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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Great Christmas book! Be aware if you have read the first one in the series Matt Haig manages to make you cry and shout whyy are you doing this to these characters in a Christmas book?! But in tge end it is spribkled with a little magic and so much hope it can make the reindeers fly!
1st Re-Read- July 2019 for The Book Junkie Trials (Apothecary Tower) and Reading Rush (Title with 5 or more words)
- Actual Rating 4.5 Stars. When I initially decided on my TBR for Reading Rush I was in the biggest Christmas mood and whilst I still am in a way (I'm literally always in a Christmas mood), this is probably the worst week for me to read a Christmas book as the weather in the UK is insanely warm. All that aside I still loved this book just as much as I did the first time I read it and I can't wait to read it for a 3rd time come December.
2nd Re-Read- November 2021
- It's been a while since I read the third book in the series but I think this may be my actual favourite book in the series now which is why my rating has gone up to a 5 stars.
- Actual Rating 4.5 Stars. When I initially decided on my TBR for Reading Rush I was in the biggest Christmas mood and whilst I still am in a way (I'm literally always in a Christmas mood), this is probably the worst week for me to read a Christmas book as the weather in the UK is insanely warm. All that aside I still loved this book just as much as I did the first time I read it and I can't wait to read it for a 3rd time come December.
2nd Re-Read- November 2021
- It's been a while since I read the third book in the series but I think this may be my actual favourite book in the series now which is why my rating has gone up to a 5 stars.
Magic is vanishing and the Victorian workhouses are to blame or rather a series of distressing events. A very fun second part to the series on how Christmas came to be. It was a very fun growth to the town and the characters in it. With a healthy dose of scepticism.
I really wanted to love this, but I just didn’t. I thought that it was a solid enough premise, but I found the execution to be a bit lacklustre.
• Amelia was a brilliant protagonist. My favourite part of the story. We see her throughout the years as she’s so hopeful and then losing that hope the more time passes in the workhouse. Loved seeing her journey.
• I somewhat enjoyed Elfhelm, it was a pretty cute place. Also enjoyed learning about the trolls.
• My main issue was the pacing of the story. I felt like it just dragged so much at times and I know that as a child I would have been bored. A lot of the story was standing around talking and my younger self much preferred fast paced action packed stories.
• I think the premise and theme is a good one. It’s about hope and magic and believing in things you don’t know are there. It’s a nice enough message but I’ve just seen it executed in better ways.
All in all, if you’re looking for a fun lighthearted holiday read, you’ll probably enjoy this for the most part.
• Amelia was a brilliant protagonist. My favourite part of the story. We see her throughout the years as she’s so hopeful and then losing that hope the more time passes in the workhouse. Loved seeing her journey.
• I somewhat enjoyed Elfhelm, it was a pretty cute place. Also enjoyed learning about the trolls.
• My main issue was the pacing of the story. I felt like it just dragged so much at times and I know that as a child I would have been bored. A lot of the story was standing around talking and my younger self much preferred fast paced action packed stories.
• I think the premise and theme is a good one. It’s about hope and magic and believing in things you don’t know are there. It’s a nice enough message but I’ve just seen it executed in better ways.
All in all, if you’re looking for a fun lighthearted holiday read, you’ll probably enjoy this for the most part.
The Girl Who Saved Christmas is another heart warming read, perfect for the season. We follow Amelia, a poor girl living in Victorian London. Her mother is dying and she is writing a letter to Father Christmas, wishing for him to save her mother. However, it seems that magic is disappearing in the land of elves when Father Christmas is getting ready for another Christmas. In the beginning of the book, we follow two story lines, Amelia and Father Christmas, but their story lines come together pretty quickly. I found the beginning a bit weak and it got little bit time to start enjoying the book. However, I really love the Victorian setting and how Haig includes real life people like Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria in his story. Of course, the setting doesn't feel entirely Victorian but I thought it is well enough for middle grade. All in all, I enjoyed it in the end as much as The Boy Called Christmas. The audiobook is brilliantly narrated by Carey Mulligan and I think her narration added up so much to the story.
These books are incredible wholesome and I love Amelia so, so much!
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
The was a fun follow-up to A Boy Called Christmas. I actually hope that he writes more of these - there are plenty of interesting characters that could support their own stories.