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Remember to stay up to date with the world, listen to those facing atrocities and help spread awareness/donate where you’re able to.

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It’s been a while since I’ve done a book tag, but thought it would be fun to do an old Christmas tag which I saw on zezeewithbooks blog and was created by Ashley over at fallingdownthebookhole.

I went through the questions and I found myself repeating the same books that I’ve mentioned a million times, so I’m only going to be talking about books I read so far this year! I hope you enjoy reading and let me know some of your answers in the comments!

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On the first day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me

a partridge in a pear tree

The partridge stood alone in the pear tree. What is your favourite standalone?

Obviously my answer would be Pride and Prejudice as it’s my favourite book of all time. I adore the drama intertwined with a gentle and often fun plot and pace. This is a story that brings me comfort, especially now as I’m so familiar with the story (I tend to re-read P&P at least once or twice a year). I would recommend this, even if you don’t like classics. Austen’s writing is very approachable and she’s such a sarcastic woman, but also gives her novels such heart, I love her!

A new read this year that I really loved (and most of the people I saw reviewing it) was The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. It’s a cute, fluffy book about a man who finds happiness and growth with a found family of supernatural kids and their caretaker. I did have a little issue with it’s simplicity on expressing some subjects, but I still really enjoyed this!

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On the second day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me

two turtle doves

Love is in the air! Who is your one true pairing?

I have come to accept that I am Twilight trash. And this was solidified when I read and enjoyed Midnight Sun, Edward’s perspective of Twilight, this year. I don’t hate Bella and Edward, but the other Cullen couples are superior!

I would love a book on each couple, especially from the past. I want to see Esme and Carlisle in the years where Edward left the nest. I want to read about Alice and Jasper finding each other. And I want a book about Emmett’s change and how his relationship blossomed with Rosalie ♥

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On the third day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me

three French hens

In the spirit of threes, what is the best trilogy you have read?

I tend to put off finishing series, but I’m so happy that I completed the Winternight trilogy by Katherine Arden this year.

The trilogy follows the journey of Vasya growing into a strong young woman. Set in rural Medieval Russia, Vasya must protect her village and the creatures of myth and folklore against an awakening dark force, as well as the imposing threat of Christianity.

This trilogy is beautifully written and the characters are fantastic. I also love the relationship between Vasya and Morozko. They’re both rather proud and stubborn, but they admit their mistakes and have a lot of heart to give to those they love.

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On the fourth day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me

four calling birds

Since series usually consist of four or or more books, what is your favourite series?

I couldn’t answer this question any other way considering I read the entire Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens this year! I really enjoyed these playful, yet emotional cosy mysteries. Set in 1930’s England, two girls form a strong friendship at a boarding school while solving crime.

Hazel and Daisy were wonderful characters, that we saw grow so much throughout the nine books and several short story collections. There were also always a great host of side characters and suspects!

It’s a children’s series, but I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys cosy mysteries that have several call backs to other crime writers of the time.

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On the fifth day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me

five golden rings.

One ring to rule them all! Who is your favourite villain/antagonist?

I think the best kind of villain is one you can, at least slightly, understand where they’re coming from. However, I want to hate them and I want their mere presence to irk me. I want the “good guys” to win!

One of the things that made the Winternight trilogy so compelling was Konstantin. That man was a monster. From the get go, I hated him. His religious fervour and the battle with his desire for Vasya and power, was both fascinating and disturbing. I want my villain to inspire the same reaction I have with real life ones and Konstantin did exactly that.

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On the sixth day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me

six geese a laying

Creation is a beautiful thing. What is your favourite world/world-building?

The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin has fantastic world-building and descriptions. I will say a lot of the scientific and geographical descriptions and explanations went a bit over my head 😅

This trilogy is a sci-fi that is driven by a mother’s love of her children. On her journey the secret’s of her past catch up with her and she is forced to face the consequences. The earth’s power is wielded as a weapon which causes catastrophic “seasons”. The season that wreaks havoc on the world this time could end it forever.

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On the seventh day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me

seven swans a swimming

Who needs seven swans when all it takes is one good sidekick to make a hero rock! Who’s your favourite animal sidekick?

Sorry to repeat the same books, but Solovey has such a pure and beautiful personality. Solovey is a horse that Morozko sends to Vasya at the end of The Bear and the Nightingale and who becomes her loyal companion ♥

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On the eighth day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me

eight maids a milking

Milk is so 18th century. Which book or series takes beverage/food to a whole new level?

I can’t think of a book I’ve read this year to fit this question…

Jessica Jung does talk about a lot of tasty Korean food and treats in Shine. But honestly, I’m not someone who remembers the foods character’s eat unless it’s a book with a focus on it (and I probably wouldn’t even then 😅).

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On the ninth day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me

nine ladies dancing

Dancing is just one skill of a lady! Who is your favourite kick-ass female lead?

Helen from the Lady Helen trilogy by Alison Goodman. Helen finds her high society life disrupted by learning about the existence of demons. She must balance the pressures of coming out into society and the training she needs to protect those she loves and the world as a whole. Set in Regency England, Goodman has a great knowledge of the period and seamlessly intertwines the historical context and the supernatural underbelly Helen and her friends fight against.

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On the tenth day of Christmas

my true love gave to me

ten lords a leaping

Leaping Lords? How about who is your favourite leading lad?

There are a lot of great lads in the books I’ve read this year, but I have a soft spot for Simon Lewis from the Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare. In Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, we follow his journey to becoming comfortable and sure of himself and finding his drive and purpose. Simon is such a soft idiot, and I really love his loyalty to his friends and the way he calls out bigoted Shadowhunters.

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On the eleventh day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me

eleven pipers piping

Where would we be without music? What is your favourite book or bookish thing that deals with music?

In October, I read Jessica Jung’s debut novel Shine. It follows a kpop trainee called Rachel who strives to keep her place and make her name in a cut throat industry. Jessica – former member of girl group sensation SNSD – explores bullying, relationship scandals, prejudice, sexism and familial pressure in the kpop world.

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On the twelfth day of Christmas,

my true love gave to me

12 drummers drumming

Drum roll please! What is your favourite read of this year?

After seeing this book being on many booktuber tbr’s and being highly praised on the internet, I decided to pick up The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. And I am so happy that I did!

This book takes place in a posh retirement village and follows a group of old age pensioners who immediately get onto the case when one of the property developers of their home gets murdered.

I loved all the characters, and I really liked seeing them go to places that I’m familiar with or have heard of as it’s set in Kent. I’m looking forward to picking up the sequel, however, I’ve got to wait until the paperback comes out (because honestly, paperbacks are better than hardbacks).

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Thank you for reading!

I hope you’re having a lovely day and staying safe ♥