Favorite Science Fiction and Fantasy | Top 5 Wednesday &

[@yellowtreezy]

A lot of the book I have read and/or picked up because of you! I recently read Queen of the Tearling after watching your review and I absolutely loved it! I bought the sequel already, I just need to start it soon!

[@k.t.lorraine578]

I saw Six of Crows in the back and my heart melted

[@kathlynbaladad5756]

We have almost the exact same taste! I also love how you're so succinct. Subscribed!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

thank you!

[@carolinethereader]

I'm still so happy you loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone! It's one of my all time faves and I hate that so many people put off reading it because they don't like the idea of angels and demons because it's so much more than that!

[@Starrysong]

I loved Wicked because I got to learn more about the Wicked Witch of the West. I had always wanted to learn more about her. I actually felt for her because of all the misfortunes that she suffered. All she was trying to do was help people, but because of her differences people never really understood her. I am going to be checking out the rest of the books that you mentioned. I need to read Wicked again because it's been a few years since my last reading of it.

[@sparklingstone15]

Abhorsen!!! I love that series to death (lol) and had no idea you liked it so much! I also love Garth Nix so much for dealing with "difficult" topics re: mental health in a day that wasn't very common for books intended for a younger audience, especially in fantasy.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

yes! I love how groundbreaking this series was in so many ways.

[@eRoTiCCrEaTiOnS]

thank you so much for mentioning the assassin's curse!! I love those books so much. Idon't know anyone who has read that book or have seen any of the booktubers that I follow ever talk about them. ugh just thank you, oh and love your videos!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

they went through a really popular spell a few years ago but once they went out of print, they kind of disappeared.

[@ShalomDove]

I have a complicated relationship with fantasy. I love the potential for creativity that it represents ...and that is exactly why Ii deflates my enthusiasm when the same tropes show up over and over in so many books. It seems like all the books on your list sidestep that trope ness in different ways--which is lovely. I read uprooted on your recommendation , and you were so right; that book is beautiful. The writing is lovely, but even better, every time I thought I knew where it was going, it pulled the rug right out from under me and did its own thing. 😄 thanks for the recommendations! Clearly I have some reading to do...

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I'm glad you found some recs! I know what you mean about some SFF, but I've discovered that especially contemporary adult fantasy isn't as trope-y as I thought. I still shy away from older fantasy reads but all the new stuff I've read has felt fresh and exciting.

[@sandragenrejunkies]

I'm so glad you picked more than 5!! There are so many amazing ones out there. Good list, as always

[@chelseakerns7058]

I'm currently reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and loving all of the characters, though I think Kizzy is my favorite. My favorites are: The Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher The Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness The Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima

[@N332]

I pretty much screen shotted so many of these. Can't wait to check some of them out, since we have really similar tastes.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

fantastic!

[@noonlemur]

TEMERAIRE! also so glad you've read the Abhorsen books! been wanting to comment asking if you'd read them every time you've mentioned liking necromancy.

[@BookChats]

I saw your thumbnail like "Top 5 *side-eye*" but of course you couldn't choose only 5! honestly I've had the Temeraire books on my TBR since 2008 (?) and recently removed them without reading but you've convinced me to put them back on. Loved seeing your top SFF list. also I've apparently never seem the cover of Clariel because WOAH that looks so cool when you tilt it in the light.

[@HardbackHaven]

Ahhh I need to take notes I think. So many intriguing series! I'm bumping Mistborn up on my TBR - a heist, bridge from ya to adult fantasy?!? I'm so in!

[@lr2ldn]

The Girl of Fire and Thorns definitely doesn't receive enough love! It's soooooo good! Oh and The Graceling is so amazing. I just want to hug that book. lol

[@guelamunda1488]

I love it when Sam does these kinds of videos because it means more books on my tbr pile! ❤

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

x_guela 😊

[@bri7949]

AHHH! Graceling was my first fantasy too!! It's so good! I couldn't get into the last two :/ but that was a few years ago maybe I should try again!

[@Spiritbro77]

Reading Uprooted right now. Love this book. Sci-fi favorites would include just about anything by Bradbury, Asimov, and Stephen Baxter in more recent years. Manifold Time and Manifold Space are great as well as Titan and Moonseed. The book of the New Sun and The book of the Long Sun by Gene Wolfe are epic and beautiful.

[@PianoLibra]

Great video Sam!! Lol my faves are all Fantasy too: 1- anything by Brandon Sanderson (literally, if he wrote the yellow pages I would read them) 2- The lightbringer series by Brent Weeks 3- the Powder Mage trilogy by Brian McClellan 4- The Chronicles of the Black Gate series by Phil Tucker 5- Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes and the Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta 6- let's face it I have to add the whole ACOTAR/ACOMAF situation 😂

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

Lama A. Wahed I really want to read some Brent Weeks! He's one of the bigger fantasy authors I still need to try out.

[@PianoLibra]

Thoughts on Tomes you definitely should! His books start out slow because of the intricate world building but afterwards the twists and turns are totally worth it! Oh and I forgot Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, it's scifi at its best and messes with your mind and emotions eqaully! :D

[@amyr3293]

I just started the Lightbringer series this year and I absolutely loved the first book! I just did not see any of the plot twists coming.

[@thesonicmaestro]

Lama A. Wahed I'm reading the Powder Mage trilogy right now and I AM LOVING so far. Im at book 1 Promise of Blood. Also the covers with Field Marshal Tamas - look so badass! It's like a French Revolution with wizards, to put it lightly... but yeah. There's a coup and a whole magic system, and yeah it's good.

[@PianoLibra]

I know it completely blew my mind! can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series

[@susanfrances5568]

Please consider "A Glimpse Beyond The Future" By Susan Frances Pegasus publisher. It is about a world that has absolute knowledge of what happens when we die.Sci Fi / Romance

[@nomikonrad]

Have you read any Anne McCaffery she is amazing. Her books are mostly about either dragons or space. But she wrote so many books that they can keep you going for a wile. My favorite of hers is the Harper Hall trilogy. Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums. I really want more people to read this because they are just sooo good!

[@nat2002]

subscribed the instant you talked about the Graceling series. First read it when I was maybe 12 and have reread it like 50 times since. I don't really hear a lot of people talking about it so I tend to trust the few that do

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

:))))

[@grenbaygrl1]

Crooked Kingdom, the second book in the Six of Crows duology is my favorite book of all times, 'cause I really dig character-driven stories. I also dug the Name of the Wind series, although I still need the third book to come out.

[@drumsofautumn]

Yessss, so happy to see Graceling on here!! I mean I KNOW you love this but still I feel all warm and fuzzy just every time it gets mentioned anywhere on Booktube!! ALSO YES SAME WITH KRISTIN CASHORE WRITING A NEW BOOK. I can't believe it's finally happening. So many wonderful books!! And a lot of these were already on my radar but I just got reminded that I actually really want to read them haha. Ugh, what a wonderful topic. I really tried to stick to a top 5 (although I did cheat haha) but I actually really loved the way you did this.

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

LOL I knew Night circus would get a mention ;)

[@shireads2954]

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender would have been somewhere at the top of this list for me. It's so heartwrenchingly gorgeous!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

Rashida Krigger I'm actually not sure how I missed that one as it's one of my favorites as well!

[@nymeria941]

That was such a good book! It's stayed with me for a surprisingly long time.

[@1LadyM7]

I actually read Uprooted recently and absolutely LOVED it, but then when I went on Goodreads to check out some of the reviews I was so shocked that so many people disliked it, and mostly because they were confused by the magic system. I thought it was 'magical' for lack of a better word, I mean, too many rules can sometimes take the fun out of it, I really enjoyed the way it flowed in Uprooted!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I agree. It's a really polarizing read for a lot of people.

[@jessicadifelice7849]

My top 5: Shades of Magic trilogy, Mistborn (all the books), The Imperial Radche trilogy, The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet, Ryria Revelations :) (but I'm probably forgetting tons cause I'm not staring at my bookshelf) Honourable mentions: Study series, The Unwind dystology, The Young Elites, Dark Orbit, Memoirs of Lady Trent :)

[@jodisheridan5223]

My favorites are The Darker Shade of Magic, Six of Crows, Witchlands, Poison Study, and the Kingsfountain series.

[@BrekkeEl]

"classic YA" - I totally get that for the Old Kingdom series. I *loved* it and still go back and re-read it. It's audiobooks are fab - Tim Curry reads the original 3! I think of them as the gold standard of what YA can do - especially with world building.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I didn't realize he narrated! I might have to listen to them for re-reads.

[@Mithrandir18]

I adore all of these books! They are all at the top of my list and the ones I haven't read yet are at the top of my tbr! The only other books I would add are The Kiss of Deception, Narnia, and my all time fav, Lord of the Rings!

[@hanabanana8028]

A year ago I would had placed throne of glass high on that list, now I'm not so sure anymore :/

[@annaandersson5165]

Have you read Eragon by Christopher Paolini? I feel like you'd enjoy it, considering you liked Temeraire and The Lies of Locke Lamora :)

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

Louise Eckerström I read the first two when I was younger but they didn't stick with me through the years like other books have.

[@zoereads1125]

Have you read the raven cycle? Sorry if you have I don't remember, if you haven't though I 100% recommend! I'm sure you hear this all the time from other people it's a great series

[@aflowerthatcannotbebloomed]

zoereads1125 I believe she has read the first one (the raven boys)

[@annalammi3074]

*Finally* someone talks about Temeraire! :) This is the first time I hear about it in a video so thanks ALOT ;) I have the whole series (9 books) and I like it very much

[@sandyreadsalot]

Yesss Mistborn is definitely an amazing fantasy series!

[@babystarcandy7]

Thanks for all the recs! You sold me on TLOLL because my favorite story element is found family. Recently I finished the Red Rising trilogy and it has that + resistance/rebellion and awesome characters and I've had the WORST book hangover. I haven't been able to get into anything since. So maybe I'll give TLOLL to get me out of it. :)

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I hope it helps you get out of your hangover! I just finished the first book in Red Rising :)

[@babystarcandy7]

Thanks, and I hope you liked it! It gets so much crazier in the second book.

[@amyr3293]

My faves are: HP and ASoIAF, the Liveship Trader trilogy, the Study series, His Dark Materials, Graceling and the Fever series. I really need to read more SciFi lol

[@nerdtastic2014]

I love The Magicians TV show so much that I'm nervous to read the books in fear of how different they are. I really want to read ALL the fantasy and scifi books this year! One of my favorite fantasy series is The Iron Butterfly trilogy by Chanda Hahn! Very underrated but amazing! I think These Broken Stars is still my favorite scifi book. I also enjoyed Avalon by Mindee Arnett.

[@POlivares23]

Sam! I'm currently reading Uprooted solely based on your recommendation. It's pretty great so far!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

glad you're enjoying it!

[@EasternSunsetCreatesReads]

I love how this was almost a shelf tour! This is also why I didn't post a top 5 this week because there was no way I could even narrow it down to 5 series. I just finished the Winner's trilogy and really enjoyed it, I am curious what were you disappointed about with the ending? I purchased the Grisha trilogy to read this year thanks to your raving about it.

[@ReadandFindOut]

You listed so many books that are on my TBR!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

Shelby Machart 💃

[@eliaskafka7759]

read 'em all!

[@tinkbeadle2089]

literallly adding all of these to a wish list XD D: ahhh so many series! So happy you made this video though and that you did more than five :D !!!

[@beckf1858]

Hands down favorite fantasy series is the Song of Ice and Fire...close second, the Raven Cycle.

[@Wendyle1990]

Can I read the six of crows duology without having read the first trilogy of that world? Thanks for all the recommendations !

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

Wendy J. You can but I think you get more out of it if you read the trilogy first.

[@mariealhinho7283]

Top 5 haha ! :) I would go with a great (like : GREAT) French series that US publishers should go buy and translate : La Passe-Miroir, by Christelle Dabos, my all-time favorite so far. Then : Six of Crows, The Shades of Magic Trilogy, The Book of Lost Things, The Neverending Story

[@DaisyLife_]

Marie Alhinho the first book from La Passe Miroir was translated into English and published in 2018 under the name “winter’s promise”. I’m so excited to see book tube taken by storm with it! And I agree, the whole series was very good, I highly recommend it

[@varmiiii]

Great video! I think you just convinced me to read Temeraire. It sounds amazing and I'm sold at napoleonic war with dragons. My list would probably look something like this 1. Anything Brandon Sanderson because lets be honest, the man's a genius. 2. Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan 3. A Song of Ice and Fire by GRRM and Kingkiller Chronicle by Pat Rothfuss (I've been in pure agony waiting for the next book) 4. The Night Circus (duh how can someone not like this it's so beautiful) 5. The Bone Season series by Samantha Shannon 6. The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher 7. And Lord of the Rings trilogy (aka my senior thesis book lmao)

[@ruhihoque631]

Omg I love some of those books! I'm hoping to find more books that have those angsty relationships, so your channel's been really helpful😂 My faves: Harry Potter Six of Crows I'll Give You the Sun The Raven Cycle Daughter of Smoke and Bone A Court of Mist and Fury Throne of Glass Percy Jackson

[@PhysiqueQuantique]

My love for Robin Hobb's Realm of the Elderlings series (four trilogies and one quadrulogy all within the same world/storyline) knows no bounds. It is the best fantasy writing I've ever come across, it's a masterfully crafted world, and the characters are unforgettable. I'm about it. For Sci-Fi I'm going to say Ursula K Le Guin books (The Left Hand of Darkness and The Telling especially) are my fave so far, but I haven't read a lot of sci-fi tbh.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

PhysiqueQuantique Robin Hobb is an author who I want to start this year. Every time I hear about her books I get more and more excited about them.

[@aryasafira93]

Have you ever tried The Inheritance by Christopher Paolini? :) I personally loved the first book (Eragon), but the last one (The Inheritance) was rushed and I didn't like it. It was sort of boring for me :( I was 17 when I read the first book, and 23 when I finished the last book. That may be why I didn't like the last one :P

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I read the first two when I was in middle school I believe, and then just lost interest.

[@catarinathebookworm]

I loved this video so much! Fantasy is also my favorite but maybe because I haven't read A LOT of sci-fi because I believe I would love sci-fi too. Not sure if more than fantasy though 😊 Love all of your picks that I read and it's so scary how pretty much all of those that I haven't read are pretty much on my TBR 😂 Also thank you so much for talking about Wicked I feel like I am the only one that hypes this book!

[@nyxshadowhawk]

YES! THE NIGHT CIRCUS! Did everything right! Do I post this on every video that mentions it? I believe I do...

[@DecimalD_]

Nyx Shadowhawk When I first heard someone mention The Night Circus in October 2017, I rushed to buy it and started reading it. Ended up loving it just as much as everyone else. My favorite book of all time. Glad I read it in the Fall. Even more atmospheric.

[@StitchInTime]

Not a big sci Fi fan but I enjoy Starlight and Starfall by Melissa Landers.Does urban fantasy count?

[@BookChats]

AStitchInTime urban fantasy totally counts as Fantasy but it's a sub genre that I often think of totally on its own so good point!

[@nanoo2431]

Hey, I really recommend you finish the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy!! The other two books are soooo heartbreaking and beautiful that I enjoyed them more than the first book. :)

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I actually just posted my review for the second one :)

[@lastjuliet788]

hey Sam , would you please tell me what you always looking in character development and the world building , specifically

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I could probably make a whole video on this tbh. The really simplified version is for character development, I want the characters to learn, grow, and change throughout the story. For world building, I want the world to feel like it exists outside the story. So for example, a world that has it's own culture, myths, magic, religion, customs, etc.

[@lastjuliet788]

I loooooooooooooove tour answer and I can't wait for the video . Maybe it would be the topic of TOP 5 WEDNESDAY for the next week

[@lastjuliet788]

?how about writing and plot

[@cbahm]

Would you add a written list of these books to the description box under the vid? I couldn't understand what you said for the first set, and I've got a birthday trip to the local bookstore coming up soon. 😀

[@BedtimeBookworm]

100% agree about DoSaB!! So glad you enjoyed it. I loved the whole series!

[@TheSlothReader]

I wanted to do this video but I sat for forty-five minutes and couldn't choose five stories either. So I just skipped it haha

[@darthjaderr]

Oh my goodness I love your Garrus funko pop!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

thank you :)

[@elenal.95]

I love your personality so I had to subscribe, I want to read the grisha trilogy so I will be purchasing.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

ah thank you :))) Enjoy!

[@benjaminbufton3696]

Fantasy: The name of the wind, witches of Eileanan series, juliet marilliers books...

[@marielapenino5145]

Is The Star Touched Queen your #1 Hades Persephone retelling?

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

Mariela Penino at the moment probably yes but I don't think it's like the ultimate retelling if that makes sense? I'm still looking for my 5 star H&P retelling.

[@nethminigunasekera2356]

Have you read the Cahill Witch Chronicles??

[@cajunashtalks3832]

I need to rewatch cause I don't remember you mentioning Falling Kingdoms series! 😟

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I didn't! I actually left a few favorites out on accident because I had so many I was talking about.

[@MinKattMossy]

You look fucking bomb in the thumbnail! 🙌🏼👌🏽👍🏽👍🏽👌🏽(and always, but this thumbnail was just really extra)

[@aflowerthatcannotbebloomed]

how can somebody only pick a top 5 favorite fantasy and science fiction books. is that even a real thing? I still haven't read the lies of locke lamora or whatever the title is (I basically can't spell). I really wanted to read the magicians series but then I heard the word depression and I was likee nope. Maybe one day in like very late in the future I will be able to read it. hahaha DOES MAGIC HAS TO HAVE RULES NOO😂😂 cracked me up soo much. I really loveeee the wizard of oz & I loveee dark stuff. so why haven't I read wicked yet? I honestly don't know.

[@nymeria941]

So I have a funny relationship with the Magicians series. I loved the first one until the end, which made me rage quit the series for a year (characters being pieces of shit and all) before I picked it back up because there were loose ends I HAD to wrap up. Now I'm watching the show and back in love/proselytizing the series to everyone I know. I also bought the first Temeraire book today because of you, so yay!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

that's interesting! I didn't get on with the first book but I adored the last two.

[@sablebeauty]

The Naomi Novik book, is it three books in one volume? Trying to find it on goodreads.

[@dragonarchive93]

I learned about a lot of new fantasy books from ur vid. Thank u!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I'm so glad :)

[@SamMaeB]

Do you have any other recommendations for books with AI components? I love that aspect of Illuminae too!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

Definitely The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Also for graphic novels, Alex + Ada.

[@SamMaeB]

awesome! Added both to my list. Thanks!

[@guibarta]

what is the name of the first series of book? i can't understand..

[@therabbitholeguild]

Great, realistic, unapologetic insight. Thank you very much!

[@thesonicmaestro]

I feel like you put here a whole chunk of my existing TBR.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

:)))

[@adampender8813]

Surprised not to see ASoIaF or Malazan Book of the Fallen

[@kanel96]

Hey ! Great video ! I just would like to ask if when you talk about a lot of different books you could add their names in the description box ? I'm not an english speaker and you speak pretty fast so sometimes it's a little bit difficult to understand the titles/authors. Thank you :)

[@SFF180]

_The Night Circus_ is definitely one of those rare "lives up to the hype" books. And who thinks the magic in _Uprooted_ doesn't have rules? LOL. One whole point of the story is that the mage character is _too_ rules-bound and academic about magic, and the heroine has her own intuitive kind of all-natural Coachella hippie chick way of accessing magic that he doesn't understand. It's about breaking the rules!

[@adhominem567]

Thank you for your response. And thank you for your racism and comment censoring. It’s not sea-lioning when I have an honest question and then get deleted because you don’t want to answer. Nor am I trolling you.But since it's done...a few points please.... “But none of the negative comments left here had been that sort of critique. They'd been just short, reactionary outbursts.” So were the positive comments. This is YT. I tried to do more than that and you deleted it. “And considering that Dan himself had not commented here at all until I made my initial response to Audham EnTha above, one has to wonder why my response prompted such anger from him, as I could not possibly have been referring to any comment of his own.” Because I find it interesting when even superficial criticisms garner an accusation of racism. Interesting that you assume that it was “anger.” It seems you enjoy type casting based on a few sentences. It’s interesting to me why you lumped me into that category. “There's little of substance to bother replying to in Dan's onslaught of "so anyone who disagrees with you is a bigot" whinging,” Every criticism, even my own more detailed criticism, is greeted with accusations of racism. Again, you seem to think you can read minds and hearts. There’s little substance in unsubstantiated allegations….just…anger? Also…“onslaught” LOL “because this is frankly the level of discourse you get in Facebook comment threads” So is censorship. Which you seem to be a fan of…bringing me back to my point (also deleted) about you trying to make yourself look good. If you make an accusation, either prove it or engage with the person in question. Like I did. You obviously will respond. Why name call and delete? “when someone suggests it's a bad thing for cops to shoot black children in parks.” Really?! What does this have to do with your mud-slinging. Do black “children” beating up a handicapped white guy yelling “fuck Donald Trump fuck white people” have any relevance? See I can do that too. Being a “person of color” I have far more leeway and justification to talk about what is going on with blacks. But I digress. “As anyone who's paid attention to any kind of social media knows, in the Trump era, racists are out in full force.” I’ve yet to meet a literal Nazi. And I have yet to be turned away by the many people I know who voted for Trump (which I didn’t). Why does Trump come up in this? “And if you think a novel in this day and age that openly challenges the concept of white supremacy won't invite, from at least some quarters, any degree of racist backlash simply for existing is deeply naive.” I never said that it wouldn’t. My original criticism was why you claim to be so open-minded yet slander and delete at the drop of a hat…. and setting an antebellum style social system on a generational space ship just because you’re mad about Trump is childish and reactionary. “I’ll be generous and assume that Dave's telling the truth when he claims to have read the book and has valid reasons for hating it based on its merits. Why then couldn't he have just presented those reasons?” Dan, not Dave. I wasn’t concerned with what you or anyone else thought of the book initially, not really. I was concerned with the reaction from you, which was no better than the “racists” you’re talking about. I say again, I thought you were above that. That’s NOT an insult. “I submit, his angry protestations notwithstanding, that there is something about this book, and my defense of it, that did strike a nerve.” *See above. “Because otherwise he could have just commented with his reasons for disagreeing with my review. But as every one of his comments has been a frothing tirade about how dare I even suggest anyone could possibly be racist yada yada, I'm skeptical that he's being honest here.” Asking you to justify your stance is not a “frothing tirade,” it’s called (attempted) “discourse.” “Simply put: A non-racist person could easily make a point-by-point critique of this book while not losing his temper over the obvious observation that only a racist would feel personally attacked by a book that's a condemnation of slavery and white supremacy.” Again, how to you know someone’s thoughts or emotions? Whose losing their temper? The guy commenting or the guy deleting? “Finally, it's patently stupid to condemn a book solely on the basis that its author's politics dominate the storytelling.” No, it’s not. When politics override story it becomes…I’m trying to think of a word (among many)….starts with a p….. “Bulletin: Art is political. All of it.” Bulletin: It’s also emotional, spiritual, abstract, etc… This is a gross generalization. “Even the work you consider your favorite, that you think is the most apolitical escapism out there - political.” You’re now an expert on what I DO like? And you’re also wrong again. “Even saying that a work of art shouldn't make a political statement *is itself a political statement*.” You’re again putting imaginary thoughts in somebody else head. “Of course you can critique a book's politics if you disagree with those politics. That's what critique is for.” I’m actually critiquing your allegations against others - and now me apparently. “But damning a book simply on the basis that the author is including their politics in it at all is to fundamentally fail to understand why writing exists.” *See above “It isn't that they don't like politics in fiction, it's that they only like fiction whose politics they share.” I have no idea who the Sad Puppies are, but the above quotation applies equally to you. Four and a half stars and a lot of ad hominem, remember? “You can like or hate this book, or any book like it, for intellectually sound reasons based on actual engagement with the material. And that's terrific. That's when you're doing criticism.” Thanks for your approval massa, but my criticism was of you. Then you deleted me. “Or you be someone reactionary,” You deleted a legitimate question. “who sees himself represented in its racist villains,” I don’t. I’m not a white outer space plantation owner. I’m a black guy with a brain in my head. Is this a new concept to you? “and lashes out angrily. If you take the second approach, consider that the problem may not lie with the book.” Open communication and dialogue can solve many problems. Name calling and censoring won’t. Familiarize yourself with the word… (((PROJECTION)))

[@wizardace1841]

Hey Sam, I posted a comment on your carve the mark video, and I was sort of negative and I shouldn't have been. After reading it again, I felt bad because it didn't come across the way I intended to. Anyways, I'm sorry your awesome and you didn't deserve criticism for speaking your mind. Love your videos because you give good recommendations. So i'm just going to post positive comments from now on.

[@alliek23]

Was just about to ask about sabriel :)

[@sierrapawanrat3192]

this is random by i love your voice. it's so nice to listen to!

[@sarahlucas1999]

I just picked up Daughter of Smoke and Bone yesterday. I'm only 60 pages in so I'm hoping it moves into higher gear soon. Not feeling the WOW factor so far which makes me sad 😢

[@Elterrordelosescritores]

Sarah Lucas I hated it, if you don't like romance or instalove done bad, don't continue

[@sarahlucas1999]

Laura Entre Mundos Literarios that's a shame. Patrick Rothfuss blurbs it as something he wishes he had written so I was hoping for good things. It kind of reminds me of twilight or fallen at the moment which I was not prepared for. I'm also not getting the beautiful writing everyone talks about.

[@Elterrordelosescritores]

Some books she mentioned here, I'm seriously shocked because they all had awful romance and the characters were so plainnnn, like Iluminae and more. I agree with you, it gives that vibe too. Maybe it's because it describes well, but i found it rather okay.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

A lot of people feel DOSAB is hard to get into. I HATE instalove and I don't feel DOSAB has that at all. There's something else going on there which subverts that trope and I really like how it was done. Illuminae was the same way, as the characters are pre-page one love interests, so they literally cannot be instalove. I enjoyed both way more than I thought I would.

[@theinkedpath9631]

Hi!! How are you Sam? I hope you had a great week. I feel very bad because I only read 5 books of the ones you mention...Watching your videos is very good (or very bad, depending on how you look at it) for my wishlist, hehe. I am not a fan of sci-fi (and I read Illuminae but I didn't like it as much as other people. It was good, but not that big for me...please, don't get mad) Which Sci-Fi book would you recommend me to try the genre again? I haven´t read Grisha either... Gosh, I need a library full of your recommendations! I love your videos. You are so close and enthusiastic. Lots of love from Spain! XX

[@cin91221]

Sam read The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson! You will love the main character! I just know it

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I plan to!

[@kokochen5754]

*whispers* have you read Poison Study?

[@jodisheridan5223]

Koko Chen Poison Study is easily one of my favorite series.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

Koko Chen I read the first one years ago from the library, loved it, and just haven't gotten around the reading the rest!

[@farnumbp]

Koko Chen I love poison study

[@yanalunyova373]

Hi! How come Falling Kingdoms wasn't on the list? Was the last book a big let down? I'm so hyped for this series I'm afraid to start it!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

yana lunyova no it should honestly be on here I just forgot. I left off a few favorites just because there were so many 😂

[@helenmizrahi3671]

most of these are either on my tbr or wishlist :P

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

yay!

[@robertjordan9770]

Just discovered you and liked your video, but please say the titles and authors clearly enough that I can catch them.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

You can slow me down in the settings or look at the covers, as that's why I hold them up :)

[@escapedscienceexperiement9824]

My favorite like ~~series~~ is the wicked lovely books by Melissa Marr, honestly that series slay me?? but looking back it's got a lot of flaws nd stuff but I would probably die for like every single female character in there, even tho they frustrate me a lot. I love ur choices tho???

[@Neverrgreen]

KRISTEN CASHORE IS WRITING A NEW BOOK?!?!?!

[@m.m.7552]

Ok, I have a book recommendation for you! mechanique: a tale of the circus tresaulti by genevieve valentine It's just.... this book..... THIS BOOK!!!!!! It's sooooooooo good (my favorite book of all time), and I feel like you're would like it! You don't need to know much about it (I think it's best if you don't, and just learn what's going on as the story is told - that's how I read it) Sorry for my English (not my first language). But really.... its an amazing book, and no one seems to know about it... GREAT BOOK! Read it! You will love it!

[@user-ux9zm9il9r]

temerAIRE 💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥AND angry planet and uprooted GOOD RECS

[@paulsheppard2294]

They used to be a young guy on KZbin who has the very same mannerisms that you have are you where you him.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

lol a lot of people talk with their hands dude it's not unique

[@steffykiwi]

Naomi novik 😍💜

[@davejanes8091]

Sigh....I'm sorry, but ANY Sci Fi list without Frank Herberts' Dune is a waste of time. And your fantasy selection? I'm sorry, but throwing 50 Shades and dragons against the wall to see what sticks? The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey blows all of them away. Sci Fi....The Childe/Dorsai series by Gordon R Dickson. The Deathworld Trilogy, and The Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison. Enders' Game by Orson Scott Card. All classics.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

This is a video on my favorite SFF, not classic SFF. I don't value the opinion of someone who is so judgmental. This message is unnecessarily condescending, but I know you know that :)

[@farnumbp]

great reviews , maybe cut your bangs so they don't keep flopping into your eyes

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

farnumbp nah I'm trying to grow them out