BOOKS SO GOOD THEY MAKE YOU FEEL DUMB 💁🏻‍♀️

[@emmaelizabeth3373]

I introduced my mom to The Queen's Thief series, and now I'm legitimately afraid she's never going to enjoy another book again 😂 So continue at your own risk...

[@kmoonshadow]

I have never seen ANYONE talk about the Queens Thief series! It’s sooooo good! I listened to them as audiobooks and the narrator was impeccable. I highly highly recommend. It’s one of those series that you may not realize it at the time but after a while you notice that you can’t get it out of your head. Even if the exact details of the characters and plots fade, the *feeling* of the books stay with you forever. 10/10

[@Kriseaf]

I saw "The Thief" in the thumbnail and CLIIIIIICKED, it's hardly an underrated book/series but it's still a tragedy (to me) that everyone in the whole world hasn't read it.

[@StoryGirl1128]

I love a good “Wait…what?” moment in books. Thanks for the video!

[@catsandbats77]

I listened to The Thief because of what you said about it when you read it. I ended up being completely sucked in and devoured each book in the series. It's such a fantastic series and I recommend it to everyone.

[@emosongsandreadalongs]

I used to think I wanted to write novels. Then I read Discworld and it's so clever and witty and well done that it made me think I could never, ever create something that good

[@catsandbats77]

Sir Terry Pratchett was an absolute genius

[@AnKiT_T]

I am currently reading “Guards! Guards!” And I am loving it.

[@mevarty]

Don't worry, nobody could. There was only one Terry Pratchett

[@magister343]

A lot of the Discworld novels are like that, but the first Rincewind books had a lot of major flaws and sadly in a couple of his last books Pratchett's dementia was becoming obvious.

[@KristyJones-c8f]

I think The Fifth Season fits the “Wait…Wut” category and I felt really dumb…or maybe “It was there the whole time”. And also the main character is very smart…perhaps this is why it is such a great book!

[@antiformsora]

YES THE THIEF. I've been a fan for like 15+ years, since only three of the books were out. Also the FairyLoot special editions of 1-3 are beautiful and I can't wait for them to release the rest.

[@triciahon8043]

Literally just finished reading The Bone Shard Daughter last night. The ending was worth it! I'll move The Thief up on my TBR. Great vid!

[@Griffnix]

My first thought was indeed Mistborn. The way everything connects and how it plays with a certain trope was great to read and was really helped by the fact that Brandon wrote all three before publishing to just seed and connect everything. I'm hoping for something similar with the next Era of Mistborn since it'll be done before it hits the readers.

[@jessicakeasler407]

This made me realize I usually 5 star books that make me feel me dumb 🤣🤣

[@stanloona000]

I need more videos with books recomendations like this

[@rebeccareber2208]

I’m so glad you highlighted The Thief! It’s so underrated and sometimes a hard sell when someone asks for reading suggestions!

[@tylersvedin3864]

I paced around the house for like 20 minutes after finishing the second mistborn book. Was stunned out of my mind.

[@miyayume_eclectic_dream]

😮 You are making me pick it up next. It is oooon the tbr.

[@ibg_music7525]

I'm super excited to read Witch hat atelier. I just started "The blade itself." The biggest "it was there all along" in a story I've read has to be one piece.

[@catIing]

The Queen's Thief series has the best smart character I have EVER read, he's really so well-written (especially in the first 3 books). I didn't once feel like I was being lied to about his intelligence and resourcefulness. But the 3rd book is BY FAR the best one in my opinion, it's been one of my favourite books for years and not even the (relative) disappointment of the series finale can change that. It's just so so good. Books 2 and 3 are definitely better than book 1 too.

[@janetrichards5353]

Love Witch Hat! My daughter started reading them and kindly lent me her copies. Now we're both hooked! I love the artwork, of course, but you are entirely correct with the seriousness of the themes/plot points in this seemingly sweet, innocent, space

[@eloisewg2818]

Hi! If you like smart characters and fun and wholesome world building, I would recommend 「World Trigger 」, it’s the best ensemble casts manga I ever read. Give it a try if you would 😊

[@CheeryShine320]

I'm so happy you keep talking about Witch Hat Atelier, it's one of my favorites to recommend at work

[@joanna9821]

I love it when books foreshadow things, the surprise is the best. Mistborn is on my TBR, so I'm excited to read it. I feel like Heaven Official's Blessing fit into all these categories, especially the Black Water Arc

[@morganamomo]

the third book in the Queen's Thief series is so unbelievably good, it's one of my favorite books of all time. I've never had a character gaslight me as a reader in such a way that made me feel so stupid, but in the absolute best way that made me love them even more lol.

[@NghiêmCôngSâm]

It's crazy how nobody is talking about the banned ebook Magnetic Aura from Borlest

[@Shelf_Improvement]

Why is it banned?

[@NonAnonD]

@@Shelf_Improvement thats just some spammer lol

[@KindlingEffect]

@everybody This comment is an advertisement to get people to Google the name and visit their website, so that they then have your info* and can show you further ads and also sell your info to other advertisers who are looking to sell to your particular demographic. *Once you visit the website, a cookie is installed on your brower which can then track your internet activity, though which they then get additional info about you, like your social media profiles.

[@AnKiT_T]

Fullmetal Alchemist brotherhood is my favourite of all time. It’s just perfect in every way. From characters to story to execution. Just perfect.

[@haleylewis9587]

I have been a long time fan of your videos but had to take a long break of watching. After two years of reading nothing but academic reads for my MATS degree, I am so thrilled to be able to give my mind a much needed break and read more fun books! Nice to be back; can’t wait to read these!!

[@hayleybell_author]

So nice when the university reading is done and you can dive back into fantasy. Welcome back!

[@roseargent8951]

One of my favourite “wait… wut/it was there all along” combos is in Tad Williams’s To Green Angel Tower. Just. Perfect.

[@jkmacrunnel]

I recently started Witch Hat Atelier, just finished Vol 4! Loving it. My favorite foreshadowing moments in books off the top of my head: We Were Liars, The Raven Boys, and The False Prince.

[@hayleybell_author]

I feel like every book you talk about I add to my TBR. 😂It’s getting so long!

[@Marie45610]

Witch Hat Atelier is the definition of "That escalated quickly."

[@katrinamonson3819]

I loved Reign & Ruin too! Adding more books to my TBR, thanks!

[@ebnovels]

Yay, another Reign and Ruin fan! I’ll have a solo review for that going up at some point, because it definitely deserves more hype :D

[@JordanS-ww4eu]

@@ebnovelsyou’re my best friend Eliot I really like you ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@JordanS-ww4eu]

@@ebnovelsyou’re very pretty I love what you do with your hair

[@WhitneyOpfar]

You could say this for the entire Sanderson Cosmere. Even going into his books knowing he will throw in something crazy I still never see coming what he has in store.

[@sweet_t_reads]

I love rereading thrillers for this reason. Going back and being able to see all the foreshadowing and right in front of your face things that you don't get until the end. A good thriller will definitely make me want to re-read. Love books that's that make you think twice

[@quinnbrekker9467]

I absolutely loved this video and the idea of if. Please continue to do them, i'm so tired reading a book from the pov of a character that is so dumb they make me wanna punch something 😭

[@katywall1898]

So I know a lot of traditional fantasy readers are not Sarah J Maas fans, BUT the last line of the second Crescent City book, House of Sky and Breath was definitely a "Wait, What?" moment. And then, ensue screaming.

[@ma_niz]

Just placed holds on half of the books here. They sound so good!

[@scionsilverbeat8149]

Manga I love with those “it was there the whole time” moments: *Pandora Hearts* and *Jibaku-Shounen Hanako-kun* . They’re amazing!

[@monerahayder3201]

By just reading the title first thing comes to my mind is Bable 😂.

[@GalaxyElfJess]

I'm so happy to see someone else talk about Witch Hat Atelier! I know it's hyped but I genuinely don't know anyone else who has read it so it's one of those hyped underrated reads for me 😂 HEAVY Studio Ghibli vibes and I just love it so much

[@AllyEmReads]

My biggest "wait wut" moment was fully with The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu. I never felt so dumb reading a sci fi, and I went to school for astrophysics! There was so much scientific jargon but it was soooo good!

[@Mimlou]

Thanks to your channel and video for introducing me to Witch Hat Atelier!! Love it so much❤❤❤❤

[@ryanryanryansmith]

The Hero of Ages (Mistborn 3) has this feeling in aces.

[@Eluarelon]

Last time I had a "Wait, what?" moment was probably when I read Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana at the moment I realised who a certain Jester actually was. Regarding well done foreshadowing, I've always loved how Robert Jordan did that in the early books of his Wheel of Time saga, and a lot of that I only realized while rereading the books

[@moiarrrg]

Scythe trilogy by Neal Shusterman. It was the only book I ever read that closed every loop. Also the world is super interesting and I never read anything like it.

[@elizabethbriggs492]

I'm amazed Gideon and the locked tomb didn't make it in here! 🤯

[@marenta59]

Came here just for Reign and Ruin. It is the best Romantasy series I’ve ever read.

[@Chris-mo5vj]

Please continue reading The Queen's Thief series. I think the first book is the weakest in all honestly. I would love to see what you think of the rest of the series!

[@henrym.1290]

Love this prompt, great video Elliot !

[@writerducky2589]

Not a book, but the movie (action/thriller) Sweet Girl had that effect on me described in this video. It made me feel like I had picked up all the clues, but had no idea how to put them together until the end. Like trying to do a dot-to-dot drawing, but the dots aren't numbered. It was outside my usual zone, but it had me hooked. I really liked it😁

[@mischarowe]

I do like a mix of smart and dumb characters. I feel that's realistic. :)

[@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels]

Having just finished reading the OG Mistborn trilogy for the 3rd time . . . I can't argue with your picks for this list (the ones I've read at least), or it's inclusion 😂

[@crunkers_]

I dont really think any of these kinds of books make me feel dumb. I just feel happy or impressed. Books that are so good they make me feel dumb are the big, thick, hard to read classics. So like dune, crime and punishment, ulysses. These are the books my mind went to when reading the thumbnail.

[@rem2173]

a song of ice and fire does this incredibly great, the books are way better then the show in even at the very beginning with its foreshadowing.

[@darthbr3nnan]

Chris Paolini's To Sleep in a Sea of Stars made me feel really dumb

[@divaunt]

London Falling by Paul Cornell is the last time I had a "wait.. What?!" moment in a book and it was so good I became a life long fan. If you like urban fantasy, check it out.

[@christiansorensen7567]

Elliot! I haven't been watching for months, sry. Just catching up. It's good to hear there are clever authors out there still. Characters can only be as smart as their writer (save infinite monkey with typewriter circumstances) and there is a rash of authors 'telling' you their character is smart instead of showing. I binged FMA on Hulu the other month, so hopefully you will find that an acceptably permissive alternative to supporting good You-Tubers.

[@KittyAndTheBooks]

For me, definitely Ruin of Kings, I don't know which category exactly, but I kinda felt dumb at points reading it. :D

[@sarahgaither3626]

Just wanna say this is a super interesting topic and something I don't see get talked about much.

[@Annacadabra89]

If you're looking for intelligent characters, I highly recommend Ilona Andrews' books, especially the Hidden Legacy series. I love their books!

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I’ve wanted to read the bone shard daughter so badly

[@mariareadsssf]

More like in awe of theit thought process: Octavia E. Butler, N. K. Jemisin and Ken Liu.

[@enfisu586]

It's rather graphic, but can I recommend Freesia? It's probably the most tightly written manga ever and has no shortage of wait whats and it was there the whole times.

[@ChronicleV]

Which volume of Spy Family were you referring to? It’s been a while since I read them so I can’t remember off the top of my head.

[@mirenda1427]

The firebird chronicle by T.A White has incredible foreshadowing besides great worldbuilding and story 😊

[@lndcruz721]

Been a fan of with hat atelier and spy x family manga for years. It's great to see them so hyped up, they deserve it. Fullmetal alchemist also another gem, one of the older mangas but in terms or story and art, still amazing, still stands the test of time

[@Shelf_Improvement]

Yes, hooray for books so good they make you feel dumb! And I haven't read any of these except Abercrombie 🎉

[@thewitchyreader6131]

Great Video!

[@Chouninatte]

Witch Hat Atelier is so good, I hope the anime will bring more love to it.

[@Srbthmlnsmth]

Ughhh I’m not an anime fan I just find it a bit cringe.. but Elliot has never steered me wrong so maybe I need to watch Fullmetal alchemist now

[@edamamame4U]

I used to never be an anime fan until an acquittance in university introduced me to Fullmetal Alchemist (the 2003 version- yes, I am old) and I absolutely fell in love with the characters, plot-line, and difficult themes. I then started to read Arakawa's manga, and it made me understand that anime and manga can be masterfully written and tackle deep themes like human morality, grief, colonialism, and the nature of sacrifice. I adore the Elric brothers' relationship, and the manga still remains one of my absolute favourite to this day. While there are moments of very Japanese humour which is more slapstick in nature, these moments add some levity to a story that would otherwise be incredibly dark. I would recommend starting with the manga and then watching Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood which follows the manga to a T. If you enjoy Brotherhood you can give the original Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 series a try-- it deviates from the manga halfway through and is much more character driven and a bit more existential and darker and much more bittersweet in tone toward the ending.

[@Srbthmlnsmth]

@@edamamame4U hey thanks for the comments !! Yeah I think I will check it cuz all my fav creators AND authors r raving about Attack on Titan and Fullmetal and saying series those inspired them. I actually get quite tired with most ya fantasy cuz it reads so repetitive for me.. so maybe this is my answer ! I think I’ll like those more dark series more than the stuff I tried before (like dragon ball and Naruto) Also open to any other recs u have and thanks again for the reply

[@MistbornPrincess]

I read The Thief but couldn’t get into the other books. I got burned by Novak’s Uprooted…wasn’t prepared for the…intimate…aspects, and had to stop reading. But yes, Mistborn is def some of the best at foreshadowing, as did Sanderson’s Skyward. The novelas for Skyward made me actually laugh out loud. I love it when a book does that!

[@prpunk787]

Leo its a pretty dumb character imo 😂

[@OriginFormeLad]

This video is pointless if you don't reveal the plot points you're talking about.

[@alishaf6395]

…why would she spoil the stories? you’re supposed to read them yourself

[@mischarowe]

This video is spoiler free.