Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag
I’ve only read 11 books so far this year which isn’t that great, but that doesn’t matter so here’s the tag.
1. Best Book You’ve Read So Far
Deposing Nathan by Zack Smedley // My first book of 2020 and it will stay as one of my favorites. This book speaks to my sad and confused soul. There are heavy topics that are discussed in this book and I thought they were dealt with carefully and it wasn’t problematic. I don’t know, this is just such a great book.
TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNINGS: child abuse, violence, homophobic slurs said between characters, physical and emotional and mental abuse, suicidal thoughts
Topics discussed: religion, questioning sexual identities, exploring sexuality
2. Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir // I know some people think that Reaper is the weakest out of the three that are out, but I love it so much. The characters are finally coming to their own strengths and discovering their greatness and their weakness and it’s so good. The plot continues to grow and become so so complex. Ugh, it’s just freaking fantastic and y’all need to go read it.
3. A New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To
Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown // I’ve been trying to get myself to read new fantasy/magical realism books instead of reading like the same three fantasy series over and over again every year. The premise of this book sounds amazing and so heart wrenching. People have said they cried while reading this so I’m ready to cry as well, because if you’ve read my older posts, I love books that make me cry.
4. Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year
A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir // I cannot wait for this book to come out. I will cry the day it is released. This is one of my favorite book series and the first fantasy book series that I read and really loved. It will always have a special place in my heart. I’m also so nervous as to where this story is going to go.
5. Biggest Disappointment
My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga // I honestly don’t even know why I had high hopes for this book because I had first read it around 2016 and I really liked it, but as I sat with my thoughts more, I started thinking about how some aspects of the book was problematic. But I still, for some reason, held some hope in myself for this book, and then I read it. And then my sitting thoughts were kind of right, but I guess this reread for me did allow me to see what I had liked about it. I liked the main character’s sarcasm and her humor, and I also liked how her feelings were described but only in the beginning half. I don’t know. My thoughts on what I didn’t like about this book is a lot and I won’t write a whole essay here. If you liked the book, that’s great! That’s your opinion and this is mine. I’m not bashing you if you liked this book, I just didn’t quite like it.
TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNINGS: suicidal thoughts, a suicide attempt, depression
Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje // I had to read this for school and I was initially excited for it because I had previously read Running in the Family which I really liked, but I looked up the ratings for Anil’s Ghost on Goodreads and it wasn’t the highest. I still read it because school, and it shocked me with how much I actually liked it and connected with it. I do not cry when reading required books for school but by the end of this book, I was sobbing my eyes out.
TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNINGS: a graphic suicide attempt, graphic violence, PTSD
I’ve said this in my past tag and I’ll say it again here. I’ll consider someone my favorite author if I’ve read and liked more than one of their books/series.
8. Newest Fictional Crush
Cordelia Carstairs from Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare // A whole badass queen, and my absolute favorite protagonist in TSC world. Y’all can try to debate it, but there will be no point because Cordelia is just the best and that’s a fact.
9. Newest Favorite Character
Elias Veturius from the An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir // I have a whole new appreciation for this man, and I love him with my whole being and you cannot tell me that his character does not slap when he clearly fucking does.
10. Book That Made You Cry
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds // If you read this and you don’t cry, are you okay? I’m not the biggest fan of poetry or books written in verse, but I loved this book. The whole book is an emotional ride and it’s hard not to cry. I had initially picked this up in 2019 but never finished it and have no idea why. But I finished it, and it was great. Also, that ending gives me chills every time I think about it.
TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNINGS: violence
11. Book That Made You Happy
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir // I will never shut up about this series and you’re just gonna have to deal with it. I love this series so much and this first book is absolutely fucking superb. The writing is so good and captivating, and the world and characters are so complex. This is a book where you will forget that you’re even reading and then once you pull yourself away five hours have passed. I love this book so much.
12. Favorite Book to Movie Adaptation You Saw This Year
Howl’s Moving Castle // This is the movie I have to watch every year because I said so. I’ve never read the book and I don’t ever plan to because I personally think it will never live up to the beauty that is the film.
13. Favorite Review You’ve Written So Far This Year
I don’t have a favorite review that I’ve posted but I have another review that I’m currently writing up about An Ember in the Ashes, A Torch Against the Night, and A Reaper at the Gates. I’m super excited to post it because this book series means so much to me.
14. Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year
Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare // Chain of Gold is basically the only book I’ve bought this year, so it’s kind of here as a default. But the cover is very gorgeous, and oh, how I CRIED at the end of this book.
15. Books You Still Need to Read By the End of the Year
The Poppy War by R.F Kuang // Currently reading
Middlegame by Seanan McGuire // Also currently reading since November
Sula by Toni Morrison // Will be a reread
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson // Will be a first read
