NOVEMBER WRAP UP

[@Tanya_LitLife]

Vespertine was hands down one of my most anticipated releases. A re-read is definitely on my radar due to the depth of the magic system/spirit characters. I also agree on the point of her “anti-social” tendencies. Trauma based social avoidance shouldn’t be shoved under the special snowflake heading, or dismissed as such before reading. Also, the representation of disfigurement was done, I thought, with respect.

[@august3777]

That cover of Dune is so beautiful, I would never read it.

[@ravenevermore7338]

I totally agree with you about Skyward and Starsight. I missed the group dynamic in the second book. I am looking forward to Cytonic.

[@TheBookishMom]

I love the Author interviews, I think it is a lot of fun and really interesting. I was always super nervous about it but after you had me on for Roario Munda i got over the nerves and even ended up doing an interview with Sarah Beth Durst recently. I am debating re-reading Skyward/Starsight then the novellas then Cytonic but ugh I just need the time haha

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

Fascinating selection, Little Thieves has a gorgeous cover.

[@thomaspostma2329]

I've been reading Dune! And I very much agree with you, I feel like seeing the movie first and than reading the book is the proper order. When I am done with it, you made me enthousiastic about the Bone Shard Emperor and The Wold and the Woodsman. (also, I'll probably read Cytonics!)

[@rozarka4328]

When you talked about folklore and stories in The Wolf and the Woodsman, I was reminded by A Conspiracy of Truths which I'm currently reading. It's the most unique fantasy I've ever read and it centers around storytelling and preserving myths and how a good story can make or break a person. It's fascinating.

[@dahabow8250]

I have that one on my tbr and hearing your thoughts has made me even more excited to pick it up.

[@JoanaSousaReads]

i added little thieves to my tbr =D

[@Blackhobbit86]

I know that I'm more of character driven, but I didn't mind that Dune wasn't that. It's one of my favorite series.

[@stinee9628]

Nothing gets me out of a reading slump like your book recs! Excited to dive into some of these!

[@fishbowlwoman]

I'm so glad you liked Bone Shard Emperor. I'm so excited to read it!! As for Dune, I love the first book but didn't care for the second and third. I gather that's a common feeling among some fans.

[@LifeasMonae]

The wolf and the woodsman seems like it was written for me... let me add this to my list also I agree with the adaptation being much more digestible than the book for Dune. I would say watch the movie first and how you feel about the movie will help you decided if you want to trudge through the book. I tried Vespertine on Audio but it was much more complex than I anticipated for a YA, so I had to stop. that is a book I will want to read physically, especially now that you said there in an index in the book.

[@Tersanay]

I picked up the bone shard daughter and am almost done and couldn't be happier. Thanks for talking about less common but amazing books so we can find them too.

[@pseudoluxury]

just added firekeeper's daughter to my WTR list! i don't usually read YA, but i've been wanting to read more indigenous literature. that cover art is so beautiful too.

[@mariaeduardamelo1164]

I am planning to read the bone shard daughter this month thanks to you! Hope that my experience will be good

[@Books_BrewsandBeyond]

Great wrap up Elliot!. I will be reading The Bone Shard series next year as I couldn't fit it in this year. Vespertine is on my December TBR- I've heard such good things about it and I'm hoping to get to it soon.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Glad you really enjoyed most of what you read here! Had to skip the spoilers, as I've not yet read Skyward. I also love your transparency with author interviews!

[@FunFantasyBooks]

Yay!! So excited that you liked The Bone Shard Emperor!! It’s in my Dec TBR and I want to love it sooo much that my expectations are beginning to be too high 😂

[@cipriansirbu3699]

Wow,I'm glad to see that you liked The Bone Shard Emperor,I have just got my preorder this week and it's slightly bigger than the first one and you finished it in a day,that's awesome.Haven't read them yet,I'll probably read this series when the third book is out.Recently I've finished Empire of the Vampire and OMG,was very Good.Currently I'm reading Project Hail Mary(60%),it's great so far,very interesting.

[@ABookFiendNamedMel]

These books all look amazing! I always have to have my Wishlist open when I watch your videos! 🙃

[@llindberg194]

I'm just about to finish James Clavell's "Shogun" so I can start the Bone Shard Daughter next. From what you've said about it it sounds like a really interesting concept and plot, so I'm excited to start it before the week's over. A Google search told me that Andrea Stewart sold the story as a trilogy, so at the moment it seems like she'll be wrapping things up in the third book.

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

Fire keepers daughter was such an interesting read

[@sarahwatts8920]

I also loved Bone Shard Emperor! Now the wait for the third....

[@becklebooks]

I’m currently reading Dune, I’ll probably get half way through it before I’m booked in to see the film tonight. Surprisingly, I’m quite enjoying the book and I feel invested and interested in the characters before seeing the film; I’m looking forward to that feeling heightening after I’ve seen the film! 👌🏻

[@tiituahosalmi9039]

Really excited to pick up Skyward this month, it has been waiting on my shelf for some time! As for Artemisia in Vespertine, I thought she might be neurodivergent? As a ND myself, that's the feeling I got, since she has a lot of sensory issues (doesn't like touch, hates crowds because of the noice and so forth) and she doesn't seem to understand some social cues and has trouble communicating with the other girls in the convent etc. It isn't confirmed but I would be interested to ask this from Margaret Rogerson some day. But yes, the trauma she carries does affect her life a lot too!

[@ThePurpleBookWyrm]

There was some really beautiful cover art put on display there! It's always nice to see variety in book cover art too. 😊 I try to be careful about using the "not like other girls" critique, because sometimes, well... that can in fact be a person's experience, in a way? It sort of was mine, having mental illness as a child/young teen, being nerdy, a loner and undiagnosed with ASD too. 😅 So I guess it all comes down to how it's handled on the page (or the camera, etc...), whether or not proper context is provided, what the thematic angle is, etc...

[@wjamimah7772]

I loved Dune front to back. Such a great book!!!!!!

[@clarkkentnaruto4322]

Hi there. Those books sound great. I am currently listening to Little Women in an app from the Library of Congress for the Blind. I am also reading while listening to the Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts. I will also be listening to the last 2 books in the Wheel of Time series sometime this month.

[@JolienReads]

Seems like you had a great reading month! It's funny to hear, I loved Dune and hated the Wolf and the Woodsman 😂 But I can definitely agree with what you said about both. As a character driven reader I actually loved Dune but more for the concepts like you said and I thought Paul was a very interesting character (but that's partly because I am very interested in religion and... Certain characters in religion 😛)

[@sarahmellinger2907]

GIDEON!!!! That’s all I had to say.

[@msthornback7935]

I found Firekeeper’s Daughter hit the right tone in those serious moments because they are being done by 17-19 year olds. Its jarring to hear the immaturity in such a serious situation. The teens are in over their heads but in some cases didn’t really have a choice.

[@Katie-ug3ep]

Yesss I agree with your comments about dune. I read it this year without ever being exposed to the dune world, and I couldn't care less about any of the characters or events. I definitely would be liked it better if I saw ANY adaptation first, because the book really doesn't make you care about anyone or anything.

[@gregorylaperche5574]

Dune does sound like it's up my alley. I am in a huge slump though 😭

[@Tiffs-bookshelf]

I am currently reading Aurora Rising series book 2. I am ready to ready Skyward soon! I wanted to read one at a time lol, it might be a bit confusing to read them back to back.

[@laiaal.3324]

I went to watch Dune without having read the book, and I like it so much that I needed more so I'm reading the book right now. And I have to agree with you, I'm not sure if I would be liking it as much if I wasn't already attached to the characters and had some background information. I am very excited to see what I think of the part of the book that was not in the film :) I almost bought Little Thieves and ended not doing it. Now I'm kind of regretting it very much ^^'

[@angelaholmes8888]

Here's what I read in November Just as I am by Cecily Tyson memoir Sunshine girl by julianna margolis her memoir 💛 God emperor of dune 💛 The dragon haven The shaadi set-up 💛 The light of all that falls Reapers gale Firestarter by Stephen king The wolf and the woodsman 💛 The soulmate equation The burning shadow In a holidaze The firekeeper daughter💛 The broken eye by Brent weeks Circe 💛 I kissed a girl by jennet Alexander The kiss quotient 💛 Royal by danielle steel 💛 Gods and monsters Valentine by Elizabeth wetmore Next year in Havana 💛 The heart emoji are my favorite reads in November

[@fogofwarbooks1913]

Little Thieves was SO GOOD!! It totally surprised me, and I think more people should pick it up! Also I'm pretty sure there's actually going to be a sequel.

[@johnsaxongitno4life588]

Congrats to you on your reading 📖 for the last month of November tbr please stay safe and enjoy your reading 📖 prayers and thoughts to you and your family love your friend John

[@fileanavailable]

I’m currently debating rereading The Name of the Wind so I can finish book two or rereading the A Song of Ice and Fire series for the 6th time… maybe the next book will come out… maybe… 😭

[@audreyajose632]

I started cytonic a few days ago, I'm loving it😩 I had to pause cause I got to page 200 in under a day and I don't want to finish it just yet😢also I have exams😂 Also I Loved bone Shard daughter and excited to read bone Shard emperor, just got vespertine and the wolf and woodman.

[@piotsa8898]

Absolutely agree about Vespertine!! I thought it was clear that she’s still suffering from past trauma and also liked how easily you could see how others would misunderstand her. But also I feel like reviewers way overuse the “not like other girls” criticism these days to dismiss female characters who are a little strange or stick out in their world and it makes me sad because I want to read about weird characters, it makes books more interesting

[@shawnabelanger7799]

Did you like the wolf and the woodsman?

[@andrewberenson5717]

I liked the reference to 21 Jumpstreet. I enjoyed the series on Fox (not the movies).

[@thewitchyreader6131]

Great video!

[@tristenbrown7099]

Love the vid

[@dahabow8250]

I'm so glad you read Little Thieves! It was such a fun book with one of the snarkiest protagonist I've ever read about. The deeper themes in the book was also very refreshing to see. If you want another Goose girl retelling that also talks about dark themes like child trafficking and abuse, I'd recommend Thorn by Intisar Khanani. Just so you're aware, there's some heavy content, so proceed with caution

[@meridiths9287]

Little Thieves is in my top ten for the year - fantastic read!

[@00moon]

Vespertine has aro ace/ asexual characters as far as I know and that's one reason I want to pick it up, I love her writing and I want well written ace characters esp. aro ace characters in fantasy which I don't trust anybody with tbh..... But the setup being so religious is a huge turn off for me so I'm just suffering.

[@Tanya_LitLife]

‘What We Devour’, I believe, is a fantasy with ace representation, if you haven’t picked that one up yet, you may enjoy it.

[@00moon]

@@Tanya_LitLife Thank you, I'll look it up!

[@leslenne]

Little Thieves was a 1 star read for me - butchering the German language like that for no good reason just took me out of the story completely.