Since I’m a little late in writing this one and we’ve crept past the middle of the year now, this will be a (hopefully) somewhat succinct wrap-up of my reading so far.
Some Stats
So far this year, I’ve read 36 books! (I’ve actually read 38 now, but we aren’t counting July here.) I am quite honestly shocked, as this is almost as many books as I read in the entirety of last year. As you can see, May was my biggest reading month and that is all down to the wonderful Fantasy Fellowship’s readathon (you can read my wrap-up of that here). Aside from that, I have really been trying to make some headway on requesting and reading ARC’s (advance reader copies) from NetGalley. I’m really hoping this reading mojo lasts me the whole year!
As expected, my main read genre is fantasy. I thought I would have a bigger science fiction slice, as I do actually really enjoy sci-fi! I’ll definitely be trying to pick up more of that in the latter half of the year. Aside from that I have been trying to venture out into some other genres where I can find something that seems interesting to me. The romance book I tried was unfortunately a miss, but the mystery was a hit! (It was an Agatha Christie book, and I now want to read everything else she has written!) I think I am going to continue to branch out occasionally as I have enjoyed having variety in my reading.
A few other stats:
- 8 of my reads this year have been ARC’s.
- 10 books were standalones.
- The average page-count was 400-450.
- I’ve read from 24 new-to-me authors!
The Mid-Year Check In Tag
Nobody has tagged me but I’m doing it anyway!
The best book I’ve read so far?
Top spot goes to The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence (review here). Honestly, I feel like this book was written just for me. I love it so, so much.
Black Sun (Rebecca Roanhorse – review), Ascension (Nicholas Binge) and The Spear Cuts Through Water (Simon Jimenez) are all runners-up so far. All three of them are so vastly different from each other and each of them are amazing, amazing reads.
The best sequel I’ve read so far?
Hands down, The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne. I have read both installments of this series this year, and it is just incredible, epic fantasy.
My most anticipated releases for the second half of the year?
I am not always the best at keeping track of what’s coming out but there are definitely a handful that I know I have on my list!
Light Bringer by Pierce Brown is a big one, and it’s actually out later this month! Red Rising is one of my top series of all time, and I am chomping at the bit to read this sequel.
I read Shauna Lawless’ debut, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s an Irish mythology tale combined with some real history and I was sucked right in, so the sequel is high on my list!
My Name is Iris by Brando Skyhorse is not one I have seen anyone mention anywhere, but it sounds really interesting. Dystopian fiction has always been a favourite of mine (didn’t we all have a dystopia period??), and this one seems like it will have some really relevant social-commentary themes.
The final book on this list is Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. I am really keen to dip my toe into the more gothic, dark-academia side of fantasy in the latter half of this year, and this book fits the sort of thing I am after exactly. Plus, how gorgeous is the cover??
The biggest disappointment?
Red Scholar’s Wake by Aliette de Bodard. I loved her novella The Tea-Master and the Detective so much, and I was so sad that this one really didn’t do it for me.
The biggest surprise?
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez. This book is honestly a masterpiece. The things Jimenez can do with words is just something to behold. It’s definitely not for everyone, but I am still thinking about this book months later.
What books do I need to read by the end of the year?
These four (Ninth House, The Surviving Sky, A House With Good Bones and Foundryside) are the four books at the very top of my list. As I said already, I really want to branch into more of the gothic and dark-academia side of fantasy in the latter half of the year, and I am thinking I will start with Ninth House. A House With Good Bones is, technially a horror novel, and while I am not one for horror I would really like to give T. Kingfisher’s writing a go. The Surviving Sky was one of my most anticipated releases for the year, so I am very eager to pick it up now it’s out! And Foundryside is one that has been on my tbr forever, and is a favourite of a friend, so this year will be the year!
Other books I would like to read include:
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt
- The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
- Wool by Hugh Howey
- A Touch of Light by Thiago Abdallah
- Song of Silver Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao
- The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
ARC’s!
I wanted to include this little section to mention a few ARC’s that I’ve read. I decided not to include any of these in the categories so I could focus on already published books, but some of the ARC’s I have had the pleasure of reading have shot to the top of my lists.
Number one is, without a shadow of a doubt, He Who Drowned The World by Shelley Parker-Chan. This book is right up there with Mark Lawrence. It was incredible. The Radiant Emperor duology is a top-tier series for me now. (Read my review here.)
Others I want to mention are Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree and Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs. I thoroughly enjoyed both of them and will be aquiring finished copies to add to my collection!
Pages of Emma 
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