#mid year book freak out
Text
mid-year book freak out tag
tagged by @bloody-wonder, thank you!
1. Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2023?
Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente. i dont even know what to say. i want to sit raptly while someone smarter than me explains all the history and symbolism in this book that i missed. haunting.
2. Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2023?
partially just because i've read few sequels this year, The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik wins. I maintain that Orion is boring as hell after book 1 and I don't care about him but the rest of the book? Delicious. El is so snarky and dark. Ooooh im an evil witch princess im so scary my friends have to hold me back from committing evil (devotes her life to protecting other people) (refuses to live in an enclave because it feels like cheating) (shows up whenever people ask for help even if they suck). also the reveal with the mawmouths was just. such fucking 10/10 writing. the punch of understanding. the way the text gives the reader space to figure it out themself and just go HOLY SHIT.
3. New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To?
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle. I have it downloaded. I am ready.
4. Most Anticipated Release For Second Half of 2023?
I have no idea. I just find books when I find them, y'know?
5. Biggest Disappointment?
ironically, the sequel to question 6, The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard. after a book which is about a guy whose whole thing is "really good civil servant" this book was just...not what i wanted. it was about a classic singing robin hood style hero who is charming and cool and magical and does adventures and maybe otherwise i would have enjoyed it but how can i read a book set in the world of my favourite bureaucrat Kip and not read about bureaucracy??? only book so far this year i just straight up didnt finish. also, you can only tell the same vague story about how kip made a joke that one time without actually telling the joke before it stops being "backstory" and starts being "the author never actually figured out what the joke was".
6. Biggest Surprise?
The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard. absolutely bizarre book. there is no real plot other than the emperor preparing for retirement. the first three hundred pages the emperor just. goes on vacation?? i was expecting political intrigue but the political intrigue is 90% just "the rich guys dont like it but our guy, Kip the bureaucrat, is the emperors specialist guy and also extremely stubborn so everyone has to go alone with UBI". the biggest conflict is literally just interpersonal miscommunication but good. i was so hooked it was ridiculous. where did the heterosexuality come from i am perplexed
7. Favorite New Author?
i was about to say catherynne m valente but i actually cant claim that because now i looked her up and ive read other work by her! she did The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making and sequels which were extremely delightful also. so this one goes to Victoria Goddard on the basis of i have apparently read a lot of authors i already know this year
8. Newest Favorite Character?
Cliopher (Kip) Mdang my beloved
9. Newest Fictional Crush?
¯\_ (ツ)_/¯
💕Best Ship💕
¯\_ (ツ)_/¯
okay i guess maybe kip + the emperor? or maybe el + liesel because i was surprisingly a big fan of liesel by the end. though maybe thats just me wanted el to be with someone more interesting than orion.
10. Book That Made You Cry?
i can't actually remember if i cried but Driftwood by Marie Brennan was quite haunting and beautiful and bittersweet
11. Book That Made You Happy?
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. now, all brandon sandersons are at least 30% power of friendship by weight but i really do appreciate that this one was like "yeah no we're saying that part out loud. people are heros because they love their friends anything else is just set dressing"
12. Favorite Book Adaptation You Saw This Year?
i...dont think ive watched any book adaptations this year
13. Favorite Review You’ve Written This Year?
don't write 'em, so n/a
14. Most Beautiful Cover?
im going to say Deathless tho i think i am biased because the book hypnotised me
15. What Books Do You Need To Read By The End of The Year?
so many. Ancillary Justice. I also really should read Nona the Ninth but book 2 was so...eugh. i ravenously devoured a bunch of Pratchett's last month and i am waiting on several more from the library. apparently theres a new murderbot out soon? i should check that out.
tagging @a-fish-bee, @foxsoulcourt if you want to do this one :)
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
I saw this Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag on YouTube and I thought itd be kinda fun to give it a shot too. Im going to try to limit the amount of repetition as well as only giving one answer (when I could have given many) to hopefully keep this post on the shorter side.
Best book you’ve read so far in 2022: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibrahn. I now need to read the rest of his works.
Best sequel you've read so far in 2022: An Unexpected Peril. The Veronica Speedwell series has made me fully obsessed at this point.
Favourite re-read: Howl's Moving Castle. The ending made me mad when I read it as a teenager, but now I find that I dont care that the ending is stupid because I had a genuinely good time in the rest of it.
New release you haven't read yet, but want to: Book Lovers by Emily Henry. Im dragging my feet a little bit because Ive heard mixed things about it.
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Im not really up on book releases so I dont know what is coming out later this year.
Biggest disappointment: Ace by Angela Chen. While I did get good things out of this book, it was very much not the book I expected it to be. Thats on me, but I still find myself disappointed. Also The Things I Never Wrote by Jane Thynne. It needed another editing draft, I think. The character bits were there but the plot was clunky and it didnt really work in the end. Oh, and Appointment with Death. Its a surprise that theres an Agatha Christie on this list but this one just fell really flat for me. I checked out the audiobook from the library and I didnt know it was abridged, so then I got the ebook and it wasnt any better.
Biggest surprise: Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. I did not expect to care about the characters or about the story in general and I found that I actually cared about both of them and wanted to know how it ended.
Favourite new author (Debut or new to you): Deanna Raybourn, TJ Klune, Kahlil Gibrahn. No surprises there.
Newest favourite character: Loid (Twilight) and Anya from SpyxFamily. I still havent entirely finished vol 1 (I cant find it anywhere!) as I can only read small bits on a screen at a time.
Book that made you cry: Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. Go read it now, if you havent. Its up on the list of best books Ive read this year.
Book that made you happy: Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle. I dont know why this book holds so much dopomine for me but there it is. I didnt expect that either.
Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received): The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. Also one of my favorite books Ive read (or am reading--I swear I will finish it eventually!)
What books do you need to read by the end of the year? Atlas Six, The Thursday Murder Club, House on the Cerulean Sea, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan.
0 notes
Text
Cannot believe my 3 cover buys this spring turned out to be my favorite reads of the year so far lol!
#books#booklr#book recommendations#fall aesthetic#books and reading#bookblr#bookaholic#bookish#new books#booksbooksbooks#books and literature#reading#mid year book tag#mid year book freak out tag#reading wrap up#reading outside#reading recommendations#justonemorepage
98 notes
·
View notes
Text
I was tagged by @dauen for the mid-year book freakout tag, and I was genuinely so excited because I had been meaning to do it, but then I wondered if anybody even cared. So yes, thank you so much! <3 And let's gooo ~
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year
Birnam Wood. Hands down. Everybody go read Birnam Wood.
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year
This question made me realise I don't read a lot of sequels. The ONLY one I've read so far this year is Hell Bent (the sequel to "Ninth House"). And it was kind of fun. But I didn't love it.
3. New release you haven’t read yet
Hm... I suppose I don't keep up with new releases like I used to. Though Carrie Soto Is Back comes to mind, if that counts as a new release. And Sea of Tranquility from last year. (I accidentally just mispelled that as "Transquility" lol)
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Okay, so this is super niche and a bit weird, but it might be The Otherworld by Abbie Emmons. I've never actually read anything by her and I'm not sure if it'll be good, but I know her from YouTube and I'm curious. Has anybody else on here read any of her books?
5. Biggest disappointment
Probably The Midnight Library. I had seen so many people raving about this book online, but I HATED it. Genuinely the most amateurish writing I have come across in years. And so, so preachy. Not trying to be mean here. But yeah, it wasn't for me.
Oh, and Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell was also bad, sadly.
6. Biggest surprise
Hm. Birnam Wood was the biggest surprise regarding how much I loved it. And also regarding the ending. And Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney had one of the coolest plot twists I came across this year.
7. Favourite new author (debut or new to you)
100% ELEANOR CATTON WHO WROTE BIRNAM WOOD IT WAS SO GOOD OMG!
Also Victoria Gosling? I am currently reading Before The Ruins by her and it's quite good as well. Beautiful writing. Kind of entrancing. I feel like fans of The Secret History would be into it?
8. Newest fictional crush/newest favourite character
Hmm, I don't really get fictional crushes. But if I did, I would have to say Mira or Tony from, you guessed it, Birnam Wood. (Oh, and maybe David from Before the Ruins. Also quite cute.)
9. Book that made you cry
Hehe. What do you think. You have one guess. Oh, you said Birnam Wood? Correct. Why have I only read one great book this year so far lmao
10. Book that made you happy
Ummm... All of this is forcing me to face the fact that my reading year so far has NOT been that good. I reread If We Were Villains and that made me happy. For non-fiction I read Undrowned and that made me happy at times. But other passages were really sad and emotional.
11. Favourite Adaptation
Heartstopper! And I'm really excited for Red, White & Royal Blue! <3
12. Prettiest Cover
Though disappointing overall, Kill All Your Darlings did have a lovely cover:
13. A book you need to read before the end of the year
Gosh, so many! From a quick glance at my shelves: The Rehearsal, The Initial Insult, Outliers, Shadow of the Lions, Weapons of Math Destruction... and so many more. That I know I won't get to. So some are on my 2024 TBR.
Tagging @hrimceald @books-and-cookies @b1uetrees @jay-avian @yoongsea @r-osehips @minyardcva if you want to. Curious to hear about your reading years so far :)
17 notes
·
View notes
Text
Mid year book freakout
Tagged by @booksandrandomfandoms and @bibliophilecats ✨
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year
Tress of The Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
Wolfsong by TJ Klune
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
Undercover by Tamsyn Muir
Unmasking Autism by Dr. Devon Price
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year
The Creeping Shadow by Jonathan Stroud
3. New release you haven’t read yet but want to
Hell Bent, The Golden Enclaves (Do these still count as new releases?)
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Uhhhhh 🫥 what's releasing?!? Ravensong by TJ Klune (which was released 82457 years ago but I'm finally able to buy it thanks to the new Tor release).
5. Biggest disappointment
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
6. Biggest surprise
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow!! Everyone read this short story!!!!!! It will blow your mind (and other senses).
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
Jonathan Stroud! Thanks to the Netflix show (that was cancelled 😭) I started reading the series and they're so good.
8. Newest fictional crush
Oh God I donno umm LOCKWOOD! (I like sad blorbos who need therapy)
9. Newest favorite character
George Karim/Cubbins from Lockwood and Co.
Tress from Tress of The Emerald Sea
Gordo from Wolfsong 🥺
10. Book that made you cry
Every happy book makes me cry. Next question!
11. Book that made you happy
The Creeping Shadow by Jonathan Stroud (because Hollow Boy broke my heart and this one mended it)
Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee
12. Favourite adaptation
Lockwood and Co. on Netflix 🥲
13. Prettiest Cover
This one 👀
14. A book you need to read before the end of the year
The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud (I finally found the last paperback and my whole set is mismatched now but who cares anymore!!)
Tagging: @appleinducedsleep , @stefito0o 😘 do it!
#mid year book freak out tag#tagged#tag game#this is a sponsored lockwood and co post 😭#sponsored by my tears
14 notes
·
View notes
Text
Mid-Year Book Freak Out 2023
I was tagged by @bookcub and @the-forest-library. Thank you!
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year
Little Thieves by Margaret Owen! It's a retelling of "The Goose Girl" and it was absolutely amazing!
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black. It was a great follow-up to The Folk of the Air trilogy, and I can't wait for the next book!
3. New release you haven’t read yet
Painted Devils by Margaret Owen, which is the sequel to Little Thieves. It's on my birthday list with multiple stars next to it so my mom knows I really, REALLY want it.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
I don't have one. Or at least, I can't think of any.
5. Biggest disappointment
So Happy For You by Celia Laskey. Not because it was bad (which it was--I knew that going into it though) but because the author spent the whole book showing that friendships don't have to (and sometimes shouldn't) last forever only to renege on it at the very end and have the narrator forgive the absolute psycho friend who tried to MURDER HER!
6. Biggest surprise
Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall. I'm generally not super into romance, but I requested from NetGalley on a whim because the cover was pretty and it sounded fun. I ended up giving it 5 stars! I loved the narrative voice and the world Hall created.
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
Katie Lumsden, who is Books and Things over on YouTube. Her debut novel, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, came out in February and I loved it.
8. Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character
I'd say it's a tie between Vanja from Little Thieves and Cigarette from Under Two Flags by Ouida. Both are absolutely awesome.
9. Book that made you cry
There hasn't been one so far. I think I'm kind of unconsciously avoiding anything that would make me cry.
10. Book that made you happy
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. It was my first read of the year and was just the perfect book for me. I couldn't stop smiling while reading it.
11. Favorite Adaptation
In a completely unshocking turn of events, Little Thieves. 😆 (I'm counting fairy tale retellings as adaptations here; if we're talking film adaptations, I don't think I've watched any yet. Or if I did they were bad and I've stricken them from my memory.)
12. Prettiest Cover
The UK edition of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall. I waited an extra month to read the book because I needed that edition. It has gorgeous end papers!
13. A book you need to read before the end of the year
Way too many haha. For the sake of brevity, I'll limit myself to three that are for school. Princess Napraxine by Ouida, Aurora Floyd by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, and The Athelings by Margaret Oliphant.
I'm not sure who has done this already, but I'll tag @dauen, @lettersfromthelighthouse, and @appleinducedsleep (no pressure)!
10 notes
·
View notes
Text
📚🗓 Mid-Year Freakout Tag 2023 🗓📚
jumping on the hype train because it’s fun
How many books have you read so far?
69 including comics & graphic novels (nice)
What genres have you read?
Mostly fantasy and sci fi, but also a bit of historical fiction.
Best book you’ve read so far in 2023?
The Tyrant Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson! The first two books in the series were dubious, but things really came together for me in this one and I'm so excited for the conclusion. Also Baru is the character ever.
Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2023?
Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir; it really recontextualizes the first two books and is therefore the best at being a sequel.
New release you haven’t read yet, but want to
Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway (saw it at a festival), Translation State by Ann Leckie (I really liked her other books), and also New Suns 2 (I read New Suns last year and it had some really good stories!)
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Alecto the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir! After reading Nona I need to know.
Biggest disappointment
It's a tie between The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (boring and somehow shallow-feeling worldbuilding, and managed not to get me very invested in the characters even with over 1000 pages?), Dune by Frank Herbert (all the worst parts of 60s sci fi), La passeuse de mots by Jennifer and Alric Twice (all the worst parts of 2000s YA fantasy), or Der Dunkle Schwarm by Marie Grasshoff (somehow uninteresting despite what could be a very compelling world). I can't choose between any of these because none of them really got under my skin, they were just meh in ways I wasn't expecting them to be.
Biggest surprise
The Well by Jake Wyatt; I convinced myself it was going to be mediocre despite the awesome cover, but it's actually my favourite graphic novel of the year so far! The art is gorgeous and the story is a fun spin on traditional quest narratives.
Book that made you cry
Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club by Megan Gail Coles. This book reminded me why I don't read sad literary fiction, even though it was really good (highly recommend if you can tolerate it!)
Book that made you happy
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le; I really appreciated how the characters learned to live with their immigrant parents and also the romance was really sweet!
Most beautiful book cover of a book you’ve read so far this year
Either Even Though I Knew The End by C.L. Polk (I am a sucker for vintage anything) or Squire by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas (I am also a sucker for clouds)
How are you doing with your year’s goal?
Don’t have one!
What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
De Profundis, The Secret History, Lord of the Flies, The Origins of Political Order, and After the Victorians (I think I've given up on reading War and Peace, at least for the moment). Oh, and Alecto, when it comes out. (There are, as always, Too Many Books)
(and since they haven't done it yet I tag @maddiesbookshelves and @yourneighborhoodbibliophile (but only if they feel like it))
10 notes
·
View notes
Text
Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag, even though it’s July
Number of books read so far in 2023: 40.
Favorite book so far: The Laughter by Sonora Jha and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.
Best sequel so far: Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare.
Recent 2023 release you want to read but haven’t as yet: Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong and Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
Most anticipated release for the second half of 2022: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid.
Biggest disappointment so far: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, because the writing was fun and fast-paced but there’s way too much “God Bless America” in there for me to positively vibe with the book.
Biggest surprise so far: The Foxglove King by Hannah F. Whitten because I don’t typically like fantasy-romance booktokish books but this had me in a chokehold.
Favorite new author (debut, or new to you): Mario Vargas Llosa and Octavio Paz.
Newest fictional crush: Bastian from The Foxglove King, because I feel ways about him that are concerning to feminism.
Newest favorite character: Jane from Jane Eyre, as I haven’t felt such deep sympathy and respect for a literary character like that in ages.
Book that made you cry: Not proper tears, but the last 200 pages of Chain of Thorns had me on the cusp.
Book that made you happy: Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin because the book feels like a warm hug and is my current comfort novel.
Most beautiful book you acquired so far: Got the Fairyloot edition of The Aventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shanon Chakraborty and it’s absolutely stunning, like it had me gagged. I was kinda scared to touch it.
Books you need to read before 2023 is up: A Study in Drowning, The Book that Wouldn’t Burn, Sword Catcher, Big Swiss, Penance, Heir to the Darkness, Our Wives Under the Sea
I’m tagging anyone that sees this and wants to do it! My Goodreads and Instagram are in my bio for anyone who’s interested in being buddies on there and is new to this blog!
#books#book blog#books and literature#jane eyre#chain of thorns#the last hours#tlh#the foxglove king#a study in drowning#ava reid#mid year book tag#mid year book freak out tag#tag game#book recs#book recommendations#ya books
15 notes
·
View notes
Text
Mid-Year Freak Out Tag | 2023
I’m embracing the book-blogger identity and doing my first tag post! 😊
Here are my picks for the Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag!!
Best Book of the Year (so far!): Komi Can’t Communicate (Vol.17)
Best Sequel (so far!): All the Lies (Mindf*ck #4)
Biggest Disappointment: These Violent Delights
Biggest Surprise: Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl
New Release You Want to Read: Yellowface | Modern Divination | Devine Rivals
Most Anticipated Release of the Second-half: The Jasad Hier | Fangirl (Vol.3) | My Happy Marriage (Vol.4)
New Favourite Author: S.T. Abby | Alix E. Harrow | Joya Goffney
Newest Fictional Crush: Kyoka Kudo
Newest Favourite Character: Lana Myers
Book that Made You Cry: Other Words for Home
Book that Made You Happy: Daytime Star
Most Beautiful Book You Got this Year: The Stardust Thief
Favourite Page-to-Screen Adaptation: Demon Slayer (S3) | Across the Spider-Verse
Book(s) You Want to Read Before the End of the Year: Legendborn | Fire and Blood | TGCF novels.
#booknerd#bookworm#books#bookstagram#bookish#goodreads#booklover#reading#bookaholic#book review#mid year book tag#mid year freak out tag#booktok#book tumblr#booktube
11 notes
·
View notes
Text
Mid-Year Book Freakout 2023
I was tagged by @logarithmicpanda Thank you :D I love tags.
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year
Shadows Return by Lynn Flewelling. If series don’t count then As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann. Both really messed up books haha what a year. I also read the complete Maus this year, which also deserves a mention.
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year
Shadows Return is the fourth book in the Nightrunner series so... that.
3. New release you haven’t read yet
In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune and The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang sounds so good and I want to love it so bad! I hope it’s good. Please, I need it to be good.
Then: Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo; The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab; Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo and Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree.
5. Biggest disappointment
The White Road by Lynn Flewelling, 5th Nightrunner book, and it pains me to say this. Live footage of me at this book:
6. Biggest surprise
The Nightrunner series in general (?) I mean I am reading them all this year for a reason haha (currently on the last book in the series but I still have the prequel trilogy to read after). I cannot believe I tried Luck in the Shadows some years ago and gave up on it. To be fair, I didn’t get far into it and the start is meandering and has a lot of info dumps. Got into it when I finished chapter 8 and the second book was really great and emotional. It gave me that bi representation I wanted without it being the sole focus of the fantasy story. That was just all I’ve been asking for. Fantasy with casual queerness that doesn’t take over the plot.
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
I guess Lynn Flewelling, but I wouldn’t call her a favourite author. For starters I only read one book series by her yet. Still, the authors I put on my favourites usually have a more beautiful writing style. Not sure if I will put her in my favourites when I finish it all, but I guess she is the best I read this year because Nightrunner has been bringing me so much joy (and anger at times too).
8. Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character
Favourite character: Alec í Amasa. But also Seregil, Thero and Ilar. All from the Nightrunner series, of course. It almost looks like I have only been reading these books haha and that isn’t entirely wrong... it’s like 40% of what I read so far was Nightrunner books.
9. Book that made you cry
Don’t hate me, but... Stalking Darkness, 2nd book in the Nightrunner series. It was just nice to see a bi awakening on page done so well or at least done in a sort of relatable way to me and then there is the suicidal thoughts and the second half of the book was quite impactful.
As Meat Loves Salt also made me tear up at the end but it was tears of anger so... not sure if it counts.
10. Book that made you happy
Just assume I’m gonna say Nightrunner books again. If we take those away and put them in the corner then Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. It is a really cozy and sweet book, but also fun.
Tagging: @whatevsbla @monpetitrenard @xserpx @beeblackburn (only if you want to do it)
#mid year book freak out tag#book tags#my answers are all nightrunners and as meat loves salt and I apologize
8 notes
·
View notes
Text
Mid-Year Book Freakout 2023
I was tagged by @the-forest-library. Thanks for the tag. Gives me a chance to do a bit of reflecting.
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year
The Scapegracers. It's so weird that I felt like I read this book so long ago but it was just in March. Angry queer witch vibes continue to have a big hold on me and I really need to get around reading The Scratch Daughters.
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year
Seeing as I've only read two sequels this year so far and one was the most disappointing continuation I think I've ever read, I think Bloodmarked is a clear winner. It's odd to see how contentious this book was among the fans, since I enjoyed it just fine. But hey that's just me.
3. New release you haven’t read yet
Probably Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson. I really want to go back to the world within Sorcery of Thorns and I'm glad that it's just a novella so I don't have to worry about too much of a time commitment. I want to see the good meow meow demon boy Silas again.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Oooo, The Spirit Bares its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White. I absolutely loved Hell Followed With Us, especially how raw it is. I'm so excited to see how Andrew pulls off a ghost story when he has such a great way of writing uncomfortable and disturbing material.
5. Biggest disappointment
Ugh, absolutely West by Edith Pattou, the sequel to East. I don't want to be mean, but I don't think this book really needed to exist. After 15 years, a sequel to a fairy tale retelling that retreads the plot of the original has a difficult time of being interesting or engaging to the people that really fell in love with the original. If you want to see me get into specifics, it's in my review on Storygraph.
6. Biggest surprise
I think just the fact that one of the books I read, Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton, had a polyamorous triad that really felt organic and believable. I genuinely think these three people all love each other, which is rare enough in YA between just two people. I'm always behind choosing throuples over dumb love triangles.
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
Angela Carter for sure. Also, T. Kingfisher.
8. Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character
Valec from Bloodmarked is easily at the top of that list. Sissix from The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet was real cool as well.
9. Book that made you cry
Haven't really been reading too emotional of stories, so I don't think I have an answer right now. There've been emotions sure, but nothing really sobworthy. Firekeeper's Daughter got me close though.
10. Book that made you happy
Spider-Punk: Battle of the Banned mainly because it's feeding into my current Spider Punk obsession and the art is so lively and amazing.
11. Favorite Adaptation
Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber is absolutely fundamental for anyone that loves fairy tale retellings. They feel so dangerous, sensual, but also mature and exploratory. Sometimes it feels like the retellings are somehow the stories' coming of age tales.
12. Prettiest Cover
The Kingdom of Back by Maire Lu, hands down.
13. A book you need to read before the end of the year
Still slowly, but surely chugging along through Les Miserables. Hugo goes on tangents like you wouldn't believe, not just about the Parisian sewer system
Not going to be tagging anyone this round, just do it if you feel like it!
8 notes
·
View notes
Text
✨️ Mid Year Reading Wrap-Up ✨️
I cannot believe it, I'm a reader 🤩 this year I truly discovered (maybe for the first time) how much I enjoy reading. The past several years I was so engrossed in nonfiction, psychology, parenting books, children's lit, academic reading, and classics that I ignored all other genres. However, finally, I started enjoying good, old fashioned stories again. Much to my surprise, I've been loving the fantasy genre! (Rom-com makes me cringe but it's easy/entertaining to read too!)
Here's the books I've read this year so far (that i can remember) 📚
Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: a Celtic Guide to Listening to Our Souls & Saving the World by John Phillip Newell 🌿
The Witch's Feast: a Kitchen Grimoire by Melissa Madara 🔮
The Thorns Remain by JJA Hardwood 🧚♀️
Cackle by Rachel Harrison 🔮
Bringing up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman 👨👩👧👧 🇫🇷
The Entire Twilight Saga (again) by Stephanie Meyer 😔💀🌧
Plant Parenting: Easy Ways to Make More Houseplants, Vegetables, and Flowers by Leslie F. Halleck 🪴
From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper 🔮
The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller 🦴🧠👻
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman 🔮
The Power of Bad: How the Negativity Effect Rules Us & How We Can Rule It by John F Tierney and Roy F. Baumeister 📖🎓
Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck 🔮
Beach Read by Emily Henry 📚⛱️
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō 🧹
Messy Minimalism : Realistic Strategies for the Rest of Us by Rachelle Crawford 🧹
Scottish Witchcraft : A Complete Guide to Authentic Folklore, Spells, and Magickal Tools by Barbara Meiklejohn-Free 🔮
📚📚📚📚📚📚
I think The Bone Orchard, Cackle, The Thorns Remain, & Beach Read take the cake on my favorite reads of the year so far. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I forgot I even read at ALL until making this list and opening a Goodreads account. I even had to check my list of library rentals to remember it all! Quick note: I'm obsessed with the Army library on base as well as the one by our house & the state digital library I access with the Libby app.
📚 Currently, I'm reading another parenting book, another fantasy, and my FIRST Silvia Moreno-Garcia!
🎃 I swear one day I'll make a list of all my fav Children's and storybooks we have in our house, especially the creepy Halloween/spooky ones!
#reading wrap up#booklr#bookish#book recommendations#witchlr#books and reading#reading#mid year book tag#mid year book freak out tag#faerie#faerycore#witch aesthetic#cottage witch#witchcraft#fall aesthetic#gardening#recipies#vampire#minimalism#library#library aesthetic#justonemorepage#army wife#wfh vibes#parenting#infants and toddlers#travel
16 notes
·
View notes
Text
Mid Year Book Tag [2023]
Starting off with the stats to reel you in: I’ve read 25 books (against 58 acquired, for shame), of which 60% were in audio format. Literary fiction made every other genre eat it (incredibly odd for me), and the majority (30%) did not feature a prominent romantic plot/subplot. Usually it’s a cockfight between wlw and straight, if I am honest.
Best book you’ve read so far in 2023: If We Were Villains
It’s tragic, it’s twisted, it’s messy, and it kept a tight hold on me for two days nonstop. Since then I have picked up the Secret History and Bunny, to compare and measure against the dark academia vibe, and found them all to be vastly different books!
Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2023: A Prayer for the Crown Shy
Becky Chambers needs to make a chain email with all the little adventures of this duo. Although they can be too mellow for my tastes, it is an irresistible serving of the cosy every now and again.
New release you haven’t read yet, but want to: In The Lives of Puppets
Most anticipated release for the rest of the year: Alecto! Alecto! Alecto!
Biggest disappointment: The Hacienda
It had all the markings of being a favourite – gothic horror in the backdrop of Mexico. But the gothic lacked novelty, the horror lacked in general, and the romance was so boring. Together it did very little to wash away the peeve I had over a topic introduced seemingly for nothing but ~vibes~, which is the abuse suffered by maids and servants at the hand of masters.
Biggest surprise: Drive your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
As well as Frankenstein: both are amazing, incredibly immersive and full of reclusive reflection. Frankenstein impressed me so much I ended up giving a talk to unsuspecting high schoolers just to rope them into discourse about it.
Favourite new author: Madeline Miller
Newest favourite character: Edmund “Bunny” Corcoran
Bunny from The Secret History is SUCH a pissbaby, my face lit up every time he came up in a scene. Whatever mix of nasal infection and posh accent Donna Tartt gave him in the audiobook, is now a voice filter that lives in my head rent free. Comes in very handy when I have to read sour emails.
Book that made you cry: ???
I am clearly saving them for something big, cause nothing comes to mind.
Book that made you happy: ???
I am equally stingy with my glee, it seems, cause nothing comes to mind either.
The most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year: Our Hideous Progeny
I do not have it in physical copy but damn what an eye candy to have on bookshelves (or storygraph).
Favourite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen this year: Nimona
Bestie and I read the graphic novel years ago, so we reprised by watching it together and crocheting.
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
📚🗓 Mid-Year Freakout Tag 2022 🗓📚
jumping on the hype train because it's fun
How many books have you read so far?
15 if I don't count the ATLA comic
What genres have you read?
Fantasy, historical mysteries, contemporary, sometimes with fantastical elements.
Best book you've read so far in 2022?
It's probably a tie between The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Best sequel you've read so far in 2022?
The only sequel I've read so far is Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri, and i read both books in the series back to back.
New release you haven't read yet, but want to
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin. It's staring at me from my bookshelf just as much as I'm staring at it.
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik 👁️👄👁️
Biggest disappointment
I... read some questionable books (thank you again, Mia, for making it 3 books and not just 2). I can't really say I was disappointed by them because I wasn't expecting anything, but I'll still say Crave and Crush by Tracy Wolff because those are bestsellers goddammit. I'm disappointed in the publishing industry.
Biggest surprise
June Hur, I wasn't expecting to like her books this much. She made it very easy for people who don't know a thing about Korea to feel like they aren't excluded and missing a joke.
Book that made you cry
Addie LaRue had me this close to sobbing but I held myself back because I had to go out later, but the same can't be said for Evelyn Hugo. I cried quite a bit with that one.
Book that made you happy
I honestly don't know? Reading in general makes me happy. I can tell you which books made me unhappy, though. If I really have to pick one, I'd say... Empire of Sand and the sequel, Realm of Ash, by Tasha Suri because it made me learn things about a culture I had no idea even existed.
Most beautiful book cover of a book you've read so far this year
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh, it's so beautiful, omg.
How are you doing with your year's goal?
I'm late 🥲 But I've been very busy recently, what with my internship and life in general. I'm hoping to read more and maybe catch up with my goal this summer!
What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
I don't have these kind of limitations but if I had to pick one I guess I'd say A Magic Steeped in Poison because if I like it I want to be able to buy the hardcover for the second book since it comes out in August.
#mid year book tag#mid year book freak out tag#books#the invisible life of addie larue#the seven husbands of evelyn hugo#empire of sand#realm of ash#a magic steeped in poison#the golden enclaves#crave#crush#the girl who fell beneath the sea
31 notes
·
View notes
Text
MID-YEAR BOOK FREAK OUT TAG 2022
Thought it might be interesting to do it this year.
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2022?
“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers (First-time read)
“The Ocean at the End of the Lane” by Neil Gaiman (re-read)
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2022?
“The Other Wind” by Ursula K. Le Guin
3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to?
“Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mandel
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of 2022?
“A Prayer for the Crown-Shy” by Becky Chambers
“Husband Material” by Alexis Hall
5. Biggest disappointment?
“The Girls I've Been” by Tess Sharpe
“The Midnight Lie” by Marie Rutkoski
I wanted to love these two so much but I just couldn’t... :(
Both had such great settings/concepts. I love stories where characters confronted their identities. I love stories where the setting itself was political intriguing. Unfortunately, how these two stories were told were just not my cup of tea.
6. Biggest surprise?
“This Is How You Lose The Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Made me realized that I do love letters/correspondence as a storytelling format. I just have to find ones that speak to me. Also I got unexpected invested in everything about this story.
“Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall
Made me realized that I can love romance books other than fanfiction lol. Also maybe I can enjoy contemporary fiction. Again, I just have to get a hang of my own preferences and tastes so I know where to look.
7. New favorite author?
Becky Chambers (I’m planning to read most of her backlist.)
8. Newest fictional crush?
No.
But I got quite invested in Red’s and Blue’s relationship in “This Is How You Lose The Time War.” I had a crush on that ship.
9. Newest favorite character?
I quite like Sibling Dex and Mosscap in “A Psalm for the Wild-Built.” Would be nice to have tea with them some time.
10. Book that made you cry?
“The Ocean at the End of the Lane” by Neil Gaiman (Ugly crying)
“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers (the ending was just!)
“Firelight” by Ursula K. Le Guin
“This Is How You Lose The Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (some passages just touched me in a tearing up level)
Personally, I read stories to make myself cry. Yeah that’s my only reading goal.
11. Book that made you happy?
“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers
“Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall
“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy
12. Most beautiful book you bought this year?
“The Kingdom of Copper” by S. A. Chakraborty
“The Mercies” by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
I also loved the cover of “The Midnight Lie” A LOT
13. What books do you really need to read by the end of this year?
Uh… so many? I’m in shame. I’ll just list 3 here.
“The Mercies” by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
“The Henna Artist” by Alka Joshi
“The Darkness Outside Us” by Eliot Schrefer
#mid year book freak out tag#a psalm for the wild built#the ocean at the end of the lane#this is how you lose the time war#earthsea
24 notes
·
View notes
Text
Mid-Year Reading Freak-out Tag
I saw some book blogs doing this and thought I’d do my own!
Amount of books you’ve read so far: 18, which I think is better than most of my years so far at the half-way mark 🤗
Best book you’ve read so far in 2022: I’ve read some really great books this year, but I’m obsessed with House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland. It was like eating a good meal, a book written for me specifically, and just really fun to get lost in a story again.
Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2022: hmm, I’ve only read one sequel this year since I’m rarely that big on series in general. I finished Jade Legacy which is the last book in the Green Bones Saga by Fonda Lee. I still adore the series overall, but I was a bit disappointed by the pacing and focus of the last book.
Still excellent though!
New release you haven’t read yet but want to: I just bought Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher which released a month or so ago and I’ve heard really great things about. I love a good dark fairy tale, definitely my jam.
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: I am vibrating with excitement for the release of Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir later this year *grabby hands*.
Biggest surprise favourite new author (debut or new to you): I’ve been meaning to read Ashley Herring Blake for forever now since I’ve heard good things and Delilah Green Doesn't Care fully lived up to my expectations. Really emotionally intelligent and fun Sapphic romance!!
Also, super hyped for the next one Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail.
Newest fictional crush: I didn’t enjoy the writing of this book, but I did thoroughly enjoy Talia from Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper. I love a spooky hot witch lady.
Book that made you cry: I listened to the audiobook of Born a Crime by Trevor Noah and the part where **SPOILERS** his mother got shot by the ex-husband had me crying, Trevor just loves his mom so much and the situation was so frustrating and heartbreaking and he’s a really good story teller.
I cried even more when she was okay, thoroughly moving book overall. I also cried while reading the next book below, Why Fish Don’t Exist.
Book that made you happy: Not a happy book per say, but I found the book Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller to be deeply soothing and philosophically comforting. I’ve always been the type of person filled with doubt and Chaos if you will, and the conclusions of the book gave me a sense that doubt is good. There is a holiness to doubt, fish don’t exist, we make up categories, and the important part is not to divide ourselves, but care for each other.
Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received): I’ve got to go back to House of Hollow for this one, absolutely stunning cover.
What books do you need to read by the end of the year? I’ve reread the first chapter to Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake several times now so I am absolutely hyped to read that later this year along with Nona the Ninth.
I’ve also been meaning to read The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri which looks very cool, though I’ve found myself less drawn to stories with royalty of late. I dunno, I’ve gotten kinda sick of the monarchy in fiction, can’t characters be blacksmiths or merchants at this point? lol
Feel free to friend me on Goodreads too! You can see my book reviews there and I’d love to see what other people are reading as well. What’s been YOUR favorite book so far this year?
I saw someone else doing this, so feel free to take it as an invitation! :)
25 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
iamgayjohnlocked2
I am JOHNLOCKED.
wildinoutgastyle
Untitled
lyu2705-blog
All for All (ВСЕ для ВСЕХ)
animeforlife247
Anime For Life + More
ymoaoao-blog
Maysa