Mid-Year Freak Out Tag | Best & Worst of 2024 So Far

Time Stamps:
00:00 Intro
01:18 Best of 2024 (so far)
03:23 Best Sequel
06:03 New Release You Haven't Read Yet
06:26 Anticipated Release
07:09 Biggest Disappointment(s)
08:24 Biggest Surprise
09:22 Favorite New Author (debut/new to you)
10:30 Fictional Crush
10:36 Favorite New Character
11:21 Book That Made You Cry
12:35 Book That Made You Happy
14:01 Most Beautiful Book (bought/received)
14:52 Books to Read Before End of Year
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[@whatevanreads]

I just binged The Empire of the Wolf trilogy and…WOW. It’s one of my all-time favorite fantasy series now. Just kept getting more unhinged with each book 😅🙌

[@ChocolateCoveredPages]

I loveddd the jadesetter of janloon. Whatever crumbs Fonda Lee wants to give us back in this world I’ll take it!

[@melandbooks]

I will also start the Stormlight Archive on September and I can’t wait, I’m already so excited 😍

[@mbranche4234]

I could not finish Trials of Empire...that book scared me soooo bad. I threw it across the room. The creatures that live under ground had me feeling some kinda way (eeeck!) Will pick it up again when my courage is built back up and my imagination is lagging.

[@ToriMorrow]

Trials of Empire is so outta pocket I don’t even blame you 😭🤣 I do hope you enjoy it, though, when you pick it back up!

[@eldweena1006]

Well now I want to read it more. lol

[@MsKatze]

I love the Empire of the Wolf trilogy so much! It's definitely in the all time favorites!

[@ToriMorrow]

Same here! It’s just incredible 😩

[@MsKatze]

@ToriMorrow It is! The whole time I was reading this series, I just kept telling my husband this is so f&cking good! He probably thought I was nuts 🤣 It sorta gave me The Last Kingdom but with dark magic vibes, and that's one of my favorite shows of all time.

[@janellelives5158]

I just finished Howling Dark! I loved it a lot more than Empire of Silence! I’m really excited to start the next book in the series.

[@deemalkiasworld]

We have simular book taste and I am still trying to get my hands on "The Will of the Many" I really enjoy your vlogs

[@alzaronwayne5255]

I read Justice of Kings this month and absolutely loved it! So excited to read the rest

[@ToriMorrow]

It’s sooo good! I can’t wait for you to read book 2!

[@bujobooks]

will of the many is also my favorite of the year!! so glad i found your channel, we have so much overlapping taste but youve mentioned several books i can try out! i need to finally get to justice of kings 😅

[@mariareadsssf]

Love seeing your videos. Best book, Made me extremely happy: "A Master of Djinn" P. Djèlí Clark Best sequel, Made me cry: "Mirrored Heavens" - Rebecca Roanhorse Most anticipated release: "Blackheart Man" -Nalo Hopkinson Biggest surprise: "The Tainted Cup" - Robert Jackson Bennett Fave new autor: Jeff VanderMeer ( I can't stop thinking about "Annihilation" even after rewatching the movie) Fave new character(s): Sanja from "Witch King", Flea from "The Silverblood Promise" and Grasshopper from "Voyage of the Damned" Books to read: "The Shadowed Sun" - N. K. Jemisin, "The Burning Kindoms" trilogy - Tasha Suri, "Authority", "Acceptance" and "Absolution" - Jeff VanderMeer

[@momentarilyAnisa]

I don’t know if this was the video that recommended Translation State by Ann Leckie or another. But im like 90% through the book and im heavily invested in and do not want it to end. Thank you for the recs

[@hitatchiqueen]

Adding Will of the Many to my TBR!

[@seanaheaney8275]

I love the quality of your videos and how you describe books! Glad you're enjoying Howling Dark! I just finished Pageboy by Elliot Page which I loved, but have been slugging through Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung. I think we're having a similar reading year!

[@esmayrosalyne]

Gosh, I really need to get into Sun Eater already, your gushing has been giving me so much FOMO hahaha. And I hope you love Empire of the Damned as much as I did when you get to it, such an amazing sequel!! Also, I am so ready for you to start your Stormlight Archive journey! Happy reading 🥰

[@ToriTalks2]

I need to read Will of the Many so badly. Crossing fingers I can get to it this year. Also YES Jade Setter. I had the same reaction to it, it gave me all the warm feels as soon as a certain character walked in. I got emotional. 🥺

[@hitatchiqueen]

Currently in the middle of Jade War so def adding the Jade Setter!

[@hayllaporto3312]

You gave me so many great recommendations. Thank you so much for taking the time on making this video. It is highly appreciated ❤

[@ThatsSoPoe]

I completely relate on the bittersweet feeling of finishing a series you love. Finishing it is the best, but the knowledge that now there is no more is the worst!😂

[@victoria9663]

I feel the same way this year; I have read some fantastic books but most of them I've read weeks/months apart. I will go through long stretches of time where I'm reading lots of enjoyable books but nothing that stands out. I'm so glad you have had some stand outs though!

[@Naimad319]

When Among Crows is such good surprise. I was picked it up on a whim it was so good. I feel like this book is not getting a lot of love.

[@IFarore]

I didn’t know The Jade Setter of Janloon existed, thank youuuuu!!! And omg, the Empire of the Wolf trilogy was SO good!

[@ToriMorrow]

Yes!! There's also a collection of prequel short stories called Jade Shards!

[@whatnataliereadss]

Adding so many of these to my TBR 😍😍

[@ToriMorrow]

Yay! I hope you love them whenever you get around to reading them 🙌🏽🥰

[@JessicasLibraryCard]

You've still got time to read Stormlight! I started in January and have read the first three. Now I'm giving myself a break and reading Rhythm of War in the fall to get ready for December.

[@michelleizoco]

So, I'm insane but I have a summer in the countryside coming so my TBR MIGHT be feasible. I will listen to The Will of the Many, and will be reading The Way of Kings, finish Book 1 of Suneater, and hope to read Howling Dark as well. You've convinced me to read When Among Crows (I bought it but haven't read it yet) and hope you get to read Empire of the Damned - it was SUCH a wild ride!!! I also have a few art history books and nonfiction books on my summer TBR as well. Love your list!

[@danielzielinski3821]

I totally agree with you about Flea from The Silverblood Promise. She is the best.

[@ToriMorrow]

Ikr! Some of her dialogue is so wild 🤣🤣

[@yourewelcomebooks]

Going by your review I think I need to give Howling Dark another go. I had to put it down because the time skip threw me off 😅

[@bbeabobea]

Always love your choices!

[@ToriMorrow]

Thank you!! ❤️

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Cannot wait to get my version of this tag out!! Also yes start terra ignota!

[@ToriMorrow]

Yay, I’m excited to see what your answers will be! 🎉

[@mbranche4234]

Hey Tori 👋🏾👋🏾👋🏾 I clicked over as soon as I read the notification. OK, will watch the vid now.

[@ToriMorrow]

I appreciate you! 🥹❤️

[@Tensytheneedlesmith]

I just finished The Familiar, and while I understand this is a bit of a departure from Bardugo's previous books, I loved the characters and the historical detail.

[@DannyReadss]

Love your book shelves !!! ❤

[@ToriMorrow]

Thank you! ❤️

[@chelleybee1016]

I’m with ya on the Stormlight journey

[@ToriMorrow]

That’s so exciting! I hope we both have a great time with the series 🥰

[@lorifrederick2367]

You are going to love Stormlight. ❤️

[@ToriMorrow]

I’m so excited to finally start it!

[@hitatchiqueen]

The Wolf of Oren Yaro has also been on my shelves for 84 years. I loved The Unbroken by CL Clark, so excited to hear your thoughts on it (also recommend the audio for it, I read blended and LOVED it)

[@hannahblackwellbooks]

I’m currently doing my Stormlight reread and I lovvvved When the Moon Hatched, I hope you love them both! I’m about to start my journey with The Sun Eater series.

[@ToriMorrow]

I hope you love sun eater!! And I'm really excited to see what I think of when the moon hatched. Can't wait!

[@rachelapalmieri]

The best book I’ve read so far this year is The Dark Forest! Amazing 🤯

[@ToriMorrow]

Ohh I really need to get into this series! Very exciting to hear you love dark forest so much!

[@cmeeki4]

You have the best Sci-fi book recommendations❤

[@ToriMorrow]

Thank you!! ❤️❤️

[@Jas-ly5fz]

Can’t wait for you to get into the storm light achieve🙌🏾

[@ToriMorrow]

Ahh I’m so excited! I’m sure it’ll be an epic experience 🙌🏽

[@mdean]

I just started reading Howling Dark. Really good.

[@ToriMorrow]

I’m obsessed! I hope you continue to enjoy it too!

[@GwenCooper-l1b]

I totally agree about The Jade Setter of Jan loon! It was so fun to go back into that world. It was SO good! ❤❤❤

[@ToriMorrow]

I missed the world so much! I didn’t even realize how much until I started reading Jade Setter 🥹

[@burge2695]

I'm also starting my reread of stormlight in August...I plan to read warbreaker in july

[@ToriMorrow]

I hope your stormlight reread goes well! And warbreaker is a good one, enjoy!

[@felder5833]

loved the video tori✨ can’t wait for the end of the year wrap up! top 5 this year so far for me 5. good omens 4. sword of kaigen 3. the will of the many 2. the blade itself 1. jade legacy

[@ToriMorrow]

This is such a fire list! I hope you keep finding great reads in the 2nd half of the year ❤

[@felder5833]

@@ToriMorrowand same to you as well 🙏🏽

[@mmorgan1980]

This is a great time to start Stormlight! You can read them uninterrupted right through book five, if you time it right.

[@ToriMorrow]

I’m defintely going to try! Please wish me luck 😭

[@robirb_]

Super curious about your opinion on The Unbroken when you get to it! I read it a cpuple months ago, and after some feral screaming over *gestures vaguely at the plot and characters* I was left with some mixed feelings that I haven't fully resolved yet

[@kathleenwheeler5573]

When Among Crows was added to my TBR. Thanks! Re sci-fi - have you read Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty? And The Tainted Cup was an awesome surprise. I loved it and hope we get more books with our two main characters

[@cheryllovestoread]

I really liked Six Wakes.

[@rainyjreads]

I'm surprised about Veronica Roth! When Among Crows sounds interesting, so I'll have to try it. I thought Chosen Ones was decent. And I'm with you on all the series... so many to get through! Good luck in the second half!

[@LeeReads]

The familiar disappointed me too! I was mkre detached frkm the characters than i wanted to be and i didnt feel the romance.

[@classicsed]

So many people have recommended The Will of the Many to me. I need to read it this year. Favorite book of the year is Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon. It is absolutely brilliant. ❤

[@ToriMorrow]

Please read TWOTM 🙏🏽 I’d really love to hear what you think of it! And I’m so glad you’ve found a favorite of the year so far!

[@kimerlyhogan6567]

Hi Tori! I read, The Will of the Many via audiobook. I was not at all impressed, and then the ending messed up my mind. Anyway, I think my main problem IS audiobook because I am so easily distracted. I will definitely reread the physical book so I can completely focus! 😂

[@victoria9663]

I tried for 2 months, over and over, to get into the physical book because it seems like exactly my kind of book. But I have no idea why, I could not get into it despite all my efforts!

[@tiffanycorsello1886]

I just bought These Burning Stars!!

[@ToriMorrow]

Yesss!! So excited for you to read it!

[@ChanelChapters]

Just found your channel x

[@ToriMorrow]

Welcome to the channel! 🫶🏼

[@Lauratrenzas673]

Donde hallar buenos consejos para la vida

[@amy_harboredinpages8272]

📖😎📚

[@karareads]

Do you think it would be ok if someone read the Jade Setter of Janloon before the original trilogy? Thanks!

[@ToriMorrow]

Nooo!! Definitely read it after you've finished the trilogy. The story makes sense on its own, but it won't hit the same for you

[@karareads]

@@ToriMorrow ok thanks girl!

[@KairoK]

Kayla sent me. ❤

[@ToriMorrow]

Aww love her! 🥹 Welcome to the channel! ❤️❤️

[@MeghanReadsFantasy]

I read empire of silence last month and I despise Hadrian and I feel like I’m the only one that just doesn’t like him at all. I haven’t continued the series because I want to reread empire of silence. I goofed on ghost station because I confused it for calypso when I bought It. Love your taste in books. I’m annoyed a I haven’t seen your channel before

[@LaughingStockfarm1]

You are not alone; I DNF’d Empire of Silence at the point when Hadrian was trying to talk his way onto the troop ship as a negotiator. The writing was just meh, and that scene I just found unbelievable.

[@LaughingStockfarm1]

My favorite book so far this year is City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I just love how multilayered it is, and my favorite relationship in the book is Ruslav and god. It’s just hysterical! Best new author: Meg Elison and her trilogy beginning with Book of the Unnamed Midwife. One of the best post apocalyptic series I’ve read, using the breakdown of society to explore gender in really novel ways.

[@MeghanReadsFantasy]

@@LaughingStockfarm1 I just read service model By Tchaikovsky and really enjoyed it. He made like a dystopian buddy quest novel on what it means to be self aware amd have free will

[@ToriMorrow]

⁠​⁠@@LaughingStockfarm1 I love road to nowhere trilogy! It’s an incredible trilogy, so I’m glad to hear you’ve also enjoyed it!

[@ToriMorrow]

Aw I’m bummed you didn’t get enjoy Hadrian. He can be a little insufferable sometimes though 🤣 welcome to the channel!! ❤

[@kristen7623]

Have you encountered Smitty1243 yet? I just discovered him! New black booktuber/sci-fi fantasy nerd. He was also just gushing about Sun Eater

[@ToriMorrow]

Yeah, Smitty is my boy! We’ve been cool on TikTok for a while ❤️

[@kristen7623]

@@ToriMorrow ha! I figured you’d get along, after watching his videos!

[@eldweena1006]

I'm disappointed everyone who loved Dead Silence doesn't care for Ghost Station as much. I didn't preorder it because I wanted a paperback to match Dead Silence. At this point I'm just hoping my library gets a copy of Ghost Station before I spend money, because everyone seems to be in agreement that it's just not what they hoped for.

[@xzannahx9546]

I'm the opposite - I really liked Dead Silence but didn't love it. I loved Ghost Station, though. It has better sci fi but the horror aspect is different.

[@ToriMorrow]

Yeah, I was really hoping I’d love it. I hope you have a better experience with it though!

[@ToriMorrow]

@@xzannahx9546 I’m glad you loved ghost station! It’s nice to hear a different perspective on it

[@eldweena1006]

@@xzannahx9546 Oh, that's great to hear!