A Year of Orenda – The Final Quarter

Well. This is it. The end of our year of Orenda. Our very last post. It’s been fun. It’s been emotional. It’s been nice finally being able to talk to Mandie properly about some of the books without fear of spoilers lol. When we dreamed up the idea of a Year of Orenda back at Bloody Scotland in 2019, neither of us knew what this year would bring. And we certainly weren’t expecting what we finally got. I still think we did okay, that we managed to feature every last Orenda Author, just as we planned, and Mandie made great inroads into her quest to catch me up in number of books read. I also managed to finally read the 13 books that had sat on my tbr but not quite made it to the top, so I can now officially say that I have read every single Orenda book that has ever been published (plus one or two that haven’t yet.) And yes – that statement is factual as I have already read Deity and Smoke Screen, the two latest titles published this month, and more. I haven’t reviewed them on the blog yet, but you can find my thoughts on Goodreads if you are so inclined.

So what was our final tally? Well – if you’ve read any of the other posts you will already know, but I love stats (not) so here it is again.

Total books featured – 107
(105 paperback and 2 ebooks)
Total Reviews – 127
Feature Posts – 19

Total Orenda Books Read
Jen – 111
Mandie – 65 (from just 4 at the start of the year!!!)

So impressed with Mandie, She had only read four Orenda books by last Christmas, but she got so into her ‘read 50 books for my 50th’ challenge that she snuck in plenty of extras. She’s also been so impressed with what she has been reading she has vowed to complete her challenge in style and so, in 2021, back by popular demand (that equates to me and Mandie if no-one else), we will return with A(nother) Year Of Orenda. I will be reading all new titles and Mandie will be reading the rest of the back catalogue and as many of the new books published next year as she can manage. How is that for a commitment?

So what did our final quarter deliver? Well we had a really good three months, with a few feature author weeks and rounding off with a Jolabokaflod celebration featuring all three Icelandic Authors. Read on for more.

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October

The Mine by Antti Tuomainen
The Man Who Died by Antti Tuomainen
Palm Beach Finland by Antti Tuomainen
Little Siberia by Antti Tuomainen
Nothing Important Happened Today by Will Carver
A Death In The Family by Michael Stanley
The Lingering by SJI Holliday
Betrayal by Lilja Sigurdardottir
Epiphany Jones by Michael Grothaus

November

Attend by West Camel
Fallen Angels by Gunnar Staalesen
Dying to Live by Michael Stanley
Violet by SJI Holliday
The Coral Bride by Roxanne Bouchard
A Suitable Lie by Michael J. Malone
House of Spines by Michael J. Malone
After He Died by Michael J. Malone
In The Absence of Miracles by Michael J. Malone
A Song of Isolation by Michael J. Malone
The CWA Anthology – Mystery Tour

December

Betrayal by Lilja Sigurdardottir
Snare by Lilja Sigurdardottir
Trap by Lilja Sigurdardottir
Cage by Lilja Sigurdardottir
Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson
Nightblind by Ragnar Jonasson
Blackout by Ragnar Jonasson
Rupture by Ragnar Jonasson
Whiteout by Ragnar Jonasson
Winterkill by Ragnar Jonasson
The Creak On The Stairs by Eva Björg Ægidottir
The Old You by Louise Voss

And there we have it. All of our posts and all of the book love. Hope you have found at least one favourite new read amongst them. So it is goodbye to our Year of Orenda and hello to Another Year of Orenda. I mean … Orenda are six years old now. That has to be worth celebrating, right?

Have a fabulous Christmas all, the best that you can at least, and we’ll see you on the other side.

Jen and Mandie.