Hi bibliófilo,
I have just spent an amazing weekend away in London, at YALC. This was my second YALC and I took my mum with me. I wanted to show my family why I love this genre so much. To be honest I went a little over bored with all the books I got, I had one large suitcase full of books.
YALC has loaded of different activities provided my the publishers.
Bloomsbury provided nail artist, so I ended up getting my nail done, the designs were based on the book covers from The Court of Thorns and Roses series, I choose the Court of Frost and Sunlight. ( I wish I could show you but I smudge them 🙈.
BKMRK did glitter tattoo, so I ended up with a pink moon and sun on my face. My mum has the golden red sun.
My Kinda Books did lip art to celebrate Children of blood and bone.
There was several other activities that I just didn’t get round to doing like the Siren Make over provided my Hot Keys Books.
This years the Proof copies of book where giveaway with raffles, lucky dips, purchasing certain books, and being in line at a certain time. After last year where their was a lot of running a round, this was a fairer why to give them out. I am a little disappointed with people that have won books and are already selling or trying to swap them. I made a decision to only go for the book I wanted instead of every book that was on offer, as I have several books for last YALC that I haven’t read. I was lucky I went with my mum she was luckier than I was at the raffles and Lucky dips.
Books/ Proofs I won.
- Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria
- Damsel by Elana K. Arnold
- The Girl King By Mimi Yu
- Izzy + Tristan by Shannon Dunlap
- Outside by Sarah Ann Juckes
- The Court of Broken Knives by Anna Smith Spark
- Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
- Easy Prey by Catherine Lo.
I also won a Ash Princess Candle from My Kinda Books.
Books I bought
- The Dark Queen by Josephine Boyce
- Generation One by Pittacus Lore
- Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
- Bright We Burn by Kiersten White
- The Witch’s Kiss by Katherine & Elizabeth Corr
- The Witch’s Blood by Katherine & Elizabeth Corr
- Order of Darkness Volumes 1-3 by Philippa Gregory
- Show Stopper by Hayley Barker
- Show Stealer by Hayley Barker
- Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
- Blood of a Thousand Stars by Rhoda Belleza
- VOX by Christina Dalcher
- The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco
- The Book of M by Peng Shepherd
- Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez
- Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
- FireBlood by Elly Blake
- The Bloodprint by Ausma Zehanat Khan
- The Testament of Loki by Joanne M. Harris
When I have good look at the books I bought I realised a couple of things,
1st I need to pick up Smoke in the Sun and not Flame in the mist, So I need to decided to sell it or run a giveaway for it. Would people be interested in my running a giveaway for this book, it would be UK only.
2nd Days of Blood and Starlight is book 2 in the series and I don’t have book 1, so I need to buy Daughter of Smoke and Bones.
3rd The Testament of Loki is also the second book in the series, luckily I can read The Testament of Loki without reading The Gospel of Loki. But with my brain I am going to need to buy The Gospel of Loki.
4th I picked up The Witches Blood and The Witches Kiss knowing I was missing The Witches Tears.
5th I have read and reviews Fireblood, but that was a digital ARC and a love the series so much I wanted to have the physical book.
This is what happens when you buy books when your tired and don’t check online to make sure you are getting the correct ones.
Books I got signed
Tomi Adeyemi was the only person that I wanted to get my book signed but couldn’t, she was supper popular. There was 100 people in front of me that didn’t get their book signed, she was that popular. Everyone that did get to meet her said she was so lovely.
Samantha Shannon signed by copies of The Bone Season and The Mime Order, (The Song Rising I picked up signed at last years YALC.) She was so sweet, we got to talk about the fact we are the bookish people in are families.
Alexandra Christo signed by copy of To Kill a Kingdom, she was rocking the Siren make up, We had a great chat about Hogwarts houses, I am Hufflepuff and she is Slytherin.
Vic James signed all three book of the Dark Gifts series, she was supper nice, I could have spoken to her for ages about the books especially Silyen. I was so happy that she loved the saying on my dress which said “I work to pay for my book Habit.”
My Mum was on a mobility scooter for all three days, plus side I didn’t have to carry any bags, the downside was that it was difficult for her to go to the stalls, and some people just ignore her, and didn’t check where they were walking so she had to be so careful not to drive into someone. So people we lovely and the people on the stalls where happy for me to bring stuff to her so she could partake in things.
I had a great time and spoke to some amazing people, I wish I had talked to more and networks to, but that can do that next year.
Tip for next year,
- Try a buy less book (just try)
- Get a better suitcase.
- Talk to more people
- Go to talks and workshops.
- Find a small portable chair.
Thanks for reading
Gem x
