A Belated Book and Christmas Present Haul

Guess who's back! 

Hint: it's not Slim Shady.

It's been ages since I last blogged. I didn't mean for so much time to pass between posts, but it's been a rough couple of months. I've had a horrendous cold the last couple of weeks, which floored me more than Covid did. I could barely lift my head off my pillow at all last week and just napped and read, but thankfully, I'm feeling much better now. Then before that, I kept suffering from blurred vision and migraines (I think from eye strain), and then my glasses broke, so I couldn't see a thing for a couple of weeks while I waited for new ones. And that's without adding in chronic pain flares and appointments on top of it all. I've just not been up to blogging lately, but I'm hoping I can get back to it now I'm feeling human again.

Anyway, I realised I never managed to show you what I got for Christmas or the books I bought in the days afterwards, and the posts had somehow got lost in my drafts. I know, I know, it's almost April, but I thought you might still like to see what I got. I have some cool things to show you, and I promise they're not overly festive!

So, first up is one of the best backpacks ever. It's no secret that Robin Hood has always been one of my favourite Disney films, and I was so excited to get the Loungefly Robin Hood Floral Folk mini backpack from my younger sister on Christmas Day. It had been on my wish list for ages, and it's even more beautiful in real life than I was expecting. I love the folksy style of the design, the soft denim-blue colour, and how it feels like leather even though it's faux. It's perfect. 

My older sister and brother-in-law got me this gorgeous Vendula London zip around wallet from The Botanist collection. I love the little foxes and embroidered wysteria, but all the little details are amazing, and the soft sage-green colour is so pretty. The vegan leather is so soft, too. This design is sadly no longer available from their website, but you might be able to find it in store or from a stockist.

I, naturally, received a couple of things from Erstwilder from my parents. I got the Warren the Wombat brooch from the Kutopia collection, which is one of the cutest brooches ever, and I also got a funky pair of large, mirrored, metallic-purple crescent-moon drop earrings. I forget which collection they launched alongside... maybe Halloween? But regardless, they're awesome.

One of the coolest presents my family gave me was Labyrinth Monopoly. I grew up on this film, and it's still one of my favourites, so when I saw this game, I knew I needed it and added it to my Christmas list. I really didn't expect anyone to get it for me, so I was thrilled to get it on Christmas morning. It looks amazing! The only problem is, I still haven't managed to get anyone to play it with me yet. I might have to coerce the family into a game over Easter.

Another of my all time favourite Disney movies is The Rescuers, and it's one I watched to death when I was little. My sister remembered, and gave me this amazing set of soft toys of Bernard and Miss Bianca with Evinrude and his little leaf boat. I've never seen soft toys of these characters before, and they're so cute, I could die! They were from the Disney Store as part of the Disney 100 collection, but they're no longer available on the UK website, only the US, which you can find here.

I was excited to get a shower gel and body yoghurt in the seasonal Pears & Share scent from The Body Shop that I'd really wanted to try. The fragrance is lovely, and both products make my skin so soft. 

Have you heard about The Body Shop teetering on the edge of administration? I'm so shocked! It's not a brand I ever expected to struggle. They've already closed half their shops, and I'll be so sad if we lose them altogether. I've been using their products since the nineties, and there are so many I'd miss if they went under. I need my Vitamin E moisture cream, and Satsuma shower gel!

I also received this cute grey owl print scarf, and a set of Faith-In-Nature body washes from my best friend. I haven't tried the shower gels yet, but the grapefruit and coconut ones smell so good.

Of course, there were a few tasty treats as well. I got a Cadbury selection box and some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups from my parents, and some M&S Choc Corn (chocolate-covered popcorn) from my sister and brother-in-law. My cousin gave me some Belgian chocolate seashells, too, but I may have lost all control and eaten those before I could take photos!

I also got some books for Christmas, which are always welcome presents with me. I love new books, and enjoy collecting them... not that you would know from my Instagram posts, or anything... My parents gave me the latest Clare Mackintosh mystery, A Game of Lies, which I'd been coveting since last summer, and my Auntie gave me a YA Fantasy boxset called Beautiful Creatures. I'd never heard of the series before, and don't know if it's any good, but there's only one way to find out.

A few days after Christmas, I then went book shopping to Waterstones with my sister to spend our Christmas money, and picked up four new hardbacks- three of which have gorgeous hidden covers! I bought A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, The Serpent & The Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent, The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon, and Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare. They were all half price in the Boxing Day sales, too- except A Study in Drowning, which was full price. Not too shabby. I haven't read them all yet, but The Serpent & The Wings of Night is incredible- kinda like The Hunger Games but with vampires, and I enjoyed A Study in Drowning, too.

And last but not least, I bought a few of the books from my wish list on Boxing Day when they were all on offer on Amazon. I think they were all half price or less, so it would've been rude not to! I got The Marriage Act by John Marrs, The Sentence by Christina Dalcher, and The Last Goodbye by Tim Weaver. I still need to read them, but they're three authors whose books are auto-buys for me as they're always amazing. I'd recommend John Marrs and Tim Weaver if you love thrillers, and Christina Dalcher if you enjoy suspenseful feminist fiction that smashes the patriarchy. 

I've bought a number of new books since I got these, so I might do a seperate haul or some reviews to show you the beautiful copies I've bought so far this year soon.

Have you bought or been gifted anything interesting lately?

A Court of Thorns and Roses Colouring Book Review

Last year, I devoured the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas, and adored the books so much, I've been a little obsessed ever since.

My love for this enchanting world of gorgeous fae lords and warriors, magic, friendship, and romance hasn't stopped at the series, oh no. Not content to stop at the novels, I also went and acquired the officially licensed A Court of Thorns and Roses colouring book, and spent many a good pain day painting my way through some of the pages in 2023.

I may have an ACOTAR problem.

But I just couldn't resist.

And thank the Cauldron, because it's one of the best colouring books I've ever seen or owned.

If you're a fan of the ACOTAR series, and love colouring, I think you're going to love this as much as I do.

So, the A Court of Thorns Colouring Book takes you on an illustrated journey through the first three books in the series- A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, and A Court of Wings and Ruin.

This was the first page I painted, and for my first attempt at mixing skintones, I'm kinda proud of how Feyre's colouring came out. I made such a mess of Tamlin, though, especially his hair and sleeve from overworking the paper, but I guess it's fitting since his character is also a train wreck. I also wish I'd done the butterflies differently- I started off attempting to make them into Monarch butterflies, and it went a bit wrong- but overall, I really enjoyed working on this page.

I can't paint realistic trees to save my life, but this page makes me want to live in the Spring Court.

I'm not much of a fan of Elain so far (I'm gonna need her story to change my mind), but this was one of my favourite pages so far. I loved playing with lots of pinks and purples- it was so relaxing. Side note: her garden in the mortal world was described as having purple and white flowers, but I added in some pink to compliment her dress. The roof of the house was said to be emerald green, so I decided to give it green window frames- but they look awful, so I wish I hadn't.

So many of the iconic characters, settings, and scenes in the series have been brought to life in stunning detail, from Tamlin taking Feyre from her home in the mortal world, to meeting the people and wonders of the Spring Court, and Rhys and Feyre's first meeting on Calanmai ('There you are. I've been looking for you.'), to the horrors of Under the Mountain. You can colour your way through Rhys gate-crashing an important wedding and Feyre throwing a shoe at him; meeting the Inner Circle and Mor rescuing Feyre; the wonders of Starfall and the heartfelt moment at the beginning of Chapter 55; and even intense scenes like Feyre battling the Attor, and Nesta crawling out of the Cauldron at Hybern. As the illustrations move to the story of the third book, you'll be able to colour-in Lucien bowing before Feyre on Solstice, and the Bone Carver looking like a demon child that needs to be killed with fire; cool locations like the Forest House and the Night Court library; Nesta sizing up Cassian, and Azriel sweetly loaning Truth-Teller to Elain; to Amren taking on Hybern, and Rhys and Feyre sharing a quiet moment together on the rooftop in Velaris after the war. There is such a fantastic and diverse selection of scenes and characters included, and every last one is amazing.

Some of my favourites include Tamlin and Feyre lounging in the glen, Alis leading Feyre to Under the Mountain, the wedding scene, Mor rescuing Feyre after her panic attack, Rhys and Feyre on Starfall, the landscapes of Velaris and the Spring and Summer Courts (so intricate!), and the romantic little scene in the cabin before things heated up. (You know the one I mean *wink*).

This one was fun as I got to use my metallic Winsor & Newton watercolours for the first time. I used them on the floor tiles, staircase, statues, and curtains. The colours of the Spring Court entry aren't described, so I chose spring greens to symbolise Feyre fading into the background as she was wearing a green dress in that scene. Her hair was supposed to be golden brown, but I screwed up again and it came out a little too ginger.

I totally messed up this page. I had a minor disagreement with the black paint, and also messed up the curtain and Rhys' skintone. It was my first time attempting to mix darker skintones, and didn't go quite right. (Apologies to anyone with brown skin- no insult intended)! And I couldn't try layering other shades on top to fix it as the paper started to disintegrate. 

Altogether, there are forty-five drawings from five different illustrators to colour-in, with sixteen based on A Court of Thorns and Roses, eighteen dedicated to A Court of Mist and Fury, and eleven inspired by A Court of Wings and Ruin. You can also colour-in the introduction pages, which features an illustration of Feyre surrounded by thorns and roses.

Each illustration has been given a double-page spread, with one side featuring the illustration in thinly-lined black ink, and the other displaying a relevant quote from the books in large type, cornered with swirling patterns that look a little like butterflies. The pages are white and made from good-quality paper that is thick enough that most inks shouldn't bleed through, and spoil the quote on the back. I've been using watercolour paints to colourise the drawings, and even though the paper isn't designed for that, it can cope with a light layer or two, with some rippling to the back of the paper. The paper will disintegrate if you keep working it with a wet brush, though. But overall, I'm very impressed. The pages are perforated so that you can tear them out and use them how you wish, but unfortunately, they are printed back-to-back, which means you'll have to choose between displaying  your artwork and the quote of the following illustration.

Overall, it's a fantastic colouring book for any fan of the ACOTAR series. The illustrations are so beautiful that it's a must for any fan's collection- even if you don't plan to colour them in, it makes a great companion book for better visualising the characters and scenes in the books. But for those who want to use it to get creative, it's such a treat. Whether you love the Spring Court or the Night Court, are team Feysand, Nessian, or Elriel, whether you would rather throw Ianthe to the Middengard Wyrm or the Attor, and can't decide who you hate more- Amarantha or Tamlin, this book has it all. (Excluding topless Illyrian bat boys (pity) and s*x scenes, that is). There's no explicit content, so apart from a few creepy monsters, it's suitable for under-18s, too. It's so satisfying to be able to bring so many favourite characters and scenes to life with colour, and I couldn't recommend this colouring book to you more.

I'm loving it, and I can see it keeping me entertained for a long while yet. I also have the Throne of Glass colouring book, which is also amazing, but I have a lot more painting to do before I'm ready to review it.

The A Court of Thorns and Roses colouring book retails around £13-14 in the UK, and you can find it on Blackwells here.

Are you a fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses? Do you enjoy colouring-in?

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My Goals for 2024

I had planned to write this post just after the New Year, but I've been feeling pretty rough these last couple of weeks, so as usual, I'm a little behind. I've had the worst migraine this past week, but now that it's clearing, I can finally play catch-up, so, let's do this.

Today, I'm going to share my goals for the year ahead... as boring and predictable as they probably are.

Realistically, I know I'm very unlikely to be able to achieve any big, life-changing resolutions with my health being the way it is, but I still like to set myself lots of little goals to keep myself on my toes. This year has been no different, and I guess most of my goals aren't, either. They're mostly related to reading, creative hobbies, and local places I want to visit- just little things to keep myself challenged and occupied, that I might have a chance of achieving on better pain days. I'm not up to trekking around the globe or doing extreme sports, so if reading a bunch of books and having a day out at my local zoo is the best I can hope for, I'm going to take it. It's better than doing nothing, right?

So, here are some of my goals for the year ahead.

Read At Least 40 Books

I'm hoping to read as much as possible in 2024. I've kept my reading goal for the year low at 40 books to make it achievable, but I hope I can read even more. I'm already on my 4th book of the year so far, so I'm off to a decent start. If you want to keep up with what I'm reading, come say hello on Goodreads and Storygraph.

Keep Up to Date With My Reading Journal

I started keeping a reading journal last summer, and I'm loving having a place to record what I've read, and my thoughts and favourite quotes from each book. I want to continue with it this year, and try to update it after each book read while my thoughts are still fresh in my mind. 

Do More Cross Stitching

I used to cross stitch every day, but did so little last year as I was so uninspired. So, I want to try to find my sewing mojo in 2024, and do much more stitching. It's such a relaxing hobby, and with all the modern kits and patterns, it's not just for old ladies anymore.

Finish At Least One Embroidery

I also want to improve my embroidery 'skills' and finish at least one piece of hoop art this year. I began this one for Halloween, but never got far, so that one's on my list to finish, but I also saw this cute Easter design I'm thinking of attempting.

Paint Regularly

Last year, I really enjoyed watercolour painting as a way to relax. Well, when I say 'painting' it's more like 'colouring-in colouring books with paint' as I have little artistic skill, but the main thing is, I enjoy it and find it relaxing, so who cares? I want to do more of it when I get good pain days.

Eat Healthier and Lose Weight

I hate focusing on weight and diets as all bodies are good bodies and people shouldn't be shamed for their size, but I've been feeling really unhappy in my own skin since I gained a little weight, so I need to do something about it. I don't feel like myself anymore and I hate it. For my own mental health, I want to make an effort to eat healthier and hopefully shed some of those extra pounds, but without being able to exercise regularly or vigorously like I used to pre-chronic-pain, I doubt I'm gonna lose it easily.

Get an Eye Test and New Glasses

I think my most important goal right now is getting myself down to Specsavers for an eye test and new glasses. I've been putting it off since before Covid, and I think I'm now six years over-due. My vision keeps going blurry from eye strain (at least, I hope that's all it is), and I really need to see an optician before it gets any worse. I'm going to book myself as soon as my migraine has gone. I'm really looking forward to getting some sexy new glasses after years of wearing the same pair every day.

Get My Hair Cut

I also need to prioritise a hair cut, since my hair is almost long enough to sit on again, and I currently resemble a reclusive old witch who lives in a creepy old house with her familiars, and drinks margaritas at midnight while dancing around the kitchen. (Honestly, sign me up- that sounds awesome)! It's been almost three years since my last hair cut, so it's time to get my hair cut back into a more manageable length. But first: roots.

Overhaul My Bookshelf

One of my next missions will be tackling my bookshelves. I need a bigger bookshelf, but in the meantime, I need to have a rejig, and cull some books to fit in all the beautiful copies I've bought in recent months. I don't like thinking of my poor babies stacked up on the floor. I don't want to give up any of my collection, but I think I'm going to have to as I've no place to store them. 

Have a Thorough Clear Out

Speaking of spring cleaning, I also want to have a decent tidy and clear out of other stuff, like my wardrobe, dressing table, craft supplies, and the hallway cupboard. I don't know why, but I feel the need to declutter, and let go of stuff I no longer use or need.

Take a Holiday

I wasn't able to go on holiday last year and I'm not sure if one's on the cards this year, either, but I'd love to get away to Cornwall for at least a few days this summer. Hell, I'd be happy to get away almost anywhere if it meant a change of scenery for a while.

Visit the Beach

I'd also like to spend some time at the seaside this year. It's been a year and a half since I last saw the sea, and I miss it so much. A day trip to the beach would make me so happy.

Go to The Cotswold Wildlife Park

I haven't visited my local zoo in over two years, so I want to fit in at least one visit this year. It's a really gorgeous, relaxing place to visit, and I think it's good to push myself to the point of collapse with my chronic pain every now and then to get some exercise and fresh air. 

Go to the London Aquarium

This probably sounds so random, but one thing I'd love to do is revisit the London aquarium. I last went about fifteen years ago and remember really enjoying myself, and I've wanted to go back for a while. As a big animal lover, I've always found sea life so fascinating, and it's one of the best aquariums I've ever visited. Maybe I'll have to pay it a visit for my birthday this July?

Visit the Confetti, Lavender, and Sunflower Fields

I've been wanting to visit local flower fields for the last few years, and still haven't managed it. We were planning to go to see the confetti fields near Worcester last summer, but I ended up with an awful chronic pain flare on the day we'd planned to go, so we missed it. I'm hoping for better luck this summer. I'd love to go see some colourful flower fields.

Go to the Bluebell Woods

I'd also like to take a walk in our local woods when the bluebells flower this spring. We went a little too late last year, and missed them, too. 

Do more Touristy Things in Oxford

Oxford has always been my local city, but I haven't done nearly enough exploring of its attractions or hidden gems. I'm eager to spend some days being a tourist in my own city, and visit more of its museums, galleries, beautiful old buildings etc, and maybe have a walk or a picnic down by one of the river banks where people go punting on the Thames. It's such a beautiful city.

And those are some of my little goals for 2024.

Have you set yourself any goals or resolutions for the year ahead?

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Goodreads My Year in Books 2023

Looking Back on 2023

Goodreads My Year In Books 2023

I set myself a goal of reading 40 books in 2023, and miraculously reached my goal on New Year's Eve with six hours to spare! 

It wasn't my best year for reading number-wise, but hey, at least I smashed it! Even if I had to read some short novellas to make up the last few on time. 

As always, I kept track of my reading life on Goodreads, so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and share my Goodreads Year in Books- and I've added in a few prompts of my own, too.

So... I read approx. 17,699 pages across 40 books in 2023. 

This is less than the 46 books I read in 2022, but I actually read over 1200 pages more as many of them were longer reads over 600 pages. 

These longer books definitely impacted the number of books I was able to read, as did the amount of time I spent annotating when I could've been reading. If we counted all the books I annotated page by page, my number would be closer to 70. I definitely need to rethink how I annotate so it doesn't slow me down so much. Maybe I should just stick to using page markers and only highlight my absolute favourites?

Shortest book: The Lost Sisters by Holly Black at 50 pages.

Longest Book: Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas at 980 pages. (But I wish it had been twice as long as it was one of my favourite reads ever)!

Average Book Length: 442 pages.

Most Shelved: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas with 3,949,944 shelved.

Least Shelved: The Muppet Christmas Carol by Brooke Vitale, with a pitiful 16 people shelving it. (C'mon people)!

My Average Rating: 4.2 stars. I read so many great books last year, and maybe I get a bit over-enthusiastic and rate on vibes more than quality of writing.

Highest Rated on Goodreads: The Muppet Christmas Carol by Brooke Vitale with 4.70 stars average. (Unsurprising- it's so cute)!

My First Review of the Year:

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black. It's a companion book of illustrated short stories from The Folk of the Air series told from Cardan's POV, giving more insight into some iconic scenes, his backstory, and even some scenes after the series had ended with Jude in the mortal world. It's wonderful and you can read my review here.

Books Read (roughly in order):

1. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black. 5⭐

2. Throne of Glass (collector's edition) by Sarah J. Maas. 4⭐

3. The Stolen Heir by Holly Black. 5⭐

4. A Court of Thorns and Roses (collector's edition) by Sarah J. Maas. 5⭐

5. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. 5⭐

6. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas. 5⭐

7. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas. 4⭐

8. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. 5⭐

9. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas. 5⭐

10. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas. 5⭐

11. Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas. 3⭐

12. A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas. 4⭐

13. Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas. 5⭐

14. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas. 5⭐

15. The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas. 5⭐

16. The Lost Sisters by Holly Black. (Ebook novella). 3⭐

17. Throne of Glass (hardback) by Sarah J Maas. (Reread). 5⭐ (Upgraded from 4⭐ on first read)

18. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. 5⭐

19. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout. 3.5⭐

20. Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs. 3.5⭐

21. The Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout. 5⭐

22. A Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout. 5⭐

23. The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout. 4⭐

24. The School for Good and Evil (collector's edition) by Soman Chainani. 2⭐

25. A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout. 5⭐

26. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas. (Reread). 5⭐

27. Once Upon a Broken Heart (vault edition) by Stephanie Garber. (Reread). 3⭐

28. The Ballad of Never After (Owlcrate edition) by Stephanie Garber. (Reread). 5⭐

29. A Curse for True Love (Waterstones exclusive edition) by Stephanie Garber. 5⭐

30. Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco. 4⭐

31. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. 4⭐

32. The Forest Grimm (Fairyloot edition) by Kathryn Purdie. 3⭐

33. Legends and Lattes by Travis Bardee. 5⭐

34. A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas. (Reread). 4⭐

35. Upon a Frosted Star (Waterstones exclusive edition) by M. A. Kuzniar. 5⭐

36. The Nutcracker by E.T.A Hoffmann. 3⭐

37. The Muppet Christmas Carol by Brooke Vitale. 5⭐

38. How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (Litjoy Crate edition) by Holly Black. (Reread). 5⭐

39. It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malermann. (Ebook novella). 2⭐

40. Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo. (Reread). 4⭐

Plus, the bonus chapters from 

♥ Fourth Wing red Waterstones holiday edition.

♥ The Cruel Prince collector's edition.

♥ A Curse for True Love Barnes and Noble, Owlcrate, and Waterstones editions.

♥ Letters to Jude- bonus content PDF from The Queen of Nothing.

♥ Various ACOTAR bonus chapters.

And the last chapter from Crescent City 2 as I was curious about the ACOTAR cross-over! Haha!

My Last Review of the Year:

Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco, as I'm so behind with my reviews. I loved this spicy fantasy adventure book about a demon prince of hell teaming up with a gifted artist from the mortal world to complete a game held by the fae king in order to save his court, and get back what was taken from them. It's full of vampires, monsters, vicious fae, hot demon princes, and lots of other good stuff, and you can find my review here.

Challenge completed at 6pm on New Year's Eve, with six hours to spare. Yay me!

Books Read: 40

♥ New Reads: 33

♥ Rereads: 7

♥ DNF: 0

Authors Read: 15

♥ Jennifer L. Armentrout.

♥ Travis Bardee.

♥ Leigh Bardugo.

♥ Holly Black

♥ Soman Chainani.

♥ Stephanie Garber.

♥ E.T.A. Hoffmann.

♥ M. A. Kuzniar.

♥ Sarah J. Maas.

♥ Josh Malermann.

♥ Kerri Maniscalco.

♥ Kathryn Purdie.

♥ Emma Torzs.

♥ Brooke Vitale.

♥ Rebecca Yarros.

New Authors Discovered: 9

♥ Jennifer L. Armentrout.

♥ Travis Bardee.

♥ Soman Chainani.

♥ E.T.A. Hoffmann.

♥ Sarah J. Maas.

♥ Kerri Maniscalco.

♥ Kathryn Purdie.

♥ Emma Torzs.

♥ Rebecca Yarros.

Most Read Genre:

Fantasy / romantasy.

Favourite Book(s) Read: (In no particular order because I can't decide- except QOS is definitely 5th).

♥ A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas.

♥ A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas.

♥ Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas.

♥ Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas.

♥ Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas.

Least Favourite Book(s) Read:

♥ The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. (Too YA for me).

♥ It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malermann. (So dull and weird).

Favourite New Series:

♥ Throne of Glass

♥ ACOTAR

♥ Blood and Ash

♥ Fourth Wing

Favourite New Stand Alone:

♥ Upon a Frosted Star

Favourite New Characters:

♥ Throne of Glass- Aelin Galathynius, Rowan Whitethorn, Lorcan Salvaterre, Elide Lochan, Yrene Towers, Fenrys Moonbeam, Dorian Havilliard.

♥ ACOTAR- Nesta Archeron, Cassian, Lucien Vanserra, Rhysand, The Suriel.

♥ From Blood and Ash- Casteel Da' Neer, Kieran Contou, Poppy Balfour, Emil Da' Lahr, Delano Amicu, Reaver.

♥ Fourth Wing- Violet Sorrengail, Xaden Riorson, Liam Mairi, Ridoc, Sawyer, Tairn, Andarna.

Most Hated Characters:

♥ Ianthe (ACOTAR).

♥ Maeve and Vernon (TOG).

♥ Dain and Jack (Fourth Wing).

♥ Cat and Varrish (Iron Flame).

♥ Apollo (ACFTL).

♥ Vexley (Throne of the Fallen).

Favourite New Bookish Couples:

♥ Cassian and Nesta (ACOTAR).

♥ Lorcan and Elide (TOG).

♥ Rowan and Aelin (TOG). (And basically all the other TOG couples- they're all awesome).

♥ Poppy and Casteel... and Kieran (Blood and Ash).

♥ Violet and Xaden (Fourth Wing).

Favourite Editions Bought:

♥ The Folk of the Air Litjoy Crate Boxset.

♥ Grishaverse collection from Owlcrate.

♥ OUABH trilogy from Fairyloot. (Can't wait to get them)!

♥ ACOTAR collector's edition.

♥ TOG Bloomsbury hardbacks.

♥ A Curse For True Love Waterstones Exclusive.

Favourite Dust Jacket:

♥ A Curse for True Love UK edition.

♥ Queen of Shadows and Empire of Storms Bloomsbury hardbacks.

Favourite Hidden Covers:

♥ A Curse For True Love UK and Barnes and Noble editions.

♥ Throne of the Fallen Waterstones exclusive.

♥ The Stolen Heir Illumicrate edition.

♥ Ninth House and Hell Bent Illumicrate editions.

♥ The Forest Grimm Fairyloot Edition.

Favourite Naked Hardbacks:

♥ The Folk of the Air Litjoy Crate editions.

♥ ACOTAR collector's edition.

Favourite Sprayed Edges:

♥ Grishaverse Owlcrate editions.

♥ Iron Flame Waterstones exclusive.

♥ Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries Fairyloot edition.

♥ Throne of the Fallen Waterstones exclusive.

♥ The Forest Grimm Fairyloot edition.

Favourite Bookish Merchandise bought:

♥ Litjoy Crate ACOTAR book tin.

♥ Litjoy Crate reading journal.

♥ ACOTAR and Throne of Glass colouring books.

Some Favourite New Bookish Quotes: 

(I have far too many new favourites to list- mostly SJM ones! Haha!).

♥ One blink for yes. Two for no. Three for Are you alright? Four for I am here, I am with you. Five for This is real, you are awake. -Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas.

♥ 'I love you. There is no limit to what I can give you, no time I need. Even when the world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you.'- Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas.

♥ 'One day, I am going to marry you. I'll be generous and let you pick when, even if it's ten years from now. Or twenty. But one day, you are going to be my wife.'- Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas.

♥ 'I have no regrets in my life, but this...' ... 'That we did not have time. That I did not have time with you, Nesta.' ... 'I will find you again in the next world- the next life. And we will have that time. I promise.'- A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas.

♥ 'He thinks he'll be remembered as the villain in the story.'... 'But I forgot to tell him,' ... 'that the villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key.' ... 'He was the one who let me out.'- A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas.

♥ 'You have no morals.'

'True. But yours are as grey in tone as mine, my dear.'

'That's hardly true.'

'What a cunning little liar you are.'- Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco.

♥ 'Thank you, Liam. Thank you for being my shadow. Thank you for being my friend.'- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.

♥ 'Yes, I am a murderer. I enjoy hurting people. I like blood. I like pain. I am a monster, but whether you remember it or not, I'm your monster, Evangeline.'- A Curse For True Love by Stephanie Garber.

♥ 'Some say patience is a virtue.' ... 'Some deserve a punch in the face.'- A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

♥ I suppose that's one good thing about being obedient and faithful and good. People think you will never surprise them.- The Lost Sisters by Holly Black.

And that's my 2023 in books.

I've set myself a new reading goal of 40 books for 2024, but I hope I can do even better and beat last year's figures. I'm already on book 3 of the year, so I feel like I'm off to a strong start.

If you'd like to keep up with what I'm reading and adding to my TBR list, come say hello on Goodreads and Storygraph. You can also find me on Instagram, where I often share what I'm reading, post mini reviews, and give you a peek at pretty new books I've been buying on my Insta Stories.

Did you meet your reading goals last year, and have you set any new ones for 2024?

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Looking Back on 2023

I was meant to have this written and posted by New Year's Eve, but I've been so drained and sleepy since Christmas, so I'm having to play catch-up. I know, I know; I'm useless. I'd say 'better late than never, right?', but I'm not sure anyone else would agree once they've suffered through my incessant whining. So... yeah... sorry about this...

Goodbye 2023, hello 2024!

Well, that's another year done and dusted, and I feel like I have very little to show for it. 

I didn't do anything noteworthy, I didn't meet anyone new, I didn't really go anywhere, and I didn't feel good about it. Honestly, I'm not sure 2023 is worth remembering at all.

It was another rough year for me, with my health leaving me mostly housebound, and lots of bad chronic pain flares making it difficult to get out and about and live my life. 

By November, I'd only left the house for non-medical reasons six times, which was one of my worst records yet. I only managed two days out the entire year- once to see Ronan Keating and The City Lights Symphony Orchestra live in London in March (they were amazing, but I got pick-pocketed on the way), and the other was a fun day trip to Longleat Safari Park on my birthday in July. (I saw koalas, a wombat, and giant river otters for the first time, and hand-fed deer and a rainbow lorikeet, so at least that ticked some things off my bucket list). That's it. That's all I did. I'm not even kidding. How pathetic is that?! 

I'm not going to lie, I felt pathetic, and really struggled with my life last year. Or the lack of life in my life; the lack of new experiences, adventures, excitement, and social life. I often felt  isolated and alone, and it wasn't good for my mental health. I should be used to it all after twelve years of housebound life, but I do still miss my old life sometimes, and last year seemed to hit me particularly hard- thankfully, not every day, but more often than it had in a while. 

And as for blogging... well, I didn't manage to do much of that, either, so, let's not go there! Haha!

But despite all that, I'm choosing to look back on 2023 as a year of surviving. 

I got myself through another year without giving up, despite wanting to at times, and  that's an achievement of it's own. 

I also tried my hardest to make the best of every day because I prefer that to moping, and found enjoyment in the little things in life since I couldn't do the big ones. We don't give the little things enough love.

I found happiness in reading and collecting beautiful books, and became particularly obsessed with the Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, Fourth Wing and Blood and Ash series. Escaping into fantasy worlds was definitely my favourite coping mechanism. I enjoyed watercolour painting, did a little cross stitching and embroidery (but not nearly enough), watched a bunch of movies, played a lot of Animal Crossing, began a reading journal, blogged a little, tried to improve my photography and flatlays, wrote some book reviews, shared memes with friends, and spent time with my family and my dog. 

It was definitely not an exciting year on paper, but it was the one I got, and that's okay. They don't all have to be spectacular years full of achievements, adventures, and flashy holidays. It's okay if all you did last year was survive, go to work, and / or hermit yourself away with a book day after day. There's no right way to live, and there is (hopefully) plenty of time left to do all the things we want to.

I'm hoping 2024 will be a better year, and that I'm able to get out and about a little more often, and do more than just existing, but I guess we shall see what the year brings. That's the thing about life; you never know what might happen or where it might take you. If you can't follow your dreams, you just have to take it day by day, and see where it leads you.

What was the best (or worst) thing that happened to you in 2023?