Hello!

I am Dearna and I have a book buying addiction. To help me tackle my physical TBR — which is slowly taking over my living room despite the extra bookcase I bought this year — I have created a new challenge for myself. I handed over my Library catalogue to my partner, Hayden. He has picked 24 books for me to read next year. The trick being if I do not read these book by 31st of December 2024, I must unhaul them.

I will add all the titles to a spinny wheel and will spin the wheel twice a month to keep on top of this challenge.

So without further ado, lets see which books Hayden has picked for me!

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

This book has been on my shelf since release day back in 2022 and — warning I am going to say this a lot — I am ashamed to say I haven’t read it yet! I picked this one up as it’s been marketed as a gothic romance, which are two things I love. All I know about this is an unlikely pair team up to hunt the legendary hala, the last mythical creature during the Halfmoon Hunt. I’ve read Allison Saft’s debut novel and loved it so am excited for this one.

Queen of the North by Anne O’Brien

Historical fiction is one of my all time favourite genres. In fact I named by blog after my favourite historical era. Since falling head over heels in love with the romance genre — yes pun very much intended — over the last few years, I haven’t picked this genre has much I would’ve liked. This was is set towards the end Richard II reign and the rising tension with Henry of Lancaster. This isn’t a era I’ve read much of so excited to get to this one!

The Comet Seekers by Helen Segwick

The Comet Seekers has been on my shelf since 2016-ish and has managed to avoid many unhauls. There is something about this book that sparks joy and I want to read it. It’s been compared to The Time Traveler’s Wife which is one of my all time favourite books. So this challenge is the push I need to pick it up. We follow Róisín and François from when they first meet in the snowy white expanse of Antarctica. We loop back through their lives to see how they are doing but only when a comet is visible in the skies .

Pucked Over by Helen Hunting

Hayden has tripped me up with this one as Pucked Over is the third book in the series and currently I have only read the first one. So this is kinda a two for one. Well at least it will push me to read through another series. This is one of the classic hockey romance series and I’ve enjoy what I’ve read so far. Looks like this follows a friends with benefits situation the becomes something more.

Slaying the Shadow Prince by Helen Scheuerer

This is one of my Fabled Moonlight Edition and it’s all kinds of stunning so I will need to read this one as I refuse to be parted with it. This is part of a series were a group on indie authors comes together to write enemies to loves monster romances. This is givine me A Court of Silver Flames vibes. All I know is that Drue only wants one thing with is vengeance of the shadow wraiths who murder he family. And our hero, Talemir, is a celebrated warrior who’s hiding the fact he is half-wraith.

Arcadia by Iain Pears

This is another TBR veteran. I am pretty sure it’s been on my TBR since 2016/17 so yeah I really should’ve read this by now. All I know is this is a portal fantasy, which I love, and has been compared to Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series, which I also love. This book is chunky, sitting at 608 pages, which is probably why I’ve avoided picking it up.

Found & Forged by Ivy Asher

This pick perfectly aligns with my goal of finishing series. Found & Forged is the fourth and final book in Ivy Asher’s The Lost Sentinel series. I am loving this paranormal, why choose romance. The world building in different to a long of the paranormal/urban fantasy books I’ve read and I love love love that this why choose doesn’t include the bully trope. I am extra motivated to read this book next year as I met Ivy Asher at RARE earlier this year and would be devastated to part with this signed edition!

Suddenly Trouble by J.A. Low

This is another book that’s part way through the series. At this point it’s clear that Hayden just scrolled through and pick titles at random. Suddenly Trouble is the third book in J.A. Low’s Dirty Texas series which follows a rock band. I was a little disappointed with the first book as there wasn’t a ton of music, touring, studio elements that I’m looking for in a rockstar romance. Fingers crossed we get more as the series goes on. I picked up the whole series at RARE, they have been personal signed so I don’t want to have to unhaul this one.

Song of Sacrifice by Janell Rhiannon

This has been on my TBR for an embarassing amount of time. I adore Greek Myth retellings, especially if they focus on the Trojan War like A Song of Sacrifice does. I always like to keep a few unread Trojan War Retellings on my shelves so I have something to pick. The exciting thing about this book is that it’s indie released — I always love supporting independent authors — and it’s the start of a series so if I love it I have more books to dive into.

Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

I have been trying to read through some of the classic paranormal romances series of the 2000s and The Night Huntress is one of those series. I enjoyed the first one, which gives classic The Lost Boys vampire vibes but I’ve been stalling on picking up the rest of the series. This is a great pick to help me determine if I will continue with the series or decided to part ways with it.

The Bookshop Book by Jen Campbell

This is the first nonfiction pick of the list which is fantastic since I always stall on picking up nonfiction. This is despite me loving most of the nonfiction titles I’ve read. The Bookshop Book is a celebration and love letter to bookshops around the world. We get to have a look at the oldest bookshop to the smallest in the world and another 300 odd bookshops and examines the history of books. I think this is going to be a fun time and add a ton of travel destination to my travel plans.

Pride Mates by Jennifer Ashley

This is a book I randomly brought since it was stupidly cheap one Amazon Prime Day. I’m talking under $5. I saw that it was a paranormal, shifter romances and honestly that’s all I needed to know to click add to cart. I honestly have no idea what this is actually about so excited to have this on a priority TBR because I can’t see me getting to it anytime soon without this challenge.

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I have been avoiding this series because the hype is insane and I didn’t love the first book as much as I was hoping. This is the second book in the Blood and Ash series, and I am pretty sure it’s the fan favourite. This series is a fantasy romance which includes vampires which is an interesting touch.

The Secret Queen by John Ashdown-Hill

Another nonfiction title. Shout out to Dad for buying me this one since he knows I an obsessed with The Wars of the Roses and the Plantagenet Kings. This story focus on Edward IV’s first wife, Eleanor Talbolt, a women he’s supposed to have had a false wedding so he could help with her. However he conducted the same shame wedding with Elizabeth Woodville and she was made queen. This book tells Eleanor’s story and by doing so uncovers new evidence about the fate of the Princes in the Tower. Richard III’s is my favourite monarch so interested to learn more.

Mafia Brotherhoods by John Dickie

Another part of history I am fascinated with is Prohibition Era of New York and the rise of the Mafia. I have a ton of Mafia nonfiction on my shelves, mostly because I need for research for my manuscript. This is a great push to start picking up these research books and who knows maybe 2024 is the year I dust off my WIP.

The Warlord by Kally Ash

2023 was the year that I got into mafia romance — although I will say still not a fan of how the community uses mafia to include other groups of organised crime. The Warlord actually follows a clan of the Irish Mob. All I know is that it’s a dark romance which deals with the crime underworld. I picked this one up at RARE as Kally Ash was selling some truly stunning special editions. It is one of the prettiest books on my shelf. So excited to get to this one, since I don’t want to unhaul.

Angel’s Flight by Nalini Singh

Nalini Singh would have to be my favourite author and I don’t know about you but I like having an unread book on my shelf by my favourite authors for a rainy day or something. I have been missing the Guild Hunter world since book 16’s release has been pushed back to 2024 so we haven’t had anything new from this world this year. This is a novella collection, not sure who it features but I adore Nalini’s novellas and short stories as we get to see more from these lush and complex worlds she’s created.

A Soul to Guide by Opal Reyne

I adore the world that Opal Reyne has created. I know the reason I keep putting this series off is because these books are massive and are all over 500 pages. Which honestly is stupid reason since when I read these books I just dive into the world and never want to leave. I know make that make sense. The Duskwalker Brides is a monster romance which follows a different couple with an incredibly complex marco plot which stretches the series.

Gleam by Raven Kennedy

This is another well loved series that I have been putting off. Not sure if that’s because of the hype or because I’m waiting for the final book to come out so I an binge it. Hayden has once again picked a book that’s further in the series than I am which is one way to get me to read more sequels. The Plated Prisoner series is a dark fantasy romance that is a King Midas retelling. So far there has been no real romance and it is quite dark, trigger warning for sexual violence. I am interested to see how Auren grows throughout this series.

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

I have yet to read Fourth Wing, again the hype has been keeping me away. All I know about this series is that we have dragons, the main character has a chronic illness and has been pushed to become a dragon rider which is one of the most dangerous careers despite wanting to be a scribe. There is a supposed to be a Hunger Games and Divergent dystopian vibe to this world. This is a great push to start this series and will give ma a chance to avoid spoilers.

The Damned by Renee Ahdieh

I have been avoiding this series mostly because it’s been so long since I’ve read the first book that I will 100% need to reread it. What I adored about the first book was that vampires were making their YA come back. In this story we follow Celine who has fled to New Orleans. While she’s become enamoured with the city’s vibrant music , food and night life, bodies start turning up and the murders are becoming increasingly gruesome. Celine decided to try and find the murder and up discovering the city’s supernatural underworld. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, so this is the push I need to reread it and continue with the rest of the series.

I Was a Very Clean Tramp by Richard Hell

I am a massive fan of punk music and while at uni did a whole assessment where I researched the 1970s punk movement, which is fascinating. Through my research I discovered Richard Hell. His sound the Blank Generation is one of my all time favourites and McLaren used the song and Hell’s image to create the Sex Pistols. This is a memoir about his life and his music and I am interested to learn more about Hell’s life.

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

I adore middle grade fantasy there is just something extra magical and whimsical about fantasy written for children. I am a big fan of how Rick Riordan modernised myths and makes them accessible for a younger audience. This series is a spin off from the Percy Jackson and feature Norse Mythology. I am excited to see Rick’s take on it. Also this pick is a great way for me to prioritise some of the middle grade books on my shelf.

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

The final book for this mammoth challenge is also the only classic on the list. I am a huge fan of Virginia Woolf and I adore A Room of One’s One which she makes some incredible points about women in the creative industries. I don’t know much about this book — despite having read The Hours many years ago — expect that it’s classed as Woolf’s greatest work. Maybe this will spark a desire to add more classics into my reading.

That’s all for me today. Comment down below and let me know have you started planning your reading goal for next year? If so let me know what challenges you are taking part in next year.

Until next time, happy reading!

Dearna