Even MORE To Be Read – December 2015 & January 2016.
I'm totally new to the amazing incredible
perfect thing that is book mail – I've been getting the most
exciting parcels lately from Orion, Gollancz and some from my book
blogger pals!
My Book Blogger Secret Santa (#UKBBSS arranged by the amazing Faye)
parcel is the most intriguing and exciting sight sat impatiently
beneath my Christmas tree – it's purple and shiny! Oh, my.
Last week I was away from home for a few
days, and when I was on my train back my mum texted to say 'you have
a RIDICULOUS amount of parcels here for you!' That definitely got me
extra psyched to come home.
So the arrival of these gorgeous parcels
and goodies is thrilling, however it has a very big impact on my
disgracefully long TBR list, and adds to the ever-growing TBR pile on
my desk. The desk which I no longer use, I simply load it with books,
magazines and magical crystals. Oops. So let's see what the new
additions to my To Be Read list are...
Sleeping
Beauty has woken, all is right with the world and the happily ever
afters are well under way...or are they?
The
wicked stabbing thorns surrounding the castle are still there, and
the kingdom is divided. Those who boast magical powers and those who
have been harshly subjected to them are caught up in a raging feud.
Sleeping Beauty's daughter must right all the wrongs in a rebellion.
This excites me. I did a whole module at uni on fairy tales
and the various ways in which they are told. I even submitted a
twisted fairy tale of my own and received a First for it. I love
dystopian fiction as well, and this novel seems to have some of that
mixed in! How thrilling. Cannot wait to get started!
13
Minutes, by Sarah Pinborough.
Natasha
was dead for 13 minutes. She was drowning in icy waters and has no
idea how she got there. An accident? An attempt on her life? She must
find out, ASAP.
This
story has features some PLL -style twists and turns, plus some
seriously toxic friendships...it's a delicious YA mystery!
I
am actually currently reading this one – I pushed a few potential
reads back in favour of this, I just couldn't wait! The writing style
is perfection; I've had a few exchanges with Sarah on Twitter and I
already adore her.
Glass
Sword, by Victoria Aveyard.
Yes,
that's right. The sequel to Red Queen. I
have it in my possession. It's right next to me, right now. I am
currently stroking it lovingly. Cannot wait to get my teeth into it;
to return to that glorious crazy world...

Mare
Barrow is different. Her blood is red but she possesses Silver
abilities, she controls lightning. Thus the royal court are
determined to control her, or get rid of her.
After
her escape from evil at the end of Red Queen,
she is now on the run and hotly pursued by the Silver king! She's
also learning that being a Red with Silver powers isn't as uncommon
as she had thought...
Next
on the list is not so much a TBR...more a TBC. A To Be Coloured!
There
are bunnies and eggs; suns and cocktails; scarecrows and pumpkins;
snowflakes and snowmen! Such happiness on every page! I can't wait to
get stuck in – I'm predicting I'll be colouring in a lot of this on
Christmas Day, during the awkward afternoon period spent lolling
lazily on sofas in a post-lunch limbo.
I've
also installed a new pile on my book dumping ground desk today,
between writing blog posts and snuggling with Harv – this pile (on
the left, next to my beloved Buddhas and lit up with a G) is one
containing exclusively books I've been given or lent recently, and so
they are top priority as they must be blogged about or returned soon!
Just
a couple featured currently in this pile are...
Only
We Know by Simon Packham.
The
story of Lauren and her sister Tilda, who had to move house with
their family very suddenly and so they are now in a new school,
surrounded by new people. Lauren wants to re-invent herself, but
worries that the reappearance of an old acquaintance, Harry, could
throw her plans completely. Luckily, he doesn't recognise her. Still,
she has secrets and eventually she is threatened that they may be
revealed...
I
love the idea of mystery in YA, and so I really look forward to
reading this!
Now
Only We Know was in a
parcel with Maresi: The Red Abbey Chronicles,
by Maria Turtschaninoff sent to me by my amazing friend Sally (The Dark Dictator) - thank you
so much, you total babe. I promise to return Maresi to
you in good time and good condition – maybe along with a present or
two...
The
First Fifteen Lives of Harry August,
by Claire North.
Harry
August is in a permanent state of revival...every time he dies, he is
born again, as Harry August. Each time he is reborn, he is filled
with the knowledge and memories of all his lives before. It's
constant and unchanging. Until one time, when he is about to die, a
girl appears at his bedside...
My
beautiful friend Mel lent me this, plus Invisible Love by
Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt. I see that lovely gal again on New Year's Eve
this year, so I can only hope I'll have even just one of those books
read and ready to return to her...!
Finally,
not pictured in the pile as it's sitting happily beside my bed,
Nimona, by Noelle
Stevenson. I take Rainbow Rowell's word as gospel, as you all should
too, so when she recommended this awesome graphic novel by the epic
illustrator Noelle (who I fell hard for after seeing her artwork for
Fangirl) I knew I
needed it in my life. Now I am merely a few pages in and already
amazed/in love/hooked/all of the above.
Some
of the other books in this pile have been covered in a previous post,
and a couple of them have since been read! I especially loved
Lobsters, by Tom Ellen
& Lucy Ivison lent to me by the fantabulous Louise. It was totally my style and pace, and I was
absorbed into a world I used to live in during my pre-uni
days...cannot wait for their next release!
Confession
time: I have been procrastinating from piecing together a Best Reads
of 2015 post...and I'm sorry! It's just so tough, I've had an amazing
year where books are concerned. At times immersing myself in a good
read has actually saved me from stress and all manner of fears.
Anyway, I promise it'll be up soon! Until then, I am constantly
arranging my piles of books, snapping photos of my amazing book mail,
and staying up reading until 3am. It's a good life!
***
Get to know me on social media, maybe...
Twitter: @GracieActually
Instagram: @gracieactually
Goodreads: Gracie L (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/29011707-gracie)
13 minutes looks so good! I will have to pick it up.
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