the chaotic books i read to end 2020 (nov + dec wrap up)

Hello friends! Today I recap the final books that I read to end 2020, and what a climax it was! Grab your cup of tea and come chill with me as we explore the final 11 stories that made my 2020. Oh gosh, also, this is the first time I've used a font in a thumbnail LOL!
With love,
Joel ☀️
Prince of Stories & Scion of the Sun
HELP THE WORLD
✨ do the right thing | dotherightthing.carrd.co/
✊🏽 black lives matter | blacklivesmatters.carrd.co
🇵🇭 junk terror bill | junkterrorbill.carrd.co/
🇱🇧 help lebanon | helplebanon.carrd.co
🇳🇬 end sars | endsars.carrd.co/
PEOPLE MENTIONED
✨ blake | / blakethebookeater
✨ mollie | / @addictedtofictionx
✨ zoe | / channel
BOOKS MENTIONED
00:00 - 00:46 - intro
📖 00:47 - 02:53 - cemetery boys | / 52339313
📖 02:54 - 03:53 - the drowning faith | / 55927316
📖 03:54 - 06:47 - the green bone saga | / 216281
📖 06:48 - 09:01 - these violet delights | / 50892212
📖 09:02 - 13:00 - the blood of stars | / 224554
📖 13:01 - 15:24 - black sun | / 50892360
📖 15:25 - 18:14 - this is how you lose the time war | / 43352954
📖 18:15 - 21:03 - the year of the witching | / 49789629
21:04 - outro
LET'S CONNECT
✍🏽 blog | fictionalfates.com
🐦 twitter | / joelrochesterr
📷 instagram | / joelrochesterr
📸 bookstagram | / fictionalfates
📚 goodreads | / joelrochesterr
📌 pinterest | pinterest.co.uk/joelrochesterr
OTHER LINKS
☕ ko-fi | ko-fi.com/joelrochesterr
🛒 amazon wishlist | www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/...
ILLUMICRATE REP
☀️ If you would like to sign up to Illumicrate, you can use my rep code of JOEL5 for 5% off your 3-month or 6-month subscription! | www.illumicrate.com/
OWLCRATE REP
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MUSIC CREDITS
🎼 Clueless Kit - Come To A Stop (feat. køra) - thmatc.co/?l=40B85A9E
🎵 Streambeats - Ramen Nights - www.streambeats.com/
🎼 Jennifer Chung - Better Today Than Yesterday - thmatc.co/?l=43A12211
BUSINESS INQUIRIES
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DISCLAIMER
🌻 This video is not sponsored.

[@yourmom-bp1np]

the toxic waste on the pretty bookshelf is true chaotic academia

[@fictionalfates]

it's truly one of my favourite sweets

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I need to actually pick up these violent delights SO BADLY

[@fictionalfates]

YOU DO!!!

[@jenniechall]

I'm obsessed with the energy of this earring!

[@kirstenserneels]

I just love the way you talk about the books - your love for reading shines through alongside your amazing personality and it's brilliant to see! I finally found my love (more like obsession) for reading again after years of not reading because of different reasons and your channel has to be one of my faves ✨

[@alieneater3328]

i used to read a lot and then i stopped at around 17. im 20 now and ive been reading this one book for a long time and i still havent finished it. i bought so many books that have never been touched except when i re-arranged my bookshelf. trying to find the motivation to read is difficult bc i dont have the motivation to do anything really. i get so excited seeing other people talk about books but i have books i bought in 2015 that need to be read before buying more and just feeding that void. hopefully one day i can be as excited again like you and all the other booktubers i watch. i read 3 books this year tho which is an improvement from last year which was 0.

[@halimamuslimah]

From your friendly BOOMER...GEN Z is doin' the damn thing & I am totally here for it!

[@ChiBeReading]

The way Jade City had me STRESSED! 😩 I am so scared to read and also anticipating reading Jade War and Jade Legacy so heavy!

[@avekatumba4794]

I read the song of achilles & I'm recovering. Other books I read were the heartstopper books, fires of vengeance & persuasion.

[@jamess0_0]

I know I can't be the only one that immediately cried when reading the first sentence of The Drowning Faith lol

[@fictionalfates]

Oh I felt like crying

[@francescakyanda9182]

The matching This Is How You Lose the Time Wars as a buddy read is something that can be so personal

[@JemimaRose]

never over your sword earring 😍😍i'm reading TVD right now & ahh it's already so good - such a strong debut author

[@israaahmed7168]

The Year of the Witching is having a sequel!!!! It’s titled “The Dawn of the Coven”

[@heyimsasa]

omg i had such opposite views with you about "these violent delights" and the blood of stars duology 😂 it hurt me to sit through my favorite 2020 read getting roasted, but i'm sorry it didn't meet your expectations 😭 also "black sun" was actually a perfect book. definitely my favorite read so far this year. serapio and xiala are star-crossed lover PERFECTION 😭

[@mysteriesofmar]

the energy of this video is exactly what i needed today!!

[@nicoletong7753]

been WAITING for ur tvd review, i am stoked

[@16rock1star5]

Drinking matcha and this popped up in my sub box, I think it was meant to be😍

[@LorisBookTrials]

Some Of my favorite December books were, the dragon republic, the burning God, and my absolute favorite was A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir. The series gave me the ending that I was hoping for and even more. I laughed, I cried, and at some parts yelled. What more could a series ending do. I love how excited you go and how you light up, when you talk about books you love. I am hoping to pick back up Jade City soon. These Violent Delights I definitely want to pick back up later. I wasn't feeling it when I tried to read it this month. But I am thinking it just wasn't the right time for me to pick it up. And I started Black Sun but haven't finished it yet. I will probably pick back up Black Sun and maybe Jade City in February. I just have to see if I can fit them both into my February TBR. I hope you have a great day 💗

[@mya1207]

Your sword earring is everything 🗡 ✨

[@bookish.j3669]

I was equally excited and intimidated by Black Sun cause I haven't read any high fantasy adult books before so I'm happy to hear its a good beginner fantasy!

[@judithbolding4108]

I'm so glad you liked The Year of the Witching! I loved it as well

[@alyslim5234]

i just love you and whatever you dooo 🥺🥺❤️❤️

[@selantrian]

whenever i hear you talk about the greenbone saga i get more excited to read it!!

[@MsIska28]

OMG that Halloween edition of The Shining is pretty 😍

[@teresarosereads]

You have me so intrigued to read This is How you Lose the Time War! I added it to my wishlist😊

[@thereadingrobin2191]

Loved this! So cool that you just binchread a series. I really need to try that some time, never do that

[@RamblingsOfAnElfpire]

I have Jade City on my shelf and can't wait to read it now!

[@sharlizedsouza3307]

I'm here I'm here... sorry for being late I was rewatching all your vlogs

[@dgs788]

I am sick with covid and feel awful. Your video really, really improved my day. Thank you for making content.

[@sometimesshewrites]

My favorite books of November 2020 was probably They Both Die At the End by Adam Silvera. That book broke my heart!!! It's still broken!! And my favorite book of December 2020 was Mémoire de Thirgoths, a French Urban Fantasy novel. A very close friend of mine wrote it and I thought it was amazing. Can't wait for book 2.

[@fictionalmusings4676]

i am so gutted for missing out on the fairyloot tvd because it is just gorgeous!!

[@dolphin1136]

Omg I’m so glad I’m not the only one who wants a sequel to Cemetery Boys. It definitely stands well on its own but there were a little teasers at the end that made me think Aidan gave themselves enough to make a sequel.

[@Alea_uncharted]

Aahhhh I LOVED Cemetery Boys😍 And This is How You Lose the Time War was EASILY the most romantic book I read all year. Something about it just hits different

[@ThatSpoonieTransGuy]

Omg, every time you love a book it ends up on my tbr. It's so lovely how you talk about them. It's becoming a bit of a problem, my tbr is overflowing 😂 I started to write a tbr specifically for this year to get some insight and not be so overwhelmed, and I started with 20 books to keep it light and to keep room for spontaneity. It's 52 books now. I'm not a fast reader. I need to actively remind myself I read for fun 😂 Anyway, yeah, thanks for these videos ☺️

[@sanah272]

This was such a wholesome vid omg thank u for all these recommendations!! I re-read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe which in retrospect was a really bad idea cause I now really need a sequel :'(((

[@MayBhank]

“amazing, stunning” I need this on a t-shirt I finally picked up A Curse So Dark and Lonely in December. It was my last book of the year. I accidentally read a spoiler while I was looking at book 2 on Amazon 😩I still enjoyed reading it regardless though!

[@sometimesshewrites]

This video made me want to read Cementery Boys and These Violent Delights even more!!

[@christinelagueux8155]

I love your videos. I don't read fantasy books and I can easily skim through to Year of the Witching. Thank you

[@navyagupta6814]

yES loads of these are on my TBR (but life and space-budget issues happened) and this was a great video! Also, your earring; AmAzInG. Thanks and bye!

[@Kat-nv1hx]

I really want to read these violent delights !!!!

[@bettyreads222]

yes read these violent delights in december and that ending was rudeee! memorial by bryan washington is one i'd recommend.

[@adriannaslibrary2909]

So many of my most anticipated books are on this list! I need to start the poppy war series because it sounds absolutely incredible, also these violent delights and jade city and black sun and the year of the witching and ooh also I see a sky beyond the storm over your shoulder. Basically I need all of the books and my bank account doesn't agree with me 😂

[@MaraOliver]

did i bought jade city and the poppy war a few days after watching your reading vlog only because you really like them? of course i did and i can't wait to start them! btw, here you have me again, adding more books to my to-read list because of you! 💞

[@alyxandriaang]

i see u with that shrek wisdom - he loved talking about onions and their layers 😂😂

[@madisonblanding]

i saw you, a poc he/him booktuber in a community saturated by yt gorls, on my home page and had no choice but to stan

[@fictionalfates]

welcome friend 🥺

[@litnana8916]

I need to finish this is how u lose the time war! I was dragging my feet with it, but u convinced me

[@fictionalfates]

yessss!!!!!

[@readerssea]

you had a great end to your reading in 2020!

[@Lazy-Journalist]

good books!

[@emiliaestanol7786]

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH LOVE YOUR VIDEOS

[@magicijan]

Not me pausing my reading to watch Joels new video✌

[@joysmwangi8606]

Just started reading the year of the witching and i hope i will enjoy

[@alyssacascos8665]

Are you going to make a best books of 2020 video? Also, love you! ❤

[@isabel35]

I would love to see your spoiler thoughts on Jade City and Jade War!

[@lindseyirene]

I read Cemetery Boys last week and oh my god it was amazing, five stars and I NEED to buy a physical copy to stare at lovingly on my shelf. Wish this video was posted before I bought a copy of Spin The Dawn, discounted greatly my you, but purchased none the less. Lets hope I can find a way to focus on the romance. We will see.

[@hannahruthreads]

I loved The Space Between Worlds which is a sapphic sci-fi involving the multiverse. It BLEW me away.

[@amandap2579]

Year of the Witching was great....it's like the scarlett letter but not boring 🙏🏻

[@taylorpence2403]

Sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk. I felt like it was not marketed correctly as Mulan and Project Runway. For me, I would describe it as a mash up of Mulan, Aladdin, and Tangled fairytale elements. Although I have only read Spin the Dawn, I really loved the fairytale feel to the book. I have Unravel the Dusk on my January TBR haha im hoping to really like it cuz the covers are also beautiful 😍 Fingers crossed that you will enjoy Six Crimson Cranes more!

[@darcyreadssometimes3904]

Omg please do a spoilery discussion of Green Bone things!

[@Gabriela-xd2di]

Joel, I just finished The Office of Historical Corrections! I absolutely loved it and I think you would like it too! The stories are so captivating and seductive? I also want more from them but love how they leave you wanting more. Anyway, I was blown away. I am also trying to read more short stories/novellas. I put This Is How You Win The Time War on hold at the library. Thank you!

[@camillea8766]

My favourite read from December definitely goes to The Burning God. I have yet to pick up The Drowning Faith as I don't know if I'm ready for more pain. When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain was so beautiful as well. Have you read Nghi Vo's The Empress of Salt and Fortune?

[@RKStumblingbear]

Thank you for your review of Black Sun. I'm halfway through it and I was unsure if I wanted to finish it. I'm enjoying Xiala's POV, but Nara and Serapio's are only okay. And I'm not a fan of all the flashbacks.

[@SavidgeReads]

I think I’m going to have to get The Cemetery Boys and I’ll definitely get This How You Lose The Time War. Sapphic snarky sci-fi, I am on board.

[@fictionalfates]

i hope you enjoy it!!

[@safsxo]

oh my. joel your bookshelf, why so toxic? 💕✨ I apologise if you read this-

[@emmabentham-riley8019]

I read The City We Became, in December and omg this book was so good, I just couldn’t put it down

[@racheltfisher]

I sold this book as soon as I read it, didn’t like it at all !

[@emmabentham-riley8019]

Wow, I guess it’s not everyone’s cup of tea

[@VanillaEarlGreyinAutumn]

🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@weirdstrangegirl]

💖

[@bookish.j3669]

You actually didn't miss out on an illumicrate edition of Cemetery Boys (because as it was a debut box they used regular editions to keep the box price lower) The only special edition I'm aware of is the Barnes and Noble exclusive but their international shipping is currently restricted so you wouldn't be able to order it from them

[@fictionalfates]

ohhh!!! thank you so much for pointing that out!

[@wandguardnoodle]

yes pls do spoilery videos!

[@AM69999]

I cried at you crying at I book I've never read my freaking cancer sun

[@CheyeW13]

The very last book I read in 2020 was Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi and it was my favorite of the whole year

[@seawitch8219]

The author just announced a sequel to the Year of the Witching.

[@bookswithike3256]

One of my favourite books I read in November was Reverie by Ryan La Sala. It was a stunning exploration of queerness using surrealist fantasy, and I highly recommend it to literally everyone.

[@nerd-jock]

hands down my FAVORITE read of nov/dec was Peter Darling by Austin Chant, a trans AND gay reimagining of Peter Pan. It's PHENOMENALLLLLLLL

[@peightoncook7931]

A fantasy series I'd love to see more people read/talk about is the Mirror Visitor Quartet by Christelle Dabos! The world building is immaculate and incredibly unique!

[@sierrathebookaddict6776]

Please read the Gentleman Bastards series I think you will really enjoy this, since the thief/ gang elements seem to be a big interest to you. Thanks

[@eimearhayes687]

If you haven’t already read it I think you’d really enjoy a shiver of snow and sky by Lisa Lueddecke it’s a really beautiful book❤️

[@librarikay]

!! for fantasy, i'd love to see what you think of "gods of jade & shadow" by silvia moreno-garcia; it explores mayan mythology and mexican folklore in the 20th century, and what i personally loved from this story was the worldbuilding and how the characters were developed throughout the novel so that could be something. for horror, this one may be a bit of a stretch but i'd love to recommend to you "clown in a cornfield" by adam cesare. it's about a small town that's been divided between the old and new generation (teens vs. adults) after a tragic death that occurred during an outdoor party. what i love about this story is that it strongly gives classic old-school horror vibes, reading as something that could've been published in the '80s (which is absolutely genius because it speaks so much about the plot itself) and i had a really good time reading it so i hope this can be something you could enjoy. both of these recommendations i read in december and they made the end of 2020 much more bearable for me so yeah :')

[@fictionalfates]

Oh i loved both of those books!!! I read GoJaS in one of my reading vlogs, and clown in a cornfield in my horror reading vlog! Both of them were so amazing and awesome!!! I’m glad we have similar reading tastes!

[@matteahayn]

OMG I guess i’m a gen z author lol, I hope I can get a book published in this decade tbh

[@pixelated4046]

Currently reading Cemetery boys, so far so good go read it because fuck it is so good. I love this book already

[@fictionalfates]

IT’S AMAZING!!

[@pixelated4046]

@@fictionalfates I JUST FINISHED IT AND I AAAAAAAAAAH I LOVE IT AMD WANT MORE!

[@kiwannabrown6523]

I loved spin the dawn first half second half turn me off that I didn't want to read book two

[@katrielsdiary]

Read "The Ravens" by Kass Morgan if you like sorority girl groups combined with witchcraft :)

[@sarapetizzi8537]

Me being very confused because I was absolutely sure This is how you lose the time war was a gay (male) story? What was I on?

[@rissasaki]

I can't barely wait for you to talk about how white and eurocentric Addie la rue was because that's just something unacceptable and lacking in this community (this commentary that only cindy, you and Ellis brought it up). Also if you could do a beginners guide to fantasy I would highly appreciate since I trust your taste so so much ♥️

[@sophiecarbone4977]

Wasn’t the biggest fan of spin the dawn either.......