Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag - questions!
The Mid-Year Book Freakout tag is mostly going around in the BookTube community (for good reasons too, as the last few questions are tailored around a YouTube channel); yet, I love the format and the questions so much that I am diving into it!
The original creators of this list of questions ad format are @EarlGreyBooks @IsThatChami so make sure you give them some love!
Let’s dive in!
1. How has your 2023 reading year gone so far?
This is the essay type of question that tends to either excite me or give me a “deer in headlight” moment. This time around, I know exactly how I am feeling.
On one side, I am actually pretty happy with my reading journey so far; I will work on a quarter 2 post to be more granular in my analysis but I already know that there are a few areas of improvement compared to my original plan. At this point, I wonder if the right approach is to drop what I do not seem to be interested in pursuing for the time being.
In summary: I am having fun, yet I need to pursue my own goals with more focus!
2. What is the best book you've read so far in 2023?
This is a really difficult choice; I read more than 80 books in the first half of the year and I have about 8 books with 5 stars (this is actually interesting information for me, as I thought I was a more generous 5-star giver, while I have less than 10% of my books in this category).
I have all type of books on this list and they are one better than the other. It is a tough choice: so I have decided to exclude re-reads from the contention. With the four books left, I really want to give the crown to The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.
3. Best sequel you've read so far in 2023?
Again, a difficult one but I want to make sure I recognize books that immediately caught my attention and that is The Lessons Never Learned by Rob J. Hayes.
4. A new release you haven't read yet but want to?
No doubts: The Book that Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence. And July was the month I read the book, so I need another pick for accountability!
Another book that has been on my reading list for a few months is The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty!
5. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?
I struggled with this one as probably the book that I have been looking forward the most is The Traitor by Anthony Ryan, coming out in a few days. Until I realized that December contains a beautiful sequel, The Bitter Crown by Justin Lee Anderson!
6. Biggest disappointment of 2023 so far?
I cannot believe that I am filling this section of the questions but I actually have a great answer here. While I loved the first book in the Winterlands series by Barbara Hambly, I did not love and eventually abandoned the series, with Dragonshadow and Knight of the Demon Queen.
7. Biggest surprise of 2023 so far?
The lost war by Justin Lee Anderson; completely unexpected, truly captured me and I have lived the hype since I finished it!
8. Favourite new author (new to you or debut)?
Rob J. Hayes! I will read more books he wrote in the next weeks and months!
9. Newest fictional crush?
I am not sure if this counts as newest but re-reading The Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaivosky made me rekindle the hot feelings for Thalric. And it is all kinds of wrong but he is that person.
10. Book that made you cry?
I have to give this one to Leo Carew in The Spider (book two in Under the Northern Sky series). Now, I cannot tell what happens there as it would be a major spoiler but that death, right there, just tore my heart apart. I did not think I connected with the character as much but I did and it truly broke my heart.
11. Book you saw on TikTok and regret reading?
Well, I am a dinosaur and I refuse to get on TikTok; so I will go for Instagram as an alternative (I guess somewhat competing business). And even now, I do not have a whole lot to add here. I truly do a ton more research than “just” selecting a book because of social media.
12. Most beautiful book you bought this year?
The Shadow Casket by Chris Wooding in a The Broken Binding special edition; spray edges and wonderful cover just makes me melt!
13. What are the books you need to read by the end of the year?
Long list! And the list keep changing on a daily basis; so what do I want to truly read before the end of the year? Anything from Guy Gavriel Kay (and I currently have Sailing to Sarantium fresh on my mind but I am looking forward to additional options!).
14. Favourite video you've made so far in 2023?
While I have no videos to share, I can certainly talk about my favorite post; and that was the post I prepared on why read The Draconis Memoria by Anthony Ryan.
15. A video you thought would flop but did well?
Not applicable - although I will answer this question by the end of the year, if I can really launch my project in question 17!
16. Any upcoming videos you're excited to make?
So, I keep thinking about the choices of the podcast and I think the topic that gets me excited is military stories!
As for my posts, I am looking forward to working through my projects and I cannot wait to start sharing my reading experience going through One Piece!
17. Any channel goals before the end of the year?
The podcast launch! Fantasy Explorations is truly coming and it is getting shaped into what I enjoy the most: a love letter to fantasy!
