The Martian Chronicles is really good! I will say since it's a collection of short stories, it's a little hit or miss. But the ones that hit REALLY hit.
I am so grateful to you. I finally had the courage to read "Annihilation" and I can't stop thinking about it. I wish I knew about it before the movie as I was spoiled for some reveals. I am looking forward to read more books by VanderMeer.
Absolutely love Jeff Vandermeer! Can't wait for Absolution, and I need him to release that book The Stone Shed about the development along the ravine (I think that's what it's about *haha*)
I can't believe it's already been a year since we last did this. Here's my list: 1. Best book: Tied between Solaris by Stanislaw Lem and Extreme Makeover: Apocalypse Edition by Dan Wells 2. Best sequel: The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu. Was somehow even better than the first book. Death's End was also good, but the Dark Forest was my favourite of the trilogy. 3. New release: Honestly, I've been trying to steer clear of looking at new releases until I finish my TBR although I think the newest release on my TBR list is The Otherworld by Abbie Emmons, which was released late last year 4. Most anticipated release: Again, I'm focussed entirely on finishing my TBR list, especially as I suspect I'm going to have a lot less time to read in the second half of 2024. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. 5. Biggest disappointment: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre. Has an amazing reputation but bored the pants off me. 6. Biggest surprise: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. I'd been putting it off because I was daunted by the length and didn't really think Mistborn was anything to write home about but it turns out Way of Kings DOES live up to the hype and I ended up reading the entire book in less than a week because I couldn't put it down. 7. Is it favourite new author or new favourite author? If it's the latter, I'm gonna say John Swartzwelder, whose Frank Burly series is absolutely hilarious. If it's the former... I haven't been reading a lot of new books or authors this year. I'm beta reading for someone in my writing group and they've got something really good coming but I can't mention it publicly yet and I don't know how the finished product will look. 8. Newest fictional crush? Not book related, but I randomly started watching the 90s cartoon Gargoyles a few weeks ago and I definitely have a thing for Elisa Maza. And Fox, actually - she's evil but she's awesome. 9. Newest favourite character: I think it's Kaladin from Way of Kings. Either that or Frank Burly from the Frank Burly books... although I've got a sinking feeling I said the same thing in 2023. 10. Book that made you cry: I don't think anything made me cry this year. The Left Hand of Darkness definitely came close at the end but, you know, I'm too British to get genuinely emotional about anything. 11. Book that made me happy: How I Conquered Your Planet by John Swartzwelder. That book is too damn funny. 12. Favourite book to movie adaptation: Dune Part 2. Which is also the only movie I've seen this year. 13. Most beautiful book I bought? The edition of Solaris I bought was pretty nice. It had a shiny cover. 14. What to read by the end of the year: Can't list them all, but I'm pleased to report I'm 75% of the way through the list and need to finish by around August, before my free time likely evaporates.
Neverwhere (biggest surprise as well), Going Postal, Men at arms, Of War and Ruin, Sword of Kaigen and Last argument of kings are probably my favourite so far this year
Loved Annihilation as well. The wife and I will be getting into it on our book club this Thursday video. Yesssss Changes! Service Model was my pick as well. Great Minds. We have so much in common with our Freak Out and that makes me very happy.
Oh, the not buying tons of books struggle. Yeah, I have strict rules about what books I buy these days, especially with libraries just being awesome. I too am nervous for Stormlight 5. 3 was my least favorite, but followed pretty closely by 4. Worldhoppers do be stealing the spotlight and I want them gone. Just ... yeah, nervous. That's a good word for it. Love the "pass" on the fictional crush question.
I enjoyed Service Model - it's pretty different to most of Tchaikovsky's other books, which might be where people are struggling. It's more like Gulliver's Travels, and explores the nature of sentience in a more whimsical and absurdist way, rather than a deeper hard sci-fi dive like Dogs of War or Children of Time.
I read Annihilation this January and it's the only 5-star book I've read this year, which is sad because my reading year has been so mediocre, but great because at least there was a book that I fell in love with.
I just finished the second Dresden book on audio and am loving them. The narrator is fantastic and his voice will always be in my head if I try to actually read one myself! 😂
Given all the love for "The Dresden Files" and that you enjoyed "The Aeronaught's Windlass" I'm wondering when you're going to read the follow ups: "Warriorborn" and "The Olympian Affair"?
You should try Differently Morphous. I think you would like the humor and the magic system. It’s well read by the author on Audible. He’s similar in style to Terry Pratchett.
Guy Gavriel Kay's A Brightness Long Ago, Robin Hobb's Fool's Errand and Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove would be my favourites of the year so far. There's more I could mention but Robin Hobb would dominate that list.
You should buy a book on woodworking, then you could build your own shelves & save money...for more books. Umberto Eco had 50,000 books in his library, my goal is about 10k.
My Stormlight opinions are always different the majority. I loved Rhythm of War. I thought there wasn’t a dull moment. And I was bored out of my mind with Oathbringer. (Though I wasn’t in the right headspace when I read Oathbringer so I need to give it another chance. ) I’m so excited for Stormlight 5. It’s the first Stormlight book that I will be ready to read when it releases. But I’ll probably have to to stay off the internet for a good two to three months because I read those books slowly.
Sky's End (Above the Black, #1) by Marc J. Gregson is the best book I've read so far this year, and I'm looking forward to reading the final book in the Serwa Boetang Trilogy
If you're into time travel, pick up Edge of Time. I'd love to be your 'new favorite author' one day! lol Love the reviews, and through you I have discovered many new authors. If you're up for an arc of The Egyptian Enigma (a speculative action adventure novel), let me know. Cover release on July 17, and release on Nov 26!
It’s been a good reading year for me so far! I think my favorite book was The Sword of Kaigen or All the Light we Cannot See. I still have not read any Sanderson so I’m going to try and read Mistborn before the end of the year if I can get through the other books I have.
I’m a new reader so here is my list: Best book so far this year: The hobbit Best sequel so far this year: Gathering blue New release you haven’t read yet but want to: Spin of fate Most anticipated book for next half: NA biggest disappointment: No passengers beyond this point Biggest surprise: Animal farm Favorite new author: Tolkien Newest fictional crush: Abraham Lincoln Newest favorite character: Gimli Book that made you cry: Tuesdays with morrie Book that made you happy: Shakespeare insults Most beautiful book I acquired this year: Sherlock holmes Book I need to read by the end of the year: Return of the king
A few recommendations for the second half of the year: the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix [perfect for spooky month] and the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde [since you love Hitchhiker's so much, it's perfect for absurd humour and weirdness], and the Ancillary Justice trilogy [since you're getting more into sci-fi] and The Raven Tower [a new favourite of mine from last year], both by Ann Leckie.
Defensive Baking surprised me too, but that was last year. This year I'd say The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis surprised me. I don't know why I had low expectations, but it was gripping, touching, even funny. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series, To Say Nothing of the Dog. It switches the genre up and is described as a Victorian romantic time travel comedy! I need to read more Stefan Zweig. I just saw someone rec his memory, The World of Yesterday. The Emma Lion books by Beth Brower have been my most pleasing books of the year. They're so charming and full of great characters. I don't often actually shed tears, so I'll have to go into previous years and rec Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. The ending just really hit me.
"I don't read happy books" lmao 1. Best book you’ve read so far this year. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson
2. Best sequel you've read so far this year. Abaddon's Gate (The Expanse Book 3) by James S.A. Corey 3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to. Funny Story by Emily Henry. I haven't read her yet, but I like some contemporary romance. The situation sounds so ridiculous that I think I'll enjoy it. 4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey. Might be too dark for me, but I'm still going to try it. Their world building is top tier. 5. Biggest disappointment. Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller. I loved the first half, and then I just kept waiting for it to get great. I was so lukewarm by the ending that I don't plan to read the sequel. Wonderful main characters, a bit low on plot for me. 6. Biggest surprise. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson. It was the first Sanderson book I have enjoyed. 7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) Abby Jiminez. She's an auto buy for me, I have loved all 3 books I have read of hers. 8. Newest fictional crush. 9. Newest favourite character. Miller from Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. He seems like such a sad character, but the way he was written has me thinking about him all the time. He felt so real. 10. Book that made you cry. Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse Book 1) by James S.A. Corey. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson. 11. Book that made you happy. Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater. What a cozy read. 12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received). Great Tales of Horror by HP Lovecraft that I found at the used book store. It has a silver foil dust jacket with Cthulu artwork that's gorgeous. There's art on the spine too. 13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? I need to finish the Expanse because my husband is dying to discuss the ending. He calls it our "Book club of two"
I'm so with you on the "we don't need any more books in this household". For me it comes from having moved cities 3 times in last 5 years, and helping my mum (still active academic) paint her walls. Books take up so much space! How can anyone have more without stretching the confines of physical plane of existence? My list goes: 1. Best book so far: easily "Human Acts" by Han Kang (also vol. 13 of Dungeon Meshi, but that's for your other channel xD) 2. Best sequel so far: "Harrow the Ninth" by Tamsyn Muir. Yes, I'm late to the party, I've only started the series after the first hype wave died down, and it's a series I like to take my sweet time reading. And I love it. 3. New release I want to read: Max Czornyj released a book about the Zodiac Killer, and I trust him enough to do it well, so I guess I must read it, even though the more I know of the case, the less I'm interested in it. 4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: "The Teller of Small Fortunes" by Julie Leong 5. Biggest disappointment: "In the Event of Love" by Courtney Kae. I've seen it on numerous LGBT+ romance lists, it was praised by some reviewers I trust, but the main character was insufferable to me and the promised butch love interest wasn't butchy enough. 6. Biggest surprise: poetry starts speaking to me. So far it's mostly Alfred Noyes writing about the sea, but still. 7. Favourite new author: Either Tamsyn Muir or Alfred Noyes will get the trophy this year. 8. Newest fictional crush: none I can think of. My heart is a block of ice xD 9. Newest favourite character: Lady Iriyat ha-Varensi in "Thornfruit" by Felicia Davin. I'd need too many spoilers to explain why, so I'll leave ot at: my favorite character construction of last few years. 10. Book that made you cry: I haven't fully cried reading since I was 15, and the closest to make me cry this year I was while reading vol. 10, 11 and 14 of Dungeon Meshi. 11. Book that made you happy: ...that feeling when the happiest book of your year is "Project Hail Mary" 12. Most beautiful book you've got this year: two local legends I brought from a folklore festival this weekend. Every page has such beautiful watercolor illustrations on it. And all I had to do to win them was: answer a question about trees :D 13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? "Lies of Locke Lamora", absolutely.
Best book read so far this year: In Memoriam by Alice Wynn. New favourite book, probably tied with Assassin’s Fate. Will of the Many gets an honourable mention. Best sequel: Assassin’s Fate!!!! New release to read: The Bright Sword (I’m a Magicians stan). Most anticipated release for second half of the year: no idea! I barely keep up with new releases and I’m 500 years behind on the Cosmere. Biggest disappointment: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Not bad but not great either. Biggest surprise: Probably Pride and Prejudice! I haven't finished it yet but it's so much more readable than I expected and I'm having a blast! Favourite new author: James Baldwin. I read Go Tell It on the Mountain and If Beale Street Could Talk, and Go Tell It on the Mountain especially blew me away! Newest favourite character: Gaunt from In Memoriam! (I would say Bee from the Fitz and the Fool trilogy but I started the series last year so that might be cheating....) Book that made you cry: ASSASSIN’S FATE Book that made you happy: also Assassin’s Fate. Hobb took my emotions for a ride. Most beautiful book bought: have only bought digital so far this year so pass Books need to read by end of the year: Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (Daevabad is one of my favourite series of all time so the fact it’s taken me this long is astonishing), The Bluest Eye or Sula by Toni Morison (maybe both), a Brando Sando, and Maus.
New subbie here, if you happen to see this, or your editor does can you leave the books up on the screen longer because I keep lists of recs and write down all the names and authors. Loved this, looking forward to trying out some of these, esp the short stories by Zweig!
1. Malazan #2 or #3 cant decide. They are on the top for different reasons 2. To not repeat myself tawny man #1 being the sequel to farseer trilogy. So good seeing how much Fitz grew and being with my lovely Fool 3. Beartown #2!! 4. I dont read new releases cause my library doesnt have them 5. Norwegian wood. I was a murakami fan. Im bamboozled at how bad it is. Also hunger games 6. Idk whay the hell happened there, the author forgot how to write amazingly. Also jonathan strange anr mr norwell. It was underwhelming 7. Surprise might be malazan 2 cause i didnt really enjoy the first one 8. Steven erikson and robin hobb. 9. Fictional crush/favorite chatacter? THE FOOL FROM FITZ BOOKS OMG I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. But also Luffy. And maybe coltaine from malazan 2 10. ONE PIECE! Ive cried more from onr piece than anything else combines this year 😂 but also the hunger games and the last farseer book 11. I mean most of them. One piece the most. Maybe fitz books next cause the fool is hilarious from book 3 on. 12. I cant afford books 13. Wheel of time 6, the ship trilogy from robin hobb, i still hope my country translate malazan 4 though i doubt it since they stoped 5 years ago. Tawny man trilogy
Best book this year: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez, I still think about this book frequently and I read it in February Best sequel: Seven Surrenders by Ada Palmer, talk about a series that crept up on me, steadily on the way to my top series list and this is the perfect sequel to the first. New Release you have not read yet: Honestly no idea, all the new releases that I'm super interested in I read. Most Anticipated Book thats not out yet: Either Absolution by VanderMeer (Southern Reach is still my favorite series of his) or The Mercy of Gods by James SA Corey, loved The Expanse and I've also read some of Daniel Abraham's solo work since then and I'm excited for more. Biggest Disappointment: Probably Shriek, I love the whole premise and everything its trying to do but it just didn't land how I thought it would. Still a 4/5 star read for me. (I could do Dead Astronauts here too but I want to save full opinions on it till after a reread) Biggest Surprise: The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer, wasn't expecting to love a YA Sci-fi book as much as I did with this one. Favorite new author: Ada Palmer, the first 2 Terra Ignota books are so good. The worldbuilding is impeccable, the way culture has changed with technological advancements and how that effects everyone in the story is just *chefs kiss*. Favorite new character: Its got to be either Fitz from Farseer or Mycroft from Terra Ignota, which is a fun coincidence cause both series have similar framing of the character telling their own story and the history around it. (Merphy don't' think that this means Fitz and Mycroft are alike, they're extremely different people). Book that Made Me Cry: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, no author makes me cry like Backman Book that Made Me Happy: Within the Sanctuary of WIngs by Marie Brennan, just a wonderful conclusion to the Lady Trent series and seeing all the Isabella accomplished the system she was able to build around her self was beautiful. Most beautiful book: Either The Spear Cuts Through Water or the Broken Bindings Midnight Editions of Dandelion Dynasty though I haven't gotten them yet. Books I Need to Read by the End of the Year: The Will to Battle and Perhaps the Stars, both by Ada Palmer, I can't gush about these first two books enough and I'm so excited to see how it wraps up.
*Best book so far*: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett *Best sequel so far*: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett (I really like these books, ok? 😂) *Most anticipated new release*: How to Summon a Fairy Godmother by Laura J. Mayo (sounds intriguing 👀) *Biggest dissapointment*: The second Mistborn series. It's not BAD but... I expected more. And I really didn't like some characters. 😞 *Biggest surprise*: City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett (I dnf'ed this books a couple of years ago, but after reading "The Tainted Cup" by him and really enjoying it, I thought maybe I give it another go, and I really enjoyed it. Can't even say why I dnf'ed it the first time) *Favorite New Author*: Heather Fawcett and Robert Jackson Bennett. I can't decide. 🥺👉👈 *New Favorite Character:* Wendell Bambleby. Not even sorry. 😌 *Book that made you cry:* None so far *Book that made you happy*: The Emily Wilde books I guess. 🤔 *Most beautiful book*: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (US Version). I just looooove that cover so much! 😍 *What books do you need to read by the end of the year*: Yeah, well, I think RUclips doesn't allow comments THAT long. 😂
Best book: Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova Best sequel: Hogfather by Terry Pratchett, Acceptance by Jeff Vandermeer New release TBR: The Will of the Many by James Islington Most anticipated release: Absolution by Jeff Vandermeer Biggest disappointment: Penance by Eliza Clark Biggest surprise: There is No Antimemetics Division by qntm Favorite new author: Terry Pratchett, Jeff Vandermeer Newest favorite character: Saul from Area X trilogy, Death and Susan from Discworld Book that made you cry: Blood Over Bright Haven by M L Wang Book that made you happy: Emily Wild’s Encyclopedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett Most beautiful book bought this year: Slewfoot by Brom Books TBR by end of year: Borne by Jeff Vandermeer, Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson, A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin, Jade City by Fonda Lee, Grace of Kings by Ken Liu, Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, Bloodchild and other stories by Octavia Butler
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year. Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter.
2. Best sequel you've read so far this year. Tied between Cursor's Fury and Captain's Fury by Jum Butcher (books 3 and 4 in The Codex Alera). 3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to. You Like it Darker, sitting on my shelf right now. 4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. The Burning book 3 from Evan Winter. 5. Biggest disappointment. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb. I shelved it and am going to go back when I am in the right mindset for it. 6. Biggest surprise. Fairy Tale by Stephen King. 7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) Hard to pick between Evan Winter or Jim Butcher. 8. Newest fictional crush. Nadya from Eric Ugland's The Bad Guys. 9. Newest favourite character. Centurion Marcus from The Codex Alera. 10. Book that made you cry. A Court of Silver Flames got me. Brought up some personal traumas and experiences that turned out well in the end. 11. Book that made you happy. Both The Good Guys and The Bad Guys series by Eric Ugland were happy reads. Shorter than I usually read, fun, and still great. Hard to pick just 1 since I binged all 23 books in like 4 weeks. 12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received). I purchased the special edition of Evan Winter's Rage of Dragons. It has not been printed and shipped yet, but it will be very pretty according to the Kickstarter pictures. 13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? I want to read all of The Bound and the Broken by Ryan Cahill before the end of the year.
I also thought It Waits in the Forest was middle grade because it's a Rick Riordan Presents book but I've just started it and it's actually Young Adult... maybe that will encourage you to pick it up sooner!
Best book this year: It was gonna be Annihilation, but now it's Seasons of Albadone rec'd by Tori Tecken. Best sequel: I was gonna go with The Sword Unbound, but I just finished A Contract in Sol Forne, sequel to Seasons of Albadone, indirectly as it is all new characters. New Release you have not read yet: After World, which I am reading next, concerning an A.I. who falls in love with a human while they leave Earth. Also, Service Model which I got for buddy reads. Biggest disappointment: Dead Astronauts. I made it to 57 pages and gave up. Biggest Surprise: A Short Stay In Hell, rec'd by Chanel at Chanel Chapters, which was a big ol' mind screw in a tiny little book. Aside from that it was Bloodstones which came out of nowhere when you interviewed Tori about it and that was also the first I had heard of her and now I subscribe to her. Favorite new author: Vandermeer or Elan Marche/Christopher Warman--who wrote Seasons and Contract above. Favorite new character: Not sure but it might be a One Piece character, and Luffy did finally win me over during the prison escape to save his brother when in the midst of panic and chaos and danger he stood there and said, "Look at this giant bloody booger that was in my nose." I get emotional but have not cried about any book this year. Most beautiful book: Heavenbreaker which had great cover stuff, art on the esdges, and good one liners about the contents. BUUUUUUt I DNF, it sucked.
Hey, Im not completely certain but, I think all of the T. Kingfisher books that you've read so far have been her fantasy books. With your new found love for Vandameer though, I think you would really like her Horror books. I would call them Cozy Horror. I read her House of Usher duology What Moves at Dead and What Feasts at Night last month and I've just finished A House with Good Bones and I never would have thought I would ever enjoy a Horror book.
For some reason [probably lack of sleep] I thought the clock in the thumbnail image was a giant pizza. Anyway. I haven't read enough new books this year, I've mostly been re-reading old books, so I guess I'm cheating. 1) Best book: A tie between The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle and Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones [re-read]. The former is a new favourite [I watched the movie many times when I was little, and love the graphic novel, so now I finally got to read the book], and the latter is still one of my favourite books of all time. 2) Best sequel: The Merlin Conspiracy by Diana Wynne Jones [re-read]. I like it more than Deep Secret. 3) New release you haven't read yet, but want to: A tie between I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons, and We Mostly Come Out At Night: 14 Queer Tales anthology. 4) Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B. B. Alston, and Designing Terry Pratchett's Discworld by Paul Kidby. 5) Biggest disappointment: A tie between Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse [I wanted to like it so much, but the graphic violence was too much] and the ATLA comics [too many contrivances and out-of-character moments for me]. 6) Biggest surprise: Heartstopper Vol. 1-4. I wasn't expecting to like them nearly as much as the show, but I did like them very much. 7) Favourite new author (Debut or new to you): Peter S. Beagle. His prose is so lovely. 8) Newest fictional crush: none 9) Newest favourite character: Cheating a bit, since it's a show and not a book, but I watched Owl House for the first time, and I love all the characters so much. Except Belos. Fork him. 10) Book that made you cry: Wayfarers Book 2: A Closed and Common Orbit [re-read]. Becky Chambers books never fail to make me emotional. 11) Book that made you happy: Percy Jackson and the Olympians series [re-read]. I had a ton of fun. 12) Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received): The Sea-Ringed World; it's a collection of myths from indigenous people from South America and other tribes. The edition I got has a lovely stylized turtle on the cover. 13) What books do you need to read by the end of the year: Lord of the Rings, and the extended edition of Tolkien's letters. I meant to do one LotR book for each month of summer, but that didn't end up happening, so I need to catch up!
“I don’t read happy books”.... well, there is an idea for a video Recommend us happy stuff! enough with the sad!!! (thats jimmy nutts brand from the jimmynuttsnuttswork™)
Best book you’ve read so far this year: The Will of the Many by James Islington Best Sequel: Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik New release: Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky Most anticipated release: Wind and Truth by Sanderson, duh. Biggest disappointment: A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall. Sooooo boring I DNF’d Biggest Surprise: These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs. The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett also gets this, loved that book. Favorite new author: ML Wang Also pass on fictional crush New favorite character: Ana from the tainted cup probably? I’ve read a lot of good characters Book that made me cry: The Perks of Being a Wallflower that I just finished. Also The Sword of Kaigen. Two books in one year is a rarity for me, I almost never cry. A book that made me happy: The Door to Door Bookstore. So cute Most beautiful book: the broken binding edition of Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu Books by the end of the year- I have a bunch of series I need to finish! Trying to read down my physical tbr as well.
Best book: definitely "witch king" by Martha Wells, it's sooo good and she's an amazing writer Best sequel: "oathbringer" by Brandon Sanderson New release: "these fragile threads of power" by V.E. Schwab Most anticipated release: "wind and truth" by Brandon Sanderson, I'm so excited Biggest disappointment: "babel" by R.F. Kuang, it talked about some interesting themes, but it was too boring in the first half and too dramatic in the second one, also there were too many plot twists that didn't really make sense to me Biggest surprise: "the jasmine throne" by Tasha Suri, the plot looked like it was written by a 13 year old kid, but the book was nothing like that, the author did an amazing job, the worldbuilding was well done Favourite new author: I've been wanting to read some Martha Wells books and I finally did this year, I was not disappointed Newest fictional crush: I think like half of the characters in "Gideon the ninth", mostly Gideon, Harrow and Palamedes Newest favourite character: I think Wayne from Mistborn era 2 Book that made me cry: I'm not really a crier but the end of "Rhythm of war" by Brandon Sanderson was something else Book that made me happy: "tress of the emerald sea" by Brandon Sanderson got me giggling every time Hoid said or did anything Most beautiful book: "Yumi and the nightmare painter" by Brandon Sanderson Book I need to read: I've been putting off "the sword of Kaigen" by M.L. Wang for far too long, but since I've heard only great things about it, I'm kinda nervous that it won't live up to my expectations Can you tell that Brandon Sanderson is my favourite author?
Apparently you shouldn't expect "ending ending" from Stormlight 5, since it is truly just the midpoint of the series. Sanderson said that you can expect an "anime arc" ending from it instead of Mistborn era 1 ending.
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year. Non-fiction? Doppelganger by Naomi Klein. Fiction? Bad Dream by Nicole Maines 2. Best sequel you've read so far this year. This is cheating since it's the only sequel, but Chaos Terminal (Midsolar Murders #2) by Mur Lafferty 4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. It Gets Better, Except When It Doesn't by Nicole Maines 6. Biggest surprise. So far? Beach Read by Emily Henry. Only about halfway through though so there's still room for disappointment 7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) ERod with his novel Kassandra Killjoy: Paranormal Private Eye: The Search for the Swordsman. Pretty dang good for a self-pub that didn't have a copy editor. 9. Newest favourite character. Galaxy (from Bad Dream, Galaxy: The Prettiest Star, and DC Pride 2024) 10. Book that made you cry. It didn't quite make me cry, but came close; Bad Dream by Nicole Maines 11. Book that made you happy. Bad Dream by Nicole Maines (it's a rollercoaster) 12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received): Bad Dream by Nicole Maines. The art by Rye Hickman managed to be both realistic and exagerated, and he knew exactly when to be which. 13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? The two I most want to get to this year are "We Had A Little Real Estate Problem," a book about Native Americans in comedy, and "Opposable Thumbs," a book about the history of Siskel & Ebert.
Hi! Here are my answers! 1. Best book you’ve read so far this year. Devotions by Mary Oliver and Im not even a poetry person! 2. Best sequel you've read so far this year. Defiant by Brandon Sanderson 3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to. Pass 4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. Stormlight 5 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa 5. Biggest disappointment. Artemis by Andy Weir 6. Biggest surprise. Either Devotions or Defiant 7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) Pass 8. Newest fictional crush. Pass 9. Newest favourite character. Gran Gran from Defiant is so great! 10. Book that made you cry. I cry a lot 11. Book that made you happy. Devotions 12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received) All the light we cannot see 13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
Best Book You've Read So Far In 2024 This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings Best Sequel You've Read So Far In 2024 Twilight Princess Vol. 6 by Akira Himekawa New Release You Haven't Read Yet But Want To Time Of The Turtle King (Magic Tree House #38) by Mary Pope Osborne, Windy Night With Wild Horses (Magic Tree House #39) by Mary Pope Osborne Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half Of The Year Wrath Of The Triple Goddess (Percy Jackson And The Olympians #7) by Rick Riordan Biggest Disappointment Archer's Voice (Where Love Meets Destiny #1) by Mia Sheridan Biggest Surprise Unhinged by Vera Valentine Favourite New Author (Debut Or New To You) L.N. Cole [Kingdom Of Vines And Silence (The Winged Kingdoms #1)] Newest Fictional Crush Sylvia [Shot In The Dark by Mary Dublin & Anne Kendsley] Newest Favourite Character Anoth [The Misfit Of Demon King Academy: History's Strongest Demon King Reincarnates And Goes To School With His Descendants by Shu Kayaharuka] Book That Made You Cry Waverider (Amulet #9) by Kazu Kibuishi Book That Made You Happy Roswell Johnson Saves The World! (Roswell Johnson #1) by Chris Colfer Most Beautiful Books You've Bought So Far This Year (Or Received) Nightfall (Keeper Of The Lost Cities #6) by Shannon Messenger [Bought], Always Human Vol. 1 by Ari North [Received] What Books Do You Need To Read By The End Of The Year? Wynonna Earp: All in by Lora Innes, Chris Evenhuis, Tim Rozon, Beau Smith & Ángel Hernández, A Tale Of Sorcery (A Tale Of Magic #3) by Chris Colfer, The Chalice Of The Gods (Percy Jackson And The Olympians #6) by Rick Riordan
“I don’t read happy books” took me out 😂😂😂😭
Nervous for stormlight 5?! Blasphemy! And I finished a wizards guide to defensive baking last week, gotta say definitely a rainy day read
Objectively, Sanderson is inconsistent. Did you really like Steelheart?
The Martian Chronicles is really good! I will say since it's a collection of short stories, it's a little hit or miss. But the ones that hit REALLY hit.
Omg i didn't know you started Ambergris! Gotta go back and watch all your Vandermeer videos! What a guy 🦑
"I don't read happy books." Makes complete sense.
I am so grateful to you. I finally had the courage to read "Annihilation" and I can't stop thinking about it. I wish I knew about it before the movie as I was spoiled for some reveals.
I am looking forward to read more books by VanderMeer.
so glad you loved it!
I read Service Model and was delighted by the humorous speculative odyssey that is his take (roughly) on Douglas Adam’s iRobot.
Absolutely love Jeff Vandermeer! Can't wait for Absolution, and I need him to release that book The Stone Shed about the development along the ravine (I think that's what it's about *haha*)
I can't believe it's already been a year since we last did this. Here's my list:
1. Best book: Tied between Solaris by Stanislaw Lem and Extreme Makeover: Apocalypse Edition by Dan Wells
2. Best sequel: The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu. Was somehow even better than the first book. Death's End was also good, but the Dark Forest was my favourite of the trilogy.
3. New release: Honestly, I've been trying to steer clear of looking at new releases until I finish my TBR although I think the newest release on my TBR list is The Otherworld by Abbie Emmons, which was released late last year
4. Most anticipated release: Again, I'm focussed entirely on finishing my TBR list, especially as I suspect I'm going to have a lot less time to read in the second half of 2024. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
5. Biggest disappointment: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre. Has an amazing reputation but bored the pants off me.
6. Biggest surprise: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. I'd been putting it off because I was daunted by the length and didn't really think Mistborn was anything to write home about but it turns out Way of Kings DOES live up to the hype and I ended up reading the entire book in less than a week because I couldn't put it down.
7. Is it favourite new author or new favourite author? If it's the latter, I'm gonna say John Swartzwelder, whose Frank Burly series is absolutely hilarious. If it's the former... I haven't been reading a lot of new books or authors this year. I'm beta reading for someone in my writing group and they've got something really good coming but I can't mention it publicly yet and I don't know how the finished product will look.
8. Newest fictional crush? Not book related, but I randomly started watching the 90s cartoon Gargoyles a few weeks ago and I definitely have a thing for Elisa Maza. And Fox, actually - she's evil but she's awesome.
9. Newest favourite character: I think it's Kaladin from Way of Kings. Either that or Frank Burly from the Frank Burly books... although I've got a sinking feeling I said the same thing in 2023.
10. Book that made you cry: I don't think anything made me cry this year. The Left Hand of Darkness definitely came close at the end but, you know, I'm too British to get genuinely emotional about anything.
11. Book that made me happy: How I Conquered Your Planet by John Swartzwelder. That book is too damn funny.
12. Favourite book to movie adaptation: Dune Part 2. Which is also the only movie I've seen this year.
13. Most beautiful book I bought? The edition of Solaris I bought was pretty nice. It had a shiny cover.
14. What to read by the end of the year: Can't list them all, but I'm pleased to report I'm 75% of the way through the list and need to finish by around August, before my free time likely evaporates.
I'm halfway through Service Model, and I'm loving it.
Dead Astronauts is Vandermeer's best book though!!! You gotta go through it again. And don't worry about needing to understanding it, just FEEL it.
Neverwhere (biggest surprise as well), Going Postal, Men at arms, Of War and Ruin, Sword of Kaigen and Last argument of kings are probably my favourite so far this year
Always love how your videos are shot! Thanks for the book recs
Loved Annihilation as well. The wife and I will be getting into it on our book club this Thursday video. Yesssss Changes! Service Model was my pick as well. Great Minds. We have so much in common with our Freak Out and that makes me very happy.
Oh, the not buying tons of books struggle. Yeah, I have strict rules about what books I buy these days, especially with libraries just being awesome.
I too am nervous for Stormlight 5. 3 was my least favorite, but followed pretty closely by 4. Worldhoppers do be stealing the spotlight and I want them gone. Just ... yeah, nervous. That's a good word for it.
Love the "pass" on the fictional crush question.
Always need more Pratchett
I enjoyed Service Model - it's pretty different to most of Tchaikovsky's other books, which might be where people are struggling. It's more like Gulliver's Travels, and explores the nature of sentience in a more whimsical and absurdist way, rather than a deeper hard sci-fi dive like Dogs of War or Children of Time.
I read Annihilation this January and it's the only 5-star book I've read this year, which is sad because my reading year has been so mediocre, but great because at least there was a book that I fell in love with.
I just finished the second Dresden book on audio and am loving them. The narrator is fantastic and his voice will always be in my head if I try to actually read one myself! 😂
Given all the love for "The Dresden Files" and that you enjoyed "The Aeronaught's Windlass" I'm wondering when you're going to read the follow ups: "Warriorborn" and "The Olympian Affair"?
My biggest surprise was Forge of Destiny. Xianxia was always a difficult genre to recommend before I discovered this series.
The Martian Chronicles is an absolute classic! I couldn't even tell you the number of times I've DNF'd it.
You should try Differently Morphous. I think you would like the humor and the magic system. It’s well read by the author on Audible. He’s similar in style to Terry Pratchett.
Guy Gavriel Kay's A Brightness Long Ago, Robin Hobb's Fool's Errand and Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove would be my favourites of the year so far. There's more I could mention but Robin Hobb would dominate that list.
You should buy a book on woodworking, then you could build your own shelves & save money...for more books. Umberto Eco had 50,000 books in his library, my goal is about 10k.
You should check out the book "quarter share" by Nathan Lowell it's a 10 sci-fi book of the year promise
My Stormlight opinions are always different the majority. I loved Rhythm of War. I thought there wasn’t a dull moment. And I was bored out of my mind with Oathbringer. (Though I wasn’t in the right headspace when I read Oathbringer so I need to give it another chance. )
I’m so excited for Stormlight 5. It’s the first Stormlight book that I will be ready to read when it releases. But I’ll probably have to to stay off the internet for a good two to three months because I read those books slowly.
Sky's End (Above the Black, #1) by Marc J. Gregson is the best book I've read so far this year, and I'm looking forward to reading the final book in the Serwa Boetang Trilogy
Hope you already heard, that in autumn comes out "Absolution" - part 4 in Vandermeer Annihilation-cycle😊
i'm so excited for that one! recently i re read all of the annihilation books and oooh its so good. in a weird way. haha
Yes! That definitely should have been in the video, I can’t wait!
If you haven't read it yet, I recommend "The Witch's Boy" by Kelly Barnhill.
If you're into time travel, pick up Edge of Time. I'd love to be your 'new favorite author' one day! lol Love the reviews, and through you I have discovered many new authors. If you're up for an arc of The Egyptian Enigma (a speculative action adventure novel), let me know. Cover release on July 17, and release on Nov 26!
It’s been a good reading year for me so far! I think my favorite book was The Sword of Kaigen or All the Light we Cannot See. I still have not read any Sanderson so I’m going to try and read Mistborn before the end of the year if I can get through the other books I have.
I’m a new reader so here is my list:
Best book so far this year:
The hobbit
Best sequel so far this year:
Gathering blue
New release you haven’t read yet but want to:
Spin of fate
Most anticipated book for next half:
NA
biggest disappointment:
No passengers beyond this point
Biggest surprise:
Animal farm
Favorite new author:
Tolkien
Newest fictional crush:
Abraham Lincoln
Newest favorite character:
Gimli
Book that made you cry:
Tuesdays with morrie
Book that made you happy:
Shakespeare insults
Most beautiful book I acquired this year:
Sherlock holmes
Book I need to read by the end of the year:
Return of the king
I am so excited for The Recokoning of Roku
A few recommendations for the second half of the year: the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix [perfect for spooky month] and the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde [since you love Hitchhiker's so much, it's perfect for absurd humour and weirdness], and the Ancillary Justice trilogy [since you're getting more into sci-fi] and The Raven Tower [a new favourite of mine from last year], both by Ann Leckie.
I really need to read Annihilation, I've heard such good things :)
*my endless TBR filled with books I'm excited to read judging me from the distance*
Don't know if it counts cause it's a series of books but the best books i read this year are Vinland saga hands down
Close second is Chainsawman
Defensive Baking surprised me too, but that was last year. This year I'd say The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis surprised me. I don't know why I had low expectations, but it was gripping, touching, even funny. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series, To Say Nothing of the Dog. It switches the genre up and is described as a Victorian romantic time travel comedy!
I need to read more Stefan Zweig. I just saw someone rec his memory, The World of Yesterday.
The Emma Lion books by Beth Brower have been my most pleasing books of the year. They're so charming and full of great characters.
I don't often actually shed tears, so I'll have to go into previous years and rec Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. The ending just really hit me.
"I don't read happy books" lmao
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson
2. Best sequel you've read so far this year. Abaddon's Gate (The Expanse Book 3) by James S.A. Corey
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to. Funny Story by Emily Henry. I haven't read her yet, but I like some contemporary romance. The situation sounds so ridiculous that I think I'll enjoy it.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey. Might be too dark for me, but I'm still going to try it. Their world building is top tier.
5. Biggest disappointment. Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller. I loved the first half, and then I just kept waiting for it to get great. I was so lukewarm by the ending that I don't plan to read the sequel. Wonderful main characters, a bit low on plot for me.
6. Biggest surprise. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson. It was the first Sanderson book I have enjoyed.
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) Abby Jiminez. She's an auto buy for me, I have loved all 3 books I have read of hers.
8. Newest fictional crush.
9. Newest favourite character. Miller from Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. He seems like such a sad character, but the way he was written has me thinking about him all the time. He felt so real.
10. Book that made you cry. Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse Book 1) by James S.A. Corey. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson.
11. Book that made you happy. Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater. What a cozy read.
12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received). Great Tales of Horror by HP Lovecraft that I found at the used book store. It has a silver foil dust jacket with Cthulu artwork that's gorgeous. There's art on the spine too.
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? I need to finish the Expanse because my husband is dying to discuss the ending. He calls it our "Book club of two"
I'm so with you on the "we don't need any more books in this household". For me it comes from having moved cities 3 times in last 5 years, and helping my mum (still active academic) paint her walls. Books take up so much space! How can anyone have more without stretching the confines of physical plane of existence?
My list goes:
1. Best book so far: easily "Human Acts" by Han Kang (also vol. 13 of Dungeon Meshi, but that's for your other channel xD)
2. Best sequel so far: "Harrow the Ninth" by Tamsyn Muir. Yes, I'm late to the party, I've only started the series after the first hype wave died down, and it's a series I like to take my sweet time reading. And I love it.
3. New release I want to read: Max Czornyj released a book about the Zodiac Killer, and I trust him enough to do it well, so I guess I must read it, even though the more I know of the case, the less I'm interested in it.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: "The Teller of Small Fortunes" by Julie Leong
5. Biggest disappointment: "In the Event of Love" by Courtney Kae. I've seen it on numerous LGBT+ romance lists, it was praised by some reviewers I trust, but the main character was insufferable to me and the promised butch love interest wasn't butchy enough.
6. Biggest surprise: poetry starts speaking to me. So far it's mostly Alfred Noyes writing about the sea, but still.
7. Favourite new author: Either Tamsyn Muir or Alfred Noyes will get the trophy this year.
8. Newest fictional crush: none I can think of. My heart is a block of ice xD
9. Newest favourite character: Lady Iriyat ha-Varensi in "Thornfruit" by Felicia Davin. I'd need too many spoilers to explain why, so I'll leave ot at: my favorite character construction of last few years.
10. Book that made you cry: I haven't fully cried reading since I was 15, and the closest to make me cry this year I was while reading vol. 10, 11 and 14 of Dungeon Meshi.
11. Book that made you happy: ...that feeling when the happiest book of your year is "Project Hail Mary"
12. Most beautiful book you've got this year: two local legends I brought from a folklore festival this weekend. Every page has such beautiful watercolor illustrations on it. And all I had to do to win them was: answer a question about trees :D
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? "Lies of Locke Lamora", absolutely.
Sequels vs new series so hard to choose !
Best book read so far this year: In Memoriam by Alice Wynn. New favourite book, probably tied with Assassin’s Fate. Will of the Many gets an honourable mention.
Best sequel: Assassin’s Fate!!!!
New release to read: The Bright Sword (I’m a Magicians stan).
Most anticipated release for second half of the year: no idea! I barely keep up with new releases and I’m 500 years behind on the Cosmere.
Biggest disappointment: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Not bad but not great either.
Biggest surprise: Probably Pride and Prejudice! I haven't finished it yet but it's so much more readable than I expected and I'm having a blast!
Favourite new author: James Baldwin. I read Go Tell It on the Mountain and If Beale Street Could Talk, and Go Tell It on the Mountain especially blew me away!
Newest favourite character: Gaunt from In Memoriam! (I would say Bee from the Fitz and the Fool trilogy but I started the series last year so that might be cheating....)
Book that made you cry: ASSASSIN’S FATE
Book that made you happy: also Assassin’s Fate. Hobb took my emotions for a ride.
Most beautiful book bought: have only bought digital so far this year so pass
Books need to read by end of the year: Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (Daevabad is one of my favourite series of all time so the fact it’s taken me this long is astonishing), The Bluest Eye or Sula by Toni Morison (maybe both), a Brando Sando, and Maus.
New subbie here, if you happen to see this, or your editor does can you leave the books up on the screen longer because I keep lists of recs and write down all the names and authors.
Loved this, looking forward to trying out some of these, esp the short stories by Zweig!
1. Malazan #2 or #3 cant decide. They are on the top for different reasons
2. To not repeat myself tawny man #1 being the sequel to farseer trilogy. So good seeing how much Fitz grew and being with my lovely Fool
3. Beartown #2!!
4. I dont read new releases cause my library doesnt have them
5. Norwegian wood. I was a murakami fan. Im bamboozled at how bad it is. Also hunger games 6. Idk whay the hell happened there, the author forgot how to write amazingly. Also jonathan strange anr mr norwell. It was underwhelming
7. Surprise might be malazan 2 cause i didnt really enjoy the first one
8. Steven erikson and robin hobb.
9. Fictional crush/favorite chatacter? THE FOOL FROM FITZ BOOKS OMG I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. But also Luffy. And maybe coltaine from malazan 2
10. ONE PIECE! Ive cried more from onr piece than anything else combines this year 😂 but also the hunger games and the last farseer book
11. I mean most of them. One piece the most. Maybe fitz books next cause the fool is hilarious from book 3 on.
12. I cant afford books
13. Wheel of time 6, the ship trilogy from robin hobb, i still hope my country translate malazan 4 though i doubt it since they stoped 5 years ago. Tawny man trilogy
I will always recommend starting the Starship's Mage Series by Glynn Stewart. It's an excellent read and only 15 books in the series so far.
Best book this year: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez, I still think about this book frequently and I read it in February
Best sequel: Seven Surrenders by Ada Palmer, talk about a series that crept up on me, steadily on the way to my top series list and this is the perfect sequel to the first.
New Release you have not read yet: Honestly no idea, all the new releases that I'm super interested in I read.
Most Anticipated Book thats not out yet: Either Absolution by VanderMeer (Southern Reach is still my favorite series of his) or The Mercy of Gods by James SA Corey, loved The Expanse and I've also read some of Daniel Abraham's solo work since then and I'm excited for more.
Biggest Disappointment: Probably Shriek, I love the whole premise and everything its trying to do but it just didn't land how I thought it would. Still a 4/5 star read for me. (I could do Dead Astronauts here too but I want to save full opinions on it till after a reread)
Biggest Surprise: The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer, wasn't expecting to love a YA Sci-fi book as much as I did with this one.
Favorite new author: Ada Palmer, the first 2 Terra Ignota books are so good. The worldbuilding is impeccable, the way culture has changed with technological advancements and how that effects everyone in the story is just *chefs kiss*.
Favorite new character: Its got to be either Fitz from Farseer or Mycroft from Terra Ignota, which is a fun coincidence cause both series have similar framing of the character telling their own story and the history around it. (Merphy don't' think that this means Fitz and Mycroft are alike, they're extremely different people).
Book that Made Me Cry: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, no author makes me cry like Backman
Book that Made Me Happy: Within the Sanctuary of WIngs by Marie Brennan, just a wonderful conclusion to the Lady Trent series and seeing all the Isabella accomplished the system she was able to build around her self was beautiful.
Most beautiful book: Either The Spear Cuts Through Water or the Broken Bindings Midnight Editions of Dandelion Dynasty though I haven't gotten them yet.
Books I Need to Read by the End of the Year: The Will to Battle and Perhaps the Stars, both by Ada Palmer, I can't gush about these first two books enough and I'm so excited to see how it wraps up.
*Best book so far*: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
*Best sequel so far*: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett (I really like these books, ok? 😂)
*Most anticipated new release*: How to Summon a Fairy Godmother by Laura J. Mayo (sounds intriguing 👀)
*Biggest dissapointment*: The second Mistborn series. It's not BAD but... I expected more. And I really didn't like some characters. 😞
*Biggest surprise*: City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett (I dnf'ed this books a couple of years ago, but after reading "The Tainted Cup" by him and really enjoying it, I thought maybe I give it another go, and I really enjoyed it. Can't even say why I dnf'ed it the first time)
*Favorite New Author*: Heather Fawcett and Robert Jackson Bennett. I can't decide. 🥺👉👈
*New Favorite Character:* Wendell Bambleby. Not even sorry. 😌
*Book that made you cry:* None so far
*Book that made you happy*: The Emily Wilde books I guess. 🤔
*Most beautiful book*: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (US Version). I just looooove that cover so much! 😍
*What books do you need to read by the end of the year*: Yeah, well, I think RUclips doesn't allow comments THAT long. 😂
Best book: Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
Best sequel: Hogfather by Terry Pratchett, Acceptance by Jeff Vandermeer
New release TBR: The Will of the Many by James Islington
Most anticipated release: Absolution by Jeff Vandermeer
Biggest disappointment: Penance by Eliza Clark
Biggest surprise: There is No Antimemetics Division by qntm
Favorite new author: Terry Pratchett, Jeff Vandermeer
Newest favorite character: Saul from Area X trilogy, Death and Susan from Discworld
Book that made you cry: Blood Over Bright Haven by M L Wang
Book that made you happy: Emily Wild’s Encyclopedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett
Most beautiful book bought this year: Slewfoot by Brom
Books TBR by end of year: Borne by Jeff Vandermeer, Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson, A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin, Jade City by Fonda Lee, Grace of Kings by Ken Liu, Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, Bloodchild and other stories by Octavia Butler
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year. Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter.
2. Best sequel you've read so far this year. Tied between Cursor's Fury and Captain's Fury by Jum Butcher (books 3 and 4 in The Codex Alera).
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to. You Like it Darker, sitting on my shelf right now.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. The Burning book 3 from Evan Winter.
5. Biggest disappointment. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb. I shelved it and am going to go back when I am in the right mindset for it.
6. Biggest surprise. Fairy Tale by Stephen King.
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) Hard to pick between Evan Winter or Jim Butcher.
8. Newest fictional crush. Nadya from Eric Ugland's The Bad Guys.
9. Newest favourite character. Centurion Marcus from The Codex Alera.
10. Book that made you cry. A Court of Silver Flames got me. Brought up some personal traumas and experiences that turned out well in the end.
11. Book that made you happy. Both The Good Guys and The Bad Guys series by Eric Ugland were happy reads. Shorter than I usually read, fun, and still great. Hard to pick just 1 since I binged all 23 books in like 4 weeks.
12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received). I purchased the special edition of Evan Winter's Rage of Dragons. It has not been printed and shipped yet, but it will be very pretty according to the Kickstarter pictures.
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? I want to read all of The Bound and the Broken by Ryan Cahill before the end of the year.
I read the bright sword last month!
I also thought It Waits in the Forest was middle grade because it's a Rick Riordan Presents book but I've just started it and it's actually Young Adult... maybe that will encourage you to pick it up sooner!
Oh no way! Thank you for telling me!
Best book this year: It was gonna be Annihilation, but now it's Seasons of Albadone rec'd by Tori Tecken.
Best sequel: I was gonna go with The Sword Unbound, but I just finished A Contract in Sol Forne, sequel to Seasons of Albadone, indirectly as it is all new characters.
New Release you have not read yet: After World, which I am reading next, concerning an A.I. who falls in love with a human while they leave Earth. Also, Service Model which I got for buddy reads.
Biggest disappointment: Dead Astronauts. I made it to 57 pages and gave up.
Biggest Surprise: A Short Stay In Hell, rec'd by Chanel at Chanel Chapters, which was a big ol' mind screw in a tiny little book. Aside from that it was Bloodstones which came out of nowhere when you interviewed Tori about it and that was also the first I had heard of her and now I subscribe to her.
Favorite new author: Vandermeer or Elan Marche/Christopher Warman--who wrote Seasons and Contract above.
Favorite new character: Not sure but it might be a One Piece character, and Luffy did finally win me over during the prison escape to save his brother when in the midst of panic and chaos and danger he stood there and said, "Look at this giant bloody booger that was in my nose."
I get emotional but have not cried about any book this year.
Most beautiful book: Heavenbreaker which had great cover stuff, art on the esdges, and good one liners about the contents. BUUUUUUt I DNF, it sucked.
lmao the twin thumbnails
Hey, Im not completely certain but, I think all of the T. Kingfisher books that you've read so far have been her fantasy books. With your new found love for Vandameer though, I think you would really like her Horror books. I would call them Cozy Horror. I read her House of Usher duology What Moves at Dead and What Feasts at Night last month and I've just finished A House with Good Bones and I never would have thought I would ever enjoy a Horror book.
Merphy has read What Moves the Dead and A House with Good Bones
Have you ever read the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde? Seems like a series you would like to
I tried annihilation because of how much you gush about it, and I'm sad I did not enjoy any aspect of the book whatsoever.
For some reason [probably lack of sleep] I thought the clock in the thumbnail image was a giant pizza. Anyway. I haven't read enough new books this year, I've mostly been re-reading old books, so I guess I'm cheating.
1) Best book:
A tie between The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle and Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones [re-read]. The former is a new favourite [I watched the movie many times when I was little, and love the graphic novel, so now I finally got to read the book], and the latter is still one of my favourite books of all time.
2) Best sequel:
The Merlin Conspiracy by Diana Wynne Jones [re-read]. I like it more than Deep Secret.
3) New release you haven't read yet, but want to:
A tie between I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons, and We Mostly Come Out At Night: 14 Queer Tales anthology.
4) Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:
Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B. B. Alston, and Designing Terry Pratchett's Discworld by Paul Kidby.
5) Biggest disappointment:
A tie between Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse [I wanted to like it so much, but the graphic violence was too much] and the ATLA comics [too many contrivances and out-of-character moments for me].
6) Biggest surprise:
Heartstopper Vol. 1-4. I wasn't expecting to like them nearly as much as the show, but I did like them very much.
7) Favourite new author (Debut or new to you):
Peter S. Beagle. His prose is so lovely.
8) Newest fictional crush:
none
9) Newest favourite character:
Cheating a bit, since it's a show and not a book, but I watched Owl House for the first time, and I love all the characters so much. Except Belos. Fork him.
10) Book that made you cry:
Wayfarers Book 2: A Closed and Common Orbit [re-read]. Becky Chambers books never fail to make me emotional.
11) Book that made you happy:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series [re-read]. I had a ton of fun.
12) Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received):
The Sea-Ringed World; it's a collection of myths from indigenous people from South America and other tribes. The edition I got has a lovely stylized turtle on the cover.
13) What books do you need to read by the end of the year:
Lord of the Rings, and the extended edition of Tolkien's letters. I meant to do one LotR book for each month of summer, but that didn't end up happening, so I need to catch up!
13:36. This is why I don't do series
"I dont ready happy books" lol
Biggest disappointment. - blind sight peter watts
Biggest surprise. - Pet Sematary
Favorite new author - Stephen King
Merphy you really busy another 2 videos a day...
“I don’t read happy books”.... well, there is an idea for a video
Recommend us happy stuff! enough with the sad!!! (thats jimmy nutts brand from the jimmynuttsnuttswork™)
If you liked defensive guide, keep an eye out for a sorceress comes to call! I enjoyed it even more potentially!
Woah woah come on comment section we can’t let her get away with a PASS on newest fictional crush
Best book you’ve read so far this year: The Will of the Many by James Islington
Best Sequel: Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik
New release: Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Most anticipated release: Wind and Truth by Sanderson, duh.
Biggest disappointment: A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall. Sooooo boring I DNF’d
Biggest Surprise: These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs. The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett also gets this, loved that book.
Favorite new author: ML Wang
Also pass on fictional crush
New favorite character: Ana from the tainted cup probably? I’ve read a lot of good characters
Book that made me cry: The Perks of Being a Wallflower that I just finished. Also The Sword of Kaigen. Two books in one year is a rarity for me, I almost never cry.
A book that made me happy: The Door to Door Bookstore. So cute
Most beautiful book: the broken binding edition of Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu
Books by the end of the year- I have a bunch of series I need to finish! Trying to read down my physical tbr as well.
Best book: definitely "witch king" by Martha Wells, it's sooo good and she's an amazing writer
Best sequel: "oathbringer" by Brandon Sanderson
New release: "these fragile threads of power" by V.E. Schwab
Most anticipated release: "wind and truth" by Brandon Sanderson, I'm so excited
Biggest disappointment: "babel" by R.F. Kuang, it talked about some interesting themes, but it was too boring in the first half and too dramatic in the second one, also there were too many plot twists that didn't really make sense to me
Biggest surprise: "the jasmine throne" by Tasha Suri, the plot looked like it was written by a 13 year old kid, but the book was nothing like that, the author did an amazing job, the worldbuilding was well done
Favourite new author: I've been wanting to read some Martha Wells books and I finally did this year, I was not disappointed
Newest fictional crush: I think like half of the characters in "Gideon the ninth", mostly Gideon, Harrow and Palamedes
Newest favourite character: I think Wayne from Mistborn era 2
Book that made me cry: I'm not really a crier but the end of "Rhythm of war" by Brandon Sanderson was something else
Book that made me happy: "tress of the emerald sea" by Brandon Sanderson got me giggling every time Hoid said or did anything
Most beautiful book: "Yumi and the nightmare painter" by Brandon Sanderson
Book I need to read: I've been putting off "the sword of Kaigen" by M.L. Wang for far too long, but since I've heard only great things about it, I'm kinda nervous that it won't live up to my expectations
Can you tell that Brandon Sanderson is my favourite author?
Apparently you shouldn't expect "ending ending" from Stormlight 5, since it is truly just the midpoint of the series. Sanderson said that you can expect an "anime arc" ending from it instead of Mistborn era 1 ending.
I don't read happy books either 😆
ACOMAF 🤣🤣
🧡📚🧡📚🧡📚🧡
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year. Non-fiction? Doppelganger by Naomi Klein. Fiction? Bad Dream by Nicole Maines
2. Best sequel you've read so far this year. This is cheating since it's the only sequel, but Chaos Terminal (Midsolar Murders #2) by Mur Lafferty
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. It Gets Better, Except When It Doesn't by Nicole Maines
6. Biggest surprise. So far? Beach Read by Emily Henry. Only about halfway through though so there's still room for disappointment
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) ERod with his novel Kassandra Killjoy: Paranormal Private Eye: The Search for the Swordsman. Pretty dang good for a self-pub that didn't have a copy editor.
9. Newest favourite character. Galaxy (from Bad Dream, Galaxy: The Prettiest Star, and DC Pride 2024)
10. Book that made you cry. It didn't quite make me cry, but came close; Bad Dream by Nicole Maines
11. Book that made you happy. Bad Dream by Nicole Maines (it's a rollercoaster)
12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received): Bad Dream by Nicole Maines. The art by Rye Hickman managed to be both realistic and exagerated, and he knew exactly when to be which.
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? The two I most want to get to this year are "We Had A Little Real Estate Problem," a book about Native Americans in comedy, and "Opposable Thumbs," a book about the history of Siskel & Ebert.
Need to make a correction to Number 4; the title is actually "It Gets Better . . . Except When It Gets Worse." My bad.
Hi! Here are my answers!
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year.
Devotions by Mary Oliver and Im not even a poetry person!
2. Best sequel you've read so far this year.
Defiant by Brandon Sanderson
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to.
Pass
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.
Stormlight 5 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa
5. Biggest disappointment.
Artemis by Andy Weir
6. Biggest surprise.
Either Devotions or Defiant
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Pass
8. Newest fictional crush.
Pass
9. Newest favourite character.
Gran Gran from Defiant is so great!
10. Book that made you cry.
I cry a lot
11. Book that made you happy.
Devotions
12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)
All the light we cannot see
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
Best Book You've Read So Far In 2024
This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings
Best Sequel You've Read So Far In 2024
Twilight Princess Vol. 6 by Akira Himekawa
New Release You Haven't Read Yet But Want To
Time Of The Turtle King (Magic Tree House #38) by Mary Pope Osborne, Windy Night With Wild Horses (Magic Tree House #39) by Mary Pope Osborne
Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half Of The Year
Wrath Of The Triple Goddess (Percy Jackson And The Olympians #7) by Rick Riordan
Biggest Disappointment
Archer's Voice (Where Love Meets Destiny #1) by Mia Sheridan
Biggest Surprise
Unhinged by Vera Valentine
Favourite New Author (Debut Or New To You)
L.N. Cole [Kingdom Of Vines And Silence (The Winged Kingdoms #1)]
Newest Fictional Crush
Sylvia [Shot In The Dark by Mary Dublin & Anne Kendsley]
Newest Favourite Character
Anoth [The Misfit Of Demon King Academy: History's Strongest Demon King Reincarnates And Goes To School With His Descendants by Shu Kayaharuka]
Book That Made You Cry
Waverider (Amulet #9) by Kazu Kibuishi
Book That Made You Happy
Roswell Johnson Saves The World! (Roswell Johnson #1) by Chris Colfer
Most Beautiful Books You've Bought So Far This Year (Or Received)
Nightfall (Keeper Of The Lost Cities #6) by Shannon Messenger [Bought], Always Human Vol. 1 by Ari North [Received]
What Books Do You Need To Read By The End Of The Year?
Wynonna Earp: All in by Lora Innes, Chris Evenhuis, Tim Rozon, Beau Smith & Ángel Hernández, A Tale Of Sorcery (A Tale Of Magic #3) by Chris Colfer, The Chalice Of The Gods (Percy Jackson And The Olympians #6) by Rick Riordan
You said you would put the questions on the description but they arent there
Added it!