End of the Year Book Tag

                                                             

End of the Year Book Tag (for 2025)

1. Are there any books you started this year you need to finish?:

The Count of Monte Cristo, Ursa Major, Age of Legend, and Star Wars: The Rebellion v.5.

2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition to the end of the year?:

I already read "We Used to Live Here" and "Don't Let the Forest In" which were some good autumnal reads. I hope to read some other books "autumm-y" books, such as Practical Magic, The Atlas Complex, A Witch's Guide to Magical Inkeeping, The Queen of Nothing, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Carrie, etc.

3. Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?:

I would say Mate, Ali Hazelwood's newest book, but it just came out this month.

4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?:

Velocity Weapon by Megan O'Keefe

Camelot by Giles Kristian

Demon in White by Christopher Ruocchio

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb

Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price

Specter of the Past/Vision of the Future by Timothy Zahn

5. Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your FAVORITE???

I think Demon in White will be on the list.

6. Have you already made reading plans for 2026?

I want to get to the New Jedi Order series in my Star Wars Legends read! I also kinda want to do a re-read of Harry Potter.

Book tag

1: How many books did you read this year?:

So far, 106

2: Did you reread anything? What?:

Haven't re-read anything.

3: What were your top five books of the year?:

So far, my faves have been

The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

Dreaming the Eagle by Manda Scott

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson

Did you discover any new authors that you love this year?

George R.R. Martin and Manda Scott come to mind

What genre did you read the most of?:

Probably science fiction/fantasy, but I also read a decent amount of other genres (including non fiction)

Was there anything you meant to read, but never got to?:

I hope I can get to everything before the end of December :(

What was your average Goodreads rating? Does it seem accurate?:

4.1, which does seem accurate.

Did you meet any of your reading goals? Which ones?:

I have yes. I have gotten farther into my Star Wars read through and doing pretty well, I should be getting caught up on the A Song of Ice and Fire, I am caught up on Stormlight Archive, and finished some trilogies/series.

Did you get into any new genres?:

I have read more history and science based non fiction this year than usual.

What was your favorite new release of the year?:

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales! I loved it so much! :D

What was your favorite book that has been out for a while, but you just now read?:

The Mercy of Gods and the A Song of Ice and Fire books. SO AWESOME

Any books that disappointed you?:

James. It completely misses the point of the original Huckleberry Finn book (because, by having Huck Finn be James's son, it takes away his good deed of helping free James from slavery) and has weird moments of hating on abolitionists and the soldiers in the north (they weren't perfect, but many did die so that slavery could be ended in the United States) Which is ridiculous. It also makes James a massive asshole, which he isn't in the original book (he lets a fellow black man drown who had been helping him and doesn't seem to give a shit) and messed up the timeline (the original book takes place a decade or so before the civil war). All in all, I feel the author missed the point of the original book and failed in his attempt at a retelling.

What were your least favorite books of the year?:

James, so far.

What books do you want to finish before the year is over?:

Camelot by Giles Kristian

Velocity Weapon by Megan O'Keefe

Demon in White by Christopher Ruocchio

Age of Legend by Michael J. Sullivan

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie

A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Specter of the Past by Timothy Zahn

Vision of the Future by Timothy Zahn

Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's Right by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert

Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse

Did you read any books that were nominated for or won awards this year (Booker, Women’s Prize, National Book Award, Pulitzer, Hugo, etc.)? What did you think of them?:

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - won Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

A Game of Thrones - Locus Award for Best Novel

Daisy Jones and the Six - Goodreads Choice Award for best Historical Fiction novel

A Clash of Kings - Locus Award for Best Novel

James - Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (among many others)

A Storm of Swords - Locus Award for Best Novel

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream - Hugo Award (for best short story)

Thornhedge - Hugo Award and Locus Award for best Novella

A Canticle for Leibowitz - Hugo Award and Locus Award for Best Novel

Sea of Tranquility - Goodreads Choice Award for Best Science Fiction novel

Sing, Unburied, Sing - National Book Award for Fiction

Morning Star - Goodreads Choice Award for Best Science Fiction novel

The God of the Woods - Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery/Thriller novel

Where She Went - Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction

Rule of Wolves - Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult SFF

A lot of books were nominees as well!

What is the most over-hyped book you read this year?:

Probably James. I do not get the hype

Did any books surprise you with how good they were?

A Song of Ice and Fire was a lot better than I was expecting!

Also, How High We Go in the Dark was really good, especially since I had been nervous about reading it (as it deals with a pandemic).

How many books did you buy?:

Maybe 20 ish

Did you use your library?:

But of COURSE

What was your most anticipated release? Did it meet your expectations?:

The third Emily Wilde book, which was awesome! :)

Did you participate in or watch any booklr, booktube, or book twitter drama?:

I didn't participate, but I did see some of it D:

What’s the longest book you read?:

Wind and Truth at 1,344 pages! D:

What’s the fastest time it took you to read a book?:

Maybe a few hours for the short ones

Did you DNF anything? Why?:

I haven't, no

What reading goals do you have for next year?

To get to the New Jedi Order books in my Star Wars read through!

Mid Year Freak Out Book Tag

 

1. Best book you've read so far?

This first book in a new series by the guys who wrote The Expanse was AWESOME! It contains so many things that I enjoy: weird aliens, ancient civilizations, a bizarre relationship involving a robotic entity (that is SO compelling), and interesting characters! 

A Song of Ice and Fire is AWESOME so far. I love the world SO MUCH and I want to learn more about it! I also really love the characters, especially the women! 

I have been a fan of the Emily Wilde series since book 1 and this conclusion was just so wonderful! It brought so many things full circle, Emily was a delight, the romance was so cute, and the faeries continued to be a highlight! I feel like it was a good ending but I still want more! 

I love Sally Rooney and this is her best book yet! It deals with a lot of important topics, her writing is impecable, and this is the best, most realistic depiction of an age gap relationship I've seen and I related so much to it!

2. Best sequel?

(such a good ending!)

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

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

5. Biggest disappointment?

Was quite disappointed with this one. It felt like it went against the main point of the original novel, James betrays those who help him, and the hatred towards abolitionists made no sense.

I still gave this a four, but I was disappointed with this one, sadly. Our trio felt very out of character (almost like shadows of their vibrant characters) and I was annoyed that Annabeth's hair color was never mentioned.

6. Biggest surprise?

I decided to give this series a chance and I'm so glad I did. I was hooked by the end of the prologue and I absolutely love the world! 

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

George R.R. Martin, Abby Jimenez, Roger MacBride Allen, Sequoia Nagamatsu, A.J. Hackwith, etc

8. Newest fictional crush OR Worst book?

Fiction crushes would be Hadrian Marlowe, Dalinar Kholin, Dafyd, etc. 

Worst book, so far, is James. Lowest rated book so far. 

9. Newest favorite character?

Love the ASOIAF women! :) 

10. A book that made you cry.

I haven't cried over a book yet, but this one had me close to doing so.

11. A book that made you happy.

                                                

                                                This series just makes me happy! :)

The ending of this book, and trilogy, had me smiling! 

12. Most beautiful book cover/design?

(still reading this one, but the cover is pretty!)

13. What books are you prioritizing to read by the end of the year?

(finish this)

(finish) 

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