I read books my nemesis hates / Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

Great video, nemesis!

[@ChloeFrizzle]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@KcGil4300]

You’re a good dude Matt

[@ChloeFrizzle]

I highly recommend getting a Nemesis

[@whisper_dvm5157]

This is the first video of yours YT has recommended to me! I love your personality and discussion! Subscribed! The Book that Wouldn’t Burn was my favorite book of last year. I knew when I was reading it that it was going to be very polarizing. I loved that the world building itself was its own mystery/puzzle and I trusted Lawrence to unravel it as the book went on. The payoff was so good! I loved it. I am so excited for The Book that Broke the World. I have it on preorder and plan to start it as soon as it’s on my doorstep.

[@ChloeFrizzle]

Welcome to the channel! 🎉

[@collicou]

this is so funny, I frequently think the books that Matt hates sound awesome. He's good at describing why he didn't like them in a way that lets me pick out things that I know I'll like. Great video!

[@edeplois]

This looked so fun! The Goblin Emperor is my all time favorite book so I’m so glad you loved it too! There is a mystery series spin off that explores the more magical side of world that I enjoyed as well, but it’s a very different vibe

[@ChloeFrizzle]

I'm very excited to read those books soon!

[@surpriseitsus9622]

Loved The Goblin Emperor 😊

[@shaykininmybooks]

Love this video concept! Happy you found some great books!

[@ChloeFrizzle]

Coincidentally, @booksandlala and @janagaton (two Booktubers that I love watching) did a project just like this recently. I was already in the middle of making this video when I saw theirs. Great minds think alike, I guess

[@BooksRebound]

Mark Lawrences best work is Red Sister. That whole trilogy is exquisite and nothing hes written since has lived up to it imo. I was gonna give book that wouldnt burn a 3★ but then that plot twist happened and bumped it up to 4.5★. Excited for the sequel in 2 weeks. But yeah, the Book of the Ancestor trilogy is great!

[@hardysbooks]

Chloe we just discovered you and are absolutely howling at this 😂😂😂 what a great video! Laura also often disagrees with Matt (as Matt knows!) and was cheering you on! Instant sub from us!

[@ChloeFrizzle]

Oh thank you!

[@The.dog.and_books]

First video ive seen from you and immediately following! I was so obsessed with the Book that Wouldnt Burn. I cant wait for the second book to drop next month. I would love a spoiler video from you about it so i could listen to you rant about it.

[@myribstellmesheslying]

His idea of feminism is what I expected from a straight man, ngl. Feminism is not just making women strong, or physically capable, or bossgirls. It's about uplifting women to embrace what they want. And if this book is saying "it's okay if you want to be a wife or mother," that's about as feminist as it gets. (I haven't read the book so I'm not sure if THAT was part of its messages. I'm simply basing this comment on his opinion on feminism.)

[@MagusMarquillin]

Fun idea! Hope you bring some vindication to Conan and Dresden. I really love the sound of the Book that Wouldn't Burn!

[@surpriseitsus9622]

Love Dresden 😊

[@harryl2232]

This is a great way / idea to compare an contrast book opinions in video format. Very fun

[@Mightyjordy]

I love Matt, hes honestly one of my most reliable youtubers, in that I hate what he loves and loves what he hates.

[@ChloeFrizzle]

I'm happy to join the club!

[@joules9794]

This was incredibly entertaining to watch and it really illustrates how well your Booktone system works to explain why two people might not love the same book.

[@scottv5587]

That reading mood test is really cool. I got xanthous orange which is plot/atmosphere focused and intellectually driven. I’ll have to keep that in mind for future reads

[@booksvsmovies]

Okay this is the first video ive discorvered from your channel and i ADORE it. Not only bcause it seems like we have incredibly similar reading tastes but the way you break down why you love these books is so specifc and enagaging. I especially love how you engaged with Circe's feminist themes. since its release ive seen so many people critique it for not being feminist enough which was so frustrating becsuse it felt like people saying this weren't engaing with what the book was trying to say at all. Excellent video!!!

[@ChloeFrizzle]

Thank you!

[@BooksRebound]

Wait that is such a great quiz! I wish there were more questions though. Super helpful for breaking down what I like. I got chiffon yellow which I honestly wouldn't have guessed even though worldbuilding is my number one preference. Very cool!

[@krthompson7519]

I had to take notes when reading the Goblin Emperor 😂 BUT. In the end I did really like it, too. Any time someone asks about it, I tell them that whether you like it depends partly on what your expectations of a story are. If you’re expecting the murder mystery and politics to be the plot, you’ll be deeply disappointed. If, on the other hand, you’re interested in seeing Maia slowly figure out how to be the kind of emperor that he can live with being… it’s so moving.

[@gstellar96]

It's a very interesting book as the "climax" of the story feels thrust upon you very suddenly but doesn't actually have that much impact as a lot of the intrigue was done off screen but at the same time I wouldn't say tension was ever low. It feels like, as you said, the tension in the book is constant, but the point of the book is joining Maia as he figures out how to lower that tension for himself before he succumbs to it. I think it could have been done better but I overall liked the unique experience

[@krthompson7519]

@@gstellar96 That’s actually part of what I mean about having to look at it through such a different lens to what one might be used to! Because from what you say about ‘intrigue,’ I assume you might be thinking of the assassination scene, or something related to that plot thread. But I would argue that the actual climax of the book is the point when Maia turns to his guards and says (essentially), “No. You *are* my friends. This isn’t worth doing, otherwise.” That’s the turning point; that’s when he begins to move forward with confidence and intention. And if that’s the climax, to me it felt like it had plenty of buildup. (…or at least, it does in my fuzzy memories. 😂 I’ll admit that I read this a few years ago!)

[@bat9056]

Looking it up on Goodreads I rated Goblin Emperor 3/5. It's been a while since I read it but I remember being disappointed at the lack of things happening. It's like the whole book was setup(possibly for a future book) and very good setup with no point. And when it finally seemed like it might reach a climax it diffused it. The name confusion didnt help either.

[@josephwilson-doan4163]

Matt’s distaste for The Book That Wouldn’t Burn is indeed his biggest character flaw. 😂

[@ChloeFrizzle]

😂

[@jessezigg]

Nope! It was his decision not to finish The Dragonbone Chair! 😂

[@BooksRebound]

​@@jessezigg dragonbone chair suuuucks. It just feels soo stuffy and old lol. Ive tried it like 3 times and just can't get into it. I've read all his other books though and I love them. I think Shadowmarch is his best work honestly. It's a much better fantasy.

[@connorhale341]

Had a ton of fun with the quiz. Felt super accurate to put me in Deep Orange for Emotional Plot and Atmosphere.

[@LightningRaven42]

Can't wait to see until you guys clash about the Dresden Files. A lot of his complaints were about Dresden's views on women, it will be interesting to see a woman who likes the series like you do (specially Fool Moon), talking about it.

[@ChloeFrizzle]

Yeah I've got a love-hate relationship with the sexism in the Dresden Files series, which I get into more in my "Why I love to hate the sexism of Dresden Files" video. Totally love the series, but I think I'd love the series a little more without some of the Harry Ogles Women moments

[@LightningRaven42]

@@ChloeFrizzle I love that video, by the way. And I completely agree. Jim doesn't always manage to walk the line well, but overall, it's a minor aspect of the series that don't impact the quality as a whole.

[@thiadesg]

I just did the Booktone quiz and I find it increasingly amusing that I'm smack down in the middle, Grainsboro gray for me! I generally don't like emotional books because I often feel I'm being manipulated, so that makes a lot of sense!

[@RosLanta]

The Goblin Emperor is one of my all-time favourite books, and I also really enjoyed The Book That Wouldn't Burn! (I haven't yet read Circe but I do own it.)

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Can we create allegiances in this war? ⚔️ 😅

[@mattj2118]

I’ve never watched a video more enthusiastically! This is exactly what I wanted to see. I’ve read books based on recommendations from both you and Matt. I’ve also wondered if I should just read something based on why he doesn’t like it. This video really helps me analyze both of your tastes and my own in contrast. I have really been seeking beautiful prose lately, so perhaps I should pick up Mark Lawrence. The best writing I’ve found is by A.A. Attanasio and I would not recommend Matt read him. I hope he comes out with a response video soon.

[@paperback_cat]

Ohhh I need to find a reading nemesis! I'm conflicted though, because you made me more interested in the Book that Wouldn' Burn but then compared the pacing to the Warded Man - and that's exactly what I hated about the Warded Man 😅

[@ChloeFrizzle]

Haha yeah I feel like The Warded Man has similar pacing to The Book That Wouldn't Burn, so maybe you wouldn't like it

[@harshgarg1448]

It would be more interesting to see how you would review to his top 10 series, especially wandering inn as I rarely seen anyone , outright hating the books.

[@zachreads]

I think I'm a little bit between you and your nemesis. I default to 4☆ generally, 5☆ are about a 5% occurrenc for me. I gave the Book Thet Wouldn't Burn 3.5☆ bc imo it "borrowed" way to much from Codex Alera, have you read Codex Alera by Jim Butcher? I added Goblin Emperor to my TBR! About 1 in 100 books make me cry too, so I skipped the end of the vid to avoid being warned about why you cried so hopefully it gets me too. (The Witche's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec was the last book to make me cry btw)

[@surpriseitsus9622]

I watch Matt and I adore most books he doesn't enjoy, a lot are urban fantasy. Great idea. 😊

[@dougsundseth6904]

Since you loved Goblin Emperor, you might want to take a look at Katherine Kurtz's Deryni books. They're politically focused in a similar way, with intrigue and backstabbing, and a protagonist that is very much an outsider. More obvious magic than Goblin Emperor, but strong characterization and world-building and a very solid plot. I loved them when I first read them _mumble_ decades ago, but I recently reread the first trilogy and really enjoyed them even now. Note that if you're offended by explicitly religious (Catholic-ish) themes, you might want to pass them by, but even though I'm not religious, and especially not Catholic, I thought they were very well integrated into the story. FWIW, my tastes seem to be approximately orthogonal to both yours and Matt's, but you both do quite good reviews, which I think is more important than taste agreement.

[@aliceborry3753]

As someone who also really enjoys watching Matt's videos but who disagrees with him A LOT, I am so glad the algorithm brought me to your channel, I think I can blindly trust you for book recs 😂

[@NerdyNatReads]

lmao I love this! It's been a minute since I've read Circe, but I loved it bc of Circe's character, and the juxtaposition of her identity. So yeah, I kind of think his feminism comment was a bit flawed 😂

[@jessealaska2557]

🦩 Fun graphs of your vs. Matt's reading taste (Booktone) and star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ratings - super insightful!

[@sarugard9115]

secret history is awesome, 5/5

[@andybarker8787]

Matt is my favourite booktuber, his taste is sooo close to mine

[@valerie1612]

This is so clever! Love it!

[@JessicasLibraryCard]

Great video! I also rated Circe 4 stars and I agree with your review.

[@jessezigg]

Came from Matt's recommendation, and I subbed! I am female, and I tend to predominantly agree with Matt's reviews. I don't care for romantasy at all! So, I'm very curious how your opinions will line up with mine. (I didn't like Circe at all! 😂)

[@Rumham7291]

now i have to go look at your hate reviews for hitchhikers and name of the wind.

[@ChloeFrizzle]

Alas, I read both of them before starting my channel and so there is not a review video

[@Rumham7291]

i can understand not liking Name of the Wind because many people dont like Kvothe, but why didn't you like hitchhikers?@@ChloeFrizzle

[@MrRorosuri]

i respect matt's complaints but i freaking love the goblin emperor. i haven't found a book similar to it yet

[@PaxRomanaYoutube]

How can you hate the Crippled God?

[@someokiedude9549]

Now read Conan and Blood Meridian next! Lol.

[@myribstellmesheslying]

If nothing happens in a thousand years and two days are more eventful, it's only logical to narrate (tell) the thousand years and dramatize (show) the two days. Ugh, that argument was so ridiculous.

[@darren2880]

Love it