#mid year freakout tag

[one-with-the-tree]

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag

Didn't get tagged or anything but I've been meaning to do this one for years. So time to actually do it lol

Amount of books you’ve read so far:

Currently at 103!

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024:

Duncton Wood by William Horwood, Wolf by Kristof Smeyers or Speciocide by Robert-Jan Trügg. One fantasy xenofiction and two non-fictions about animals/nature.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024:

Ravensong by T.J. Klune, a very good sequel to an already-good first book.

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to:

The Lightning Path by Erin Hunter, can't wait to see how Bamboo Kingdom continues.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:

Realm of Lost Spirits by Erin Hunter, the last Bravelands book! Also possibly book six of Bamboo Kingdom, but I personally don't think it'll release in 2024. We don't have an official release date yet, though.

Favorite new author (debut or new to you):

Ayana Gray for the Beast of Prey trilogy which I ended up really liking.

Biggest surprise:

Probably against Duncton Wood which I ended up liking much more than I initially anticipated based on my kind-of dislike of The Wolves of Time. Not that I was going in expecting to dislike it of course, but I was a bit wary.

Book that made you happy:

Rewilding by Paul Jepson because it's a rather positive look at nature and the environment's future. Yes there's a lot of bad shit going on right now, too, but there are good efforts being made to fix this and we shouldn't forget about those.

Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character:

Definitely Henbane from Duncton Wood. This series in general has some really well-written characters but Henbane is the pinnacle of that if you ask me.

Book that made you cry:

I don't really cry when reading even at emotional books, but Speciocide it make me feel a real melancholy unmatched by any other books this year.

If crying while laughing counts I guess you could say My Immortal though because yeah that's still the funniest piece of fiction of all time. (Also yes this counts as a book. I own a physical copy of it)

Most beautiful book you’ve bought or received this year so far:

I presume this means nice cover art? I still really like the covers of my editions of the Green Creek series, so I'm gonna have to go with Heartsong.

Book you need to read by the end of the year:

Several, including Heartsong, Bamboo Kingdom book five and Bravelands book six. Also whatever Warriors release comes out next because spoilers are impossible to avoid.

I'd also like to get fully caught up to the German book series Animox (Simon Thorn in English) by the end of the year.

I tag nobody but if anyone wants to do this feel free!

[the-forest-library]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out

This is one of my favorite posts of the year - thanks for the tag @bookcub!

Number of books you’ve read so far: 233

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024: I feel like there hasn't been "the one" yet this year, but there are two non-fiction books that stand above the rest: Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Says Who? by Anne Curzan. They cover my favorite topics: foods and words.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024: I really enjoyed the second Emily Wilde, but Chloe Liese really stuck the landing of the Bergman Brothers series. Only and Forever did not disappoint, and I'm sad that the series is over. This has been my comfort series over the last few years, and it has lots of disability and neurodiversity rep.

New release you haven’t read yet but want to: Funny Story by Emily Henry. I'm waiting for the audiobook from the library because Julia Whalen does an amazing job with Henry's books.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: I have several, and they are all coming out in the next two months, and they're all of my preorders for the year:

The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness (7/16)

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell (7/30)

Last Seen Online by Lauren James (8/1)

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston (8/6) - Going to an in-person event for this!

My Salty Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows (8/20)

Biggest surprise favorite new author (debut or new to you): Cara Bastone - Ready or Not really surprised me in the best ways, taking tropes I don't normally love and wowing me with how they played out.

Newest fictional crush: Maybe this worm from Mr. Postmouse's Rounds. I think he's adorable.

Book that made you cry: I was laughing so hard I was crying during the baby raccoon scene from Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez. It was hilarious in the audiobook.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought (or received) so far this year: I think it has to be The Black Bird Oracle. It's so pretty, and I can't wait for it to get here.

Book that made you happy: I really fell in love with Marianne Dubuc's illustrations in Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds and Mr. Postmouse Takes a Trip. I mean, just look at that cute worm above. The books are full of the most charming creatures and their adorable homes.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year? In addition to the most-anticipated releases above, I still need to get to the remaining books on my 24 in 2024 list:

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

A Willa Cather Book

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Tagging: I'm doing this a few weeks after it was going around, so I don't remember who has already done it. Consider yourself tagged if you'd like to do it and tag me so I can see your responses!

[lizziethereader]

Mid-Year Book Freakout

I know it's way past mid-year, but I only now got around to doing this. Thank you @bookcub and @bibliophilecats (and anyone else who I might have missed) for tagging me!

1.Best Book so far in 2024: I’m splitting this into categories, because I can’t pick an overall favorite. fiction: The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss nonfiction: Unmasking Autism by Devon Price poetry: Devotions by Mary Oliver graphic novel: Saga: Compendium One by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

2.Best Sequel you've read so far in 2024: Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

3.New Release you haven't read yet, but want to: Funny Story by Emily Henry

4.Anticipated Release for the second half of the year: Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson

5.Biggest Disappointment: Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett

6.Biggest Surprise: Unmasking Autism by Devon Price

7.Favorite New Author: Lynn Painter - granted, I’ve only read one book by her so far, but that one was delightful!

8.Newest Fictional Crush: I don’t remember anyone in particular

9.Newest Favorite Character: honestly, all the characters I really liked this year have been in sequels, so I don’t have any new favorite characters to add

10.Book that made you cry: none of them

11.Book that made you happy: Better than the movies by Lynn Painter

12.Most Beautiful Book you've bought/acquired this year: this edition of The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

13.Book you need to read by the end of the year: I still haven’t read 13 out of my “24 books to read in 2024” so all of those!

tagging: anyone whom like me, put this off and now feels like it’s too late - it’s not! let me know about your reading year so far!

[theinquisitxor]

Mid-Year Book Freak-out Tag 2024

Another year, another Mid-Year Book Freak-out Tag! I believe this set of questions originated on booktube, but I see it circulate around all social media. I usually do this set of questions every year. Feel free to copy/paste the questions if you're interested!

I try to only answer 1 book per question (but sometimes I can't decide) and I try to only talk about a book once throughout the set of questions too, so I'm not too repetitive, but it doesn't always happen!

1.Best Book so far in 2024: I'm going to have to say Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I read this on audio back in January, and it's stuck with me since. I bought a physical copy and have been reading & marking up the book over the past few weeks. I'm not a religious person, but this book could be my bible lol.

A close runner up is North Woods by Daniel Mason, and the Beartown series by Fredrik Backman.

2.Best Sequel you've read so far in 2024: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett. This series is just so fun and exactly the type of book I like to read.

3.New Release you haven't read yet, but want to: Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel. I really enjoyed her debut, Kaikeyi and she's an author on my radar now. I'm also interested in Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland.

4.Anticipated Release for the second half of the year: The new T.Kingfisher book, A Sorceress Come to Call in August, as well as A Dark and Drowning Tide by Alison Saft later in the fall.

5.Biggest Disappointment: The Atlas Complex, the third and final book to the Altas series by Olivie Blake. This was a big disappointment and let-down :(

I also found Song of the Huntress and A Winter's Promise to be disappointments this year. Both were books I was anticipating liking a lot, but was let down.

6.Biggest Surprise: The Throne of the Five Winds / Hostage of Empire trilogy by SC Emmett. This became a new favorite fantasy series, and I went into the first book without much of an expectation, but was surprised by how much I liked it.

7.Favorite New Author: I did not read many new (new to me, or debut) authors this year so far, but I did enjoy reading the Greenhollow Duology by Emily Tesh. So I would say Emily Tesh is a new favorite.

8.Newest Fictional Crush: usually I struggle with this question, but this year was easy 😂. It's easily Zakkar Kai from The Throne of the Five Winds without no doubt. Takshin from the same series is also a contender!

9.Newest Favorite Character: Komor Yala from The Throne of the Five Winds, she was such a great main character, and had such a quiet strength and intelligence that made her an instant favorite.

10.Book that made you cry: The Wall by Marlen Haushofer had me crying by the last page. I might not make everyone cry, but it certainly made me emotional.

11.Book that made you happy: A Fragile Enchantment by Alison Saft was one of the first books I read this year, but it was so delightful and had me smiling throughout. I read it in a day and couldn't put it down.

12.Most Beautiful Book you've bought/acquired this year: The Language of Trees: A Rewilding of Literature and Landscape by Katie Holton is such an artistic and unique book.

13.Book you need to read by the end of the year: I've been meaning to do a re-read of the Pellinor series by Alison Croggon for a few years now, maybe I'll get to it this year

[bibliophilecats]

Mid-Year Book Freakout

I saw this going around on booktube and @theinquisitxor's post and since I like this kind of book tag, here is my version.

1.Best Book so far in 2024: I actually read many highly enjoyable books this year - I gave 7/28 books full marks. Among those, I want ot highlight The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett. A bitter-sweet middle-grade novel, losely inspired by Anne of Green Gables (the author says it is a reimagining but to me it felt more "inspired by").

2.Best Sequel you've read so far in 2024: Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell. When I first heard that there would be more Simon Snow books, I was really sceptic (well, I thought "money grab"), but now that I have actually read the books, I am amazed at how much I enjoyed them. And while the second book in the trilogy is completely different in tone and setting and the third actually gets to the main story again, I loved that in the second book, we get to see Simon struggle with the fact that "the big fight" he had been trained for all his life was supposedly over and he was without any idea what to do now with his life.

3.New Release you haven't read yet, but want to: Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

4.Anticipated Release for the second half of the year: I have big hopes for The Masquerades of Spring by Ben Aaronovitch

5.Biggest Disappointment: Julie Caplin's Secret Cove in Croatia and other books from that series. I read The Little Teashop in Tokyio some years ago and enjoyed it a lot - unfortunately, it seems that time was a fluke, a perfect alignment of circumstances because I tried three other books of hers and found them boring or DNF'd. The Croatia novel annoyed me so much, I had to refrain from throwing the book across the room (if I hate it, at least I might get a little resell money out of it).

6.Biggest Surprise: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. I saw this book everywhere, which already put me off. And I do not particularly like the cover. My sister loved it though and convinced me to try it too. It was a good decision.

7.Favorite New Author: Darcie Little Badger. I love Elatsoe and hope to read more stories set in that world.

8.Newest Fictional Crush: none so far.

9.Newest Favorite Character: Mallory Viridian from Mur Lafferty's Station Eternity.

10.Book that made you cry: The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett

11.Book that made you happy: The Simon Snow trilogy be Rainbow Rowell.

12.Most Beautiful Book you've bought/acquired this year: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands, UK edition.

13.Book you need to read by the end of the year: In the Serpent's Wake by Rachel Hartman. I have already forgotten nearly everything from Tess of the Road so I should probably read that one too. Actually, I want to read all sequels before I forget too much from the previous book(s).

I tag @linebetween @the-forest-library @lizziethereader @books-are-portals and everyone else who wants to do this.

[godzilla-reads]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out

@a-ramblinrose tagged me in this!

Number of Books You've Read So Far

76 Books <3

Best Book You've Read So Far in 2024

"Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin

Best Sequel You've Read So Far in 2024

"What Feasts at Night" by T. Kingfisher

New Release You Haven't Read Yet But Want To

"The Familiar" by Leigh Bardugo

Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year

"Faeries Never Lie: Tales to Revel In" edited by Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker

Biggest Surprise Favorite New Author (Debut or New to You)

T. Kingfisher

Newest Fictional Crush

I don't crush on book characters often , but maybe Caiman from Dorohedoro?

Book That Made You Cry

"The Chromatic Fantasy" by H.A.

Most Beautiful Book You Bought So Far This Year (Or Received)

"A Frog in the Fall (And Later On)" by Linnea Sterte

Book That Made You Happy

"The Door in the Hedge" by Robin McKinley

What Books Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year?

"Tehanu" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Tagging: @the-forest-library @introvertia @sunday-brunch @a-chorus-of-storytellers

[howlsmovinglibrary]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out

We sure are in a mid-year freakout! Might as well get bookish about it :') tagged by @bookcub and now @logarithmicpanda - thank you! x

Number of books you’ve read so far: 27

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024: The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

New release you haven’t read yet but want to: I'm actually fully up to date bc I am very small and very tired (I only had 3 new releases I wanted to read)

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: it's tied between Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees-Brennan and A Sorceress Comes to Call by T Kingfisher

Biggest surprise favorite new author (debut or new to you): I've read a lot of new romance authors this year so I enjoyed Cathy Yardley and Katherine Center.

Newest fictional crush: unfortunately i continue to fall for fey malewives, Wendell Bambleby continued to take top spot while Quincy from Witchwood Knot was coming close second (the problem with fairy malewives is they have stupid fucking names)

Book that made you cry: Roleplaying by Cathy Yardley had me crying in public, so did The Rom Commers by Katherine Center, which is a romance novel w. very high stakes!

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received): I haven't bought many books this year but I guess The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo???

Book that made you happy: All of them to be honest. But The View Was Exhausting was a fake dating AU which never fails to trigger insane serotonin levels.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year? I want to read more good fantasy as I don't feel like I've gotten lost in a fictional world this year. But my TBR is very unambitious since my pandemic reading slump era so there are no commitments other than the books mentioned in previous sections :)

tagging: @horrorgirlreads @violacae and @eldritchcow (and anyone else who would like to talk books with me!)

[aliteraryprincess]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

I was tagged by @bookcub. Thank you! ❤️

Number of books you’ve read so far: 56

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024: So I'm not actually done with it yet, but Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath by Heather Clark. It's fantastic! I'm a little less than halfway through (it's over 1000 pages), but I already know it's going to be my top book of the year, unless something really, REALLY special comes along.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett with The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic as a close second.

New release you haven’t read yet but want to: The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black, which is the sequel to The Stolen Heir. I just haven't gotten my hands on it yet.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: The Trouble with Mrs. Montgomery Hurst by Katie Lumsden! It's coming out in July, and I'm anxiously waiting for my pre-order to arrive. I read her debut book The Secrets of Hartwood Hall last year and loved it.

Biggest surprise favorite new author (debut or new to you): I don't consider an author a real favorite unless I've loved three or more of their books, but I think Devony Looser will end up being a favorite. I read and adored Sister Novelists: The Trailblazing Porter Sisters Who Paved the Way for Austen and the Brontës, and now I need to get my hands on the rest of her books.

Newest fictional crush: I don't have one.

Book that made you cry: Nothing has actually made me cry yet, but Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura made me pretty emotional.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received): My copies of the brand new Norton Anthology of English Literature 11th edition! They are so stunning, and I adore them. And I got them for free as desk copies! I can't take a picture right now, but I'll post one soon. I'm truly in love with them.

Book that made you happy: The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic. Just it's existence makes me happy! I never thought we'd get another All for the Game book!

What books do you need to read by the end of the year? Hahahaha...too many. But for the absolute must-get-to ones: The Doctor's Wife by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Ariadne by Ouida, Sensational Victorian: The Life & Fiction of Mary Elizabeth Braddon by Robert Lee Wolf, and The Moors and the Fens by Charlotte Riddell. They're all for my dissertation.

I'm tagging (no pressure, of course): @oldshrewsburyian, @thequeerlibrarian, @dauen, and @appleinducedsleep.

[thebookdragonshoard]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag (mild spoilers for Kingdom of Ash)

thanks to @cavecarrots for putting this on my feed

1. Best book you’ve read in 2024 so far?

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

2. Best sequel you’ve read in 2024 so far?

The Wicked King by Holly Black

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to?

Vertigo Peaks by Dion Anja

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of 2024?

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Though I still need to read Iron Flame) (not 2024 but shhhh)

5. Biggest disappointment?

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (maybe because I read the US version)

6. Biggest surprise?

Extasia by Claire Legrand

7. New favorite author?

Holly Black, Iain Reid, Leigh Bardugo

8. New fictional crush?

LYSANDRA ENNAR ASHRYVER AND MANON BLACKBEACK 🗣️

9. Newest favorite character?

Wylan Van Eck, Nina Zenik and Tairn (yes, the dragon from Fourth Wing, he’s so sassy and I love that for him)

10. Book that made you cry?

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas made me cry at LEAST five times.

11. Book that made you happy?

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid (my fourth read through)

12. Favorite book-to-movie adaptation you’ve seen so far this year?

Honestly don’t have an answer to this one, I forget everything I watch within 3 days

13. What book do you really need to read by the end of this year?

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros and Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini

[tinynavajoreads]

Okay, I know it's taken me a while to get around to answering this, but thank you to @agardenandlibrary for tagging me in the Mid Year Book Freak Out! Here. We. Go!!!!

Number of books you've read so far: 46 books so far this year!

Best book you've read so far in 2024: Dune by Frank Herbert. I've read the whole series this year and so so good! Definitely one of my favourite series yet.

Best sequel you've read so far in 2024: Artificial Condition by Martha Wells. I'm working my way through a re-listen of Murderbot and Artificial Condition is the first we really see Murderbot choose to do what it wants to do.

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to?: Blessed Water by Margot Douaihy, the cover drew me in so I had to read the first and this one is just waiting for me.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?: I honestly don't really pay that much attention, for all that I'm into booklr. So...nothing at this moment in time.

Newest Favorite Character?: Sister Holiday from the Sister Holiday series by Margot Douaihy

Book that made you cry?: Nothing yet this year....ask me at the end of the year.

Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)?: The Dead Take the A Train by Richard Kadrey and Cassandra Khaw. The first book I purchased this year all because I saw the cover and said, that's so bright and pretty I had to!

What books do you need to read by the end of the year?: So many...but some specifically are Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum, Blessed Water by Margot Douaihy, A Woman of Pleasure by Kiyoko Murata, and A City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty as that's what people voted on for me to read next.

I tag @beardedbookdragon @just0nemorepage @aretherebooksahead and whoever wants to do this as well! And no pressure to whoever I tagged above as well!!

[byebyelemonpie]

byebyelemonpie's mid year book freak out tag.

This side blog was born as a bookish haven back in 2015, so now that I'm back from my years long reading slump, it's only fair if I share my own bookish midyear tag. (the questions of which are taken from withcindy on youtube)

Best book you've read so far in 2024: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. It took me just one day to finish reading all four the volumes this book is comprised of. It tells the story of Marjane, the author, growing up in Iran during the time of the revolution, and afterwards during the war with Iraq and the establishment of the dictatorship. I'd never read anything by an Iranian author before and admittedly I didn't know much about this country's history. This was an interesting way to start learning about it from the point of view of a girl growing up in it. I also think it should be taught in every school, because there are some wonderful quotes that describe an authoritarian government exactly for what it is, but that's just me.

Best sequel you've read so far in 2024: since I started reading manga and graphic novels, I've been reading sequels more and more. I will have to single out, however, Spy x Family volume 11 by Tatsuya Endo. Each volume might be better than the last, but I really enjoyed the heaviness of this one's themes put together with the naiveness and fun of the character of Anya and her nerves of tungsten. According to my reviews, I enjoyed a lot the 13th volume as well, and I can't wait to read more. The author wrote on twitter that he's almost completed the next volume, so I'm excited to be able to read that one too!

New release you haven't read yet, but want to: Unfortunately I don't keep up with new releases, because they keep having to be advertised via tiktok or other media now and I just don't have time for that. I tried being a bookstagram years ago but it backfired and I stopped reading at all so. Goodbye. I'll read this year's books when I find them out in the wild and decide they interest me.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: see answer number 3.

Biggest disappointment: Child Versus Parent by Stephen Wise. I chose this one as an entry for StoryGraph's reading challenge, but I was definitely expecting something different. I realised way too late that this book was written a hundred years ago, and for that, it could just merely give me a historical viewing of what I was trying to educate myself in. My linked review actually says it better.

Biggest surprise: Viaggiare in giallo, a collection of whodunnits set during trips and travels I decided to start reading on a train. I didn't have real expectations for this one, but some of these tales were actually fun to follow. I hadn't read an Italian story in a long time, so the language was a joy to rediscover instead of just being a translation of another one. My favourite short story, and my biggest surprise, was La Segreta Alchimia by Gaetano Savatteri, which made me discover Lamanna and Piccionello and their hilarious shenanigans.

Favorite new author: Hikaru Nakamura: I've started reading the first two volumes of Saint ☆ Young Men for the first time and they're very fun. Mythology and history meet with her fiction perfectly and they're hilarious.

Newest fictional crush: My crush isn't for a fictional character, but for a whole saga, and that's not new either. I've been reading the Cherry Magic! manga by Yuu Toyota since December 2022 now and it keeps being one of the cutest stories out there. It talks about LGBTQ+ issues and community, about friendship, about superpowers and it's fun and lovely as well.

Newest favorite character: It will have to be Nicholas Nickleby as penned by Charles Dickens. The guy is a kindhearted fellow, but also somebody who hates injustice. Sure, it's not the best story by the author, but still a good one full of interesting characters all in all.

Book that made you cry: Nimona by ND Stevenson. I love the freedom this shapeshifting... Nimona has. They're unique. They are the most powerful but they decide to be an evil sidekick. Their best friend is a man who was cheated by the government and then mistreated by it. And friendship stories born from the need for having someone fighting next to you are one of my favourite tropes.

Book that made you happy: Heartstopper volume 5 by Alice Oseman. Since the fourth volume was as sad as it could be, it was a pleasant surprise to read this one and cry of happiness instead. These characters are having a lovely coming-of-age development and it makes me really happy. It made me emotional to see Nick and Charlie confront their relationship fears and their own personal ones, and work on them together. And Tori coming out as asexual to her little brother on the top of a roller coaster might be poetic cinema (without poetry or cinema, but you know what I mean).

Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received): I bought four books this year, but none of them looks as pretty as a special edition would. This year was also the first year I actually went back to buying books, after a long while I decided to stop the clutter. This year was also the year I finally renewed my library card, so all these books I decided to buy might feel a little silly standing there doing nothing for a while more.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year? To complete the StoryGraph Genre challenge, I need to read Paul McCartney's The Lyrics, a book about food in Thailand, and finish listening to the audiobook of I Promessi Sposi I found on youtube. Then I started reading Pyramids by Terry Pratchett and Maus by Art Spiegelman, and I'm about to finish reading both. I hope I can manage to reread The Hunger Games trilogy before the end of the year, because that would mean I will be able to check out the other books related to the saga written by the author recently.

[My StoryGraph profile]

[acey-lacey]

2024 Mid Year Book Freakout Tag

What was the best book you’ve read so far this year?

LITTLE WOMEN and I will never shut up about it, that book is an all time favorite now and I wish I was still reading it tbh I could talk about it forever

What was the most disappointing book you’ve read so far this year?

I haven’t had anything tooo disappointing yet this year, I think I know my taste pretty well but I was a bit disappointed by A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth. It was just soooo slow compared to the first one (and third one) and felt like it was just setting up the next book. But the book after it was a 4.5 read so I’m still loving the series despite that little dent in the road!!

What’s the best book recommendation you received this year?

My friend encouraged me to read the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and it changed my brain chemistry that book is incredible and I could write essays about it

What was your first DNF of the year?

I actually DNFed The Mists of Avalon earlier this year which was so sad. I read like the first hundred pages and for some reason it wasn’t the vibe I was expecting so it threw me off and I couldn’t really enjoy it. I’m gonna try and pick it up again eventually tho!

What’s a new release of the year that you read and your thoughts?

To my knowledge I haven’t read anything that was released this year yet oops

A book that came out in the first half of the year and a book coming out later that your anticipating

I haven’t read any new releases yet, but I’m very excited for the new Percy Jackson book coming out later this year!

What’s the most beautiful book you’ve added to your collection or a beautiful book you’d like to own?

I got the British hardback version of Lessons in Chemistry and my heart is fulfilled this cover fits the vibe so much better than the American version 🥹

What genre have you read most this year?

Fantasy forrrr sure live laugh love fantasy

Do you feel like your tastes have changed or shifted at all this year? (New genre new trope or new theme?)

I wouldn’t say my taste has changed, more like I’m rediscovering the genres and themes I always loved as a kid and I still love them now that I’m getting back into reading. I just read the Priory of the Orange Tree and it’s launching my back into my high fantasy kick

How are your book goals going?

My goal this year is to read 22 books and I’ve read 11 already so I’m pretty proud!

A book that you feel embodies the vibe your your reading year

Legendborn and Bloodmarked I would say are the vibes I’ve been getting into this year, I’m so glad I read them but I also can’t believe how long I have to wait for the next one. It has a great balance of fantasy and contemporary which have been my main genres this year, and I just LIVED FOR the plot and Bree has my heart

I’ve seen this all over recently and thought it’d be fun to participate, I got the questions from Jesse the Reader on YouTube haha

Anyone can and should also participate!

[yourneighborhoodbibliophile]

🌻 Mid-Year Freakout Tag 2023🌻

I’ve been on a brief hiatus, but I’m back with my favorite tag of the year!

1.  How many books have you read so far?

I’ve read 15 books (so far!).

2. What genres have you read?

Fantasy, historical fantasy, historical fiction, historical romance, romance, and LGBTQ+ fiction.

3. Best book you’ve read so far in 2023

A Marvellous Light and A Restless Truth by Freya Marske, In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan, and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (all of which I rated 5/5 stars).

4. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2023

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske. It exceeded all of my (already admittedly high) expectations.

5. New release you haven’t read, but want to

Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues by H.S. Valley. I preordered it, but my pre-order was delayed due to Indigo’s cyber security incident and I have yet to receive it.

6. Most anticipated release of the second half of the year

You can find my most anticipated releases here.

7. Biggest disappointment

Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater. The conclusion to the Dream Trilogy and the broader Raven Cycle universe, Greywaren was a highly anticipated release of mine, but I was ultimately underwhelmed by it.

8. Biggest surprise

I’ve largely read within my preferred genres (namely queer historical fiction/fantasy) so I have yet to be surprised by anything. Hopefully I’ll be surprised as I diversify in the coming months!

9. Book that made you cry

No tears have been shed in the reading of these books.

10. Book that made you happy

All of them! However, if I had to choose only one... In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan.

11. Most beautiful cover of a book you’ve read so far this year

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, followed closely by A Restless Truth by Freya Marske and In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan. Evidence that we should, indeed, judge a book by its cover. ;)

12. How are you doing with your year’s goals?

I set the (admittedly ambitious) goal to read 50 books (of which I’ve read 15).

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

My most anticipated releases of 2022, my new year book haul, and my most anticipated releases of the second half of 2023.

[lastpagcs]

It’s never too late to talk about the books that made the first half of my year and I finally sat down to share them with you all. Presenting the Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag and the books I simply will not shut up about. Read below✨

[theinquisitxor]

Mid Year Book Tag!

This is a well loved set of book prompts that I believe originated on youtube, but it's fun to do here as well :)

1.Best book you've read so far: A Day of Fallen Night by Samatha Shannon, without a doubt. This may end up my favorite of the year and I was incredibly impressed by this book.

2.Best sequel you've read so far: Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn. This is book 2 to the Legendborn cycle, and I liked the sequel even better than book 1.

3.New Release you haven't read yet but want to: Yellowface by RF Kuang, since Kuang is on her way to becoming a new favorite author for me. Also, Lone Woman by Victor laValle, since anything laValle writes is brilliant.

4.Most anticipated release for the second half of the year? Starling House by Alix E Harrow or All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows

5.Biggest Disappointment: The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi, I really disliked this book and it was a dnf.

6.Biggest Surprise: Keikeyi by Vashnavi Patel, I was a little unsure how much I would like this novel, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

7. Favorite new author: Tracy Deonn for sure!

8.Newest Fictional Crush: Wendall Brambly (from Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries). (Also Darlington (from Hell Bent) but he's not a 'new' character for this year, so he doesn't really count)

9.Newest Favorite Character: Dumai from A Day of Fallen Night (and Wulf from adofn too)

10.Book that made you cry: How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

11.A Book that made you happy: A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

12. Favorite Adaptation: The Expanse. I read book 7 this spring, but the TV show is a fantastic adaptation.

13. Prettiest Cover: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

14. A book you need to read before the end of the year: The Poppy War trilogy by RF Kuang.

If you're interested, consider yourself tagged!

[bibliophilecats]

Mid-Year Book Freakout 2023

Thank you for taggin me @books-are-portals

1. Best book you’ve read so far this year

The Tea Dragon Society by K. O’Neill.

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year

I want to be a wall Vol 02 by Honami Shirono

3. New release you haven’t read yet

So many! The most recent book I received is The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

5. Biggest disappointment

The French Chateau Dream by Julie Caplin (and kinda also The Secret Cove in Croatia though I stopped that after about 5 pages because I did not feel in the mood). It is always difficult for me to find romance books I like but I thought that Julie Caplin was another author whose books I would enjoy. Unfortunately, the first book I read from her seems to have been a fluke because the rest was mediocre to bad.

6. Biggest surprise

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. I did not expect to enjoy the book this much.

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)

Heather Fawcett. I already own several of her books but finally got around to actually reading one this year. And I will continue with the Fetch Philips books by Luke Arnold as audiobooks. I really enjoy his reading.

8. Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character

Not a crush, but I found Kissen in Hannah Kaner’s Godkiller a highly interesting character.

9. Book that made you cry

None so far. But I did get very emotional over The Tea Dragon Society.

10. Book that made you happy

Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats by Alicia Potter.

I tag @themelodyofspring @emily-reads-books @smalltownfae and @lizziethereader (no pressure!)