the 22 books i read in august ✨ gothic novels, fantasy, and the stupidest book of 2023 😂 rant/review

[@caricanread]

im back!! my iceland and UK vlogs will be up soon (iceland this weekend!) on my main channel ---> kzbin.info/door/a-DreapaYm4Roo0CfUBGQg

[@caricakes]

here i am^^

[@marenhumblebee2736]

Missed you... for some reason... even though I do follow your Instagram and geographically you were much closer over the last few weeks... still my heart is still in Korea 😅 and when you are not in Korea - I feel like you are are a long way away- somehow... gosh I need to fix my fan-girl-style. This def isn't normal 😨

[@Silverraine1]

@@marenhumblebee2736 no this has to be normal fan-girling, I also always miss Cari when she's away!

[@wumbus-kp4jj]

actually, allisons use of the french translation of the months in dark night Does make it more fantasy, because the french arent real❤️

[@caricanread]

lmfao

[@secretlyamacat]

😂

[@saphia7158]

as a French person, je confirme lmao

[@surpriseitsus9622]

😂

[@rixanoz]

IF YOU DON’T READ THE EPILOGUE IT’S A STANDALONE 🤣🤣🤣

[@caricanread]

:'''''')

[@groofay]

You love to hate to see it

[@ilovemybabyblues]

@@caricanreadwhat’s funny about that actually is when I went to the author’s signing in Georgetown, TX last month, she said she originally hadn’t written the epilogue and that her publisher/editor said “you can’t leave it like that” and so she added it afterward 🥲

[@iamjessica2196]

what book was this about :)

[@Jess-du9xg]

house of roots and ruin@@iamjessica2196

[@beatricelucas385]

We love an appearance from Mr. cari can read

[@caricanread]

the man always just slightly off screen hahah

[@TheHotaru21]

i finally read the ballad and never after and OMG now i know why you were so shocked in the video where you read it! it was sooo good, much better than the first book in my opinion, and i can't wait to read the final book in october.

[@caricanread]

right?!?!?!??!

[@ItsJennB]

Girl, you are almost solely responsible for my tbr list constantly growing faster than I can keep up...I hope you are proud of yourself 😉

[@rixanoz]

I’m right there with you on three dark crowns. It took so much energy to feel connected and not just annoyed.

[@caricanread]

the premise was so good? i think the fourth queen is what really threw me, i just couldnt get into her story at ALL

[@rixanoz]

@@caricanreadit really had so much potential.

[@lifebyisi]

I connected with the three sisters really well but omg the story of the fourth queen was annoying as hell😭

[@poser360]

tbh, by the end, I just wish the bear would have been the new queen. so bored with the fourth queen

[@carissadallke1345]

I think I dnf it. I just could not get into it.

[@pendragon2012]

22 books??? Damn, girl, you're the super reader!

[@caricanread]

being on a plane for 25+ hour will do that to you ahahah

[@marenhumblebee2736]

This is so true... but it's not necessary - even 5 books would be plenty for a book channel!!! This goes out to everybody else who wants to do a book channel and might be intimidated by "super cari who can not only read but speed read" !!!!!

[@pendragon2012]

@@marenhumblebee2736 It's all good. If we're here it's because we enjoy the channel. Someone who's intimidated can always just look at the length and decide not to watch.

[@AnonJess]

I was just watching your creepy autumn reads video from a few years ago! How funny! But also, I wanted you to know that I read The Last Tale of the Flower Bride thanks to you, and it was absolutely a 5 star read. So good. Thank you for the consistently awesome recs!!

[@caricanread]

omg yesssss so glad you enjoyed!!

[@alexagreer3378]

Octavia E. Butler is INCREDIBLE!! Parable of the Sower is one of my favorite books and one I will never stop thinking about.

[@maryr329]

Oh, Diane Setterfeld’s Once Upon a River is wonderful. Perfect for a cold winter evening.

[@andreatsai2482]

I really loved The Thirteenth Tale. I read it in Chinese when I was in high school and have reread it three times since. I just love the atmosphere of this book and enjoy how she described the love for reading. Although some topics in this book really are disturbing but I didn't seem to mind much. I was really surprised by the twist when I first read it. I also enjoy her other work: Once Upon A River. It's a story about story telling. And I would also like to tell you that I really enjoy your book revew videos. You always make those books sound so interesting to me. Thank you for creating such wonderful videos!

[@nissasbookcorner]

i love these long sit down videos, it’s like talking to a friend about books :)

[@Beach652]

That's weird that you were told Thirteenth Tale would have fantasy elements! I definitely went in expecting a gothic story and it had strong Bronte vibes for me which I appreciated a lot.

[@nadinegimenez]

Every new video is like a warm hug to my heartt. I'm literally going through old videos and playlists just to relax listening to your voice + get the best comments/opinions on books lol You're amazing, keep going ❤️

[@caricanread]

gahhh thank you truly!!!

[@somshunsun]

Please please please save Evie Dunmore’s “league of extraordinary women” series for your next flights because they are some reallllly solid and fun historic romance stories with a suffragette storyline and they are truly a delight! The 2nd and 3rd are so far my fave 🎉

[@yourhomie1]

Recently found your channel and I've been obsessed! Thank you for making my days much better ^^

[@caricanread]

thank you so much :')

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

15:12 Twelve Dancing Princesses 😊 I loved House of Salt & Sorrows and can't wait to read House of Roots & Ruin. 🌊👻

[@secretlyamacat]

I love your quick book reviews in your monthly videos :) Found so many tbr books thanks to you!

[@mariluuu17]

Hiii Cari! I'm so happy you're back, I truly hope you enjoyed your trip ❤. And I'm soooo ready to listen about what you read, thank you so much for another video! ✨

[@caricanread]

thank you always!!

[@cls3282]

Ahhh I'm so glad you liked the other Tessa Dare book. All of her books are light and confectionery, super silly fun times. It's always interesting to me that different people like different books by the same author - like with bridgerton, everyone who is a fan has a different favorite. I think my fave Tessa Dare is Do You Want to Start a Scandal, but I fully admit it's straight up crazy sauce lol

[@Howeryalyssa]

Thank god I’m not the only one with a leaky brain when it comes to plots 🙏🏻

[@caricanread]

🥰

[@ilovemybabyblues]

Romancing the Duke is probably my LEAST favorite of Tessa Dare’s Castles Ever After series, but When a Scot Ties the Knot (book #3) is probably in my top 3 romances I’ve ever read, so TD’s body of work is definitely a rollercoaster sometimes 😂

[@carolineblueskies]

Ok this makes me think I need to try another one of her books, because I couldn't STAND Romancing the Duke lol

[@javeriajamal9471]

Omg you should read A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher it’s another just a tale. But a very cute, simple tale. Gingerbread go stabby stabby.

[@mop7316]

ahhh blood debts has been in my tbr for a while and your review being so positive makes me even more excited for it!! hopefully i can read it soon:'))

[@stgadens]

hi cari! u have no idea how much i appreciate your existence! have a lovely day 💖🕊️

[@caricanread]

have a lovely day too :'''')

[@ThatWeirdGirluKnow]

I have book recs for you! Intisar Khanani has three novels: thorn, theft of sunlight, and a darkness at the door. All are wonderful!! Thorn is technically a standalone and a retelling of ‘the goose girl’ but the other two are spin offs. There’s fantasy, a little bit romance, and really good characters. Would recommend for fall ❤

[@user-kj3ym7hx9x]

I thought I will like katherine but then I was like arsinoe is so underrated she will be my fav. At the end I was sympathetic towards mirabella. By the way I hate joseph. Cari, who is your favourite sister and love interest???

[@HirakoKuyo]

Okay so I dont know if you've read A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall but it's one of my favourite audio books evaaaaar. It's a beautiful story featuring a trans woman as a main character and the love interest has a disability that I think is written very good and it made me cry so much. I've never read anything else from the author but this is such a wonderful love story I think.

[@ElleGoulden]

Would really appreciate it if you could do a video on tips for being a more consistent reader, reading quicker, getting through more books in a year… just a general video on what practices you implement in order to read so many books

[@JoannaMurray]

I loved your list of gothic tropes 😂

[@michellecgb]

22 books omg! A great reading month for you ❤ so happy to hear about these books

[@caricanread]

thank you! partially because a lot of books were 200 pages or less but yes! a great month hahaha

[@michellecgb]

@@caricanread I forget that's the key to success 🤌🏻 haha

[@bananabelle423]

i listen to you all day at work!!! keep it up :D

[@caricanread]

omg hope youre having a good day!

[@DancingKitkat13]

YASSS CARI DROP A NEW VID WHOOHOO LOVE YOU GIRL 💙💙💙💙. I had a bad week this week at work your vids make my day girlie. I hope you are doing well.

[@caricanread]

[@DancingKitkat13]

Thank you have a heart back 🥹💙💙

[@abbeyu44]

I also did NOT enjoy three dark crowns, which I was sad about because the premise is so interesting! I felt like the books would be better suited to the new adult genre, as they suffer from certain limitations being stuck in the YA category. Billy is the only love interest who wasn’t awful, but I was definitely confused by his continued presence because I thought Jules and Arsinoe were going to end up together the whole time 😂 the series had sooo much potential to be good but it just fell flat :/

[@caricanread]

right?! by the end i only liked billy and arsinoe - jules' whole storyline was a MESS

[@joy-dz7oe]

LOVEEE SEEING YOU POST

[@caricanread]

thank youuuuu!

[@Pika6ana]

I love hearing you talk. currently reading One for my Enemy! Wish me luck. love your videos

[@natashaarnold3981]

Love sitting in my reading chair with a blanket and a coffee watching this video 😊😊

[@Artbyhurricanyounot]

YOU READ A MARILLIER BOOK!!! I am so fucking happy! I fucking LOVE heart’s blood, even though I dislike beauty and the beast retellings! AND you liked it!!!! A win is a win!!

[@caricanread]

yeeeee! i did it!!!! hahahhha

[@Artbyhurricanyounot]

@@caricanreadyou have no idea how happy it made me to hear that you enjoyed it. Happy and relieved 🤣 I just finished a re-read myself not long ago too!

[@KYX1994]

Just love the way you talk about books and summarize the plots! 🎉🎉🎉 Thanks for keeping me company while loading the dishwasher lol

[@beasknees9]

I was so surprised to see Heart's Blood here, I literally finished it the other day! Been trying to dive into Marillier's works (This is the third book of hers I've read now) and this one was pretty entertaining. Also, I bought & read Thornhedge in the same day, I adored it.

[@DarrianChamblee]

I read Three Dark Crowns because you said you were going to read it and felt the same way. The whole series can really be summed up by no plot, just vibes. And your notes were correct, the third book was the best 😅

[@caricanread]

and very shitty boys hahahhaa

[@DarrianChamblee]

@@caricanreadyes! Have you looked at the GoodReads reviews? I’m concerned for some of the people who place their hate on one guy versus another 😂

[@emilyf4178]

Cari! You should read the Elements of Cadence duology! It’s done so well and I was hooked! The audio book narrator is a woman with a wonderful accent too.

[@dulcemartinez5189]

Hi Cari! I hope your having a wonderful week! Can't wait to the vlogs of your trip 😊

[@caricanread]

thank you! im so excited to share!!

[@misso.reads.]

Hi Cari! I have watched your content for so long and was inspired to make a booktube channel 🤍 (except I’m focusing on children’s books!!)

[@lindslovely]

Hi Cari! Happy Timezone ❤

[@caricanread]

hi!!!

[@3bellam]

Cari, I just decided to read a vintage bodice ripper type historical romance because I thought it would be a fun little reading challenge, and it has been ridiculous but such a fun time! So glad to see we're on the same page lmao

[@NixanAmbrose]

I feel like after every one of these videos i add another 3 books to my tbr- love your videos so much and credit to you for being able to talk about books without spoilers!!! I am not strong enough to not go on 3 hour rants whenever i talk books to friends lmao Cant wait to see what you read next 🩶

[@tea.a9511]

so excited for the iceland and uk vlogs!! i’m currently rereading the first book in the raven cycle series, i don’t remember if you’ve read it already but it’s fantastic :D

[@kendalwarren9973]

Book Rec incoming: Even The Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett. It’s a mountain climbing quest book with an amazing romance. It’s one of my favourite duologies ever and you should totally check it out!!!

[@caricanread]

oh i loved emily wilde so ill give this a try!!

[@danielleoliver1734]

The dragons are adorable, I love them

[@delaneyheil9575]

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy Three Dark Crowns; I'm still really glad you read them regardless! Arsinoe and the political intrigue and twists were so much fun for me, but I also understand that it's a lot to keep track of and is straight up just not for some folks. Even if you didn't enjoy, thank you for reading them! ❤

[@caricanread]

i only kept reading for arsinoe and billy!! the only good characters ❤

[@bookoffholicbookwart5945]

Ah! Tessa dare. She's a mood

[@miriam8376]

Since you liked Kindred so much, I’d recommend one of Butler’s short stories (though it’s not that short), called Bloodchild. It’s technically sci-fi, but reads like horror, because the whole thing is a barely-muted metaphor about the mental experience of being raised in a culture where your body belongs to an oppressor. It’s just about aliens on the surface, lol. Be prepared-even 16 years out of undergrad, where I read it for a literature class, I remembered whole scenes of it. It’s permanently lodged in my brain.

[@a.p907]

"And the plot of the book is that Death goes missing." Wasn't that the plot of a Disworld novel?

[@alma3468]

yes! reaper man, if i remember correctly. my favourite discworld novel out of the 13 i’ve read so far

[@jesmiscellaneous8938]

Yup. Second book of the death series. Very hilarious 🤣 Death basically goes on a “manual labor, slow living” retreat and assigns his job to his protege

[@alinamasyuk360]

i’m on book 3 of Three Dark Crowns series, and i agree with it not being great but not being able to drop it because you want to know how it ends 😃 i started reading the first book in february (i think?) and still haven’t finished it. the plot is kinda interesting and sometimes it’s hard for me to guess where it is going, but if i’m not in the story, often i don’t feel like coming back to it.

[@shak3nicypaws]

🎉🎉🎉🎉cari is back Iceland sounds so cool

[@caricanread]

it was amazing! vlog coming this weekend^^

[@noinetanel5680]

Finally, someone who didn't love 'Boyfriend Material'. Thank you

[@Silverraine1]

I've read a couple of Alexis Hall books and even loved one, but I couldn't even get past the beginning of Boyfriend Material!

[@superhpfan00]

The one time a cari video is out and i dont have my crochet project handy! At least i could make progress on a side project for one of my dnd campaigns (ive decided one of my characters keeps a personal journal and ive been translating my session notes into his voice) Definitely got a few that will be going into my TBR pile (dune is taking a billion years but i kinda knew that getting into it)

[@dallanatorresmora7582]

Ready to add more books to my tbr 😅😅❤

[@caricanread]

[@emmisirpale]

These videos have quickly become one of my favorite youtube content. ❤😊

[@thepoetesskhansaa]

Omg Cari you read a Juliet Marillier! Excuse my hyper enthusiasm 🙈 it's just I've loved her books for so long but I never hear anyone talk about them, I feel like she's so underrated. If you liked the vibes of Heart's Blood I would definitely recommend picking up more by her - most of her books are set in pre-Christian Ireland so they all have that same vibe ❤

[@Pizzelle]

I remember loving Wildwood Dancing and Daughter of the Forest!! (trigger warning for sexual assault on daughter of the forest though)

[@keiley99]

I just finished the duchess deal by Tessa dare and it was amazing 😂

[@ephemeralumbra]

i would read the lost bookshop as an alternative to the thirteenth tale! it does touch on some intense topics, but i think that she handles them well.

[@cewhyem]

Hearts Blood is one of my absolute fav books. TT I'm glad you liked it!

[@ilovemybabyblues]

Heart’s Blood is INCREDIBLE and no one talks about it! It deserves to be talked about nonstop imo

[@Milovatsi]

PLEASE read a Terry Pratchett witch book on Oct. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@Meow-Meow501]

Hope you loved your month of travel Cari! I love that for you.

[@caricanread]

Thank youuuu!

[@mikaylaa.k.8376]

I have a book series to recommend. It's complicated because it's got like 13 books in the series now, but they are all fantastic. It's the Skulduggery Pleasant series. It starts in YA but the books get darker and more serious as the MC ages and develops. I adore the writing style and the characters. And if you stick with it, you really get to see the characters change and grow and struggle and lose and all the good things

[@yunnaiven]

Hope u enjoyed 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

[@caricanread]

❤❤❤

[@tree_hugger6921]

I love Tessa Dare! I know her book are not accurate but I am sold on her. Her MC are always great and always feel like real person because compare to a lot of historical romance MC they have hobbies

[@tiongenakazwe]

Yesss okay thank you for your thoughts on TDC. I read it so long ago but as you described it I remember the exact feelings you described 💀 so long and yet nothing was happening and yet I wanted to keep reading. Couldn’t bring myself to finish the third book and my favorite sister was ms.elemental

[@kytten]

Oh i loved Blood Debts, what a lovely book - very excited for Blood Justice next year! What i read that was highly rated for me was Zhara by S. Jae-Jones (ya, fantasy, fiction, romance), and Never a Hero by Vanessa Len (ya, romance, fantasy, paranormal). Currently i am reading my absolute top most anticipated book this year, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White (horror, ya, historical fiction, queer, lgbtqia+) - it's currently vying for my boty with Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle (horror, adult, queer, lgbtqia+). Lean pickings in the later bits of August and the beginnings of Sept, but there's some other stuff coming out later i'm interested in.

[@pandora2658]

I read The Thirteenth Tale ages ago (2010, according to Goodreads), and I have no memory of the plot or how it landed on my radar, but I do remember that I loved it (Goodreads also corroborates this as I gave it 5 stars). I am really interested in how this book is having a sort of resurgence. I am seeing it read by/added to TBRs and I'm curious what has driven this uptick in activity. As for the story, I do love gothic stories so, while I have no memory of this place, I guess it is no surprise that I loved it.

[@cari9157]

i love how books can differ so much for people. it's so fun to see. boyfriend material was a 5 star read for me, i couldn't even tell you why, it just scratched all the itches for me. i just love seeing how things differ for other readers!

[@staria4722]

i’ve read the first three books of three dark crowns and i started the forth like two years ago and i still can’t bring myself to finish it. the third book was such a drag to me. it was originally supposed to be a duology and you can truly tell because the first book was great, then the second book starts out good, DRAGS ON FOREVER, and then picks up in the last 50 pages, and that’s also what happens in the third book but it starts boring and ends with a bang in the last like 10 pages. i will finish the series one day, the characters for me left a huge impression like i love all of the girls and i really want to know the end of their stories but omfg i can’t deal with the boring plot points in the middle of it.

[@aidarodriguez6721]

it's been a while, and i only read the first two books, but i remember really liking three dark crowns. i hated katherine, but really liked mirabella and arsinoe's relationship.

[@4everirishdance]

I love that you call Tessa Dare's books "historical drama," because like, fair--though I've always called them bodice rippers. I love the 80's and 90's covers for all those mass markets because of the fun (and scandalous) paintings just inside the cover. Tessa Dare is fantastic, I loved The Duchess Deal. I also recommend Erica Ridley if you want fun campy historical romance that has more updated and progressive ideals and characters!

[@nknutson780]

I am always looking for good Rom Com books❤ I just finished ‘Georgie, all along’ it’s a great quick romance!

[@blairviolet_]

I just read Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs and it was such a good time. Magic books, secret library, thriller and mystery and SUCH a satisfying stand alone. A foreseeable twist but then they getchya with another one. Wraps up wonderfully as well

[@karia3511]

i absolutely love all your reviews!! one book that is my absolute fav and have loved since high school and i always recommend is All Our Yesterdays!! its like a YA sci-fi book 10/10 would recommend!

[@Bookishbrunette]

The only reason I finished the Three Dark Crowns series was because I wanted to know what happened. Mirabella was the sister I was most interested in and I feel like she was kind of forgotten. I could not stand Jules though. It felt like the series became all about her as the books went on. I liked the first two books more than the rest of the series but still I unhauled these books right away 🥴

[@marenhumblebee2736]

Tessa Dare- Romancing the duke... I have had that on my shelf for years. I could never get past the first 20 pages. It just couldnt captivate me. I really love the romances by Sarah MacLean. Especially her earlier work. And I also liked a couple of the romaces by Eloisa James such as Desperate Duchesses. I believe she is an university English Professor with a special research interest in Shakespeare, so her books are a little less low brow, but still very fun. I would start with "9 rules to break when romancing a rake" by Sarah MacLean!!!!

[@rudainareaz8762]

well well well if it isn't my favourite booktuber... 🥰

[@caricanread]

:'''')

[@tyghe_bright]

Don't know your tastes, but another novel based on the fairy tale of the 12 dancing princesses is Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson. It's literary and experimental. A short book with beautiful language.

[@booksbyfem]

Book rec for October/November: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. Super atmospheric, standalone, flesh-eating horses and good characters. None of Maggie Stiefvaters other books work for me but Scorpio Races is one of my absolute favourites!

[@kimn4158]

Katherine from Three Dark Crowns is my favorite character. Loved House of Root and Ruin. Master of Iron and Love Theoretically were good.

[@zannolin]

oh my god YEEESSS i love kindred. i've had a copy for years and i think about it so much. and the thirteenth tale literally haunts me i just reread it recently and was like "ah yes, still haunting me"

[@nicolibressan3897]

Sorry that you don't like Three Dark Crowns, it's one of my favorite fantasy. At the end of book 3, I end up loving Katherine more than the others.

[@lexys_library]

Masters of Death… I am right there with you. The idea of this book is amazing but like what are some of these sentences and all the parentheses?! Confused. I had to work so hard to stay on track sometimes

[@itzjuicegacha]

I have to say I really loved “Masters of Death” I loved the complicated and It was for me just amazing! I respect your opinion but can’t really agree, I am especially fond of that book as my English basically improved trough the book.

[@lanimartinez3910]

Your wrap up of Blood Debts made me think of the duopoly This Poison Heart and This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron. Plant magic meets Circe and Medea...It was a good time!

[@caricanread]

oh i've read those but they're very different - no plant magic or potentially haunted houses here hahaha

[@tine272]

"you need to be a good gay, not a bad gay" 😭😭

[@lucindajennings148]

Tessa Dare can be quite fun. ^_^

[@romywolfofficial]

Oh boy--now that you have made your way into period romance, may I suggest Courtney Milan as your next author? I love her work to an unhealthy degree 😅

[@ImLoriBeth]

The “weird ass twins” SENT ME 🥲🥲

[@MinneB]

Cari, you need to read Between Wrath and Mercy. It’s truly amazing ❤

[@-cloxd-]

I love your videos❤ are you going to do a reading vlog for The Brothers Hawthorne for the Inheritance Games series?

[@caricanread]

I need to ready my heart hahah still havent forgiven her for how she ended that trilogy!!

[@-cloxd-]

@@caricanread SAME. It took me at least a week to recover from that ending😅

[@surpriseitsus9622]

Three Dark Crowns....ahh....My daught bought me all of the books. I wanted desperately to love these books, but Im afraid I dnf'ed after book two. 😔 Lynn in Arizona 🌵

[@surpriseitsus9622]

I thought I would like Katherine best, but she was just too dumb with boys. 🤷‍♀️

[@rowan.27]

Omg please read Parable of the Sower & Parable of the Talents if you liked Kindred! They are truly some of my favorite books of all time now, Octavia Butler was a genius

[@tinagarcia3571]

I loved The Thirteenth Tale, I have the original edition it is beautiful. It is very English Gothic, so the time period of the character is speaking of matched the way it is spoken which adds to the gothic ick feeling as gothic should.

[@diaplotical]

I read The Thirteenth Tale last year! I thought it was a psychological thriller, didn’t know a lot about it because my boyfriend picked it out at random. I think I just stared at the ceiling questioning what I had just read after I finished 😂