...now we are twenty-seven

A belated merry Christmas, and an unapologetic happy birthday to me! Today I am twenty-seven, and this year feeling every second of my age. There's no denying that this year has been a strange one. And at times, a tough one. I don't know if I speak for my fellow humans, but I feel it's oldened and wizened me more than any other year in my life. Today I find myself feeling reflective the way most feel on New Years Day, looking back on the year that's now over, and ahead to the year to come.

2020 has been biblical. And I don't mean that's it's felt holy or succinct. Simply that the events have been so weighty that they cannot be ignored. The year began with floods and fires that progressed into plague. We may have been battered by it, but we are still standing. We are here. And for that in itself there's much to be grateful for.

There's a song from the musical Rent that's called Seasons of Love. 

The lyrics say: "525,600 minutes. How do we measure, measure a year. In daylights? In sunsets? In midnights? In cups of coffee? In inches? In miles? In laughter? In strife? In 525,600 minutes. How do you measure a year in a life?" ~ lyrics by the late great Jonathan Larson.

Here's my measurements, and my yearly summary:

525,600 minutes
356 days
365 1seconds a day snippets tucked away on my phone so I can reflect back on this year one day - hopefully in better humour.
280 days since the first lockdown began in the UK

82 days of blissful freedom at the beginning of the year
52 blogs
50 books

10 new ideas for books to write that I haven't begun ha!

4 new social media pages I'm miraculously managing to fill with content (links below)
1 blog page!

1 completed novel seeking representation, THE BLOOD DRAGON
1/3 of a sequel (still affectionately known as THE SEQUEL) 

...and a partridge in a pear tree

I put a lot of pressure on myself to document this year after realising that on my last birthday I didn't take a single photo! The result of this realisation was this led to a lot of bravery and putting myself out there with photos and information about my book and the books I love to read.

Some of you may have already spotted that I dropped a small spoiler up above, revealing that I have in fact succeeded in my Self Inflicted 50 Book Challenge for 2020, the details of which I will save for a separate blog on the first Monday of the new year - otherwise this blog with be overwhelmingly long. 

Thank you to everyone who's supported and read this blog in its first year of creation! It means the world to me and I've asking the universe to help me reach more people in 2021. Spread the word and the love of books and writing! 

Happy Holidays everyone. Stay safe as we head towards the new year.  I'll be back with a new blog on January 4th!

Love, Zuzu 🖋

...winter solstice

Happy Winter Solstice everyone! 

There's a lot going on in the world at the moment, and I, like so many others am now bracing myself for Christmas in Tier 4 restrictions. For the sake of those who don't live in England, I'll briefly explain that our government has locked down the South East and London from the 20th-30th December. Meaning we can't see anyone beyond our own household at Christmas.

I personally put a lot of stock in the holidays. Perhaps more than I should. Not as a religious affair, but as a time to be with the ones you love and show them how much you treasure them. I feel like doing so leads us into the next year with festivity and positivity. 

It's not for myself that I'm sad, but for those members of my family who live alone. They seem to be more stoic about it than I am, so perhaps I shouldn't feel sad. We intend to smother them with gifts, love and food from afar. We're dropping books and Christmas films on their doorsteps since it would be so lovely to get lost in the covid-free worlds that authors and filmmakers so brilliantly create.

The world is certainly in a strange state, but that doesn't stop the universe from making miracles. As I mentioned, today is Winter Solstice, and this evening we're waiting around to see a star which feels a little bit like the first gift of Christmas. Jupiter and Saturn are going to perfectly align to create the Christmas Star - or the Star of Bethlehem, if you so choose - which only appears every 20 years or so.

Some of you might already be aware of this, and therefore be ignoring this blog and stargazing out of windows or from gardens. And if you we're aware, and you are reading this blog, what are you still doing here? Go take a look! Hope for a clear sky!

I can't wait to catch a glimpse of something so beautiful during a time that feels so dark and hopeless. I firmly believe things can only get better. Hang in there world. And stay busy, positive and festive everyone! Especially if you're on your own this Christmas. Just think, now is the perfect opportunity to re-enact the prime minister dance scene in Love Actually - ha!

Merry Christmas blogosphere! 

Zuzu 🖋

I've been getting really festive across my socials, so make sure you're following me @zuzuspages on Instagram and Facebook

...(book review) havenfall by sara holland

Maddie Morrow knows that HAVENFALL is more than it seems. Beneath this beautiful sprawling inn lies the hidden gateways to three ancient realms:

BRYN, FIORDENKILL and SOLARIA.

Maddie's destiny is here, rooted in her family's promise to protect the fragile alliance between the worlds.

But when a brutal murder shatters the peace and someone she loves stands accused, Maddie must step forward to protect the place - and the people - she cares for most.

Her safe haven will never be the same again. 

HAVENFALL by Sara Holland

Published: 2020

Genre: YA Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Magical Realism

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Havenfall by Sara Holland is a unique, YA fantasy novel full of betrayal, shifting alliances, mystery, mercy and magic realms. Three magic realms to be exact: Fiordenkill, Bryn, and the sealed and excommunicated Solaria - the doorways to which are all housed in Haven - otherwise know as Earth - a neutral zone, and a hub for all allied realms to converge under the roof of an inn in Havenfall.

Maddie's uncle is the Innkeeper, a huge responsibility that she one days hopes to take on herself, but when she finds the role thrust upon her under impossible and unpredicted circumstance, it is clear she's not yet been equipped to rise to the occasion.

Her character is young and naïve, too quick to trust, and full of flaws and therefore very believable as a human go between, struggling to keep the peace between these ancient and complex realms.

There's a awful trauma in her past that slowly unfolds throughout the story, allowing us to understand her personal hatred towards the sealed realm of Solaria, and the personal and professional desperation that drives her to keep the door closed.

It's Maddie's perspective from which the story is told, but despite this, I felt like there were a few characters who developed just as much as the story unravelled, and about whom I'm compelled to know more. Taya is an excellent example. I suspected her importance from the moment she was introduced, and I was right, but her position at the end of the book is one I didn't expect!

This is a book that I had assumed to be a stand alone novel, but the closer I got to completion, I realised there were still so many unanswered questions that there would inevitably have to be a follow up book, or possible more than one.

Despite this, I appreciated that there was still a natural conclusion to this section of the story, rather than the book ending on a cliff-hanger. As a reader I felt satisfied with what I already knew, as well as intrigued by what's still to come and be explored.

The magical realism in this book is very carefully crafted. The essence of magic and the presence of magical beings is so consistent throughout that I'm only now considering that the story never moved beyond the realm of Haven/Earth.

We were allowed but a brief glimpse through the door to another realm, revealing "a blazing golden sky and a hill gleaming with buildings", before it was snatched away.

The magic of all the realms congregating in the inn was enough to keep me intrigued throughout this book, but I hope we might get a look at some of the other realms in the sequel. Especially Solaria! 

Sara Holland's sequel, Phoenix Flame will be published in March 2021. Needless to say I'll have it on pre-order and will be ready and waiting to read and review! 

Let me know if you've read this book, and what your thoughts were.

It's certainly made it onto my list of favourite publications from 2020.

Zuzu 🖋

Find me in-between blogs across social media @zuzuspages on Instagram Facebook Twitter and Pinterest

...it's the most wonderful time of the year

Here it is again; the most wonderful time of the year. 

I just love Christmas! That may have already been established...but I'm going shout it once more from the Christmas treetops until I rattle loose the snow!

We're a week into December, and I'm well underway with festivities and ticking off my annual traditions (of which we have many!)

We hang lights on November 30th, so they can be ready and waiting to ignite on December 1st.

We decorate the mantle with pinecones and candles and holly.

We get out our Christmas pudding teapot, our snowman cookie jar, and our jumble of Christmas mugs in all shapes and sizes.

We drink hot chocolates with marshmallows balanced atop a mountain of cream. No mini marshmallows are involved. Only hard core, full sized marshmallows need apply.

We watch Home Alone on December 1st, then systematically work our way through the classics, finishing with It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve! It's my favourite, and gosh darn it everyone, isn't it just a wonderful life? Even with everything that's gone wrong this year!

But my favourite thing to do at Christmas, is to bundle up, pile into the car and drive the muddy lanes that lead towards Kingswood Christmas Trees!. My family has been visiting this place since I was ten. My brother had his first job there hauling trees, and my sister worked as an elf in the Grotto when she was a teenager.

It's the ultimate tradition!

Inevitably, whichever day we go, it will rain, or sleet, and we'll stand in the cold squabbling over which tree is taller or bushier and trying to remember how high our ceiling is, because I don't know about you, but I never know.

After much debate, we'll pick the perfect tree, secure it to the car roof, and head back inside to the Christmas Shop for a mooch. At which point, a new debate will commence involving the tree topper. Did we buy one last year to replace our poor old angel? (We didn't). Should we buy one this year? (Probably, but we won't).

We'll get the tree home, add lights and baubles and perch the poor old precarious angel in prime position, overlooking the room, knowing it's only a matter of time before she takes her annual inevitable suicidal dive from her 7ft high perch. And yet, by some angelic miracle, she remains intact. Hallelujah!

Regardless of all this palaver, the result is always beautiful, and for the month of December, the tree is the heart of our home, and our hearts gather around it. It stands proud and ornamental in out front window, overseeing the festivities and sharing our joy as we cosy up each night, eating, drinking and being merry.

I think it's so special to observe and make your own traditions. They help to create memories that ultimately will last longer than any gift you could receive.

We're all guilty at times of rushing through the festive season in a blur of frantic spending, but we know this isn't what Christmas is all about. 

This year, in particular, I'm determined to cherish every moment of Christmas. To embrace the true meaning. To make the most of my time with the people I'm allowed to see, and to take the time to acknowledge those that I can't be with. Send cards, resurrect letter writing, compose emails, pick up the phone and call them to let them know you care.

There's an excellent quote from Dr Seuss' The Grinch Who Stole Christmas that say this so much better that I ever could: "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

Merry Christmas everyone! Stay safe, stay home, and make some memories!

Zuzu 🖊

Find me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @zuzuspages