Reader Rayna

Welcome to the Mid Year Book Tag, also known as the Mid Year Book Freakout Tag!

There’s various versions of this tag that float around the internet, so I’m not entirely sure where these particular set of questions stems from, but this particular list of questions I go from Elliot Brooks on YouTube. Let’s jump right into it!

Click on a cover to go to its Goodreads page!

1 . Best book you’ve read so far this year?

I couldn’t pick just one, but these are some of the best books I’ve read this year and the ones that particularly stick out to me and have stayed with me since reading them.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir was a delightful listen on audiobook where I felt that the narrator did a fantastic job depicting Grace, as well as Rocky, where there was so much humor and heart poured into these characters. I truly loved this book, and it’s my only 5 star read so far this year. Check out my review here!

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas follows one of the Archeron sisters, Nesta, following the events of the first three books of this series and how she finds herself, learns how to regain love and trust in herself, and how she learns how to trust and love others, as well. I truly loved this book so much. Check out my review here!

These Infinite Threads by Tahereh Mafi is the second book in this five book series (I cannot WAIT for book five) and holds so much tension, passion, beautiful prose, and more, that I just fell in love with these characters, this world, and this story. Check out my review here!

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year?

Again, I’m not choosing just one book for this question, and I’ve actually read a lot of sequels this year, but here’s two that definitely have stood out!

All This Twisted Glory by Tahereh Mafi is the third book in the This Woven Kingdom series, and is actually on par with, if not slightly better, than These Infinite Threads for me. I loved how the plot continued in this book, how we continued to learn about our characters, and THAT TENSION!? So thick you can cut it with a knife. Check out my review here!

The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna is the third and final book in the Deathless trilogy that I listened to and really enjoyed. This was a debut series for this author, which definitely felt like it in the first book, but the second book grew and explored much of the world that she started, and the third book went even farther than that. By then I was so invested in it that I was crying by the end. Check out my review here!

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but you want to?

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker is a book I started reading in June, but didn’t finish as I’ve just had a very bad time sleeping lately and reading the book relaxes me to the point of falling asleep while reading. Mind you, a lot of the descriptions so far have been lyrical while also a bit spooky. I’ve only read two chapters so far as of writing this post, but I’m liking the atmosphere it’s giving so far.

The Girl With a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean is one I saw pop up on YouTube quite a few times and have heard good things about. The cover is als gorgeous, so there’s that, too. I don’t really remember what it’s about, which is honestly kind of how I want to go into it is a bit blind, but I think I’ll really enjoy this one when I read it.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

I just did a whole Top Ten Tuesday post about that! Check out my Most Anticipated Books for the Second Half of the Year post to see what books I talked about!

5. Biggest disappointment?

Sorry to all of the Carl fans out there, but Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman was my most disappointing read of the year so far. It just didn’t live up to my expectations and fell kind of flat for me. I’m still up in the air as to whether or not I want to actually continue, but we’ll see. Check out my review here!

6. Biggest surprise?

Honestly, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë was such a surprise because I wasn’t expecting to actually enjoy it as much as I did. It felt like I was back in school as an English major learning something again, which was part of the reason why I enjoyed it so much, but it was also a really well done novel and exploration of character, how the environment can affect a person, and how society behaves because of a person’s appearance. Check out my review here!

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)?

I think I’d have to say Andy Weir is my new favorite author just from reading Project Hail Mary. I want to read The Martian since I saw the movie when it first came out, but never read the book. I like the way he writes his humor, and I’m interested to see how he writes his characters in his other books.

8. Newest fictional crush?

I honestly don’t think I have any new ones? Actually, maybe Eris from the ACOTAR series, but only because I’m really curious about him and what’s going to be happening there in the upcoming books lol

9. Newest favorite character?

Amaze amaze amaze!

Rocky from Project Hail Mary is definitely my newest favorite character from the first half of the year. Who knew a rocky alien being could be so sarcastic and so heartfelt? I love him. I really need to see the movie and how they adapted the book.

10. A book that made you cry?

Each book made me cry for a different reason, but real tears were shed in each of these at one point or another. Tears of sadness, of joy, of relief. Each of these books hold a special place in my heart because of it.

11. A book that made you happy?

Sweat and Soap vol. 11 by Kintetsu Yamada was a sweet ending that made me happy! The series had been leading up to this moment, and I was really glad when we finally got here.

12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought or received this year?

The Fairyloot special edition of The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin is definitely my favorite and most beautiful edition of a book I’ve gotten this year. I love the art, the colors, the way everything looks put together, etc. I bought this bundle used off of PangoBooks, and am so glad I was able to get all of these lovely items that match the book!

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

gestures vaguely to my entire collection

Okay, no but really, here’s a few I would like to finish by the end of the year:

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo – I had planned on reading it in June, but the slump was slumping.

The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin – This one definitely gives off winter vibes, so I feel like I should read it in December, honestly.

Jade City by Fonda Lee – I was enjoying this book a lot, I just felt the slump coming on so I put it down for now.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura – I feel like I’m really going to enjoy this book when I get to it, so hopefully I do like it!

Alchemised by SenLinYu – I was so hyped when it came out last year, so I definitely want to tackle this massive tome this year if I can.

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And that’s all for this year’s mid-year freakout tag! I know I mentioned a lot of the same books, but I’ve only read 22 books so far this year, but there’s still several that really stood out to me in that time.

How’s your reading year going so far? Have you been reaching your own goals? What’s been your biggest surprise of the year so far? Let me know in the comments below!