I really enjoyed this. There are a lot of books on this list I've also read, and I've enjoyed comparing my own experiences of them with yours. I'm also glad to bump up a few books on my TBR that I own and have not yet gotten to. For example, a few months ago I found and purchased an old copy of Daughter of the Forest from a charity shop knowing nothing about it bar that it was 50c. Seeing where you've placed it has inspired me to grab it out. As usual, I've also been inspired to get hold of a few new titles as well. I recently bought Hatchet for my grandson after seeing your review of it in one of your videos and learning he has not read it. We, including his parents, had never heard of the author. I find it trickier to know what good books are out there for youngsters given I see less reviews of middle grade books so thanks for that one. Now that I have it, I'm giving it a quick read right now myself before I see him and give it to him.
The fact that 100 books already took you 1,5 hours solidified my decision to not rank my own 300 books LOL. This was soooo fun though, loved every second of it! ❤ Totally with you on Beyond the Wand, and I am so so so happy to hear that you are gonna read Evanna Lynch's memoir. Just a heads-up, it's barely about the harry potter stuff, and much more about her fight with anorexia. I have never felt more seen in my own struggles, almost to the point that I am afraid to recommend it because she is brutally honest in how ugly and unflattering and unglamorous an eating disorder is, and it feels like she also laid my soul bare... yet that is exactly why I adore it. Eager to hear your thoughts! ☺ Also really appreciate your insights on Different Not Damaged, because I was going to use that as my first read by Andy but I am gonna follow your advice and go somewhere else first! And HECK YES for Daughter of the Forest, all the Red Rising love and Guns of the Dawn! 🤩
Oh yay! That makes me so happy! Thanks so much for checking it out, I’m so glad you both enjoyed it. 🔥 The Last Full Measure is also in that series and is phenomenal as well.
Appreciate the list. Added a couple TBR items today. I still need to start disc world. Do you need to start in book 1? What do most people start? Also have you not read any dungeon crawler Carl? It’s amazing IMO and a top series for me.
Yesss!! This is so much fun! Did I mention how much I love that you enjoyed Guns of the Dawn this year? Emily is still one of my all time fav female characters! Other than, thanks for putting this together and stacking my TBR so heavily. Always appreciate your thoughts on books, good or bad!
Senlin, glad you are loving book 2 more because it is my favorite of the 4. And yes, the prose, the prose. Seasons of Albadone? Did you read it prior or did I miss it? You and others have planted Wurts in my head. Not sure yet when I'll get to her though.
Pleased that I've read 4 of your top books of the year; Hobbit (many times!), Lord of the Flies (twice), Piranesi (2023), and Daughter of the Forest (by your prompt) and I agree on their deserving the spot (going to say that without having read almost all of the rest lol). That does a lot to forgive your placement of Wizard of Earthsea, which is still one of my top life reads, but no one's perfect ;). This'll still inform much of my TBR. Have a great 2025 read.
I ordered By Blood By Salt from your rec yesterday, I'm so excited to pick it up soon!! (Her quotes on her IG really sold me on it, too!) I also have to say, Robin Hobb is my absolute favorite author and RotE is near and dear to my heart, but I had my own problems with Liveship Traders, as well. It's my least favorite chunk of the series, despite how amazing the lore and setting is--its a super unpopular opinion, but I have it for similar reasons to why you bounced off it. I much, much prefer the Fitz books!
Well, thanks! I'm sure this was a gargantuan effort and you might not have even felt like pushing through. If the enjoyment of viewers helps with that I am one who really did. For whatever one individual's reaction is worth, here's mine: Can't help but be interested in Deadhouse Gates (because of you), but the Malazan series feels like contemplating climbing a daunting mountain. Terry Pratchett -- I'm convinced he's pretty great at what he does, but still need a little convincing that what he does is what I'm personally looking for. By Blood, By Salt -- how can I not be intrigued by how excellent you found it, when it came out of nowhere? Piranesi -- not even sure why. And finally Night by Elie Wiesel. Sounds spiritually deep -- and a true story (which matters). Profoundly edifying (to the soul) literature is my very favorite of all.
For amazing, soulfully enlightening and/or nature based poetry (that you might have already read), try engaging with these poets: Mary Oliver, David Whyte, Rumi (of course), Rainer Maria Rilke, Linda Hogan, Marge Piercy, Pattiann Rogers, Wendell Berry, etc. Oh, and poets can be radical!
I tried it in 2023 and waffled off of it, but I want to try again - the writing style can be a hurdle, heavily using right brain poetic prose, it's largely why I *loved* his "Something Wicked This Way Comes", though that was a bit of a hurdle too.
Really funny that you'll put some of the lamest fantasy books known to man in top tier and then put Lonesome Dove way down the list. Not a real reader, bye
Holy Turbans, you know what this comment sounds like? Like your very ego is threatened by another person having a different reading opinion than your own! Why else would you evidence such intolerance, immaturity, and downright nastiness?
I really enjoyed this. There are a lot of books on this list I've also read, and I've enjoyed comparing my own experiences of them with yours. I'm also glad to bump up a few books on my TBR that I own and have not yet gotten to. For example, a few months ago I found and purchased an old copy of Daughter of the Forest from a charity shop knowing nothing about it bar that it was 50c. Seeing where you've placed it has inspired me to grab it out.
As usual, I've also been inspired to get hold of a few new titles as well.
I recently bought Hatchet for my grandson after seeing your review of it in one of your videos and learning he has not read it. We, including his parents, had never heard of the author. I find it trickier to know what good books are out there for youngsters given I see less reviews of middle grade books so thanks for that one. Now that I have it, I'm giving it a quick read right now myself before I see him and give it to him.
The fact that 100 books already took you 1,5 hours solidified my decision to not rank my own 300 books LOL. This was soooo fun though, loved every second of it! ❤
Totally with you on Beyond the Wand, and I am so so so happy to hear that you are gonna read Evanna Lynch's memoir. Just a heads-up, it's barely about the harry potter stuff, and much more about her fight with anorexia. I have never felt more seen in my own struggles, almost to the point that I am afraid to recommend it because she is brutally honest in how ugly and unflattering and unglamorous an eating disorder is, and it feels like she also laid my soul bare... yet that is exactly why I adore it. Eager to hear your thoughts! ☺
Also really appreciate your insights on Different Not Damaged, because I was going to use that as my first read by Andy but I am gonna follow your advice and go somewhere else first!
And HECK YES for Daughter of the Forest, all the Red Rising love and Guns of the Dawn! 🤩
I’m pretty sure you recommended The Killer Angels in a video recently. I read it with my dad the first week of the year and we both loved it.
Oh yay! That makes me so happy! Thanks so much for checking it out, I’m so glad you both enjoyed it. 🔥 The Last Full Measure is also in that series and is phenomenal as well.
@ Noted! Thank you!
Appreciate the list. Added a couple TBR items today. I still need to start disc world. Do you need to start in book 1? What do most people start?
Also have you not read any dungeon crawler Carl? It’s amazing IMO and a top series for me.
Yesss!! This is so much fun! Did I mention how much I love that you enjoyed Guns of the Dawn this year? Emily is still one of my all time fav female characters!
Other than, thanks for putting this together and stacking my TBR so heavily. Always appreciate your thoughts on books, good or bad!
Senlin, glad you are loving book 2 more because it is my favorite of the 4. And yes, the prose, the prose.
Seasons of Albadone? Did you read it prior or did I miss it?
You and others have planted Wurts in my head. Not sure yet when I'll get to her though.
I read Albadone in 2022 or 23! I'm pretty sure if it was in my top reads of the year whichever year I read it in.
Pleased that I've read 4 of your top books of the year; Hobbit (many times!), Lord of the Flies (twice), Piranesi (2023), and Daughter of the Forest (by your prompt) and I agree on their deserving the spot (going to say that without having read almost all of the rest lol). That does a lot to forgive your placement of Wizard of Earthsea, which is still one of my top life reads, but no one's perfect ;). This'll still inform much of my TBR. Have a great 2025 read.
Really odd logic when it comes to lonesome dove. I’ve never read the book tho so I don’t have an opinion on its quality
Not really that odd. Odd to think so if you’ve never read it! Thanks for watching!
@@ToriTalks2you’re welcome. Worth the watch!
Awesome tier list. I've added like 10 more books to my TBR.
Awesome!!! Thank you for watching 🔥
I ordered By Blood By Salt from your rec yesterday, I'm so excited to pick it up soon!! (Her quotes on her IG really sold me on it, too!)
I also have to say, Robin Hobb is my absolute favorite author and RotE is near and dear to my heart, but I had my own problems with Liveship Traders, as well. It's my least favorite chunk of the series, despite how amazing the lore and setting is--its a super unpopular opinion, but I have it for similar reasons to why you bounced off it. I much, much prefer the Fitz books!
Well, thanks! I'm sure this was a gargantuan effort and you might not have even felt like pushing through. If the enjoyment of viewers helps with that I am one who really did. For whatever one individual's reaction is worth, here's mine: Can't help but be interested in Deadhouse Gates (because of you), but the Malazan series feels like contemplating climbing a daunting mountain. Terry Pratchett -- I'm convinced he's pretty great at what he does, but still need a little convincing that what he does is what I'm personally looking for. By Blood, By Salt -- how can I not be intrigued by how excellent you found it, when it came out of nowhere? Piranesi -- not even sure why. And finally Night by Elie Wiesel. Sounds spiritually deep -- and a true story (which matters). Profoundly edifying (to the soul) literature is my very favorite of all.
May 2025 be the year of all 5 star reads for you!
Thank you! Back at you. 🙌🏻🔥
Girl, you have to read the Sun Eater series this year. You will love it.
It’s one of my priority reads for 2025! I can’t wait 🔥🔥🔥
For amazing, soulfully enlightening and/or nature based poetry (that you might have already read), try engaging with these poets: Mary Oliver, David Whyte, Rumi (of course), Rainer Maria Rilke, Linda Hogan, Marge Piercy, Pattiann Rogers, Wendell Berry, etc. Oh, and poets can be radical!
Supposed to read Dandelion Wine this month....im waffling on it now
I don’t think it’s a bad book, Andrew’s Wizardly Reads loved it. The writing style is good but not my taste.
I tried it in 2023 and waffled off of it, but I want to try again - the writing style can be a hurdle, heavily using right brain poetic prose, it's largely why I *loved* his "Something Wicked This Way Comes", though that was a bit of a hurdle too.
@ something wicked is an all timer for me
I might be sneaking in The Wager later this month.
Nice, Matt! It's very good, I hope you enjoy!
1:30? Those are rookie numbers you gotta pump those up.
I know, right? XD
Collective gasp! 😮
Haha! XD
I'm on Dark Age and I've quit reading it twice because it is such a" hot mess"
Really funny that you'll put some of the lamest fantasy books known to man in top tier and then put Lonesome Dove way down the list. Not a real reader, bye
Holy Turbans, you know what this comment sounds like? Like your very ego is threatened by another person having a different reading opinion than your own! Why else would you evidence such intolerance, immaturity, and downright nastiness?
Good thing I’m not worried about impressing you! Thanks for watching!
@@HolyTurbans i bet you are a blast at parties.
Really funny how you feel YOUR opinion on books is the only right opinion to have. You okay? 🤔