I know you’re not British. Viscount is said V-eye count. So, Marquis would be Mar-key. Marquess is Mar-kess. Viscountess is V-eye- countess. That’s just in case you read more of these! Great video!
all these words actually come from french! You guys have a more similar pronounctiation to the original than the Americans do, but either way is fine in english
@@eladcgI’m actually American! Lived in England briefly (loved every single second) but majored in English here in the states ♥️ i’ll tell you the word that really confused me: lieutenant!!! British pronunciation is “left tenant” but we of course phonetically pronounce that one.
Thank you because I came looking for this comment. I internally corrected the pronunciation of Viscount every time it was said. Not like it´s actually a horrible mistake but it did make my mind go "The S is silent!!!"
Fourth Wing was so bad. Yet I am attempting to read Iron Flame (it’s so much worse, and soooo long…). I just don’t understand how so many people say these are their favorite books of all time. But we all have different opinions of books and that’s what makes booktube so much fun. I still want to check out red rising and the Priory series, I’m hoping that I will like them. 😊
I truly don't understand how Fourth Wing is as hyped up as it is. I can understand liking the concept and being curious about where the story may go, but it was so juvenile and honestly read as if it were unedited. But, as many others have said, a cool thing about booktube is everyone having their own opinions on books and getting to discuss why we all like different things.
@@blueice2535 I 100% agree. And it always leaves a bitter taste when some booktubers recommend books with "no brain power" needed, translating that the quality of the book as good when its just really superficial.
I read for fun and to take me out of the stresses of the day yes sometimes I like to read things that make me think but I want reading to be enjoyable to me not to mention people can like different things While fourth wing isnt then most well written I really loved the characters and relationships and the world intrigues me and made me fall in love with it
I didn't like the first Red Rising book either but I was completely hooked by Golden Son. I feel like that book is the one that would really define whether or not you're going to like this series. Please give that one a chance, and if you still don't like it, feel free to drop it! :D
Our reading tastes are so similar that I was surprised to see My Best Friend's Exorcism on this list! Actually one of my top books of the year. But it was also my first Grady Hendrix book so I didn't have any expectations. I found it to have very Buffyesque vibes so it really worked for me. I love your sweater! You look like a cupcake (in a good way).
I tried to read Fourth Wing when it was HYPED ended up dnf-ing. I have two friends who read it & I was surprised that they loved it so I will give it another chance. I was too critical at first & trying to find faults instead of trying to enjoy it so I’ll read it when I am in the mood for a romantasy book. And if it doesn’t work out for me again then that’s okay!
I listened to the audiobook with the mindset of “it’s not that deep, this can just be fun” and honestly it was a fun read I just didn’t think about anything too hard. And I’d listen again if I get in a slump and need something that’s not too heavy and doesn’t take any thought.
Give Riley Sager another chance! Often I find that the most recent release from an author is pretty different from their first few books (especially when they got popular). I have been reading Sager since his first book, and I really, really recommend Final Girls.
It's always fun to watch these end-of-the-year videos! It's amazing how we all respond to these books differently. --I enjoyed the first Red Rising book (which makes me feel like I'm in the minority sometimes!), but am really looking forward to Golden Son. My least favorite books from this year. I say least favorite, because most of the books I read were at least 3 stars. For me, that's a decent score on my personal rating system DNF: Little Witch Academia (granted, I'm not the target audience at all). 3 stars: A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow 3.25 stars: Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth Thanks for sharing!
I felt the exact same way about Red Rising, I ended up DNFing it around 40% of the way through. I keep hearing that I need to get through the first book and the series is incredible from the second book on. Not sure if I'll be able to pick it back up but I could be convinced!
even though it’s your worst of 2023 books, this was interesting and entertaining to watch! my worst of 2023 is fleishman is in trouble (way too whiny for me). i was a bit underwhelmed by the ex hex and i didn’t care for any of the characters in neon gods. 🤷♀️ have a lovely day + happy reading!💜
I was really worried when I saw "My Best Friend's Exorcism" on this list of the worst books as it was one of my favorites, but I can understand the idea of being disappointed with what a book wasn't. I do totally agree with "The Only One Left" though. Far too many twists at the end and an attempt to connect literally every character in that book really made that book fall apart in the final hour.
Thank you, for saved me from forcing myself to finish Red Rising and Forth Wing, After you introduced me to Robert Jackson Bennett (who is now one of my favorite authors) I trust your book taste.
I have a question about Frugal Wizard (and I’m not a Sanderfan coming for you.) I read a lot of fantasy and I’ve been thinking of Frugal Wizard as a fantasy. I also, however, read a lot of traditional, detective fiction. Your video made me ask myself if, unlike most fantasy readers, I liked Frugal Wizard because it hit not as fantasy but as detective fiction and I had not realized that before now. Could it be that we, as fantasy readers, are casting this book in the wrong genre light because it’s Sanderson? I can’t quite tell. I may just be crazy.
OMG I literally was laughing at the last pages of "Last One Left" too! I also had trouble keeping up with all the surprises and twists and turns...absurd indeed
Wishing Game is not good. Lucy's relationship with the kid is super inappropriate. She tells him she loves him and is physically affectionate with him at school! There was also almost nothing about the actual contest and I was so disappointed about it because that's what it's marketed as..
Oh no! I’m 60% through Wrath and terrified to finish now lol. I’ve loved the first three and have been slowly been making my way through Wrath because I’m not ready to be done with these characters. 😬
Update, for me Wrath was 5 stars and cements the Faithful and the Fallen as one of my all time favorite series. I’m very glad our opinions differ here. I actually may use this list as books I should read since I liked so many of these 😂 That’s the brilliance of reading-so many have different thoughts on the same books 😊
I also disliked Red Rising! The writing felt like a complete knockoff of the hunger games with Darrow being one dimensional and a mary sue. I also don’t understand why Darrow was so obsessed with fecal matter, I swear it was always in the descriptions so I DNF’d
Great video! I do still want to try some of the books thar are on your list haha, but I appreciate your opinion. I'm also in the minority of not liking Fourth Wing, though I attemped to read Iron Flame and dnfed at 50%, just couldn't do it. Other books that unfortunately didn't work for me this year were: Pachinko, The travelling cat chronicles, The seven sisters, This is how you lose the time war, The 22 murders of Madison May, The violin conspiracy, A discovery of witches and Stay with me. 😊
I had SO much fun with Fourth Wing and loved my reading experience but I couldn’t give it a spot in my top 15 video because it is not a well written fantasy! Just finished Iron Wing and … meh 😂😂
Plz don’t judge this masterpiece of a series off that first book Red Rising I beg you read Golden son plz plz everyone is Meh on Red rising except a few.. the strong Female writing is one of the best parts going forward as well hope you continue plz
I read all of RIley Sagers books this year because I loooved The Only One Left. Loved the mystery and the slowly revealing of everything. Adore his writing. Except for The House Across the Lake, I hated hated the main character from page 1
I have the same opinions as you about both of these books. I really enjoyed the only one left and found the house across the lake to be meh. I am excited to read more of his backlist!
Here's my worst books of 2023 Crossroads of twilight by Robert Jordan Normal people by sally Rooney The reunion by kayla Olsen The flatshare by beth o'Leary A chain of iron and gold Camp zero by Michelle min sterling End of watch by Stephen king Misrule by heather walter sequel to malice Poster girl by veronica roth I read red rising several years ago i didn't enjoy it not at all
Riley Sager definitely has a type, but The Only One Left and The House Across The Lake were his weakest imo. Try Lock Every Door, or Home Before Dark. ♥️
I also did not love One Dark Window, but I liked book 2 waaaay more. Maybe because my fav character gets a pov, and a new romance for which I rooted way more than the one in book 1. So yes, I would recommend to continue :)
I am so glad to see somebody else did not enjoy The Wishing Game either. I keep seeing it on top books of the year and for me it was one of the years’ disappointments.
I read three trilogies this year where each book was not as good as the previous one, so the stories went out with a whimper. The Five Warrior Angels by Brian Lee Durfee, The Drowning Empire by Andrea Stewart and Rook and Rose by MA Carrick. Rook and Rose had the best finale of the three but was still a bit of a disappointment.
*pokes her head out of her blanket burrito* the S in viscount is silent. In the show they say "vicount" with a long i. If you're looking to get into historical romance, I LOVE Joanna Lowell's books. I discovered her this year and devoured all 3 of them!
I really loved the cozyness of The Wishing Game but I totally get it not being for everybody. You gotta like whimsy. I find just accepting as Willy Wonka if Miss Honey from Mathilda was the protagonist worked for me. Basically its evoking childhood books of yore lol
Holy shor you’re the only one who I’ve ever heard that doesn’t like Red Rising! I desperately wanted expected to love it! And I could not get into it at all! I was after 3 tries and 2 years later given a copy as a gift. I may give it another try for sake of not wasting a book and seeing it in physical format vs audio 🤷🏻♀️ But, my husband gave it to me I feel like he would like this book!
I love watching these videos because of how different our tastes are. I personally LOVE the whole Red Rising series but I do have to say that the first book is my least favorite in the series. Fourth Wing was bad, but it was such a guilty pleasure for me. I think is because I am a sucker for books with dragons in them. Now the second book made me die a little inside. But I just had to finish it out of curiosity. The rest of the books on your list I have not read and after looking them up, they are staying not read by me. 😂
I read Red Rising expecting to marathon right through the trilogy but it was quite underwhelming…. Not the worst as you said but definitely forgettable 😕
I agree with Frugal Wizards... I also read the Faithful and the Fallen this year and loved the series as a whole, but I do agree the last installment isn't the best in the series for sure.
Not into fantasy/romance but I love your honesty on book reviews. I often am in the minority on “hype” books. I also stand by my views, but respects others too.
Things we hide from the light absolutely tops my list. If you like men who can't take no for an answer or respect boundaries, pls enjoy! *it's one of the few books where I absolutely do not understand how people find it romantic in any aspect. 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
I tried to finish Fourth Wing but I had to DNF at page 150 or so…it was just SO bad. Almost as if it was written by AI. I’ve heard that people who primarily read romance but who never read fantasy are the ones who enjoyed it. Maybe the fact that it was the first story they read that included both, it was interesting to them? I have no idea.
Probably my biggest reading disappointment was Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. I had high expectations, but I had to dnf by page 500 because at that point it felt like I was slogging through the story.
I will say this over again (with all due respect) All the Stars and Teeth and All the Tides of Fate by Adalyn Grace has the same vibe as the The Bone Shard Daughter/Bone Shard Emperor and did it better...
I think so! I also feel like I’m in a super small percent of people who liked books 1-3 and didn’t like book 4. Typically if you like the style with that series you will like the whole thing
For me the worse were 100 years of solitude, fourth wing and then maybe red rising as well. I was a bit disappointed by red rising but I will continue because I am intrigued
I also didn't like the Wishing Game for the same reason. We read it for my personal book club and I was the odd man out with not liking it. I felt it romanticized such serious topics and it didn't sit well with me.
I personally disliked Red Rising and later Golden Son because the writing felt so pretentious. Like every line was about how cool or amazing the author could make it sound or Darrow seem when Darrow was honestly just boring and the plot was meh.
Red Rising took a lot of work, and a sense of exhaustion with the experience of reading it was not really pleasant or entertaining. But I envy the author.
I had a pretty solid reading year, but I was really disappointed by House of Hunger. I felt like nothing happened until the very end. Oh and I read Tress, but I thought it was so annoying 🫢 It had a whimsy to it that I thought was a bit cringe… The plot was really good, but I was very distracted and irritated by the narration.
I think i wouldve loved The Only One Left more if i did not read a book by a Japanese author that had the same plot "twist", i enjoyed his book moreover as well.
I was so intensely disappointed by The Only One Left. This book actually pissed me off because of how ridiculous the plot became lol. I just could not take it seriously. And it disappointed me even further because the cover is so stunning!
Character development of corban was one of the most consistent and logical i have ever read where you reading different series? I mean he was at the and who he always has been deep down just and honorable man who cares about people themselves more than greater good so if he is not completly different person from the one we started with it does not count as character development ?
I'm with you on Fourth Wing, did not and do not understand the hype AT ALL!!! Its even getting an amazon adaptation?? I'm shocked! Red Rising is something you definetelly need to keep reading, the first book critique is valid!
Me literally returning my audiobooks for Fourth Wing and Iron Flame after hearing about Rebecca Yarros problematic behavior 😂 I'm going to try and be better at supporting non-problematic authors in the new year. Both books were terrible anyways so no love lost.
I hated "Song of Silver, Flame Like Night" and its sequel "Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White"...I truly don't understand why it is so popular! It is so poorly written, incredibly boring (especially the sequel)...I'm just not seeing what other people are seeing. I also fell asleep every time I tried to read "Ebony Gate" which had such a cool sounding concept but was so slowly paced.
I know the bridgerton series isn't perfect, and it definitely has problems. But I disagree. I didn't like what they did with the tv show. They made the sisters fight over a man (seriously 🙄 which did not happen in the book) And they made friends fight Eloise & penelope. I know they tried to make it more exciting/dramatic for tv But 👎👎
I DNF'd Red Rising, something about the writing was just so unappealing to me and the main character was so boring. I loved Fourth Wing but I'll be the first one to admit that it is far from the most original thing in the world lol
I liked Fourth Wing, and not fir the smut (which was really funny listening to the adio book). I went in knowing it was going to be fluff and it was just a good time for me and something to take my mind off the stress of the.world
@@Morfeusm One of the things I didn't like was a female character. The respective character also appears in the following books. It made my reading experience very unpleasant. It's a shame because the book starts on a high. With The Bound and the Broken I have a feeling between pleasant and unpleasant.
Are we the same person? Because Priory of the Orange Tree is so infuriatingly boring and poorly executed. Also, The Bone Shard series is so meh. Just meh.
I enjoyed this video but I flinched every time you said ViS-count... how did you watch the entire season actually and come away saying it like that? 😅 the S is silent. Vi-count.
My most disappointing reads of the year were Project Hail Mary and The Thursday Murder Club. Sci-fi isnt really my thing so Project Hail Mary really got on my nerves with all the droning equations that just went on and on even in climactic moments. The Thursday Murder Club had a ton of really awful fatphobia that made me super angry while reading. I also thought it mishandled a very sensitive topic by just including it too many times without the appropriate gravity it warrants.
I hated Red Rising. It was so boring and Darrow was such an insufferable main character. I also disliked all the misogyny. I just don’t want to read about that
