BIGGEST SURPRISES OF THE YEAR

[@puzzlingread]

Biggest positive surprise for me in 2023 was The Murderbot Diaries. I've listened to first 3 novellas so far and I'm loving the series.

[@weltenreier6024]

Murderbot Diaries are the best books of 2023 for me.

[@miyayume_eclectic_dream]

Yes Yes. Strange I knew I would like the book and it was so!!! I am happy in succseded in making one friend read it. She finished all 7 books in 2 weeks🥰

[@AntheaReads]

"I don't get it" I don't either girl, the hype for Fourth Wing is wack and not in the good way imo. Love your videos!

[@ToCoziesAndBeyond]

I am reading Immortal Longings based on your review. I haven’t read any other Chloe Gong, so I have no previous opinion of her. So far I am loving the book. Early in 2023, I read the Adventures of Amina Al Sirafi. Then I read the Daevabad Trilogy, The Book of Tea duology by Judy I Lin, and the first Gaurdians of the Dawn book by S. Jae-Jones. So I discovered how much I like non-European fantasy.

[@aisvarya888]

Omg I've read all of the books you've mentioned and loved em! Been wanting to pick up Zhara for a while, jus wanna ask if you'd recommend it? (Cuz I haven't heard many talk about it)

[@ToCoziesAndBeyond]

@@aisvarya888 I loved Zhara! I listened to it on audio first and I felt like she was right with me telling me her story. Zhara and her stepmom have a Cinderella feel to their relationship. There is a little bit of a romance, but it doesn’t overwhelm any part of the story. We do get several chapters from the love interest perspective. And I enjoyed those as well. I liked Zhara better, but the love interest was good too. Zhara and her love interest meet over a newly published volume of Zhara’s favorite romance. That was a cute detail that I loved. There is magic and political intrigue and secrets to uncover. It did feel like a younger YA book because Zhara and the love interest seem so naive, but that just made me love them more. It also made the world building better for me. I wish more people were talking about this one!

[@aisvarya888]

@@ToCoziesAndBeyond Thank you so much for convincing me to pick it up soon! I jus ordered the paperback and can't wait to read it. It sounds definitely magical and lovely.

[@Dpal9959]

I feel the same way about Fourth Wing, just don’t get it & have no interest in Iron Flame. Love your recommendations! Thank you!

[@amandaius]

Thanks to you I read the flat share and absolutely loved it! Then I found out that theres a TV show of it on Amazon Prime. I watched it and it was fairly true to the book and was super cute.

[@jkmacrunnel]

I didn't know this, thank you!

[@LarkandLegend]

Reading Godkiller now, and Skediceth’s first POV chapter is legit what sold me on the book lol

[@brittanyfrancis5058]

I read "Godkiller" because you talked so much about and and I was like, ok this is good, but then I got an ARC of book 2 and I LOVED it!

[@ladyfox6705]

Happy to hear, because Godkiller was one of my favourite reads of 2023, and I've preordered Sunbringer (which I rarely do!)

[@19Rena96]

Sometimes i wonder if i read another Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries because i didn't like a single thing about it and even DNFd it 😂

[@catsandbats77]

Biggest surprise for me this year was listening to the audiobook of The Thief by Megan Whallen Turner and how invested I was towards the end of the book. I ended up listening to the entire series and loved it. Previously anybody describing a book as political fantasy would make me immediately think "nope." Now I'm looking forward to discovering more. Another surprise was Daisy Jones and the Six. The full cast audiobook absolutely made this story. It was my first Taylor Jenkins Reed book. I enjoyed it so much that I went on to listen to the audiobook of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

[@ladyfox6705]

Godkiller! A great read, interesting world-building and characters, with good writing and a snappy pace (but never feels rushed.) Loved it! 🙂 I'm looking forward to Sunbringer and preordered it!

[@SheiaLyn]

My biggest surprise in 2023 was Alias Anna. It’s a nonfiction biography in verse written at a level for younger readers to understand, and I absolutely LOVED it. There is very little nonfiction I end up actually reading, and this was one that I thought I was just going to take back to the library without really looking at it after all. I decided to at least start it just to see, and I couldn’t stop. I eventually had to because I worked the next day, but otherwise I would have finished it in one sitting. It was phenomenal, and after reading that version, I read the one her son wrote about her experiences, which also thoroughly engrossed me. I gave both 5 stars! I highly recommend it. I learned so much that I didn’t know!

[@jkmacrunnel]

I'm a VE Schwab stan, so I'm with you on how great Shades of Magic is, its def my favorite by her so far.

[@braveheartalice]

My biggest surprise was how much I also LOVED Divine Rivals, while simultaneously being surprised at how much I didn't love Ruthless Vows. Maybe I'd put too much hype on RV, but it just wasn't as good as it could have been

[@luulusoul]

So fun story - I expected to hate fourth wing. It seemed to get the same attention as ACOTR which I DNF'd, so I was planning to avoid it. Then in a previous video you mentioned deciding to check it out. Your video is the main reason I gave Fourth Wing a try....and I LOVE IT! I feel like it's a nice bridge between the potato chip, easy, just one more page, style of a lot of romance books I've read while the plot itself felt like some of the easier fantasy stories I've read. So like...it's a nice brain break after something like Wheel of Time, but a nice brain jolt after a regular romance. The perfect bridge book.

[@katijat6686]

My biggest positive surprise was Last Tale of the Flower Bride. I wasn't planning to read it because I didn't like the synopsis at all. Something you said in a review intrigued me though. I gave it a try and it ended up being one of my favorites :) The synopsis is pretty misleading.

[@whisper_dvm5157]

I think you should give Jade War a try- maybe grab from the library so you can DNF if needed. I HATED Hilo in Jade City but he really goes through such a great character arc and now he’s one of my favorites.

[@tiantuatara]

I really enjoyed the whole approach to gods in Godkiller. Great book.

[@Hamilwhovian]

My biggest surprise was the reread of Percy Jackson. I still love those books, even after all these years and considering I'm in my 30s now!

[@ella_dee04]

Did you read them to prepare for the show? I loved those books when I was young and am loving the new adaptation 😊

[@sandeesandwich2180]

The audio book of The Flatshare is excellent as well. I have read it in print and listened to it many times, definitely one of my favorite books.

[@author.gabrielavrivera]

14:44 I LOVED the writing and the characters! For me the downfall was the slower pacing and the fact that I couldn't actually connect to the characters. But I can see why so many love it.

[@EotuaDawnwalker]

My thoughts on VE Schwab: Her writing style is superb, but her plots are just ok. I feel like her ideas themselves are kinda cool, but not like earth shattering. I end up leaving all of her books having had a great time, but not wanting to go back to them because I didn’t care too much for the plot. The Shades of Magic trilogy is the only one I’d consider rereading, so I can read the new book. Even then, I know what happens mostly, so would I still have a great time with it? Idk

[@_ashleylh]

I enjoyed reading both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame...but I agree with you! I don't get the extreme love for the first and the extreme dislike for the second. IMO, they are both really good times that needed more editing, but that didn't take away from the experience for me. I've never read Darker Shades of Magic but I got the old paperback covers on sale and I'm excited to get into them this year!!! Emily Wilde was a big surprise this year for me as well. I loved it and yay for a Canadian author! (I'm Canadian clearly😅).

[@dropofgoldentarot]

I really liked both Immortal Longings and The Shades of Magic Trilogy. Shades has been one of my favorite series ever, was so excited to get back into the world... anxiously awaiting for more about the Londons, Lila, Kel and Ry. But I also enjoyed Fourth Wing and liked the second one better then the first.

[@pkmadsen2850]

I was negatively surprised with my biggest anticipated 2023 release: Cassiel's Servant by Jacqueline Carey. I loved the Kushiel's Dart trilogy. And this book, years after they were published, was going to be from Joscelin's POV. The only new thing was the first part where we see his growing up and training. Then it was just a retelling of the previous books with really nothing of value added. Why did Carey do this? I'm hoping the sole purpose wasn't just to cash in. And now it has tainted my fondness for the original trilogy. Sad.

[@joya841]

I loved Godkiller! Still need to read Sunbringer. Have you already read Sunbringer?

[@JessicaBarton-o6p]

I really enjoyed Fourth Wing. I would love to know the fantasies that you like better. I am always looking for romantasy!

[@thequeerfantastic]

Biggest positive surprises: Naomi Novik's Scholomance trilogy--I'd heard such mixed reviews, but boy I think they're fantastic; Lore Olympus--same deal, and I absolutely blew through these; and ironically, The Sunlit Man--because you and I have pretty similar tastes, I went in with low expectations, but I enjoyed it a ton! Up there with Tress, for me. Biggest negative surprises: Heart of the Sun Warrior--a big letdown from Daughter of the Moon Goddess, oof; and unfortunately, I'm a little bit having the opposite experience with Shades of Magic. I've only reread the first so far, and I do still like it! But the series used to rank as an all-time favorite, and...so far I'm not feeling that anymore.

[@ReadingNymph]

There were some great surprises, Godkiller I agree with you, it was a good one

[@lindsayrenee1063]

I'm reading Emily Wilde and Godkiller right now! ❤❤

[@jaydig2]

Anyone know if Evan Winter (Rage of Dragons author) is publishing the third book in his series?

[@miyayume_eclectic_dream]

My biggest surprise was one book: I married a Lizardman by Regina Abel as the cover is cringy and plot should be monster-spicy-romance. BUT it has found-family-trope, no xenophobia and simple politics with high stakes... I wish many more were to read this book.

[@VincentTornude]

by the time I finished Godkiller I was so angry I wanted to fight you lol.

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I love that copy of immortal longings 😩

[@robertgrant721]

Getting to the end of Godkiller and it’s looking like it’s heading to a sequel, and I don’t really feel like enough has happened to warrant it. Feels very slow paced and lacking adventure. It started with a bang but then things slow way down. I want to like it but I’m struggling.😢

[@jaimee-kate]

you're so right about VEEP haha, incredible show

[@JRNAtrisTwothirteen]

Silo trilogy was a surprise to read. Great series and ending.

[@surpriseitsus9622]

I read Emily Wilde and I thought it was ok. I would have liked to know the supporting characters better. The dog and the fae friend at the spring, loved. Babel was the only book I have ever dnf'ed, at 70% 🤷‍♀️ God Kilker, 👍 I need to read VE Schwab.

[@laurenschenck5355]

I loved iron flame series so much and the characters and the story and wonderful 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉📙📖🩵📖📚📚📙📖📖📙📚📚📖📖🩵🩵🩵🩵📙📙📚📙🩵🩵🩵🩵📙📚📚📙🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵📙📙📙📖🩵📚📙📖🩵🩵🩵📙

[@lindsayrenee1063]

I totally agree about Babel. So intense and already so long and I wanted more ❤

[@lindafletcher1628]

Godkiller was great....loved the pace as well as the characters. I dislike extraneous material, that type of book reminds me of reading Dickens where Id rather read Dumas

[@thewitchyreader6131]

Great Video!

[@gordontheobald]

Biggest letdown for me was Godkiller. Went in expecting something special, got … not that. Best was probably Yellowface or Mort.

[@katanabluebird]

yellowface's ending was just too much, imo. Still excited to read other works for RF Kuang though

[@ColorPopKnits]

I liked Immortal Longings :-)

[@aliebellule]

I DON’T GET THE 4Th WING EITHER. It’s not bad, but there’s just so many better books in the same vein out there.

[@starlasell5698]

❤📚📚❤️