Oh boy, do I have a massive haul to share with you today OR WHAT? So many books. I missed doing my November book haul for reasons you can read about HERE. Which means, unfortunately, you need to limber up your eyes for the book haul of the century. I’m so excited. Christmas is always one of my favourite time of year because of all the books I receive – which is an extremely materialistic thing to say but hey, it’s the truth.

2019 was no different to previous years. My family delivered, guys, and it was wonderful. I have nearly 20 books to share with you today and I’m SUPER excited to get around to all of them. In fact (!) I’ve actually already read two of them. I know, I’m amazing.

There are several methods in which I acquired books last month. Namely, through gifts. But I did purchase my monthly audiobook, receive some from publishers and bought a book for myself because who needs self-control, am I right? So let’s just dive right in and see what goodies December brought.

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BOUGHT

Children of Virtue and Vengeance
by Tomi Adeyemi

First of all, a book I bought for no reason other than I really wanted it. Literally a week after Christmas I went to the bookstore and bought this with my own money (and some lovely points I’d saved up with my rewards system for my local bookstore) AFTER all the other books I got at Christmas. Anyone else who’s loving this series as much as me will surely understand and not judge.

The Crooked Kingdom
by Leigh Bardugo

This was a traditional purchase (or, in other words, a yearly excuse to buy myself ANOTHER book in December). There’s a french horn carol concert my family goes to each December before Christmas and my favourite bookstore in the whole world is near there. So each year I go in and buy one book from them. I actually hadn’t realised the publishers also did a special edition for Crooked Kingdom and I have the special edition fro Six of Crows so of course I needed this! They look great on my shelf together.

Scythe
by Neal Shusterman

This was a November purchase. The Book Depository was selling Scythe for $7AUD which is VERY CHEAP. I did actually buy this as a Christmas gift for my sister so I got two copies, ever the opportunist. I listened to this via audiobook, so I have actually read this, I just wanted a physical copy because it’s so beautiful.

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RECEIVED

Crown of Coral and Pearl
by Mara Rutherford

This is a new release from late-2019 that a lot of people were excited about. SO I’M EXCITED TOO. We’re talking underwater kingdoms, people. Yeah okay, I have nothing more to add to that. UNDER. WATER. KINGDOMS.

The Toll
by Neal Shusterman

I was thrilled to receive The Toll for Christmas from my family (most of my Christmas books are from some variation of family members – it’s my main gift at Christmas). This is the third and final book in The Arc of a Scythe trilogy and I CAN’T WAIT TO READ IT OH MY GOD.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
by J. K. Rowling

Traditionally, my parents always get me the illustrated Harry Potter for Christmas that came out that year. It’s been two years since the last one so it was extra exciting to get The Goblet of Fire this year. I recently did a re-read-a-thon for Harry Potter – specifically for the illustrated editions – so EVEN MORE HYPE THERE.

Words on Fire
by Jennifer A. Nielsen

My sister got me this one. This is a lesser-known about historical fiction set in Lithuania during WWII that I had my eye on. It’s middle-grade fiction and came out in late-2019. I certainly wasn’t expecting to get this because due to it’s lack of hype/popularity (being historical fiction) that tends to mean the book will be harder to get in Australia. But my sister found me the hardback! SO EXCITED.

Chasing the Shadows
by Maria V. Snyder

*Heavy breathing*. I received two sets of gift vouchers for my local bookstore over Christmas (one from my aunt and uncle and the other as a Kris Kringle from work, yeeehawww). I put these to fabulous use. I read the first book in this series, Navigating the Stars, in mid-2019 and freaking LOVED it. Where is all the hype at for new Snyder books, people?!? The Eyes of Tamburah, anyone?? She’s written so much new stuff. ANYWAY, obviously, I needed book two so here we are.

The Keeper of the Mist
by Rachel Neumeier

At this point, I fail to remember exactly who gave me what. I think this might have been from my sister. I am very excited about this epic fantasy whose plot I won’t butcher by trying to explain the plot.

Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?
by Frans de Waal

Yes, okay. This one was a bit random but I’m excited for it nonetheless. I’ve had my eye on this book for maybe two years after Goodreads had it either in the best books of that year or just in recommendations. I think it sounds super intriguing! But I’m sure none of you are interested so let’s move on.

Between Shades of Gray
by Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys! I so need to read one of her books. She really took off with fame in the bookish world with Salt to the Sea and I’ve been wanting to read Between Shades of Grey, one of her earlier books, for quite some time. It’s another book set in Lithuania during WWII so I’m very excited.

The Beautiful
by Renée Ahdieh

This was a book I chose for myself with my vouchers. I’m taking a gamble here. I know this is paranormal with vampires and that isn’t usually my first choice BUT even though I DNF’d Ahdieh’s last book, The Flame in the Mist, I loved The Wrath and the Dawn so much that I’m willing to take my chances with this one.

Hunted
by Meagan Spooner

*Gasp* I’ve wanted this shiny for a long time. But it’s ill-founded want. Why? Because I have a few Spooner books on my shelf I should probably read first before this one but I am IMPATIENT. My main reason for wanting to read this is because there’s a bow and arrow on the front cover. My second reason is because it’s a beauty and the beast retelling.

Into the Crooked Place
by Alexandra Christo

I chose this one myself and I’m fairly certain you’ll be able to hear me squealing with delight all the way over there. I LOVED Christo’s debut which was To Kill a Kingdom so when I saw that she’d written another book, it was a no brainer. This time we have magic and thieves and another GREAT cover. #Sold.

The Song of the Lioness Quartet
by Tamora Pierce

EeeeeeeeeeEEEEE! I’ve wanted this boxed set for the longest of times. I sure did write a letter to Santa outlining all the reasons I needed this for Christmas. My best friend enlightened me maybe two years ago by gifting me book one, and I’ve desperately wanted to continue the series since. BUT (get this, I’m shallow as) I wouldn’t purchase the next books because the covers were ugly. And the only editions I liked were the boxed set ones. So here we are.

Homegoing
by Yaa Gyasi

I’m very excited to have this on my TBR because this is one of those books I added such a long time ago and then promptly forgot about. This follows the story of two slaves (and, not being American, I hardly ever read any fiction on slavery during that period of America) I’m really excited to read about their stories!!

The Penguin Lessons
by Tom Michell

Yeah, okay, another weird one. I’ve had this on my wishlist for several years because COME ON. A penguin!!? This guy has basically written a memoir about how this penguin has changed his life. I can’t wait to read this.

The Storm Crow
by Kalyn Josephson

Instant cover love? I think yes. I chose this for myself, partially inspired by myself because I also bought this for my best friend for her birthday (or maybe it was Christmas, I don’t remember). This sounds RIDICULOUS – there’s something to do with elemental crows and I think people can also ride them. I will be buddy reading this one shortly, anticipating much weirdness.

The Beast’s Heart
by Leife Shallcross

Beauty and the Beast retelling? Sign me up. Truth be told the blurb doesn’t really tell us a lot more than that so I’ll have to get back to you on this one after I’ve read it.

The Light Over London
by Julia Kelly

I didn’t haul very many historical fiction books this year but of ALL the ones on my wishlist, I was stoked that my family picked this one!! It’s a new release so I wasn’t expecting it (newer historical fiction releases are always harder to get in Australia). This is a story told of character during WWII London through an antiques dealer in the modern-day. The historical side of it seems to deal a lot with the RAF which my own granddad flew in so I’m interested!

Firelight
by Sophie Jordan

Haha well, I’ve already read this one. This was pretty much everything I expected to be – which is a good thing. It’s super teen-y and very much so needs to not be looked into too deeply because WOW, so many problems. But on a surface level? Fun and filled with dragon-shifters.

Inside Out and Back Again
Thanhha Lai

Another one I’ve already read! This is written in prose and is from the perspective of a Vietnamese refugee fleeing to America after the Vietnam War. It touches on some really serious topics about racism, war and acceptance and is something everyone should read!

The Last Day
by Andrew Hunter Murray

BIG thank you to Penguin for sending me a copy of this! I’ve heard of several books in 2019 that had a premise like this one so I can’t wait to read it. Basically, the world stops turning which plunges half the world into a frozen wasteland and the other half into desert. I love the concept of this book!

The Lost Future of Pepperharrow
by Natasha Pulley

I received an invitation to read this book which is the sequel/follow up to The Watchmaker of Filigree Street which I really enjoyed. But I also read it years ago and was not expecting to receive an advance copy of this! It’s a great story about a watchmaker of sorts in what must be somewhere about 18/19th century England. This is such an awesome series and so underrated!

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 AUDIOBOOKS

So, Anyway . . . 
by John Cleese

I bought a lot of audiobooks at the end of 2019 thanks to Audible’s 5th-anniversary sale. But the one I chose with my subscription was John Cleese’s memoirs. I’ve been really enjoying other comedic celebrities’ memoirs that I’ve taken an interest in so I thought why not try Cleese! Especially as it’s narrated by him.

A Breath of Snow and Ashes
by Diana Gabaldon

Naturally, the other book for my December subscription went towards the next Outlander. It will be the work of many years to get through this series, especially as the books just keep getting longer. But I enjoy every second of it because the story and the characters are just so damn good.

The Pearl Thief
by Fiona McIntosh

This is a book I once bought as a present for my mum. It went on supersale with audible so I couldn’t resist getting it. This centres around a character who is involved with museums and given that that was a career path I once considered, I never can resister a book about it!

Norse Mythology
by Neil Gaiman

I loved Stephen Fry’s duology on Greek mythology so much that when Gaiman’s short book on Norse mythology went on special, I found myself unable to resist. I’m curious what this will be like, though I am hopeful and love Gaiman’s narrations (I listened to American Gods which he narrated himself) but I’m surprised at the brevity of this book!

Verity
by Colleen Hoover

And when a Colleen Hoover book went on special, how could I honestly say no? I haven’t read a Hoover book for far too long so I’m very excited at the prospect of getting around to this one once I’ve polished off a few of the others!

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That’s a wrap!

Have you read any of these? What did you think!

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~~ Kirstie ~~

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