Best Books of 2024

Another year gone by. This year have not been the best. But I'm doing the best I can. I managed to read 30 books this year too, which I'm so happy about :) Hoping to read more next year. But I did read a whole bunch of awesome books, which makes me happy. My health hasn't been the best, and I'm trying a new medicine which is still not working right. Sigh. Fingers crossed for me, please. This year my grandpa got a new kidney. We were all so happy. But it ruined his body and he died this fall. And it has mostly ruined all of us. We are a small family, all living close by. This was my first loss and it is so hard. And so I have not read much since then. Hoping to get lost in books again soon. I just feel so bad for my grandma, but at least we are here for her. But yes. It's so hard. Miss him so much. Trying my best to stay positive. And hoping this new year will be better. Hoping to read more too. What were your best books of this year? :)

Best Books of 2012. Best Books of 2013. Best Books of 2014. Best Books of 2015. Best Books of 2016. Best Books of 2017. Best Re-Reads of 2015. Best Re-Reads of 2017. Best Four Stars of 2018.
Best Books of 2018. Best Four Stars of 2019. Best Books of 2019. Best Four Stars of 2020.
Best Books of 2020. Best Books of 2021. Best Books of 2022. Best Books of 2023.
Goodreads 2024 Challenge. Goodreads 2024 Year in Books.

1. The Mirror of Beasts. I loved this second book with all my heart. The romance was my favorite of all.
2. A Song of Ash and Moonlight. Such an amazing world with the best sisters. It has some great magic.
3. Red in Tooth and Claw. This one was so different and I loved it to pieces. It had such a cute romance.

4. Warrior of Legend. This one ruined me a little. I need more. But oh, how good the story is. Love it so.
5. Ruthless Vows. A beautiful yet sad ending to this wonderful duology. I love these characters so much.
6. Daughter of Mine. Such an excellent mystery book. I loved figuring everything out. It was so amazing.

7. The Thirteenth Child. A wonderful and dark world created. I really enjoyed the romance and the story.
8. The Heart of the World. Such a great ending to a most stunning world with such awesome characters.
9. The Scorpio Races. 14th time reading. Still my most favorite book of all. So I had to include it this time.

HAPPY NEW YEAR :D

In My Mailbox #686

Merry Christmas. <3 I hope you are all having a most wonderful Holiday so far :) I have had a good one. A little sad, of course. Missing grandpa. But we are doing alright. I loved my presents. <3 And loving all the delicious Christmas foods :) But ohh. Christmas is almost over now. Aw. How rude, haha. I'm looking forward to January. But also not. Will be hard to have to go outside again to take photos for instagram for every day, ha. But I'm hoping it will go well and won't be too hard for me :) I'm also excited to start reading again in early January. Just unsure which eARC to start with, eee. I got a whole bunch of mail this week. Loving it all. <3 This week I'm waiting on A Forgery of Fate :) Hope you are all doing well at this time. <3

Funko Europe. Eee. I had to place a new order, ha. I love all of these so much. New Baymax. So cute. And HA! I finally got that goddamn Shrek dragon mystery mini. <3 And I ordered two of Penelope. And I got the chase :D Eee! I am so happy and feeling so lucky with this order of mine. <3 Adore the Dumbos :)
Christmas gifts. Got a bunch of different and awesome things. <3 Got that precious Taylor Swift bracelet from my sister :D Eee. I love it so. And some pins. And some temu things, which I'm not really supporting, ha, but she got it anyway :) And got two new pair of Crocs, ha. Fluffy ones. And gorgeous new pink glitter ones :D Then some precious Lord of the Rings items. Duck. Candle. Light. Glasses. I wanted to get those awesome ones in London; but they were so expensive. And eee, love the cute Stitch. Love it all so much.
PRH International Christmas PR box. EEE! Thank you so much lovely :D Sharing on instagram tomorrow.

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #688

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A FORGERY OF FATE BY ELIZABETH LIM

Goodreads Description:

Beauty and the Beast meets Six of Crows in this romantic fantasy about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes!

Truyan Saigas didn't choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.

Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father's disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King's inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. . . .

Format: 480 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: June 3, 2025 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

Once I saw this gorgeous cover on Waterstones I could not help myself from ordering it, ha. I now own several books by Elizabeth though I haven't read any of them yet. Oops. But soon :D This one sounds all kinds of awesome and I cannot wait to read it. I am feeling hopeful that I will end up loving this story. <3
What are you waiting for on this fateful Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #685

Cannot believe it is Christmas in just three days. Ahh! I'm excited. Yet.. I don't fully have that Christmas feeling right. Sigh. Missing grandpa, who should have been here. Sobs. Missing my sister and her family, who went on vacation for the whole holiday. Hmph. So it will just be four of us this Christmas, instead of ten. And that just feels weird. And I am sad. Missing grandpa. Thinking of unfair the world is. So anyway. I'm not feeling the best. But started watching Christmas movies, so I am hoping to feel more okay soon :) Excited for all the Christmas food at least, haha. <3 Got a bit of mail this week. I am waiting on something exciting that should arrive on Monday, hopefully. This week I'm waiting on A Theory of Dreaming :) I hope you are all doing well. <3 And are excited about Christmas :D Do you have snow? :) We do, thankfully. <3

His Dark Materials. Of course I had to buy this new huge UK edition of all three books. Oops. SO pretty.
A Monsoon Rising. I still haven't read The Hurricane Wars. Oops. But needed this waterstones exclusive.
The Lord of the Rings Animated. I have never seen this old movie before. Now I cannot wait to see it, ha.
Joan He Swag. Eee. Thank you so much Joan for opening up a swag shop :D These are so precious. <3
The Raven Boys 2-4. Owlcrate editions. <3 Now my collection is complete :D Of course I had get them :)

More Instagram photos here. <3

Waiting on Wednesday #687

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A THEORY OF DREAMING (A Study in Drowning #2)
BY AVA RAID

Goodreads Description:

Return to the immersive, lush, and dreamlike world of the instantly bestselling dark academia fantasy A Study in Drowning as the aftermath of their first discovery pulls Effy and Preston on a final adventure and brings their haunting love story to its end in this stunning sequel and final book in the duology.

All stories come to an end.

Effy learned that when she defeated the Fairy King. Even though she may never know exactly what happened at Hiraeth, she is free of her nightmares and is able to pen a thesis with Preston on the beloved national fairy tale Angharad. She has finally earned a spot at the literature college, making her the first woman in history to enroll.

But some dreams are dangerous, especially when they come true. The entire university—and soon the entire nation—is waiting for her to fail. With the Fairy King defeated and Myrddin’s legacy exposed, Effy can no longer escape into fantasy. Who is she without her stories?

With Effy under threat, Preston is surprised to discover a rage simmering inside him, ringing in his ears like bells. He begins to dream of a palace under the sea, a world where he is king—visions that start to follow him even in waking.

As the war between Llyr and Argant explodes, Effy and Preston find themselves caught in the crossfire: Effy losing her dreams and Preston losing himself in his.

Are dreams ever truly just dreams?

Format: 416 pages, Hardcover
Expected Publication: August 5, 2025 by HarperCollins
Pre-Order: Blackwells and Amazon US and Amazon UK

EEE! I am all kinds of dying for this sequel :D Ahh! I loved A Study in Drowning so so so very much. <3 And oh my gosh. I have an eARC of this beauty :D It will be read early next year, ha. After I re-read book one. I simply cannot wait to read them both. Sigh. I have already peeked, haha. I am beyond excited :)
What are you waiting for on this dreamy Wednesday?