A reread, but I‘m being kinder to it the second time than I was my first read. I still think the weight Vivi puts on Rhys‘ betrothal is too much, but hey, gotta second chance romance it somewhere. I do need some hard and fast magic rules tho bc Vivi doing “big magic” like the candle and the summoning? I don‘t even know what this world would consider big magic. Gimme rules! Outlines! Something! Overall, fun, fast, and easy.

3⭐️| #romance #reread

Ooh I‘m so excited for this list from @bookwyrm7 !! A few of them I‘ve already read (and loved), but I thiiink…I‘ll start with either 9 (I live about 6 hours from the Arctic), 16 (a coworker just found out about this gem and I‘ve been meaning to read it), or 19 (which I already have).

Thank you to @monalyisha for organizing #auldlangspine!!

Grand total: 5685 points! I finished 5 books, bringing my 2024 total to 40 books :) Thanks again to the hosts, and special thanks to @StayCurious my team lead!! Until next year~~ #wintergames2024 #wintergames #christmaschapterchasers #xmaschacha

HATED this book. Would‘ve been DNF #1 of 2025 if I hadn‘t been buddy-reading with @Lin3han . Four middle-aged white British men wander into the woods and awaken an old Swedish god, who defends her territory. I was rooting for everyone to die bc they were all terrible for their blatant misogyny, fatphobia, antisemitism, and homophobia.

#wintergames #xmaschacha #cozychristmas #12booksofchristmas #20in4 #sugarrush #readouttheold

LOVED this one! So glad boyf got it for me for Jolabokaflod. I‘m honestly a little mad I hadn‘t picked it up before then! After three great books from T Kingfisher, safe to say they‘re a solid new favorite.

#wintergames #xmaschacha #adventathon #cozychristmas #12booksofchristmas

Easily my least favorite and honestly? With the downward trend, I may not finish this series. Nina does some HORRIBLE things and is basically given a slap on the wrist, and also the back says Morty is “nonbinary” but is never referred to as they/them, only he/him the ENTIRE book. Granted, they say their pronouns are he/they, but there‘s a whole convo where they explain that they‘re uncomfy being labelled as just a man. 😐

Another reread! This one…wasn‘t as good as the first. For one, Issa at one point compared being an Avramov in Thistle Grove to being a Black man in the US South and…no??? Not at all the same. For two, I just think the resolution to the problem is a little lackluster.

#wintergames #xmaschacha #adventathon #oatmealescape

Reread! I got a couple witchy Christmas romances in anticipation of the #wintergames but it‘d been a while since I read the first two. I forgot it was wlw, which was a pleasant surprise, and it‘s just a fun lil romance.

#xmaschacha #adventathon #20in4 #firstsnowreadathon #gingerbreadjourney #oatmealescape

Jolabokaflod is a tradition I‘ve started doing with my partner, and we get to do it for the first time together this year. :) It reminds me of my family‘s tradition growing up, where Xmas Eve we‘d get to open one present that always had a book and pj‘s. The pj‘s continue (ours are stuck in the mail rn) and I‘m happy to bring books back into the equation too. #xmaschacha #wintergames2024 #wg2024

Yule tradition! I used to have an elaborate setup for burning new year wishes, and alas it was lost in the move SO. This year I got a free candle from work and my boyf‘s wish burned to the bottom of the candle in record time lol. Happy Yule to all that celebrate!

#wintergames #xmaschacha

1. LOVE me some eggnog. Non-alcoholic, though, and I recently found a pumpkin one that is delicious!!
2. Family tradition is one on Xmas Eve with new PJ‘s, and the rest on Xmas day
3. Red star to match our red, silver, and black decorations :)
4. Another family tradition is to have Xmas dinner at one of the two Waffle Houses within a mile of our house lol
5. Since I moved to Alaska, we can‘t afford to go home very often

+20pts

Got my books all ready to go! Glad the library was able to get those four in time. So excited to get started!! Most anticipated is probably Thirteen Storeys (thank youuu @Lin3han !)

+40pts
#wintergames #wintergames2024 #christmaschapterchasers #XmasChaCha #twowitches #twoyuletidewitches #earlybirdpoints

I‘m gonna so-so this book not bc I didn‘t like it (I did!) but bc it was one of those that (for me) was hard to pick up after I put it down. I will be reading the sequel. I didn‘t like the amount of repetition in this book. It felt stylistic, but also since reading SJM I‘m just very much not a fan of it.

4 ⭐️ | #fantasy

Had so so much fun!! Same time next year? (Love you too!!)

Cheers to winning!! 🥳🥳

Thank you @TheBookHippie !! This literally arrived today and I finally got the chance to open it. I can‘t wait to get into Blood Orange and UGH I love Poe. And the stickers!! I was just planning out my decorations for next year‘s bullet journal, and these are perfect. Thanks again!!

And thank you @wanderinglynn for organizing! I always look forward to this swap 🧡🖤

#hauntedhollowswap #hhs #hhs24 #hauntedhollowswap24

Did a readathon with @Lin3han this weekend. Since we both loved Summer Sons, we went with Mandelo‘s new novella, which was dripping in southern gothic. He captures summer in the south soooo well, and his spooky horror has made southern gothic one of my favorite subgenres. I will protect Les and Stevie with my life!!

5⭐️| #twowitches #horror #southerngothic #longnights #spookoween #31by31 #witchathon #readlikehellathon

Thank you so much @forestandcrow !! I had some raven feathers and a deer jawbone just like this one before I moved and it‘s so so nice to be able to incorporate them again. I can‘t wait to break into the books. Thank you again!!

And @BookwormAHN thank you for organizing this again! It‘s always something I look forward to during the Halloween season ❤️

#mws #mws24 #modernwitchswap #modernwitchswap2024

It‘s in! Thank you @forestandcrow ! So excited to open it soooooon!!

#mws #modernwitchswap

Haunted Hollow Swap box ALSO on it‘s way out, estimated delivery day of Monday!!

#hauntedhollowswap #hhs #hhs24

Box is out! Should be at it‘s destination Monday (according to USPS people)!

#modernwitchswap #mws

One thing I will die mad about is that I had an indie 1st ed and my boyf‘s cat peed on it 😭 I did toss it and then didn‘t replace it until AFTER Gibson was trad published. My books are Hella protected now believe you me. Anyway, Constanta, marry me? Plz? Thanks.

4.5⭐️ | #horror #retelling #twowitches #hauntedshelf #cozyreads #spookoween #31by31 #readlikehellathon

This book is so violently pink it hurts. But I had a good time! Although if I ever have to read about another woman calling herself an ermine again I might also go insane, I enjoyed a retelling of Macbeth from Lady Macbeth‘s perspective. Having only read The Wolf and the Woodsman from Reid before, I‘m glad the pacing issues I had from that one didn‘t appear here.
4 ⭐️s | #gothic #horror #twowitches #hauntedshelf

The vibes of this one reminded me a lot of Kierstan White‘s books. Non-linear storytelling, but I *loved* the script chapters. The book will absolutely be dating itself with references to Twitch, Venmo, and COVID, but I enjoyed it. Also the texture of the first printing is so so nice haha.

4 stars | #horror #slasher

Quiet, overcast, and a high of 58° up here in Anchorage, but I hope all you folks with the day off are enjoying it! Happy Labor Day!

I didn‘t know both of the novellas I‘d chosen to pull me out of my slump would reference the same Slavic monster, but here we are. The Chicago Roth describes is one I‘d love to live in, and the vibes reminded me of my favorite book from last year (The Salt Grows Heavy). Would 100% recommend for fans of Olivie Blake‘s Master of Death and The Witcher series. Don‘t read any blurbs going in! They give away too much.

4.75 stars | #urbanfantasy ?

The sequel to What Moves the Dead, idk what deal Kingfisher made to continuously get the most gorgeous covers, but it‘s worth it. I loved checking in with Alex, and the worldbuilding this book does for Gallacia is lovely.

4.5 stars | #horror

This is the only love corner I‘ll be accepting from here on out. If we‘re gonna be playing love triangle shenanigans, connect all the dots pleaseeeee. Anyway, I had a great time with this one. David is a little shit, Rhys has GOT to be a Capricorn, and I‘m submitting apps to be Moira‘s new gf. Can‘t wait to read the prequel in October!

4.5 stars | #darkacademia #occult #urbanfantasy ?

Thanks for the tag @BookwormAHN ! Surprisingly knew more than I thought. I listen to a lot of folk and alt now, so not surprised I didn‘t see anything from my usual playlist, but these three have got to be my fav from the 100.
@Lin3han @ariagrace.13 @MidnightBookGirl (see Dabbe‘s page for how to! Or follow the hashtag to Dabbe‘s post)
#TLT #threelistthursday

It took me a minute to get through but that‘s on me, not the book. I loved Rue as a main character, and her motivation to help her family and her home was very relatable. I wish the magic system and the world was fleshed out a bit, but maybe that comes more in book two, which I will be reading.

3.75 stars | #fantasy #yafantasy

Into the Drowning Deep is my favorite book. I‘ve never read the prequel, so I finally got it and devoured it in one sitting. I‘m glad I read ITDD before RITD, since the prequel gives away the twists. It‘s heartbreaking to read, and so so good, but I would definitely recommend reading AFTER Into the Drowning Deep.

Another reread for the beginning of the year. I really liked the premise, but the weird law story thrown in at the 75% mark always sends me for a loop. After I finish my current work read, I‘ll probably look into the sequels.

I‘ve been reading this series on Tapas for a long time, and it‘s been on hiatus, but the author is returning to finish it! It‘s such a cute little story of a town where every day, it storms at exactly the same time. Also, there‘s witches!

I love this book. I‘m so glad it was my first read of the year (I annotated a copy for my friend for Christmas). It‘s just such a lovely, gory little story. 😊

I LOVE this book with my whole heart. What does it say about me that my top two favorite books are about killer mermaids? 🤔 Anyway, the plague doctor and the mermaid are so cute, and I hope they live happily ever after. 🖤🖤

Lol that‘s a nice number. I had lofty goals! And then life happens but that‘s alright. Go #teamsnowangels!

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels

Another reread! I finished this book the night before New Years in Italy in 2019 and I still f*cking love it. The science is solid, the characters are wonderful, the writing is GORGEOUS. I immediately lent it to my coworker (who has a Master‘s in marine biology) so I‘ll add a pic when they give it back :)

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels #Rushathon #YuletideReads #ScaryChristmasReadathon #20in4

While I dislike insta-love, there wasn‘t a fated mates plot at least. Also, I wish there was more on the Mistlefoe game! And the book just…ended. I want more! At least this explains where Alexis came from.

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels #HolidayRomanceReadathon #Rushathon #DashingDecember #YuletideReads

Once again: great time! Not a super great book, but I enjoyed it and that‘s what‘s important.

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels #HolidayRomanceReadathon #Rushathon #DashingDecember #YuletideReads

While fun yes, the dubcon in this one was a biiiiit too dubious. Lemming tried to make it not creepy but still. Also, didn‘t expect my introduction to the omegaverse to be this book 😅🥲

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels #HolidayRomanceReadathon #Rushathon #DashingDecember

Listen, I had a GREAT time. Was it well written? No, not really, but was it fun? Absolutely. I bought the whole trilogy lol.

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels #HolidayRomanceReadathon #Rushathon #DashingDecember

Didn‘t know there was a sequel until a few months ago, but I started this book at work for my lunch hour read. While the movie is very different, I like the two of them for different reasons.

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels #20in4 #Rushathon

I loved this book the first time I read it and I continue to love it. The atmosphere, Mandelo‘s voice, the characters… I didn‘t realize that they were first year Master‘s students and now I‘m older than them? That‘s weird to me lol but I love this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels #20in4 #ScaryChristmasReadathon #Rushathon

Maybe it‘s because I‘m not a fan of the VVitch, which this book reminded me a LOT of, but it just didn‘t do it for me. It was so slow and while I did enjoy the ending, it didn‘t make up for how slow it was.

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels #20in4 #ScaryChristmasReadathon #Rushathon

1) The Salt Grows Heavy, which I‘m currently rereading
2) Easily Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
3) nope :)
4) I truly have no idea what Boxing Day is
5) White Christmas here in Anchorage! I haven‘t seen the ground since October haha

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels

1) PJs! Since I‘m all by my lonesome in AK, no party this year :)
2) stay up (I‘m a night owl anyway)
3) mug ❤️ my champagne flute was in my trailer that got stolen lol
4) couch fs
5) slipper

Usual NYE plans are parties at someone else‘s house (my boyf‘s friend‘s birthday is today, so usually his) and we play games, take shots, and eat snacks until the ball drops and we uber home. Meetup the next morning for Chipotle and picking up cars lol

My first #wintergames read will be Summer Sons! I read it last year and it‘s honestly one of my favorite books, so I can‘t wait to start this month off with something I know I‘ll love.

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels

1) I‘ve got a work, but after I plan to come home, turn on some Christmas music, and read with my cat :)

2) I‘m not sure yet! I‘m TBR-jar-ing next month, so we‘ll see tomorrow!

#wintergames #wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels

1. I only read one book this month (technically, I don‘t count all the things I‘ve read for training) so it has to be Slewfoot.
2. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief! I haven‘t reread it since middle school and with the show coming out, I‘d love a refresher.

#twofortuesday #two4tuesday @TheSpineView @Lin3han

These are all the tbr books I have with me at the moment, so here‘s my #wintergames tbr list! I have a jar with paper stars in it with all these titles so it‘s going to be a tbr jar month!

#wintergames2023 #wintergames23 #snowangels #teamsnowangels

Hey #teamsnowangels!

1. I‘m neopagan, so lighting candles on Yule is always a good time. My boyf has also found out about Jolabokaflod and we‘re gonna start this year since we‘re currently long distance.

2. Finishing out 2023 strong! I‘ve hit a slump this month that I‘m excited to crawl out of.

3. Picture this: a bay window seat, it‘s snowing. My cat on my lap, so many blankets. A snack board and some eggnog. And I‘m off work. Heaven lol