The New Year’s Resolutions Book Tag

“The Home Office telegraphy department always smelled of tea.”

First line in The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley

January has been a lot of looking back on 2022 but in this final one, I’m looking forward to 2023 through The New Year’s Resolutions Book Tag. I haven’t been able to find the original creator of the tag but all credit goes to whoever that is. Let’s just get to the prompts!

An Author You’d Like To Read That You’ve Never Read

Michael J. Sullivan. His Riyria Revelations is on my TBR so that’s the one I’ll be reading. However, a couple of his other books have caught my attention too, so I really hope I like his writing style. My TBR will grow a lot if that’s the case.

A Book You’d Like To Read

I don’t like such unspecific prompts! Like, ANY book from my TBR? How am I supposed to choose?? Well, I’m picking the lowest-rated book on my Goodreads TBR and that is City of Orange by David Yoon. The synopsis makes it sound like a book that was written just for me (a man wakes up in an apocalyptic landscape with no memory), and the low rating is only encouraging me. The only reason I haven’t read it yet is that neither my library nor Scribd has it but I’m hoping they’ll get it soon!

A Classic You’d Like To Read

If I for the 117th time say I want to read Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, do you think it enhances the chances of me actually doing it? Who knows, but I still want to read it! I’d also really like to read some more Shakespeare but that always feels like such a daunting project to start. I don’t even know which play I want to read next.

A Book You’d Like To Re-Read

I really want to reread The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley this year! It’s among my favorite books ever and I miss Thaniel and Mori! Pulley also doesn’t have a book coming out in 2023 and I can’t go an entire year without reading a book from her.

A Book You’ve Had For Ages and Want To Read

Well, I don’t own books I haven’t read so I’m picking the one that’s been on my Goodreads TBR the longest and that is Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta (okay, technically, it’s The Winds of Winter by George R. R. Martin but I can’t exactly read that!). It’s the kind of book I know probably isn’t going to be my new favorite but I’m also clearly too stubborn to remove it from my TBR. It’s been on there for five years and it’s only going off when I read it!

A Big Book You’d Like To Read

Wolfsong by T. J. Klune. Goodreads says the Kindle edition is 400 pages which, arguably, isn’t that much. However, I’ve seen the physical copy of this at my bookstore and that can only be described as a doorstopper. It’s huge! I didn’t expect that and had to take a moment to consider if I still wanted to read it. And I do. I want to give Klune a second chance and Wolfsong sounds like it has a good chance of working out for me.

An Author You’ve Previously Read and Would Like To Read More Of

Laini Taylor. I mean, I would really like for her to write some more books (please), but until she does I have to go back and read her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. Not as hyped as Strange the Dreamer but I might as well check it out.

A Book You Got For Christmas and Would Like To Read

I don’t get books as gifts so I’m getting creative here. Previously, I talked about the lowest-rated book on my TBR so let’s mention the highest-rated now: The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson. I need to be done with that series and it’s only one book. The high rating isn’t making me hopeful because I’ve seen certain people love it and I basically never agree with those people so I’m worried.

A Series You Want To Read From Start to Finish

A Chorus of Dragons by Jenn Lyons. I’ve already read the first book in January but this goal might still be a little ambitious because the series consists of five humongous books. And I do love my breaks between big books so let’s see how far I get.

A Series You Want To Finish That You’ve Already Started

If I exclude series I couldn’t finish because I’ve been waiting for books to be released, then I only have one uncompleted series and that is The Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin Hobb. Finishing those remaining three books this year would be a dream!

Do You Set Reading Goals? If So, How Many Books Do You Want To Read in 2023?

I always set my goal at 60 because it’s the perfect motivator without making me stressed about it. I can fairly easily reach it but I don’t usually reach it until November or December so it keeps me motivated all year. And Goodreads telling me whether I’m ahead or behind is a good indicator of how much I’m reading compared to other years which I do like knowing.

Any Other Reading Goals?

I already talked about that in my post about stats and goals but to sum it up, I want to read more epic fantasy, less YA and get comfortable with audiobooks. It’s good to get a reminder already because I think I spent January reading mainly YA 🙈 But the audiobooks have been great!

Reading all of these books in 2023 would truly be an accomplishment, especially because I think very few of them are under 500 pages. But let me know some books you plan on reading in 2023! Any we have in common?