I hope you all had a Happy Christmas if you celebrate it! If not then I hope the holidays weren’t too lonely or stressful at least. The world is a mess right now, especially in the UK, so I hope you managed to handle whatever’s going on for you all without much trouble.
Books are something I always ask for at Christmas and I did receive a few. So I thought why not share them all with you in a post since I’m not doing videos anymore. I’m going to split this into sections and I’ll be providing a little info and buy links on each of the books!
Novels From Family and Friends
The Candle and the Flame – Nafiza Azad
I’m not sure where I first heard about this book but I love the cover. I’d wanted it for a while and had nearly picked it up a couple of times myself. But for various reasons I didn’t. So this was one of the books I was most hoping for this Christmas and I was glad to be gifted it.
This book follows Fatima, a young woman who lives in the city of Noor on the Silk Road. One day her city is destroyed by the djinn and only she and two other humans survived. The city is protected after by the Ifrit and their commander, Zulfikar. After a particularly strong ifrit dies, Fatima winds up trying to get closer to the new leader and try to discover what’s actually happening now.
I feel like the world building in this book is going to be as beautiful as the cover and I’m finding that I love books that include creatures like the djinn.
BUY LINKS
The Tiger at Midnight – Swati Teerdhala
I stumbled across this book on Twitter when people were comparing it to Zutara from ATLA and I absolutely adore Zutara. And that’s basically the only reason I added this book onto my wishlist and then christmas list.
According to the summary, this book follows Esha, an assassin and Kunal, a soldier. When their paths cross, they both want to think they’re in control but there are other people moving the pieces too. This sounds like a fascinating enemies to lovers fantasy and it’s been inspired by Indian history and Hindu folklore. I said before that I’d like to learn more about Hindu mythology so this is one I’m excited for!
I still don’t know much about this book but I kind of don’t want to until I’ve actually picked it up. I’m hoping to get to it soon!
BUY LINKS
Skyhunter – Marie Lu
This was one I was going to wait for a UK release for but I threw it on my christmas list just in case anyone decided to get it for me. And my friend Vee, kindly obliged. I love Marie Lu so this is obviously a book I’m super excited for! This is the start in a new sci-fi series and I’m sure it’ll be amazing.
The Karensa Federation has taken over most of the world and the country of Mara is one of the only free places left. This is in part due to their elite fighting force, the Strikers. But the Ghosts – mutant war beasts – that the enemy is sending to attack are getting too much and Talin, a refugee and striker refuses to give up hope.
I just know that this book is going to be action-packed, emotional and just so good to read. Marie Lu does sci-fi and characters so well and I just want to pick this book up right this second and read it. But I can’t. I have a TBR to read instead. I feel like this is probably going to be one of my favourite books when I read it next year. So, fingers crossed!
BUY LINKS
Sisters of Sword and Song – Rebecca Ross
Books about sibling relationships are one of my favourite things. Probably because I’m close to my own siblings and I love to see it. But I mostly requested this book as I adored The Queen’s Rising books by the author as they came out. So I’m happy to give her new work a go.
Evadne has been separated from her older sister, Halcyon, for eight long years. Soon she’ll get to see her again but when her sister appears sooner than expected, and in trouble, Evadne offers to suffer part of her sister’s sentence. Both her and her sister will live but Evadne will quickly learn that some fates are worse than death.
Doesn’t that sound like such a good premise for a standalone fantasy novel? If I’m honest, I didn’t remember about what this book was about until I was typing up this post. And now I’m really hyped for it. This book was bought for me by my sister’s friend, so someone who doesn’t really know much about what I read and just had my wishlist. This seems like it was a pretty good pick.
BUY LINKS
Amazon UK | Waterstones | Bookshop Org
Where Dreams Descend – Janella Angeles
If I could only pick one book on this list, it would be this one. I might not have the gorgeous OwlCrate edition but I’ve been desperate to get my hands on this book. And it still has a pretty naked hardcover underneath the jacket. This book has romance, magic and circuses. It looks dark, wonderful and right up my alley. I’m so unbelievably hyped for this book. I can’t believe I finally have it!
Set in an icy city, The Conquering Circus is looking for a new headliner. As more and more magicians enter, the acts become riskier and people start to go missing. The case is down to be solved by a showgirl, the club master and brooding judge. Not three people you’d think would work together but there are mysterious forces out there out to stop them and the task won’t be easy.
I really am so here for this book. I don’t know what else to say other than *grabby hands* only, I already have it. So it’s kind of just like I want to gobble it up right now. But I can’t read this yet either. I’ve not even done a single pull from my TBR jar since I got this book and I won’t for a while. I might wind up cheating and throwing this in a pile anyway oops.
BUY LINKS
Wishlist Books
A Dress for the Wicked – Autumn Krause
This is a book I actually tried to get out of the library early this year. It wasn’t my local library but the one in the next county over so once we went into lockdown, I cancelled my reservation. Because I knew I wouldn’t be getting on a bus for a while even when things did open up a bit more. And I was right there. So this book went on my wishlist and I was kindly gifted it by Sophie on Twitter. She’s lovely so I encourage you all to follow her and check out her blog.
The premise of this book is a pretty simple one. Fashion house opens a design competition to girls outside the capital city. Girl wants to be a designer so enters. Girl finds out the fashion world is a lot more dangerous and twisted than she ever expected. This book is set in an alternate Victorian London so I’m excited to see how Emmy tries to fit in as well as all the fashion. This book doesn’t look like it’ll be a favourite but I know it’ll be a fun and probably bitchy read. And I’m definitely gonna enjoy it.
BUY LINKS
Amazon UK | Waterstones | Bookshop Org
Manga
Last but not least I wanted you guys to see the manga I got. I didn’t get much but in the new year I am going to be talking about manga more. I may even post a few reviews. So take these books as a couple of series recommendations
Spy x Family vol 1 – Tatsuya Endo
I’d seen some fanart for this series and I was completely intrigued from the get go. It’s spies, found family and it looks like it’s going to be cute and hilarious. I don’t know much about the series, I haven’t seen a massive amount. I don’t even know if it’s completed, ongoing or even what the genre of it actually is. But it’s a series I feel like I’m going to love.
Twilight is a master spy, one who is used to going undercover on missions to improve the world. His latest mission means that he has to find a wife and a kid. That’s never going to be easy. Especially when the wife he finds turns out to be an assassin and the kid he adopts? A telepath.
I just know this series is going to be filled with shenanigans and I’m so glad that I finally get to start it! If this doesn’t give me some AU ideas for my current fandom then I’ll have lied to myself because I can totally see it already.
Amazon UK | Waterstones | Bookshop Org
Mermaid Boys vol 2 – Yomi Sarachi
I picked up Mermaid Boys vol 1 after stumbling across it on my birthday not last year, but the year before. I’d been looking out for volume 2 for a while as I don’t often order manga online and had yet to find it. I finally gave in and added it to my wishlists and now I have it!
I don’t want to go into detail on this volume but I will tell you what the series is about as a whole and then link you to where you can buy volume one.
This is basically a gender-swapped Little Mermaid. The main character, Naru, is a beautiful red-headed merman in love with a human girl. He’s silly, picks up things from the human world and makes mistakes about them and his family do not take him seriously. One day, he decides to make a deal with the sorcerer Mellow to get human legs. Mellow wants his voice, but Naru refuses, wanting to be able to talk to her. So instead he loses his hotness – and just becomes adorable instead.
The art is lovely, the story is ridiculous and hilarious and I’m glad to carry on with this series.
BUY LINKS
Amazon UK | Waterstones | Bookshop Org
Did you guys get any books for Christmas? Or do you have any vouchers or money you plan to use to get yourself some? Let me know down below.
Lace and Dagger Books 
Amazing!!! Hope you had a great time x
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I did and I hope you did too.
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Wow – the cover of Where Dreams Descend is beautiful. I can’t resist buying a book with a pretty cover. Adding it to my list for sure! This is a great post, and I loved being able to read a summary for each book. There are a few that have caught my eye.
Best Wishes,
– Lucy Rambles x
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The Owlcrate edition was even more stunning but pretty covers for the win! I hope you manage to get and enjoy it.
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