Best of the Best
31 December 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 2024 Top Ten Books, A Little Trickerie, Best of the Best, Gorse, HG Parry, James Logan, Joanne Harris, Marcus Kliewer, Melissa Caruso, Rachel Hawkins, Robert Jackson Bennett, Rosanna Pike, Same K Horton, Sarah Beth Durst, The Heiress, The Last Hour Between Worlds, The Moonlight Market, The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door, The Silverblood Promise, The Spelshop, The Tainted Cup, We Used to Live Here
As with previous years at the start of each year I take a look back over the past twelve months and choose my top ten books. This past year I’ve read over 100 books (I think 114 in total) so choosing ten was not easy. I’ve read some amazing books this year and tried to shine a light on my favourites, particularly during My Countdown to 2025 posts. There’s a great variety here, twisted mystery, fantastic fantasy, scary goosebump raisers, tricksy fae, history, romance, beautiful writing and great adventures. So, here goes, and before I change my mind for the sixth time, here are ten amazing books:
- The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
- The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
- The Silverblood Promise by James Logan
- We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
- The Moonlight Market by Joanne Harris
- The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
- A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike
- Gorse by Sam K Horton
- The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso
- The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by HG Parry
Countdown to 2025: Day 31: Bottle of Bubbly
31 December 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Bottle of Bubbly, Countdown to 2025, Day 31, Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales, Heather Fawcett
Once again I am counting down to the New Year, as with the previous two years I shall be highlighting at least one book per day to fit the prompt on that given day. The main aim for this countdown is to highlight some of my reads during the past year and to shine the spotlight on them once again (although some of the prompts relate to forthcoming reads). Today is day 31 (the final day!) of the countdown to 2025 and a list of prompts can be found here
Today’s Prompt : Bottle of Bubbly – your first read for 2025:
I am so excited to read this book that I don’t think I’ll be able to wait much longer to pick it up.
0 Days Remaining (we made it)
If you joined me this year thanks for taking part 😀
Countdown to 2025: Day 30: Family and Friends
30 December 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A book with great characters, Christopher Buehlman, Countdown to 2025, Day 30, family and Friends, The Daughters' War
Once again I am counting down to the New Year, as with the previous two years I shall be highlighting at least one book per day to fit the prompt on that given day. The main aim for this countdown is to highlight some of my reads during the past year and to shine the spotlight on them once again (although some of the prompts relate to forthcoming reads). Today is day 30 of the countdown to 2025 and a list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2025 and casting a spotlight on some of your favourite books (if you join in please leave me a link so I can check out your book choices).
Today’s Prompt : Family and Friends – a book with great characters
I had such a good time with this book and this was undoubtedly helped by the characters, especially the MC.
1 Day Remaining
Tomorrow’s prompt: Bottle of Bubbly – your first read for 2025
Monthly Wrap Up/What’s On My Plate December/January
29 December 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: book-blog, Books, December/January, Monthly Wrap Up, reading, reading-challenges, TBR, What's on my Plate
I’m trying to post a wrap up for the end of each month, mainly to help me to keep track of my reading and at the same time look at what I’m intending to read during the month ahead (inspired by Books Bones and Buffy’s What’s on My Plate.
In this post I shall be looking at the reading I completed during December and also setting out what I’m hoping to achieve during the first month of 2025. I haven’t managed to complete all my review books but I’ve fit some in and overall, for the entire year, I think I’m approximately 9 or 10 books outstanding – which, I’m not too displeased with – although I was set to keep on track until the last two months, but, the best laid plans, etc. Anyway, I’ve completed my Countdown posts (the last two posts already scheduled) and in the new year, as well as continuing with the Backlist challenge, I shall be starting to read the 9 SPFBO finalists (check them all out here).
Here’s what I read during December :
- The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by HG Parry
- Strange Beasts by Susan J Morris
- The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
- The Queen by Nick Cutter – review to follow soon
- The Coven by Harper L Woods – I’m still reading this but hopefully will complete by New Year.
Here’s what I’m hoping to read in January:
- The House of Frost and Feathers by Lauren Wiesebron
- Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
- Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
- Daughter of Chaos by A S Webb
I’m also hoping to make a start on my SPFBO Finalists. You can find them all here.
Plus I still have two books sent to me by authors that I’d also like to pick up:
Land from Bjørn Larssen; and
Drown Deep by Phil Williams

This month I yet again have read no Backlist Books but I’ve managed to read six books from my backlist this year – not as good as I’d hoped but it’s still an improvement and means I’m slowly catching up.
Bookforager‘s Picture Prompt book bingo

This month I’m ticking off the final two prompts. The microscope – I’m using The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso for this one as it has a groundhog feel to the story that makes you feel like each world is really under scrutiny. For the bees I’m using The Queen by Nick Cutter – if you’ve read this you’ll know why. Thank you so much to the Bookforager for running this fun picture prompt.
PICTURE PROMPT BOOK BINGO 2024 (TEXT VERSION)
So far this year I’ve read and (mostly) reviewed a total of 112 books.
How did you get on during December and 2024?
Countdown to 2025: Day 29: A Roaring Fire
29 December 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Roaring Fire, Countdown to 2025, Day 29, Katherine Arden, The Warm Hands of Ghosts
Once again I am counting down to the New Year, as with the previous two years I shall be highlighting at least one book per day to fit the prompt on that given day. The main aim for this countdown is to highlight some of my reads during the past year and to shine the spotlight on them once again (although some of the prompts relate to forthcoming reads). Today is day 29 of the countdown to 2025 and a list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2025 and casting a spotlight on some of your favourite books (if you join in please leave me a link so I can check out your book choices).
Today’s Prompt : A Roaring Fire – a book that was heartwarming
Perhaps a slightly unusual choice for the prompt but when I reflect on this book I really do think it fits very well.
2 Days Remaining
Tomorrow’s prompt: Family and Friends – a book with great characters























