The Christmas Stocking Book Tag

Its time for another Tag Tuesday and I have another fun Festive tag for you today! This one was created by Kate at Reading through Infinity. I think this is a really lovely tag taking you through a whole story. I am going to try and think outside the box and try and find some books I haven’t talked about as much hopefully giving you some unusual recommendations.

The Questions

You get up on Christmas morning and your stocking is full! You take it down and start to unwrap the treats inside. The first thing you see is…

AN ORANGE! WHICH BOOK IS REFRESHING AND VIBRANT, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT?

Tilly and the Map of Stories
Anna James

Pages and Co #3

This whole series is just awesome in every way both inside and out, but I picked Book three as I own it in hardcover and the hardcover is just as gorgeous as the story inside. This is the perfect series to escape into for a booklover of any age. Each book is unique and magical and will make you want to go back to the classics.

THE NEXT THING YOU SEE IS A BAG OF CHOCOLATE COINS. (YUM) WHICH BOOK HAVE YOU RECENTLY BOUGHT THAT WAS EXPENSIVE, BUT TOTALLY WORTH THE HIGH PRICE?

Illumicrate Editions of Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

I really adore Laini Taylor’s writing so when I saw these cover refreshes I just had to get the Illumicrate hardcover editions of them. This arrived yesterday and the Items in the box were just beyond gorgeous. I will have to do an unboxing. Of course I have also purchased books 2 and 3 which should wing there way to me in the new year. I think I will have to do a series re-read and review too.

YOU ALSO PULL OUT A BATH BOMB. TELL US ABOUT A BOOK THAT HAD EXPLOSIVE ACTION SCENES.

Chilling Effect
Valerie Valdes

Chilling Effect #1

This is a great fun filled, sassy space opera. It is jam packed with action and adventure and the sequel is just the same. It has a real humorous and light tone and gave me real Mass Effect vibes at times, which I really enjoyed. Its one of those books where you just want something fast paced and fun that you can just race through, no complicated spaceflight jargon just vaguely space pirate-like fun, that makes you go ‘oh no what is next!”

NEXT IS A PACK OF PLAYING CARDS. WHICH SERIES WON YOU OVER?

Assassin’s Quest
Robin Hobb

Farseer Trilogy

Ok I am still working on this series. Both the Trilogy and the wide Realm of the Eldering’s universe. I had previously attempted to start this series but found it difficult to get into, main as I was writing my PhD thesis at the time and this was a big time investment. I restarted it this year and I am loving it. I do still need to make time for the third book in the series.

YOU ALSO GET A CANDLE. WHICH CHARACTER IS A SYMBOL OF HOPE IN THEIR STORY?

Amari
Amari and the Night Brothers
B.B Alston

Amari and the Night Brothers #1

Release Data 21/1/21

I couldn’t not mention this Gem somewhere. I was so so lucky to be in the Blog tour for this awesome read. It is due out early this year and I really encourage you to go read it. It is one of those books that is so magical regardless of your age. Amari is an awesome kick as MC that I can see so many kids loving. It is also a book that I can see people picturing what Department they would train in, where they would fit in in this supernatural world and that for me is always what makes me smile. A book that is just so absorbing and makes you feel positive.

THERE ARE SOCKS INSIDE TOO. IS THERE A BOOK THAT YOU THINK REALLY ENCOMPASSES ALL THE DISTINCTIVE TROPES OF ITS GENRE?

The Dark Archive
Genevieve Cogman

The Invisible Library #7

This series sets out to highlight all the distinctive troupes in the fantasy, mystery and even occasionally sci-fi genres. It uses tghe Fae to embody all these archetypal characters and it is really great when you get to see them all on the page celebrated. This particular book explores the great detective and his arch nemesis archetype along with the stereotypical librarian archetype, and all are great fun when combined with the mystery in this installment.

THERE’S ALSO A NOTEBOOK. WHICH AUTHOR’S WRITING PROCESS DO YOU FIND MOST INTERESTING/INSPIRING?

Brandon Sanderson

Everyone that reads my blog regularly will know by now that I took part in my first successful NaNoWriMo this year. I am super proud of myself that I won and that I managed to get a pretty good start on my story.

I choose Brandon Sanderson for this prompt as I spent a lot of time listening to his podcast Writing Excuses, and to his lecture series which is all up on his YouTube channel to help me plan, prep and build the outline for my novel. The weekly Exercises in Writing excuses season 10 were particularly helpful in deciding my character voice etc.

THERE’S ALSO A SMALL BEDSIDE CLOCK. WHICH BOOK TOOK YOU A LONG TIME TO PICK UP BUT WAS WORTH IT IN THE END?

The Mortal instruments/The infernal Devices series
Cassandra Clare

Shadowhunters Universe

I never thought I would be a Shadowhunter fan. while i love YA this seemed a bit old school YA for my reading tastes so I never really picked it up., but this year Ellie (Read to Ramble) and I started a buddy read this year and I have to say I am converted. These are not the worlds best writing but they have been so enjoyable especially as a buddy read. Ellie and I took a rather long hiatus due to Work/Uni commitments that we both had going on but we will be finishing The Infernal devices and then The mortal instruments off in the New year and I for one cannot wait!

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I would love to chat all things bookish with you! You can comment down below or find me on Twitter or Goodreads!

Happy Reading!