Best Sci Fi/Fantasy Books of 2019

[@thewildwomanofthewoods]

Agree on your take on the Book of the Ancestors! Personally I've given up on Sanderson in part because I don't think he writes believable women. But everyone seems to love him so what do I know...

[@danielleoliver1734]

I really like Brandon Sanderson, but if you’re not interested in reading ant more of him don’t. There isn’t a single book that anyone has to read, just pick books that you want. I would recommend his MG the Rithmatist if you want to give him a second chance but don’t let people guilt you into reading him.

[@bookslikewhoa]

I've vowed to myself that I will stay strong & not succumb to peer pressure! ;)

[@locutusdborg126]

I need to read Murderbot, I mean All Systems Red.

[@myfirstnovel]

I just finished Mistborn The Final Empire, my first Sanderson, blown away. You may want to restart there...

[@debralavoie9095]

I need to meet this Murderbot, he sounds adorable. Merry Christmas!

[@booksbonesblues]

i have you to thank for Murderbot, for sure. in fact i have you to thank for a lot of great reads of this year! (thank you

[@bookslikewhoa]

Thank you, I'm so glad that you got to enjoy the wonder that is Murderbot! :)

[@danichiong6727]

I know exactly what you mean in regards to Murderbot. I just want to wrap it up in a blanket. I’m so looking forward to the novel!

[@bookslikewhoa]

I am chomping at the bit!

[@luanavianagomes]

Trail of Lightning is definitely going to my 2020 TBR. Loved your recommendations !

[@bookslikewhoa]

Yay, I hope you enjoy!!

[@M_aryAnne]

Glokta is who you were thinking of from the Blade itself. I am really enjoying that series but it is to character driven for me, I guess I am more plot driven, haha, Logan Nine Fingers is my favorite though. I really love your channel you have given me so many more books to add to my TBR that I would have never picked up before you talked about them, such as Say you're sorry, tenth girl and the wolf in the whale. I can't wait to start reading those!

[@bookslikewhoa]

Yay, I'm so glad I've been able to point you to some winners!!

[@PatHerranz]

This was so good! ✨ Adding some of those recommendations to my TBR ☺️ I think I may start with the Grey Sister Trilogy 👏🏻👏🏻 Happy holidays!

[@bookslikewhoa]

Hope you enjoy!

[@StrangerInAStrange]

I'm heavy on the SciFi side and prefer harder SciFi. With that said, I strongly agree with your recommendation for the books by Rebecca Roanhorse; thoroughly enjoyed those and look forward to her next books. Have had the Martha Wells books on my radar; much preferring full length books. My personal rating system runs something like this: Could read over and over again Do read once Had a hard time finishing DNF

[@JashanaC]

I full on loved A Curse so Dark & Lonely but I totally get your point about how it would've been a SOLID standalone... depending on how the next book goes, I might end up being Team Mara on this one... ! haha!

[@bookslikewhoa]

Haha, I'm just glad you liked it more than I did!!

[@jhart1127]

I thoroughly enjoyed ACSDAL and further to your comments I am genuinely pretending it is a stand alone. I was super excited to hear of a second book but really despondent and confused as to the choice of new MC's 🤔🧐

[@sandylewis1459]

I loved Serpent and Dove! I can’t wait for the sequel

[@tatling]

What are the book series called displayed on your shelf, very pretty?

[@bookslikewhoa]

Penguin Clothbound Classics: bookshop.org/lists/penguin-clothbound-classics-7ecf8706-5180-477b-9005-660667869a8e

[@LienesLibrary]

I preordered Wolf and the Whale aaaaaand still haven't read it, quelle surprise... I shall shortly be reading Serpent and Dove and am 100% more excited heaving heard the word "sudsy" being applied to it XD The. Blade. Itself. that's the list, idk why there are other books in this video bahahaha Glokta being referred to as "homeboy" got me cackling I've never read those Valente books, I've only read Deathless which I thought was so fab, so it's so hard for me to imagine her writing something bad, but your absolute loathing has me pretty convinced I'd hate those too haha oh man, Gilded Wolves and Wicked Saints, such great examples of gorgeous covers containing nothing to justify them... tbqh, Sanderson's writing is pretty basic and his characters are quite juvenile, so it kinda always feels like YA, but shhhh don't tell anyone I said that. you will be pleased to know that the last book I read in 2019 was Murderbot =D

[@bookslikewhoa]

I'll be interested to see how you do with The Wolf in the Whale-- there's definitely pacing issues, but it's a cool world with a very satisfying ending. AND OMG MURDERBOT SKGGHDGHSSKSKSK

[@krakentoagoodbook]

The Wolf in the Whale made it to my top fantasy of 2019! I loved that the setting was pretty unique, and I definitely liked the inclusion of the different gods. I tried out the first book in her urban fantasy series and thought it was fine, but I didn't feel the need to continue the series. The Kingdom was a cool book for sure! I can't wait for the spinoff series to Book of the Ancestor.

[@ajbee1065]

I just read my first Ilona Andrews book and really enjoyed it. I’m also getting to the end of The Poppy Wars and enjoying that as well.

[@bookslikewhoa]

YAASSS, welcome to the Ilona family!

[@cherylclough4309]

I read The Wolf in the Whale at the beginning of the year as well. I really enjoyed it. Liked the unique treatment of the main female character. It was a different setting and time period. I kept it because I may want to reread it. I’ve been interested in The Poppy War series, but haven’t started it yet. And of course, high on my TBR 2020 list is to read something by Ilona Andrews. After sinking wholeheartedly into the In Death series on your recommendation, I’m really looking forward to Ilona Andrews. Warrior nuns? I’m in! I’ve read the first Murderbot and loved him. I will continue with it next year.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Yay, glad you've had a good year of SFF reading!

[@KieranLikesCake]

I was worried Murderbot wasn't going to make the list for a second there. I want to try to read The Kingdom and Red Sister in 2020. Hopefully I enjoy them as much as some of your other recommendations.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Haha fear not-- they were reigning at the top of the list! ;) Hope you enjoy The Kingdom & Red Sister!

[@TheYellowcrush]

Top 3 favorites this year: 3. Kings of the Wyld 2. The Bear and the Nightingale 1. The Sisters of the Vast Black- love SO much, and between the nuns, female friendships that aren't toxic, and technology changing life and religion, etc. I think it could be right up your alley.

[@danielleoliver1734]

Laura L Fox I loved the first 2 you mentioned and now I want to read about nuns in space. How has no one mentioned this before. It sounds awesome

[@TheYellowcrush]

@@danielleoliver1734 it just came out in late October, but I agree, people are sleeping on this one! It's very short, too - under 200 pages. If you like Becky Chambers, you'll love it! Enjoy!

[@bookslikewhoa]

Nuns in space = SOLD

[@jhart1127]

Edit: I had to add this!!! 😂 I have just bought The wolf in the whale due to your review so thank you! OP: I just felt so let down by Serpent and Dove 🤷‍♀️The pacing was not it. I have no idea why the main male character fell in love with MC as she was truly vile. * SLIGHT SPOILERS* I feel like the first half of the book should have focused on their budding friendship, when it all kicks off at the end he should have saved her in the capacity of a friend and then the ending of the book it could have rounded off smoothly with the budding romance. I think how it was executed was incredibly jarring and when you know what happens at the end, I just didn't care what happened to her 🤷‍♀️ I SO WANTED TO LOVE IT 😭

[@joana8568]

Hi Mara! What booktubers do you recommend for fantasy and scifi? Thanks ;)

[@bookslikewhoa]

Oh there are just so many... recently, the ones I've watched most consistently have been Liene's Library, Merphy Napier (not just SFF), Thoughts on Tomes, & Books with Emily Fox (not just SFF). Daniel Greene and Elliott Brooks are 2 other big ones, and you can always check out the list of judges for the Booktube SFF Awards (Connor O'Brien comes to mind from that list, as well as Perpetual Pages)

[@shelleyd7009]

I think Tor has been doing a great job with their novellas. A trilogy of novellas I think is very under hyped is Corey J. White's Void Witch Saga. Dark, very action packed science fiction with a female protagonist. I really liked them and am looking forward to his full length novel debut (not a Void Witch book) in 2020.

[@bookslikewhoa]

Agreed-- I think Tor really knows how to do short SFF right!

[@leeah8419]

Don't give up on Brandon Sanderson!!

[@bookslikewhoa]

We'll see! I probably just won't talk about it on my channel because it's too much pressure :/

[@lifefullofwords]

I’m going to have to try the Mark Lawrence trilogy. I don’t read many fantasy novels written by men and a guy writing an all-female cast seemed like it could go wrong. But I’ve heard nothing but good things so I guess I should give the dude a chance lol

[@bookslikewhoa]

I think he pulls it off- proof it can be done!

[@rose_and_thorns]

I cackled at "basic bitch medieval world" :P

[@skeletonkeybooks]

I

[@bookslikewhoa]

Haha fair enough-- I have fondness for her even though she is... let's go with "complicated"

[@Imaginetheday1967]

Brandon Sanderson made my best and worst list this year. One of my best - Skyward. One of my worst - Elantris. Other favorite SFF - Book of the Ancestor trilogy, Murderbot (your gush is well deserved!), Frankenstein, and Uprooted.

[@soniarodriguez2072]

You need to read Sarra Cannon's Shadow Demons Series. She's an indie author. My favorite series. Check it out.

[@LorisBookTrials]

I have only read Skyward by Brandon Sanderson and I loved it. But if your not liking it then he just might not be for you.

[@danecobain]

I've read a grand total of zero of these books! In fact, I haven't even read any of these authors!