still need to read library of the unwritten!! and glad u had a quick enjoyable read with Victim, i think the part that made me laugh out loud was when MC's classmate was talking about how she was judged for studying italian instead of spanish and felt so hurt, and he was like "wow it's incredible how ppl can make so much drama out of nothing, i should take notes" djaskldksa
@@caricanread alright, here’s the thing about watching these videos: somehow you convinced me to read fantasy even if that’s not what i read at all. six crimson cranes is already on hold in my library!!! that being said: the library of the unwritten, crane among wolves and how to shape a dragon breath (?) are also on my gigantic TBR. I was specially interested in the Korean fun fact, writing down everything, thats so smart of them!!! do you have any videos on books to dive into Korean history? I’ve read a couple, and I loved them, so I definitely want to read more on the topic. thanks for being my company tonight, xo, Laris 🥰
@@caricanreadcan you help? You recommended a book about a girl who can’t die, or perhaps can be brought back from the dead…she lives in a place where she keeps taking the place of someone else who will be sacrificed or something? But then other people find out what’s been going on and…? Does this ring bough of a bell? I’ve been scouring recent videos but I can’t seem to find it 😩
@@laceyapril2620 hi, I couldn’t be sure if this the one you are asking for, but it could be The Seven and Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle? It's not a fantasy in the classic sense, a mystery thriller
I’m a tiny bit little bit sick of books being compared to The Hunger Games for the weakest reasons 😂. I understand publishers do it for marketing purposes but omgggg
I’m taking this opportunity of being really early for once (it’s 1AM here in France but who needs sleep when you’ve got a Cari monthly wrap up to watch eheh) to just say how much I love your videos! your love for books, your humour and just the way you perfectly summarise books so I know what to expect and if they’re right for me without spoiling them are the reasons why you’re my favourite booktuber!! I’ve found so many of my fav reads thanks to you, please never stop 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽
Oh and also what i'm reading now - i just finished Road to Ruin (Magebike Courier, #1) by Hana Lee (HI HELLO a love letter to the author, a Korean American, 's favorite movie - Mad Max: Fury Road. so hecking good) and i'm going to be starting Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell sooon, then Free as a Bird (Yard Birds, #3) by Hailey Edwards after!
I read To Shape a Dragon's Breath at the beginning of the year, and from what I recall the book is set in North America but in a world where the Roman empire never happened, hence the usage of german-based words for science and all. As North-America still got colonised by these European people. I absolutely adored it though, and I hope we'll get a second part soon
Had an awful night at work, just to find your video... best timing ever😊 I hope you and your family are all well and happy. Thanks for being unknowingly there for me!❤
Is no one getting tired of the crane books yet? Is it just me? It may just be me. (Six Crimson Cranes; A Crane Among Wolves; Descendant of the Crane; The Crane Husband; etc…cranes are certainly having a moment.) To be fair I have not ready any of those particular books, and they may all be very different, but damn. Sorry, rant over. Love your channel! 💛💛
The sword of kaigen is my favorite standalone fantasy. I guess if you generally read YA and books that go by quickly, you could find it slow, it's adult after all. Maybe they meant it's slow because it doesn't have any big action until the middle of it, so if you're reading the book to see action and war, then yeah you would have to wait. (The war scenes are also one of the best i've ever read and i'm an avid adult epic fantasy reader.) It's very much character focused. I didn't have any problems with it. It was perfect. And i guess i can't do anything about its page count, all i can say is you'd be missing out if that stops you. 650 pages really isn't that long, like you'd be fine with it if it were two 325-page books, or a series. It's just a standalone, it's crazy how much plot, worldbuilding and character development the author was able to fit into one book. I mean of course you don't have to read it, i've never seen anyone who didn't like it after reading though. But i mean, everyone is different. But definitely be prepared to cry your eyes out if you read it, it's very emotional.
After your video recommending Five Broken Blades I bought the book and read it. Pretty good! I appreciated how short the chapters were it made me feel like I was flying through the book. Some of the characters chapters were weaker than others (I had a hard time enjoying the thief character’s voice) but over all very good! I think heist books just hits different.
The sword of kaigen is just great! I'm usually not into self-published books, but it's so deep, sad, and full of love. And gives a great portrait of a middle-aged woman-housewife and a mother - a main heroe who is still rare enough in fantasy. Cherished this reading a couple of years ago
There is also a prequel to Six crimson cranes called Her radiant Curse and it is also really good! Would recommend it as well, it gives a lot of backstory and it was really good
my INCREDIBLY unlikely guess is the blue is for nightmares series, just because that was personally huge for me in middle school and I would LOVE to hear an updated perspective on it 😂
I am finally getting out of my reading slump this month too. I am tempted to start Five Broken Blades now, it sounds so good! For the book series you mentioned at the end of the video, since we're similar in age, I will go and guess A Series of Unfortunate Events maybe? They were reaally big when I was in elementary and middle school.
Hi, Cari!! Thank you so much for the new upload! I've been a subscriber for a long time, and I add a new book to my 'Want To Read' in Goodreads after every vid, Non fail LOL. Your videos helped me at college a lot this past semester, and with my mom's passing, I've been finding comfort in watching your channel, especially your plot recaps. I can't even describe how much they, and you, have unknowingly helped me. Thank you. Hope you and your family are happy and healthy
I finished five broken blades two days ago and I loved it! It took me a week to get through (which is long for me and because I don’t really like multiple POVs) but it was so worth it 🤭 that ending had me screaming hehe
Six Crimson Cranes is one of my top books I’ve read in the last few years. I LOVE that book. I have yet to find anything that swept me up quite like that book did. Wish I could read it for the first time again. I recommend it all the time!
omg I cannot wait to read Six crimson cranes after your review ❤❤ also I had no idea what bookshelves you meant and funnily had the Uglies reading vlof queued up right after this 😂😂❤
I just finished "Tale of two cities" - because Cassandra Clare was referring to it so much! Now started "What moves the dead" from your short books recommendations - need to heal after 900 page books
I read The sword of kaigen years ago and I think it's one of my favourite fantasy books ever. Blood over bright haven was also good, but it wasn’t as good as The sword of kaigen imo. I really really recommend it, even if it seems intimidating it's very easy to get into
When I saw Blood Over Bright Haven AND Five Broken Blades on your thumbnail I got excited!! I loved both those books! I actually read Five Broken Blades on your recommendation and it was brilliant!!
Another book I think you might enjoy is Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Mariller, it's a bit older (think it was out in the late 90s👀) it's also based on the swan brothers myth! It genuinely has never left my mind, there are some trigger warnings, but the Celtic/Irish lore she wove in made the story so magical it was definitely one of my favourites!
happy friday cari! i wanted to thank you for talking about "Four Treasures of the Sky". i finished it yesterday and it was phenomenal!! the writing blew me away. definitely going into my all time faves list :')
The Sword of Kaigen is (imo) such an incredible read. Of the books I’ve read this year, it’s the one that’s made the most impact on me emotionally. Definitely recommend giving it a try!
I really want to read A Crane Among Wolves!! Also big agree about Korean history, I'm not a scholar or even that studied in it but I LOVE historical KDramas because of how dramatic and delicious it all is!!! Also definitely plan to read Five Broken Blades and I REALLY need to get back to TSADB because even though it was kind of a slow start the concept and world is just SO intriguing
i dont know if this was a 'big thing' for middle school but one series i binged during middle school was the tigers curse saga by colleen houck... which didnt really 'age like milk' so much as it was probably a bit off from the start LMAO
Not sure if others have mentioned it, but Six Crimson Cranes sounds a very similar plot to my favourite book Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. Celtic Ireland. Six brothers have a curse on them from the evil stepmother, the main character has a nearly impossible and very isolating task of undoing the curse. As I know you like mythology, mysterious woodlands, other worldly beings that aren't sunshine and fluff kind of fairies, I think you'll like this one. It is a long series but the first book reads like a standalone and is heart breaking but so immersive and just delicious nature writing.
I'm early! I've been wanting to be for a while because I wanted to recommend a romance book ever since you asked for recs but wasn't sure if you would read it. Anyways, Cari if you want a romcom for one of your trips, please read If I Never Met You, by Mhairi McFarlane, she's wonderful, in my opinion, but doesn't get much attention on the internet. Love your content! XOXO
i was on the “eh aeri is not my girl” boat UNTIL THE END. the end makes her make so much more sense, ESPECIALLY when paired with her audiobook narrator!
yes!! but i also think that people need to be ok with unlikeable/annoying characters. i have seen people equating her characteristics as a sign of bad writing but its like no...she's literally WRITTEN to be grating and annoying hahhah
To touch on the Broken Blade a bit more for a moment. I do think the 2nd and 3rd books are paced a bit better which makes them much more digestible. There are two things I love about his series, the first is Keera's (that's our main girl) battle with addiction, Melissa does not shy away from the reality of withdrawal and how dependent you become on the substance. But she handles it in a way that does not make Keera seem weak because she an addict, but that this is how she survives this world and her trauma. The second thing is the theme of colonialism, which Melissa Anishinaabekwe has first-hand experience with and you can feel that coming through the story. As Cari says Keera is a smart main character and she gets smarter, she grows alongside her found family, you're rooting for her because she is a damaged character who is putting in the work to try and be better. Just my thoughts🥰
I read a few books in May. I finished the Tommyknockers, and then it was Thinner, and then I read The Eyes of the Dragon, and then I started The Long Walk.
@caricanread they were. Even The Eyes of the Dragon. I'm not into Fantasy anymore, so I was surprised how good it was. I'll recommend that you read it because you're into fantasy.
Okay am I crazy or did I completely miss your House of Flame and Shadow review? Would love to hear your take on it . Your SJM book reviews have me dead ☠️
If you like a magic system that feels like programming or coding you HAVE to read We Break Immortals it's so cool how the author does that magic system!!! Such an amazing book
For the series you reading for a video, my guess is going to be House of Night book series. The first book is marked if I am not mistaken. Regardless, thank you for a great video!!!
Good standalone fantasy*: Sabriel by Garth Nix, coolest magic system w/ necromancy, and a sarcastic cat *technically a loose series, but Sabriel can be read by itself, each book switches up the cast and time period
I just went through some crappy family drama and needed to watch something wholesome to get my mind off of all the negativity. So thank you for being here:)
I read Five Broken Blades after your recc and really really did not enjoy it, however I am glad you convinced me to read it nonetheless 💕 I don’t think I would have tried it if you hadn’t posted about it!
Adding A Crane Among Wolves! It sounds so interesting! I have a diary that i keep for when im bored and I write things like “I’m listening to this music while eating chips and oh look theres a bird across from me and the sun is shining so brightly, i think i need to sleep i havent slept in the past 25 hours” 😂 sounds to me like i can be one of the record keepers✨
I felt the same way for the broken blade but I pushed through and read the second and third book and it was really worth it in my opinion. Are they perfect, no not really, but they keep you hooked and the third book has a plot point which made me audibly gasp and go back to the very first book. I'd give it a try, they are easier to read than the first one 😊
To shape a dragons breath acrually takes place in new england (near boston). The author is a desdendent of massasoit. I cant pinpoint exactoy which island anakus's is but its likely off the coast of ct
I highly recommend the audiobook to folks because it's so good. Hearing the colonizers pronounce her name wrong but her friends pronounce it correctly is so powerful. I do think its a little slow with world building and whatnot but I truly loved how deep her culture was. How she genuinely didn't understand why people wouldn't understand having a wife and a husband or welcoming neurodivergent or disabled folks. In her community they're all welcomed and they all take care of each other. It's a very old European attitude to take where all aren't taken care of each other and she never considers that. I understand some complaints about how argumentative she is constantly and being slow and not enough dragons but I think it's setting up a great series. I don't mind the slower pace when it's still interesting and I don't mind her always being ready for a fight. It is a little annoying but it's just how she is. She's used to having to defend her existence. So many minorities hide, were used to seeing that in media. But it isn't always the case. Plenty are proud and always ready to defend their existence and not bend to the people in charge.
to shape a dragon's breath was one of my favorite books of last year, I'm so glad it's getting more attention! Quick thing though, it is set in America, specifically Massachusetts. It's like if America never went through revolution
Hi, really enjoys your content and it's pushing me, in a good way, to continue reading! :)) My guess for the series is Sweep, but there is 13 books so maybe not! 😂 I wish you a good reading month! :))
six crimson cranes remind me a lot of an old slavic fairytale about a mute princess and her six brothers who were cursed to become swans. It was maybe inspired by it?either way, you peaked my interest lol
Yep, it is based on the various tales about prince brothers become [insert bird here] and their sister must not speak and knit nettle or flowers or perform some other task. It's interesting how that tale has many variants among many countries, including ones in Asia. The series also references a few other western and some eastern fairy tales.
And some people think there are no more original stories. Archival research of ancient times in Korea would be a treasure trove of "based on historical events" as inspiration for original stories.
since all the 3 books I read last month was recommend to me by you (and I enjoyed them all), I'd like to recommend you back a book called 'This Fatal Kiss' by Alicia Jasinska. it's coming out in september but available on netgalley, so you can pick it up to improve your ratio 🍰
Love your videos Carrie❤ each one brings me so much joy (and adds things to my tbr). Since you're such a big part of this book world, I wanted to ask if you know where I could publish some of my own writing. Blog style articles, short stories, book reviews etc. I just really want to get my writing out there and start building a prescence. So anywhere will do. Please help me I don't know where to start!
I’m reading Five Broken Blades right now and I’m really enjoying it! For me most of the characters are likeable and Aeri and Royo are my favorites. I haven’t really heard anyone talk about it yet! Also I’ve seen multiple books lately with dragon in the title and cover but the book doesn’t actually focus that much on dragons so that’s disappointing. (I tried Fireborne and the dragons were not even described and barely mentioned at all)
Was the book series you mentioned Babysitter club, Girltalk, or Sweet Valley high?? Maybe it was a mystery series like Nancy Drew or the Hardy boys? Or maybe those books are just a little before your time so probably Percy Jackson series? Also I laughed at the “rut roe” expression. Love when that pops up. 😂
thank you. haven't read any of these. thinking of the fantasy series you read when in middle school. not sure the time frame of that. i'm going to guess, The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper, even tho' i'm sure that's not it! haha! i just love that series so much and have reread it numerous times; especially good to read during dark Winter months.
if you want recommendations for a easy binge-type series to read (and maybe do a summary vid on ) i recommend the amaranthine series by Forthright. it's a bit much with names and such, but it's worth it. give it a try
Royo is my favorite character. He's like the only one that's just a normal dude. Also he's a tsundere when it comes to Aeri, which I think worked well haha. Sora and him are definitely top tier in my opinion. Mikial is too secretive, Euyn is too privileged, and anyone that thinks of their father as much as Aeri has a problem hahaha. I was a bit disappointed with the ending mostly just setting up the next book, but the journey was still very good. I'd be hesitant to reccomend it until the next book is out tho.