Hello there! With a dismal 11 total posts for 2024, I'm trying to really force myself back into a routine of planning, writing, and here's the important part: actually posting my drafts so we're jumping into a mini series for the six days of bookmas. We'll see if I'm able to keep up but six posts in a month should be doable even if my overall track record for the year is capped at three posts. I also took a trip down memory lane and realized the last time I attempted this was back in 2018 so that lowkey blew my mind because time has actually lost all meaning if it's been 5+ years.
I thought we could kick things off with something nostalgic and I stumbled across the BOOKS UNDER THE TREE TAG on Zezee With Books' blog which seemed like the perfect way to start. The tag was originally created by Games and Tomes and it definitely brought a smile to my face answering the questions so I hope you'll answer along too!
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I'm high-key obsessed with the new special edition of A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid with the library sprayed edges - the only reason I haven't gone out and purchased it myself is because I already own a copy that I've annotated in and don't exactly have the shelf space for duplicate copies. However, if it somehow ends up under the tree, I 100% wouldn't complain.
I don't normally receive books for Christmas, instead I'll often get gift cards that in turn will be used on books. A majority of my preordered books are purchased through said gift cards and one that I'm really excited to have gotten this year is A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang because the first printed edition is absolutely stunning with the sprayed edges and foiled hardback.
While I can't remember the last time I read a Christmas themed book, Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki came to mind - I read this in December a few years ago and one of the big themes explored was found family which honestly gave me so many warm and fuzzy feelings. The story itself isn't centered on Christmas but the relationships that develop amongst the characters just left me with so much love and joy that perfectly captures the Christmas feels.
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This book isn't Christmas themed exactly but it is set in Russia and tells the origin of Baba Yaga so I'm going to go with it. The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore has been on my radar since its release and I recently picked up a physical copy and have made it my goal to finish it before the end of year.
I currently have this listed on my PangoBooks for sale because after holding onto She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran for years, finally reading the story felt a bit anti-climatic. While it wasn't horrible by any means, I just struggled to connect with the main character and the pacing inconsistencies made it difficult to feel the full impact of the story's overall message.
Currently sporting a grand total of 523 ratings on Goodreads, The Bride of Death by F.M. Aden was an unexpected surprise that I genuinely adored and easily one of my favorite reads of the year. I'm not sure who exactly I'd gift this to because part of me knows that the story itself is quite tropey but something about it just clicked and I would love to talk about it with a friend.
Please let me know what are some books you'd love to find under the Christmas tree this year and I'll see you back for Day 2 on December 8th!
