than buy it. But I did save a few books (mostly non-fiction) to my Amazon wish list this year.
First up is a cookbook, Run Fast. Eat Slow. by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky. I bought their second book (Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow.) this year, and it has become my near daily cookbook. Now that I’ve tried most of the recipes in that book, I’d like to see what I missed in their first book so I can add a few new dishes into my meal plan rotation.
As long as we’re on the topic of running, I’ll also mention this running training journal created by Lauren Fleshman and Roisin McGettigan-Dumas. Lauren Fleshman mentioned this in her book, Good for a Girl, and it sounded so good that I had to go check it out and add it to my wish list immediately.
I also would love to get a paperback copy of Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell so I can add it to my “keepers shelf” alongside my paperback of Winter’s Orbit.
As I said, I do most of my fiction reading on my Kindle, and I get most of what I read from the library. But there are some ebooks that I’d rather not have to borrow. Sometimes it’s because I want to read it now and not wait. Other times it’s because the ebook is only available on Kindle Unlimited and not at the library. And then there are the tomes that I worry will take me longer than twenty-one days to finish. (I used to have a work-around for that, but I believe that loophole may have finally been closed.)
So, I’ll end this post with a few ebooks that I’d love to receive as a gift:
The Faceless Mage by Kenley Davidson — I think I heard someone talking about this series on a podcast, and it sounded like something I might like, but it’s only available on Kindle Unlimited (which I don’t have and don’t want).
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky — This one is a tome and very likely to be a slow read for me, but it’s a book (and series) that, the more I hear about it, the more I am convinced that I would enjoy.
Paladin’s Faith by T. Kingfisher — This is a new release that comes out tomorrow (!!). I’ve been really enjoying this series and would love to not have to wait until it’s available to borrow from my library.
Seven Mercies by L.R. Lam and Elizabeth May — I really liked the first book in this duology, but this book isn’t available at my library, and the ebook is ridiculously expensive.
Back in a Spell by Lana Harper — I bought a paperback edition of the first book in this series because I liked it so much. I also really liked the second book, but I listened to that one on audiobook. I’d definitely love to get book two (From Bad to Cursed) in paperback at some point (bonus wish list item). And I’d definitely love book three (this one) and book four in ebook.
Jade War (and Jade Legacy) by Fonda Lee — I’ve had the first book in this series (Jade City) on ebook since 2017 and only recently read it. But now that I have, I know I definitely want to continue with the series. The only problem is, books two (Jade War) and three (Jade Legacy) are also tomes. The first book took me almost two months to finish. So, I’d love to have books two and three on kindle so I can continue reading at my leisure without worrying about library due dates.
So there you have it. What’s on your wish list this year?
November turned out to be a pretty good reading month, considering the fact that I spent the majority of my time writing. I finished five books and got caught up on my Adventure in Aeldia prompts!
What I read in November:
A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli — This was a cute romance that I enjoyed. I kind of forgot most of this almost immediately after reading it, so it didn’t stick with me, but I would definitely read more by this author.
Bone Crier’s Moon by Kathryn Purdie — I liked this YA fantasy more than I thought I would. The world-building and characters were really good, but I don’t really feel compelled to continue with the series.
The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten — Another book that I liked a lot more than I thought I would. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I’m usually don’t go for the death magic stuff, but the characters hooked me in the first few chapters. I don’t feel like I need to add this to my “keepers” shelf, but I might read the next one in the series when it comes out.
Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World by Lauren Fleshman — This was my surprise favorite of the month. I listened to this as an audiobook and really loved it. There’s more here than just a running memoir. It’s part girls-and-women-in-sport manifesto with facts and anecdotes that made me cry on several occasions. I came to the sport of running post-college, but I competed in other sports all the way through college. Even though much of this is running-specific, a lot of what she’s discussing applies to other sports as well.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend — Another read that pleasantly surprised me. I was checking this one out on a friend’s recommendation as a potential gift for my niece. These days I find it hard to genuinely enjoy middle-grade and YA with younger protagonists and/or themes, but this book absolutely charmed me. I really liked it a lot, and I can’t wait to see if my niece loves it as well.
Overall, lots of good reads in November. Here’s hoping that December is just as good (or even better)! Now I have a long travel day ahead of me. Time to pop in my headphones and listen to some Murderbot, but I’ll be back tomorrow with more… Until then, happy reading!
I started reading Full Moon Over Freedom last night. This is the second book in a small town contemporary romance series featuring three Mexican-American sisters. They have all recently returned home as adults, each for their own reasons. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and this second book follows the “perfect” (and potentially also witchy) sister in a second-chance romance. I read the first two chapters before bed last night and am excited to be back in this world with a new pair of main characters.
As I mentioned yesterday, I started The Golden Flame about a week before the end of November. This book was one of the YA FairyLoot special edition hardcovers that I got and never read. It’s the second to last of the ones I wanted to read this year for the Adventure in Aeldia challenge.
I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book, because I never heard anything about it, either before or after it was released. The reviews are kind of mixed (3.4 on Goodreads), and out of all my FairyLoot stash, this one seemed most likely for a DNF and donate. That’s how it ended up as my pick for the November prompt (“at risk of an unhaul”). I won’t be making a decision to DNF or not until I get further along (usually somewhere around page 50), but so far, the first couple chapters were interesting enough to keep me reading. I didn’t want to travel with a hardcover, though. So I left this one at home. But I do want to try to finish (or DNF) it before the Lightfall readathon starts next weekend.
Speaking of travel, I also have an audiobook that I’m planning to start tomorrow. I managed to get System Collapse (the new Murderbot book) from my library. It’s due back before the Lightfall readathon starts, so I can’t listen to this for the audiobook and crafting prompt. But that’s okay, because I have a LONG travel day tomorrow, and I think this short book is going to be the perfect thing to listen to during my journey.
But right now it’s time to do some more writing sprints with my friends. I’ll be back tomorrow with the recap of what I read in November so you can see how I’m doing with my end of the year reading TBR.
Now that NaNoWriMo is over, I am excited to start transitioning into the cozy reading phase of my year, and I want to try something I’ve always wanted to do but have always been too intimidated to attempt. Blogmas!
In case you are unfamiliar with this concept, it’s basically some format of a post a day during the month of December. Some people do an abbreviated “12 days of Blogmas” version. Others go one a day for the whole month. And I think some only do a countdown to Christmas.
I’ve decided to do a countdown to the Winter Solstice. As someone who lives in the upper northwest corner of the US, it gets pretty dark in the winter months and the days get really short. Counting down to the shortest day of the year has become something of a thing for me. And celebrating that we’ve made it and turned the corner to the other (brighter) side and longer days ahead is something I enjoy.
My plan is to celebrate and share my cozy winter reading with a post a day through the 21st. I may keep going after that, depending on how much I’m enjoying this. Or I may slip back into a less frequent posting schedule. We’ll see.
Currently reading
Yesterday, I finished the book I’d been reading on Kindle. The day before that I finished the audiobook I’ve been listening to. And I left the hardcover I just started reading (This Golden Flame) at home (because I’m away for the weekend at a writing retreat). So, I’m between books at the moment.
I have several options from my end of year TBR that I could start as my next Kindle read, but I haven’t decided which one to pick. Here are the books I’m considering:
What do you think? Which one should I read next? Let me know in the comments or vote below.
Now, I’m off to do some writing and then go for a run. More fun tomorrow, including which of these options I picked to read next!
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