Joy Of Christmas Book Tag

We are so close to Christmas it’s ridiculous! I am currently eating my weight in gingerbread and lounging under the air conditioner because it’s supposed to be starting at 31°C (87°F) moving to 36°C (97°F) this week but it definitely feels hotter than that! Definitely a week to lie by the pool under an umbrella (skin cancer is real kids) reading books if I ever saw one.

Onto more JOYous notes (hahaha), I saw this tag on Kristin Kraves Books and Siobhan’s Novelties and thought I would undertake it myself!

Anticipation: The Christmas excitement is real, what book releases are you most anticipating?

My top 6 most anticipated reads for 2019 are:

• Darkdawn (surprise!!)
• The Wicked King
• Wayward Son
• A Curse So Dark and Lonely
• The Sky Weaver (no cover yet!!)
• Heartstopper Vol 1

Christmas songs and carols: What book or author can you not help but sing it/their praises?

I’m sure this won’t be a surprise to anyone (at all), but Jay Kristoff’s bloody, stabby, clove-smoking daughter’s tale: The Nevernight Chronicle. Jay’s other stuff is also amazing, and I highly recommend it because there’s something for everyone: interested in a steampunk Japanese-style ecological war with monsters: The Lotus War trilogy has got you covered. How about a post-apocalyptic robot infused retelling of the Romanov family: check out LIFEL1K3. Or there’s always the future-based sci-fi war about a giant cover up by a huge corporation, AND a murderous AI? Go get The Illuminae Files that Jay co-authored with Amie Kaufman. Suffice to say, I’m very much looking forward to all of his THREE books that are being released in 2019.

Gingerbread Houses: What book or series has wonderful world building?

Ummm, can I keep writing The Nevernight Chronicle for everything? No? Ok. But it totally works for this as well.

I also really love the world building in all of Holly Black’s fae stories. Starting with the Modern Faerie trilogy (Tithe, Valiant, Ironside), moving through to The Darkest Part of the Forest, and ending (but hopefully not really) with The Folk of the Air trilogy (The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing). All of these stories are set in the same universe and have character crossovers as well as events from other books influence storylines. This is one world that I recommend to everyone!

A Christmas Carol: Favorite classic or one that you want to read?

My fave classic is probably Pride and Prejudice, but I want to read Jane Eyre in 2019.

Christmas Sweets: What book would you love to receive for Christmas?

Anything from my Book Depository wishlist is good!! (Hint, hint family!)

Candles in the Window: What book gives you that warm fuzzy feeling?

Back After the Break by Anita Notaro never fails to make me bawl my eyes out (in a good way). But I also recommend The Nanny by Melissa Nathan, Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, AND Albertalli’s first co-authored effort What If It’s Us, which she wrote with Adam Silvera.

Christmas Trees & Decorations: What are some of your favorite book covers?

I actually love the Aussie versions of the Nevernight Chronicle series, but I often post pictures of the US versions as the cover for Darkdawn has been released (and I’m still waiting! My guess is either a yellow or black sun).

Apart from more Nevernight though, I also love the covers for Autoboyography by Christina Lauren, A Thousand Perfect Notes by C. G. Drews, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.

Christmas Joy: What are some of your favorite things about Christmas and/or some of your favorite Christmas memories?

Ahhh, here’s my chance to link back to an amazing blogger – Taylor @ Nerd Narration. Taylor has been doing an advent calendar of sorts (her Holiday ADVENTure) this year where she has been sharing her fave bloggers and creators. I was so honoured to be featured, so if you want to know what my fave things about Christmas are, go and check out Taylor’s blog (and also check out the others in the series because there’s some pretty amazing people being featured)!

So, that’s it for me until Boxing Day. Merry Christmas everyone, and if you don’t celebrate, then I wish you much joy and happiness for the holiday season, whether you celebrate or not. Until next time, happy reading! ??