THE "BEST" FANTASY BOOKS 🤔 OVERHYPED, UNDERHYPED, AND APPROPRIATELY HYPED 💫

[@esaracristina]

I know this is NOT the subject of this video and you may have received this question many times already, BUT: can you please tell me what makeup palette you are using? Your eyes look amazing in every video, I can't stop staring at how pretty your makeup is! Ok, done, I will get back to the nominees and the actual discussion now.

[@Katiedora122]

I just cannot remember what books came out year over year. With each title I was like, "That was THAT YEAR?" 😅

[@jamamaples9967]

The Devabad series has been on my TBR for a while…. I guess I need to pick that series up sooner than later. I adored Tress, I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea (see what I did there 😉), but I loved it because it was so different. I found it refreshing. I loved the humor, especially knowing Hoid is the narrator; it made the random tangents and humor make sense. Thanks for your videos. Always appreciate your reviews.

[@saramm3765]

My husband and I have very different tastes and we both love The Devabad series and I love her new series. An amazing storyteller.

[@emryborge7027]

I’m looking over the goodreads choice awards for sci fi and half of the nominees are mystery/thrillers😒

[@TriforceLiz]

Right?? I wonder if there's a gender bias in who uses goodreads and who reads sci-fi. Almost every sci-fi I've read in the last few years has been outstanding, but it's difficult to find vibey queer and women-led podcasts and yt channels that suggest a lot of sci-fi.

[@monisharmuk]

For me the Addie LaRue was overhyped.. I went in with such high expectations and it all fell flat…

[@emisreading]

love this! personally I think legends and lattes has way more hype than the house in the cerulean sea - I feel like it gets all the credit for "launching" cozy fantasy into popularity when house in the cerulean sea came first. but I also felt very meh about legends and lattes in general so that could just be personal bias 😂a book is always gonna feel overhyped when you didn't love it.

[@kathryne5510]

Same. I don’t hate L&L but I think it was very mid and I’m fascinated by how many people find it to be the only cozy they like when I feel the OPOSITE (don’t mind the genre but not into this one specifically)

[@donaldpratt2296]

@@kathryne5510also, it, any the prequel, both made me confused about what a “cozy fantasy” is. I wouldn’t assume that near death experiences through violence would be part of “cozy.”

[@Paul_McSeol]

I adored Babel. Thought it actually was as good as I’d heard. But thanks for this. There’s a few of these on my tbr that I had sort of forgotten about. Take care!

[@SilverScribe85]

I absolutely LOVE House in the Cerulean Sea and I'm almost finished with the sequel. Whispering Door was also a great read

[@MH-ve8fj]

The Daevabad Trilogy is an all time favorite ❤ Absolutely worth the read. Have to say the male protagonist chapters in the first dragged a bit for me but don't let it discourage you, some of the most enjoyable character development I've ever read. Court politics, class systems, strong but believable female lead, fully fleshed out cast of characters, magic, sprinkle of romance and such heartache. Bittersweet, brutal and beautiful ❤

[@benlemcke2863]

I found with more recent releases, Brandi Sandy has been putting quantity over quality a little bit regarding character development as well as world building. The language has become less epic and more…casual in a way. I love his works to bits, but RoW, The Lost Metal, Tress and the Stormlight 5 chapters he has released… there’s some scope missing in them, imo.

[@tinyprettymoon]

The Witch’s Heart was so good. If you want something similar (I didn’t like it as much as I expected or wanted to but it was still good) try The Witch and The Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore. It’s the story of Baba Yaga with Russian history and folklore What sucks about Daughter of the Moon Goddess is I picked up the sequel at the library and somehow totally missed the fact that it’s a sequel. It literally says Book Two on the cover and I just didn’t see it 😭 I put in a purchase request for the first book though since they only have the ebook and audio versions. Hopefully I like it but when I read the synopsis for the first one, I was kinda disappointed cuz it reminded me a lot of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night aside from the mc’s mom being alive

[@RoVicD]

I like the goodreads awards for reccomendationd but they don't always sort the book into genres properly. Most books are more than one genre, but they do have like a main genre. Like Ariadne. I love that book, but it feels more like historical fiction to me. Maybe they need to add a retellings sub genre, like they did for romantasy.

[@estack24]

I'd been on a hiatus from books for a long time until last year and I can't start House in the Cerulean Sea or Invisible Life of Addie Larue because of how often I hear people hyping them up. I hesitantly read Legends & Lattes and while I did enjoy it, I did find it a bit overhyped. I do find that recent fantasy books other than Brandon Sanderson books are underhyped in the circles I am in as the communities I am in are either not as familiar with all the fantasy series that exist other than Cosmere, Middle-Earth, and Name of the Wind settings or not deep in the bookish space. This video also just increased my list of books to read.

[@brunettereader]

I'm so sick of seeing that spam manifestation comment on all the booktube channels I watch 😒

[@Bookishbrunette]

I would love to see this with a young adult fantasy version!

[@ridsasim4685]

The invisible life of addie larue was SO overhyped and so undewhelming, I was actually mad at it😂

[@Meg_Sprite]

It makes me so sad because I ADORE everything else VE Schwab has written.

[@neea8807]

I didn't read as much of those as you but here's my opinions: House on the cerulean sea: I found it cute and I loved the kids. Not life changing but very good. Piranesi: MY HEART! My poor little heart was bleeding for him all along. I had some kind of light spoiler about his situation so I wasn't surprised by anything but I loved it. Ariadne: Nice. I mean I'm a former greek/roman mythologies nerd and I have *opinions* about everyone involved that I've held for decades at this point. The book didn't change my life, I'm not going to reread it in the near future but it was nicely written. I've read city of brass last year and I don't know how much the french translation plays in it but I have 0 motivation to continue the series. I liked the world-building, and the characters for most of the book but I found the narration confusing and the big twist at the end was a lot of WTF for me. Suddenly the characters and the politics made no sense at all. Some of the other are on my to-read list (She who became the sun was STOLEN from my library and I was next in line ARGH), a few were just added. Thanks for the video!

[@Hamilwhovian]

I looooooved House in the Cerulean Sea so for me that's appropriately hyped. On the other hand, Legends and Lattes was just fine, so I think is a little overhyped 😂

[@willpi6413]

Ya same lol. I only got a third through L&L but cerulean sea and under the whispering door I loved.

[@catsandbats77]

I agree. Cerulean Sea was just so good. Legends and Lattes was just okay. I liked Bookshops and Bonedust more.

[@catsandbats77]

I really loved both House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. Legends and Lattes I felt was just okay. I liked the prequel more and it still isn't a favorite. I actually think The Inheritance of Orchidea Divina is underhyped. Agree with The Adventures of Amina al-Sarafi. I was also unsure about it at first because it's not my usual type of book and ended up really enjoying it.

[@MichaelR-kl6hk]

Recently found your channel and enjoying it.

[@TheCriticalReader]

Great video as always, I loved the Atlas Six. I always thought that it deserved (and lived up to) the hype, even though it was overhyped

[@najawin8348]

_Babel_ is legitimately one of the most overrated books I've ever seen. lmao. The themes in principle aren't the issue, it's that Kuang has *_fundamentally_* no idea what to do with them, and actively undermines her basic thesis.

[@0Demonheart]

Tress of the emerald sea was good. Recently I’ve been reading more indie books. Michael R Miller’s Songs of Chaos series is the most under hyped book series I’ve read in years especially for fans of dragon rider books.

[@Marie45610]

I liked the first half of She Who Became the Sun way more than the second half.

[@courtneyclarke654]

I feel like I am the only one who could not get into Tress of the emerald sea. I tried to read it physically twice and also tried the audiobook. I only made it about 30% of the way through. The humor in the book is what put me off of the story. I love all of the other books I have read by Brandon Sanderson but Tress makes me nervous to read his other secret project books.

[@beingbookishpod]

Sadly I felt the same way, so you are not alone. I have read three of the four secret projects and each one of them was a bit more miss than hit for me. I really wanted to like it, but it just didn't get me.

[@nikolahetn944]

I actually really understand that even tho I ended up loving it. I had trouble getting into it for about 100 pages and the humor was a mixed bag for me as well

[@MaximilianReyCartwright]

The kindle sample has already put me off of it. But this was me making my fifth or sixth attempt at getting into *any* of Sanderson's work, going all the way back to Elantris in the 00s. I've concluded I simply hate his style and everything about his work and I won't be bothering anymore. The more of his stuff I try, the more I dislike him.

[@mariet3012]

I also struggled with it and didn’t finish. Hoid is a fun character in small doses but I didn’t like him as a narrative voice for a whole book. And I really don’t like how Sanderson writes pirates, so as soon as pirates got involved I noped out.

[@louloubellex9292]

It’s my least favourite book I’ve read all year. I do not understand the praise and hype it got

[@BestSharkis]

I'm so jelly of those Jen Williams hardbacks on your shelf

[@lazerblu]

Agree on Tress, of the secret project books my favourite by far is Yumi.

[@bryandempsey3840]

Terry Brooks’ Shannara series.

[@Vemza]

Thank you for this, Im now really looking forward to read couple of these. "Ascendance of a Bookworm" light novel just finished. Do you have any thoughts on that one? It is sort of a cosy fantasy with trace amount of a romance. World building is top notch but not everyone is in to that sort of thing...

[@dellah7507]

Can we please get a bookshelf tour???!!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@_ashleylh]

I am rereading Legends and Lattes because I need the comfort right now. But when I finish, I am about to start The Witch's Heart and I cannot wait! Libby is about to give me A Sorceress Comes to Call though 😅 I also have a physical copy of The Familiar waiting for me. But The Witch's Heart first! Babel was one of my favorite books so I respectfully kinda disagree with you. ❤ Gosh I have yet to read Bookshops and Bonedust. I love Emily Wilde and cannot wait for the third book.

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I’m still haven’t read stormlight archive 😭

[@AdmiralPeach]

Legends & Lattes was the most overhyped one for me, I read it and was like ??? Adored House in the Cerulean Sea though ❤

[@clareisakson]

Daughter of the moon goddess I keep getting recommended all of a sudden!

[@MH-ve8fj]

And you should absolutely take the recommendation! I usually have nightmares but the week I read it, I dreamt of dragons and the clashing of swords in the clouds. So many amazing visuals and adventures 🐉🏹⚔☁️

[@clareisakson]

@MH-ve8fj oh my gosh okay I need to read. It might be my New Year's book

[@MH-ve8fj]

@@clareisakson Happy reading 🤗🎆🎉🎇

[@raymondstapleton3945]

As an avid fantasy and sci go reader since I was a kid in the eighties I have to say I hardly recognize any of these books. There are plenty of great books that don’t appear on any list or awards nominations. Nebulas an Hugo’s have never played into my book choices

[@Tessa_Ru]

Right lol. I still use the method of go to store (or library), find nice cover/interesting title, read first chapter. Buy or don't buy if the writing style suits me. People be willingly signing themselves up for the marketing propaganda lmao

[@Meg_Sprite]

15:46 I hope more people continue this series and make sure to read the Shades of Magic trilogy first. I GASPED out loud halfway through the book because of two dang words. IYKYK!

[@MichaelWagner-ie9px]

I thought Addie was way overhyped at the time, and I personally don’t really like it at all.

[@noamheller4043]

Cerulean Sea was just... too too sweet. In a bad way lol

[@courtneyclarke654]

I agree, it ended up being a DNF for me. It was too on the nose with its "lessons".

[@atomknight8361]

Thats how cozy fantasy has been for me. I like drama too much to be satisfied with these bright cutesy stories

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Thanks for the video!

[@artdecadence]

if Twelve Kings by Bradley Beaulieu isn't on here as an underhyped incredible book ... I'll do nothing except leave this comment and cry about more people needing to read this book T_T

[@artdecadence]

oh it's about goodreads ok ignore me

[@marliscan]

I wish Goodreads would add better categories that focused more on new and lesser known books and authors. As much as i love some of the more popukar and well known books/authors, i tire of hearing about them because we know, we all know. Lets concentrate on something else, theres so many good independent authors out there. Too many go unnoticed. I mean, i love Throne of Glass by S Maas, its one of my favs, but come on, lets give another some opportunity. On that note though, if anyone has read the complete series of Throne of Glass, any recommendations for stories that have the witches like she wrote, ive never read witches like that, or the storyline with the spiders, that was pretty cool, i would love to find other books that have comparables. Thx and Happy Reading

[@Iza56]

I think they heard we saud it's popularity contest because i dont know 90% of those books. Only Ya fantasy/romantasy books ive seen somewhere on the net. But i dont think they were ever hyped

[@JohnSaxon-vw5vi]

Thank you for sharing some great and wonderful books 📚 for me to read and give a go prayers and blessings for you and your family love your Aussie family friend John xxx

[@davidc1179]

Am I the only one who smiled and exhaled some air through the nostrils when reading "appropriately hyped" ?

[@thewitchyreader6131]

Great Video!

[@mishelly]

I look forward to reading cerulean sea. But I remain baffled why Piranesi is so popular. I agree it’s so obscure that people do regarded as some sort of artistic maybe I don’t really know what’s going on but highbrow sort of work

[@mbranche4234]

I loved the Devabad series too! So under hyped. Also love The Adventures of Amina El-Shariffi. You are giving me great books to add to my tbr. Hey Luna...🐕

[@donaldpratt2296]

Hmm. I’ve read three of those books. They were all fine.

[@melissar.7802]

I have Missed watching your videos. Currently finishing the lies of Locke Lamora 🙂

[@csd8204]

Good, video. Yet another video w/ multiple Sanderson recommendations. I'm always leery when I hear/read reviewers commenting on themes in books because I can never tell if they're commenting on the book or their approval on the execution on the theme. It's like all these fantasy political thrillers that are high on political thriller beats and low on fantasy beat.

[@fleabynight]

Your funny. I like this video heaps. Yes Babel was over-hyped. The only one I've read. I really need to read more fantasy. Just read "The Five Warrior Angel Series" by Durfee. Underhyped big time.

[@laurenschenck5355]

Loved The Witches heard it deserves more love too seriously! 🍃📚🦃🦃🦃📚📚🧡🦃🦃🦃🤎❤️📖📖🧡🤎💛📙📙🖤🍃🍃📚🦃🦃📚🖤🖤🖤📚📚📚📚📚🍃🖤📖📙📙

[@marinamendez5815]

First 🥹🥹✨❤️ love your channel

[@hrissing2752]

Thank goodness. Someone else shares my highly unpopular opinion of Song of Achilles. I just found it “fine”, rather than life-changing literature

[@Tamsuw1781]

Wish I could say I liked Rhythm of War but I didn't. In fact I am done with that series because of it... Also just too long for me. I just have a hard time with the really long ones nowadays.

[@kelleyeasterling]

Forgive me father, for I'm about to sin. Tress of the emerald sea almost completely put me off Brandon Sanderson. I hated the writing style and thought the story was weird. I didn't really like it at all, but then everyone was raving about Yumi and I gave it one more try. Oh, that one was a winner!!! And I really liked the other two as well! Please don't be mad at me for speaking ill of the brando sando! 😂

[@atomknight8361]

Shadow of the gods trilogy is so good. I'll never forgive goodreads for not being nominated this year. This was his year