Hello hello and welcome or welcome back to my little bookish corner of the internet. It’s Christmas Eve, and so it’s time for a very special book tag. I’ve already done a couple of Christmasy posts, but I filled in this Christmas Eve post last year too, and I decided to repeat it. So ho ho ho – here we go!
“‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse,”
A book that kept you up so late, everyone else was asleep:
I’m a natural night owl so enjoy reading at night most of the time. However, going with our Christmasy mood, recently I read Mistletoe and Murder, and I really enjoyed reading that late at night while my husband and son were sleeping, and the rain was pouring down outside, under a fluffy blanket. It was a great read regardless, but it was especially great reading it late like that.
“And Mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,”
A book that made you fall asleep:
This year, with my vision having become worse, I’ve been a bit stricter with not finishing books that I don’t happen to be enjoying. So, luckily I can say that this year, nothing I’ve finished made me feel this way, and anything that even began to make me feel like this was quickly set aside.
“When out on the roof there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter,”
A book, or a book scene that made your heart race:
While all of the S.T.A.G.S series have been brilliant reads, book three, F.O.X.E.S really jumped to mind with this prompt. It absolutely made my heart face and I was willing the words to come quicker and quicker as I just couldn’t wait for the next line – it was THAT tense!
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,”
An object in a book that was utterly magical/ Or a magical book:
I’ve read some truly magical books this year but two really jump to mind with this, both by the same author. Margaret Rogerson is a new-to-me author this year whose works I’ve really fallen in love with.
The first book of hers I read this year was Sorcery of Thorns. Full of magical books, talking books and demons, I think this book is about as magical as you can ask for.
I also read and adored Vespertine. This time around, the magic is more specific, and is mostly surrounding spirits. Artemisia works with a magical saint’s realic to get to the bottom of the Old Magic that has started haunting the kingdom. I loved this book, and would have given it six stars on Good Reads if I could.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick,”
A twinkle-eyed book character that made you happy:
We’re going to step into the Shadowhunters universe for a moment here, because the first character to spring to mind is Magnus Bane. He’s been one of my favourite characters throughout the books, but I especially loved The Red Scrolls of Magic, where the book focused on him and Alec, and their adventures after the end of the Mortal War (book three of the Immortal Instruments). I think maybe I most loved him in this book because we get to see him in a relaxed way, even while still under pressure, and we get to really see him and Alec find some happiness within the pages.
so up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too,”
A book that made you fly to another land:
The only books that feel they do this justice is the Spellslinger series. I’ve fallen head over heels in love with these books this year, and each book I’ve read in the series so far (I’m up to book four) has taken us to a different part of Kellen’s world. We’re meeting new people, places, and creatures through his eyes, and it’s incredible just how thought out it all is. I’m restricting myself to one book per month, and then I’ll go on to the series that follows Ferius, one of the lead characters.
Here’s my reviews for book two, Shadowblack, and book three, Charmcaster.
“And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each little hoof,”
A book creature you love:
I wrote a blog post a little while ago about books with animal characters that I loved. It’s difficult to pick one from those and from the other books I’ve read too, but I think I’m going to go with my above book choice, and say that Riechis the squirrelcat from the Spellslinger series. There’s a scene in book two where Ferius makes him blush, and he made me genuinely laugh out loud. That scene was JUST what I needed.
“He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot,”
A character that proves to more than his / her first impression:
My immediate reaction to this was to say Poppy, the protagonist of From Blood and Ash. And it’s true; there’s much, much more to her than what meets the eye, both in the first book, and certainly as the series continues.
However, Little Thieves also came to mind. Junior Prefect Emeric will forever hold a little piece of my heart. I wanted so much there to be more to the surface level we see of him from the first instance we encounter him, and he just ended up being one of my favourite male characters of the year.
“He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly,”
A book or book character that made you laugh:
The Babysitters Coven. Even just looking at the cover of this book makes me smile, thinking about how much it made me laugh. It’s an underrated book, and next year when I finish the series, I’m going to never stop talking about it when people ask me for recommendations.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread,”
A book that makes you feel safe:
I’ve read a lot of thrillers and mysteries this year, none of which are paritcularly focused on feeling safe, however I’ve also read the ocassional comfy cosy romance book. My choice for this prompt is actually a fairly recent read, The Ex Hex. My review isn’t live for this one yet, but in short: social media made me do it, and I’m so glad it did!
“He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,”
A book that put you to work (a book that you felt you really needed to concentrate on):
Threadneedle was a brilliant read back in the summer, but one you very much had to – excuse the pun – follow the threads through. There were a lot of different moving parts in this book, and it’s a big chunky book too, so it did really demand my attention at times. So glad it was worth it!
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
A book with a magnificent ending:
I don’t think I can pick just one! Here’s the five I narrowed it down to:
There we are! I can’t believe it’s Christmas Eve again. If you’ve stopped by today to read this, thank you so much for your support today and always, and may your day tomorrow be merry and bright.
And On She Reads 
The squirrelcat sounds intriguing. Happy Christmas.
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