Brrrr! It’s really cold outside! It’s also Tuesday! You know what that means, another edition of Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl! This week we’re going to talk about cozy, wintry reads. I’m not sure if all of these will be all that wintry, but I’ll do my best!
The Immortal Nicholas – Glenn Beck. Ever wonder if Santa ever had anything to do with Jesus? What about that Krampus dude? This is a beautiful story that incorporates both. The first time I read this book, I was in tears for the last 50, 100 pages or so. It was just so sad. And the ending is beautiful too.
My True Love Gave to Me – various. This was on my fall TBR from earlier this year. I still haven’t finished reading all of the stories (I’m on this insane mission to read Clockwork Angel, Lady Midnight, Lord of Shadows, and Queen of Air and Darkness back to back) but so far these are pretty good, and Christmassy too. Out of the three stories I’ve read so far, I think I like “Midnights” by Rainbow Rowell the best.
The Long Winter – Laura Ingalls Wilder. There’s something about the Little House on the Prairie books that make me think of the winter. Some of the books are very summery, but there are several books that are not. The Long Winter and Little House in the Big Woods are books from this series that have a lot of wintry appeal.
Carve the Mark – Veronica Roth. For the last couple of years, I’ve always thought it was a shame, because Carve the Mark and it’s sequel, The Fates Divide, came out in the beginning of the year, when I’m less likely to think of them by the time I start thinking of my Top Ten Books I Read for the First Time in 20xx List. Nevertheless, this book belongs on the wintry list because of the cold climate that a lot of the book is set in.
Game of Thrones – George R.R. Martin. I read this in the spring and summer, but this is definitely a wintry read. Most of the story happens either in a cold climate or when “winter is coming.” This series takes forever to read, so you just might finish this one up by the time spring is here.
Frostblood – Elly Blake. The title literally says “Frost” in it. Perhaps that should give you a clue that this is not a warm, summery book.
The Midnight Star – Marie Lu. This is the third book in The Young Elites series, so I wouldn’t start here, but most of this book takes place in the cold (see the cold mountains on the cover). I bought the Spanish edition of this book in the summer but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet… maybe now, when it’s nice and cold, would be a good time to do it.
The 5th Wave – Rick Yancey. Don’t feel bad if you don’t want to read the remaining books in this series, but the first book in The 5th Wave series was really good. Not all of this series takes place in the winter, but part of it does, and perhaps I associate this book with winter because I read it in the winter. It will suck you in and make you forget that the wind is howling outside your house.
Legend – Marie Lu. This is another book that I associate with winter. I guess this series mostly does occur in the winter (the book starts on November 28th, 2031), but it takes place in Los Angeles, so it doesn’t really feel all that cold. Maybe one of the reasons why I associate this book with winter is that I read the Spanish edition at the very end of December one year, with the snow flying and all that.
Caraval – Stephanie Garber. Why does Caraval remind me of winter? I have no clue? I don’t know why, but for some reason it does. Perhaps it’s because Christmas is a magical time, and this book is full of magic. Even though this might not be specifically a wintry book, this is a book that you can certainly snuggle up under a blanket with a cup of hot tea and read.
I hope you liked this edition of Top Ten Tuesday. Now that NaNoWriMo is over, I need to start writing these farther ahead of time than 12 hours before it’s due! That being said, next week is a freebie edition of the series, and I’m planning on writing about books that I read as ARCs that need a little more love! A lot of books don’t get the marketing that they should, but they’re still really good! I’ll be writing about some of those.
I remember really enjoying a select few of the ‘True Love’ novellas. Pretty sure Jenny Han’s and Rainbow Rowell’s were two favorites. Also, gotta’ love “Little House on the Prairie.” So many good stories in the series – and I have fond memories of watching the show as a kid. 🙂
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I’m looking forward to reading the rest of them!
Yes to Game of Thrones, and The Long Winter too! I love seeing those old Little House books- must be nostalgia haha! I liked ’em as a kid. And My True Love Gave To Me- I wish we’d get more fun holiday anthologies like that.
Greg recently posted…Top Ten Cozy/ Wintry Reads
If they had more holiday anthologies, they might get more people to read them… people like to read holiday books, but sometimes they don’t want to read long books either.
Literally, the last 5 books on this list are on my TBR and have been for a long while! XD I really want to continue with the Young Elites series, I love Marie Lu’s writing!
I too am on a mission!! I haven’t read any of The Dark Artifices at all. I bought Lady Midnight when it came out, but then saw everyone crying and screaming in pain (more so with Lord of Shadows) and decided I would wait it out until I had the last book XD Hoping it would save me from the pain! (let’s be real though, I’m still probably going to sob like a baby all the way through. I’ve heard it’s a trilogy full of pain and I am scared ; _ ; )
Happy Reading!! <3
Lin @ The Reader of A Thousand Stars recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: The Books of Cold Weather and The Books of Fluff
I haven’t actually started bawling yet… not like I was doing during the last few chapters of Clockwork Princess… but it’s a really good book so far. Now that QOAAD has come out, now you can read them all!
Ooh, The Long Winter was a good choice. I first read it during the winter myself. It was interesting to compare the Ingalls experiences with blizzards with my own. (Theirs were much harder! I was so grateful for a warm house and plenty of food while I first read this).
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
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I’ve read most of the Little House books in the winter… its one of the series I reread a lot as a kid. We certainly don’t have difficult winters like they did!
I think Caraval does feel like a more winter read and I also have no clue why. I love the series so much though! Great choices!
Strange how it seems wintry but it’s really not.
This is such a great list Brook! I see you ar ea fan of Marie Lu! I can’t believe I still haven’t read a book by her! I also love the 5th Wave 🙂
Yes, Marie Lu is without a doubt my favorite author. Legend 4 is coming out next fall, so if you’re interested in reading some of her books, 2019 would be a good time to start reading that series.
I was SO disappointed with the sequels to The 5th Wave. The first book was amazing. The second and third were… meh, IMO.
yup I was disappointed with the 5th Wave sequels too!
I could see myself diving back into Marie Lu’s world during these colder months. Great list and I hope you can pick up the final book soon.
It’s not supposed to be out until next fall, but I’ll try to get an ARC. It’s one of those books I’d definitely buy even if I did have a copy of the ARC.
Great choices Brooke! I’ve enjoyed a few of these.
🙂
Wasn’t Midnights amazing? It was one of my favorites as well, and I was so impressed by how complete the story felt with it being so short.
I might have to read that story again before I return the book to the library.
Oooo I love a cozy winter book! I’m picking up Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter in Paradise next!
That book is new to me! I hope you enjoy it.
You’re not the only person that included Caraval this week that I’ve visited, so there must be something there. The only books on your list I’m familiar with are the Laura Ingalls books and Game of Thrones series, and can totally see why they’d be included.
Hope you have a great week and thanks for stopping by my blog.
Katie @Just Another Girl and Her Books recently posted…*Top Ten Tuesday* Christmas Movies Based on Books
Thanks! You have a great week too!
Omg I can’t believe I forgot about Frostblood! It’s a perfect winter book! Lovely list 🙂
Kay Wisteria @hammockofbooks recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday || Cozy/Wintry Reads
I still haven’t read the other two books in the series. Don’t know if I’ll be able to get to it this year. So many books, so little time!
How wonderfully retro is cover for The Long Winter! I love it!
That’s the same cover on the book that I had when I was a kid too. I know that those were some of the original illustrations though, so it make sense.
Caraval is on many lists this week! Makes sense, it’s a very Winter Wonderland-kind of story.
When I read Finale I’ll have to pay attention to whether there’s snow or not there. The weather really isn’t a major player in the storyline. I just know that it has that wintry feel for some reason.
I read Midnights by Rainbow Rowell just the other day and it is so adorable! I’ve seen Caraval included in a few people’s lists so I think I might aim to read that next winter. (It’s summer for me right now!) I’m also pretty keen to read Frostblood and The 5th Wave…
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I read Caraval and Legendary in the summer (they work well any time of year). Although I’ll read Finale shortly after it comes out, I’m sure.