Birthday Book Haul!

Hi all!

February is always the worst month for me because it’s my birthday. I tend to enjoy my birthday, so I don’t hate it for that reason, but I go overboard in buying myself books and presents because it’s my birthday month … so I always justify a purchase with “it’s my birthday, I deserve this!” Sorry girl, but you don’t deserve twenty new books 😂. To be fair, I don’t tend to spend a lot of money on books, it’s only usually in February that I do.

Anyway, I did buy myself a lot of books even though I knew I shouldn’t, so check these beauties out!

Bought for myself

The Starless Sea

This is the Goldsboro Limited Signed Edition of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. There were only 500 copies of this edition made. It cost me a little bit because I bought it on Ebay, but I thought I deserved it — I had to have surgery a couple of days before my birthday so this was a present to myself for surgery.

I also bought some bookmarks (which you’ll see in other photos). The bright blue bookmark says, “This is where we leave them — a girl and her pirate, a pirate and his saviour — in a kiss in the darkness before a door opens.” The black bookmark says, “Thank you for seeing me when other people looked through me like I was a ghost.” The last bookmark was from the bookstore when I bought the hardback of The Starless Sea, and the necklaces have a key and bee on it — a nod to the book. And the little key is from an Illumicrate box.

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The Unspoken Name

This is another Goldsboro Signed Limited Edition of The Unspoken Name. There were only 250 copies of this edition printed. I bought it because I got to read an ARC of this book last year and I adored it. Please read it so you can love Talasseres Charossa too!

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Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares

These are some of the most exciting books I bought this month — bear with me, this is a long story.

So when Strange the Dreamer was published in 2017, this blue cover (I believe it’s the UK/AUS cover) was only in print for a few months before the publisher, Little Brown Books, for some unknown reason re-published the second printing with a different cover. So this beautiful blue cover is highly sought after and very expensive to acquire. I’ve seen it for over $500 on Abebooks, which is crazy because it’s literally just a paperback whereas this edition I purchased is signed. Luckily, Illumicrate was selling some of their last copies of a bunch of books in a late-night sale and I was so lucky to purchase both Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares — both are signed and Muse of Nightmares is numbered. Also, I didn’t have to spend $500 haha!

The little coin in the photo is of Lazlo from an Illumicrate or Owlcrate box.

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The Priory of the Orange Tree

I also purchased a signed first edition of The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon in the Illumicrate sale. I made my sister wake up at 2am to help me buy this book as well as Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares haha. The bookmark next to the book is a sign with all the important places from the book on it. The piece of paper is the signed note the author usually writes that comes in a bookish box. In the second image, the little lion pin is from C.S. Pacat’s book launch of Captive Prince.

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Heartstopper

I just had to get volume three of Heartstopper, one of my favourite graphic novels ever. I’m so excited to see where Nick and Charlie end up!

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Funeral Games and The Last of the Wine

I recently read The Persian Boy by Mary Renault, the second book in her Alexander trilogy and immediately had to buy the last book and another is hers. In this edition specifically, because it matches the one I already have.

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Chain of Gold

Technically, I didn’t get this for my birthday but I’m adding it to this haul! I’ve been waiting for this book for years and I can’t wait to fall in love with these new characters in such a beloved world. Even more excitingly, it’s a collector’s first edition which comes with artwork and a short story.

The first bookmark says “Lightwood”, which is the name of one of the Shadowhunter families (also my favourite family); and the second bookmark is a signpost of famous places in the Shadowhunter world.

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Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood

Another book that I didn’t actually get for my birthday, but I’m still adding. I was kind of meh about SJM’s new book but then I saw it when I unboxed it at work and actually got so excited for it haha. I don’t know when I’ll get the chance to read it, but I will at some point.

Presents:

The Library of the Unwritten and Wonders of the Invisible World

My lovely friend Laura sent me two books for my birthday and I cried like a baby when I got them 😅. They sent me The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith, as well as Wonders of the Invisible World by Christopher Barzak. I’m so very excited to read these books, so thank you so much for sending them to me Laura!

The bookmark has a quote from Circe by Madeline Miller on it. It says, “But in a solitary life there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the Earth. Such a constellation was he to me.” I adore this quote so much 😭.

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The Watchmaker of Filigree Street

The very lovely Shan sent me The Watchmaker of Filigree Street which I’m so excited to read! I’ve read The Bedlam Stacks by this author and loved it, so I can’t wait to read her other books!

The bookmark is a quote from one of the Shadowhunters books that says, “One does not question miracles or complain that they are not constructed perfectly to one’s liking.” The little pin is the wardrobe from Narnia and was from an Illumicrate box.

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The Ten Thousand Doors of January

My sister bought me The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow. I’m so excited to read it, I’ve heard good things! The bookmark next to it says, “I’m being perfectly fucking civil.” It’s a quote from The Raven Cycle.

Free

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

I found this book at my local Little Library and had to grab it! It’s a book I’ve wanted to read for ages, plus I know it’s one of Erin Morgenstern’s favourite books!

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Point of Contact

My lovely friend Glitter so kindly asked the author of this book, Melanie Hansen, to send me a physical copy and I’m so thankful! I read this book years ago and I’m so blessed to have a physical copy! Thanks Glitter!

Did you purchase or receive any great books this month? Do you also spend too much money on books for your own birthday lol? Let me know!