My Top 10 Books of 2021!

[@Johanna_reads]

I can’t contain myself every time you add in that Evanescence insert! 🤣 Fantastic choices, Allen!

[@Jesmarie7]

🤣🤣 for sure the highlight of my day!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

WAKE ME UP

[@Rogue_VI]

That was so funny. I was dying.

[@Maren617]

If you haven't read it yet, definitely check out The Dandelion Dynasty series by Ken Liu - it's also very much about the question of how much virtue a ruler can afford. It's a retelling of the complicated fall of the Qin and the rise of the Han dynasty 200 BC, but in a cool world with magic and steampunk tech.

[@WordsinTime]

Awesome video Allen! I mostly read sci-fi so I haven't read most of the books on your list except for Golden Son, which was also my favourite of the original Red Rising trilogy. My favourite book I read in 2021 was Demon in White by Christopher Ruocchio. I highly recommend the Sun Eater series!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Literally half my patrons are lobbying for me to read Sun Eater!

[@WordsinTime]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria Half the time your patrons are right every time!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

@@WordsinTime 🤣🤣

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

"Nooooooo! Why are you doing this? Do the other thing!" Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Another awesome Allen quote. I will be reading The Books of Babel this year, and I hope I will find myself siding with you about The Fall of Babel. As you know, I approve of the praise for The Crippled God. Considering that I'm going to be starting Autumn War very soon, my expectations are sky high. Great video, buddy!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I'm pumped to talk about AW with you. And yes! I shout at the people in the book to 'do the other thing' pretty frequently lol

[@ytoffthebooks]

Great list! You’ve inspired me to pick up Bernard Cornwell! My top book of 2021 was Way of Kings, no contest. BrandoSando lives up to the hype imo. I reckon you’re going to love Stormlight when you dive in!

[@scottfeld3235]

I’ve purchased my first KJ Parker book to read, The Folding Knife, your influence is spreading lol. Looking forward to finding a time to read it

[@KellyQ123]

The strumpet music gets me every time.🤣 My favorites of last year were the Faithful and the Fallen and The Greatcoats. All of them they were so good. My favorite non fantasy would probably be The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

hahahhaha i am nothing if not consistent with the editing bits 😁

[@GraceDionneReads]

Well of Ascension is my favourite from Mistborn Era 1 as well!!! And I’ve purchased Guns of the Dawn which will be my first Tchaikovsky 😍 great list!! I think Autumn War is still my favourite but I can’t argue with Price of Spring because it’s a phenomenal conclusion!

[@andrewf7732]

I can't say Jade Legacy cause I read it in 2022 :) But I have another staple as my favorite of 2021 and that was Words of Radiance. The Hero of Ages was a close second. I read a lot of Sanderson last year and this year I'm trying out a lot of new fantasy authors and am really excited since there so much great stuff out there.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I plan to read more Sanderson soon!

[@onfaerystories]

This video just made my day and you made me reconsider my 2022 TBR list, I added so many more on my list from your favourites! The Longprice Quartet was already on it, you sold it perfectly to me many times, and I had The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell on there, but I was also more attracted by his Arthurian retelling. I can't wait! 👏 I'm new at reading Fantasy, but my favourite 2021 novels were (based on your brilliant system): Return of The King, The Last Argument of Kings (First Law #3), The Conquest of Plassans by Emile Zola (19th century French writer), Theresa by Emile Zola (brilliant short novel), My Family & Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, The Hobbit, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Paris in The Twentieth Century by Jules Verne, and The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie (amazing collection of short stories). I'd reread all of these for sure! ☺️

[@RedFuryBooks]

I enjoyed your list - a good mix of things I've read with quite a few I haven't. I'm SO GLAD to see someone profess their love for Cornwell's Warlock Chronicles! I read them about 5 years ago and count it as my favorite non-Fantasy book series of all time. Such a masterful trilogy. I also agree with you and Sanderson's magic systems: I hear everyone talk about them as the be-all-end-all greatest aspect of Sanderson's writing, but I disagree. I feel that, while inventive and always interesting, his magic systems at best raise the narrative stakes, but at worst (I'm looking at you, Rhythm of War) feel like an author's indulgence that stops the narrative dead. Oh, and I loved your description of Zane lol

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Warlord Chronicles is so much more fantastic than I ever imagined it being, considering I don't actually enjoy the Arthur mythos all that much. Such a brilliant trilogy!

[@alynam82]

So I'm a relatively new subscriber to the channel, and was not able to guess the top three. However I've been picking up the fact that you're a Long Price Quartet fan, so I'd have been surprised if it was NOT on your list. I was surprised to see a Mistborn book on here, though. I read Well of Ascension early December with Sarah and her gang on the discord. I think I enjoyed it more than they did, but I have to admit I enjoyed the first better. But I will say this, I enjoyed all the political intriguing in the book, just didn't care for all the drama between Vin and Elend and Zane, and such. You had me hyped for The Justice of Kings back when you did your review so I went ahead and pre-ordered a copy then. I love historical fiction, and had a good time reading Greatcoats so I figured it would be right up my alley 🎳 😀 Finally, if I had to choose a favorite read of 2021 --- The Land Beyond the Sea 🌊 by Sharon kay Penman (though I read most of it in December but finished beginning of January). It's about the kingdom of Jerusalem with Baldwin IV the leper King. If you ever watched Kingdom of Heaven with Orlando Bloom, you would see why the book was fantastic.

[@annaarcheron4736]

Great editing :) I especially liked the Evanescence song when you were talking about Zane :) and as always I love your enthusiasm when you talk about books, definitely added some new ones to my tbr

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

hahah thank you so much for watching!

[@annaarcheron4736]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria the only thing it was missing, was your personal Zane impression :) not gonna lie, it's one of my favourites ;)

[@amusicalbookworm]

Well of Ascension is my favorite in the trilogy too! I have the Long Price Quartet… clearly I need to prioritize it! You’ve made me very interested in Cornwell.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Cornwell is the best in the historical fiction biz

[@nickywal]

Do it read Cornwell, I'm working through the last kingdom series, so good

[@javil1648]

Top books of 2021 for me were: 1. Feet of Clay (reading Night Watch now) 2. The Hod King by Josiah Bancroft 3. Lonesome Dove By Larry McMurty 4. Underlord by Will Wight

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

FEET OF CLAY IS SO GOOD

[@scottferris2686]

Lonesome dove is amazing!

[@angelaholmes8888]

Here's my top ten favorite books of 2021 1. Crescent city by Sarah j maas 2. In the ravenous dark by a.m Strickland great fantasy standalone 3. Best served cold by Joe Abercrombie 4. Wizard and glass by Stephen king 5. The prison healer 6. The kiss quotient by helen Hoang 7. A little hatred by Joe Abercrombie 8. the wastelands by Stephen king 9. Cinderella is dead 10. Legendborn Honorable mentions Lore Sunshine girl by julianna margolis Rebel daughter Everything after The trouble with peace The comeback by ella berman Circe

[@ChasingForever]

I have a love-hate relationship with Abercrombie, but "Best Served Cold" was a great read!

[@angelaholmes8888]

@@ChasingForever yes it is 😀

[@bonniestevens4329]

I haven't followed you long enough to have guessed your favorites. But I did see several to add to my TBR. I think, based on love and desire to reread, my favorites book from last year was Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs (werewolves, urban fantasy). I read it once and listened to it twice last year.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

awesome! Fun fact, I literally just used Patricia Briggs as a Jeopardy question last weekend for the werewolf category.

[@bonniestevens4329]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria nice! I missed that one! I will have to go back and watch!

[@TheNerdyNarrative]

My joy at seeing a Faithful and the Fallen on this list is unmeasureable. I called a lot of these, some I had the series right, but wrong book. Looking forward to checking a lot of these out Allen!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Yay! I'm still waiting for your FoB opinion! But yes, Wrath belongs on this list for sure.

[@tylerblack301]

Great list Allen! One thing I appreciate about what you read is it’s diversity. You don’t read what’s super popular. I’m definitely looking forward to getting to the conclusion of Malazan. It might take me as many attempts as you. Lol. But I gotta ask why there wasn’t a Sarah J Maas book in your top 10? Jimmy said you love her books! 😉

[@tylerblack301]

Also my top 3 for last year were Assassin’s Apprentice, Deadhouse Gates, and Shadow of the Gods.

[@bookswithzara]

YESSSSSS, Basso! I knew books 1 and 3 would be in your top choices! Great list.

[@TheBookCure]

YESSSSSS Winter King. I need to pick up the first one on audio so that I can one day do a re-listen as well!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I couldn't believe it ended up so high but it's so freaking good

[@PetrikLeo]

Great list, Allen! I'm so happy to see the number 2. The number 1 surprised me, I thought it would be An Autumn War! And I really need to read Guns of the Dawn, I've enjoyed every book I read from Tchaikovsky!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Oh if you've liked the other Tchaikovskys, you definitely need to read Guns! Has some Austen and Cornwell vibes!

[@thejohnsanger]

My absolute favorite book was none other than The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie. A wonderful conclusion to The Age of Madness trilogy. I adored. Also shout out LPQ…. you did this!!!!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Yesssssss and it pleases me greatly to know that people aren't disappointed with the ending of Abercrombie's series.

[@scottbayly1357]

This is the my first video of yours and I enjoyed. My favorite 2 books I read or listened to are: Physical copy- Monster Hunter Bloodlines By Larry Correia Audible- Don't Ever Get Old By Daniel Friedman

[@sjthorn]

Glad to hear good things about Fireborne. I bought it and plan to start it this year, but I also don't tend to like YA now that I'm no longer part of the YA audience. Guess this is my push to finally start Malice lol, so I can get to WRAAAAHHHTTTTHHH!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Yessss WROOOOOOTHHHH!

[@ishak8946]

This was great! My to-read list just got a lot longer!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

thanks!! happy reading!

[@brancellbooks]

Great list! And thus, my TBR, ever-expanding, expands some more. Ha!

[@jaredmowery4006]

It might have to be Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons for me, that or Shadows Linger by Glen Cook - both incredible

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Loved seeing your list and glad you feel less alone with your well of ascension love!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

It's so good, Angela!!

[@thefairylibrarian3282]

The passion with which you always talk about your favorite books, is just a delight! Imperium by Robert Harris also has that narration style that you mentioned. It's Cicero's secretary Tiro and the end of his life looking back and telling the story. I really think you'd like that trilogy.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Thank you! And YES, Imperium is on my list for that very reason!

[@BookishChas]

Great list of books Allen. You may have convinced me to finish Warlord Chronicles on audio instead of print. Eventually I want to finish them I think. I agree with you about Zane. He was so unnecessary to Well of Ascension in my opinion. By the way, I got the impression you’re not an Evanescence fan? 😂😂 They’re one of my favorite bands Allen. Come on Allen. 😂

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

hahahahhaah I have no beef with Evanescence. I liked 'Bring Me To Life' when it came out. Also, yesssss I think audio is the way to go. I'd put money that you like Warlord better if you listen to it.

[@NamasteBbooktube]

Entertaining to watch. Hey, does 'Blackwing' by Ed McDonald really have Lovecraftian elements? 👾

[@selantrian]

The magic system of Mistborn is also something I’m not particularly fussed about lol. The siege tho? Heck yeah

[@ernstbrehm1135]

Thank You! You sold me on Guns of Dawn. Definitely going to read it soon👍🏼

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

It's so good!

[@scottferris2686]

Nice list. My list contains The House in the Cerulean Sea and since nothing is in the neighborhood of being in the vicinity of someday even flying over how good that book was, I’ll keep my list to one.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Wow, that good, huh??

[@artbyandia]

Best book I read in 2021 was "Dawn" by Octavia E. Butler, which completelly surprised me because even though I love the author this is a story about aliens, which I usually don't enjoy 😆 I am curious about Justice of Kings and Long Price Quartet. Currently slowly reading "The Folding Knife" and enjoying it.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

YESSSSSS Folding Knife! No matter how you feel about the book, I hope you'll agree that Parker writes the Basso's intelligence so realistically!

[@MetalGildarts]

1.Lord of Chaos-Robert Jordan 2.Jade City+Jade War-Fonda Lee 3. The Age of Madness-Joe Abercrombie

[@tempse]

Amazing list, Allen! I have to say that Purple and Black was the biggest surprise for me in recent times. I approached it not really knowing what to expect and ended up being truly impressed by how much Parker could achieve in so few pages. Meanwhile, I've become fascinated by Basso's character and his story as well. One of my very next books will be LPQ #3. Thanks to your video I'm now super hyper for it. ;)

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

there are so many good takes here. Basso is so fascinating and I was also so pleasantly surprised by Purple and Black. it was the first novella I'd read by Parker!

[@tempse]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria Purple and Black was also my first Parker read, which certainly added to my amazement. I will definitely continue my Parker exploration journey. Thank you and Zara for promoting his work so much! :)

[@WildeBookGarden]

You have me so excited to pick up Guns of the Dawn and Daniel Abraham! My favorite read of 2021 was Amber & Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz! I'd actually be really interested to hear what you think of it since it's set in ancient Greece and does some really interesting things with history :)

[@ToddsBookTube91]

This video brought joy to my life! Nice work!

[@RadellasReadingRoom]

Parker and LPQ are already on my list, although being in the UK complicates getting hold of them. But Fireborne sounds really good and I'll have to see if I can get hold of that. As you like "old person telling their life story" in historical fiction, you might want to try Dunstan by Conn Iggulden. It's Anglo-Saxon Wessex, focussed on court politics and the succession crises, rather than battles against the vikings.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I have so many people recommending Iggulden to me!

[@RadellasReadingRoom]

​@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria He's really good but I think you might find the Caesar books too annoying.

[@Gl1tch2263]

Just finished Blackwing off your recommendation. Really enjoyed it, especially any scene in the Misery. Some of the creatures they described residing there felt like out of cosmic horror or maybe a Picasso painting lol. As a downside, I never really connected with Reinhardt. I feel like that’s mostly from me having read/watched a lot of character similar to him lately.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

yes, the Misery is awesome and terrifying all at once! I'm hoping to pick up book 2 in April I think

[@carolynsmith5737]

Adding Bernard Cornwall to my authors to try this year. Running down to Lubbock today and going to see if the B&N has ‘Guns of the Dawn’. I also want to try the Sharpe series. I just don’t know when I’m going to fit them in with everything I want to read this year. Why can’t I be paid to read full time!? 😩

[@BUTCH0147]

You are the go-to man for fantasy. Good job. So many interesting titles. I was aware you had read Snuff. Wasn't taken by surprise.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Thank you so much! I'm still working on getting my review out for the last two Watch books. So good!

[@samanthatorres1584]

My top 3 from 2021: Beartown by Fredrik Backman, Valor by John Gwynne, and The Way of Kinds by Brandon Sanderson

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I still need to start Stormlight and I really wanna read Beartown

[@samanthatorres1584]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria both made me tear up they were so good. There are lots of really good character moments. I'm pretty sure you would LOVE the ending in Way of Kings. It's just so long.

[@johnnywire234]

Loved beartown

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

I want to read a book you recommend that is from your propaganda train. Was considering doing a pol on a Dischord, but watching this - it's going to be Guns of the Dawn. I feel really excited for it. I am sure I will get round to other ones but I have Abrahams dagger and coin first book to read and I really want to read Cornwell's the last Kingdom series before I pick up any thing else by those authors. Also want to re-read the watch series and see if my ranking is the same as before or if I have changed. But am holding off in the hope they might release an illustrated Men at Arms like they have for Guards Guards 😬 Winter King was not a huge surprise due to it topping your latest wrap ups and that Cornwall is an amazing writer and you already love his Sharpe books. Also yat for Wrath. Runi, Royal Assassin, Echo of things to Come, are amongst my faves this year (bit obviously only because I have not yet read the Greembone saga 😉)

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Guns of the Dawn is fantastic and I was honestly surprised by how much I loved the Warlord Chronicles. I still want to do a reread this year!

[@AllBookedUp]

YES ALLEN! You are so correct. I will still argue for AAW, but I totally get what you mean. PoS is the best end to a series I think I have ever read. Your reviews were a big reason for why this series got bumped up my TBR so thanks for that.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I'm so glad you read them, Adrian! And yeah, PoS is SUCH a good conclusion.

[@awizardintraining]

Guns of the Dawn was my pick for favorite book of the year. I did enjoy my time reading the Books of Babel, although the last two books got a bit long winded for me. Edith is one of my favorite characters of 2021. Her character arc is amazing and pleasantly surprising. Did you have any idea what was going to happen with her? I will definitely be reading The Warlord Chronicles this month.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Edith is such a fantastic character, as is Emily Marshwic. I love Guns and can't wait to re-read it. YESSSSS WARLORD CHRONICLES

[@cipriansirbu3699]

Well,I'm glad that I have preordered The Justice of Kings.Also I may give LPQ a try,sometimes in the future.

[@tovx76]

Knowing how much you dislike larger books I am surprised you’ve read Malazan let alone read through most of the series multiple times. I’m trying to decide if it’s worth it to read such a long series. WoT was enjoyable but I did not get enough out of that series to justify reading 4.4 million words and nervous to try and make my way through Malazan to only be dissatisfied

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

See, that's the thing! I used to love long books, but I've read so many of them recently that I'm burned out on them. So it's not that I don't like them, I just don't like them RIGHT NOW. I'll boomerang back I'm sure

[@Rogue_VI]

The thing I love about long books is that I feel like I'm really getting my money's worth. If a 400 page book costs the same as a 700 page book, well the bigger one is the better value. It's like a 40-minute album vs. a 60-minute album. More bang for my buck! But I totally understand big book burnout.

[@bridgit2541]

Wow! You are the only person that I have seen say they liked Fall of Babel. That gives me hope. I was considering not continuing with the series because of all the hate I have seen.

[@bridgit2541]

@@gregorylaperche5574 oh good! Will continue on then!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

you should definitely continue. I actually had the opposite experience as you...I've seen MOST people like it with just a few outliers who do not!

[@akellerhouse83]

I don't know if I have a top 10 in a particular order. I have a hard time with that. But my list of best books that I read in 2021 include: Deadhouse Gates, Bonehunters, Sword of Kaigen, House in the Cerulean Sea, Fireborne, Project Hail Mary, The Stand, and yes I have to include Jade Legacy. I also liked Midnight Tides but I already had 2 Malazan books. I guess I could include Nightwatch by Terry Pratchett. Loved it.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Night Watch is tremendous. If I hadn't already read it, it would have beaten out Snuff.

[@akellerhouse83]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria I read all of the city watch books last year except Snuff, which I will read after I finish Toll the Hounds. And then I'll watch your Discworld video again to figure out which one to read next.

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

My top from 2021: Project Hail Mary (audiobook-absolutely spectacular) The Bonehunters Dragonfly Falling Golden Sun Song of Achilles You have me so pumped for LPQ, Books of Babel, Guns of the Dawn, and the Justice of Kings!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Yessssss Dragonfly Falling! I'm gonna keep directing people to that one for how to do siegecraft right.

[@cosyreadingtimes8857]

So many interesting choices, some of them were predictable but only because you show so much love for them. My fave of the year: Assassin's Fate (JL was number 2😅)

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Yeah, I think many of them were obvious for me, if not necessarily what order they'd be in!

[@reginad91]

My absolute favorite book of last year was Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 🥰 and I think my favorite Mistborn Era 1 book is also Well of Ascension :D

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Woot for WoA! I have not yet read any Andy Weir, though I definitely want to!

[@JashanaC]

Wrath is just such a freaking fantastic conclusion to a series... one of the best!

[@the.almost.book.doctor8326]

The evanescence clips killed me 😂😂😂😂😂😂 (also called out middle school me hardcore). But it’s so accurate for Zane. Yay! Golden son gets an honorable mention!

[@Rogue_VI]

Arm of the Sphinx was my favorite of the Books of Babel, but I enjoyed book 4 and was not at all bored by the first part. For Malazan, The Crippled God was good, but it ranked as one of the lowest Malazan BofF novels for me. Books 4-8 were all so amazing to me. For LPQ, Autumn War and Price of Spring were both top rated. Though I scored them the same, I think Spring edges out Autumn. Just going by numbers, Arm of the Sphinx was my highest rated book, but I'm not sure I actually enjoyed it as much as Seventh Sigil, the last book of Margaret Weis' Dragon Brigade trilogy or Hymn, the last book of Ken Scholes' Psalm of Isaak series. I read some great stuff last year.

[@AnithaGadeReads]

Folding knife higher than Guns of the Dawn??? I need to pick it up asap knowing how our tastes are similar. I am very happy with your number one.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Anitha, Basso is SUCH a good character. He's one of the most brilliant characters I've ever read

[@afantasybabble6222]

Great top 10. Hopefully 2022 is even better

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

It is not off to a great start! only TWO five stars out of 10!! 😭😭😭

[@avi4905]

Am so happy well of ascension made it to the top 10, i though you it wouldn't make the cut I was thinking where is Autumn War on this list haha, and there you go. Great list ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Autumn War was my initial favorite, but after sitting with it, I think I like PoS better overall, despite AW having the best single scene.

[@Nxrth2001]

oooh my favourite was Jade Legacy last year HAHAHAHAHA! loving Deadhouse Gates rn :)

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

What a great year you had!! So glad to hear it! The Justice of Kings and The Folding Knife both sound interesting. I prefer nerdy political fantasy to epic warfare fantasy 😂 Thank you for the recommendations! My favorite book of the year was Letters to the Diminished Church. So sassy and geeky and true all at once 🤣

[@christeascozycorner]

OH I DIDN'T KNOW YOU ALREADY FINISHED THE ENTIRE WARLORD CHRONICLES TRILOGY NOW but yessssss

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

So good!!!!!

[@FallenAdam]

The best book I read - using all those criteria, and without them as well is The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. The best use of 1st person present in any book I've ever read, hands down. And that's not even the best part. But I can't talk about the best part without spoiling the book, and this is one you'll enjoy more the less you know going in.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Oh that's cool, especially since 1st person present is definitely not my favorite POV

[@FallenAdam]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria Mine neither. I've dnf'd books (eg. Hunger Games) just because the 1st person present hasn't worked for me. Came close to it with Red Rising as well. The fact that Mitchell made me love the perspective is nothing short of amazing.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

I'm excited to say I've either read a lot of these (top 10) or have plans to read them this year!! I'm at 75% of An Autumn War as of this comment and on the edge of my seat!!! I can't wait to finish and get to Price of Spring. I'm not choosing a best from 2021. Lol. Sword of Kaigen if a gun was put to my head... it's the one I keep thinking of most and get happy feelings (and lots of sad) over when someone mentions it.

[@JessieMaeBooks]

Um excuse me evanescence and bring me to life is absolutely fantastic 🤣🤣🤣 GUNS OF THE DAWNN!!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Sure it is, if you also like Zane. Make your choice, JESSIE 😛

[@SpringboardThought]

So this is what jeopardy likes eh. Alright, I’ll give a couple a shot. Ive gotten so much pleasure from discovering book jeopardy I will continue to see if there is more joy to be had And favourite fantasy pick from last year: Vita Nostra, by a country mile.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Yessss I've heard that's great!

[@SpringboardThought]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria it was really, really fantastic. I haven’t had the same kind of fun figuring out what the magic system was and what they were actually studying and doing at the school, than probably any book I’ve read. I thought I was right about it but wasn’t sure and looked for explanations and there weren’t any! So I read it again and made a video about what I thought it was, and that’s how I entered booktube. So yeah, just a fantastic experience coupled with future dividends.

[@sheyslibrary]

Best book from 2021 was definitely A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes! I read it towards the beginning of the year and am still thinking about it

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Is that about Helen of Troy?

[@sheyslibrary]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria It’s about all of the woman involved in the Trojan War but you definitely get some of Helen’s perspective

[@khod3337]

I've just got the grail quest books by Bernard Cornwell hopefully they're as good as his other stuff 🤞🤟

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I actually haven't heard anything about those at all! I hope they are excellent!

[@ianthereader]

Daggum it I need to read Guns of the Dawn, already. I keep putting it off!!

[@Caesar2k1]

Favorite book last year was theft of swords, but most of the books I listened to were really good. The only one I didn't like was the red knight by miles cameron

[@caitcoy]

I genuinely can't imagine a villain I hate as much as Hakeswill. I really need to get to the Warlord Chronicles some time this year. My favorite ended up being LOTR but Guns of the Dawn was in my top 3 reads of 2021.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

If you read Warlord, please report your Lancelot opinions. Hakeswill ekes out the worst, but just BARELY

[@emilyreads5207]

I almost thought you were going to say, “who’s going to write your story” in your review of Wrath…lol

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

😂😂

[@TheLiteraryApothecary]

Fall of Babel was amazing. According to my Book Battle - my top read was The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern which you would not like but I thought it was beautifully well written and I think about it ALL THE TIME.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

That's a sign of a great book, when we think about it all the time even after we're done!

[@TheLiteraryApothecary]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria yes! I read it last March and still think about it all the time

[@nickywal]

Absolute favourite was blackwing, I really need to get to the rest of the trilogy

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Same! I'm gonna try and read book 2 in April I think

[@nickywal]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria I'm hoping to at least read ravencry this month, need to prepare myself to meet the darlings again

[@BookedandBusy]

My best book of the year was Ruin for sure. I think about that book so often

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I was so torn between Ruin and Wrath. I love Corban's speech in Ruin!!

[@stephenobria4422]

It's always interesting to hear an opinion that just completely differs from your own. I found Well of Ascension to be Sanderson's weakest work and down right frustrating in parts. For every clever twist or exciting piece, there was some equally frustrating parts. I can't call the siege (the entire book) well written because there is no sense of scale, consequence, and most importantly logistics. We establish at the beginning of the book that people are starving. And then that's just dropped. Months later in winter, the food situation is no better or worse. In the same way that we establish a spy (great twist) and that's ignored for literally months when the steps Vin takes to find the spy could have been done in a single day. The entire book felt like it should have been half the length or at least tons of repetition removed for actual substance.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

ooooooo, I hadn't thought about much of this, as I read it so fast, but there were definitely parts that could have been removed, for sure. I thought the battle of Luthadel was really exciting, but you're right in that if I want to read about siege or war logistics (which I LOVE), I will read Parker or Erikson or Cornwell!

[@Wildcarde1]

Hey Allen knowing your love of KJ Parker are you aware its actually the Nom De Plume of the rather famous author Tom Holt?

[@AverageJoesLibrary]

to reduce to my top 3: Spirits Of Vengeance, Golden Son, Kings Of Ash.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Nice! Golden Son is so good.

[@tovx76]

I really enjoyed Guns of the Dawn! Would be in my top 10 of the year also

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

It was so good

[@WickedGoodBooks]

The best part of this video was Allen laughing menacingly about giving 39 5 Star ratings and then saying, “and I don’t even care!” Love it! 😂

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

hahahahaha it is madness how many 5 stars I got

[@WickedGoodBooks]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria It's a great feeling. This year has already been off to a great start for my 5 Star reading too!

[@tannersturgeon2448]

The surprise Evanescence made me spit my drink! Thank you Allen

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

WAKE ME UP

[@oggarbagetea84]

Hmm - I've never read any of these books...Folding Knife sounds like something I could get behind!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

It's so good. The main character is fantastic

[@marilynsilver2477]

I actually have a lot to say here. I e only read first trilogy of Red Rising and enjoyed it a lot. That’s not usually a genre I read. Love Gwynne, period. So thrilled that I loved Basso. Well I love Glokta, so there you go. I need to read Excalibur soon. I finished the other two a while ago. I’ve read the first two LPQ and was okay. But you so strongly endorse it, I’ll read An Autumn War. Fave 2021: (I can’t choose!) Paternus, Greatcoats, Riyria Revelations, Foundryside, Priest of Bones! Historical fiction Giles Kristian’s Blood Eye of Raven trilogy

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Autumn War changes the game! And yesssssssss another Basso fan!

[@ChasingForever]

Ok, I'll keep Fonda Lee's books off the list (Jade War was my favorite from 2021). Folding Knife was number 1, and coming in at second: Assassin's Apprentice by Hobbs. Number 3 : The Lies of Locke Lamora (Locke and Jean best friendship in fantasy literature, IMO).

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Yessssss Folding Knife!! I still need to finish Green Bone

[@kaizacorp]

Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks, one of those ones you keep thinking about long after

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

KAI I NEED TO READ CULTURE

[@kaizacorp]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria One day Allen, one day! 😂

[@mastersal4644]

I am waiting for the history videos the most

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

They a-comin!

[@gennaroconnors9304]

Why are all the books 5th or 8th or some number in a 10 part series? No one just writes a book anymore. i don't want to read 1200 pages of mediocre to get to the 300 pages of worth it. It's frustrating.

[@LarryHasOpinions]

lol some quality evanescence footage there :-D

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Hahahahhaa

[@annmoore321]

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova Those were my top three by a long shot!

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Very cool! I'll probably be hitting up Monte Cristo this year.

[@annmoore321]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria I was surprised by how much I loved it. It starts out where you know more than the main character and you are watching him go from optimistic, and naïve, and a few hundred pages in there is this turning point where all of a sudden, you are the one in the dark. Watching everything unfold had me on the edge of my seat! By the end, I was sad there wasn’t more to read. I hope you are able to get to it. 😁

[@martinthomas8573]

The Ember Blade was pretty incredible actually

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Nearly every one of my friends loves this book!

[@kimtherrien8643]

I had two clear winners in 2021: Tyrant's Throne (de Castell) and Second Foundation (Asimov).

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Yesssssssss Tyrant's Throne!!

[@amyrs03]

My favorite last year was Golden Son. I think I sat there for like 10 minutes after I finished it with my mouth hanging open and then immediately started the next book to see what happens next.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I did the same

[@amyrs03]

@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria that was a time that I was very happy I bought all the books at once. If I had to wait to read book 3 I would have gone insane. I have not read 4 and 5 yet. I want to wait until closer to whenever book 6 will be out.

[@carrieicanhasbooks]

Gardens of Moon Legacy of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar The Name of the Wind My top 3

[@PatrickRyanBookReviews]

How do you really feel about Zane?

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Oh I hate him in case that was unclear :P

[@Loganva]

The fact that well of ascension is your fav despite your (irrational) hatred of Zane really shows how fantastic the rest of the book is

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

I agree with you for once. 😛

[@Jesmarie7]

Evanescence appearing to reference Zayn just made my day 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

WAKE ME UP

[@C.S.Brulevent]

Great video! I'd already decided I'll be reading Guns of the Dawn right after I'm done with The Long Price Quartet, but listening to your praises makes me more impatient to get to it, haha! My favorite from last year was Last Argument of Kings, book 3 of The First Law; it just cemented a fantastic trilogy, and, man! when my expectations for character redemption are so expertly flushed down the toilets like so... it deserves my top spot :)

[@thecontradictorian2225]

The best books I read were all of the Age of Madness books and Scales of Gold by Dorothy.

[@TheLibraryofAllenxandria]

Klaus, that is too homogenous