Christmas is next week? What madness is this? I’ve still got a November hangover.
After epically failing at a book tree that looked more like a pyramid, I went minimalist instead and made a tiered, green book stack. My, but that tree topper is nice, though!
I’m loving my festive “Joy to the World” bookmark from @createexploreread. HOPE10 gets you 10% off at her Etsy shop!
How are you feeling? I’m honestly not stressed about the holidays – though I still need to get most of my packages in the mail. I’m more stressed out about getting all the work I need to get done *done* so I can cut off for Christmas and New Year and give some dedicated time to my writing. With work, it always feels like there’s one more thing that *has* to get done. But my Christmas shopping is basically finished. My holiday plans should be mostly chill, and I’ve been feeling more rested than I have in a while.
How about you? Were you able to make use of your weekend? What did you enjoy the most about it?
#OnceUponABookmas – #BookTree
#TheChristmasStoryann18 – Green Books
#AllTheBooksDec18 – Candy Canes – I’m subbing in this bookmark. Joy!
#ohmybooksmaschallenge – Red + Green
.
.
.
#CreateExplore Read #joytotheworld #bookmark #bookstack #greenbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #littlewomen #anneshirley #sirenssong #thehazelwood #eragon #booklover #bookdragon #booknerd #reading #writersofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookshelfie
“If you’re always on time, it implies that you never have anything better you should be doing.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn: The Final Empire * * * * *
I’m claiming this quote right now. lol. I’m only posting Sunday’s post at 12:45am Tuesday. *shakes head*
Not only do I have the need to display one of my favorite covers – hello, 10thAnniversary Mistborn! – but I also have the need to display one of my favorite bookmarks.
This “Tale as Old as Time” bookmark by @createexploreread is thick, luxurious, and double-sided. The gold on the rose side glimmers with enchantment and true beauty.
You can use my rep code HOPE10 to make this lovely your own for a little bit less. People talk a lot about stocking stuffers, but I like to think about valuables that can fit into Christmas cards, and bookmarks are some of my favorite go-tos.
How’s your holiday shopping going?
.
.
.
#fantasyWIPdecember – Naughty or Nice? Fantasy Character you love to hate. – Inquisitors. Ugh. Except for Marsh. Love Marsh.
#OnceUponABookmas – National Pastry Day: Cinnamon Roll Characters – Lestibournes! I love Spook’s innocent role in Kelsier’s crew and how he grows up with the story’s unfolding.
#bamdecember18 – Fave Villain – Most of my favorite villains are in the Cosmere, let’s be real.
#TheChristmasStoryann18 – Scary Ghost Stories + Tales of the Glories of Christmases Long, Long Ago… - Ghost Story – Mistborn has “ghosts” . . . I’m counting it!
#decinbooks18 / #AllTheBooksDec18 – Your Christmas Wishlist – The books on my wishlist are actually of the research nature – for my writing and other personal studies. .
.
.
#CreateExploreRead #brandonsanderson #thefinalempire #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booklover #bookdragon #booknerd #mistborn #reading #amwriting #cosmere #bookishmerch #readersofinstagram #bookshelfie #coverlove #bookmark
“No 'Glory shall be your reward' for me. Oh, no, for me, it is, 'Stop whining' and 'Go to bed'.” ― Megan Whalen Turner, The King of Attolia
* * * * *
sigh. This is one of my all-time favorite books from one of my all-time favorite series. “…but, Stephanie, it’s not by Brandon Sanderson. …Is this a pseudonym?” Oh, ye of little faith. Behold, I adore a wide expanse of authors and their stories. (Although my brother has described the protagonist of this series as being ‘a Brandon character dropped into someone else’s world.’) The King of Attolia is the third book in the Queen’s Thief series. The final book of the series is coming out in 2019!!! It’s called Return of the Thief, and I may be freaking out about it just a bit.
If the quote above seems totally random, just read the books, and then all will be fabulously revealed.
I don’t want to talk too much about the plot, because this whole series is just spoilers on top of spoilers. But if you haven’t given it a try yet, the Queen’s Thief series is full of scheming thieves, political intrigue, meddling gods, and historical/mythological settings reminiscent of Greece and Persia. It reads like classic literature, and each book is fairly slim, so it won’t take too much of your time.
Have you read this series?
When I read it in jr high, I read the first two books in order without actually realizing they were related. lol. The Thief is book one, and I enjoyed it more the 2nd time through. The 2nd book is the Queen of Attolia, and it made me step back and figure out there was a whole series attached. (It always puzzles me when publishers don’t market a book as part of a series…) .
.
.
#bamdecember18 – Book you wish was longer. – I would wish for this one to be longer, except that it’s perfect. So I’ll just wish that the series was longer.
#TheChristmasStoryann18 – I’ll Be Home for Christmas: nostalgic book – When this series started getting re-hyped, my jaw dropped. I thought it was one of those childhood favorites that no one else would ever know unless I pushed it on them.
#decinbooks18 – Favorite Book Cover ’18 – This isn’t it, but I love the revamped covers of this series!
#AllTheBooksDec18 – Book Rec
Do you ever stumble upon books on your shelves that take you to a different era of your life? * * * * *
Today’s challenges asked for a historical/military read and the second book in a series, and I glanced up to my shelves and saw this blast from my past. I remember being intrigued with the De Granville Trilogy by K. M. Grant in high school.
Young English knights called into the Crusades, a compelling red horse named Hosanna, and a look at both sides of the conflict without really demonizing or idealizing either.
It’s been well over a decade since I read this trilogy, and I don’t remember many details. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone talk about it on Bookstagram. The first book is called Blood Red Horse, and it came out in 2005. Have you heard of or read it?
#OnceUponABookmas – Book + Candle
#TheChristmasStoryann18 – Pearl Harbor Day: historical or military read
#decinbooks18 – Second Book in a Series .
.
.
#GreenJasper #historicalfiction #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booklover #bookdragon #booknerd #yalovin #reading #writersofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookshelfie #coverlove #booksandcandles #bookishcandles #beautifulbooks
“We had a terrible start . . . doesn’t mean we can’t have a better ending.”
The Remnant Chronicles by @maryepearson * * * * *
I love the way this trilogy unfolds, starting off tight and mysterious and then book-by-book expanding the world and upping the stakes. And I love this quote because it’s so true to life. Just because you can’t start perfectly – or well – doesn’t mean you can’t see it to a good completion, if it’s meant to be. . . .
#fantasyWIPdecember – Inspirational Quote
#bamdecember18 – Fave Trilogy – That honor must go to Lord of the Rings and Mistborn. But the Remnant Chronicles is definitely in my top ten, maybe even top five, favorite trilogies.
#ohmybooksmaschallenge – Christmas Lights – Hey, look! I finally got my Christmas lights added to my bookshelf. .
.
.
#maryepearson #thekissofdeception #theheartofbetrayal #thebeautyofdarkness #theremnantchronicles #fantasybook #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booklover #bookdragon #booknerd #reading #writersofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookshelfie #coverlove
Has there been an under-hyped book that you see finally getting the attention it deserves? * * * * *
Scythe by @nealshusterman easily gleaned its way onto my top ten favorite list. The plot is so high concept – and well-executed. The characters are dynamic and relatable, root-able, or loath-able. The world-building is perfectly crafted to the story presented, and the philosophical intrigue doesn’t get in the way of – but helps - the twists and turns that keep readers at the edge of their seats. I’m so excited to see more people talking about this series.
If you’re not familiar, here’s what it’s about:
Thou shalt kill.
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
. . .
#bamdecember18 – Craziest Plot Twist – Not craziEST, but Scythe, Firefight, and ACOTAR pictured here all had some pretty good twists.
#TheChristmasStoryann18 – Red + Green + White
#decinbooks18 – Favorite Underhyped Books
#AllTheBooksDec18 – Book + Scarf
#fantasyWIPdecember – 5 Golden Rings! 5 Fun Facts about your WIP – How fun!
1. It started as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. And then it found its place in my larger story universe and morphed into so much more, but if you’re looking, you’ll still see the fairytale roots.
2. It’s peppered with Easter eggs from books that likely won’t come out for over a decade.
3. The names are mostly French-inspired, as a nod to Beauty and the Beast.
4. My protagonist decided to become a vigilante without my permission.
5. My inspirational candle while writing is Sugared Cinnamon Apple by @YankeeCandle because apples are a recurring sensory device and the first book happens while autumn is wintering and it’s a scent I associate with the season. .
.
.
#Scythe #NealShusterman #bookstagram
