Too Busy For EPIC FANTASY? These Standalones Books Have You Covered!

[@Shadowdragonica]

'Get away you tramp!' I love the way you describe books 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@BookishDadReads]

@@Shadowdragonica haha this makes me happy because it's the best I have got 🤣

[@carlstewart7094]

Another cracking video Tyrone, great book recommendations. loving your videos and channel. Thanks 📖☕

[@BookishDadReads]

@@carlstewart7094 thanks a lot Carl 🤗

[@jaxtarot]

Been watching your channel for a couple months now and you have inspired me to fall back in love with reading again. Thank you, Tyrone. Now, deciding where to start?!

[@BookishDadReads]

@@jaxtarot this makes me soooo happy. Pick a genre and I'll pick the book 😜

[@jaxtarot]

@ so sweet, I love anything paranormal\ Supernatural ( and of course ….dragons! ) any recommendations greatly appreciated. 🙂

[@gailhewitt1467]

First time I've seen your channel on my feed and found you so refreshing so I've subscribed. You may even get me to read a fantasy book of two. With your comparison of House in the Cerulean Sea to an Ofsted report, how could I not be hooked!

[@BookishDadReads]

@@gailhewitt1467 awww thanks Gail and welcome to the mad house haha. I don't only read fantasy so expect other genres on here too. I am reading a fair few memoirs this year but crime, thriller and general and historical fiction are also genres I love

[@suzannebousquet2710]

Your channel is fantastic; I love hearing you talk about books. I loved Song of Achilles and thought Circe was okay. Uprooted was very good as was The Night Circus.. I have now added a few more books to my TBR! Thanks for being you!

[@BookishDadReads]

@@suzannebousquet2710 thankyou so much Suzanne. I think once I have learnt a little more about greek mythology I may love a song of Achilles. I just got lost with all the characters.

[@Schelatine]

Hi Tyrone! This is the first video of yours I watched and certainly not the last!! I really enjoyed listening to you talking about books and mental health : ) I'm currently in a period where nothing that I pick up really sticks and fills my "book needs", which is very frustrating. So I am excited to hear your recs and am already jotting down somepossible contenders for my next book (but first I will have to watch your "romance girlie" video, I am in the mood for romance!!) I am very optimistic that you will recommend smth that sticks because I agreed with many of your reviews. I liked reading Song of Achilles a lot until the part with the war (even though I knew it was coming), I was just too invested in the romance part and wasn't ready to let go. So I had to go read a cheesy romance novel to fulfill that need. Just like you, I found Addie LaRue very boring. I was always waiting for something interesting to happen but it never did. Finally I just skimmed through the rest of the book and was very underwhelmed. I think I was mostly so disappointed because so many people hyped it up and that I could not understand why, so I am glad that someone else found it boring too!! I love how you're putting yourself out there and are talking about everything that goes on (mental health and books!) without much of a filter. It's crucial to talk openly about struggles with mental health and going to therapy so that we can destigmatise it. Most of the people in my close circle struggle someway with mental health and many of them (including most men!) are actively in therapy. We talk about it often with each other and encourage it, this has helped us all a lot. I hope that this will happen more and more for everyone so that we can all get better together : ) Sorry (not really) for the long comment, just wanted to let you know that your content resonated a lot with me, I appreciate everything you're doing with this platform and hope you are well!! Thank you for your work and see you on another one!

[@BookishDadReads]

@@Schelatine it appears we may be book twins haha. Definitely try out Abby Jimenez if you are in the mood for a feel good romance, I hear Emily Henry is great too. When I set up this KZbin I promised myself I would keep it 'real life' and make it about helping others and not just trying to entertain people and I hope that shows. I truly appreciate that long comment and the time you have taken to not only watch the video but actually pay attention to it all. These videos take a lot of time to make and edit and I always say that if each video gives one person something to take away, then it was worth it. I look forward to having you along for the ride 🤗

[@CulinaryCrime]

100% agree with Project Hail Mary, and I hated science in school. 😂

[@BookishDadReads]

@@CulinaryCrime that book just took me by total surprise. I definitely want to read it again at some point

[@luceekelss]

Missed you. So good to see you. Love the longer videos always ❤ hope you and the family are well xx

[@BookishDadReads]

@@luceekelss thanks so much mate. We are doing fantastic thank you. Hope you are well too ❤️

[@jaynewalsh921]

Hi Tyrone. I'm so glad you plan to give the Discworld books another shot despite the lack of obvious chapters. However, they kinda do have them. Have another look at one of your books. You will see that there are paragraph breaks throughout. These are natural breaks in the narrative/PoV changes so are effectively chapter breaks. I think that the reason they don't have chapter headings is that some are very short so there would be zillions of chapters. You can rest assured that finishing at one of these breaks would be like ending a chapter. Also, there are a few Discworld books that are aimed at children but the majority (and the ones you have) are not. Can't wait to hear what you think of them!

[@BookishDadReads]

@@jaynewalsh921 I think once I get used to his writing and the set up of the text I will be fine. I'm very character driven and so many people have told me their favourite characters of all time are from the discworld so I'm excited ☺️

[@CulinaryCrime]

I am such a mood reader too. When I read a big fantasy or heavy sci fi, etc. I often stop half way and read a quick cheesy romance before completing, because I will be in the mood for a cutesy comfort read.

[@BookishDadReads]

@@CulinaryCrime I have done that many times in the past and people ask me how I can come away from a book and then go back. Sometimes you just need to mix it up

[@StardustandMadness]

I do that too. I often read three or four books at ‘once’ because I’m a mood reader. I’ve met a few authors this year and they all just burn through books, but I’m a slow reader and if I wake up and I don’t feel like reading the book I was reading yesterday, then I won’t read at all.

[@jeanettemortimer7800]

Love Discword 😀 I’m 59 and love YA books. Thanks for raising awareness regarding mental health

[@BookishDadReads]

@@jeanettemortimer7800 YA books are fantastic 😍 you are more than welcome 🤗

[@Alfred_51]

Thanks for talking about books and mental health Tyrone

[@BookishDadReads]

@@Alfred_51 you are very welcome 🤗

[@Davieslisajo]

I loved the Song of Achilles, Spinning Silver and Uprooted.

[@bibliomania158]

Tyrone! How are you my friend? I hope you’re doing amazing 💪🎉 great video. I have always been intimidated by the Fantasy genre, but these books seem like a great way to “dip your toe” into the genre. Way to go 🎉🎉

[@BookishDadReads]

@@bibliomania158 I'm doing amazing thank you ❤️ I hope you're well. These really are great books to start off. I plan on doing another video soon about great non fantasy Standalones that I plan on reading in 2025 too 🤗

[@bibliomania158]

@ yes sir, I am doing great! Just heading back to work from my lunch break

[@laurav.d.5513]

I always end reading at a chapter. It just doesn’t feel right otherwise😅. Love your videos’s!

[@BookishDadReads]

@@laurav.d.5513 haha hey twin. Thank you so much for your kind words 💞

[@CulinaryCrime]

Oh man, I would go crazy with no chapters. The long chapters in Fantasy books already test my patience sometimes, so if there was no clear stopping point before the end of the book, I would go insane. 😂

[@BookishDadReads]

@@CulinaryCrime thank f**K I'm not alone 🤣

[@kirikoukas8491]

I loved Uprooted and I have Spinning Silver on my TBR. Night Circus is also very good, my advice with Night Circus is to be patient with it as I know some people think it's slow at the beginning. I know there are no chapters but Terry Pratchett is good and funny. Mort was really good and love the Witches in the Discworld. I am hoping to read more of Discworld. I am adding ML Wang to my TBR.

[@irinagoldman7372]

Found you on IG, followed you on here aswell, loving the content!

[@BookishDadReads]

@@irinagoldman7372 thanks so much Irina 🤗

[@colleentennant702]

A book I just found is A Road Of Bones by Demi Winters the second book is coming out in early 2025. It was one of the best books I read and I haven't heard many people talking about it.

[@Nicole-cz3cg]

I can’t start a series because I’m too excited for onyx storm, so this is perfect

[@BookishDadReads]

@@Nicole-cz3cg haha I should really read iron flame but I know onyx storm is just gonna end on a stinking cliffhanger anyway so I'm not rushing

[@Buzpud]

Useful list of books Ty! I’ve read a couple but need to add some more to the TBR. Excited you are reading A Deadly Education. Slightly odd question but do you have aphantasia? Ie cannot picture stuff in your head. I have it and it makes me a more plot and character driven reader. Too much beautiful description bores me as I can’t picture it the same as others. Enjoying your KZbin content 😊

[@BookishDadReads]

@@Buzpud I spoke to somebody about this recently and I think I probably do because I can't picture a thing really haha

[@chill4059]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned it (haven't scrolled to see all the comments) but discworld are standalone but also have character arcs, if read in publication order, no chapters in discworld (apart from a few of them) however there are clear "stopping points" for example end of scene/ change of characters. Also you're videos are a pleasure to watch! :)

[@BookishDadReads]

@chill4059 this definitely gives me the encouragement I need to enter the discworld, thankyou so much

[@Mrs_Flint_Reads]

Naomi Novik wrote a wondeful series called Temeraire, think Napoleonic war but with DRAGONS! One of my faves and would love for you to give it a go :)

[@BookishDadReads]

@@Mrs_Flint_Reads *immediately adds to TBR*

[@charmainekaldwell8481]

Love your videos and book recommendations.

[@BookishDadReads]

@@charmainekaldwell8481 thankyou so much ❤️

[@STANovels]

Totally agree with the points on men. I try speak when I'm struggling, it's tough but I think it's important too. I think if more people do speak out and talk to each other, we could save so many lives!

[@BookishDadReads]

@@STANovels All we can do is keep talking and hopefully more and more will join us 😃

[@StephReadsStufff]

Ngl, seeing Alice at the top made me so happy ♥ It's been my comfort film my whole life. You already know my feelings on the Song of Achilles so I am DEVASTATED to hear that you didn't enjoy as much as I hoped. Also, you want a cute m/m love story? I might know one 👀

[@BookishDadReads]

@@StephReadsStufff I want to learn more about greek mythology and then go back because I think I could still love it solely based on my love for the boys. You're not going to recommend For the fans by Nyla K are you? Haha

[@StephReadsStufff]

@@BookishDadReads No I was gonna recommend my book, silly 😂 Also, so excited to start Blood Over Bright Haven after I finish Band of Brothers!!

[@StardustandMadness]

Alice in Wonderland is one of my favourite childhood books, it’s where I got half of my handle (madness) - a combination of that and Dracula (sorry I know you hated that one but they’re totally different I promise!) - and it’s just weird and fun. He was apparently on drugs or something when he wrote it. Circe is one of those books I started reading as a sample on an eBook reader, loved what I read, rushed out to buy a physical copy and promptly lost interest in 😂 but I do love Greek mythology and I may go back to it this year just to get it off my TBR. Thanks for the recs, will rewatch the video on the weekend and write down the ones I want to add to my TBR. 20:12 I often pick my next read by reading the first chapter of four or five books I really want to read. So I read the first chapter of each and then I put them all down and go off and whichever one I’m thinking about a few hours later is the book I need to read first.

[@BookishDadReads]

@@StardustandMadness haha what you said about Circe resonated with me so much. I am such a mood reader. I can be reading a book and think it's the best thing ever and then carry on the next day and forget why I loved it so much haha

[@CraigAkhurst-rl5zr]

Missed you fella. Legends and lattes is one of my favourite books ever. Didn’t think bookshops and bonedust was quite as good though. Couldn’t stand tress of the emerald sea but may try mistborn at some point

[@BookishDadReads]

@@CraigAkhurst-rl5zr I think I'm gonna start consistently posting the same day every week from now, maybe a Monday 🤷 Mistborn is great. I have only read book one but I am told it only gets better

[@CraigAkhurst-rl5zr]

@ that’s great. I think me and many others would be glad for the extra content. Although I do follow you on instagram there’s something about a KZbin video that allows us to get to know you better

[@BookishDadReads]

@CraigAkhurst-rl5zr yeah I feel KZbin is much more personal for people that have got the time to sit and watch a longer video. I appreciate not everybody has an hour to sit and chill in the evening

[@MarkyB7]

Some fantastic recs there mate Of all the fantasy standalones I've read I think Elantris or Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson are the best I've read But I've definitely got some more on my tbr now 😊

[@BookishDadReads]

@@MarkyB7 thanks a lot Mark. I definitely plan on reading more Sanderson this year

[@lauz199]

Have you read The Abarat trilogy by Clive Barker. It's YA but it's great, clever characters and a cool world to get lost in.

[@BookishDadReads]

@@lauz199 I haven't but I'm heading straight to Google now to check it out, thank you

[@annebracher1843]

Another blinder Tyrone x

[@BookishDadReads]

@@annebracher1843 thankyou so much Anne ❤️

[@robyndann-n4x]

Hi, if you find yourself reading books based on eg Greek Mythology look the character up in Wikipedia and that should provide you with a brief outline of who they were so giving you some context. Robyn (love your channel thanks for all your work.)

[@BookishDadReads]

@@robyndann-n4x yeah that's a good idea. I definitely need to do more research before I dive into another fiction book so I don't get overwhelmed. Thankyou so much for your kind words about the channel too Robyn ❤️

[@yamilletrivas8041]

I would love to hear what you think about Alice’s adventures in wonderland. It is my second favorite book ever! (The hobbit is numero 1, but I know how you feel about that one ha).

[@BookishDadReads]

@@yamilletrivas8041 I may actually read it at the end of this month 👀

[@craftyhobbit7623]

Spinning Silver and Uprooted are more of a dark fairytale than a romance. Spinning Silver is based on the themes in Rumpelstiltskin, but it doesn't follow the plot of that fairy tale. I read it last year and I thought it went on a bit too long, but it's an OK read. I didn't finish Uprooted and no longer have it but it's not really a romance - it's about a kingdom that is cursed and the main character has to find a way to lift it and rescue the her friend who's become a victim of it and the king and queen, I believe. The wizard who takes her from her village to train in magic is a bit of a dick. If you want a romance, Juliet Marillier's Heart's Blood is a stand alone, and that's based on Beauty and the Beast, but it's not just a retelling of it.

[@BookishDadReads]

@@craftyhobbit7623 I'm glad you have told me that because I would have gone into them two books expecting completely the wrong this 🤣

[@David-sg1yi]

Actually, hadn't thought of this as a romance of sorts but in a way it is, if you think about the ending of this book. I really liked this book. Life changing? No. But really good. (Song of Achilles). You might want to also look at Morganstern's The Starless Sea.

[@BookishDadReads]

@@David-sg1yi I think it's my fault partly because I really had no idea what to expect from the story. I will definitely check out the Starless Sea, thank you

[@David-sg1yi]

@@BookishDadReads I'm tempted to try to read The Night Circus again. I had trouble getting into it the first time. Maybe I wasn't ready to read it. I'm tempted to read Dune.

[@unicorntomboy9736]

I personally chose to read Mistborn (Book 1 obviously) over Elantris, since i prefer the main protagonist Vin far more. Even Brandon Sanderson himself recommends newcomers to read Mistborn first over Elantris, since he cited it as one of his weaker books, due to his massive jump in writing skill with Mistborn and later works like Stormlight Archive series. That is the only part of the video i would disagree with for those reasons.

[@BookishDadReads]

@@unicorntomboy9736 I took, read final empire first based off Brandon Sandersons suggestion. My reason for my suggestion was that a lot of people are intimidated by Sanderson's work due to the sheer size of the books and starting with a standalone would be a way for people to decide if they enjoy his writing style and the world he builds. I think either way can work for different people.

[@unicorntomboy9736]

@BookishDadReads I suppose all that is true. I preferred the premise and worldbuilding of Mistborn far more, being a fantasy heist story and all, as as the main protagonist Vin as mentioned before. I highly recommend reading Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. It is one of his standalone novels and I loved it. It is very similar to that anime movie Your Name, but in a fantastical setting set in the Cosmere universe.

[@CulinaryCrime]

Greek Mythology also isn't for me. My husband and daughter love Mythology, but for me it's just not my think, I am not hating on it, but just not an interest. So I completely get it.

[@Brighthairandbooks]

Someone pretty awesome must have got you that Alice in wonderland 😜 god I hope you enjoy it!

[@DominiquePowell-t7e]

I read YA books, but sometimes the characters are very childish as young adults can be, but it can get on my nerves how ridiculous the characters are behaving. LOL I do try to show grace because I was a stupid young adult once upon a time.