Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings
You know what’s funny about this list? I thought I would have a hard time thinking of books that I want most for Christmas because I actually wanted to make a list of books that were already out that I hadn’t bought already. Since I’ve been buying more books than usual lately, I thought that my list might be a little thin. And then my list went all, “SIKE! HAHA, you silly girl! You can ALWAYS think of MORE BOOKS!” And lo and behold, I easily came up with 10 books AND MORE, but I managed to stop adding books through sheer force of will. My only problem is that I only realized how many books I COULD have asked for when I made up this list YESTERDAY, so I’m probably only getting two of them. Top Ten Tuesday, I love you, but I’m shaking my fist at you today. Because you’ve made me want more things.
Mastiff, by Tamora Pierce. Beka Cooper! Girl, I can’t wait to read all about your last adventures in the Provost’s Guards. Since I actually thought to ask Santa to bring me this book for Christmas, I should be reading about you really soon. I’M PSYCHED! Tamora Pierce’s books are some of my very favorite fantasies, not only because the worlds are lively and complete and the stories are gripping and awesome, but because the main characters in her books are KICK-ASS NINJA girls who are independent, confident, brave and smart. Love them.
East, by Edith Pattou. THIS book was so gorgeous. But because I LOVE my library and I want it to be there forever and ever, I borrowed this book instead of purchasing it. I read it. I loved it. NOW I WANTS IT. It was so lovely and evocative and touching! It just gives me the warm fuzzies, even though the book contains polar bears, ice, winter, snow, and traversing the Arctic Circle. *sigh* I need to own this one, friends. I hope Santa got my letter.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone (UK Edition), by Laini Taylor. All I want is the cover. The book is AMAZING, but I like the UK cover better than the US one. Something about the black opalescent feathers is just so striking and stunning that I want to be able to hold it in my hands and pet it and STARE. I mean, LOOK at the PRETTY:
The Probability of Miracles, by Wendy Wunder. I just love the sound of everything about this book. A young girl with cancer moves to this wackadoo little town in Maine (called Promise) where all kinds of improbable things happen–even things that might be considered…MIRACULOUS. I wish I had remembered to ask for this one! I might have to Santa this one to myself for Christmas. Plus, that cover! So gorgeous!
Witch’s Brew, by Heidi Kling. Witch’s Brew, Witch’s Brew, where for art, thou, Witch’s Brew? I’ve been waiting for this book to come out for what seems like FOREVER. I’m beside myself with anticipation! because I’ve heard wicked awesome things about it: an ebook series published in installments that is a kind of choose your own adventure. WORD! DOUBLE WORD because it’s a series with 10 BOOKS IN IT about WITCHES. Putting this on here is more like a wish, though, since I probably won’t be able to get it for Christmas. I’m hoping that some holiday karma will at least get me a release date and a cover!
Kat, Incorrigible, by Stephanie Burgis. Magic? Check. Plucky, trouble-making young heroine? Check. Annoying sisters? Check. Regency-era England setting? Check. True loves hanging in the balance? Check. Magical shenanigans all around? Check. Sounds like something I would LOVE because I ADORE plucky, trouble-making, magically inclined young heroines AND Regency-era England. Alas, my library doesn’t have this one. *sad face* Santa? If you could?
Hourglass, by Myra McEntire. I can’t believe I haven’t read this yet! Ever since I heard it was about time slipping/travel, I immediately thought of one of my very favorite adult series, OUTLANDER, by Diana Gabaldon. I’m not entirely sure that the two have very much in common at all aside from the time-bouncing, but that’s not the only reason I want to read HOURGLASS and am hoping that Santa can DIVINE my wish for it and surprise me come Christmas morning (is this NOT part of his magic?). No, I am hoping that this book is under the tree because it sounds plain AWESOME and intriguing.
Midwinterblood, by Marcus Sedgewick. I can’t read anything about this book without being completely fascinated. It sounds kind of mind-blowing. It’s the story–well, it’s lots of mini-stories–about two people/souls who, over the course of the retreating centuries (the book starts in 2073 and goes backward) are bonded through various kinds of loving relationships–mother and son, husband and wife, and more–while trying to reunite with one another. You see, these two souls who love each other dearly and for infinity, always seem to be wrenched from each other in the most painful ways. I’m not sure that I’m doing the book itself any justice with my description, but it really does sound crazy good. HOWEVER, CURSES upon this book because it’s not available in the US yet. I might have to scour the internets and ship one to myself. Not very Santa/Christmas-magicky, but I don’t have any choice!
A Long, Long Sleep, by Anna Sheehan. So I’m a sucker for fairy tale retellings, and this science-fiction-esque spin on Sleeping Beauty sounds fantastic. A girl who is woken from a chemically induced sleep by a boy after 62 years of sleeping, during which time her family and all the people she loved are killed, and becomes the heir to an interplanetary empire and must face all the dangers that entails while trying to come to grips with her feelings for the boy her kissed her awake. But seriously, INTERPLANETARY EMPIRE, you guys!! I LOVE it!
Breadcrumbs, by Anne Ursu. Something about me and my reading habits: I’m kind of a seasonal reader. I like to read books that take place at certain times of the year AT those certain times of the year. For instance, I would never read a book that takes place in the cold, snowy winter–like BREADCRUMBS–in the middle of July. Don’t kill my summer buzz, winter book! I’ll get to you, I promise! And BREADCRUMBS sounds just like the kind of thoughtful, sad, it’s-cold-outside-but-I-feel-warm-and-fuzzy-INSIDE kind of books, and it’s getting tons of recognition. Since it’s finally winter time, I’m completely ready to read this one. I can’t wait to get my mitts on it.
Ahh!! There’s too many books!! This list could have been so much longer!
Sounds like a great list. If you write a letter to Santa, you better add a request for gift cards to Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
http://its-raining-books.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-want-for_20.html
First of all, I LOVE Tamora Pierce (which makes it even more awesome that we are friends!). She’s a brilliant writer and I LOVE HER. (And yes, that had to be typed in all caps!)
And second, I love the other books on your list. Most of them I’ve heard of, but a few I haven’t… and I’m intrigued enough to add them to my list of books to check out 🙂
I Have not heard of the books you are wishing for Santa to bring. oh,wait, Hourglass. Happy Holidays http://sidnereviewz.blogspot.com
LOL – it’s true you can always think of more books to wish for! The UK cover of Daughter of Smoke and Bone is gorgeous. Loved that book!
Hope Santa is very good to you this year!
SEASONAL READING HOLLA!!! Breadcrumbs is so perfect for winter plus omg all the geeking out because it references OTHER fantasy books by title. I had jazz hands the whole time while reading.
Also that cover of Daughter Of Smoke And Bone is ACE.