mystoopidbooks

[mystoopidbooks]

Top 6 Ships of 1st Half of 2020

1. Séverin and Laila - The Gilded Wolves

These two honestly saved 2020 for me. Their chemistry and storyline is super unique and intense without making it the only thing either of them had going on. In fact, I think that the way that Chokshi fleshed them out and made them independent in a way where they both mesh and clash make Séverin and Laila one of my favorite couples ever. I am so incredibly excited for The Silvered Serpents go see where their story goes.

2. James and Cordelia and Matthew (love triangle) - Chain of Gold

I’m one of the many people who has been excited for The Last Hours for years and speculated with that godforsaken family tree. I was a Jordelia Stan before I read about them, and then I started the book and fell in love with them again.... but I also was really into the idea of Fairstairs. Cassandra Clare has this talent especially when it comes to relationships (because I practically read her books for the romantic and platonic ones by now) that just blows my mind. I can’t wait to see what she does.

3. Celia and Marco - The Night Circus

This was a book I was not expecting to be so phenomenal. I tend not to read romance because I don’t like that taking over any character’s life but to be honest, this book could’ve had a little bit more of them. The scenes that the did have, though, were some of the most romantic things I’ve ever read. Erin Morgenstern is just a lyrical goddess and the setting transported me like no other book I’ve ever read.

4. Audrey Rose and Thomas - Stalking Jack the Ripper

SJTR was my first binge read of quarantine and I really needed it. Specifically, I really needed the romantic Sherlock and Watson that is Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell. I’m going to bandwagon and agree with the general consensus that EFH was the worst of the quartet. My favorite were the first two, both for the storyline and the pining sexual tension between Cressworth. Also can we just freak out over their NAMES!?!

5. Zoya and Nikolai - King of Scars

I am really excited to see where this power couple goes but I feel like everything is going to have to be jam-packed into KOS2. No one in the Grishaverse could ever beat Kanej but these two are definitely my number two.

6. Sam and Evie - The Diviners

This one is unique because these two were the only reason I kept reading The Diviners. I should’ve loved it— the time period, the ensemble cast, the eerie plot— but some part of me just couldn’t connect. But Sam and Evie were just adorable and so sassy. The fact that their minuscule amount of scenes got me through two of the books (I found the rest of it on here) just says a lot.

[mystoopidbooks]

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag

1. Best Book You’ve Read So Far

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi (I have become so invested after one book, I am scared to see what happens after two.)

2. Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco (best book in the series in my humble opinion)

3. A New Release That You Haven’t Read But Want To

The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant

4. Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half of the Year

A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir (I’ve been waiting for this book since 2016)

Close Second: The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi (my favorite book of the year and one of all time so obviously the sequel is going to kill me)

5. Biggest Disappointment

The Diviners by Libba Bray (I just couldn’t connect to the characters.... I did keep reading for the sake of Sam and Evie though.)

6. Biggest Surprise

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (I thought it would be just a love story, which I wouldn’t have minded, but the story is more about the circus and everyone involved instead of just Marco and Celia. I love their love story, but I also really enjoy POVs with the clockmaker. The ones with Bailey and Chandresh are hit-or-miss, but it’s still a wonderful book.)

7. Favorite New Author

Roshani Chokshi (beautiful writing style and personality)

8. Underrated Gem

There Will Come A Darkness by Katy Rose Pool (super complex plot with fascinating and multifaceted characters. My favorite is Ephyra and I can’t wait to see what happens in ATSR!)

9. All Rereads

Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Theif by Rick Riordan

The Dark Artifices Trilogy by Cassandra Clare

10. Newest Fictional Crush

Séverin Montagnet-Alarie and Laila from The Gilded Wolves (also Laila but that’s an entire discussion)

Thomas Cresswell from SJTR (because mundane Will Herondale)

11. Newest Favorite Character

Laila from The Gilded Wolves (again)

Cordelia Carstairs from Chain of Gold

12. Book That Made You Cry

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares (such a unique book that made me think of so many things regarding my lifetime. I preferred the beginning and middle to the end, and I am still confused by the author’s conclusion.)

13. Book That Made You Happy

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo (I adored Nikolai and Zoya’s chapters but had to drudge through Nina’s)

14. Most Beautiful Cover

Depends on preference: The Gilded Wolves (green and gold and classy) or There Will Come A Darkness (black and white and red with pictures)

15. Books I Still Need To Read (Top 3)

We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal

We Rule The Night by Clare Eliza Bartlett

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim