I 100% agree about Fool's Assassin, while really enjoying the final trilogy, book 1 was utterly fantastic and I was a little let down by the next two (especially 3, and its use of a trope i really dislike multiple times.) Will need to get to Lud in The Mist, it sounds fantastic. Starling House is one Im hoping to love, and Im happy to see you really enjoy it. Especially since The Raven Cycle is one of my all time fav series. I kinda am looking forward to Immortal Longings because im expecting some solid gold crap, that is just a mess but fun to talk to friends about.
I think the default reccomendation for you is "You're probably going to hate it." Then it's really exciting if you actually do like them. But until then, everyone will just hedge their bets. Interesting priority TBR. I feel like a lot of those will go one way or the other. Looking forward to it. Happy New Year. 💥
Because even in her series Butler writes standalone entries where only setting and themes are consistent, I felt like the parable “duology” was satisfying even without the last entry. And I totally see why she was challenged and never really finished where the third book was probably going.
I don’t mind your long videos because your opinions are entertaining even if I don’t always agree. I can’t wait to hear what you think about Illborn. So many booktubers praise this book but I found it unreadable because of the prose. Great prologue and I guess the plot is good (didn’t get far enough to find out) but I couldn’t get past the writing. Also characters are generic fantasy tropes 101. And one female character almost SA in her first chapter. I hope it works better for you, but also secretly wishing for my opinion to be validated 😂
Bingeing your videos, I really enjoy your longer videos tbh! And I liked your pitch(?) for the dandelion dynasty! I'm excited to pick it up. I loved ken liu's translation work too ❤️
I just watched your "Let's Laugh at The Wheel of Time" videos, which led me to subscribe. I laughed my %$&!ing a$$ off. Keep making these videos; I'll keep watching. And happy New Year!
I have read Silvia Moreno García's Gods of Jade and Shadow. So far, that is the only book by her that I have read, but I do plan to read more by her. This book was good, the story set in 1920s Mexico and involves family relationships among humans and among gods.
I love your comments on Philip Pullman’s nonfiction, especially in terms of celebrating reading people’s opinions regardless of whether one agrees with them or not. We’ve sadly forgotten about critical thinking, separating author from work, agreement from appreciation. By the way you made me realize I haven’t read The Secret Commonwealth!! I can’t wait to reread La Belle Sauvage and then dive into it.
I’ve not finished The Winter Spirits yet. Working through it though! Which story was your favorite? Ive liked Stuart Turtons story so far! (Reading it out of order though) I think I’ve read all of Natasha Pulleys published works. I enjoy them all to a varying degree but some are more confusing to me. My favorite is probably The Kingdoms. Also one with a gorgeous cover.
I also just started Lightbringer. I'm not sure why it sat on my shelf unread for six months. Loving it so far. I feel like Pierce Brown has his mojo back after Dark Age, which I thought was good but sort of so-so compared to the others.
Hey, I hope you’ll take the time to mock Rings of Power S2 when it comes out. Unless, y’know, it turns out to be good, in which case you’d have to talk about that. But it won’t be good.
Loved Starling House and hated Splendid for your top tens lists! You must read Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries. I really enjoyed it. The next book comes out this month. Also, Ink Blood Sister Scribe is great. I gave you my extra botm copy 😂. Your other copies are much nicer. I'll take it back and put it in my Little Free Library if you don't want it.
I really enjoyed Lud-in-the-Mist and only liked Stardust too (JS&MN is on my TBR). The language in Lud is kind of darkly playful, and there were several places I had to read over again and again because they were so insightful. Also enjoyed Parable of the Sower. I have Talents but haven't read yet. I love Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries and the sequel is even better imo--hope you like it 😊
I also had a year of re reads. It was enjoyable but Im hoping to make progress this year. I would definitely recommend The Saxon stories by Cornwell. The first book was excellent, with interesting characters. The series suffers slightly from feeling episodic. Still fun though.
Encyclopaedia of faeries is like book Sophie and Howl's dynamic set in small village + winter setting +fae. I enjoyed it. Can't say the same for gods of jade and shadow though.
Have you seen either the Owlcrate or Illumicrate editions of Starling House? They're very different but very pretty and you might be interested in picking one up secondhand since you loved the book.
Can you please do the fight club book vs movie or mor movie or TV vs the source material? Hope your doing well and thanks for the entertainment. I showed my sister who just started college your channel and coraline video.
Cant wait for your illborn rant 😂 also curious about the Alex Marshall series because I always see it at my used book store. I will also be starting the Bone Ships soonish!
@@LienesLibrary i don’t have strong hopes for gods of jade and shadow, ink blood sister scribe, bone shard war, or encyclopedia of faeries 😅 I really hope you like Lightbringer!
I'm curious if you'll like Ink Blood Sister Scribe. I actually really disliked it because the POV characters all acted young and never seemed to make a decision for themselves, just did whatever the adults told them.
Also hope you love Emily Wilde. I weirdly fell so in love with that book that I ended up reading it 6x in 2023. Her autistic nature that comes across cold and distant but hides a really compassionate heart, the sometimes adorable sometimes lethal fae, his grump/sunshine dynamic that makes every scene more fun, and all their snark and banter... idk, it just really ended up working for me.
Immortal Longings also made my worst of year list! I didn't have a single nice thing to say about it; and they might as well have been playing GTA but hopping in bodies instead of cars for all the weight and impact it had on the world. 🙄
