So I've seen this off and on for years, and I finally decided to do it this year on this blog, as it's purely my book posts and writing, whereas tumblr is fandom and books and politics. So to try to distract myself from my very dark thoughts after reading yet another thing pointing out how fucked up the world is, I'm gonna pause my never ending circle of hell thoughts and do something I can control, and talk about my books!
This year I decided to up my Goodreads goal from 180 books to straight up 200. And I've done very well. I'm currently ahead my goal and I just read yet another book/webcomic (it counts) so lets look back at the past 7 months!
This tag was created by Chami from ReadLikeWildfire and Earl Grey Books
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020
I have two tied for the number 1 spot.
All the Stars and Teeth
by Adalyn Grace
I read this back in February, and it has stayed in the top spot. I just love this debut book and can't wait until I can get my hands on the next book in this duology.
Shatter the Sky
by Rebecca Kim Wells
A bisexual girl has her girlfriend stolen by the emperor's mages, and decides to steal a dragon and burn the world down to get her back? YES PLEASE!!! I love this book and yet no one talks about it at all. It's great and this year I will get the finale in this duology and I cannot wait.
2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020
The Night Country
by Melissa Albert
The latest of the Hinterland books by Albert, this was just as good as the first book, and was totally amazing. I'm kicking myself for not reading it at the beginning of the year. The wait didn't do anything to lessen this book that's sitting in second place so far this year. I hope there will be more, and am dying for the book of the Hinterland Tales coming out next year.
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
There are a ton, quite frankly. But let's stick to the ones I own but haven't read yet.
Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim
The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Night Spinner by Addie Thorley
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas
The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski
The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lue
Wicked as You Wish by Rin Chupeco
Chain of Gold by Cassandra Claire
Bone Crier's Moon by Kathryn Purdie
The Wueen's Bargain by Anne Bishop
Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova
The Lady Alchemist by Samantha Vitale
Forest of Souls by Lori M Lee
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Again, this list is like a page long, but I'll stick with the top 3
Storm the Earth by Rebecca Kim Wells (October 13)
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black (November 24)
The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning (July 7)
I've preordered like all of them.
5. Biggest disappointment
The Unicorn Quest
by Kamilla Benko
Two sisters find a magical world in the house they just inherited, and the younger one has to go on a quest to save the older one? Sounds awesome. Until the people she's trying to save decide to kill her and another innocent kid cuz they broke the law. I pushed past the 100 page mark hoping it would get better. It didn't. Neither of the other books I DNF'd sucked me in so far before just sucking, so this is definitely the worst.
6. Biggest surprise
Binti
by Nnedi Ookorafor
I'm not a big fan of science fiction, especially stuff with heavy fake science, and this can get there. But it blew me away with the story and characters, especially Binti herself. I started and finished this novella at work, and I just love it. Totally in the top ten of the year, I adore it and need to finished the trilogy.
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Every Heart a Doorway (aka the Wayward Children Series)
by Seanan McGuire
I've read all of the novellas except the latest in this series, and have already added lots of her books to my TBR. I thought I might really like this series, but I love it, and now I need to read more from her. Even her more disappointing book was quite gripping and earned a solid 3 stars.
8. Newest fictional crush.
Bershad from Blood of an Exile
by Brian Naslund
No, I haven't read this yet. But I bought this book cuz the dude on the cover is so damn hot. I haven't been so twitterpated by a book cover EVER. So I have such a crush on him, and so long as this book is good, it will last.
Kyro from SubZero
by Junepurrr
I mean, how can you not, with a bod like that? Also he's a dragon. A DRAGON!!! Hunkahunka!
9. Newest favorite character.
Maren from Shatter the Sky
by Rebecca Kim Wells
There are other new favorites, but this is the newest. I love Maren. She starts off scared and nervous, and only following her girlfriend around, and now she's riding dragons and burning people and it's hella awesome. Like an Asian Daenerys who won't go crazy! :D
10. Book that made you cry.
![Fanart]unOrdinary by Sweetmeloday | Webtoon comics, Webtoon ...](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/48/0b/cb/480bcb9dc8df20380edea467269f0f4c.jpg)
unOrdinary
by uru-chan
This webcomic follows John, a "cripple" aka someone without powers in a world where everyone does. It tackles bullying, and how societies all over the world are built upon it, and how it can take the sweetest person and turn them into a monster, and just how hard it is to try to fix it. It's powerful, it's dark, it's sad, and I've cried numerous times while reading it.
The Afterlife of Holly Chase
by Cynthia Hand
This story of a very privileged girl who used her power to hurt others, and then lost it all, is a tearjerker. Holly has depression and lives in fear of when she will move down to hell. I cried so much reading it, just like unOrdinary. They totally tie for most tears shed this year over a single story.
11. Book that made you happy.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow
by Jessica Townsend
This story starts out dark, with a cursed little girl being blamed for every single bad thing to happen in her entire town. But then she's whisked away to another dimension where she learns she was never cursed, she's got powers, and finds her own family and her own place. While I'm struggling with the second book, this book made me ridiculously happy, and not just because I got the very rare UK hardback edition. It's just so cute and sweet.
Aru Shah and the Song of Death
Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes
by Roshani Chokshi
These are the two newest books in the Pandeva Quartet, and they are ridiculously funny and good and well written. I adore these books, I adore Aru, and I can't believe next year we get the final book!!!
12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)
The Maiden Ship (Faecrate Edition)
by Micheline Ryckman
This gorgeous book has rose gold gilded edges, two beautiful pictures for the cover, pleather hardback, and rose gold embossing on said pleather. It's one of the prettiest books I've ever held in my hands, and I'm so happy I have it. It's just plain exquisite and is beyond all the other stunning books I've gotten so far this year (and it's a lot of special editions).
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
All the books I've mentioned in this that I haven't read, plus a ton more. I have over 500 books on my personal library TBR, and while I've made a dent, I still have a lot to read. I want to read as many as I can this year, and hopefully I can get it down quite a bit! :)
14. Favourite Book Community Member
Brittany the Bibliophile
I found her last year, but have just been totally watching her, probably more than anyone else this whole year. I just love her shelves, her cats, her vlogs, and her thoughts on books. I really enjoy her and think y'all should check her out! :)
So that's the whole tag! I hope you guys enjoyed it!
