disappointing sequels and a new release + an unexpected surprise | recent SFF reads

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  • Опубликовано: 7 ноя 2024

Комментарии • 93

  • @LectoraEstherica
    @LectoraEstherica Месяц назад +6

    "I cant do that to my tbr" said every reader ever 😂.

  • @LifeofTaeShan
    @LifeofTaeShan Месяц назад +3

    I haven’t been watching a lot of book tube for the last year cause I’ve been in a terrible reading slump but recently I’ve started again and can I just say your joy for a good book is absolutely magnetic! Like when you love a book your aura lights up the room and the way you describe books is next level. You’re so good at booktube and I’m so grateful for your content you never fail to make me smile

  • @erynreadseverything
    @erynreadseverything Месяц назад +3

    Oh Tori, I wait for the day that you're ready to commit to The Bound and the Broken. If you enjoyed the Fall, you're going to love the current books! But, I agree on waiting until more of the series is available. That's the only reason I haven't read book 3.

  • @euniceford786
    @euniceford786 Месяц назад +13

    I love your excitement when you've enjoyed a book! The joy and enthusiasm always makes me smile!

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +3

      That’s so sweet, thank you! Glad I can make you smile 🥹❤️

  • @thelegendstrueform
    @thelegendstrueform Месяц назад +14

    Looks like I'm the lone lover of The Mercy of Gods. It feels like people wanted the characters they fell in love with in The Expanse all over again. I'm glad they were able to fully do "something else". They still make you do deep thinking about place in the cosmos and how it's not centered all around us. So to see people act like they aren't the center of the universe like certain characters from the expanse were was a nice change of pace. I loved the character that was slowly falling into "madness" (for lack of a better word at the moment) as her anti anxiety meds were running out. Having experienced that I thought that was very well done. there's almost that point where you begin to enjoy "being off a leash". It was an interesting thought about how that ability to get nuts has served humanity throughout its history in some way. I can see the scene where they pull up on the Night Drinkers CLEARLY. I was SO hyped by that. But yeah I'm looking forward to that one. I just finished Empire of Silence a week ago. And I didn't like it. I don't like Hadrian. I think he is so typical of the "privileged" that everything he does is not a surprise to me. I see right through him.

    • @suzannev3124
      @suzannev3124 Месяц назад +2

      I also loved it! Totally agree with all your points here. I really liked the struggle to understand the motivations and cultures of all the aliens, so much sci-fi assumes aliens would have similar motives to humans and I liked the subversion of that. I’m excited for the rest of the series, I have no idea what to expect!

    • @lieslherman
      @lieslherman Месяц назад +2

      I loved it, too! I did feel like the characters were fleshed out, they just weren't likeable, and it's a bit harder to find one that's easy to relate to. But considering how off-the-wall the situation is, and how we know up front that somehow they're going to result in the downfall of this empire, I am incredibly interested to see how they all evolve and situate themselves in a way they can achieve that. The book definitely felt a bit more plot forward, but considering it was fairly short, I didn't expect a *ton* of depth. I have fairly high expectations from book 2, though! Also really looking forward to the novella coming soon!

    • @ecofighter63
      @ecofighter63 Месяц назад +1

      I can't wait for the 2nd book!

    • @suzannev3124
      @suzannev3124 Месяц назад

      I also feel like part of the difference between the Expanse characters and these is that we’ve had 9+ books to get to know them. I remember thinking only Miller was the character I really globbed onto in book one, but obviously by the end of the series I loved them all!

  • @destiniebustamante-leroux437
    @destiniebustamante-leroux437 Месяц назад +7

    I missed you!! Thank you for posting 🎉

  • @victoria9663
    @victoria9663 Месяц назад +2

    YES I felt the same about well of ascension! I started it in January, got 450 pgs in and quit because I was so bored. Then picked it back up in August and slogged through... until the last 50 pages, WHOA. It went from a 3 star to a 5 star so fast for me. I'm currently reading Hero of Ages too!

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +1

      The whiplash from the last 50-70 pages is unreal. We went from nothing happening most of the book, to all action and stress in the final part 🤣

  • @pattypage6723
    @pattypage6723 Месяц назад

    Reading sun eater now. Just starting howling dark. Great reviews!

  • @wifeunderthesea
    @wifeunderthesea Месяц назад +5

    you’ve convinced me to read the sun eater series. i love your videos and your passion for books so much. just so fun to watch. 💜

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +2

      I appreciate that, thank you! And sun eater has been incredible so far. I hope you love it too! ❤️

  • @ShipwreckedLibrary
    @ShipwreckedLibrary Месяц назад +3

    You're my favorite booktuber and I was so excited to find your tiktok too :) Love seeing your thoughts on books!

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад

      Aw thank you! I appreciate that 🫶🏼

  • @Ja0215ka
    @Ja0215ka Месяц назад +4

    The well of ascension definitely has second book syndrome. The third book is the best in the series so I can’t wait for you to get to it.

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад

      So far hero of ages is going really well so far! I can also see it being the best in the series for me when I’m finished ❤️

  • @tgibridays
    @tgibridays Месяц назад +2

    Whaaaaaat? Red Seas under Red Skies is my favorite of the three Gentleman Bastards books. Haha But I think most people say they progressively down in quality.
    But I'm so glad you liked Howling Dark! It's one of my favorite books, since Ruocchio pulls from a lot of my favorite things from other sci-fi and fantasy series and puts them together in just a masterful way.

  • @seanmbranch
    @seanmbranch Месяц назад +4

    I just finished "Golden Son". Holy freaking cow give me more more more. That book literally had me in shock for hours after finishing it. Absolutely amazing. I'm now reading "Empire of Silence". Side note: the jump cuts in this video are very distracting. Your vids and the way you share your thoughts deserve less interruptions.

    • @YaFeya13
      @YaFeya13 Месяц назад

      Just so you know, Empire of silence is a completely completely different series. The red rising is my favorite of all time where I’m struggling through the second book in the empire of silence, actual struggling ☹️🤦🏼‍♀️

    • @seanmbranch
      @seanmbranch Месяц назад +2

      ​@@YaFeya13Yes. I know. I was just mentioning that I finished Golden Son and am now starting book 1 of sun eater series.

    • @YaFeya13
      @YaFeya13 Месяц назад

      @@seanmbranch good luck with it, I hope you love it as much as most people do. I would finish the MorningStar first, so that at least you would’ve completed the first trilogy of the red rising. But the choice of courses yours.

  • @officialhijabireader
    @officialhijabireader Месяц назад

    Subscribed! I love the way you e discussed your feelings on the books! Such great fun ❤

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +1

      Thank you so much, and welcome to the channel! ❤️🥹

  • @boingboing5546
    @boingboing5546 Месяц назад +1

    Omg I recently read The Well of Ascension and had the exact same experience! I also finished Hero of Ages by now it it has in my opinion the same problem, but to a much lesser extent and I did really like it. I also started the first one in the Wax and Wayne series and that one is shorter and faster paced, and (so far) better than both WoA and HoA in my opinion.
    I'm sorry that there were a couple of books that didn't live up to your expectations, but the way you describe the books you loved make me absolutely want to read them. Sun Eater Series is definitely on my tbr now!!!

  • @ThatsSoPoe
    @ThatsSoPoe Месяц назад

    Glad the Suneater series has been working so well for you given the other disappointments. I'm looking forward to a few series continuations this year that I hope will go better! 🤞

  • @caitlinlucyhenderson8417
    @caitlinlucyhenderson8417 Месяц назад +1

    Recent books I loved:
    - Dragon Ever After by Louisa Masters, my first shifter romance, deeply silly, lots of fun, excellent audiobook narrator
    - Fire with Fire by Destiny Soria, solid contemporary YA fantasy about dragons, slayers, and a complicated sister relationship
    - My Darling Dreadful Thing, sapphic gothic horror set in 1950s Netherlands about ghosts, abuse, and possible madness

  • @ambernicoletv8189
    @ambernicoletv8189 Месяц назад +1

    Great to have you back! ❤

  • @rebecca.reader
    @rebecca.reader Месяц назад

    HiTori
    I've missed your videos, so glad to see another one! I really need to get to both Suneater and The Bound and the Broken. They both sound so good!

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад

      I can’t wait for you to start your sun eater journey!! The series has been incredible so far. And I’m excited for bound and the broken. Just going by The Fall, we’re in for a good time 🙌🏽

  • @katieamarsh
    @katieamarsh Месяц назад +1

    I loved The Fall, liked the first tB&tB novel, and loved the rest of the novels and novellas. Sun Eater is now one of my favorite series of all time. I just want to drown in the prose and the lore. I feel like the Lovecraftian horror elements would be your jam too. The universe just feels bigger and bigger in each book. The politics are fascinating. The different planets feel so real. Demon in White is one of the best books I have ever read.
    I would like to read histories of the worlds of Sun Eater and Bound and the Broken. B&B also has magical connections with animals that are SO cool. I would do anything to be bonded to a creature that way.

  • @KSoGoode
    @KSoGoode Месяц назад +2

    Tori!!! Welcome back sis! Where you been? Hope you've been doing good! Love the video!
    I'm rereading Kushiel's Dart... if you haven't read it, add it to the TBR. It's very political.. its great!

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +1

      Thank you!! ❤️ I’ve been good and hope you have too 🥰 That’s good to know you’re enjoying kushiel’s dart! It’s on the tbr so I’ll defintely have to read it some time in ‘25

  • @lieslherman
    @lieslherman Месяц назад +2

    Not me slinking into the bushes, having loved both Red Seas and Mercy of Gods... 😅🤣 I'm sorry they didn't work better for you!! That's always a disappointment, esp when you love Book 1. (And I do kinda recommend against reading Republic of Thieves--I love it, but it's the weakest of the three, and I don't forsee it working too well for you if you didn't enjoy RSURS.) That said though, I 100% echo your feelings on Well of Ascension... The ending was worth it, but until that point it's such a *slog*. Sanderson knows how to pull off some amazing endings, but the leadup can feel like watching paint dry, sometimes!

  • @amy_harboredinpages8272
    @amy_harboredinpages8272 21 день назад

    I'm so glad you enjoyed The Fall enough to be tempted to break the TBR!😂😂😂 Someday, you will be fully engaged to the Bound and the Broken!
    I also love the bond between Jean and Locke, and totally can see where the story felt a bot different. Once I figured out there was more than one con being pulled by other "parties" I seemed to be fine with it. I habe to read the next Gentleman Bastards book because... that ending... well. I love just love Jean. And wow! Ruocchio. Amazing, and I'm highly anticipating the fantasy he's woring on, as well as the conclusion of Sun Eater... am i correct in thinking there might be another novella coming before the last book?
    🤔📖📚📚📚📚💙

  • @MelpoReads
    @MelpoReads Месяц назад +1

    Ahhhh! I clicked so fast seeing you post again!! ♥️

  • @Paul_Fus
    @Paul_Fus Месяц назад

    Hey, great to see you! I'm reading M.R. Carey's Rampart Trilogy, it's excellent 👍.

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад

      Thank you! Nice to be back ☺️ That’s great to hear you’re enjoying the trilogy!

  • @TeHNyboR
    @TeHNyboR Месяц назад +1

    Yay so glad you made another video, you’ve been missed! I felt the same way about Well of Ascension. It was SO draggy until the last 10 or so chapters. I just finished Hero of Ages last week though. I won’t say anything about the book but I will say that the Mistborn trilogy has been the highlight of 2024 for reading and the best trilogy I’ve read since The Green Bone Saga.
    Currently I’m reading The Justice of Kings and I’m finding the beginning to be a little dry. Hoping it picks up some steam soon because the world is very intriguing and I’ve heard so many good things!

  • @yourewelcomebooks
    @yourewelcomebooks Месяц назад +1

    Gurl I had to DNF both Mercy of the Gods and Red Seas Under Red Skies. They were not it for me - I was reading Howling Dark, but the time jump kinda threw me, so I put it down for a bit, but you making me want to pick it back up

  • @jamesscales4661
    @jamesscales4661 Месяц назад +1

    Welcome back, you have been missed….. I’m currently reading Semiosis by Sue Burke…. Next up is Inhibitor Phase by Alastair Reynolds….
    His “Inhibitor trilogy” is one of my favorites.

  • @midi0070
    @midi0070 Месяц назад

    Aw, that is such a bummer to hear about The Mercy of Gods and the Fractured Dark! This is the first I am hearing about The City of Brace so thank you, I will be checking that out!

  • @xzannahx9546
    @xzannahx9546 Месяц назад

    So happy to see a new video from you! I felt exactly the same about both The Devoured Worlds #2 and The Well of Ascension. (I loved The Devoured Worlds #3, though.) I started skimming every political conversation in The Well of Ascension- it really felt like the same discussion over and over. Loved The Hero of Ages, and am moving on to The Alloy of Law soon.

  • @officialhijabireader
    @officialhijabireader Месяц назад

    Convinced me to read the Sun Eater books

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад

      Yes!! I’m so excited for you! I really hope you enjoy it 🥰

  • @ToriTalks2
    @ToriTalks2 Месяц назад

    Oh no! I LOVE Red Skies!

  • @shundrikasmith2476
    @shundrikasmith2476 Месяц назад

    I'm reading the Lightstruck by Sunya Moore. All your recs are in my Amazon wishlist because my sci-fi era is blossoming

  • @Nico-lk5hb
    @Nico-lk5hb Месяц назад

    Soooo happy you are back 😊😊😊 more videos pleaaaase ❤🎉

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад

      More on the way! 🫶🏼🥰

  • @mbranche4234
    @mbranche4234 Месяц назад

    Hi Tori 👋🏾👋🏾. This summer I read the entire Devabad trilogy. Will read the River soon. Great series! From there I read The Cat Tail Assassins which was very entertaining. I want more from this world by P. Djeli Clark. I just finished Amarie and the Despicable Wonders. It was just OK for me as most YA books tend to be. The Spell Shop was a fluffy scifi fantasy read that cleansed my brain waves as I prepare to begin reading Howling Dark. Love, love, love your recommendations and videos.

  • @MaryaHach
    @MaryaHach Месяц назад

    I feel like what you said about the pacing in The Well of Ascension gets more and more egregious in later Sanderson's works, and I'm at the point where the explosive finales are not enough of a payoff for me anymore.
    I'm glad you are enjoying the Daevabad trilogy! The second and the third books delve even deeper into the political intrigue, themes and worlduilding. Personally I think it's one of those trilogy that gets better and better at every book, hopefully it will be the same for you

  • @hotcocoacinamonbrown
    @hotcocoacinamonbrown Месяц назад

    Miss Tori, welcome back.

  • @GwenCooper-l1b
    @GwenCooper-l1b Месяц назад

    Jade Shards was so good! It made me miss the green bone saga!

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +1

      I know right! 😩 I’ll take all the green bone saga I can get lol. I definitely need to reread the trilogy at some point

  • @availandco
    @availandco Месяц назад

    I agree with everything you said about The Fractured Dark. I wish there was more Einkhorn like POV. between the fugue like state of the character and jumping from different timelines to tell bits of the story, it made it difficult to stay grounded. One review one Goodreads mentions how the first book is based on one planet with one enemy or end goal per se. we lost a bit of that with the sequel but I still think the ideas here are fascinating just wasn’t executed with as much finesse as the first!

  • @felder1122
    @felder1122 Месяц назад

    currently on howling dark.
    potential spoiler for those reading…..
    when she said “it was switch.” i had to close the book 😂

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +1

      That was a wiiiild moment! I was like “not my boy switch” lol 💀🤣 Also I appreciate you marking a spoiler for others 🫶🏼

    • @felder1122
      @felder1122 Месяц назад

      @@ToriMorrow i was at a total lost 😭😭 and no problemo 🙏🏽

  • @rouxellereads
    @rouxellereads Месяц назад

    I’m currently reading The Mercy of Gods and I’m kind of struggling through it. It’s interesting but I’m kind of bored.
    I struggle with the pacing in Mistborn but the endings make it worth it. I still need to read the last book!

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +1

      Interesting but boring is the best way to sum it up tbh 😄 And the hero of ages is amazing so far! Really excited for you to pick it up!

  • @esmayrosalyne
    @esmayrosalyne Месяц назад

    Bummer to hear that some of these sequels were such let-downs, that is always the worst feeling. But YAY for Jade Shards and The Fall, I also love those little gems! My favourite read of August was Asunder by Kerstin Hall, and it's now also my no. 1 favourite book of the year. I think you could absolutely adore it as well, so highly recommend ;)))

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +1

      Ohh I just looked it up, and I’m intrigued! 👀 Thanks for putting it on my radar, I’ll defintely be adding it to the tbr ❤️

    • @esmayrosalyne
      @esmayrosalyne Месяц назад

      @@ToriMorrow Yay, hope you enjoy it as much as I did!! :)))

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +1

      @@esmayrosalyne update- I bought it when I was in B&N yesterday lol 😄 I can’t wait to read it! Thanks again for the rec ❤️

    • @esmayrosalyne
      @esmayrosalyne Месяц назад

      @@ToriMorrow Aaah this just made my day!! Isn't the cover so stunning as well irl?! Happy reading 😍

  • @CityGirlWriter
    @CityGirlWriter Месяц назад

    📚📚📚 July was the best reading month for me this summer. I read The Adventure of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty and loved it! Curious to check out the Daevabad trilogy.

  • @caitlinl2750
    @caitlinl2750 Месяц назад

    I’ve read all of these! I actually preferred the fractured dark lol🎉😂❤

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +1

      I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it! Have you read the bound worlds yet?? I’m wondering if the trilogy ends on a high note before I commit to book 3 any time soon🤣

    • @caitlinl2750
      @caitlinl2750 Месяц назад

      @@ToriMorrow I have - I never cry but I came close! I will have a review on my Goodreads, booksta, and tiktok soon!

  • @LaughingStockfarm1
    @LaughingStockfarm1 Месяц назад

    Honestly, I DNF’d ‘Empire of Silence’ about 75% in; maybe I was just in the wrong head space at the time and I’ve been thinking I should pick it up again solely because everyone says the second book is sooo much better. I thought EoS was just ok and couldn’t see the hype.
    I’m currently reading ‘The Saint of Bright Doors’ and really enjoying it. So many undertones of Buddhism, and all the politics…it’s totally my jam. 😁 I’m trying to read all the entries on the LeGuin awards list, and so far this is my favorite.

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +2

      Aww I’m sorry EoS didn’t work for you but I do hope you go back to it! I think you’ll really know during Howling Dark if it’ll be a series for you. And that’s great you’re enjoying TSOB! I’ll have to keep that one on my radar ❤️

    • @janellelives5158
      @janellelives5158 Месяц назад

      Empire of Silence was a difficult read for me at certain times. Hadrian’s privilege and self righteousness made him hard for me to like. Honestly it was just an okay and long read for me. I almost quit reading it.
      Now Howling Dark really blew me away! I was glad I pushed through EoS because the story evolved in to something great!

  • @bwazi24
    @bwazi24 Месяц назад

    Been stuck on Morning Star ..in Red Rising trilogy ..I just can't move forward ...yet the red rising series has been the most exciting thing I got into this year...Im stuck in a reading slump ..but im reading all this weird romantasy to get through it 😂 make it make sense! ...for 2025 I m looking forward to the strength of the few! When that drops everything stops..it better be a good sequel

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +1

      I lol’d at the weird romantasy 🤣 I hope the slump passes soon bc morning star is incredible! The 2025 releases are going to be absolutely insane 🔥 I can’t wait to make an anticipated releases video for next year!

    • @bwazi24
      @bwazi24 Месяц назад

      @@ToriMorrow 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I need to get out of it ASAP..oooooh can't wait to see your video for the anticipated releases for 2025

  • @lisacole6037
    @lisacole6037 Месяц назад

    I think there a lot of people who didn't like Red Seas Under Red Skies. Personally, I loved it. Now, the third book, I had more trouble with that one.

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад

      Yeah I keep hearing book 3 is a step down from red seas, which is a bummer. I’m glad to hear you loved book 2 though! 😊

  • @ecilaagguman5958
    @ecilaagguman5958 Месяц назад

  • @rachelny5209
    @rachelny5209 Месяц назад

    I felt about the same about Mercy of Gods. I am interested but the characters just aren't as deep as in the Expanse. That being said, Holden is the only thing I dislike in the Expanse - I like Dafyd better (but it's a low bar).

  • @amabonnie
    @amabonnie Месяц назад

    For book three of the gentlemen bastards...... i don't recommend it. I felt pretty much the exact same way you did about book 2, and book 3 ended up being that but worse for me - i stopped halfway through. up to the point i read, that character you mentioned shows up weirdly in a way that makes NO sense and then (up to where i read) only in flashbacks. And the flashbacks in book 3...... sucked. I honestly felt like they made me like the characters and setting less. It felt like the flashbacks were like from a fanfiction about their childhood - like this wasn't how it actually happened, this isn't really of consequence to the story, but wouldn't it be fun to bring an idea to life in the past a little bit? (no, it was not fun.) Book 1: masterpiece. Book 2: pirate adventure...? book 3: fixing an election in a place i don't care about in a way that makes no sense, plus flashback chapters where the characters feel flat flat flat.

  • @samanthalongshore9047
    @samanthalongshore9047 Месяц назад +6

    I don't understand The Bound and Broken hype. The author writes to hit word counts. So many pages with just nothing going on. I hate read the first three books because #1 was fine so we bought the other two before we knew what they were going to turn into... I started to dread any chapter in the protagonist's perspective. Disappointing 😞

  • @tysbookcorner
    @tysbookcorner Месяц назад

    Let me know if you want to buddy read book 3 of the gentleman bastards series!! Its gotta be better than book 2 😂😅

    • @ToriMorrow
      @ToriMorrow  Месяц назад +1

      lol it’s gotta be 🤣 I’m going to stay optimistic about book 3, and if I pick it up it’ll definitely be with you! 🥰

  • @nataliethompson5266
    @nataliethompson5266 Месяц назад +1

    I finished the O’Keefe series and I thought the Blighted Stars did a good job of explaining all the science involved in the series. Interesting you didn’t like it.
    I am anxious to read Rucchio‘s books

  • @katbana2720
    @katbana2720 Месяц назад

    the mercy of gods was a disappointment. felt like the whole thing was just a prologue to a story. I was reading and it was giving setup and more setup with no payoff. they could at least give any answers to the unexpected ally. that way it would've given us something story-wise. similarly on the character level. they made a lot of setup with no payoff. they've set up a situation with the unexpected ally throughout the story but the payoff may be happening only in book two.