Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Topic: Most Recent Books Added To My Shelf
Today I wanted to share the most recent books added to my shelf which is a swerve from the picked topic of favourite books read in 2025 because I already did that with Blogmas!
So here are the books I got in December!
Books I Bought Spellcaster by Jaymin Eve Carving Shadows into Gold by Brigid Kemmerer Your Knife My Heart by KM Moronova The Ascended by Parker Lennox A Curse of Ashes by Sariah Wilson
Advanced Reader Copies Sparking Fire Out of Fate by Brigid Kemmerer How to Fake it in Society by KJ Charles
Presents The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer (special paperback!)
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.
Welcome to 2026!
2026 started with a couple of days off to recharge… but somehow I feel even more tired than usual!!!!
One satisfying highlight was a pedicure and one lowlight was having to work on Friday!!!!
I’m also trying to get back my love for audiobooks, so I figured I’d start listening to one this week, start as I mean to go on and all that!!!
🎧 The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
See my review soon!
Calendar – Happy New Year Review – Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider
Review – Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree Review – Forged in Blood by Sadie Kincaid
Brynn has spent the better part of her life waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta, the very same people who exiled the Alaha to live a life over the sea. A rite of passage for all young guards, she’s not sure what to expect from it, but breaking a century- long peace treaty certainly isn’t on her map.
Neither is the encounter with an enemy soldier.
Returning home to Alaha, she’s confronted with the aftermath of the day’s events. The future is uncertain as the threat of hunger looms over the people. With rumors of a growing rebellion, Brynn and her closest friends promise to stick together.
When an unexpected visitor arrives, Brynn’s loyalty will be tested as she learns of a world of magic and treachery. Once her enemy, always her enemy, right? But the dark, knowing eyes of a stranger make her question everything…
…including her heart.
I mean… what the heck?!
I absolutely loved this book. It was sitting in my top reads of the year… right up until the 95% mark. And now? Now I’m in a full state of confusion. Read on for the thoughts currently pinging in my brain!
Up to that point, this book has everything you want in a romantasy:
• Morally grey characters • Political intrigue • Magic • Enemies to lovers • “Touch her and you know what” energy • A main love interest who is EVERYTHING • Delish romance • Mates • A fast-paced plot
But here’s the tricky part, without spoilers, the twist completely threw me. A character’s inner monologue feels totally at odds with what actually happens, and I’m left with more questions than answers.
It was definitely a twist I didn’t see coming. At first, I was honestly disappointed. But then I remembered how much I adored the rest of the book and thought… maybe it’s not that bad? Maybe? Was it? #conflicted
I think I need to read book 2 to decide once and for all!
For 2025, I’ve been using both StoryGraph and Goodreads to track my reading because I just can’t let Goodreads go! That said, I’m absolutely loving the stats on StoryGraph, especially the monthly breakdowns.
Back in late 2024, I realized I’d need to scale back on my reading goals. With working longer hours and the never-ending demands of adulting, something had to give—and I can definitely say I read less in 2025!
📖 2025 Annual Reading Stats
• 80 books read in 2025, all fiction • 67 books were Fantasy & Romantasy! • 37,282 pages
I promised myself I wouldn’t do any challenges in 2026… but I’ve caved—because I can’t resist the audiobook challenge! 🎧
I’m keeping it low-key this year and aiming for Weekend Warrior: 5–10 audiobooks. I want to slowly rediscover my love for audiobooks, which somehow slipped away in 2025.
The 2026 Audiobook Challenge is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About. Grab your earbuds, decide on your goals, and sign up on Caffeinated Reviewer’s blog! #2026AudiobookChallenge
Challenge Details • Runs January 1, 2026–December 31, 2026. You can join at any time. • The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2026 than you did in 2025. • Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.) • All genres count. • Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed. • You do not have to be a book blogger to take part; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Facebook, etc. I recommend creating a shelf on Goodreads titled 2026 Audiobook Challenge. You can keep track of and link to the shelf. • Updates plus a giveaway will be posted twice during the year. The first update will be July 4, 2026, and the last update will take place on December 26, 2026. You’ll have one week to link up and share your progress and enter giveaway.
Achievement Levels What level will you choose? • Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5 • Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10 • Stenographer (can listen while multitasking) 10-15 • Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20 • Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30 • My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+ • Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+ • Over-Achiever (Power Listener) 75+ • The 100 Club (Audiobook Addict) 100+ • I Can’t Hear You (earbuds always in) 125-150 • Audibly Addicted (listening to all the books 24/7) 150+
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.
I hope you had a great week!
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas!
We had a brilliant Christmas Day and half of Boxing Day but then I came down with either a stomach bug or food poisoning, couldn’t even keep water down, and I don’t think I’ve ever been sick that many times in my life! A truly festive experience!!!!!
I did manage to finish one book before the Christmas chaos began, but at this point I’m not sure I’ll ever finish Empire of the Dawn — I am still working my way through it though!
I tend to do posts like this every Twixmas, aka Crimbo Limbo, and I have updated it a bit this year with X posts instead of the normal ‘I dont know what day it is’ memes!
Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!!!
And if anyone has any recipes for leftover ham, I’d be most grateful 🤣
CJRTB Books 