Mid-Year Book Freak Out 2024

It’s once again time for one of my favorite book tags! It’s hard to believe that 2024 is halfway over already and that I’ve read so many books – a whopping 64 at the time I’m writing this.

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BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR

Once again, Richard Swan has made the list, but this time in the Best Book I’ve Read So Far This Year category. The Trials of Empire was an incredible conclusion The Empire of the Wolf trilogy. In a rare feat, each book in the trilogy earned a 5 star rating from me!

BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR

Though I’m not a fan of the cover change, Necrobane has solidly earned the title of Best Sequel. This story is an exciting magical adventure that I think would be great for fans of D&D.

A NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ BUT WANT TO

I’ve had The Warm Hands of Ghosts on my Audible wishlist since before it’s release in February. This is a historical fantasy set during World War 1 and the main character has returned to the front to find her brother. I definitely need to be in the right mood to pick this up, which is why I haven’t quite made time for it yet.

YOUR MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK FOR THE REST OF 2024

I think it goes without saying, Wind and Truth is probably most people’s most anticipated release of the year, but it would be criminal of me not to also shout out Witch Queen of Redwinter by Ed McDonald and The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent which are two sequels I’m really looking forward to.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT SO FAR

Controversial, I know. House of Flame and Shadow earns this title because of the sheer amount of hype and personal excitement I had for it. The crossover was underwhelming – I waited years for these characters to simply wander around in a cave for days? There was so much potential and it was wasted and don’t get me started on Bryce in space. *eyeroll* If I could, I’d give it a lower rating.

BIGGEST SURPRISE SO FAR

I would have never guessed that I’d love a book about a former assassin trying to NOT kill people this much! Assassins Anonymous was such a good story with a surprising amount of emotion.

NEW FAVORITE AUTHOR

As with last year, I’m giving this award to the author I read the most books by so far this year. Benedict Jacka is quickly becoming a new favorite thanks to my returning love for urban fantasy.

NEW FAVORITE CHARACTER

Technically a duo, but Carl and Princess Donut are probably my new favorite characters – mostly because of how ridiculously memorable they are. Sure, tons of other books had fantastic characters, but none of them were a talking cat and a dude running around barefoot in a leather jacket and boxers whilst squishing bugs and killing goblins as if their lives depended upon it. My review for Dungeon Crawler Carl won’t be up until August because that’s when it’s releasing, but it was such stupid fun.

NEW FAVORITE SHIP

Tisaanah and Max from Carissa Broadbent’s The War of Lost Hearts series are simply perfection. Their relationship is one of strangers to friends to lovers in Daughter of No Worlds, and it was delightful. This is one of the best written relationships I’ve come across so far and honestly, if I weren’t using them for this tag, Tisaanah would have been my new favorite character, period.

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

The Book of Doors was just… so sad in some parts. Really makes you think about what you would do if you could go back into the past and speak to your loved ones.

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

The Lord of Stariel was just so damn cute! It’s about a woman who returns home after the death of her father, only to find that the magical land her family resides upon has decided she will be the next Lord of Stariel. There’s romance, mystery, and just a general positive vibe from the book overall.

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR

This edition of Evocation from FairyLoot is probably my favorite special edition of 2024. The design itself is eye-catching and the red and gold color variant is stunning!

BOOKS YOU WANT TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR

If I had physical copies of most of the books on my TBR, they would crush me. That being said, the three books I am trying to prioritize are Mother of Death and Dawn, The Poison Song, and A Fate Inked in Blood.