Christmas Fun Day 6: 12 Days of Books Tag

Hello and Happy Holiday season everyone! In addition to my Advent Reads event this holiday season, I thought I would post earlier in the day with different things we do each day to have fun and celebrate this season. I hope you will join us and also maybe share some of your own traditions or ways you celebrate.

 

 

So I have been spending a lot of my time on BookTube lately and the tags they do seem like so much fun and I wanted to join.  I went on a hunt for some Christmas themed book tags and came up with this one, that is a little old, from Falling Down the Book Hole that looked like a lot of fun.  Of course if you want to do it too let me know so I can come see your answers. So here we go, I tried to limit my answers to use a book only once (at least for the most part otherwise they almost all would have been the same answer).

 

On the first day of Christmasmy true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree  : 

The Partridge Stood Alone In The Pear Tree? What is Your Favorite Stand Alone?

 

I think I kind of need to go with my favorite book for this one and say Frankenstein.

 

 

 

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Two Turtle Doves :

Love Is In The Air, Who Is You OTP?

 

 I have to say that my favorite fictional couple is Fire and Brigan from Fire by Kristin Cashore. They did not like or trust each other at the beginning and their relationship built slowly throughout the story. And I am totally in love with both of them as individuals, as a pair I think they are amazing.

 

 

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 Your Have Read?

 

I had a little bit of a hard time with this one, I have read several trilogies but I tend to read series more (and the trilogies I love fit the other categories better) but I settled on Rhiannon's Ride by Kate Forsyth (I hope this counts even though it is a trilogy within a series, but I have only read these three). (I would have chosen Sabriel by Garth Nix but it seems that is turning into a series now).

  

 

 

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 Favorite Series?

 

Again I had a really hard time with this one, I read a lot of series and I love most of the, but I narrowed it down to one that I keep coming back to as it continues (though the final book is due out shortly) and that is The Chronicles of Ixia by Maria V. Snyder. This series includes the Study Series, the Glass Series and the Soulfinders series.

  

 

  

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Five Golden Rings : 

One Ring To Rule Them All! Who is Your Favorite Villain/Antagonist?

 

 I struggled with this one because the one villain that stands out to me the most is from the Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore and I already used a book from that series. But I am just going to have to use it again because in my mind there is no one quite as bad as Leck. There really is no reason for the horrible things he does other than he can do them and that is what is most terrifying to me.

 

 

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Six Geese a Laying : 

Creation Is A Beautiful Thing! What is Your Favorite World/World-Building?

 

 Being that I read a lot of fantasy, I see a lot of world building and some of the books I have already mentioned really could fit into this category too. I am picking two for this answer and reading this as world building that is done really well (not so much my favorite but ones I really appreciate being done well and seamlessly).  First is Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater, the reason I am picking this is that it is so believable and yet not, and absolutely terrifying at times too. The other world building I want to share with you is the Florence Waverley series by Cyie Cho, not only does he build a fantasy world beautifully but he also builds it underwater and makes sure it stays that way and doesn't make it seem like land at times (does that make sense?).

 

 

 

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 Good Animal Sidekick To Make A Hero Rock! Who Is Your Favorite Animal Sidekick?

 

Gosh another one that is so hard to narrow down, and I really couldn't though I have narrowed it down to a species! Two of my favorites were from years and years ago but are still so vivid to me. Faithful from The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamara Pierce, even though he doesn't come into the books until the second he still plays a huge role. The next is Mogget from Sabriel by Garth Nix is another snarky yet helpful feline sidekick that stands out in my mind. I really am a cat person!

 

 

 

 On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eight Maids a Milking: 

Milk Is So 18th Century! Which Book or Series Takes Beverages/Food To A Whole New Level?

 

 I think when I read the Marriage to a Billionaire series by Jennifer Probst I gained about 15 pounds! It doesn't really get too bad until book 2 but then it really takes off with delicious food and wine that will have you searching the cupboards and grandma's old recipes for tasty dishes. (note: there is a novella to this series called Book of Spells that has a few recipes in it, your welcome!)

  

 

 

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 Favorite Kickass Female Lead?

 

I have a special affection for strong female leads and have so many favorites but I would be remiss if I didn't mention one from one of my favorite books this year. If you haven't read this one yet, let me introduce you to Cat from A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet. If you want a spitfire of a female lead, this girl is for you!

 

 

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Ten Lords a Leaping:

 Leaping Lords? How About Who Is Your Favorite Leading Lad?

 

Again I have several favorite leading men (and since I have already used Brigan from Fire by Kristin Cashore) I chose to go with a newer one who has captured my attention. I have absolutely fallen for Elias from An Ember in the Ashes and A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir.

 

 

 

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eleven Pipers Piping: 

Where Would We Be Without Music? What Is Your Favorite Book or Bookish Thing That Deals With Music? (It can be about music, reference music a lot etc.)

 

So I have read a lot of books with music in them, most of them are contemporary YA or romance, so I wanted to bring a different kind of musical book to your attention. The White Magic Series by Caitlin Brennan is a fantasy book where horses are used to dance and create specific beats to music to work magical spells (like dressage). If you know anything about me you will know this is beyond perfect!

 

  

 

 

 

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming:

Drum Roll Please…………………….What Is Your Favorite Read of This Year?

 

 I was going to keep this a secret until I do my end of year post but I will just tell you now and then you will have to wait for the rest of the favorites later this month. My favorite book took me completely off guard, I was not expecting to be so drawn into this story. There Was A Fire by Nancy Roy is a book I picked up last year at the RI Author Expo and I have passed my copy around to at least 5 people and forced them to read it, each time I have gotten the same response, "WOW, that ending!"

 

 

So there you have my 12 Days of Books! What do you think? Anything there surprise you? Do we have any of the same picks? What are on your 12 Days of Books list?