Hallowe’en and SciFiMonth have been and gone, the first frost has needed clearing off the car windscreen and the first Christmas lights have appeared around the neighbourhood – I haven’t succumbed to a mince pie (yet), but it’s about the time I take Ariel Bissett‘s End of The Year book tag.
If you’re not familiar with it, this tag is for taking before the end of the year – it’s all about what we can still squeeze in. I should probably start taking it earlier…
Is there a book that you started that you still need to finish by the end of the year?
This autumn has been overwhelming, so I haven’t been reading multiple books at once – so I’ve been very honest about persevering until I finish, or admitting it’s a DNF. Consequently, the only books I’ve started is the one I’m reading right now – I don’t even have an audiobook on the go at the moment!
Origin Complex is a stand-alone space opera set in the same universe as Steel Frame. I loved Frame, which far too few people read in spite of its catnip summary of Pacific Rim aboard Battlestar Galactica during a robozombie virus outbreak. Complex opens with an analyst and their robot mirror daring the depths of the abandoned, heavily-guarded city where the outbreak began. Andrew Skinner’s prose is immersive and I’m already loving the relationship between Crash and VALOR. Watch out for a review by year’s end.
Do you have an autumnal book to transition to the end of the year?
I don’t. I don’t tend to tie my reading to the seasons (at least, not intentionally) although my TBR certainly includes some books featuring snowy settings if the urge takes me. The one most likely to leap out at me is The Hollows by Daniel Church – murderous weather and angry spirits in the Peak District is very much where my reading heart has been at this year.
Is there a release you are still waiting for?
Not this year. All the books I was most excited about are now released and I don’t actually have anything on my radar for December – I better get my research specs on to start drafting this month’s Make Some Room!
Name three books you want to read by the end of the year
This is trickier than it should be – so many candidates, so little time! The only book I will definitely be reading before the end of the year is the Apex Magazine 2021 anthology, which will be my December sipping read. After that, I’m mood reading. I’d like to finish The Anomaly quartet and closing out The God King Chronicles would be tidy. Several series I enjoy have installments languishing on my shelves. And I’m mostly drawn to stand-alones right now. So we’ll see?
Is there a book that can still shock you and become your favourite of the year?
Absolutely. I haven’t yet read The Oleander Sword (Tasha Suri) or The Red Scholar’s Wake (Aliette de Bodard), both of which are strong candidates for the title if I get to them before the end of the month. Although arguably the predictability of that outcome means it wouldn’t be a shock!
Have you already started making reading plans for 2023?
I haven’t. My new job has been very draining – it is set to be more enjoyable but more challenging in 2023. I’ve completed my house move, but a house renovation is on the cards next year. I’m currently trying to decide what I want to do here at There’s Always Room For One More next year as I don’t expect to have the time or energy to devote to reviewing. My best bet is probably to decline new ARCs, read on a whim and blog when and if I feel like it rather than having reading goals and planned posts. But we’ll see. I’m not well known for resisting temptation…
Fancy joining in? Tag yourself and link back so I can come check out your answers!
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