Title: Once Upon a Frosted Star

Author: MA Kuzniar

When the snow falls, she will be free…

The invitations always arrive the same way – without warning, appearing around the city on the first snowfall of the year, simply inscribed with ‘Tonight.’

When struggling artist, Forster, finds an invitation, he’s bewitched by the magic of the evening, swept up in the glamour of this notorious annual party and intrigued as to who is behind them.

Determined to find out more about the mysterious host, Forster discovers an abandoned manor house silent with secrets and a cursed woman who is desparate to be free…

‘Second star to the right and straight on til morning.’

Forster, Marvin and Rose follow those instructions and it’s the start of a tragic love story in this historical fantasy read……

Forster is intrigued by the mysterious host of the annual lavish parties so investigates and this leads him to Odetta. But she has a few secrets……and a curse. I won’t say anymore about the plot though!

The start was very slow, I really only got into it around the halfway mark but I did love the setting, all wintery, and perfect for this time of year and the writing was beautiful and tore at my heart!

I also loved how Detta didn’t really hide anything from Forster and that he was so smitten with her that he’d do anything to help her but, like Marvin and Rose, Forster just fell a bit flat for me and I found them a bit dull.

I did enjoy Midnight in Everwood but think this book was slightly more raw and real.

Happy Blogmas!

I thought it might be fun to look back at my tbr books that were added this year but I didn’t get a chance to read.

I thought I’d done really well at reading books I’d bought this year but I counted 39 books that I haven’t read, bought tears to my eyes!!!

So I have added only 5 here, I won’t bore you with the whole 39!!!!

What about you, have you got a lot of books left over?

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.

Hi everyone, hope you’ve had a good week!

This week bought us that much closer to Christmas! I went to the shops and what a mistake that was! It was absolutely packed and I had to drive around the car park 6 times to get a space! Please remind me of this at the same time next year because I’m sure I’ve made that ‘mistake’ before!!!!

This week also saw my Dad’s birthday (we had a lovely meal out!) and also my sons last day at school for Christmas break.

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New Arrivals

Nothing! Woohoo!

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What I’ve Read

🎧 Defiant by Brandon Sanderson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

🎧 The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Look out for my reviews soon!

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You might have missed…..

Blogmas – Audiobook Challenge (a close)
Unboxing – Fairyloot YA: November
Blogmas – look back at 23, then forward to 24
Unboxing – Fairyloot Adult: November
Blogmas – Series finished in 23

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What have you read lately?

Happy Blogmas!

I think it’s always nice to look back and see that I’ve accomplished something in the year so thought I’d see if I finished any series in 2023!

I finished 12 series and was mostly saved by Rick Riordan!!! I was really hoping for more….maybe next year!!

(Also let’s not talk about how many series that I haven’t finished and also new ones I’ve started this year *incoherent mumbles* )

So here we go……

1) The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare
2) The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
3) Air Awakens by Elise Kova
4) Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee
5) Bonds That Tie by J Bree
6) Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
7) The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan
8) Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan
9) Magnus Chase by Rick Riordan
10) Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan
11) The Last Binding by Freya Marske
12) Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

How many series did you finish this year?

Fairyloot Adult – November 2023

By the Sword

A body double of a Prince and a magic wielding physician are both drawn into a web of mystery and conspiracies.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

Exclusive redesigned cover @merwildandco
Digitally sprayed fore edge @blanca.design
Foiled hardcover @blanca.design
Endpaper art @merwildandco
Digital signature
Bonus content
Ribbon bookmark

Each year I make some reading goals (and normally fail most every year!!!) so now I’m looking back at this year and examining and seeing if I can tweak for 2024!

For 2024 I’m going to read what I want!

I’m a mood reader but am also a yes man!!! I say yes to any book that comes my way so this year I tried to change that and it didn’t really work!! I need to work on requesting arcs for 2024….see below!!!!

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Don’t go mad with arcs!

I say this every year and always succumb to the fomo at least twice a year and the same was true for 23! I immed and ammed whether to take this out as I just don’t improve but decided to leave in, well because, goals!

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Fairyloot and Illumicrate books

Read within 2 months of receiving.

This didn’t go quite to plan for 2023 so am leaving in for 2024 to see if I can actually do it!

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Read tbr

Here we go again, same old, same old….but I had to put it in! I did make a big dent in my tbr this year so want to continue….but all these new releases are so tempting!!!

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Reading Challenges

I do love a reading challenge but because I’m such a mood reader, I can’t name books. This worked well in past years so will carry this on for 24!

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So that’s it.

Too ambitious?What are your reading goals for 2024?

Fairyloot Adult – November 2023

Alchemy of Us

An East Asian fantasy where the main character dreams of becoming a royal alchemist to make the wealthy stay young forever and her family rich.

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker

Exclusive redesigned cover @kuri_huang
Digitally sprayed edge @kuri_huang
Hardcover art @imedmi
Endpaper art @imedmi
Digital signature

The Audiobook Challenge 2023 – how did I do?!

Hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About. #2023AudiobookChallenge


When I signed up I said I was going for the My Precious – 30+. I hit that and upped my goal to Marathoner – 50+ but I’ve actually achieved Overachiever – 75+ as I’ve listened to 92 audiobooks!

Here’s some I’ve listened to in the last quarter:

Ravensong by TJ Klune
Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin
Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey
Magnus Chase series
Foxglove by Adalyn Grace
House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A Craig
Ladies Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin
The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard
Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao
A Power Unbound by Freya Marske
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake
Girl Goddess Queen by Bea Fitzgerald
Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye
Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan
Darker Shade of Magic series by VE Schwab
Night Hunt by Alexandra Christo
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Dark Rise by CS Pacat
Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston
Heartsong by TJ Klune
Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin
Hollen the Soulless by Denali Day
Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco

I really hope this challenge will be on for 2024!

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.

Hi everyone, hope you’ve had a good week!

Yes you read that right, Monday Post today as I had a Blogmas post yesterday!!!

I really struggled with enthusiasm in work last week, it got up and went! I think I need more than a day off so roll on Christmas when I’ve got 10 days off!

I am trying really hard to read 10 books off my tbr this month so using Bookbeat to try and get through them so I can start the new year with a smaller tbr!!!

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New Arrivals

Gold by Raven Kennedy (the edges are orange, not gold, and don’t match with the others!)

Fate of Wrath and Ruin by JLA

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What I’ve Read

🎧 Hollen the Soulless by Denali Day
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

🎧 Fragile Threads of Power by VE Schwab
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

🎧 City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Look out for my reviews soon!

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You might have missed…..

Blogmas – Anticipated Reads
Blogmas – Favourite Christmas Films
Blogmas – Anticipated 2024 Books
Review – Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey
Blogmas – Festive Points Game

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What have you read lately?