Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. They created the meme because they love lists. Who doesn’t love lists? They wanted to share these list with fellow book lovers and ask that we share in return to connect with our fellow book lovers. To learn more about participating in the challenge, stop by their page dedicated to it and dive in!
This week’s topic: Top Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year
Mogsy’s Picks:
My list of books is a mixed bag, to say the least! Please, Santa, I’ve been very good this year. And while you can do many things, I know you can’t speed up time or go into the future to bring me books that haven’t been published yet, so all my picks are books that are already released.
A Knight of Seven Kingdoms by George R. R. Martin
For the first time, this collection compiles the three Dunk and Egg prequel novellas to A Song of Ice and Fire. Why opt for the print edition instead of the ebook or audio? Why, because of the visual presentation of course, which includes illustrations from the amazingly talented artist Gary Gianni. Whenever I hear that a book has artwork, I always prefer the physical copy! I flipped through the pages of this in a bookstore once, it is indeed gorgeous.
Another reason to opt for a physical copy is when the finished hardcover looks this amazingly cool. I’ve read Six of Crows already, but since I listened to the audiobook, I totally wouldn’t mind if Santa were to leave me one of these limited edition pretties with the black-stained pages under the tree. It looks awesome!
Silver on the Road by Laura Anne Gilman
Yet another reason to yearn for a physical copy is when you have no other choice! Silver on the Road is a book I’d love to listen to in audio; I imagine the experience would be incredibly immersive given the fantasy-western setting and the atmosphere. Unfortunately, as of this writing there is still no audiobook version or even news of one in the works. I don’t know if I can wait much longer, the book is too tempting! If this were to show up under my tree on Christmas morning, I certainly wouldn’t complain.
The Art of Fallout 4 by Bethesda Softworks
Here’s some random useless trivia about me: I like to collect art books. I might have mentioned that before in passing, but I especially like video game concept art. I like poring over things like costume or weapon design, seeing how the artists envision the game environment and characters, and tracking how ideas eventually make it into the final product (if they do at all). Fallout 4 the game is one of the most visually stunning games I’ve ever played (amazing, for a post-apocalyptic wasteland) and I’d love to see the artistic development behind it.
The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Phil Szostak
Video game art books make up the majority of my art book collection, but sometimes depending on what it is I’ll also pick up art books or illustrated compendium-type books for movies, shows, etc. As it happens, I like collecting anything that has to do with Star Wars too, so this is definitely a must-have.
Monstress #1 by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda
I was actually offered this graphic novel for review earlier this year, but due to time constraints I had to decline. I did make sure to put Monstress on my to-buy list though, because the preview pages that I was sent simply knocked my socks off. This technically is only one single issue of the comic, but it is filled with over 70 pages of drop-dead gorgeous art. Last I heard, first printings of this is already sold out at most comic book stores.
The Official A Game of Thrones Coloring Book by George R. R. Martin
In case you missed it, I made an announcement in my last Bookshelf Roundup about an upcoming feature I’m hoping to start in the new year: Adult coloring book reviews. I hope to check out this one at some point. I’ve heard that it’s more of a book of illustrations and line drawings rather than a true coloring book, but I feel up for a good challenge, and if nothing else I can always keep this just to appreciate the beautiful artwork.
Zoomigurumi 4 by Joke Vermeiren
Speaking of artsy-crafty things, I’ve been known to enjoy some crocheting in my spare time. Before my Baby #2 came along earlier this year I made several amigurumis (crocheted stuffed toys) for her, but it’s been close to a year since I last picked up the hooks and yarn. I hope to get into the hobby again after the holidays, once things slow down a little. I only found out recently there has been another addition to this great series! I’ve made some adorable animals from previous Zoomigurumi books, and it would be fun to try new patterns.
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
I make it no secret that I’m a huge fan of Juliet Marillier, though I was pretty late in joining the club so there’s quite a backlist of her books for me to plunder. Right now I’m in the middle of reading her Sevenwaters series and I haven’t even gotten a chance to pick up her Wildwood series yet. Santa, if you would to be so kind as to bring me these two books, you won’t even have to wrap them – they’re just too beautiful to cover up!
Elantris (Leather-Bound Book) by Brandon Sanderson
If I were rich…I’d probably take up rare book collecting as a hobby, buying up any and all ultra-limited or special editions of books by my favorite authors, like this leather-bound and embossed edition of Elantris commemorating the 10 year anniversary of Brandon Sanderson’s first novel. Seriously, if I were swimming in money, I would have dropped $100 on this baby already. Unless I win the lottery though, I’ll just settle for fantasizing about Santa bringing me one.
The BiblioSanctum 
I definitely need some of these in my life! Especially A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 😀
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I know! I love how they pulled the novellas together into this gorgeous package 😀
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Elantris – Brandon Sanderson leather bound is so gorgeous 🙂
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Yes, gorgeous and also a pretty penny 😀
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I hope Santa leaves these under your tree! If I could get Illuminae and Tower of Thorns, I’d be one happy woman. Or gift cards to get some more from my wish list.
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Hoping you find those under your tree this year, though I agree, can’t beat the convenience of gift cards 😉
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The Elantris leather bound book is gorgeous! I’ve never seen it before. I definitely want Six of Crows as well. I hope you’ll get these under your tree! 😀
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I noticed Six of Crows on your list too! Good choice 😀
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I’d love the Martin coloring one
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I saw previews of some of the drawings – it’s very pretty 😀
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Good choices! I love Juliet Marillier, haven’t read her for a while but I remember I loved Wildwood Dancing. I’ve bought A Knight of Seven Kingdoms when it was released but I hadn’t a chance to start reading yet. Happy Holidays:)
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Definitely check out Marillier’s Dreamer’s Pool and the sequel Tower of Thorns! She has not lost her touch, that’s for sure 🙂 Happy holidays to you as well, thanks!
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Whoa, the black stained pages are gorgeous! And I hadn’t heard of Monstress, but, if the cover is that pretty, I can only imagine how great the rest would be. I’ll have to look into it as I’m looking for more graphic novels to try 🙂
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Those black stained pages are really something else…I’ve never seen anything like it! I’m not ashamed to admit I want it for the novelty, but it’s a super book as well 😀
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Oh nice! I still need to read Six of Crows! The rest are new to me! Hope Santa comes through for you!
Here’s my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
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I hope you get a chance to soon! Six of Crows was a really fun book 🙂
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That leather bound edition of Elantris is to die for! Who could resist wishing for that beauty?! I should really get reading on some GRRM AND Juliet Marillier myself! And soon! The Art of Star Wars is another fantastic pick…I can picture basking in that artwork for days ♥.♥ LOVE the cover for Monstrous too. WOW. Awesome selection here Mogsy, I hope you get everything on your wishlist! xxx
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I don’t know about everything, but I hope I’ll be getting some 😉 As much as I adore that gorgeous edition of Elantris, for example, I would be upset if my husband or anyone spent $100 on that for me, it’s pretty but I don’t think it’s worth it, lol 😀
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This is such an eclectic list! I’m also dying to get Monstress and Silver on the Road (to go with Walk on Earth a Stranger LOL!). I did a different top ten list this week, but next year I think I’ll tackle this one. Hope Santa is good to you!
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Yeah, I realized afterwards that my list is very random and mixed! And Silver on the Road totally goes wells with Walk on Earth a Stranger, thematically as well as the covers, physically!
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is on my Christmas list, too! 🙂 And ohhhhh yes, the print copy of Six Of Crows is a dark little beauty. I hope they’ll do similar page-staining for Crooked Kingdom!
Also, I don’t usually do graphic novels, but Monstress looks amazing.
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That would be really neat – I’ve never seen the staining like that before, I think it’s really creative. Sure, it serves absolutely no purpose, but omg I don’t care, I like the pretties 😀
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It fits the book tone-wise, though, since it’s a dark story in spots. 😉
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Many new to me but many wonderful covers too!
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Agreed, especially for the art books, naturally 😀
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There is a GoT coloring book? Interesting!
Although, knowing GRRM, he would mostly use blood-red as a color… 😀
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Haha, wouldn’t that be hilarious! Color the Red Wedding! (Doubt that’s in there, but it’s funny to imagine) 😉
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Silver on the Road looks so good! Western-inspired fantasy books are all over the place these days. And I’ve heard nothing but good things about Wildwood Dancing – Jessica from Rabid Reads raves about that book! 🙂
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Yuppers, I love western-inspired fantasy and I’ve been trying to hunt down and read as many as I can. I’ve been stalking bookoutlet every day hoping Silver on the Road will show up there one of these days 🙂
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I just got one of my wishes and was sent the Leigh Bardugo book! Hurrah. And I think I’m getting Silver on the Road, too…
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Awesome! Enjoy that little gem 🙂 And I hope you do get Silver!
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I’d LOVE that leather bound Elantris copy too! I’d need Santa to give me that as well because no way I’m forking over the $100 for it XD And I have a copy of A Knight of Seven Kingdoms, and yes, the artwork is amazing!
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I know, right? Gorgeous book, but as much as I love Sanderson, ah, I really don’t think it’s worth it! Like I said, maybe if I win the lottery, haha!
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Silver on the road looks great – and Six of Crows – that is a great cover!
Lynn 😀
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They are very nice…especially the SoC black-stained pages. How cool is that?! 😀
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Love the Game of Thrones coloring book choice! And you definitely need to pick up Monstress 🙂
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I will for sure! I wonder what the release schedule for the issues will be like, maybe I will wait for all of them to be collected in one big volume 🙂
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Oooh Monstress is stunning and intriguing. And the reason behind the author’s creation of the character and her story is very powerful.
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Oh! I’ll have to look that story up and read it some time!
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Enjoy the Sevenwaters Series 😀 (The first 3 are my favorites). Also, Wildwood Dancing was my favorite out of the YA series she did. And great list, Monstress and Silver on the Road are two that I would give Santa cookies for 😛 I’m not sure about Six of Crows, but since you seem to like it, I think I’ll give it a go, too, since taking your recs has worked out in the past 🙂
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I probably didn’t love Six of Crows as much as a lot of other folks did, but it was fun as hell and I think you’ll really enjoy it too. If you like heist stories as much as I do, then oh, DEFINITELY 🙂
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