Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag 2021

Posted July 16, 2021 by Brin in Tags / 1 Comment

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag 2021

Well, it’s partway through another year so it’s time to again tackle this tag! It’s been another year of strife for most people, what with the continuing pandemic that feels like it’s never going to end (and it’s looking likely that this virus is just something we’ll need to learn to live with, however it unfolds).

Like most people I’ve been staying at home under lockdown, and although that’s starting to ease now I’m still finding myself reluctant to take any chances and still want to keep to myself. I’m pretty much a homebody with a tendency to hermit myself at the best of the times so…

One thing I’ve found that has benefitted from being stuck indoors much of the time is that I’ve really been able keep up with reading. I set myself a goal of 100 books and I’ve already reached that in the last week or so it was time to up my Goodreads challenge!

No one tagged me for this but I’m a rebel so I’m joining in anyway haha! 😀

1. best book you’ve read so far in 2021

C’mon, this was always going to be my pick! I was worried I was hyping this book too much that I would be disappointed (I was a little with the previous book Wayward Son until I twigged that it was a ‘middle’ book so therefore was setting things up for the finale). However, I’m pleased to report this book did not disappoint – it was everything I wanted it to be and more!

2. best sequel you’ve read so far in 2021

This was a tough one but I had to give it to Winterkeep – the sequel I longed for but never thought for one minute the author would deliver! Some were disappointed with this book but I pretty much loved it.

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

I am way hyped for this book – so I better buy it pretty soon haha! Seriously though, it just looks so good – I am really intrigued by the premise and it’s for sure going to make its way to the top of my towering TBR pile…

4. most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I adore Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe so when I heard rumblings about a sequel a few years back I was totally there for it. It finally releases in a couple of months and I cannot wait!

5. biggest disappointment

I am really bummed about this one because I really liked The Flatshare by the same author. I thought the premise sounded interesting but the characters mostly fell flat for me. The heroine was alright but the hero was so wishy-washy and I just couldn’t see the appeal. Some colourful secondary characters but they couldn’t save this from being ‘just okay’ for me. Ah well… them’s the brakes (get it?) 😀

6. biggest surprise

I wasn’t sure about this book at first but it totally won me over. The story was cute and I liked the romance a lot more than I thought I would going in. I would highly recommend this one.

7. favourite new author (debut or new to you)

I’ve kinda been sleeping on Amy Harmon for a bit… I had bought a couple of her books awhile ago but just hadn’t gotten round to them. I finally decided to dive into this one and it blew me away. I immediately sought out the follow-up and the other related books. I’m hooked on her writing now!

8. newest fictional crush

I really loved Samuel from Walking Barefoot! I love a guy that can match wits with the protagonist and Samuel was a great character and swoony love interest.

9. newest favourite character

Puck! Puck! Puck! I honestly adored this roguish fae prince – he brings a smile to my face every time he appears and I loved getting a little bit of his POV at the end of Hunt the Fae too! He was very nearly my newest fictional crush but we don’t want him getting a big(ger) head now, do we? 😉

10. book that made you cry

I’m made of stone so books don’t regularly bring me to tears but this book came pretty close. Some of it hit pretty close to home (especially the depictions of grief – heavy but powerful stuff) and the book managed to make me both sad but hopeful at the same time.

11. book that made you happy

Eden Finley is my go-to author when I need a little pick-me-up! I always enjoy her romances and this one in particular made me very happy! I love the pairing and the book ticked all my boxes.

12. favourite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen this year?

It has to be Shadow and Bone! This series had the unenviable task of adapting not just one but two book series (well, it acts as a prequel to Six of Crows but you know what I mean!!) It wasn’t perfect but I found it pretty damn close (though, to be fair, I do need to get back into the books since I’ve only read the first one so maybe I’m not the best judge haha!) Plus, it had the Darkling (and Kaz!) But mostly the Darkling… 😛

13. favourite review / post you’ve written this year?

I’m pretty fond of my review for Hunt the Fae… I always enjoy reviewing Natalia’s books and they bring me so much joy that I think it comes through in my reviews.

14. most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

In the Ravenous Dark is probably the most stunning book I’ve acquired this year (my copy has gorgeous stenciled edges too so super-duper-extra pretty!)

15. what books do you need to read by the end of the year?

Wow, there’s so many but off the top of my head I’d like to get to Circus of Wonders, The Darkness Outside Us, and City of Spells. Will I manage it? Maaayyybe….