YA FANTASY THAT'S BETTER THAN ADULT FANTASY (imo)

[@catsandbats77]

An Enchantment of Ravens is a sweeter story, but I think the fae in it are darker. They're closer to the fae of folklore and for me, that made it better than ACOTAR.

[@Jadieum]

Six of Crows and Cruel Kingdom will always be one of my favourite YA Duologies. I think YA as well as middle-grade novels do not get the respect they deserve sometimes. Both the Nevermoor series and Percy Jackson series are brilliant, although I do not know which adult fantasies they would be compared to.

[@LydhiaMarie]

Yesss to Six pf Crows vs Lies of Lock Lam!! Haven’t been able to find anyone else with that opinion. Thank you for voicing it. Also, the ending soundtrack was lovely. ☺️

[@Brookamungus]

You've shed some light on why I tend to prefer YA fantasy still over Adult, even in my 30s. I just feel that YA digs into emotions more/more honestly than adult fantasy has historically done. Not saying I need books to be *emotional* but just *real* and I feel YA does that well more often than Adult does. Side note: a lot of older adult fantasy I've picked up (ie Assassin's Apprentice or Furies of Calderon) would probably be classified as YA today, so worth noting that these lines have shifted in recent decades. Before, it was all just fantasy or children's books. No YA or MG option in between. Makes comparison with older works trickier.

[@emmyrose233]

I loveeeee Lies of Locke Lamora, it's one of the best books I've read recently, but Six of Crows is such a tough series to beat. It's seriously top notch YA in my opinion; the character interactions and plot twists are particularly well done. Also, THANK YOU for pointing out the outfit scene in Locke Lamora, oh my god it was so ridiculously long.

[@ezool18]

so happy to see some love for An Enchantment of Ravens! i never read acotar so i had no preconceived opinions going in, and when i finished Ravens i was surprised to see so many people not really liking it and i was like "???did we read the same book?? who the heck is feyre???"

[@Schmunzelfee]

That‘s so interesting! I loved Fourth wing, cried, laughed and was so damn excited in so many scenes. It was an emotional rollercoaster for me. It’s my new favorite book even though it has a few weaknesses. It’s so interesting that we all prefer different kinds of books. Makes the book market more individual and it means many kinds of authors have a chance to be successful. Next I definetely have to get my hands on Fireborn. 🤔

[@LeevandScorch]

I didn’t like lies of Locke Lamora at all! Found it kind of boring and confusing. Maybe it was because English is not my native language, but 95% of my books are English, soooo… The Six of crows series on the other hand is one of my all time favorite 😁! And I really like heist stories all around.

[@Warriorsfan540]

I was so excited to read LoLL. I had heard so many great things about it.. Same as you, I found it boring and confusing. But, I own all 3 books so I will try again another time.

[@nazimelmardi]

What’s confusing in it? That book is pretty creative. And at least new type. If it’s a question that you read on an other language that’s strange to say “don’t like” it’s only says the prose and structure is easy on the given language not that it’s better. And your knowledge lacks.

[@LeevandScorch]

@@nazimelmardi I didn’t like the book because I found it confusing and sometimes I didn’t understand the motivations for some of the stuff the characters did. I would give you an example, but I read this book two years ago. The overall feeling I remember was confusion and boredom. I’m happy for you that you liked the book - I didn’t. The thing with the language was not really serious.

[@tatli3630]

I felt the same about LOLL. It's a super overhyped book imo. There were no female characters I could relate to and the one I liked got treated terribly, only to give a main male character some sort of plot motivation. I abandoned it 3/4 in and forgot it even existed until now.

[@nazimelmardi]

@@tatli3630 and talking about sexism. Why exactly we need a female character into everything as important one? And btw: this is a crime book. It’s not a goal that you relate to any characters. These are killers and other criminals. What exactly are you reading? Did you see any positive character in that book series? No. And that was the goal.

[@viktoriabazyk8193]

i like that scene you mentioned in locke lamora cause it's scenes like this that make you believe that a character really is a cunning mastermind by demonstrating how he does it. in six of crows you kinda have to suspend your disbelief quite often in regards to how kaz achieves stuff

[@dienercontent6872]

I tend to love YA and find adult just fine. Not sure why, but I find a lot of YA let’s me feel what I felt when I was a kid that I don’t experience as much anymore. My favorite series is Ranger’s Apprentice, and I didn’t find that until I was an adult, but it just felt so hopeful. I definitely think a lot of the hate on YA is by adults who want the story to be less YA. As a high school teacher, I can tell you that teens resonate with YA stories more than adult despite things we as adults might roll our eyes at. But I think it’s worth finding what you like and spending most of your reading time on that.

[@catsandbats77]

I think that's why I sometimes just want some fun middle grade books. It helps me feel the way I did when I was that age.

[@dienercontent6872]

@@catsandbats77 exactly! Love when I find one that really takes me back!

[@kelleyeasterling]

I usually prefer YA, I think sometimes the adult tries a little too hard? There's something called Nu Adult, I guess it's like an in between, that I've liked too.

[@antiformsora]

The one where I've read both (An Enchantment of Ravens/ACOTAR), AGREED. I also found the fae to be more strange and less like just... beautiful immortals. I like both, but An Enchantment of Ravens is higher on my list of good books than ACOTAR.

[@nazimelmardi]

Not hard. ACOTAR is low quality.

[@catsandbats77]

I absolutely agree with you about the fae feeling more strange. They feel more like the actual tales of the fae.

[@antiformsora]

@@nazimelmardi Ehhh. You could say the writing is not high quality, but books are more than that. People find a lot in ACOTAR that resonates with them, like dealing with trauma in the second book especially. "Low quality," "trash," etc... those aren't even critiques. They add nothing to the conversation. Feel free to talk about specific things you didn't like about them (or what you read of them), but it means nothing until you do. :D

[@nazimelmardi]

@@antiformsora resonate. The first book has 3 sexual (or sexual intention) assault against the main character from her later love interest. Yes, the very one who will be her love in the 2nd book. But you, readers just overlook that and let it slide. That’s not a red flag, it’s a “never flag” from any woman on earth who has a little brain in her head. Maas lost her moral compass. That’s one. The writing is repetitive. It tells to you how to think about things. Decides for you not shows you and you will realize it. Here you go, some of the weaknesses.

[@nazimelmardi]

@@antiformsora and that’s the main issue here. Those who stuck with these books and can’t realize what I just wrote down here, are not even trying to think on themes in the books and in case of prose, they are not getting better so even if they read (later on) they are not trying to read better books and authors who are (as you said) dealing with trauma and mental illness in their books correctly (not to mention relationships). Maas is not one of them!

[@cmeeki4]

Morning, I finally finished Firebourn, and I really enjoyed the plot as well as the characters. I happen to enjoy YA fantasy books.

[@kelleyceccato7025]

If you like Six of Crows specifically for the female characters and its depiction of female friendship (as I did), the very dude-centric Lies of Locke Lamora might not do it for you. I find it hard to enjoy a novel that keeps women on the sidelines for most of its page time, only briefly putting them in the spotlight when a villain is needed. Margaret Rogerson is super underrated. Her prose is first-rate, lovely without being showy or distracting, and her heroines are smart and resourceful (and since, so far, they've been the heroines of standalones rather than series, they don't fall victim to what TV Tropes calls "Chickification.") I wish more readers would discover her.

[@PistachioGold]

You're soooo right it is dude-centric 😂😂 wholeheartedly agree

[@hannahbrennan2131]

It really annoys me that people look down on YA books. It's just a marketing gimmick anyway.

[@violaivy]

I think it's important to mention about Flower Bride that it's a gothic tale, and the male POV character is inspired by protagonists in many gothic novels, such as the similarly unnamed narrator in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Those characters usually don't get a lot of focus on their characterization, it's there, but not the point of the story. The Bridegroom is very much like this, you get to know him, his backstory and why he's drawn to this mysterious woman but he doesn't go on a transformative hero's journey or anything. On the other hand, I feel like I got to know Azure really well, she was easy to root for. Idk if it's because when I was fairly young, I also had a friend who lived in a big house and had nice stuff so it was easy to put myself in her position. At the same time, many of Azure's experiences shine a light on what it's like to be a young woman of color, which I (and white readers) cannot relate to so she's less of an universal main character. This is something I love about Roshani Chokshi, her characters feel unique. While you can recognise familiar tropes and traits in say the Gilded Wolves characters, it's hard to find a character very similar to them. But this also means readers won't find them as universally relatable.

[@bookswithike3256]

I honestly think the only similarity between Six of Crows and Locke Lamora is that they're heist novels. And I'd never recommend Locke Lamora to someone who wanted something like Six of Crows. But maybe that's just because I found Locke Lamora really boring with bland characters.

[@B00kMaiden]

What would you recommend?

[@bookswithike3256]

@@B00kMaiden The closest in terms of vibe for me would be The Diviners by Libba Bray, but that's not a heist story, and it's paranormal horror set in 1920s New York. If you wanted more of a similar plot I would suggest The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi.

[@trinforeman54]

I agree with you about Crows vs Locke.

[@riclynsherman2117]

I love the Fireborne trilogy. I still think about it often.. even after reading it almost a year ago on your recommendation.

[@ladansemakabre]

oh my god hearing your opinion on Lies of Locke Lamora is so validating! i picked it up bc 1. ppl compared it to Six of Crows and 2. the way ppl talked about it... you'd think it's the best book ever written. i disagree with the two things. i had to DNF about halfway through 🤐

[@Janella_Ice_Ice_Baby]

I think Fourth Wing was fun for the right reasons and loved it. But! I will now definitely also read Fireborne. If it’s even better, I’m sooooooo down! 😊😊😊

[@dracul74]

It’s a good topic! I’ve read books that I didn’t know were YA and ended up being great reads I probably wouldn’t have touched. It makes me think of Games of Thrones. I loved the characters and overall story… but could have done with less gore and grit and think I would have liked it the same (I think :).

[@MarcyKennedy]

I couldn't agree more about Lies of Locke Lamora and Six of Crows. Lies of Locke Lamora was so unnecessarily wordy, and the omniscient POV meant I didn't connect with the characters at all. I didn't care whether they succeeded or failed. When something happened that should have been emotional, I didn't feel for them. And it's not even a contest between Enchantment of Ravens and ACOTAR. I ended up DNFing ACOTAR. The characters in.Enchatment of Ravens were so much more likeable, and there were the moments of humor along with the darker elements that struck an ideal balance for me personally.

[@mintyxx1]

Oof. What you said is correct - at least, for the ones that I've read. But this is exactly why I would never hold a comparison over a book that I'm checking out. As much as possible, I try to let the book tell the story it's trying to tell. It's the same for when a movie/show is based on a book, or a book is inspired by something else. Let that story be its own unique tale, and you'll find yourself less disappointed in stuff. It's also why I'm not swayed by Tik Tok and the hype.

[@dragonlair9469]

My first fantasy read was as a child back in 1976 (The Hobbit was the first book I read cover to cover) and it has been my preferred genre for most of my life. I don't understand the difference between YA fantasy and Adult fantasy. In your second example: Lies vs Six... Those two I read and I can't fathom the difference? I enjoyed them both equally. Help me out!

[@1Michajela]

Could you please make more videos about not so popular (very few reviews) books that are worth more hype? I just finished A Year of the Reaper and i really enjoyed it but i only ever heard of it once on Booktube.

[@Book_Bratt]

So, with the exception of lies of Locke Lamora, I read every single one of those the opposite so the adult book 1st, then the ya and until this video, I did not compare ACOTAR and an enchantment of ravens. I generally enjoy books…. Most of my books, I find some thing in, and often times when I’m reading them I don’t know if it’s a ya or adult unless I found it specifically in that section for that reason. I think this is kind of a cool perspective, one that I don’t really run into, but it is helpful for me when I am recommending books for others to keep this in mind.

[@Sad.Purple.unicorn]

I love Six of Crows duology but couldn’t get past the first book in Lies of Locke Lamora

[@SHADOW1414]

Lol, I love middle grade fantasy! 🤣 And even when I pick up a bad one, it's short enough that I don't feel I wasted my life reading it.

[@sarasgonzalezg]

Thanks for the Fireborn recommendation!! I'm loving it 🤩. I read fourth wing because I wanted a story about dragon raiders and I was very disappointed. Then o read iron flame hoping it would get better, but I regret it. With Fireborn I'm only 13% in and it feels like that book I was expecting to read when I got fourth wing😂

[@banaa9463]

I like this kind of video! I agree with Lies of Locke Lamora and Six of Crows. I did enjoy both, but gave Lies 4 stars, Crows 5 stars.

[@christeascozycorner]

LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA THE OUTFIT SCENE, IT WAS SO RIDICULOUS HAHAHAHA

[@emmyrose233]

OH MY GOD SERIOUSLY. It's one of my favorite books I've read but that chapter was fucking preposterous

[@aba3880]

If you’ve not read them may I recommend the Seraphina duology by Rachel Hartman? (And the follow up books featuring Tess.) Based on what you describe I think you might really like them.

[@브루나-l1v]

I enjoyed this video a lot, and read most of the books mentioned. I just wish it was longer

[@mattf.3365]

I soft DNF'd Fireborne but I think I'll give it another try. I liked the politics and plot and the dragon battles are cool. But I struggled with the budding teen romance part because the only two POVs are the two main teenage characters involved in the Romeo and Juliet type romance plot. It was a little too central to the plot for me but maybe I should pick it up again.

[@EfiLovesBooks]

These were really interesting comparisons. Enjoyable video.

[@moonstonepearl21]

Yea overly flowery writing can sometimes take me out of the story too. It's especially annoying if there is interesting stuff going on as more of a plot and worldbuilding driven reader because it feels unnecessary, and I just want to get back to the story. It's a skill to make beautiful writing work well and enhance and not detract from your story.

[@TellingNotYou]

I dislike when things that are very different are compared to each other ( or when books are compared to the most popular book in the same genre) especially when I dislike one then I might not pick up what it is compared to thinking it will be another book I dislike

[@unavezms8167]

I DNFed ACOTAR because the protagonist is soo stupid. Like girl you live in a mansion, you family is cared for and you wanna leave??? Like the lord of the house is super nice guy... Just WHY?

[@angelc12000]

I'm currently reading The Last Tale of the Flower Bride and so far like it more than Strange the Dreamer, though I read that book a while ago. Maybe if I reread it my opinion would change, but I didn't really enjoy it when i read it. I don't really like The Lies of Locke Lamora either. I especially did not like the flashbacks. I think they just interrupt the story too much. I really liked Six of Crows, but it's been a long time. Maybe it's time for a reread. I read Fireborne earlier this year and had a hard time getting into it. I did like the ending and am planning to read the next one at some point.

[@donkevinbrown9906]

I just finished all three books in "The Five Warrior Angel" series and loved it but it is too Dark and Grim for most people.

[@pauieeepau]

I'll get Fireborne when I find it. I also just realized it's a series, so that'll be a fun hunt lol.

[@e-nev]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who didn't like Lies of Locke Lamora. It had it's moments, but overall it was such a chore to read. It's so long winded. I definitely prefer Six of Crows too.

[@samdoorley6101]

Are you familiar with Sabriel by Garth Nix? It's a YA novel I think of highly. If you're not familiar with it I'd love to get your impression of it.

[@ReadingNymph]

I really need to read Firebourne 😅 I love Enchantment of Ravens and have to agree with you, it is better than ACOTAR

[@IssaFe]

I need more of this plss

[@taylorgayhart9497]

I think for me when it comes to YA, people forget about the a part, it’s supposed to be for young *adults* not actual children.

[@bookswithike3256]

"Young adults" means teenagers.

[@AlleyKat46]

Strange the dreamer is one of my fave all time books! 💙

[@giants8585]

Sounded like doggie groan from stretching 1:07

[@LePinkCanary]

En Enchantment of Ravens is better for me because I don't like book series that consist of books at more than 400 pages *each*. But I also think it's one of Rogerson's weaker books in terms of the romance parts. I will never not suggest Six of Crows, especially the audiobook as it has a *full cast* that adds so much to the story.

[@lauraraui6286]

I learn something new every day. I had no idea Fouth Wing was new adult. It makes total sense now while reading the book it felt like YA and not adult. I don't trust booktok anymore I prefer to stick to booktube recommendations after being let down by booktok 😅

[@kattissmall8373]

I loved Enchantment of Ravens and would have read a whole series set in the different courts. However I didn’t like her other book. I just couldn’t get on board with the concept of books taking physical form and walking around. It’s just me personally who has a problem. I have never enjoyed stories where objects turn into people. Any LIVING creature that turns into another living creature is fine. But Not objects. I remember watching Beauty and the Beast as a girl and the walking talking furniture bothered me. At least they WERE people once. But I can’t deal when something that was originally a chair, book or sword turns into a person. Just no.

[@alicewiegold4425]

Only once in a book I have seen it played for horror, and that is in a Skulduggery Pleasent book. I can't remember which one it is, but it's one of the later ones in the first series. Without giving away too many spoilers, a minor character is being tested on to see how powerful one of the villains is; as this is happening, we are told that the person, despite not being human at the moment, is still self aware and concious is a way... and that is one of the more tamer moments in the series.

[@alananimus9145]

There is a serious issue with how books are categorized. What makes a book actually YA isn't if protag-kun is young but if the work explores how and why characters have the emotional responses they do. A book with high emotional intelligence (and recognizes different people have different emotional responses to the same events) is what makes YA. Adult novels on the other hand can shorthand a lot of the emotional framing allowing the author to explore a scenes in depth. Bad novels rely on the reader to self insert a lot of the material. Self inserting isn't always bad, but most of the time it is. If self inserting is used as a means for a reader to explore themselves and their values, ok, good. Most of the time it's just lazy.

[@PistachioGold]

I love SoC and CK, but lies of locke? Miss me with that 😂

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I still need to read an enchantment of ravens!!

[@cicigibs]

Despite the valid criticism, I really really Fourth Wing so I'm excited to try Fireborne!

[@ExLibris-Alys]

I need to give An Enchantment of Ravens a try. I really liked the first two ACOTAR books and the characters seemed fleshed out and real enough, but by the third one and the ones thereafter it all just seemed as though it was on a loop of fight school then the battles then Rhys and Feyre having s3x in great detail then back to fight school…and on and on. I absolutely hated the vile and ungrateful Nesta and I wanted to shake Elain til her teeth rattled and she stopped being such a drip. I also stopped liking the newer version of Feyre as much too so the story was wearing very thin for me and I didn’t really see the point of Frost and Starlight at all. I had to dnf Silver Flames half way through and at the moment I can’t imagine picking it up again…but time will tell. If anyone reading this is a big fan of ACOTAR I’m genuinely happy for you but please don’t bother to come at me because you won’t change my mind.

[@FionaSmith-zq8om]

I am so happy that you’re going home today to be safe with

[@BeckyJo8kids]

I agree about all of them except halfway through Enchantment of Ravens I just lost interest. ACOTAR is fine, but by no means great.

[@laurenschenck5355]

SO EXCITED!!!🏝️🩵🩵🏝️🏝️📖📚📙📙📙📚📚💛🏝️🌞🩵🩵🩵🏝️💛🏝️🩵🩵🩵🏝️🏝️📚📚📙📙📚📖🏝️💛🏝️🩵🩵🩵🏝️💛💛🌞🩵🩵🩵🏝️💛💛📚📖📖📙📙📖💛💛🏝️🌞🌞

[@TheBookishMom]

Fireborn is just better than a lot of books LOL No shame!

[@Zivilin]

I haven't actually seen anyone compare The Black Magician to any adult fantasybook, just wanted to say it is one of my favourite ya fantasy trilogies in the last decades time. Loved the magic system and characters and the lore of the world.

[@AndrewKolb101]

If everyone liked the same things it would be a terribly boring worlds.

[@laurenschenck5355]

Happy Saturday Elliot Luna and Sean hope to have a great day and relax enjoy the sunshine xoxo 😘 🌞🩵🩵🏝️💛💛💛🌞📙📙📚📚📚🩵🏝️🏝️🌞💛📖💛🌞🏝️🩵🏝️💛📖📖💛🌞🏝️🩵🩵🌞📖📖🌞🏝️🩵📙📙📙📙🏝️💛📖📖💛🌞🏝️🩵🩵📖📖📖💛🌞🏝️🩵🩵🌞💛📖📖🏝️🩵📙📙📚📚📚📚📚🩵🌞💛

[@fcsolis]

That wasn't your dog. That was you, you tic-tocked, pfft. Legumes will do that to you. I'm currently reading A Court of Thorns and Roses, it's amusing. Thank you for suggesting An Enchantment of Ravens. You won't leave The Fourth Wing alone. You love it.

[@laurenschenck5355]

Last tale of the flower bride I enjoyed the writing of it xoxo 😘 🌞💛🩵💛🏝️📚📚🌞💛🩵🩵📖📖📖📙🌞🩵💛🏝️🏝️🌞💛📖📖📙📙📙🩵🌞🏝️📚📚🏝️🏝️💛🩵🩵💛🏝️🏝️📚

[@FionaSmith-zq8om]

I don’t think you understand the

[@Elina-qg1mo]

Here I went to this video thinking "oh yes finally a video without Fourth Wing" but theeere it was yet again. I haven't read this book and I see it everywhere. I'm tired of seeing it everywhere. I'm equally tired of it being bashed in almost every video of yours I see at the moment. I get it, you didn't like it. But be it positive or negative I would like it to just be wiped under the rug and forgotten, because both its hype and laughing at it are getting old.

[@Mikeypem]

Wow, I can’t believe you have to see Fourth Wing everywhere. That is such an ordeal and you are so brave.

[@trinforeman54]

Also, what I get from this video... trauma = a better book 😂

[@ladansemakabre]

you didn't get a lot then

[@scottharris5264]

What I see in your reviews and choices is you just can't like books written for boys or men. Your books you like are all written for females. It would be nice if you could appreciate really great books not written specifically for women.

[@blazephoenix3669]

here early :)

[@josephinejensen3631]

First! :D

[@laurenschenck5355]

I love both adult and young adult fantasy and as long you enjoy and understand the story and love the characters that is what matters 💛🩵🏝️📚📚🩵💛🌞📙📙📖📖📖🌞💛🩵📚📚📚🏝️🩵💛💛💛🩵🩵🏝️🏝️🩵💛🌞💛📙📙📖📖🩵🏝️📚📚📚📚🏝️🩵💛🌞💛💛📙📙📖🏝️📚📚🏝️🏝️🩵🌞🩵📚📚🏝️