TBR Jar (2018) Wrap Up & TBR Jar for 2019

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And with limited time before the end of the year, I thought I might squeeze two posts into one (especially as they are relevant to the other.)

Enjoy!

TBR Jar (2018)- How It Went

What I Accomplished

1. 1 Stephen King book- It

2. Graphic Novel/Manga- A Wrinkle In Time

3. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

4. VE Schwab- The Monsters of Verity duology

5. A Shadow Bright and Burning & A Poison Dark and Drowning, by Jessica Cluess- Having read the first book, I'm counting this, and I will carry on with this challenge in 2019.

What I Didn't Accomplish

1. The Dark Artifices trilogy, by Cassandra Clare- I currently own the books in this trilogy (I bought Queen of Air and Darkness literally yesterday) and this is going to be one of the first trilogy's that I pick up in 2019.

2. The Witchlands trilogy, by Susan Dennard- I don't think I'm going to pick this trilogy up any time soon. I have no motivation to delve into this world, meet the characters, and read the story.

TBR Jar for 2019

1. The Dark Artifices, by Cassandra Clare

2. A Poison Dark and Drowning, by Jessica Cluess- I will get to this at some point, if I get to finish the trilogy it'll be fantastic, if not, at least I will still have completed the TBR Jar.

3. 1 Stephen King book- I want to pick up another Stephen King book again this year, because I thoroughly enjoyed IT, and I kind of want to read more Stephen King for some reason. I might pick up Carrie, or Misery. But I want to read more horror, and I feel like Stephen King is the way to start.

4. Book 4 in the Three Dark Crowns series (I think it'll be called Last Dark Queen, but no title is confirmed yet.)- I just finished Two Dark Reigns, and I really enjoyed it. All I know is stuff is going to go down and I need to get my hands on it. So it makes sense to make it one of my TBR Jar Challenges.

5. Skulduggery Pleasant Book 12- This is the concluding book for the second part of the Skulduggery Pleasant series. It comes out in June and after the twist ending of the last book, I cannot wait to see how it all wraps up!

6. Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2), by Laini Taylor- I got this book yesterday with my Waterstones Christmas voucher and I can't wait to read the concluding book to the Strange the Dreamer duology.

Okay! That is my TBR Jar for 2019, and also my wrap up for this year. I appreciate that the description was kind of vague, but it's a long post, and I will get more into detail when I actually read these books!

Right, I hope you have a lovely weekend full of reading, or writing! I will be back on Monday with my 2018 Wrap Up, so make sure you keep your eye out!

Byeeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

Favourite Books of 2018

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And I'm coming at you today with my Favourite Reads of 2018!

Just bear in mind, these are my favourite reads that I read this year, they weren't necessarily released this year.

You can check out all the books that I've read this year on my Goodreads page (or I might write a post about it!)

Enjoy!

1. Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1), by Laini Taylor

This was my first Laini Taylor book that I had read, and because 1) the book was huge and 2) the amazing reviews kept me from picking this book up for the longest time. But of course, because it's on this year's favourite's list, all the hype was absolutely accurate. The language that Laini Taylor uses in her novel is just so beautiful and poetic, you can't help but love her novel, her characters, everything. Muse of Nightmares is going to be one of the first books after Christmas, and I can't wait to pick up the concluding book in this wonderful duology!

2. Fireblood (Frostblood #2), by Elly Blake

This book has to be the surprise of the year. After the first book in the trilogy, I wasn't really expecting much from the following book, because I didn't really know what else I could learn about these characters, and the world. But to be honest, I didn't realise how much I needed to pick up this book until I did. It was the perfect follow on to the first book, because we got to find out more about Ruby, her heritage, and the totally opposite world of the Firebloods. I would go as far to say that this was my favourite book of the trilogy, because it was such an easy book to pick up and become invested in.

3. P.S I Still Love You (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2), by Jenny Han

As much as I enjoyed this trilogy, I think it's this book, out of all three, that I love just that little bit more. The writing was a bit more mature, like you can tell the transition that's been made in terms of language between the first and second books. And what's great about that is that you can tell that Lara Jean has made that transition herself. Also, you get more of a perspective on the side characters, as well as the main ones. Both the events in the first book and the second combine to make this wonderful story full of light-hearted and funny moments that make this book a pleasure to read.

4. The Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2), by Brandon Sanderson

Again, with this trilogy, I loved the entire trilogy, I want to pick up more Brandon Sanderson as soon as humanly possible, but the second one is definitely my favourite out of the three. The world is so immense, so detailed, as are the characters, and the plot is on a whole other level than anything I've ever read (with the exception of IT by Stephen King.) If you are a fan of epic fantasy, then I deplore you to pick this trilogy up.

5. Children of Blood and Bone (Children of Orisha #1), by Tomi Adeyemi

It is no secret that everybody seems to love the first book in this new fantasy series, and I am no exception. I could not put this book down, it was just one of those books that you have no trouble flying through. There was so much that was good in this book, that I couldn't help but love every single chapter. I cannot wait to delve into the next book in the series, and I doubt I'm alone in this. Fast paced, amazing characters, nothing too much or little explained. A phenomenal world. I'm hooked.

Okay! So those are my Favourite Books of 2018! I know there aren't many, but I read so many fantastic books this year that I couldn't pick too many!

What were your favourite reads of the year? Let me know in the comments!

Okay! I hope you have a lovely Christmas, and I will see you all soon!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx

12 Days of Christmas Book Tag

Hey guys, this is Abi here,

And it's time for my monthly book tag!

As it's December, I will be doing the 12 Days of Christmas Book Tag!

Enjoy!

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME

A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE.

The partridge stands alone in the tree. What is your favourite standalone?

It changes with the genre.
Contemporary: Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell
Fairytale retelling: Heartless, by Marissa Meyer

Historial fiction: The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak

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ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME

TWO TURTLE DOVES

Love is in the air, what is your one true pairing?

The one and only Clary/Jace. The things they go through throughout the book series, how can they not be the pairing that springs to mind?

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ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME

THREE FRENCH HENS

In the spirit of threes, what is the best trilogy you have read?

This year, the best trilogy I have to have read is the Mistborn trilogy, by Brandon Sanderson. I just love how in depth everything is, particularly the world building.

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ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME

FOUR CALLING BIRDS

Since series usually consist of four or more books, what is your favourite series?
The Noughts and Crosses series, by Malorie Blackman. I've re-read this series a number of times since I came into contact with it 8 years ago.




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ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME
FIVE GOLDEN RINGS
One ring to rule them all! Who is your favourite villain?
I don't actually have a favourite villain, funny enough. There's IT, who is creepy as hell; there's Flora Banks' mother, then there's the undeniable Voldemort.

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(From this point, everything is going to be in bold, because I can't change it back to normal, for some reason.)

ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME

SIX GEESE-A-LAYING

Creation is a beautiful thing. What is your favourite world/world building?


Other than Mistborn, which I mentioned earlier, the universe of Harry Potter has to be the one.

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ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME

SEVEN SWANS-A-SWIMMING

Who needs seven swans when all it takes is one animal sidekick? Who's your favourite animal sidekick?
Animal side-kick? I don't think I've read a book with an animal side-kick! Can anybody recommend one?

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ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME

EIGHT MAIDS A MILKING

Milk is so 18th century. Which book series' takes beverages/food to a whole new level?
All that she can see, by Carrie Hope Fletcher
From the point of view of a baker!

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ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME

NINE LADIES DANCING

Dancing is just one skill of a lady. Who is your favourite kick-ass lead?
This is one of the older protagonist, Katniss Everdeen. The first kick-ass lead I've ever read, and she remains my favourite to this day.

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ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME

TEN LORDS-A-LEAPING

How about your favourite leading lad?
Matt, from the Power of Five series (Anthony Horowitz.)

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ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME

ELEVEN PIPES PIPING

What is your favourite book or bookish thing with a musical influence?

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ON THE TWELTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, MY TRUE LOVE SENT TO ME

12 DRUMMERS DRUMMING

Drum roll please... what is your favourite read of this year?
I think I'm going to have to go with...
Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi.

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I TAG:

Everybody! If you want to do this tag, you can!

It was tones of fun, even though it was a long one, and it had some very interesting questions.




So that's the 12 Days of Christmas Book Tag! I hope you enjoyed it, let me know what you thought in the comments, so we can chat about it!
I hope you have a good day, and I will see you soon.
Byeeeeeee!


-Abi xxxx