Thanksgiving Book Tag: 2024 Edition

Dini @ dinipandareads5 Comments

I was reminded that this tag existed after seeing Chris’s post the other day so here I am doing the same! I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving but this is a yearly meme I do enjoy so why not keep doing it with the books I’ve read over the year? I thought I did one last year but it seems the last time I did this was in 2022 so now is the time to rectify this error and get straight to it.

This is an original book tag by Anna’s Book Nook.

The Rules

  • Thank the person who nominated you
  • Give credit to the author (Annasbooknook)
  • Answer the prompts
  • Tag others if you desire!

1) Friends and Family: A book with characters that feel like family

A Rival Most Vial

The found family aspect in A Rival Most Vial was one of my favourite parts of the book. The shopkeepers of Rosemond Street who make up this wonderful crew quickly stole my heart and they felt very much like family by the end of the story! 💜

[my review]

2) Fallen Leaves: A book that fell flat (didn’t meet your expectations)

House of Frank

There have been a surprising number of books that could’ve fit this category this year. But House of Frank sounded like it could’ve been a 5-star read for me (and I predicted it would be) but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was so disappointed… 🥺

3) Thanksgiving Dinner: A book you want to read every year during this season

Starling House

I can’t think of a more perfect read for this season! Whether it’s one that I’ll re-read every year remains to be seen cos I don’t re-read as much as I’d like, but this would be a contender!

[my review]

4) Turkey: A book with a bird in it

Black Sun

This had many birds and it was amazing. Gruesome and slightly terrifying at times, but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this if you love non-Western mythology in your fantasy!

[my review]

5) Ham: A book that made your eyes glaze over (boring)

Dragon Pearl

This MG SFF had been on my TBR for years and I was so excited to read it. Unfortunately, disappointing would be an understatement. I didn’t get reeled in the way I expected and found myself bored despite all the action!

6) Dinner Rolls: A book that melted your heart and made you feel warm

The Exception to the Rule

This might be a short story but the magic CLo weaves into it is *chef’s kiss!* perfection! 😍 Had me melting with all the feels!!!

7) Mashed Potatoes: A book with a white cover

The Places I’ve Cried in Public

I love this cover so much even though this was one of the emotionally tougher books I’ve read this year.

[my review]

8) Gravy: A book you’re not totally sure why you love, but you do

Tentacles & Triathlons

I can’t really think of a book that would fit this prompt this week but I’ll go with this monster romance series. It’s not something I typically read but gosh, it was fun, emotional, sexy, and sweet!

9) Pumpkin Pie: A dessert book that you love

Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies

It’s pie perfect! You might not want to eat all of these pies (because you know, they’re deadly) but they sure sound amazing! 🤤

[my review]

Bonus: Black Friday – Top 5 books on your “I want to buy them” list

Instead of choosing a Top 5 (because that would be impossible) I’m sharing the last 5 books I added to my TBR wishlist!

Someone You Can Build A Nest In by John Wiswell, Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy, The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Steven Banbury, Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows, The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones

And that’s all from me, folks! I won’t tag anyone but if you want to do the tag, feel free to grab it and link back so I can see your answers! 😃

Blog signature that reads: Let's Chat! xoxo, Dini

Book Review: Castles in their Bones by Laura Sebastian

Dini @ dinipandareads6 Comments

Castles in their Bones (Castles in their Bones #1)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pub Date: 1 February 2022
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Panda Rating:

(4.5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

The plot: overthrow a kingdom. The goal: world domination. The plan: marriage.

Trained for from birth in espionage and seduction, the triplet princesses of Bessemia must travel to three distant lands to marry three princes and enact their Queen mother’s plan to rule from sea to sea. But when they arrive, each sister discovers her task is not so simple, and their mother’s motives may not be what they seem.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Classism, sexual harassment, paedophilia mentioned, alcohol consumption, murder, poisoning, riots, filicide, assassination attempts, brief imprisonment, mild violence

I first read this book in 2023 but didn’t manage to write a proper review so I’m writing it now on re-read and kind of mashing up my first and second read thoughts. Sorry if it’s a mess! 🤭

TL;DR: I loved this more than I thought I would! With three perspectives to contend with, I was worried that I’d find certain perspectives more boring than others but I ended up feeling incredibly invested in all three sisters, their tasks and their romances too. There is plenty of courtly political drama, expected and unexpected betrayals, tenuous romantic bonds, and fragile friendships but through it all, it’s always about family and loyalty. After that absolutely WILD ending, I can’t wait to pick up the next book in the series ASAP. 💜

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Sundays in Bed With… #MyWeeklyWrapUp [258]

Dini @ dinipandareads20 Comments

We’re back with another Sundays in Bed With… meme! This meme dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning and is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve spent your time reading in bed or wish you had time to read today.

I’m spending Sunday night in bed continuing my re-read of Stardust in their Veins by Laura Sebastian. It’s the second book in the series and it’s definitely giving “moving all the chess pieces into place” but I’m still enjoying it a lot! Daphne is truly trying my nerves though, lol.

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Book Review: Hitched to the Gunslinger by Michelle McLean

Dini @ dinipandareads2 Comments

Hitched to the Gunslinger (Gunslinger #1)
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Pub Date: 24 August 2021
Genre: Historical Western Romance

Panda Rating:

(5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

Gray “Quick Shot” Woodson is the fastest gun west of the Mississippi. Unfortunately, he’s ready to hang up his hat. Sure, being notorious has its perks. But the nomadic lifestyle—and people always tryin’ to kill you—gets old real fast.

Now he just wants to find a place to retire so he can spend his days the way the good Lord intended. Staring at the sunset. And napping.

When his stubborn horse drags him into a hole-in-the-wall town called Desolation, something about the place calls to Gray, and he figures he might actually have a shot at a sleepy retirement.

His optimism lasts about a minute and a half.

Soon he finds himself embroiled in a town vendetta and married to a woman named Mercy. Who, judging by her aggravating personality, doesn’t know the meaning of her own name. In fact, she’s downright impossible.

But dang it if his wife isn’t irresistible. If only she’d stop trying to steal his guns to go after the bad guys herself.

There goes his peace and quiet…

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS

Death of parent (off page), gambling, alcoholism (side character), gun violence, extortion, attempted murder

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#TopTenTuesday: Oldest Books On My Shelves

Dini @ dinipandareads43 Comments

We’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week’s topic is Oldest (aka Earliest Published) Books On My TBR (submitted by Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits)

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Book Review: Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Dini @ dinipandareads7 Comments

Starling House
Publisher: Tor Books
Pub Date: 3 October 2023
Genre: Gothic Fantasy

Panda Rating:

(5 pandas)

📖 SYNOPSIS

A grim and gothic new tale from author Alix E. Harrow about a small town haunted by secrets that can’t stay buried and the sinister house that sits at the crossroads of it all.

Eden, Kentucky, is just another dying, bad-luck town, known only for the legend of E. Starling, the reclusive nineteenth-century author and illustrator who wrote The Underland–and disappeared. Before she vanished, Starling House appeared. But everyone agrees that it’s best to let the uncanny house―and its last lonely heir, Arthur Starling―go to rot.

Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses or brooding men, but an unexpected job offer might be a chance to get her brother out of Eden. Too quickly, though, Starling House starts to feel dangerously like something she’s never had: a home.

As sinister forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur are going to have to make a dire choice to dig up the buried secrets of the past and confront their own fears, or let Eden be taken over by literal nightmares.

If Opal wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Grief, death of a parent (recounted), drowning (recounted), car accident (recounted), blackmail, fire, brief imprisonment, asthma attacks, poverty, racism, slavery, implications of sexual assault/incest/paedophilia, child marriage, gun violence (minor), implications of drugging, violence, blood

Why is it always the hardest to review a book you love? The words are swirling around in my head but they just won’t come out in the way I need them to! So sorry if this is a ‘mid’ slightly nonsensical ramble of a review.

TL;DR: Starling House is a hauntingly beautiful Southern Gothic with a rich fairytale-esque atmosphere. It doesn’t matter that I’ve probably read something similar-ish before because the combination of the author’s lush prose, relatable characters, and well-loved tropes mixed with the creepy foreboding vibe felt unique. I fell in love with Opal, Arthur, and the sentient House with its oddly endearing personality. I loved where Harrow took this story and what it turned into—from a slow beginning that steadily builds to an utterly explosive and ultimately satisfying ending.

This was a buddy read with Leslie and Julie and we had so much to gush about! It was a great group read and I’m so happy to say that all of us really loved it! 😍

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Sundays in Bed With… #MyWeeklyWrapUp [257]

Dini @ dinipandareads4 Comments

We’re back with another Sundays in Bed With… meme! This meme dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning and is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve spent your time reading in bed or wish you had time to read today.

I’m spending Sunday night in bed continuing my re-read of Castles in their Bones by Laura Sebastian. I’m re-reading this so that I can (hopefully) finish the series this year. I’ll be reading the second book with Leslie and then we’ll be reading the third book with Julie too. 💜 I’m excited for it!

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