Happy December! I’m so excited that this month I’m participating in a blog hop for the 12 Days of Christmas. It seems like forever since I’ve done any tours or hops, but when I saw this one from the YA Sci-fi & Fantasy Addicts, I knew that it was going to be tons of fun. Each post comes with a freebie, and you can also enter for a chance to win our mega giveaway!
12 Days of Christmas
Day 1 – YA Christmas Reads + Sweets
Day 1 Bonus – Hosting a Secret Santa Gift Exchange with Your Bookish Friends
Day 2 – Gift Ideas for Friends who Read
Day 3 – Found Family Trope Reads
Day 4 – White Stag Review + Decadent Vegan Hot Cocoa Recipe
Day 5 – Book Room Christmas Decor + Favorite Christmas Reads
Day 6 – 12 Favorite Fantasy Books of the Year
Day 7 – A Christmas Playlist to Read To
Day 7 Bonus – Christmas Traditions + Favorite Holiday Reads
Day 8 – Tamales and Books!
Day 9 – Winter Book Review: Wicked Lovely (here)
Day 10 – Derby Pie and Fond Memories
Day 11 – Mistletoe Myths & Stories
Day 12 – A Soul as Cold as Frost Review + Coffee Recipe
Day 12 Bonus – Tea Pairings & Winter-Themed Books
Wrap-Up – All the Stocking Stuffers + Big Giveaway
Winter Book Review: Wicked Lovely
Rule #3: Don’t stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.
Rule #2: Don’t speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.
Rule #1: Don’t ever attract their attention.
But it’s too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.
Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom, her best friend Seth, her life—everything.
Amazon Link: Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely #1)
Author: Melissa Marr
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Rating: 4/5 stars
There are many great stories set in Winter, but I have a special love of all things Fae. In many stories about the Fae, they are divided into different royal courts–sometimes with a seasonal twist. They’re also closely tied to nature, so they naturally feel the turn of the seasons very closely. So what better way to explore winter than a story about the struggle between the Summer and Winter Courts?
This book really surprised me because I thought there would be a love triangle between Aislinn, Keenan, and Seth that would end with Aislinn choosing to join the Fae as their Queen and marrying Keenan, leaving her human life behind. But things worked out very differently in a way that was actually more satisfying.
Although Keenan is the Summer King, this book is actually more about Winter and the cold. Because the Winter Queen is the villain who is keeping Keenan from ever finding his bride and gaining his full powers. And for every girl who tries and fails to become the Summer Queen, she takes on the curse to carry winter’s cold and become the Winter Girl. Right now that’s Donia, and my heart went out to her from the first. She’s so cold and blue that Aislinn thinks she’s dead when she sees her.
This is a great book to curl up with under a warm blanket with a hot drink, because the descriptions of winter and freezing made me shiver! It doesn’t shy away from dark subjects, but the happy ending will warm your heart. I recommend it to fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, Tanith Lee, and other books inspired by fairy tales and the Fae. There is enough Fae lore in this book to please folklore scholars while still weaving an original new story. And I hear that the series only gets better.
Stocking Stuffer: Winter Solstice Bookmark
Download the image (click to get the PDF) and print it out to use it as a bookmark! You may want to reinforce it by printing on thick paper or cardstock, laminating it, gluing it onto a piece of cardboard, or covering it with clear packing tape. Then enjoy saving a spot in your current read!
Mega Giveaway
Santa has something special for you this year! Three lucky winners will get a variety of books, gift cards, bookish swag, and other prizes. Just click the picture!
