“He’s fighting a nightmare when they come for him.”
First line in UnWholly by Neal Shusterman
It’s that time of year when I’m allowed to post this year’s End of the Year Book Tag originally created by Ariel Bisset over on YouTube. I did this for the first time last year so I’m happy to make it a tradition on this blog (and I also needed something easy to post). Let’s get into the questions!
Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
Just like last year, I can’t really answer this since I’m not in the habit of putting books down to finish later. My idea last year was to mention the series I’d love to complete this year and I have two: Unwind by Neal Shusterman and Mellem Himmel og Helvede by Anne Christine Eriksen (one book left in both). These were also the two series I mentioned in my Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag so now I’m starting to stress about it a little.
Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?
…Not really. I’m not a seasonal reader by any means so I guess the closest I can get is Ordinary Monsters by J. M. Miro? It’s set in Victorian England and sounds kind of dark, and since I live northernly enough to associate fall with a lot of darkness, I think it counts. Then again, I might not get to it until December. But then it’s also really dark!
Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?
I could say I’m excited for the release of The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson but I’m still trying to convince myself that I really want to read that book. I haven’t been impressed with the other books in that series so this last one just feels like one I need to get past.
There’s also Gleanings by Neal Shusterman, a book of short stories connected to his Arc of a Scythe world. It’s not one I see myself reading right away, but you could still say I’m waiting for it.
What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?
I have to read Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson or I’ll never get it done. Naemi @A Book Owl’s Corner has kindly volunteered to help me through it by buddy reading it with me despite her having read it before so it should be doable.
Other than the books already mentioned in this post, I’ll also be reading The River of Silver by S. A. Chakraborty which are short stories from the world of her Daevabad trilogy. Of course, I’m personally hoping it’s going to feature a lot of Jamshid.
I’ll probably also be getting around to The Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb, the first book in the Rain Wild Chronicles.
Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?
That’s hard to say. I don’t have a clear number one but four or five books vying for the spot, and I don’t know if that makes it easier or harder for a new one to swoop in. However, the only real contender I can think of is A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland. I know I’ve talked about reading that for some time now but I’m still waiting for it at my library. I’m first in line now but it has just taken people forever to read this book!
Have you already started making reading plans for 2023?
Half-heartedly, yes. I’ve had a bit of bad luck with adult high/epic fantasy series lately which has had me seeking other genres but I’m determined to back into that sub-genre of fantasy. Among the books I’m most eager to try (and therefore will most likely read in 2023) are The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu and The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons. Lots of kings. Ken Liu is an author I’ve been meaning to try for a while and the Jenn Lyons one sounds quite unique when people are describing it. If you’ve read either of them, I’d love to know your thoughts!
Other than that, I know I’ll be reading some more Hobb despite my dwindling enthusiasm and as for rereads, I’m eyeing The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater and The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley.
That was it for this year’s version of the End of the Year Book Tag! Have you started making reading plans for next year? I always think I haven’t until I have to answer that question and realize I actually can’t stop my brain from making plans.
If you’ve already done this tag, please feel free to share it in the comments so I can check it out!
First Line Reader 
I totally get needing something easy to post – guess what you’re getting from me this week if I find the time to finish writing it? 🙃 Still, I loved getting a sneak peak at what’s coming – there are so many exciting books on your TBR! Like, I’m definitely letting you test The Lost Metal (I’ve already forgotten about 70% of what happened in the previous books, and currently don’t feel at all inclined to reread them unless The Lost Metal promises to be significantly better 😎) and those short story collections (somehow, those kinds of spin-offs never work for me, so I’ve become extremely skeptical 😅). And I’m really excited to hear your thoughts on UnDivided and Dragon Keeper, obviously! Even though I feel like you’re too biased by your dwindling enthusiam to like anything about the latter at this point 😜
Speaking of biases, though, I am actually oddly excited to reread Warbreaker despite knowing it isn’t exactly a masterpiece, either 🤣 Sure, part of enthusiasm might be linked to my brain connecting that reread with fall break and finally being able to read at all, but I also think it’s going to be way more fun reading it together than it was on my own 😁 And who knows? Maybe we can perfect our Cosmere theory! (Even if I’ve already forgotten a ton of the brilliant ideas we came up with while reading Elantris… 🙃)
Also, of course I don’t have reading plans for next year 😂 I can’t even stick to the ones I made this year! Although I guess I’ll probably read Chain of Thorns when that comes out…
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Oh I’m also not going through those Mistborn Era 2 books again! The Lost Metal is just going to have to summarize the stuff I need to remember 😁 And I also don’t normally read short story collections for series but I’m reading River of Silver for one reason and one reason only 😄 And since my favorite thing about Arc of a Scythe is the world, I don’t mind that Gleanings is about different characters. I imagine it’s going to have some of those prequel vibes I was hoping for.
And no, you probably shouldn’t be excited for my thoughts on Dragon Keeper…
Well, I’m glad you’re exicted about Warbreaker because I’m also starting to look forward to able to share all my (ranty?) thoughts about it with you! 🤗 I also can’t remember anything we theorized about other than it was about Hoid. And spren? 🤔
Chain of Thorns is also one I’ll try to get my hands on as soon as possible so I think that plan of your is great! 😄 *crossing fingers for no more miscommunication trope*
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I feel like there was also something about a pool… 🤔 And how humans first arrived at Roshar – I spent hours trying to find a text passage for that and still forgot the details, so I sincerely hope we saved our document somewhere 😂
And yes, no more miscommunication please! Or unnecessary love triangles that make previously wholesome friendships super awkward 🙄 I can do without both! But I guess we’ll have to see…
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