“Jealousy was such a human emotion, powerful but senseless ― based on nothing”
― Edward Cullen ―

"We are not defined by what we can do, but by what we actually do."
― Ludmila―

"Imagine, and it shall be.
There are no limits.⁠⁠⁠⁠"
― Nikolai ―

Hello everyone! Welcome back to one of my yearly post : Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag. I know! it's already August so it's past Mid year right now, but i got my issues with laziness this year since the real life catching up on me i got no time to do it sooner, so it's better late than never right? To be honest i didn't read much this year so pardon me if the answers are back to lots of same book in the end, but i tried my best! I still got three books i haven't review yet in this blog but i think i will still spoil you with my answers with that books. Without further ado, let's dive in!

1. Best Book so far this year?

I can definitely say the best one is the And I Darken by Kiersten White. I have been postponing this book for years (i got it since 2017 so it's practically sitting in my shelf collecting dust for 5 years) and i regret why i did that. Definitely go read it!

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

For me this would be The Magnus Chase Series book two : Hammer of Thor. I like more diverse character introduced in this book, the adventure is fun, sometimes sad, lots of tense scene too, so i think it's the best sequel so far this year.

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

Hmm.. this one is hard. I didn't know any book released this year yet, but i think it's gonna be Gallant by V.E Schwab. So far i like her writing style in ADSOM and some short stories in the Because you hate to love me book, and i expecting a lot in the Addie La Rue since lots of people said it's a good read but some didn't like it (you know how much i like divided opinion book) and the Gallant just amazed me from the cover wise, i like the cover a lot so i'm expecting a lot from the story too.

Hopefully i can have the book by next year (yes, i you heard me right, or read me right? lol! I tried to didn't buy much book this year) but you know me, who am i without buying books?

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

Like i said before i didn't get much my attention for new releases this year since i'm focusing a lot to not buying new series but completing the series i have in my TBR shelf first. So i guess i don't know any book that gonna be released that i want to have yet. Unless one of my fave author like Rick Riordan, Jay Kristoff or Christopher Paolini announce their next book. But for now, it's a none.

5. Biggest Disappointment?

To me would be The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Skye. I haven't post the review of this duology yet, i hope you will still want to read my review for this one but yeah, i think it's just a flat plot for me.

7. Favorite New Author?

Gonna be the Kiersten White. I like the Conqueror's Series a lot so far, i expected a lot from the Camelot Rising series of her, I had the first two books of this series already in my shelf, already order the third one, can't wait to start it. Is it just a hit and miss or am i really like her books? that's the questions.

8. Newest Fictional Crush?

This one probably be Alex from Magnus Chase's series. I like the uniqueness of the character, a gender fluid is not common for me to encounter. I like Alex as a girl, but sometimes i like Alex as a man too, he just full of aura in the male form. But the fact that the male and female part of Alex both love Magnus is just funny to read. Am i spoiling you? well..

9. Newest Favorite character?

I would say that i like Lada Dracul from And I Darken a lot. I like her character, strong, sassy, and brutal. She didn't have to be pretty, but she's a strong willed woman and she loves her motherland a lot which i think we need a lot more this kind of character. 

A morally grey character that also a main character is kind of my weakest link. Also she's so mature in such a young age and her determination is just priceless. I just haven't really encounter such a sassy young lady like her before, like not just sassy but brutal in same time.

10. Book that made you cry?

I don't think i have ever cry for a book this year. Maybe from the Conqueror's series but i don't remember but i'm pretty sure (for like 89% sure) that i didn't cry for any book this year.

11. Book that made you happy?

Not because of the book for me maybe, but for the celebration of the "back to reading routine" kind of symbolic, this would be the Life Through Time and China Through Time. This two books are illustrated books that i read in Taman Ismail Marzuki library in my birthday and i just love to be back in library and the hype of reading just made me happy.

12. Favorite book to film adaptation?

I don't think i watched any book to film adaptation this year. I watched some movie, like The Fantastic Beast : The Secret of Dumbledore but that franchise didn't release the book first but vice versa right? So i guess i got none for this one too.

13. Favorite review you've written?

Since i didn't write a lot of review this year so far, the one that i enjoy the most this year probably the Is It Worth Reading : Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan one since i like the book and also it's a short review too.

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

That would be The Heartless by Marissa Meyer, i got the hardcover one with the special naked cover black and red color in it. It's so pretty with such an affordable price so it's a good buy and pretty book at a same time!

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

Last year i said i need to finish the Little Prince Korean version and yet it still collecting dust in my TBR shelf. I really need to finish that book this year along with The Return of the Young Prince by A.G Roemmers, the one that they said is the nephew of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry the author of The Little Prince. I also need to read some oldest book that i got since 2019 like Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore

Also, some series that i have started but haven't finished yet like the rest of Simon Snow series by Rainbow Rowell (Carry on is the first book) the rest of the series released late Wayward son was in 2019 and the last book Any Way the wind blows was released last year, i already have them in my shelf so i guess i can finish them this year (IF i can read fast enough).

The last book of Ruby Oliver series by E.Lockhart called the Real Life Boyfriend (the first book is The Boyfriend List which i read back in my collage years, exactly like decades ago) and also the last book of the Lord of The Ring Series. I think i've read like until the middle of it but i forgot, so i think i will need to reread it from the start of that book, I dunno whether i have to reread the whole series yet, but i think i'm too lazy for that, but hopefully i can finish this one this year. But again, we'll see. You know me already.

Well, i guess it's a wrap up! Hope you like this post because it's always boring in term of pictures wise, but i tried my best to add some for "less words, add visuals!" effect. See you in next book tag!

Read my last year one here :

"A heart did not have to be stone to be strong"
― Radu ―

“Her spine was steel. Her heart was armor. Her eyes were fire."

"The best reason to read about the old Greek heroes is to make yourself feel better. No matter how much you think your life sucks, these guys and gals had it worse."
― Percy Jackson ―

“Wisdom can be gleaned from any source if only one looks hard enough.”
― Odin ―

"be aware that you could encounter other beings who may strive to deceive, distract, or manipulate. They go by the names draugr (zombies), vala (seers), witches (witches), and telemarketers (annoyances)."
― Hounding ―

" You can’t hold on to hate forever. It won’t do a thing to the person you hate, but it’ll poison you, sure enough.”
― Thomas Jefferson, Jr. ―

“Sometimes it’s best not to look as far as you’re able to look, or to listen to everything you’re able to hear.”
― Heimdal ―

“Such is human memory... you forget the truth and believe what makes you feel better.”
― Hel ―

“It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.”
― Professor Dumbledore ―

"Muggles not to try playing Quidditch at home; it is, of course, an entirely fictional sport and nobody really plays it.
― Professor Dumbledore ―

“Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.”
― Professor Dumbledore ―

Hello everyone!! I'm finally back!!! Well if you notice, it has been months since i post my last book review. A little life update for you (if you want to know) i just start a new life with a person that made me think it's a worth it kind of life. So yeah a lot of adjustment needed. Anyway! I created this booktag last year, so i decided to do it yearly! Suppose to be posting this one at the beginning of the year, but well.. let's dive in!

Note : In case you missed out the last year wrap up, this is the recap for whole books and series that i've read in 2021 not the one that released in 2021 so if you find my recommendations quite old, that's because i just read it last year and yes i always late in the game.

A Yearly Recap

My Reading Goal This Year : 48 Books

Number of Books I've read This Year : 52 Books

Physical Books added to My Shelf This Year : 110 Books (1 of them i got from friend as a gift)

Number of books I've bought but still on the way to me : 1 Books

Number of TBR books in my physical shelf right now: 138 Books

1.      List Of Genres I've Read This Year

YA Fantasy that consist of

· Dark Fantasy
· Retelling
· Sci-Fi
· Sci-Fi with VR
· Urban Fantasy
· Dystopian
· High Fantasy
· Paranormal Fiction 

2. Genre That I Think I’ve Outgrown Of

I think i will say i've outgrown Contemporary books. I still got some in my TBR but i will finish them this year and won't buy more of this genre any longer. The only Contemporary that i read this year is The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon. It was a fast reading to me, but insta love is not one of my fave trope. 

3. New Genre That I Discover This Year

This would be Political Satire. I read Animal Farm because i read the 1984 first by George Orwell because Timothee Chalamet mentioned it so i got curious. To be honest 1984 is weird to me, but Animal Farm is better in my opinion (i made the comparison in other post in my blog) fantasy with political issues is one of my fave genre, so Political Satire, is quite my gene to. 

4. Book That I've Read To Challenge Myself 

I've mentioned it before, but i will mention it again. It's 1984 by George Orwell. The book is thin enough, but it really took me awhile to finish it. I struggle a lot while reading it but well i'm kind of proud that i made it to the end. lol!

5. Book That Took The Longest For Me To Finish

This would be Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I start it 9th October and finish it at 6th November which is almost a month. 

6. Book That Took Me The Shortest Time To Finish

Apart from the novellas, the book that i finish in less than 2 days are Ivory and Bone, and Obsidian and Stars duology. I finish them quite fast and i like it a lot. I also finished Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff quite fast which is i finish it in one day so this also quite shocking since it's kind of a big buddy. 

7. Book I've Put Down Before And I Finally Finish It This Year

None. I suppose to be reading one book left in my currently reading in my Goodreads but turns out didn't since i'm in super slump. But!! I did finish reading some series that i've read the first book but not the rest of it, which is my goal in 2021. They include Interworld series, Flame in the mist series, Hibiscus Daugther series, and the first three book of Harry potter series!

8. Book I’ve Started But Haven’t Finished This Year

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Yes it's a reread, and i guess that's why i didn't get the urge to finish it beside of my slump, because i've already know the ending of the story. 

9. Book That I almost DNF (or already DNF)

As you might know i don't do DNF but some books are just so hard to finish, like 1984 by George Orwell and the Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry. Maybe because it's my first middle grade mystery book or maybe because the "how well" the girls came up with the plan after a shocking event just doesn't really make sense for teenagers to pull up.

10. Book That I Felt Hesitant To Start at First

I got lots of books for this one. First would be The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan since lots of Rick's fan said that it's the less fun series to read. Well, i kind of agree. But i like the concept of this book to be honest since it's new.

Carve the Mark duology also one of the book that i hesitate a lot since they said it's worse in comparison with divergent series. Wel.. I haven't read divergent, and when i read this book i quite loving it, i even finish it in 2 days. 

 I also postponed quite few times in terms of reading the Ivory and bone series, for some reason. But i end up loving it a lot!

The other one would be Fierce like Firestorm which is the last book of Hisbiscus Daugther series. I don't really enjoy reading the first book and the second one is also not really my style. So in conclusion, i like 3 out of 4 books (series) that i hesitate a lot but end up loving it. I should stop being so prejudice to my TBR.

11. Book I read because I watch the movie first / had been adapted to the movie

This would be Harry Potter series. I've read the book 4-7 before the movie released, but i've watched the movie 1-3 before reading the book until this 2021 i decided to read them. Not because i'm really curious about the differences between the book and the movie, but more because i need to finish what i've started (i've read the book 4-7 so i need to read the rest of the series)

12. Book That I Would Reread (If I Have Time) 

13. Book That I Keep Talk About It / I Recommend A Lot To My Friends

This would be Nevernight series by Jay Kristoff. It's the first New Adult series to me but i really like the dark fantasy touch in it, also the author is so savage! I keep telling my friend to finish the rest of the series and recommend it a lot to people despite how many people hate the author, but i don't really care about that, what's important is the story is superb!

14. Book That I Read Because People Keep Suggesting Me To Read It

This would be Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor duology. This series has been super hype that me myself feel kind of scared to start because it might not meet my expectation due to the hype. But well.. i love the series!

15. Book that I Bought / Got this year that I've Read

If we count from the day they arrived it's gonna be Illuminae Series, i ordered in end December 2020 but it arrived in early January.  Other than that I bough Interworld ans Silver Dream by Neil Gaiman since i need to finish the whole series (i've read the interworld) The other one is Fierce like a Firestorm by Lana Povovic because i need to finish what i've started.  

I also read Muse of the Nightmare in same year since i'm so curious about the series. Also a novella Camp Half-Blood Confidential by Rick Riordan, which i kind of regret reading it too early since it's a companion for Apollo Series. 

I read also Rule of Wolves (King of scars duology) which i bought this year, i just can't wait to start it so i read it right away once i got the second book in my shelf, since i looove Nikolai so much.

16.  Book That I Wish Had The Sequel Of Prequel Or Any Continuation Of It

Illuminae series! But i think it's already released, Aurora rising series might be the continuation of it, i haven't read it since i don't have the last book yet but i definitely gonna collect it soon in my TBR so i can read them!

17. Newly Discovered Favorite Author 

Julie Esbaugh since i really like ivory and bone. I think her Ivory and Bone just like a fresh book since the concept is so unique that it's not about third POV talking to the reader, or Main Character POV talking to reader, but the main character talking to the second main character which is super new.

And the story of the book itself took in the stone age which is definitely rare era to be picked by author to start the story, which again like i said, refreshing. The main character himself is such a kind boy type that i lately i discover that i really like this kind of man character.

18. Favorite Cover

This is a hard one because i basically collect books that has pretty covers. But this year i will dedicate this one to Kerby Rosanes' art : The Nevernight Series by Jay Kristoff. Actually i notice this series first because of the artist not the author, end up loving the author a lot until now. The cover is such a picture of Kerby's style, specially i like the third book a lot, i dunno maybe because cat somehow look so elegant although i'm not a cat person

19. Top 3 Favorite Characters

1. AIDAN from Illuminae Series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. I really like its way of thinking, shocking, unhuman but still in the end you fall for him

2. Carl from the Carls series by Hank Green. Again, i think this year AI is one of my go to character. I really like the way it thinks too! Its also got " a good taste" in music and jokes.

3. Lazlo Strange From Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. I really like his love to literature, his amazing dreams and his wisdom. 

20. Top 3 Favorite OTPs

1.  Kol and Mya from Ivory and Bone series by Julie Esbaugh

2. Akos and Cyra from Carve the Mark by  Veronika Roth

3. Kady and Ezra from Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Out of three couple i love this one the most. 

21. Favorite World Building

I think my fave world building so far is Godsgrave in Nevernight series. I really like the concept of the world, the history behind it (lots of them) the monsters that Jay made and the concept of every book took place in different places just made the whole world more real.

22. Favorite Quote 

As you might know i'm not really a quote girl but i keep myself quoting my fave quotes in each book in each book review i make. For this year, though it's hard, i think that really relate to me in the real world is the quote from Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

"Maybe the gift of being human is that we do not give up ― even when the hope is lost " ― Nikolai Lanstov ―

23. Favorite Romance 

I think apart from the OTP couple that i mentioned before, i really like romance between Nikolai and Zoya. Starting from royalty to the prince, become friends, Zoya become the one that keep Nikolai's darkest secret every night. The one that did what didn't easily sway by Nikolai's charm but in the end their feelings are just shown and i just like.. okay i like her now than before in Shadow and Bone series. 

24. Favorite Book Ending

Surprisingly for this one i choose More than This by Patrick Ness. I should have mentioned his book sooner but well. I really like the ending personally. How it start and how it ends. The opening was a shocking well written sentence for me, the ending just complete it.

25. Books That I Would Recommend

For Sci-Fi lovers, try Illuminae Series.

For magic lovers, try Strange the Dreamer series 

And for the Challenge lover, go read Nevernight! I dare you. 

If you want to try something fresh, please try Ivory and Bone. 

Okay that's a wrap, i hope you enjoy my wrap up, see you next year!

Read the Previous year Wrap up!