Winter is the best time of year to curl up with a book on a cold night with a cup of warm cocoa.

Why not enjoy one of the books from this list of recommendations this holiday season?

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A classic tale from childhood, this book is a nice read to get into the holiday cheer. The tale is about Ebenezer Scrooge, a crotchety old man, who says “Humbug!” to Christmas every year. He cares not one wit about the holiday cheer, even despises it. Which is why, that year he decides there will be no Christmas holiday for his company. Unfortunately for Scrooge, things go awry for this grump. He is visited by three Ghosts of Christmas, whose mission is to teach Scrooge the true meaning of Christmas. Filled with hilarity and drama, the ending may be already known by many, but the nostalgia from childhood may bring a bit of delightful warmth this winter.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

A fantastical and dramatic tale that takes place in the wintery wilderness of Russia. Vasilisa and her siblings have grown up with the fairy tales from their nurse. Stories about spirits who protect their homes from evil. Who should be respected above all else. When her widowed father brings home a new wife, Vasilisa’s step-mother is determined to destroy the traditions that protect them. Not allowing them to honour their household spirits, convincing others in the village to do the same, misfortune begins to strike the town. To protect the people, Vasilisa must call upon gifts long concealed to save them from the nightmares her nurse once spoke of.

The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

The novel that inspired the hit Witcher video game series, get the chance to read about the fantastical world which has ensnared many gamers. The first novel of the Witcher Saga is filled with short stories that are set before the games. This tale follows Geralt, the witcher. An enhanced sorcerer bred to fight and assassinate. His is no ordinary mercenary though: he targets the monsters that haunt the lands, protecting those who cannot protect themselves. In these short tales, Geralt will face various beings both fair and wicked, none of which aren’t quite what they seem.

Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry

A twist on a classic childhood story, one that will have you seeing our “dear Peter Pan” in a very different light. Peter promised a place where they could be free of rules and grownups, where every day would be fun. Peter lied. It’s never been all fun and games on the island. For the boys constantly face the threat of attacks from monsters and pirates. What Peter considers “fun” is dangerous and cruel. But this is not Peter’s tale. This is Jamie’s. The first lost boy, Peter’s favorite, and the one who will become his greatest enemy. 

Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

A sweet romance sprinkled with a powder of paranormal, this is a tale of sweets and desires that will make any girl swoon. Josey Cirrini has only longed for two things in her life: to travel and candy. Her horrible behaviour as a child in her small town is forever a blight on her image, and as an adult she could only hope to reconcile her past transgressions by becoming the obedient daughter to the mother she wronged with her attitude. Josey, thought her life would always be this way, drowning her solitude in sugar and dreaming for a world beyond her reach. An uninvited guest in her closet changes everything Josey once knew.

Can’t decide on what book to buy? Why not look at getting an accessory instead?

A book lover always needs their trusty bookmark handy. Why not celebrate the season by buying a new one? Better yet, why not try to make one yourself? It’s free and you can have fun making it from whatever materials you want to use. Plus, it will always special to use something you’ve created with your own hands.

If not a book mark, a book light may be the next best thing for any book lover. Especially, when they are so useful for staying up late at night to read with without being blinded by an extremely bright room light. Check out Chapters or even a Dollar store to see what types and colors they carry.

If you’re still undecisive about what book you might want to read, why not check out one of these two great used bookstores for your Christmas read need.

Attic Books 240 Dundas St.

Looking for rare and out-of-print books? Readers will be pleased to find a vast selection of historical and rare books at this store. Offering three floors of books and ephemera, you are almost guaranteed to find a book that will suit your needs. For seasoned bargain hunters, their discount basement room will be your bookstore paradise as it is constantly refilled with new books from the store’s other floors. 

City Lights Bookshop 356 Richmond St.

There is a little bit of something for readers here. A wide selection of different genres from science fiction to fantasy to historical to much more, reside on the first floor, while an upper floor houses vinyl records and novels on film, art and television. What’s even better is that they will be having a holiday sale from Dec. 15 to Dec. 31, making their already low prices even lower.