"What good is an honor when greed eats away at its foundations"
― Sophia ―

Ola everyone! it's another time for another mid year freak out book tag! I did this tag last year in July, but i think it might be better if i start with the middle of the june instead, the middle of the middle of the year, got it? The questions are the same, you can get it anywhere by now, the booktube also. Before i start the book tag, let me give you my reading stats so we got a bit of context here.

2021 Yearly Goal :  48 books
Finished Books so far : 28 books

From the stats, we can say, i'm a bit ahead from my reading goal, so i guess it's a good sign although i got into slump months ago. Anyway, without further ado, let's dive in!

1. Best Book so far this year?

I didn't have lots of 5 star read this year so far, i guess i'm being picky about the books that i'm reading, but for this category, i would pick the book that has been my highly anticipated release last year, which is the Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green. This would be the one that i think meet my highly anticipate one, since i got some highly anticipate books that didn't meet my expectation, you know the rule of high anticipation means lots of disappointment, i wonder why i keep doing the anticipation while knowing the after effect of it.

Anyway this book is super great, i really like the witty comment, the multiple POV here is just, in some point, i can say some of them are special that just by reading the title of the chapter itself made my eyes go teary.

2. Best Sequel you've read so far in 2021?

This would be Muse of Nightmare. I was a bit (really, just a bit) disappointed with Strange The Dreamer at first when i finished reading it, because the book was such a hype and i (again) highly anticipate this book. Turns out, the book was okay, but i was expecting more (yeah, here we go again with high anticipations  and big disappointment cycle). 

When i post my review in my Bookstagram about the first book, one of my friend said that the second book is going to be much more fun to read and yes, i do believe i agree with her. I think this one is perfect book as the ending of the duology.

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

I really want to read the Rule of Wolfes by Leigh Bardugo right now, but thanks to the OCD i can't because i have to read by sequence, and by now i still got at least 6 books to read before start reading the King of Scars duology. Yes, i haven't read the KoS either because (if you know me) i never start the still in going series, or in simple term, i always wait for the series to be end first before i start reading it. 

Anyway, Nikolai is my fave character in Shadow and Bone trilogy, and i just can't wait to meet him again, since i love shadow and bone a lot, i just can't wait to read his story. I know some spoilers, saying that this would be his adventure with Nina Zenik, which i sensed it by reading SoC las time, i still don't know how i feel about it. Nina isn't one of my fave character after all. But we'll see how it goes! Of course i will keep you updated about that, just stay tune in this blog, i might be able to read it this year, well.. it have to be this year tho.

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

This would be definitely Jay Kristoff's Empire of Vampire! I really can't wait for its release in september. I've pre-ordered the book and i just can't wait for it! I know there are lots of issues for the author, but internet can say anything about anything so i don't really care. I know he's humble and so far i didn't find the fact that he's a racist author (except people said "according to info i got" kind of issues) so as long as he wrote amazing journey in the book, i'm down to it!

 This book also be the one that i Pre-ordered. I've never did that before because i know i won't read it right away, because i need to wait for the last book to be in my shelf before i start the series (which would be approximately 3 years from now, at least) but i bought it anyway, and yes i'm so excited for it!

5. Biggest Disappointment?

Fierce like a Firestorm it is! I would say, this one is so disappointing that i really want to unhaul it, but i really like the cover. lol! I guess i have to stop buying the book by its cover, but i just can't! The thing that i don't understand is, why made a fuss about here and there while the end is like no one win. 

She was the girl that once loved by two men, but end up going elsewhere (which she was fighting for to go back home so desperately) but home in the end. So tell me, what's the point?

6. Biggest Surprise?

I think i got quite surprises this year, and i just can't pick just one, i would left to these two books that took me by the surprise. First one would be Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth. I will say it's surprising because i know the split opinion about this book because they said it failed to top the Divergent series. Just for your info, i haven't read the Divergent series yet, so i can't really relate to that readers, but this Carve the Mark really a page turning one for me, of course the sequel is a bit lacking , but still a good page turner.

The second one would be Ivory and Bone. If you have read my review about this book, i postpone to read this one a lot because i just don't think it would be fun. Of course i was so hype for this book at the time i found it in Big Bad Wolf event back in 2019, but i never seen people post about the book in instagram, that somehow made me think am i right? 

I love the idea of the plot set in stone age (that one i know by the people who i seen posted this book because of the fairyloot subscription box featured this book) and that was the reason i want to collect the book, apart from, of course, it has such a pretty cover. But once i start reading it, the first chapter itself (which is the prologue) already catch my attention, and i end up finishing it less than 24 hrs.

 

7. Favorite New Author?

Ugh i got lots for this one, but i will choose Jay Kristoff for this time. He, not only the author that can cruelly slay your fave characters and proud of it, but also the one that can write in such writing style that i never seen before in my reading adventure so far. Not only that, like i mentioned before, i really like his personality. All the gossips of him, i don't really care since it's just an issue. 

So yeah, i'm looking forward for his other works, how the world that he created and the characters took me to their adventures, i would say, yes, i can't wait. And of course, like i said, i need to be prepared for him to suddenly did something that readers might hate him for doing it to the characters inside, because i think he's the only author that can do it.

8. Newest Fictional Crush?

This year, i realized, i really love this type of character. A sweet, soft loving man, but he actually a strong character. Akos from Carve the mark, Lazlo from Strange the Dreamer and Kol from Ivory and bone, they are characters that made me realize this. 

For the winner of the Fictional Crush, i probably choose Lazlo for it. Because he's such a dreamer (just like me) and his love for books are just a boyfie goal for me. He's thoughtful and such a loving man, i need that kind of man.

9. Newest Favorite character?

This would be Mr. Kindly from Nevernight series. Have i told you how much i love a sarcastic character?

10. Book that made you cry?

I think this year i haven't read any sad books yet, since i'm not into sad book. But one that made me want to cry, not just because of touched, but because it includes a sad scene in the middle of action scene (since i mainly read fantasy, that happens, you know?) 

I would say the book that made me cry, (or in my term, made me sad, because i haven't shed a tear yet so far) would be Obsidian and Stars.  It start with the death of the clan leader of Manu, which is Kol's father, and followed by the death of the leader of Olen's Clan which is Mya's brother. Not only that the death that made me sad to be honest, but also the problem that came after that. But well, you can see it if you read the book so i encourage you to read this duology, too bad it's so underrated in my opinion.

11. Book that made you happy?

I always love Rick Riordan books, as you probably already know, i always start my year with his books as the opening. But i found his Percy Jackson's Greek Gods as the one that made me smile and laugh a lot while reading it.  As you might know already, i love his sense of humor.

12. Favorite book to film adaptation?

Can i suggest book to Series adaptation instead for this? I highly suggest you to watch the shadow and bone series in netflix. I think it's so far a good book to movie adaptation to me, or probably because it's not a movie but the series. Really can't wait to the next season to be release, i can't wait to see how they made the story of Kaz's childhood. I think it's good that they add Six of Crows characters in the series, but not the SoC story yet because it set after the Shadow and Bone series, but still gave them part in the series in Shadow and Bone timeline, Nina and Matthias's adventure is one of the story that i really want to watch happening since i read the story in book and i'd say they picture it well! Of course can't wait for Nikolai to be there in next season too!

Also the other one probably Anne with an E which i believe is the one that adapted from Anne of Green Gables book. I haven't read the book yet, but binge watching the movie, see how well the characters growing up along with the seasons added, i just happy with the heartwarming feeling of it. Specially Anne and Gilbert! Too bad that they decided to not adding another season for it. But well i'm pretty satisfied with the ending tho

 

 

But to answer the Book to Movie adaptation part, i watched the Chaos Walking movie. I got to say, i've been waiting for this movie a lot since few years ago they said that it will be adapted to the movie, and then it got pending, even rumored as canceled, yet this year it's officially released! Tom Holland is one of some actor that i'm looking forward to since he acted as Spiderman in Captain America Civil War. 

Chaos Walking series has been my fave Dytopian trilogy so far up until now, i love the complexity of the story, the plot twist that made me almost throw the book across the room (i never did anything so anarchy to a book, but for this one, is close!) the perfect use of multiple POV, the great villain that Patrick Ness created. Plus after reading some male author books, he did great at creating the romance part. 

Too bad to say that the movie just end shorter than it should be (a trilogy) the mayor died just like that in the end of the movie (well i guess he is dead, i suppose they still can made him alive again if they decide to continue the movie) but i think we didn't get his reason why he become who he is, unlike the book, it was so emotional and sad at the same time.

13. Favorite review you've written?

I think this mid year freak out book tag will be win by Jay Kristoff. I think it's his year this year, because i enjoyed a lot while make another book review in a new series that i'm doing in this blog which is "EXPLAINED! : Understanding the Epic Fantasy Series", the series i dedicated to high fantasy book review, or at least a book with more complex world building. 

 

I had fun writing it, also while planning to add this series in the blog, because well why not add another series even if i had lots of series here in my blog already? I just think it would be perfect to learn the amazing world building while reading it, taking notes, and give it to you.

14. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year?

I've added 79 books in my shelf so far this year (and still counting) so it's really hard just to pick one book (since, you know i judge book by its cover, so i love pretty covers, that leads to collecting pretty books are likely the goal). By the book i added this year, I love Illuminae Series that i bought (i bought it last year but arrived at January (i hope it counts?) i think this series.

 

 

I also think this year is gold year for me, because i got lots of pretty book with gold font or cover in it, I got the pretty cover The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald,  Skyward UK edition by Brandon Sanderson, Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo and Norse Mythology.

15. What book do you need to read before the end of the year?

Gosh i got lots in my list, but all i think of is the Korean Version of The Little Prince because i got it back in 2018 which made it the oldest book in my TBR shelf right now, and i hope i can finish the book (i think i will read it in the end of the year since i usually read hard to read books after i reach my reading goal so i got less pressure) but we'll see, maybe i can start it early? 

Read Last Year Mid-Year Freak out Book tag

 

“A toast, to self-government. Saint Etheldreda's School for Young Ladies will be run by young ladies from this point forward. Hear, hear!"

I pray only when I’m desperate, when I know I need her the most, and I know that in a way, that is worse than never praying at all. It shows I believe, but not enough to do anything about it. I know the Divine can help me, but I also know I can do most things myself.
― Mya ―

“There is strong danger in a person who can create such powerful deceit they can no longer distinguish their own lies from the truth.”
― Lo ―