Glad you had a nice trip. It's great to live in the real world vs a book world now and then. 😅 I'll be doing that this weekend. ❤ Yay Mayor!!! And AQ. I can't to chat through some thoughts.
Really happy to hear that your Singapore trip was such a blast, definitely on my bucketlist as well!! Bummer about The Goblin Emperor, but YAY for Farseer bringing you so much joy over the last few weeks. And oooh I really hope you get around to Nevernight because I am so desperate to hear your thoughts, even if you bash it hahaha 🤣❤
Thank you, V3! Rob J Hayes is an author that I'm keen to read but I'm wary. I've not heard one criticism about his writing, which instantly makes me wary. Never Die is the one I'd likely get to first. Have you read that one, by any chance? Between Two Fires has been on my list for the longest time! Did you enjoy it?
@@bookswithzara I have not read "Never Die" but its been on my radar for like forever lol as for "Between Two Fires" yes I did enjoy, but the ending is strange and your milage may very. I still ended up giving it 4/5 stars but I expected the story to go in a different direction than how it ended.
Always wanted to go to Singapore, to my shame I'm not a well travelled man. Yeah, Assassin's Queat certainly is something 😂 Some great character moments but the pacing is rocky imo. That's one thing I really had to get over myself about Hobb, she is consistently a slowburn and thankfully the pacing of AQ isn't indicatative of the rest of the series. I tried to read Nevernight a year or so ago and the way the book was formatted and structured really threw me off and I'd a really hard time finding my footing. Didn't help almost everything was in italics. Curious to hear your thoughts. In September I've read: *DC Comics* Green Lantern: Secret Origin (re-read) Written by Geoff Johns | Art by Ivan Reis *Fantasy* Dunk & Egg 1: The Hedge Knight (re-read) - I was kinda underwhelmed on my first read, but on re-read I loved it. Rain Wild Chronicles 2: Dragon Haven Rain Wild Chronicles 3: City of Dragons Rain Wild Chronicles 4: Blood of Dragons - 1st 3rd of Dragon Haven was kinda rough but it really picked up after that. Overall it is my least favourite subseries of RotE, though I'd read it again. Fitz & Fool 1: Fool's Assassin - Book of the Month! Loved the Gothic atmosphere throughout and exploring the later years Fitz's life. My only complaint, is that there isn't enough of the Fool. *Image Comics* Criminal 1: Coward Written by Ed Brubaker | Art by Sean Philips - Read in a sitting! It's a series I'd been curious about for years. *Marvel Comics* Astonishing X-Men Complete Collection 1 Written by Joss Whedon | Art by Sean Cassaday Daredevil 1: Hell Breaks Loose Written by Saladin Ahmed | Art by Aaron Kuder - Thoroughly enjoyed this. Waiting for the next trade to come down a little in price. Moon Knight 1: The Midnight Mission Written by Jed McKay | Art by Alessandro Cappuccio - Love me some Moon Knight. *Mystery* Mystic River / Dennis Lehane - One of my favourites of the year! So far in October I've finished: *Epic Fantasy* Memory, Sorrow & Thorn 2: Stone of Farewell *Short Fiction* Hell is the Absence of God / Ted Chiang - I'm not a religious or spiritual person but gave me a lot to think about. As for what I'm currently reading: *Epic Fantasy* Memory, Sorrow & Thorn 3: To Green Angel Tower - Was going to hop back to Realm of the Elderlings, but I'm enjoying sticking with 1 series at a time and find myself unable to read multiple novels at once anymore and I'm enjoying Williams' story and world a lot. Plus, it's only 1 book left anyway. *Marvel Comics* Ultimate Spider-man 1: Married with Children Written by Jonathan Hickman | Art by Marco Checchetto - So far it's the Spider-man Marvel refuses to give the fans in the main continuity. Basically, due to reality altering shenanigans this version of Peter Parker got his powers later in life and is only now starting out as the webhead as a 35 year old husband and father. Some fun takes on some classic characters and dynamics. I'm surprised I've read as much as I did considering I've been glued to my PS5 replaying the Ezio collection. On Revelations 😅
Not travelling is not something to feeling shame about imo. Life gets in the way. I'm just very lucky to have had this opportunity coincide with work and then I stayed a few extra days on my own time. Hope you get the opportunity to go out there some time! Definitely agree that the pacing is the main issue in AQ. I don't think it deserves the hate it gets but I do think it's a bit repetitive in places (like how many times do we need to travel lol). Awesome list of stuff you've read. You are making me psyched to read Tad Williams. Another subscriber and you are both reading him currently and I'm liking what I'm hearing. I also love how many comics you read. I really need to find a way to integrate more comics/manga into my weekly reading. Ezio!!!! My fave!!! Seriously, Ubisoft will never be able to get to that level of craft ever again.
Review coming out next week for TGE. No I haven't read Legends and Latte. I highly doubt I will read it but if I do, it'll probably be when it starts to get really cold and I need something cosy.
Sounds like your experience with Hobb is similar to mine. Will know for sure when you finish the 3rd one. The Reformatory is a messed up book, it's right up your alley. Even if you don't get to it next month it's worth reading near future. I read it because it's on the World Fantasy Award nominees list for this year and I'll be surprised if it doesn't win. For me, I'm making my way through Oathbringer and Days of Shattered Faith (got an ARC), once I catch up with Stormlight I'll start Wars of Light and Shadow because that series is going to blow up on Booktube in January and Toronto Library only has 3 copies of each book in the series, so want to read it while they're still easy to get 😂
I've really enjoyed what I've read so far of Wurts. Now that I'm nearly finished a couple of series I hope to either restart or continue Wars of Light & Shadow as my primary Fantasy series at some point.
I’m about 20% of the way through The Reformatory and loving it. The book is making me so angry though. I really want to read Janny Wurts. I think I’d like to read her standalone first though. Good strategy haha. How are you finding Oathbringer?
@@bookswithzara yea, the Reformatory made me sickened and angry. A really powerful book. Oathbringer's a re-read for me, I'm enjoying it as much as I did the first go around; Dalinar's my favorite character of the series and he's the primary POV for this one.
I dnfed Goblin Emperor. I was very bored. The politics and court intrigue dont play much of an important role. It’s a slice of life/more cozy fantasy which is not for me. I quite enjoyed Assassins Quest. It gets too much hate. The scene with Burrich, Chade and Fitz in the beginning has some of best dialogue, and deals with the consequences of what happened at the end of Royal Assassin very well. I hope you enjoy Nevernight! I hated it personally Silence is 10/10
It's so so so boring! I also didn't find it cosy at all. Yeah I don't think AQ deserves the degree of hate it gives tbh! 10/10 for Silence? Sold. Definitely going to pick it up this month.
IRL Adventures are the best ones! 😄 In September I read three Rosemary Sutcliffe novels: 2 YA Historical Fiction Novels, «The Silver Branch» & «The Lantern Bearers» (set in Ancient Britain during the Late Roman and the Roman Withdrawal & Saxon Invasions, respectively) and an Arthurian Historical Fiction novel, «Sword at Sunset», all loosely connectied to each other following a family over generations, with the POV character of «The Lantern Bearers» as a mentor figure and his son one of Arthur’s companions in «Sword at Sunset». I also finished «Sword in the Storm» («Rigante» series #1) by David Gemmell (S&S/Heroic Fantasy, inspired by Celtic Britain and the Roman Invasions) and «The Eternal Champion» by Michael Moorcock (Multiverse S&S/(Anti-?)Heroic Fantasy). Just finished «Lustrum» (US: «Conspirata», «Cicero»-Trilogy #2) by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction about the Roman Statesman), that one or «Sword in the Storm» might be my Book of the Month! I am mostly mood-reading this Autumn (and speaking of spooky, I think I am scared enough after reading «The Prince of Nothing» Trilogy by R. Scott Bakker this Summer, to the point I might need an exorcism or two in addition to psychological therapy! 😅😂), but my tentative October TBR List: «Midnight Falcon» (Rigante #2) by David Gemmell (Heroic Fantasy/S&S) «Leviathan Falls» (The Expanse, #9) by James S.A. Corey (Space opera, pushed back from this month’s TBR) «The Land Leviathan» (A Nomad of the Time Streams» Trilogy #2) by Michael Moorcock (Multiverse/Alternative History/Time Travel Steampunk(?)😅) «The City» (City of Victory Trilogy #2) by Adrian Goldsworthy (Historical Military Fiction set during Emperor Trajan’s Campaigns) I am also just started on «The Power Broker» by Robert Caro (Investigative Journalism/Political Biography Classic), planning on reading it through Q4! My October MBR List: «Dreaming the Eagle» («Boudica» #1) by Manda Scott (Historical Fiction about the Celtic British Queen and her Rebellion against the Romans) «The Children of Gods & Fighting Men» by Shauna Lawless (Historical Fantasy set in Ireland during the Viking Age) Cheers!😃
Have to agree with that! "I think I am scared enough after reading «The Prince of Nothing» Trilogy by R. Scott Bakker this Summer, to the point I might need an exorcism or two in addition to psychological therapy!" this made me chuckle haha. Relatable. How do you like Goldsworthy's and Lawless's writing? Both on my list. I also have the Boudica series on my kindle. I tried a sample last year and loved the writing. Need to pick that up at some point!
@@bookswithzara 😅😆 I have no yet started on «Boudicca» or «Gael Song», but Goldsworthy really knows how to bring Ancient Britain to life, brings to my mind the grit and colours of BBC/HBO’s «Rome». I also enjoys how he can as easily make you feel you are in a Ancient version of an Western or Crime Noir or Folk Horror, and 4-5 books in, I would lie if I did not enjoy the almost buddy-cop duo of Ferox the Roman Officer (Romanized Southern Briton with cut ties to his Tribe) «Disgruntled Detective/Sheriff» and his more Easygoing Auxiliary Scout, the Northern Briton Vindex!
Glad you had a nice trip. It's great to live in the real world vs a book world now and then. 😅 I'll be doing that this weekend. ❤
Yay Mayor!!! And AQ. I can't to chat through some thoughts.
Thanks! I'm so glad you're getting some time off. Hope you have a lovely time.
Enjoy your life doing other things beside reading and don't feel guilty not reading that much! You have a whole life ahead of you!🥰
Totally agree with this sentiment, Sasa!
Really happy to hear that your Singapore trip was such a blast, definitely on my bucketlist as well!!
Bummer about The Goblin Emperor, but YAY for Farseer bringing you so much joy over the last few weeks. And oooh I really hope you get around to Nevernight because I am so desperate to hear your thoughts, even if you bash it hahaha 🤣❤
Thanks a lot! Have you read The Goblin Emperor? Curious to hear your thoughts if you have!
@@bookswithzara No have not and it keeps slipping off my radar for some reason hahah
Lovely video Zara
Thank you, V3! Rob J Hayes is an author that I'm keen to read but I'm wary. I've not heard one criticism about his writing, which instantly makes me wary. Never Die is the one I'd likely get to first. Have you read that one, by any chance?
Between Two Fires has been on my list for the longest time! Did you enjoy it?
@@bookswithzara I have not read "Never Die" but its been on my radar for like forever lol as for "Between Two Fires" yes I did enjoy, but the ending is strange and your milage may very. I still ended up giving it 4/5 stars but I expected the story to go in a different direction than how it ended.
Always wanted to go to Singapore, to my shame I'm not a well travelled man.
Yeah, Assassin's Queat certainly is something 😂 Some great character moments but the pacing is rocky imo. That's one thing I really had to get over myself about Hobb, she is consistently a slowburn and thankfully the pacing of AQ isn't indicatative of the rest of the series.
I tried to read Nevernight a year or so ago and the way the book was formatted and structured really threw me off and I'd a really hard time finding my footing. Didn't help almost everything was in italics. Curious to hear your thoughts.
In September I've read:
*DC Comics*
Green Lantern: Secret Origin (re-read)
Written by Geoff Johns | Art by Ivan Reis
*Fantasy*
Dunk & Egg 1: The Hedge Knight (re-read)
- I was kinda underwhelmed on my first read, but on re-read I loved it.
Rain Wild Chronicles 2: Dragon Haven
Rain Wild Chronicles 3: City of Dragons
Rain Wild Chronicles 4: Blood of Dragons
- 1st 3rd of Dragon Haven was kinda rough but it really picked up after that. Overall it is my least favourite subseries of RotE, though I'd read it again.
Fitz & Fool 1: Fool's Assassin
- Book of the Month! Loved the Gothic atmosphere throughout and exploring the later years Fitz's life. My only complaint, is that there isn't enough of the Fool.
*Image Comics*
Criminal 1: Coward
Written by Ed Brubaker | Art by Sean Philips
- Read in a sitting! It's a series I'd been curious about for years.
*Marvel Comics*
Astonishing X-Men Complete Collection 1 Written by Joss Whedon | Art by Sean Cassaday
Daredevil 1: Hell Breaks Loose
Written by Saladin Ahmed | Art by Aaron Kuder
- Thoroughly enjoyed this. Waiting for the next trade to come down a little in price.
Moon Knight 1: The Midnight Mission
Written by Jed McKay | Art by Alessandro Cappuccio
- Love me some Moon Knight.
*Mystery*
Mystic River / Dennis Lehane
- One of my favourites of the year!
So far in October I've finished:
*Epic Fantasy*
Memory, Sorrow & Thorn 2: Stone of Farewell
*Short Fiction*
Hell is the Absence of God / Ted Chiang
- I'm not a religious or spiritual person but gave me a lot to think about.
As for what I'm currently reading:
*Epic Fantasy*
Memory, Sorrow & Thorn 3: To Green Angel Tower
- Was going to hop back to Realm of the Elderlings, but I'm enjoying sticking with 1 series at a time and find myself unable to read multiple novels at once anymore and I'm enjoying Williams' story and world a lot. Plus, it's only 1 book left anyway.
*Marvel Comics*
Ultimate Spider-man 1: Married with Children
Written by Jonathan Hickman | Art by Marco Checchetto
- So far it's the Spider-man Marvel refuses to give the fans in the main continuity. Basically, due to reality altering shenanigans this version of Peter Parker got his powers later in life and is only now starting out as the webhead as a 35 year old husband and father. Some fun takes on some classic characters and dynamics.
I'm surprised I've read as much as I did considering I've been glued to my PS5 replaying the Ezio collection. On Revelations 😅
Not travelling is not something to feeling shame about imo. Life gets in the way. I'm just very lucky to have had this opportunity coincide with work and then I stayed a few extra days on my own time. Hope you get the opportunity to go out there some time!
Definitely agree that the pacing is the main issue in AQ. I don't think it deserves the hate it gets but I do think it's a bit repetitive in places (like how many times do we need to travel lol).
Awesome list of stuff you've read. You are making me psyched to read Tad Williams. Another subscriber and you are both reading him currently and I'm liking what I'm hearing. I also love how many comics you read. I really need to find a way to integrate more comics/manga into my weekly reading.
Ezio!!!! My fave!!! Seriously, Ubisoft will never be able to get to that level of craft ever again.
Looking forward to your review of Nevernight-- I hear such mixed opinions about it.
I'll keep you posted, for sure! Looking forward to reading Fireborne together :)
I really want to hear why The Goblin Emperor didn't work?
.
Btw I can't remember....have you review Lagends & Latte and rated?
Review coming out next week for TGE.
No I haven't read Legends and Latte. I highly doubt I will read it but if I do, it'll probably be when it starts to get really cold and I need something cosy.
Sounds like your experience with Hobb is similar to mine. Will know for sure when you finish the 3rd one.
The Reformatory is a messed up book, it's right up your alley. Even if you don't get to it next month it's worth reading near future. I read it because it's on the World Fantasy Award nominees list for this year and I'll be surprised if it doesn't win.
For me, I'm making my way through Oathbringer and Days of Shattered Faith (got an ARC), once I catch up with Stormlight I'll start Wars of Light and Shadow because that series is going to blow up on Booktube in January and Toronto Library only has 3 copies of each book in the series, so want to read it while they're still easy to get 😂
I've really enjoyed what I've read so far of Wurts. Now that I'm nearly finished a couple of series I hope to either restart or continue Wars of Light & Shadow as my primary Fantasy series at some point.
I’m about 20% of the way through The Reformatory and loving it. The book is making me so angry though.
I really want to read Janny Wurts. I think I’d like to read her standalone first though. Good strategy haha.
How are you finding Oathbringer?
@@bookswithzara yea, the Reformatory made me sickened and angry. A really powerful book. Oathbringer's a re-read for me, I'm enjoying it as much as I did the first go around; Dalinar's my favorite character of the series and he's the primary POV for this one.
Unpopular opinion: but I enjoy Stephen King’s short stories than his longer ones. “The Body” is really really good
Haven't read enough of his stuff to have an opinion! I'll check out The Body, thanks!
I dnfed Goblin Emperor. I was very bored. The politics and court intrigue dont play much of an important role. It’s a slice of life/more cozy fantasy which is not for me.
I quite enjoyed Assassins Quest. It gets too much hate. The scene with Burrich, Chade and Fitz in the beginning has some of best dialogue, and deals with the consequences of what happened at the end of Royal Assassin very well.
I hope you enjoy Nevernight! I hated it personally
Silence is 10/10
It's so so so boring! I also didn't find it cosy at all.
Yeah I don't think AQ deserves the degree of hate it gives tbh!
10/10 for Silence? Sold. Definitely going to pick it up this month.
IRL Adventures are the best ones! 😄
In September I read three Rosemary Sutcliffe novels: 2 YA Historical Fiction Novels, «The Silver Branch» & «The Lantern Bearers» (set in Ancient Britain during the Late Roman and the Roman Withdrawal & Saxon Invasions, respectively) and an Arthurian Historical Fiction novel, «Sword at Sunset», all loosely connectied to each other following a family over generations, with the POV character of «The Lantern Bearers» as a mentor figure and his son one of Arthur’s companions in «Sword at Sunset». I also finished «Sword in the Storm» («Rigante» series #1) by David Gemmell (S&S/Heroic Fantasy, inspired by Celtic Britain and the Roman Invasions) and «The Eternal Champion» by Michael Moorcock (Multiverse S&S/(Anti-?)Heroic Fantasy). Just finished «Lustrum» (US: «Conspirata», «Cicero»-Trilogy #2) by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction about the Roman Statesman), that one or «Sword in the Storm» might be my Book of the Month!
I am mostly mood-reading this Autumn (and speaking of spooky, I think I am scared enough after reading «The Prince of Nothing» Trilogy by R. Scott Bakker this Summer, to the point I might need an exorcism or two in addition to psychological therapy! 😅😂), but my tentative October TBR List:
«Midnight Falcon» (Rigante #2) by David Gemmell (Heroic Fantasy/S&S)
«Leviathan Falls» (The Expanse, #9) by James S.A. Corey (Space opera, pushed back from this month’s TBR)
«The Land Leviathan» (A Nomad of the Time Streams» Trilogy #2) by Michael Moorcock (Multiverse/Alternative History/Time Travel Steampunk(?)😅)
«The City» (City of Victory Trilogy #2) by Adrian Goldsworthy (Historical Military Fiction set during Emperor Trajan’s Campaigns)
I am also just started on «The Power Broker» by Robert Caro (Investigative Journalism/Political Biography Classic), planning on reading it through Q4!
My October MBR List:
«Dreaming the Eagle» («Boudica» #1) by Manda Scott (Historical Fiction about the Celtic British Queen and her Rebellion against the Romans)
«The Children of Gods & Fighting Men» by Shauna Lawless (Historical Fantasy set in Ireland during the Viking Age)
Cheers!😃
Have to agree with that!
"I think I am scared enough after reading «The Prince of Nothing» Trilogy by R. Scott Bakker this Summer, to the point I might need an exorcism or two in addition to psychological therapy!" this made me chuckle haha. Relatable.
How do you like Goldsworthy's and Lawless's writing? Both on my list. I also have the Boudica series on my kindle. I tried a sample last year and loved the writing. Need to pick that up at some point!
@@bookswithzara 😅😆
I have no yet started on «Boudicca» or «Gael Song», but Goldsworthy really knows how to bring Ancient Britain to life, brings to my mind the grit and colours of BBC/HBO’s «Rome». I also enjoys how he can as easily make you feel you are in a Ancient version of an Western or Crime Noir or Folk Horror, and 4-5 books in, I would lie if I did not enjoy the almost buddy-cop duo of Ferox the Roman Officer (Romanized Southern Briton with cut ties to his Tribe) «Disgruntled Detective/Sheriff» and his more Easygoing Auxiliary Scout, the Northern Briton Vindex!