The 2019 Christmas Songs Book Tag
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Titles marked with an asterisk (*) were gifted to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It's coming towards the end of the year, and it's that time when we start talking about our favourite books of 2019. My proper list of favourites will come at the end of the month, but today, I'm taking part in 2019 Christmas Songs Book Tag, created by Jana of That Artsy Reader Girl. You can answer these questions about any books you've read, but I've decided I'm going to focus on books I've read this year.
1. "All I Want for Christmas Is You": Favorite bookish couple.
Ok, so this is much harder than I thought it would be - I've not read a single contemporary romance this year. And while there have been romance aspects in other books I've read, there have been major issues in those pairs, and huge lack of communication, and pretty much none of them are actually couples by the end of the book, as they're all books in a series. How do you define what makes a couple a favourite?
I've decided I'm going to go for Rhen and Harper in A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer*^ - despite not knowing how that's going to end up and regarding things surrounding [redacted]. But they've both got good hearts, and they want to do the right thing, and when they were talking, things looked promising? (Despite the abduction and all.) So yeah, I'll go for them, but things are FAR from perfect.
2. "I’ll Be Home for Christmas": Name a book where a character is away from home (school, vacation, etc.).
I'm going with Ead from The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon*^ for this one, as she's away from home for most of the book. Really not one of my favourites, though. This should have been at least a duology, ideally a trilogy, rather than a standalone. So many aspects that weren't developed enough for me.
3. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas": Name your favourite "little" book (children’s book, short story, novella, etc.).
This question is actually really difficult to answer, because most books were of similar length. The only book I read that really applies to this is In the Vanishers' Palace by Aliette de Bodard^, but I actually really didn't enjoy it. It just wasn't for me. But I've read no other short stories or novellas, or any children's books!
4. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town": What book(s) do you hope Santa brings you this year?
Some of the books I've asked for this year include Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon^, Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno^, Reap the Wind by Karen Chance^, Shades of wicked by Jeaniene Frost^, The Giver by Lois Lowry^, Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho^, Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri^, and The Universe of Us by Lang Leav^.
5. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer": Which book turned your nose red (made you cry)?
I didn't cry reading any books this year, but Impossible Causes by Julie Mayhew^ really hit me hard. It's so, so heartbreaking. It made me rage so much. It really hit me hard, and is one that will stick with me for a very, very long time. My review is coming next month, but I can't recommend it enough. I implore you to read it!
6. "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year": Your favorite book/kind of book to read during the holidays.
Generally, it's a children's Christmas book. They're just so magic and enchanting and wonderful! The plan was to read the Children's Christmas book I bought Mum last year (she loves them, too!), The Night I Met Father Christmas by Ben Miller^, but I don't think I'm actually going to get to it, sadly. Next year!
7. "We Three Kings": Your favorite trilogy.
I absolutely adored Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence*^, the final book in The Book of the Ancestor trilogy! So much action, such fantastic plots! so very gripping and heartbreaking, and just completely brilliant! I'm so excited Lawrence's next book, The Girl and the Stars, the first in The Book of the Ice trilogy, is set in the same world! I really, really love these stories, so I'm really excited to jump back into this world!
8. "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow": A character you would love to be snowed in with.
Oooh, such a great question! It's got to be Nahri from The Kingdom of Copper by S. A. Chakraborty*^, or maybe even Ali. Or both! I love these characters, and this world, and I would love to just hang out with them and learn more about them and their world. It's just incredible!
9. "Last Christmas": A book that seriously let you down.
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao. Not only was it really problematic in some areas, it just wasn't what I expected for a villain origin story. Not a amount happens in the great scheme of things, and I just expected a very dark story, or a really emotional one, but I got neither. And again, it was problematic. So not for me.
10. "White Christmas": An upcoming release you’re dreaming about.
There are actually really quite a few! I have a post coming next month of my most anticipated retellings from January to June 2020, and there are a fair number on there. But I'm probably most looking forward to Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin*^. It's a retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth, but deals with rape and rape culture, and it sounds absolutely incredible! I am so looking forward to reading it!
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Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Any that you really want to read? What would your answers to these questions be? I tag whoever wishes to take part - just be sure to link back to Jana's post, and post a link to your answers in her linky!
Ok, so this is much harder than I thought it would be - I've not read a single contemporary romance this year. And while there have been romance aspects in other books I've read, there have been major issues in those pairs, and huge lack of communication, and pretty much none of them are actually couples by the end of the book, as they're all books in a series. How do you define what makes a couple a favourite?
I've decided I'm going to go for Rhen and Harper in A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer*^ - despite not knowing how that's going to end up and regarding things surrounding [redacted]. But they've both got good hearts, and they want to do the right thing, and when they were talking, things looked promising? (Despite the abduction and all.) So yeah, I'll go for them, but things are FAR from perfect.
I'm going with Ead from The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon*^ for this one, as she's away from home for most of the book. Really not one of my favourites, though. This should have been at least a duology, ideally a trilogy, rather than a standalone. So many aspects that weren't developed enough for me.
This question is actually really difficult to answer, because most books were of similar length. The only book I read that really applies to this is In the Vanishers' Palace by Aliette de Bodard^, but I actually really didn't enjoy it. It just wasn't for me. But I've read no other short stories or novellas, or any children's books!
Some of the books I've asked for this year include Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon^, Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno^, Reap the Wind by Karen Chance^, Shades of wicked by Jeaniene Frost^, The Giver by Lois Lowry^, Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho^, Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri^, and The Universe of Us by Lang Leav^.
I didn't cry reading any books this year, but Impossible Causes by Julie Mayhew^ really hit me hard. It's so, so heartbreaking. It made me rage so much. It really hit me hard, and is one that will stick with me for a very, very long time. My review is coming next month, but I can't recommend it enough. I implore you to read it!
Generally, it's a children's Christmas book. They're just so magic and enchanting and wonderful! The plan was to read the Children's Christmas book I bought Mum last year (she loves them, too!), The Night I Met Father Christmas by Ben Miller^, but I don't think I'm actually going to get to it, sadly. Next year!
I absolutely adored Holy Sister by Mark Lawrence*^, the final book in The Book of the Ancestor trilogy! So much action, such fantastic plots! so very gripping and heartbreaking, and just completely brilliant! I'm so excited Lawrence's next book, The Girl and the Stars, the first in The Book of the Ice trilogy, is set in the same world! I really, really love these stories, so I'm really excited to jump back into this world!
Oooh, such a great question! It's got to be Nahri from The Kingdom of Copper by S. A. Chakraborty*^, or maybe even Ali. Or both! I love these characters, and this world, and I would love to just hang out with them and learn more about them and their world. It's just incredible!
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao. Not only was it really problematic in some areas, it just wasn't what I expected for a villain origin story. Not a amount happens in the great scheme of things, and I just expected a very dark story, or a really emotional one, but I got neither. And again, it was problematic. So not for me.
There are actually really quite a few! I have a post coming next month of my most anticipated retellings from January to June 2020, and there are a fair number on there. But I'm probably most looking forward to Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin*^. It's a retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth, but deals with rape and rape culture, and it sounds absolutely incredible! I am so looking forward to reading it!
Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Any that you really want to read? What would your answers to these questions be? I tag whoever wishes to take part - just be sure to link back to Jana's post, and post a link to your answers in her linky!
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Great answers! I loved completing this tag as well! It's so creative and fun! I have been dying to read A Curse So Dark and Lonely for months now, and I finally have gotten my hands on a copy so I am thrilled to start it soon! I'm glad to hear that you like the relationship in the story! I also just received the Priory of the Orange Tree for Christmas, and I am trying to decide when to try to conquer that massive book! One of the books that I am most excited for in 2020 is Sarah J. Maas's new book in the Crescent City series!
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