I almost NEVER agree with the Goodreads Choice Awards. At this point, I barely even care about them 😂 They've always seemed to be more of an author popularity contest than an accurate judgment of the quality of the books themselves.
I loved Tress of the Emerald Sea. It was funny, it was witty! It was amazing to see an ordinary girl transform into her true potential! I LOVED IT! I think I loved it most of all because he chose to write it for his wife alone and then chose to publish it. It was a really sweet story! 😊
The Frozen River is my favorite read of 2024, In fact, I've bought 4 hardcover copies for friends of mine. It's that good. I've been teaching English for 43 years, and therefore, when I read a book, I cannot help but analyze it on every level you can imagine. The Frozen River is written so well, and the development of the characters is done so well, that I am still thinking about the writing and the characters. The plot seems simple (who killed the man found in the frozen river), but there are so many different factors that make it impossible to just guess who did it. And besides the mystery, it is a love story that I find so enduring. Honestly, I think you should read it. Because you speak so well when you talk about books, I know that you will enjoy this book just for the writing alone.
Tress and the Emerald Sea is basically a cozy whimsical reverse Princess Bride story where the quiet girl turned pirate rescues her prince, and I absolutely loved it!
My IRL book club read Bride by Ali Hazelwood this year and we all surprisingly enjoyed it. I was totally shocked at how fun the story was because I was honestly expecting it to be bad based on the premise. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet the banter and characters are really great. I’d recommend giving it a try based on how much you enjoy fantasy and romance 😊
I do appreciate a book that doesn't take itself too seriously, and knows exactly what it is and what category it falls into. I can respect that. Maybe I'll give it a try!
I was disappointed with Frozen River. The ending was so hokey. Just me opinion! Thank you so much for your videos. I look forward to reading some of your favorites. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
Oh that's super interesting I haven't heard that before!! I was going to read it this fall and didn't get around to it. So maybe I'll pick it up this summer!
For Brandon Sanderson, If you want an epic fantasy with high stakes and a satisfying ending, start with Mistborn. If you want witty, funny, and a good time book, pick Tress of the Emerald Sea. They are both amazing and a good place to start.
Me watching booktube criticize goodreads for reasons I don't fully understand as I stopped using it years ago (cause it's near unusable): yes, yes... excellent.
So many thoughts! I feel like my book tastes align with many of yours (except for Ministry of Time lol). The Four Winds is good, but most of the book is extra depressing. If you like sad books, go for it. I enjoyed the Frozen River because I find midwifery interesting. It’s got a mystery feel to it. I LOVED the Wedding People. It is character over plot, but it gave the good vibes where the mc falls in love with living again. Tress is a cozy fantasy that feel like the Princess Bride.
Start with Yumi the nightmare painter by Brandon Sanderson. If you like romance and fantasy this is a perfect place to start. Tress is a little more middle grade leaning but still very good. I really like all his secret project books. They are standalones and a nice place to dip your feet into. Then if you like him you could start his mistborn series.
I haven't gotten into the idea of waiting for the right season to read a book. I'm curious, does it really enhance the story? If I want to read a book I just can't make myself wait 😄 Brandon Sanderson's Tress of the Emerald Sea is good, as is Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. I've read the first two in the Skyward series. Most readers say to start with the original Mistborn series, because now there is a second Mistborn set many years into the future from the original trilogy. I started reading Sanderson when he finished The Wheel of Time series. Then I went right into The Way of Kings. If you're new to his type of fantasy/sci-fi maybe Tress or Mistborn is a better place to start. Or Skyward since I think it's YA. I hope whichever you start with you end up loving Sanderson! 😊
Just depends on the type of reader you are! The right season/mood TOTALLY changes how I read a book. Sometimes I'll pick up a book and immediately put it down because I'm not feeling it. Other times, if the mood is right, it's an easy 5 star read. But I know not everyone is like me or a mood reader, so it just depends on your personal taste!
If you want to start reading Brandon Sanderson, I will not recommend Tress of the Emerald Sea to start with. It is a really nice story, but the feel of it is so completely different than his other works, that it would give you a different impression of his work overall. If you want to dive into a whole series, the Mistborn is very good, but the Way of Kings is better. If you want a stand-alone, I recommend Elantris. If you read both Elantris and Tress of the Emerald Sea, you would think they are not even written by the same person. I love that he stretches himself in different directions as on author, but for me, I'm glad I read the "deeper" fantasy before the "lighter" fantasy.
I absolutely LOVED The Frozen River. So so much. I enjoyed Four Winds (audio) but it’s so doom and gloom over and over and over throughout the entire book. Sally Rooney isn’t for me. Tried a few books and can’t get into them.
I feel the same way about the housemaid! Everyone loves it but I don't really get it, I did read the second part really fast but it was just meh. As for Sally Rooney, I read normal people and I hated it so much, I also don't get all the hype for her. Kind of want to see you try one of her books, kind of want to advice you against it hahaha.
A did not like Fate Inked in Blood as well, same with Zodiac Academy. Bride started off strong but ended up being a 3 star read. You would like Quicksilver, or Anathema (for a darker / gothic version).❤
Plz I’m begging you to read Tress of the Emerald Sea. It’s my favorite book of all time and it’s soooo much fun! It’s an adventure story with pirates, magic, a dragon, a love story, and found family. Plz you won’t regret it!
You just showed up in my feed and it sounds like you and I have similar book tastes. I am not big on a ton of spice in romance books so I definitely am avoiding Elsie Silver. I did like Poweless though. 🙂
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I almost NEVER agree with the Goodreads Choice Awards. At this point, I barely even care about them 😂 They've always seemed to be more of an author popularity contest than an accurate judgment of the quality of the books themselves.
This
I loved Tress of the Emerald Sea. It was funny, it was witty! It was amazing to see an ordinary girl transform into her true potential! I LOVED IT! I think I loved it most of all because he chose to write it for his wife alone and then chose to publish it. It was a really sweet story! 😊
Yes I've heard that backstory and I just think that is sooooo sweet!
The Frozen River is my favorite read of 2024, In fact, I've bought 4 hardcover copies for friends of mine. It's that good. I've been teaching English for 43 years, and therefore, when I read a book, I cannot help but analyze it on every level you can imagine. The Frozen River is written so well, and the development of the characters is done so well, that I am still thinking about the writing and the characters. The plot seems simple (who killed the man found in the frozen river), but there are so many different factors that make it impossible to just guess who did it. And besides the mystery, it is a love story that I find so enduring. Honestly, I think you should read it. Because you speak so well when you talk about books, I know that you will enjoy this book just for the writing alone.
Wow that's awesome! That does sound like something I could get into... might just have to pick it up soon.
Tress and the Emerald Sea is basically a cozy whimsical reverse Princess Bride story where the quiet girl turned pirate rescues her prince, and I absolutely loved it!
yeah I'm sold on that
My IRL book club read Bride by Ali Hazelwood this year and we all surprisingly enjoyed it. I was totally shocked at how fun the story was because I was honestly expecting it to be bad based on the premise. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet the banter and characters are really great. I’d recommend giving it a try based on how much you enjoy fantasy and romance 😊
I do appreciate a book that doesn't take itself too seriously, and knows exactly what it is and what category it falls into. I can respect that. Maybe I'll give it a try!
I was disappointed with Frozen River. The ending was so hokey. Just me opinion! Thank you so much for your videos. I look forward to reading some of your favorites. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much!
You should read The Spellshop in the summer! I read it in the fall for the cozy vibes but the whole time I was like…this is a summer book lol
Oh that's super interesting I haven't heard that before!! I was going to read it this fall and didn't get around to it. So maybe I'll pick it up this summer!
I agree about Freida McFadden. Her writing is not good. After reading the housemaid, I’ll pass on the rest of her books.
Based on your enjoyment of SJM and When the Moon Hatched, I think you’ll like Quicksilver!
Yes! I second this, and Anathema
I think I'll give it a try at some point!
For Brandon Sanderson, If you want an epic fantasy with high stakes and a satisfying ending, start with Mistborn. If you want witty, funny, and a good time book, pick Tress of the Emerald Sea. They are both amazing and a good place to start.
That's helpful! Thank you!
For Brando Sando author. Start w Mistborn. Trees of Emerald Sea is a great standalone that you will like as well 😊
Thank you!
Me watching booktube criticize goodreads for reasons I don't fully understand as I stopped using it years ago (cause it's near unusable): yes, yes... excellent.
a fate inked in blood was so boring for me LOL 😭
I’m also on my Brandon Sanderson journey in 2025 (well, started in late 2024), and so far I’m so happy!! Tress was great 🥰
So many thoughts! I feel like my book tastes align with many of yours (except for Ministry of Time lol).
The Four Winds is good, but most of the book is extra depressing. If you like sad books, go for it. I enjoyed the Frozen River because I find midwifery interesting. It’s got a mystery feel to it. I LOVED the Wedding People. It is character over plot, but it gave the good vibes where the mc falls in love with living again. Tress is a cozy fantasy that feel like the Princess Bride.
You've convinced me on princess bride!
DO NOT READ QUICKSILVER!!!! OLIVE!!! DO *NOT* SUFFER THROUGH THAT!!
hahahahaha
Freida is just the worst. I find her writing very mediocre and I just cannot understand the hype.
Start with Yumi the nightmare painter by Brandon Sanderson. If you like romance and fantasy this is a perfect place to start. Tress is a little more middle grade leaning but still very good. I really like all his secret project books. They are standalones and a nice place to dip your feet into. Then if you like him you could start his mistborn series.
Wow so many options! Thank you!
I haven't gotten into the idea of waiting for the right season to read a book. I'm curious, does it really enhance the story? If I want to read a book I just can't make myself wait 😄
Brandon Sanderson's Tress of the Emerald Sea is good, as is Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. I've read the first two in the Skyward series. Most readers say to start with the original Mistborn series, because now there is a second Mistborn set many years into the future from the original trilogy. I started reading Sanderson when he finished The Wheel of Time series. Then I went right into The Way of Kings. If you're new to his type of fantasy/sci-fi maybe Tress or Mistborn is a better place to start. Or Skyward since I think it's YA. I hope whichever you start with you end up loving Sanderson! 😊
Just depends on the type of reader you are! The right season/mood TOTALLY changes how I read a book. Sometimes I'll pick up a book and immediately put it down because I'm not feeling it. Other times, if the mood is right, it's an easy 5 star read. But I know not everyone is like me or a mood reader, so it just depends on your personal taste!
You did not mention “James” but it was my favorite book of 2024. It definitely deserved all the recognition it received. ◡̈
If you want to start reading Brandon Sanderson, I will not recommend Tress of the Emerald Sea to start with. It is a really nice story, but the feel of it is so completely different than his other works, that it would give you a different impression of his work overall. If you want to dive into a whole series, the Mistborn is very good, but the Way of Kings is better. If you want a stand-alone, I recommend Elantris. If you read both Elantris and Tress of the Emerald Sea, you would think they are not even written by the same person. I love that he stretches himself in different directions as on author, but for me, I'm glad I read the "deeper" fantasy before the "lighter" fantasy.
Ooh that's super interesting, thanks for the info!
I absolutely LOVED The Frozen River. So so much. I enjoyed Four Winds (audio) but it’s so doom and gloom over and over and over throughout the entire book. Sally Rooney isn’t for me. Tried a few books and can’t get into them.
I feel the same way about the housemaid! Everyone loves it but I don't really get it, I did read the second part really fast but it was just meh. As for Sally Rooney, I read normal people and I hated it so much, I also don't get all the hype for her. Kind of want to see you try one of her books, kind of want to advice you against it hahaha.
Also please read the house in the cerulean sea!!! It's so amazing and warms my heart
I am going to try and read some Sally Rooney this year - I know she can be a bit polarizing with her books but I'm super curious about how I'll feel!
A did not like Fate Inked in Blood as well, same with Zodiac Academy. Bride started off strong but ended up being a 3 star read. You would like Quicksilver, or Anathema (for a darker / gothic version).❤
I think I'm gonna give Quicksilver a try, just to see what's up!!
Plz I’m begging you to read Tress of the Emerald Sea. It’s my favorite book of all time and it’s soooo much fun! It’s an adventure story with pirates, magic, a dragon, a love story, and found family. Plz you won’t regret it!
circling back to this because i just got Tress and am going to be starting it soon. can't wait. :)
You just showed up in my feed and it sounds like you and I have similar book tastes. I am not big on a ton of spice in romance books so I definitely am avoiding Elsie Silver. I did like Poweless though. 🙂