readtoramble|
Click to listen!
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Hello Hello! how are you?
Obviously the month of December includes Christmas, which means every year my TBR grows exponentially. What do you buy for a girl who only asks for books… well, the answer is BOOKS! I always get very spoiled by my friends and family at Christmas since a lot of the books I ask for are paperbacks so not very expensive. I’m not complaining in any case and I received some beautiful books that I’m so happy about and excited to read. I even treated myself to a few books in December as well.
Keep on reading to find out what books I added to my TBR last month… just a heads up, there are 31 books in total!!!
BOOKS I BOUGHT MYSELF
You’re a Mean One Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky
I have been wanting to read some romances more lately, and I was in the mood for a Christmassy one. So I asked Candyce over at The Book Dutchesses to recommend me a few titles as she always has the best romance recs, and this is the one I picked. I received it a few days before Christmas, thinking I’d have time to finish it before the big day, HAHAHA! I didn’t, and I still have 3/4 of the book to read, but I am determined to finish it soon as it is so cute and I’m really enjoying it.
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
This was the book that the TWR buddies picked for our January buddy read, and so I was very happy to buy it for myself as a post-Christmas treat. I actually finished it a few days ago, it was too good to stick to the schedule we had set out. I really, really enjoyed this book. It was my first 5-star novel of the year (I’ve given some graphic novels 5 stars already!) and I had such a great time reading it. It is full of twists, dark secrets, shocking reveals and I just could not put it down! You can read my full gushing review here!
The Hatmakers (#1) by Tamzin Merchant
I bought myself this book because it won the poll for the Middle Grade Marvels book club pick for January and I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that it was chosen. I have already read about half of this book and it is honestly such a cute but also adventurous and mysterious book. I love the magic of making things, like the Hatmakers and all their special ingredients to give hats qualities that imbue the wearer with. I also love the main character, Cordelia, who is resilient, brave, and just a lovely character to follow. I’m thoroughly enjoying this book and hope to have it finished by the end of January. Stay tuned for a review soon!
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
The buddies of TWR have decided to open a new buddy read chat… this time for romance reads and I am so ready for this! I’ve stayed clear of romances for a long time, but also always picked one up when feeling down, so I thought it was a good idea to have a monthly romance read to help through the hard moments that we all get each month. I’m hoping to start this soon and have a good feeling about it, so let’s see how this goes!
BOOKS I WAS GIFTED FOR CHRISTMAS
FROM MY FIANCÉ
Le Grand livre de la sorcellerie, des sciences occultes et de la magie
OMG, I think I screamed when I unwrapped this book!!! It wasn’t actually on my Wishlist, but my fiancĂ© knows I love anything that involves witches and want to dive more into this history and world, so he went on a bit of a hunt and found this one. It is absolutely beautiful, both inside and out, and it has so much information about witches from all around the world. It’s going to be the kind of book that I jump in and out of as each double page has a different sort of title, so it’s not one I have to read in one go. I’m excited to start it and learn more about witches!
These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling
Again, continuing on with the witch theme! I was also ecstatic to unwrap this book as it has tempted me so many times and I never bought it, but I’m so glad I finally have it. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it, and it’s a duology, so I think I will treat myself to the second book and then I can dive into this series in one go. I’ve started to do this more with series I’m sure I’m going to love because even if I get my books from Amazon (I know it’s the devil but I have no other options in France for buying English books without paying 15€ tax on each one!!) it takes a few days to get to me and I can’t wait that long if I loved a book and need to read the next one ASAP. I’m looking forward to this one!
Talking with Serial Killers: Stalkers by Christopher Berry-Dee
And now going into something a bit darker and another obsession I have: true crime and serial killers. As a sidetone, I promise I’m not a demented serial killer myself, and am a total pacifist, lol. I just love learning about true crimes and what goes on in the minds of the people who commit these atrocious crimes. I think it’s going to be a tough read as it’s kind of also witness statements from serial killers, here stalkers, but I also think it will be fascinating. I just have to be in the right mindset to read it!
Secrets of the Stars (#2) by Maria Kuzniar
When the first book of this series was published — The Ship of Shadows — I was so fortunate to be on the blog tour run by Dave from The Write Reads, and I even received a physical copy! That was an incredible book that I adored from start to finish, so I’m so chuffed that my fiancĂ© remembered how much I wanted the second book. He does listen to my rambling sometimes, after all, lol! I want to reread the first book sometime this year so I can jump into the second while everything is still fresh in my mind, and I cannot wait to go on adventures again with this amazing crew of fierce characters! I missed them so much, and the cake too!
The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
I’ve also had this book on my radar for such a long time, and it is also about a subject that I’m passionate about, a.k.a. Native American history. I fancied this book from the moment it came out but was on a book buying ban and never got around to it. This is a case of my fiancĂ© listening to me again and remembering me wanting it so badly. I’m hoping this lives up to my very high expectations, and I’ve heard a loot of good things in any case, so I’ll have to pick it up soon!
Romanov by Nadine Brandes
As a history nerd, I had wanted this book for ever such a long time too and even forgot that it was on my Wishlist. I love the cover, I love the premise, and I’m so glad that my fiancĂ© got it for me for Christmas. Obviously with the world situation how it is at the minute between Russia and Ukraine, it is probably not the best book to rave about, but it’s fiction based on history from hundreds of years ago, so I’m not going to shy away from reading it!!
The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
Back to the witchy vibes and I’m so happy that I was gifted this book at Christmas because I’ve recently gotten very interested in natural remedies and really like using essential oils and other natural ingredients. This isn’t really a reading book, more of a reference book or a guide, but I’m excited to own it nonetheless and I’m sure it will bring me a lot of great knowledge that I can use every day, because let’s face it, I’m fed up of using pills and chemicals and want to use nature to help me and my family more.
Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore
I’m not very original, I know, because it is once again a book that features witches! I’ve had this on my Wishlist ever since it was published 3 years ago and life got in the way and I never got around to purchasing it. My fiancĂ© came to the rescue and gifted it to me for Christmas and I couldn’t be happier about it. The cover is absolutely stunning and now having read the blurb once more I’m very much looking forward to delving into this book and finally discovering this author, as I have heard such amazing things about her over the years!
Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May
This book was a much newer addition to my Wishlist, but one I am desperate to read. I absolutely love anything historical fiction, fantasy, and to do with magic and the different world wars, so this ticks all the boxes and it has an amazing cover as well! And once again, this book has the witch/witchcraft topic, so I am truly a very happy bunny seeing all these new witchy books on my shelves. I’m probably going to buddy read this one with Stephen from Stephen Writes, and I’m sure we will have a great time reading and discussing it!
The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
LOOK AT THAT COVER! That was the main reason why I added this book to my Wishlist over four years ago and I’m so happy that my fiancĂ© decided to get it for me, because the premise intrigues me so much. Looking at it on GoodReads, I also just realised that this is a series — what a fantastic surprise! — and I love that it centres the legend of King Arthur and the history of that time. I love the vibes I’m getting from the cover and the blurb and I am so excited to finally read this book as it has been calling to me for a long time!
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black
I started The Cruel Prince series a few years ago and only got to the second book because I got distracted by other books and university most likely, but I was really enjoying it. It didn’t fully live up to my hopes and expectations, but I think that I was wanting something specific from it, instead of enjoying what it was offering. I’ve been itching to finally finish this series because I NEED TO KNOW MORE AFTER THAT CLIFFHANGER IN BOOK 2, and I’m so happy I got the short story collection. I think I will reread the first two books and dive into the last one with this lovely little book by my side. I’m excited!
Nordic Tales: Folktales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark
And the final book my fiancĂ© bought me for Christmas is this stunning collection of Nordic tales, myths and stories that I only added to my Wishlist a few days before he ordered all my gifts! I’m so happy he picked this one as we both love learning more about myths and stories from different cultures and places in the world and we have a particular interest in Nordic tales and Norse mythology. It is really beautiful inside with stunning illustrations and the stories seem very interesting, so I’m excited to jump in and read one at a time when the mood takes me.
So those are all the books my wonderful fiancĂ© bought me for Christmas. He did a fantastic job, didn’t he? I’m so excited to read all of these books, but let’s see what my parents, grandparents, and friends got me too! Yes, I was very spoiled!!
FROM MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS
Nick and Charlie and the Alice Oseman box-set
My grandparents obviously got word by a little bird (a.k.a. my mum!) that I was planning on reading more books by Alice Oseman this year as they got me the Nick and Charlie short story/book, as well as Loveless, I Was Born for This, Solitaire and Radio Silence which came in a cute little box-set. I absolutely love the Hearstopper series and I can’t wait to pick up the 4th volume to continue the graphic novels, so I’m thrilled to have more books by this author on my shelves and I have a really good feeling about them! I think I’ll start with Radio Silence first, as it has been calling to me the loudest!
Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep
My mum also knows me so well! I was very intrigued by this book when I first saw it all over Book Twitter and Bookstagram. I literally had no idea about all of these things and that a true crime story had obsessed the writer of To Kill a Mockingbird, which is also a book I really need to read. I love true crime and I thought this one sounded very interesting, so I’m chuffed I finally got it for Christmas, and it’s high on my list of true crime priority reads, so I’m hoping to get to it sooner rather than later! I also really like the cover, it makes it look so cold and very true crime-esque with the writing like they have on the case files!
The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
I love the title of this book, and the cover, and the blurb, omg I’m so happy I finally own this book!! This is a really intriguing YA fantasy that I’ve also wanted to read for quite a while and how can you resist it with a cover like that? Stunning! I’m very excited to read this book and to have another YA fantasy added to my list, as it is my favourite genre and one I circle back to when I’m feeling down and need something to get lost in. I think this will be the perfect book to do that, so I am very excited to start it soon!
Black Drop by Leonora Nattrass
I remember adding this book to my TBR the minute I saw it all over bookish social media and then I never thought about it again, which is so sad because the blurb really called to me. I love history and historical fiction, and this is also a mystery and seems to have a touch of something extra special. I’ve heard mixed opinions on this book, but I’m going to read it with an open mind and I’m sure that all the political intrigue will keep me engaged. I do have a good feeling about it though, so I’m hoping to read it soon and enjoy it, especially since it does seem to be a little bit different to my usual historical fiction reads!
The Rose Code by by Kate Quinn
This is another book that has been high on my Wishlist and TBR for a very long time and one I also seem to have forgotten about despite really wanting to read it. I love history and anything about the Second World War. When I was in Scotland doing my Erasmus semester, I started listening to the audio of one of this author’s other books, but when lockdown happened, I no longer commuted to university on the bus and therefore never finished it. So I’m glad my mum got me this book for Christmas as I know I’m going to adore it, I just need to find the time to fit it in!
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
And the final book my mum got me for Christmas is this fascinating horror/thriller that I’ve been itching to read ever since it was published. I literally say that about every book in my TBR and haul posts, but I don’t have an unlimited budget to buy books, nor unlimited time to read them, lol. I love the premise of this book and I think it is going to be chilling and unputdownable. I don’t think I’ll read it in the night or waiting for my fiancĂ© at physiotherapy (as I sit in the car to read). I tried that once before with Home Before Dark by Riley Sager and nearly had a heart attack when he knocked on the window for me to unlock the car!! But I have a very good feeling about this book, and I am looking forward to it!
FROM MY FRIENDS
And the final books on this very long haul post are the books that I was so kindly gifted by my beautiful and adorable friends. You know who you are, and once again thank you so so so much for all these books, I’m thrilled and so grateful to each and every one of you. I won’t go into detail about all of them because I’ll just say the same thing, but I’ll say it again here: I can’t wait to read them all, I’m so so excited!!
Here they all are:
A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
99% Mine by Sally Thorne
Timekeeper (#1) by Tara Sim
Spellslinger (#1) by Sebastian de Castell
Threadneedle by Cari Thomas
So those are all the books on my December haul, that I was either gifted for Christmas or treated myself to; I’m so grateful for each one of these books and can’t wait to read them all soon.
This massive haul takes my Physical TBR to a total of 612 books, so I better get reading them soon!
That’s all for now, I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Tell me which books you got for Christmas in the comments below!
See you soon, stay safe,
Ellie xx