My Favorite Reads of the First Half of 2024

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

My apologies -- I forgot to plug in my (slightly) better mic, so the audio is not up to its usual mediocre standards!

[@ericF-17]

I noticed no difference, seems perfectly fine to me.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ericF-17 Cheers!

[@smthspshl]

I found you thanks to One Piece, but now I know where to find the Fantasy books list to read!

[@smthspshl]

btw, the explanations of your reading experience are wonderful, as always!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@smthspshl Thanks so much! Fantasy is definitely my wheelhouse, but I’m enjoying my forays into manga so much! I did grow up on comic books (Marvel and DC), so the visual element is something I enjoy.

[@jacquelyn_hagen]

Thank you for championing indie authors, Philip. So many hidden gems to unearth there!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@jacquelyn_hagen It’s a pleasure, especially when said authors deliver wonderful stories! Cheers, Jacquelyn!

[@nieljohnson7943]

I think One Piece's target audience actually aged alongside it, and continue to do so, I mean we're talking about a series that's been going for 25 years and has sold over 500 million copies, you know it holds some records in regards to being one of the most sold pieces of literature ever, anywhere

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It's safe to say that One Piece is a story that has captured the world's heart, and for good reasons!

[@MrGalRoz]

One Piece popularity has faded to some extent in Japan because in Japan for obvious reasons the core audience became fans of the Manga/Anime way sooner than in the west, so they also became older "sooner" so for a lot of them a childish-at-heart story like One Piece was not as appealing anymore, and only 10-15 years later One Piece became much more popular in the west coupled with less prejudice for teens and adults watching Anime. if you checked Japan during late 2000's early 2010's the entire country was crazy over One Piece for several years in a row.

[@nieljohnson7943]

@@MrGalRoz I've also heard this before but its wrong, One Piece is the 4th most popular series in Japan following Pokemon and Naruto and its only ever been rising in the rankings. Make sure you do your fact checking, to be honest I think it may seem less popular to you or whoever you heard that from because you as viewers became older and thus your colleagues simply watch less anime and talk about it less

[@MrGalRoz]

@@nieljohnson7943 everything related to One Piece in Japan has been trending down comapred to the late 2000's early 2010's. One did get less popular there. Now, less popular doesnt mean "not popular". Its very popular and loved in Japan, just..... less. Thats all.

[@nieljohnson7943]

@@MrGalRoz show me the statistics, because there's definitely some false narratives out there, I'm just wondering if you're getting this from a reliable source or if you're mostly just repeating chatter

[@DoUnicornsRead]

Nice to hear you talk about all the great reads you had so far! There are two things I like about your list in particular: One, the amount of variety in what you read. And two, that you feature a substantial number of female authors. Whishing you even more rewarding reads for the rest of the year, Philip!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you so much, Angela! In the second half of the year, I hope to add to those female authors -- in particular, I'm excited to finish my Earthsea read and then tackle some of Le Guin's science fiction. All the best!

[@mediamanmichael8879]

So happy to hear you loving One Piece, a work that has saved my life more than once.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@mediamanmichael8879 It’s hilarious, beautiful, moving, endearing, and surprisingly deep! I’m so glad I’m reading One Piece!

[@mediamanmichael8879]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Thank you for the reply. I hope its invigorating energy helps you tackle the challenges of life better or at least - you know- ease the burden a bit. Hope you have great day.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@mediamanmichael8879 Same to you! 😊

[@katieandrews1960]

Thank you for reading and enjoying Hills of Heather and Bone! Glad you're enjoying One Piece. It's a wild ride but a great series

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@katieandrews1960 Thank you for writing Hills of Heather and Bone! It was a joy to read!

[@readinsteadbyjake]

Hey Philip! I've been a subscriber since you had 7k subscribers. I want to thank you for entertaining me for years now, and because of that, you have helped encourage me to start my own booktube channel. I apologize if it's bad form to leave this in a comments section of one of your videos, but I couldn't find a way to direct message you. Keep up the great work, and ill see you around, either in The Banished Lands, Middle Earth, El, etc etc ...

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@readinsteadbyjake Thank you for telling me, Jake! My very best wishes to you as you start your channel. I hope it will be a source of fun and fulfillment for you!

[@GomuGear4]

I found your channel through One Piece but I'm super excited to see your videos about the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@GomuGear4 Thank you! In addition to the video on The Bhagavad Gita, I had an excellent discussion with some very knowledgeable people about The Mahabharata and fantasy. All the best!

[@Shiftarus]

I found your channel through One Piece/Merphy so it feels very appropriate to now flip the script and take your suggestions for stories to start reading. It was a tough choice on which to try first, but I will be starting the Assassin's Apprentice later today, I am *BEYOND* excited!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ah, wonderful! The Farseer Trilogy is where it all begins, of course, and so much of Hobb’s writing is slow burn, but it has a way of digging deep until you experience the characters as people. My very best to you for the journey!

[@nicorobin5978]

One Piece made the list. Knew you wouldn't snub us, Philip.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

One Piece is simply too wonderful not to shout about! Cheers!

[@vailingbow1068]

I'm very glad you're enjoying One Piece! You explained it so well! It has heavy themes, but it packages itself in such a light tone!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

My best decision of the year was to start One Piece! I'm loving the journey so much. Cheers!

[@vailingbow1068]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy That's so great to hear! Well, there'll be more rejoicing (suffering too)! Hope you venture into more manga! A good one would be Attack on Titan/Shingeki no kyojin! Great story and popular too!

[@guikubitz]

I would also highly, highly recommend picking upon Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike. It is considered one of the best renditions of feudal Japan, with some of the best historical accuracies. Apart from that, it is some of the best manga stories I have personally read. It won an Eisner award. This is not a shonen, it is a heavy story, beautifully written and drawn! Phillip, love to watch your videos, keep it up! Also I am a huge Malazan fan! Finishing the Crippled God right now! Picked the series in 2018. The best reading decisions I ever made.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@guikubitz Thanks so much! The Crippled God is my favorite book of all time!

[@vailingbow1068]

@@guikubitz Are you recommending those to me?

[@ThrivingWithKat]

This was a great list! Can't wait to see what you'll read for the rest of the year 😊😊

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ThrivingWithKat Thank you, Kat! I wish you much fulfillment in your reading!

[@RedFuryBooks]

Looks like it was a great start to your year! I of course loved your first choice. 😃I need to read Parable of the Sower (and more Octavia Butler in general).

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@RedFuryBooks I hope to follow up on Parable of the Sower with more books by Butler as well. Cheers, Josh!

[@sodedra5855]

Its very fun listening to you gush about books lol, would've never have heard of some of these books without the channel so ill check them out

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@sodedra5855 Thank you! 😊 I do like to gush about books!

[@Johanna_reads]

Hooray for having a fantastic year so far! I’m happy to see Octavia Butler on your list! I need to read more from her as well. I just finished Ch 8 in White-Luck Warrior, and it put me on edge in the best way possible. Like reading Wurts, I can’t read this book quickly, but I’m fascinated by “The Slog of Slogs” and everything the book explores!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I'm excited to discuss The White-Luck Warrior with you, Johanna! So many thoughts. So many questions. Bakker definitely provokes ideas about humanity in ways that are not always comfortable, but that are so important to examine.

[@hellobrawler1356]

Thank you for making this now. I just finished all the books that I wanted to read. So this gave me a lot of recommedations. My favorite read this year has been Hunter x Hunter a manga it feels like one piece kinda but more adultly

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@hellobrawler1356 I’m looking forward to Berserk and Hunter x Hunter after One Piece! Cheers!

[@vaughnroycroft999]

Wow, you've made my week by including Bold Ascension among the other entries in this stellar list! I have found a few gems this year, but I happen to be in the middle of two books that I strongly suspect will make my year end list of faves. One of them is an SPFBOX entry, my third but my favorite so far. The other is a former SPFBO finalist, Fool's Fortune, by Angela Boord (she came in second to Sword of Kaigen). Thanks a million once again for this lovely addition, and for all of your generous support. Can't wait to get book three to you! (Btw, cover art is in progress, and what I've glimpsed so far has me SO excited.)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It makes me very happy to hear you've found a treasure among your SPFBO reads, Vaughn! I'm also very excited to see what you do in the conclusion to The Sundered Nation Trilogy!

[@MacScarfield]

Yes, «Bold Ascension»: So excited for Book #3! My list so far this year: 1) «A Brightness Long Ago» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Fantasy inspired by the Mercenary Wars of Renaissance Italy) 2) «Imperium» by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction, book #1 in Cicero Trilogy about the Eponymous Roman Statesman) 3) «Når landet mørknar» (Approximately «When The (This?) Land Darkens») by Tore Kvæven (Historical Fiction set during the 13th Century end of the Norse Settlement of Greenland, think of it as a Norse John Steinbeck novel, winner of the Brage Prize for Best Norwegian Novel in 2018) 4) «The Last Light of the Sun» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Fantasy inspired by the Viking Great Heathen Army and King Alfred the Good) 5) «The Dragonbone Chair» (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, #1) by Tad Williams (Epic Fantasy) 6) «Brother Red» by Adrian Selby (Grimdark Fantasy, standalone «midquel» to «Snakewood» & «The Winter Road») 7) «Howling Dark» (Sun Eater, #2) by Christopher Ruocchio (Space opera) 8) «Islands in the Net» by Bruce Sterling (80s (Post-)Cyberpunk) 9) «Stonehenge» by Bernard Cornwell (Historical Fiction about the Creation of Stonehenge during the Late Neolithic Period) 10) Splitt: «The Name of the Wind» by Patrick Rothfuss (Fantasy) & «The Darkness That Comes Before» (The Prince of Nothing #1) by R. Scott Bakker (Grimdark/Dark Epic Fantasy)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Fantastic list, MacScarfield! I don't think we'll have to wait too long for book three of The Sundered Nation Trilogy!

[@YouWinILose]

A Brightness Long Ago tied as my book of the year last year (with City of Saints and Madmen)! Every time I think about that horse race, I get giddy! Will absolutely be checking out your other faves 🙂

[@OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels]

Great list! I feel like I've listened to you gush about most of these so many times now that I'm not surprised by any 😂

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I do enjoy gushing!

[@christiankackmann8115]

glad you enjoy one piece!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I am too! It's such a joy to read!

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

I'm so happy to hear that you loved The White Luck Warrior. It's still my favorite book in the entire series. Though this may change on a reread. The best book I've read so far this year is Swan Song by McCammon. I just had a blast with that book. Excellent video Philip. Cheers.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you, Dan! I really should try something by McCammon at some point. I've heard a lot of praise. As for Bakker, nobody should be that talented!

[@williamgwynne]

Assassin's Fate leaves a mark! Watching this made me add soo many books to my TBR. Also really enjoyed Murder at Spindle Manor. Happy reading for the 2nd half of 2024!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I look forward to my first reread of The Realm of the Elderlings so much. Cheers, Will!

[@EresirThe1st]

I'm astonished and a bit jealous at just how much you are able to read! Getting back into books and away from screens is a big focus of mine at the moment.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Minimizing screen time is a huge part of how I read (he says as he answers all the comments 😂). Best wishes for your reading!

[@darKuchiki]

Haven't read much fantasy this year as I have been busy with non fiction books but I recently started The Stand by Stephen King and I'm throughly enjoying myself. I have American Gods and the Age of Madness trilogy lined up next, so the latter half of the year should be more fruitful when it comes to my fantasy reading. It's also a pleasure to follow your One Piece journey and I'm looking forward to many more videos/discussion on it. Cheers, my friend.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@darKuchiki Thanks so much! American Gods and Age of Madness are among my favorites. I wish you the best with them!

[@slay.187]

I'm beyond thrilled to hear that you enjoyed "The White Luck Warrior". Can't wait for your discussion with Johanna. Hopefully, Mike (Mike's Book Reviews) will start the Prince of Nothing before the end of the year. Rock on, Dr. Chase! 😊🙏🤘

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Bakker is amazing! I’ll be curious to see what Mike makes of Prince of Nothing!

[@ColinsCornerYT]

What a year so far, Philip!! I’ve had a bit of a slower reading year (so busy with school and life) but still some amazing reads!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ColinsCornerYT I’m so glad to hear that, Colin! Best wishes for your studies and everything!

[@ColinsCornerYT]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy thanks! Hope all is well with you and yours.

[@lghostt445]

You have an incredible memory!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@lghostt445 Thank you! These stories make strong impressions!

[@blakemyers643]

Glad you are loving one piece i picked it up last year on a whim and am now an avid devotee of the series. The humor and warmth he has throughout the series while also tackling real heavy material like whats shown in enies lobby is incredible. And his ability to have his main cast of characters always act in the way you imagine they would is amazing and then at the same time his paneling and flow of action and art is just so eye catching. The nico robin i want to live acene is forever burned in my head.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@blakemyers643 Beautifully said! I’m very happy that I decided to start it this year. All the best!

[@second1387]

Everytime I remember that Robin's "I want to live", Franky's "Existing is not a crime" is also popping in my head. Water 7/Enies Lobby has a lot of meanings and depths!

[@jefferyheileson7188]

Ugh, I need to get back to the Sundered Nation. I greatly enjoyed The Severing Son! I definitely added a few books to my TBR!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@jefferyheileson7188 I loved Bold Ascension! All the best for your reading!

[@Hpmanenz]

I'm not gonna lie, I came to this video to hear what you had to say about One Piece. I've been watching the anime for 12 years and picked up the manga 6-7 years ago, so I have a very strong attachment to the series. When I started watching it I was in the target audience but even then people made fun of me for it because "only young kids can watch cartoons", so I just love your comment about shonen being a quite misleading label and I am glad to see more and more people joining in on the fun.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I will be shouting about the brilliance of One Piece from now on, and I just can't be bothered to care about judgement from people who haven't given the series a try. Those who have engaged with this story and love it know how beautiful it is.

[@curlsnoutx1]

For my favorite so far this year and easily in the top 5 of anything I have ever read would be the Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.. most probably wouldn't care for it let alone finish it but for me I was totally blown away and i have not stopped thinking about it since

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@curlsnoutx1 I’m glad you had that experience!

[@reen6057]

Great list! Just started my journey into Realm of the Elderlings this month and loving every single bit of it. Can't wait to see where it's eventually going. Also happy to see that you enjoy One Piece that much!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@reen6057 I’m delighted to hear that you’re enjoying Realm of the Elderlings! Best wishes for all your reads!

[@Red21Viper]

I am so happy you like Bakker. And I cant wait to try Octavia Butler

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Bakker is just too talented and brilliant not to admire, in my opinion! Best wishes for reading Octavia Butler’s books!

[@CombativeRoboGuy]

I actually knocked one piece years ago because it was too long (when episode 1,000 aired) but recently one of my best friends told me he was on episode 500 and that it was amazing and another friend told me that she wanted to start it then FOMO hit me because I realized it was going to end soon and I gave in. I love it, I just finished Arlong Park and I just love it. I expected just pure absurdism and not this powerful tale of hard work, perseverance, and the power of our connections. Also, Parable of the Sower is stunningly brilliant- I am about 2/3 of the way through and I can’t stop. It’s pulling me out of a reading slump.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@CombativeRoboGuy I’m so glad you’re fully invested in Parable of the Sower! Also, One Piece is just amazing, powerful, and delightful storytelling.

[@CombativeRoboGuy]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Yeah, Parable of the Sower is pulling me out of a reading slump so I’m quite happy. I’m about to finish the East Blue Saga for One Piece so I am very excited to see how Oda grows as an author even more through the series.

[@MidnightMilkMan]

Thank you for the list. I've been getting to finish my books backlog since subscribing and I'll be coming back to this video for some good recommendations!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you so much, and best wishes for your reading!

[@BookishChas]

Sounds like you’ve had a great year so far Philip! I very much want to try the Wickwire Watch, and Murder at Spindle Manor sounds fun too. Some of my favorites this year have been Anansi Boys, Empire of the Damned, and The Lost Metal.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@BookishChas Excellent choices, Chas! I strongly suspect you’d enjoy both Wickwire Watch and Murder at Spindle Manor.

[@mikaelmarklund7908]

So nice that you have started onepiece!!. its a whole universe. Amazing how mobs are being portrayed, and the forgiveness and heart. one of the best anime of all time. 🙌

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you, Mikael! One Piece has so much heart, and I love it for that!

[@radchum]

Great video! I'm here from your one piece videos, and honestly, ive only really read manga. Ive retained knowledge of some fantasy books ive read, but not much. So ive started to branch out and use this channel as a start for it! as you get into manga, I get into more traditional forms of literature. i think i might've recommended this before, but if you ever need another manga to read, a lot of die hard fans will recommend fullmetal alchemist. I'm pretty sure it's considered a shonen, but it is definitely one of the most seinen shonens if that makes sense. It has moments that feel very mature for the demographic it was made for. It's a lot like one piece in the way its very anti-government aswell.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@radchum This comment makes me very happy! My very best to you for your reading, and thank you for the recommendation!

[@mariareadsssf]

Love seeing some love for Octavia E. Butler. My favorite speculative books of 2024 so far: "A Master of Djinn" - P. Djèlí Clark "The Tainted Cup" - Robert Jackson Bennett "Mirrored Heavens" - Rebecca Roanhorse "Annihilation" - Jeff VanderMeer ( I can't stop thinking about it) "Kavithri" - Aman J. Bedi I also loved 2 Historical Fiction this year: "8 Lives of a Century - Old Trickster" - Marinae Lee "A Little Luck" - Claudia Piñeiro

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@mariareadsssf That’s an excellent list! Cheers, Maria!

[@riccardoleoragagnin1866]

Annibilation is amazing, I was kind of traumatized after finishing it

[@patchoparadise8730]

Came for the one piece, stayed for the great descriptive reviews!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@patchoparadise8730 Thank you! I appreciate it very much! There will be a One Piece discussion video in one week. All the best!

[@esmayrosalyne]

That's a wonderful list of faves for the first half of the year! I am glad to see so much indie love, and you have got me very excited to read Vaughn's books! Also, it's truly miraculous how you have managed to get me very eager to try One Piece and The Bhagavad Gita when I had zero intention of ever looking at those stories before hahah. My reading has been very odd, in the sense that I am leaning away from my usual epic/dark fantasy. I think some of my favourites so far are: - Hell for Hire by Rachel Aaron - A Love Song For Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams - The Storm Beneath the World by Michael R. Fletcher - A Strange & Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows - Mushroom Blues by Adrian M. Gibson - Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez - The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandana - Riven Earth by Zammar Ahmer - Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver - Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff Happy reading, Philip! 🥰

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@esmayrosalyne I strongly suspect that you would derive much joy from One Piece, Esmay, and I’ll be keen to hear what you think if you take the plunge!

[@esmayrosalyne]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy You will be the first to know if I dive in!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@esmayrosalyne Yay! 😊

[@BrianBell7]

What a fantastic first half of the year! I really like how many of us in this corner of BooKTube have read, and are currently reading, entirely different books and series. It must make for more interesting viewership to not all see the same books constantly. 'til next time!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

We have overlap because we like being part of a bigger conversation, but we also have our unique reads because variety keeps it all interesting. Cheers, Brian! I’m looking forward to our battle this evening!

[@ZOMGfantasy]

Sounds like an awesome year of reading, Philip! So many books here I can't wait to dive into! For myself, Fool's Assassin, the Warlord Chronicles, and Shogun have been this year's highlights. I hope to add this Edan trilogy written by some nobody to the list in the later half 😜

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ZOMGfantasy Ha ha! Excellent picks, Zammar, and I hope the rest of the year will bring some amazing stories!

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Hi Philip. The only problem with watching other KZbinrs channels is that it only increases the tbr. So many books and so little time! Happy reading to you.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk I relate very much in terms of that particular problem! Thank you for watching despite the looming TBR!

[@Shelf-Esteem]

I love that you appreciate the Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata so much !! I grew up in an Indian household, watching the BR Chopra adaptation of the series, and it's just phenomenal if you haven't checked it out (and has english subtitles!)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’ve seen episodes, especially when I lived in South Asia. It’s impossible to exaggerate its importance in the culture. All the best, Nikhil!

[@fy4072]

You came in clutch. Was wanting to explore new series

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@fy4072 Awesome! Happy reading to you!

[@TomOrange]

I feel the same way about Wars of Light and Shadow. I have enjoyed each book more and more! I will hopefully be starting Fugitive Prince sometime soon

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I'm so glad you're enjoying WOLAS, Tom! It's going to make its mark!

[@liviajelliot]

I definitely need to get into Hagen's series, it sounds so unique! I wanted to listen to Hobb's audiobooks, but one of the narrators is meh D: I guess I'll need to wait to finish my current physical/ebook series to get into that! Great readings, Philip, and don't worry about the audio, you sounded just fine!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@liviajelliot Thank you, Livia! Realm of the Elderlings is simply incredible, and it grows more and more on you the further you progress in the series. All the best!

[@willonbooks]

Glad to hear of a satisfying end to RotE Philip, agree it is one of the greats of literature and looking forward to reaching the finale no matter how bittersweet it may be to have no more books left in this world. I hadn't heard of Roycroft's Bold Ascensions until now, I will have to look into it and add it to the TBR. Purchased The Wickwire Watch on kindle after your thoughts in another video. Looking forward to jumping into that too.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks, Will! The first book in Vaughn Roycroft’s trilogy is The Severing Son, and Bold Ascension is a superb sequel. All the best!

[@edwinleskin3112]

"Know this body to be the field. Know the mind to be the knower of the field. I am the knower of the field in all fields"

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It's best to listen when Lord Krishna speaks!

[@Srbthmlnsmth]

I found u from library of a Viking and just wanna say 100% agreed that ratings shouldn’t be based just on enjoyment but how much unique factors and innovation a book brings to the table. It’s really sad books don’t get rewarded for this aspect nowadays and that’s why we have mediocre books that recycle same tropes, characters and plot lines getting high ratings while unique ones are usually unpopular and underrated.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks so much! I took some heat for that one, but I stand by it. All the best!

[@Srbthmlnsmth]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I agree!! Would u be open to recs btw! I have a couple books that I feel are super underrated and get a lot of flak despite being super unique and doing things nobody else has. But I realize u have a huge tbr, I just asked cuz it felt like ur one of the booktubers who might enjoy something like that (I mean, smth unique and innovative that doesn’t follow standard tropes)

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@Srbthmlnsmth I do have a massive TBR, but I always appreciate recommendations! Thank you in advance!

[@Srbthmlnsmth]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy well it’s a YA fantasy but soooo different from any YA I’ve read and I’m gonna rec it cuz u put the Bhargavad Gita here and the author note said magic system is inspired by that book and also karma! It’s called Spin of Fate and the magic and worldbuilding are PHENOMENAL aaaand it tackles religious deconstruction and has pretty uncommon (for YA) character arcs (like weak disabled female protagonist who stays weak). It’s not popular and is getting a lot of flak on Goodreads cuz I guess it doesn’t resonate with the typical YA crowd and the marketing was misleading tho more critical fantasy booktubers (Daniel Greene, Elliot Brookes) have positive things to say. So there’s one!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@Srbthmlnsmth very cool! Thank you!

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Murder at Spindle Manor, Agatha Christie but gothic, ooh that’s definitely going on the TBR 👌😎

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I think you’d really enjoy it, Al!

[@mattkean1128]

I think I've settled on these being my favorites in the first half of the year: Vol. 2-4 Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion - Beth Brower The Unseen - Roy Jacobsen Just City - Jo Walton Saint Sebastian's Abyss - Mark Haber Doomsday Book - Connie Willis The Ambassadors - Henry James Look at Me - Anita Brookner The Trees - Percival Everett I can tell you right now a new addition in July is Stranger in Olondria. The writing is fantastic.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@mattkean1128 I have Stranger in Olondria on my shelf waiting to be read. When I see The Doomsday Book, I think of the medieval book of that title, a kind of census from the Middle Ages in England that has given us much historical knowledge of the period. Cheers, Matt!

[@marianneguevara8279]

Excellent reads Philip! I'm excited to see what the other half of the year has in store. Btw, you and Johanna are slowly convincing me to try Janny Wurts. These are my personal favorites so far: Engine Summer by John Crowley Mystery and Manners by Flannery O'Connor Armadale by Wilkie Collins Germinal by Emile Zola The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Fantastic list, Marianne! I would be very interested to see what you make of Janny Wurts' writing. You could start with To Ride Hell's Chasm, a standalone that gives a great sense of what Wurts can do with her prose.

[@marianneguevara8279]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Thank you for the recommendation Philip! It will be going on the tbr!

[@azeews1368]

The more you get into this world of manga, the more I wanna recommend you the world of Visual Novels. It's such a nobrainer for anyone who's into both books and anime/manga. They're written like a book, but have that special japanese quirkiness, while providing you with visuals, music and potentially voice acting. I cannot make justice to how impactful the combination of music and storytelling is. It's my favorite medium by a mile, and just so happens to contain the best stories I've ever read. If you ever get the interest and time, give The House in Fata Morgana and Umineko no Naku Koro Ni a try. Fata Morgana is more likely to be to your taste, although Umineko is my favorite piece of fiction ever. It's a completely life changing experience as a reader/writer.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thanks so much for the recommendation to try Visual Novels and for the specific recommendations! Sounds fascinating!

[@andrewlavigne44]

Phillip, having seen you bring it up in your talk with Red Fury, AP, and Library Ladder I would love to see you reread Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn - especially if you read the sequels, interquel, and prequel. Maybe next year now that the final book will be out.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@andrewlavigne44 That’s an excellent idea, and I’m making 2025 my year to return to Osten Ard!

[@groofay]

What a list! I love the breadth of it, and saw some of my favorites (and probably eventually-to-be favorites; I started Curse of the Mistwraith in this half of the year and am loving it). My list would be: This Is How You Lose the Time War, by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Heaven, by Mieko Kawakami Aftershock, by Zhang Ling The Vanished Birds, by Simon Jimenez Bluebeard, by Kurt Vonnegut Dreams of the Dying, by Nicolas Lietzau House of Hunger, by Alexis Henderson

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@groofay Fantastic list! Dreams of the Dying handles depression like no other fantasy I’ve read. Cheers!

[@emanuelvictor4341]

English is not my mother tongue, so I apologize for the grammatical errors. As a lover of fantasy and science fiction literature, I admit that I wanted to read many of the books and series you mentioned. But with the exception of One Piece, some things by Mark Lawrence and Robin Hobb, I believe most of them can't be found in Brazil. So I'll pay you in kind (evil laugh) and recommend the best Brazilian fantasy story I've ever read (personal opinion), but I don't think it's available in English. I'm talking about "Guirlanda Rubra" by Erick Santos Cardoso, released by Draco. I like to describe this book as a mix of Barry Lyndon, JRPGs and Italian neorealist cinema. Now, continue training your English so that maybe one day you can read these books. Obrigado pelos ótimo vídeos.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for your recommendation! I’d love to be able to read and speak Portuguese!

[@sashagardies4082]

I started following you after a recomendation of your review of the east blue saga, so I don't if you already read it or not so I want to recommand you a french fantasy book written by Pierre Bottero, called "The Quest of Ewilan". It's a huge univers with multiple saga that i loved to read when I was younger. Also, since i'm french and read it in french, i don't know if the traduction is good or not. I hope you will enjoy one piece till you'r catch up and that you will try The quest of Ewilan, have a nice day !

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@sashagardies4082 Thank you! I can actually read French somewhat well (I’ve read novels in French before), and I’d love to read some fantasy in French someday. All the best!

[@TBaggins96]

My favorite so far this year has been The Crippled God, and I don't see it being dethroned.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Since it’s my favorite book of all time, I can vibe with that selection! Cheers!

[@curtjarrell9710]

Hello Philip. 2024 has given me a few strong entries in the good reading derby, including Telling Lives, Don Quixote (still to finish but I'm counting it anyway), The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson and most recently To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@curtjarrell9710 Excellent! I’m glad to hear you’ve got such compelling and diverse reads under your belt this year so far, Curt!

[@francoisbouchart4050]

I have read so many good books in 2024, including Never Let Me Go, the Embers of War series and the LPQ (Books 1-3; still need to read Book 4). The Paper Menagerie was a fantastic collection of short stories, while To The Lighthouse was a fascinating read. I have Vaughan Roycroft’s The Sundered Nations books on my annual TBR, with plans to read them in August or September. Cheers!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@francoisbouchart4050 A fantastic list, Francois! My best to you for the rest of the year’s reads!

[@May_Green]

I'm following you for One Piece but I knew about some Mahabharat and Ramayana lore so I'm also curious about what you think of Bhagavat Gita. One Piece also have many religious/mythological lore subtly incorporated in their story, hope you can notice them the more you continue reading it. ^^

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@May_Green I love that about One Piece! In the latest arcs I read, I noticed the reference to the Asuras, for example. All the best!

[@LaughingStockfarm1]

Great list! And of course I intend to read all of them…well, maybe not the Bhagavadgita. I just finished ‘The Road to Nowhere’ trilogy and it was fabulous! Now I’m deep into the second book of Hobb’s ‘unknown’ trilogy ‘The Soldier Son’ and I’m loving it.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@LaughingStockfarm1 I hope to read some Hobb books outside of The Realm of the Elderlings someday myself. Cheers!

[@LaughingStockfarm1]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy this second book, Forest Mage, is pretty mind-blowing in terms of characterization. Nevare, the MC, is imbued with magic from events in the first book and because he doesn’t use it, hardly even acknowledges it’s a reality, he swells, becoming morbidly obese. The consequences, both in terms of his dreams & expectations, and the way society views him, are so thoroughly drawn, I had to go look and see if Hobb was obese herself. The fat-shaming, the dismissal, the self-hatred…I’ve never seen this subject dealt with in SFF before, except as a villain. Nevare at every opportunity shows his competence, and still he is ridiculed and dismissed. Absolutely heartbreaking.

[@Talking_Story]

Wow what a half year it has been!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It has indeed! My best wishes to you for your reading in the second half of the year, John!

[@StephenShenold]

Hey Philip, I really love your channel and just bought your books and am so excited to add them to my TBR. I saw you mentioned the Bhagavad Gita, is this the translation you would recommend or is there one that is more accessible for first timers?

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@StephenShenold Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! The translation of The Bhagavad Gita by William Whorton is definitely accessible for beginners. You could combine the read (it’s relatively short) by checking out his interview if you like - he really has a lot of thought- provoking things to say. All the best!

[@thatsci-firogue]

Guy Gavriel Kay's A Brightness Long Ago, Robin Hobb's Fool's Errand and Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove would be my favourites of the year so far. There's more I could mention but Robin Hobb would dominate that list. I also really enjoyed Janny Wurts' Curse of the Mistwraith and Ken Liu's Veiled Throne and Greg Sestero's The Disaster Artist

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@thatsci-firogue That’s an absolutely top tier list! What a great year!

[@Nelliesreadingcottage]

Great video! If you enjoyed One Piece I would highly recommend Fullmetal Alchemist. It is a bit darker, but so emotionally charged, it is incredible!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@Nelliesreadingcottage Thank you for the recommendation! Much appreciated! 😊

[@benediktmathes2528]

Is it really darker? I am not sure how much OP you read, but I think OP has darker stuff in it. Also iirc the first anime (FMA) was darker than the manga (and thus FMA:B), wasn't it? The manga itself was not that dark... I think... was so long ago, my memory is fuzzy. 😊

[@Nelliesreadingcottage]

@@benediktmathes2528Thank you for your insight☺️

[@dalicieux]

For those who read and enjoyed Murder at Spindle Manor (like me!), the third book in the series is out this week! Titled Murder on Hunter's Eve. The second book that came out last year Murder on the Lamplight Express was also really fun!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I hope to follow up at some point with more by Morgan Stang -- I knew within the first few pages that Murder at Spindle Manor was a special read. Cheers!

[@mxoze]

subscribed for your one piece videos, but thought I'd give this a watch since I also enjoy reading fantasy novels. Awesome video, I've added a bunch of these to my list! My question for you is how do you balance reading so many different series? Do you take many notes? I tend to stick to one series, read it in its entirety then move on to the next. It's so impressive to me that you can analyze one piece as well as you do while also being in the midst of many other reading journeys! Is it ever overwhelming how many different stories you consume? Anyways, looking forward to your thriller bark video!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@mxoze Thank you! I’ve found that it actually helps me to appreciate a series when I’m interspersing it with others. Variety is the spice of life, etc. That’s how my brain works, anyway, and it’s surprising to me that my brain also almost never confuses the various series. All the best!

[@Eluarelon]

I just recently talked about that I don't want to continue putting books on my TBR because I'm too slow a reader and that pile has gone way over 500 books in the meantime. One video later (this one), and I think it has basically grown with another 50 entries or so. As said before, this year has been slow for me so far. Didn't help that I started it with Kay's Tigana, that made me so emotional that I couldn't even directly go into Robert Jackson Bennett's Foundryside, because it just felt so flat in comparison (and I say that as someone who became a huge Bennett fan with his City trilogy). Really had to let that book settle first, and the fact that everyone is telling me that Tigana (and the Fionavar trilogy I already read) rank among Kay's weakest works make me kinda fear that his other books will completely destroy me. Another trilogy that I finally read was Jen Williams Winnowing Flame trilogy, and again, those books put me through the ringer. Fantastic read, and I wonder why she's not way more popular in the booktube/-tok scene. On the lighter side, I really liked Tim Akers Knight Watch trilogy, a very weird but enjoable series that kinda mixes Stranger Things-like nerd characters with Men in Black. Loved the self-deprecating humor of the main character and how Akers changed the setting from book to book to keep things fresh. A wild ride, but I loved every minute of it. And last but not least, I just started book three of Garth Nix' Old Kingdom trilogy. It's labeled as YA Fantasy but this 50 year-old guy thinks that this is a really stupid label for a fantastic series with great world-building, a cool magic system and very likeable characters, that at least to me, is a real page-turner.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Sounds like some winners! I’ll be rereading Tigana later this year and moving on to more GGK books after that. Best wishes for your future reads!

[@akellerhouse83]

I really need to read more Janny Wurtz. I read the Empire trilogy, but I imagine her own series is pretty good. I also want to read more Mark Lawrence. I read Book of the Ancestor, but I'm not that interested in Prince of Nothing. I just started reading Suneater this year. I loved the first 2 books. I'm really excited to see what comes next.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@akellerhouse83 I’m looking forward to starting Sun Eater later this year! Cheers, Amanda!

[@toinenosoite3173]

Interesting collection of books - have to keep them in mind when looking for new reads. My five best books of this year so far (in reading order): Kaikessa lihassa on tahto by Jenny Kangasvuo Arrival by Ted Chiang Lahtarit by Anneli Kanto L’Étranger by Albert Camus Die Enkelin by Bernhard Schlink

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

A marvelously diverse list, which doesn't surprise me! Best wishes for your reading in the second half of the year!

[@toinenosoite3173]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Well, thank you, and the same to you!

[@HMadalin]

Hi, Philip! Have you read 'The Will of the Many' by James Islington?

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@HMadalin I have it on my shelf, and I look forward to reading it very much. I’ve heard lots of praise!

[@Ulmo90]

Stonewielder, Return of the Crimson Guard, Empire of Silence, Dead Beat, Proven Guilty and Of Darkness and Light are my favorites of the year so far

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@Ulmo90 An excellent list! I’ll be finishing Dead Beat today myself!

[@Ulmo90]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy nice, enjoy the last chapters!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@Ulmo90 I’m sure they’ll race by!

[@パンダの死体]

Since you are open to more media as wee see with One Piece, I would like to know if you are willing to engage with a Visual Novel one day. Titles like Umineko or House in Fata Morgana belong to the best fictional stories ever made for many people - and I am a huge Umineko fan as well and am impressed what it has to offer in terms of literature analysis. Only one who engages with classic fiction and made a review about it was the channel LeafRead. I think I am not the only one who is excited about seeing a Professor diving into it.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@パンダの死体 Thank you for this exciting recommendation!

[@DanielsBookNook]

One piece is amazing! I’m all caught up with the Manga, starting the latest arc soon!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I hope to be in the “all caught up” boat later this year!

[@heidi6281]

I have read the best of fantasy the last six months, The Age of Madness & Liveship Traders! I am in the middle of the Last War by Mike Shackle now which I am enjoying. Cahill’s novella, The Exile was his best writing yet. Next up, War & Ruin, The Lions of Al- Rassan & The Burning by Evan Winter.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

You have indeed been reading the best of fantasy, Heidi! I hope the rest of the year is at least equally amazing for you!

[@rajashiyam1386]

One Piece is one of my favorite manga ever, maybe even my top one, but I can't say that for sure without knowing the ending of the story. I hope Oda doesn't disappoint us. ❤ It has a lot of ups and some downs, but it's never fallen off. Its keep getting better I hope you will enjoy the rest of the story. Take your time because I don't think One Piece is the kind of manga we can enjoy in one chapter per week❤

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@rajashiyam1386 I’ll be savoring it! Cheers!

[@djsuth7727]

I think I'm going to have to get stuck into the Library trilogy ... not sure if I can put it off for another year. Mark Lawrence's books always resonate with me.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@djsuth7727 I hope you’ll enjoy it, DJ! So far, it’s my favorite thing I’ve read by Mark Lawrence.

[@benjamin9357]

You mentioned reading the epics, like the Mahabrharata and the Ramayana. My quick internet searching took me to many different translations and versions out there. Is there a good place to start? Should I go with the Bhagavad Gita? And are there any English translations that you would recommend over the others?

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

If you read The Mahabharata, The Bhagavad Gita is an episode within it. The translation/summary I have of The Mahabharata is translated by John D. Smith and published by Penguin Classics. It’s very good. If you want to focus on The Bhagavad Gita, the translation I mentioned by William Whorton is very good, but there are also scholarly editions with the Sanskrit and copious notes if you want to get really serious. All the best!

[@benjamin9357]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Thank you sir. On to the next journey! I appreciate the help.

[@DanExploresBooks]

I really need to get going with Realm of the Enderlings. Ive put it off for far too long.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@DanExploresBooks There’s a better than good chance you’ll end up loving Realm of the Elderlings, Dan. Just keep in mind the whole slow burn thing. It always has payoff with Hobb. Cheers!

[@SimplementInefable]

I read the Parable of the Sower at the end of last year and, even though I agree that the themes are important and relevant, I just don't get all the praise... I'd love it if you could expand more on why you feel that way towards it, I'm really curious

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@SimplementInefable I filmed a dedicated review on it. It’s under ten minutes and spoiler free, so not really doing it justice. I think a spoiler-filled discussion might help you to understand what others see in the book. I haven’t participated in one, but there might be some out there. Otherwise, I bet there are articles and analyses you could access online, though the best ones would require an academic database. Cheers!

[@SimplementInefable]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I'll be sure to check those out! Thank you for your comment

[@shawnlinnehan7349]

It’s been Gardens of the Moon for me. I wasn’t going to read it yet until I finished up some other stuff, but it kept staring at me and I kept watching videos about Malazan so I caved. I’ve been reading Deadhouse Gates for awhile now. You’re right. They are not fast reads. I flew through the Faithful and the Fallen right before Malazan.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

No doubt about it! I love The Faithful and the Fallen, but it's definitely much quicker to read than Malazan. I found that reading faster-paced books in between Malazan reads helped me to appreciate both styles. Best wishes!

[@reggiega7989]

This sounds like my experience, been watching a ton of Philips and APs non-spoiler malazan videos, been staring at gardens of the moon for so long but haven't started it yet because I want to finish some other series before I make the jump but it's getting harder and harder not to.

[@shawnlinnehan7349]

@@reggiega7989 I've read a lot of fantasy, not as much as Philip, and just a lot of stuff in general as I read a little of everything. Gardens of the Moon is on some whole other level. I'm sure my view will change as it is only the first book, but it was the greatest fantasy novel I have ever read to date.

[@reggiega7989]

@shawnlinnehan7349 see I'm very new to fantasy, I've read asoiaf, dandelion dynasty, the first 3 books in the first law, the first 2 books in farseer, and a few others. I only started reading at the end of 2022 and I've been relatively consistent since and I have watched so many of Philips and APs videos on malazan, more than once might I add. I rewatch the same videos to soothe the itch without scratching it. The way Philip and AP talk about malazan has bolstered my anticipation for the series so much. I initially thought it wouldn't be something that would interest me but as time has passed the more I can't fathom not liking the series and I barely know the premise. I'm not a literature nerd, honestly I used to hate literature in school, never felt any connection to English Lit, I read manga growing up but I read books very rarely. I've read more books in the last year and a half than I read in the 24 years prior. I was more of a science guy and now that I've tapped into fantasy I love reading and can't imagine ever not reading. I've started watching Philips videos with AP about how to analyse books because I've enjoyed the majority of what I've read but I feel like because I never took literature seriously that I'm missing a skill when I read. I don't pick up themes, sentence structure all that stuff. If you pointed it out to me I could think about it and then start giving examples, but I don't inherently notice themes and stuff, so I do feel a bit amateur even while reading. I feel like I'm missing out on so much good content from philip and other channels because I've started reading so late and thus can't watch videos because of spoilers. While the stuff I have read aren't as saturated on KZbin because typically most booktubers read them before they started booktube. Not sure how I made this so long winded, I started typing and couldn't stop. I am extremely excited to read gardens of the moon, from all I've heard and now from your comments on it as well. I'm trying to finish up some series this year and then start it next year but I am someone who jumps all over the place and reads what is screaming at me. Gardens of the moon is one of those books screaming at me but I want to start it at a point that I can completely appreciate it. Apologies for the waffle 😅 and Dr. Chase keep up the great work, your videos are always thought provoking and insightful

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@reggiega7989 It’s never too late to become a reader. One great thing about books is that, like good friends, they wait for you for the right time. Best wishes!

[@christianshobbiblog1816]

Enjoyed this video, Philip! I’ve been going through the Liveship Traders this year and I agree that Realm of the Elderlings is one of the best, the emotions hit so well for me and the character work is unparalleled. I just started the Mahabharata last month too so that’s fun haha. I plan on starting Wars of light and shadow once I finish book 8 of Malazan since I’ll be sprinting the rest of the series and would like to have another epic giant of a series ready to go once I finish the Crippled God. Currently on Return of the Crimson Guard which AP recommended in a video after book 7 and greatly enjoying that. Idk if this is the best place to ask but I wanted to know if you would like to come onto my channel to discuss what makes a fantasy series “epic”. I know that’s a vague topic but I’d like to explore how the various elements of a story like plot, characters, and setting can contribute to the series being considered epic. Let me know what you think and I hope you have a great day! Great video as always.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@christianshobbiblog1816 Hello, Christian! I’d be happy to chat with you about epic fantasy. What timeframe do you have in mind? My email is [e-mail].

[@christianshobbiblog1816]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Thank you so much! I’m thinking we can talk in the next few weeks maybe at the end of the month? I can record on the weekends or during the week so I’m pretty flexible. I’ll send an email later so we can talk more there about logistics and such. Thank you again!

[@curlsnoutx1]

in regard to the Bhagavad Gita, is there a particular translation you would recommend for a first time reader ?

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@curlsnoutx1 The translation by William Whorton is great!

[@douglashufnagel7424]

My favorite read so far this year has been a reread of Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson, but my favorite new book has been either Book 4 of Malazan, or the Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, which was a history book written in and about the star wars universe in the style of the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Very interesting read, obviously the author knew the book they were riffing off of extremely well.

[@douglashufnagel7424]

Also, kind of funny you started with the Realm of the Elderlings. I read Assassin's Apprentice and didn't really care for it.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@douglashufnagel7424 Some fantastic reads there!

[@jasonep2]

I tried leaving a couple comments previously with 3 of my favorite books that I've read this year but it seems that youtube deleted my comment shortly after I posted them and I'm not sure why. So, we'll try this again. My TBR list grows even larger after watching this video. Not a bad problem to have. Just need more time in the day to be able to read. 3 of my favorites this year include a general fiction novel, a 16th century religious allegory and a modern retelling of a Russian folktale: Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon - set in the early 2000s and follows a mom who runs a fraud investigation business and starts digging into a tech company that possibly has some shady dealings going on. The Journey to the West attributed to Wu Cheng'en, translated by Anthony C. Yu - unabridged English translation of the 16th c. classic Chinese novel that follows a Buddhist monk and his disciples (which includes Sun Wukong/Monkey King) as they go on a journey to collect Buddhist scriptures but encounter many obstacles on the way (mainly demons in disguise). Deathless by Catheryne M. Valente - a beautiful and frequently heartbreaking retelling of the Russian folktale The Death of Koschei the Deathless set mainly in Russia in the first half of the 20th century. Starts just before the Russian Revolution and ends with the Siege of Leningrad. Valente's prose never fails to leave my stunned. She's beomce one of my all time favorite writers

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@jasonep2 So sorry to hear about the previous attempts at a comment disappearing, Jason, but I’m glad you persisted. Journey to the West has been on my radar ever since I started One Piece, which derives inspiration from the older story. My very best to you for your reading for the second half of the year!

[@jasonep2]

​@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Journey to the West is so much fun and the revised edition of Anthony C. Yu's four-volume translation contains a fantastic 100 page introduction that I highly recommend. Previous English translation abridged the source material and omitted the poetry. Yu's translation was the first unabridged translation and one of the things I really liked about the introduction was the explanation of why the poetry is so important to the story.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@jasonep2 Thanks so much for the recommendation! I’m going to follow it.

[@NoobManga]

You should try a Manga called Gamma Draconis by Benoist Simmat x Eldo Yoshimitzu

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@NoobManga Cheers!

[@the03k]

I love your enthusiasm for books and literature in general, but it's always so hard watching these videos having read 1 new thing (Frieren's manga) so far this year and having such a big backlog of books I already own. One of these days I'm sure I'll get around to reading everything mentioned in this video, but I'll probably be a decrepit old man by then.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I know what you mean! Too many books, too little time could be my motto. But thank you for watching!

[@thecomicreadern4344]

Do try to read Mahabharata by vyasa in its entirety, I don't think any fantasy novel has and will ever rival it in its depth and scope and character

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

An excellent recommendation! I also wish I could read Sanskrit!

[@thecomicreadern4344]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy there is a very good translation by bibek debroy,it is complete

[@PurpleHaki]

Obligatory comment to push the channel- I can't wait till you start theorycrafting One Piece, because you know the series is still not ended currently and there are many unanswered questions which have been mysteries since get go. I imagine your take on Oda as an author will be extremely engaging as you really get into the meat and potatoes of the series. Trying to solve the mysteries of One Piece is in my opinion the magic of the story. While I'm very careful to not drop any spoilers in these comments I feel its only right that you know One Piece fans around the world are still jumping out of their seats on a weekly basis, and most of the time its because Oda is still merely teasing answers to questions that have befuddled the audience for literally decades.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I'm looking forward to arriving at that point very much! Thank you, as always, for your comment and your insights, Daniel!

[@PurpleHaki]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I'm making the jump to ordering your first book after going through your rate my professor hahaha, as a 32 year old who grew up on classic fiction the idea of seeing you self actualize in real time is fun, it's a wonder you have time for this youtube channel considering all the hats you wear as a parent professor and author, much appreciated!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@PurpleHaki Thank you, Daniel! The only reason I can do it all is because I love it. When it’s a passion, it doesn’t feel like work. It also helps to be old because I’ve had plenty of practice!

[@IndiaTides]

Indian book sells and the fantasy genre is dominated by those two epics. The story is part of everything in our civilization.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@IndiaTides So true! These are stories that teach so much - stories for the ages!

[@IndiaTides]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I am glad you liked them. Good day to you.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@IndiaTides Likewise!

[@thatsci-firogue]

Philip, have you tried Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples' Saga? Its a Sci-Fantasy comic book series about two deserters from both sides of an intergalactic conflict who have not only fallen in love and eloped together but have had a baby, and both sides are out to kill the new family. Its very adult I should warn you, its very sexually explicit.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@thatsci-firogue I haven’t read it, but I’ll consider this a recommendation! Cheers!

[@przemysawdobrzynski2590]

Glad you're enjoying One Piece, but kinda bummed at the same time because it is so long that will probably make you push other great manga aside for a long while

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

True! But worth it, I think. I look forward to more in the future, though!

[@SethPlato01]

Robin Hobb and Eiichiro oda?.... you better drink some water this year, replace your fluids!!!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I might have to hook myself to an IV drip!

[@CelestialAnime1]

Read monster manga it's a masterpiece

[@CelestialAnime1]

Especially if you liked berserk Vinland saga vegabond

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@CelestialAnime1 I’ve actually read Monster! Merphy Napier and I have a series of discussions on it. Cheers!

[@CelestialAnime1]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy oh I see

[@ThrivingWithKat]

This was a great list! Can't wait to see what you'll read for the rest of the year 😊😊

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ThrivingWithKat Thank you, Kat! I wish you much fulfillment in your reading!