Great lists and good variety as well. I'm picking books for 2 annual reading challenges, but otherwise reading my whim, I don't like to plan too much or I feel bogged down by too much planning. Hope you both have a brilliant reading year 😊
An exciting year ahead, gents! I personally have made the unbreakable vow that I will read The Warlord Chronicles in 2025, with the consequence for failure being the deletion of my channel. 😅
Beyond curious to see how the Malazan journey will go!! And oh yes, I am so stoked for Kata Basis, Kuang never fails to bring stories that provoke thoughts and feelings so I am ready for it! Happy reading to you both 🤩
Hello Brothers Gwynne! New subscriber here from the States. I enjoy your banter and love that you read/review many genres. I'm always happy to see a new video pop up from you. A couple on my 2025 TBR list are Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell, When We Cease To Understand The World by Benjamin Labatut, and The Master And Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. Happy reading!
The Will of the Many!! I think you will really enjoy that book. I really want to finish some series in 2025, among which the Boudica series. I keep putting off the second book as i wasn't a massive fan of the second half of book 1. We'll see if the series grows on me as it goes on
Will of the Many is a book that flies by! Ahhh that’s a shame you didn’t enjoy the second half of Dreaming The Eagle, I personally thought it was incredible. If you didn’t enjoy that I can’t see you gelling with the rest of the series. Ed
My excitement is equal to my nervousness for you, Ed, reading The Spear Cuts Through Water-and Wuthering Heights-and The Count of the Monte Cristo. But The Spear Cuts Through Water especially! I was surprised by Dracula and how much I loved it, so I hope you love it as well, Will!
I am stoked for Kata Basis too. When I went to see her she said that when she was doing research for it, she tagged along with her husband to his department party and they were all philosophy majors and she kept walking around the party, asking them about their theses, and initially they thought she was just asking to be polite because they are used to people thinking what they study is boring or too erudite for the average person but then when they started to realize that someone outside of their department genuinely was taking an interest in a bunch of philosophy majors' theses, they were lining up to talk about their papers with her 😄
If only I could read the count of monte cristo for the first time again! Enjoy the experience ed. I thought it was quite brillant. Oh and I think I´m going to be buy "the kindly ones"
@ed your January read was a highlight of my 2022 reading so I hope you love it. Your foray into the world of Edith Pargeter (aka Ellis Peters of Brother Cadfael fame) will also delight, I hope. @will have a great time getting DRACULA into your head! It's different from what I expected it to be, so hoping you're as delighted as I was.
Killer Angels is a fantastic book, well-written and compelling. Lonesome Dove is one of my favourite ever books but I've never given the rest of the series a go. I'm on book 3 of Manda Scott's Boudica series at the moment, loving it.
I agree it sounds odd but the first three books of Malazan really does give you an idea of what the series can offer. If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you. But if you have the time/interest, I would definitely recommend reading through Memories of Ice!
(Apologies for some repetition from my comment on Will’s 2025 TBR Video😅) Excited to hear Elodie Harper is gonna take on the story of Boudicca, will be starting her «Wolf’s Den» Trilogy this year and will be interesting to contrast with the Manda Scott series! And I definitely should get to Hemingway: I am thinking either «The Sun Also Rises», «For Whom The Bells Toll» or «Across the River and into the Trees»! My January TBR/MBR List (had to rework it quite a bit due to my (thankfully receding) pneumonia🤒🤧😅): Just finished: «Cort Adeler» by Ole Henrik Gjeruldsen (Historical Biography about the 17th Century Norwegian Mercenary and Highly Decorated Admiral for the Venetian Navy) Currently reading: «Anitra» by Hilde Susan Jægtnes (History Fiction, about an imagined granddaughter of the Composer Edvard Grieg living in Fascist Rome, torn between her creative dreams of creating a Mythological Grand Opera with the support of the totalitarian regime and her lesbian love for a Jewish musician…) «Hengist» by Sean Poage (Historical Fiction Novella, set during the Anglo-Saxon Invasion of Britain) «All the Horses on Iceland» by Sarah Tolmie (Historical Fiction/Fantasy Novella about an Medieval Icelander’s Fantastical Journey to Central Asia) My February TBR/MBR: «Carthage Ascendant» by Mary Gentle (Book of Ash #2, Alt-Historical Military Fiction inspired by the Mercenary Wars of the Renaissance) «After Rome» by Morgan Llywelyn (Historical Fiction set after the Roman Withdrawal from Britain) «Alamut» by Vladimir Bartol (Philosophical Historical Fiction, set among the Order of Assassins Sect during the Crusades, with parallels to the growth of Fascism in Bartol’s own 1930s) «Mannen som bar solen» («The Man Who Carried The Sun») by Kristian Bang Foss (Historical Fiction set in the Nordic Bronze Age) «The Lion & the Sword» (90s Fantasy inspired by Alexander the Great’s Conquest of Greece) by Roberta Cray My Spring TBR/MBR: Collection of the writings of Seneca, the Roman Stoic Philosopher (and assassinated tutor of Emperor Nero) «Informocracy» by Malka Older (Cyberpunk) «Brothers of the Wind» by Tad Williams (Prequel to «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn», Epic Fantasy) «Leviathan Falls» by James SA Corey («The Expanse» #9, Space Opera) «Bloodstone» & «Dark Crusade» by Karl Edward Wagner (Both in the «Kane» series, S&S/Proto-Grimdark) «Lancelot» by Giles Kristian (Arthurian Fantasy/Historical Fiction) «The Children of Gods and Fighting Men» by Shauna Lawless (Historical Fantasy set in Viking Age Ireland) «Sun Eater» 3-6: «Demon in White», «Kingdoms of Death», «Ashes of Men» & «Disquiet Gods» (+ the short stories) by Christopher Ruocchio (Space Opera) «Pompeii» by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction Thriller based on the days leading to the Eruption of Vesuvius, with inspiration from «Chinatown») «Menewood» by Nicola Griffith (Historical Fiction about an Anglo Saxon Nun and future Saint, sequel of «Hild») «The Blood Dimmed Tide» by Stephen Aryan (Historical Fantasy inspired by the Mongol Conquest of Persia) «Firelord» by Parke Godwin (Arthurian Historical Fiction) «Navola» by Paolo Bacigalupi (Political Fantasy inspired by Renaissance Italy & «The Godfather») «Women of Troy» by Pat Barker (Historical Fiction take on the Iliad, from the perspective of Achilles’ and Agamemnon’s «War Bride» Briseis) «The Crystal Cave» by Mary Stewart (Arthurian Fantasy from the perspective of Merlin) «The Folding Knife» by KJ Parker (Political Fantasy) «The Wolf Den» by Elodie Harper (Historical Fiction set in the, eh, «Red Light District» of Ancient Pompeii😅) «The Bright Sword» by Lev Grossman (Arthurian Fantasy) «Augustus» by John Williams (Epistolary Historical Fiction about the Eponymous Roman Emperor’s Life) And I plan to start on the «Aspect Emperor» series by R. Scott Bakker (Epic Dark/Grimdark Fantasy, sequel series to «The Prince of Nothing») and «The Last King of Osten Ard» by Tad Williams (Sequel to «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn», Epic Fantasy) this Summer and finish them in the Autumn! Also plan to continue Manda Scott’s «Boudica» series this Autumn, and I am very excited for «Doom of Destiny» (Sundered Nation #3) by Vaughn Roycroft (Epic/Historical Fantasy inspirert by the Historical Ancient Goths and the Rohirrim of Tolkien, with a dash of «Dune»), «The Sorrow in the Sea» (Final novel in «The Falcon & The Nightingale» Trilogy) by Stephen Aryan, «Discovery» by J.A.J. Minton/Talking Story (Cosmic Horror/Paranormal Mystery) & «Written in the Dark» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Fantasy inspired by Medieval France) coming out in 2025! 😎🙌 Cheers Chaps!
Will has a Booktube channel?! I’d never watch that if I were you 😅 This year will truly be a remarkable one for you! Some incredible books here and I’ve added about 291 new books to my TBR so thank you 😂 Truth and courage, Ed
I read the Terror last year, I really enjoyed it, have not seen the TV series but I have seen clips on RUclips, I don't like how they have dropped some characters and changed some of the story line. Still I really want to see the whole TV series. I am now reading The far pavilions by M.M. Kaye I think you guys will like it.
Have y’all read any William Trevor? Probably 10 years ago I picked up The Story of Lucy Gault at random off a used bookstore shelf and just loved it, have been meaning to explore some more of his writing!
The worst I've ever had my arm fall asleep was when I sat on my hand while reading Killer Angels many years ago. I thought we were going to have to cut it off. So....there you go.....🙂
My 12 books, in no particular order: 1-3: Mistborn series 4-6: Final 3 Red Rising Books 7: Project Hail Mary 8: The Book Thief 9: Dune 10: 11/22/63 11: The Blade Itself 12: The Will of the Many
If anyone tells you, you have to read three books in Malazan before you decide whether you like it, thats just wrong. The first book is a little iffy and doesn't really portray well how the rest of the series is. But by the end of book 2 you should have a pretty good idea whether you will like it. If you hate it at the end of book 1, stop. If you like parts of book 1, then give book 2 a try. If you don't like book 2 also, you can stop. However if you start liking the books by end of book 2, but not fully loving it yet, or not sure whether its enough to commit to a huge 10 book series, thats what book 3 is for, to make you love it even more, but only if you at least enjoyed or appreciated the first 2 books to some extent. If you don't like the first 2 books, theres no point in trying the third.
Great lists and good variety as well.
I'm picking books for 2 annual reading challenges, but otherwise reading my whim, I don't like to plan too much or I feel bogged down by too much planning.
Hope you both have a brilliant reading year 😊
An exciting year ahead, gents! I personally have made the unbreakable vow that I will read The Warlord Chronicles in 2025, with the consequence for failure being the deletion of my channel. 😅
Beyond curious to see how the Malazan journey will go!! And oh yes, I am so stoked for Kata Basis, Kuang never fails to bring stories that provoke thoughts and feelings so I am ready for it!
Happy reading to you both 🤩
Hello Brothers Gwynne!
New subscriber here from the States. I enjoy your banter and love that you read/review many genres. I'm always happy to see a new video pop up from you. A couple on my 2025 TBR list are Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell, When We Cease To Understand The World by Benjamin Labatut, and The Master And Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. Happy reading!
A pleasure to meet you! Thank you for the kind words. Thank you also for the recommendations!
Ed
The Will of the Many!! I think you will really enjoy that book. I really want to finish some series in 2025, among which the Boudica series. I keep putting off the second book as i wasn't a massive fan of the second half of book 1. We'll see if the series grows on me as it goes on
Will of the Many is a book that flies by! Ahhh that’s a shame you didn’t enjoy the second half of Dreaming The Eagle, I personally thought it was incredible. If you didn’t enjoy that I can’t see you gelling with the rest of the series.
Ed
@ Ahh, that's sad. I really wanted to like this series, but good to know in advance that the rest of the books probably won't be for me
My excitement is equal to my nervousness for you, Ed, reading The Spear Cuts Through Water-and Wuthering Heights-and The Count of the Monte Cristo. But The Spear Cuts Through Water especially!
I was surprised by Dracula and how much I loved it, so I hope you love it as well, Will!
I am stoked for Kata Basis too. When I went to see her she said that when she was doing research for it, she tagged along with her husband to his department party and they were all philosophy majors and she kept walking around the party, asking them about their theses, and initially they thought she was just asking to be polite because they are used to people thinking what they study is boring or too erudite for the average person but then when they started to realize that someone outside of their department genuinely was taking an interest in a bunch of philosophy majors' theses, they were lining up to talk about their papers with her 😄
Just finished watching The Terror and now the book and The Endeavor are high on my list for this year. Will be so excited t hear your thoughts!!!
Great video 🎥🎥🙌🏻🙌🏻
Thanks for watching Safina!
Ed
If only I could read the count of monte cristo for the first time again! Enjoy the experience ed. I thought it was quite brillant. Oh and I think I´m going to be buy "the kindly ones"
Ed sporting his Nosferatu look!! 👀 🧛♂️
The 55 year old Transylvanian nobleman is a real look😂
Ed
@ed your January read was a highlight of my 2022 reading so I hope you love it. Your foray into the world of Edith Pargeter (aka Ellis Peters of Brother Cadfael fame) will also delight, I hope.
@will have a great time getting DRACULA into your head! It's different from what I expected it to be, so hoping you're as delighted as I was.
That’s exciting! So many good books. I’m sure Will is going to love Dracula - it’s a blood-pumping read!
Ed
Killer Angels is a fantastic book, well-written and compelling. Lonesome Dove is one of my favourite ever books but I've never given the rest of the series a go. I'm on book 3 of Manda Scott's Boudica series at the moment, loving it.
I agree it sounds odd but the first three books of Malazan really does give you an idea of what the series can offer. If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you. But if you have the time/interest, I would definitely recommend reading through Memories of Ice!
Lonesome Dove is one of the few books that made me see life differently... I will also be reading Streets of Laredo soon
Nice list!
The Killer Angels is great! Read it last year
Excited that it's Elodie Harper telling the Boudica/Boudicca/Boadicea story - it will be that much better. She's a great storyteller.
My top TBR this year is the last 3 books in TFATF, Red rising and Farseer trilogy.... I may be over estimating myself.........
I have a farewell to arms and the will of the many on my tbr list
(Apologies for some repetition from my comment on Will’s 2025 TBR Video😅)
Excited to hear Elodie Harper is gonna take on the story of Boudicca, will be starting her «Wolf’s Den» Trilogy this year and will be interesting to contrast with the Manda Scott series!
And I definitely should get to Hemingway: I am thinking either «The Sun Also Rises», «For Whom The Bells Toll» or «Across the River and into the Trees»!
My January TBR/MBR List (had to rework it quite a bit due to my (thankfully receding) pneumonia🤒🤧😅):
Just finished: «Cort Adeler» by Ole Henrik Gjeruldsen (Historical Biography about the 17th Century Norwegian Mercenary and Highly Decorated Admiral for the Venetian Navy)
Currently reading: «Anitra» by Hilde Susan Jægtnes (History Fiction, about an imagined granddaughter of the Composer Edvard Grieg living in Fascist Rome, torn between her creative dreams of creating a Mythological Grand Opera with the support of the totalitarian regime and her lesbian love for a Jewish musician…)
«Hengist» by Sean Poage (Historical Fiction Novella, set during the Anglo-Saxon Invasion of Britain)
«All the Horses on Iceland» by Sarah Tolmie (Historical Fiction/Fantasy Novella about an Medieval Icelander’s Fantastical Journey to Central Asia)
My February TBR/MBR:
«Carthage Ascendant» by Mary Gentle (Book of Ash #2, Alt-Historical Military Fiction inspired by the Mercenary Wars of the Renaissance)
«After Rome» by Morgan Llywelyn (Historical Fiction set after the Roman Withdrawal from Britain)
«Alamut» by Vladimir Bartol (Philosophical Historical Fiction, set among the Order of Assassins Sect during the Crusades, with parallels to the growth of Fascism in Bartol’s own 1930s)
«Mannen som bar solen» («The Man Who Carried The Sun») by Kristian Bang Foss (Historical Fiction set in the Nordic Bronze Age)
«The Lion & the Sword» (90s Fantasy inspired by Alexander the Great’s Conquest of Greece) by Roberta Cray
My Spring TBR/MBR:
Collection of the writings of Seneca, the Roman Stoic Philosopher (and assassinated tutor of Emperor Nero)
«Informocracy» by Malka Older (Cyberpunk)
«Brothers of the Wind» by Tad Williams (Prequel to «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn», Epic Fantasy)
«Leviathan Falls» by James SA Corey («The Expanse» #9, Space Opera)
«Bloodstone» & «Dark Crusade» by Karl Edward Wagner (Both in the «Kane» series, S&S/Proto-Grimdark)
«Lancelot» by Giles Kristian (Arthurian Fantasy/Historical Fiction)
«The Children of Gods and Fighting Men» by Shauna Lawless (Historical Fantasy set in Viking Age Ireland)
«Sun Eater» 3-6: «Demon in White», «Kingdoms of Death», «Ashes of Men» & «Disquiet Gods» (+ the short stories) by Christopher Ruocchio (Space Opera)
«Pompeii» by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction Thriller based on the days leading to the Eruption of Vesuvius, with inspiration from «Chinatown»)
«Menewood» by Nicola Griffith (Historical Fiction about an Anglo Saxon Nun and future Saint, sequel of «Hild»)
«The Blood Dimmed Tide» by Stephen Aryan (Historical Fantasy inspired by the Mongol Conquest of Persia)
«Firelord» by Parke Godwin (Arthurian Historical Fiction)
«Navola» by Paolo Bacigalupi (Political Fantasy inspired by Renaissance Italy & «The Godfather»)
«Women of Troy» by Pat Barker (Historical Fiction take on the Iliad, from the perspective of Achilles’ and Agamemnon’s «War Bride» Briseis)
«The Crystal Cave» by Mary Stewart (Arthurian Fantasy from the perspective of Merlin)
«The Folding Knife» by KJ Parker (Political Fantasy)
«The Wolf Den» by Elodie Harper (Historical Fiction set in the, eh, «Red Light District» of Ancient Pompeii😅)
«The Bright Sword» by Lev Grossman (Arthurian Fantasy)
«Augustus» by John Williams (Epistolary Historical Fiction about the Eponymous Roman Emperor’s Life)
And I plan to start on the «Aspect Emperor» series by R. Scott Bakker (Epic Dark/Grimdark Fantasy, sequel series to «The Prince of Nothing») and «The Last King of Osten Ard» by Tad Williams (Sequel to «Memory, Sorrow & Thorn», Epic Fantasy) this Summer and finish them in the Autumn!
Also plan to continue Manda Scott’s «Boudica» series this Autumn, and I am very excited for «Doom of Destiny» (Sundered Nation #3) by Vaughn Roycroft (Epic/Historical Fantasy inspirert by the Historical Ancient Goths and the Rohirrim of Tolkien, with a dash of «Dune»), «The Sorrow in the Sea» (Final novel in «The Falcon & The Nightingale» Trilogy) by Stephen Aryan, «Discovery» by J.A.J. Minton/Talking Story (Cosmic Horror/Paranormal Mystery) & «Written in the Dark» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Fantasy inspired by Medieval France) coming out in 2025! 😎🙌
Cheers Chaps!
Will has a Booktube channel?! I’d never watch that if I were you 😅
This year will truly be a remarkable one for you! Some incredible books here and I’ve added about 291 new books to my TBR so thank you 😂
Truth and courage,
Ed
I read the Terror last year, I really enjoyed it, have not seen the TV series but I have seen clips on RUclips, I don't like how they have dropped some characters and changed some of the story line. Still I really want to see the whole TV series. I am now reading The far pavilions by M.M. Kaye I think you guys will like it.
Have y’all read any William Trevor? Probably 10 years ago I picked up The Story of Lucy Gault at random off a used bookstore shelf and just loved it, have been meaning to explore some more of his writing!
Streets of Laredo is so very different from the first 3. It’s a great novel in its own right. Just keep your mind open 😊
I’m scared now! 😅
Ed
The worst I've ever had my arm fall asleep was when I sat on my hand while reading Killer Angels many years ago. I thought we were going to have to cut it off. So....there you go.....🙂
😂😂 I’ll be sure to not sit on my hand!
Ed
With Sharra, I would start with Gods and Generals. I found it to be more readable and it sets the scene for The Killer Angels. Just a view. 😊
I would love to join you for Lonesome Dove in December
My 12 books, in no particular order:
1-3: Mistborn series
4-6: Final 3 Red Rising Books
7: Project Hail Mary
8: The Book Thief
9: Dune
10: 11/22/63
11: The Blade Itself
12: The Will of the Many
Need a jumpscare warning during Dracula 😢
I read The Sun Also Rises years ago and really enjoyed it! I've been meaning to read more Hemmingway since
For historical fiction really pickup Sharon Kay Penman’s books . Her Welsh Prince trilogy is incredible.
For me it's Steven Erikson,Ken Liu and probably Robin Hobb.
"Sunrise in the West"!!!!! Good Lord! Where will you even find a copy?
I'd say the Count of Monte Cristo is more about banking than it is about vengeance.
If anyone tells you, you have to read three books in Malazan before you decide whether you like it, thats just wrong.
The first book is a little iffy and doesn't really portray well how the rest of the series is. But by the end of book 2 you should have a pretty good idea whether you will like it. If you hate it at the end of book 1, stop. If you like parts of book 1, then give book 2 a try. If you don't like book 2 also, you can stop. However if you start liking the books by end of book 2, but not fully loving it yet, or not sure whether its enough to commit to a huge 10 book series, thats what book 3 is for, to make you love it even more, but only if you at least enjoyed or appreciated the first 2 books to some extent. If you don't like the first 2 books, theres no point in trying the third.
Please consider reading John Michael Flynn's new novel, Answer Only, published in November, 2024 by Fomite.
The Spear Cuts Through Water is the worst book I've ever read, only book I've ever given a 1 star to.