Hello readers!
Last year, I made a most anticipated books post like many, many others and well, I realised that I never quite did a sort of post where I talked about whether I actually read the books or not. So, here we are, talking about the few books that I ended up reading of those two lists, linked below.
So out of twenty four books, I have only read these. I know. that’s kinda bad but I do have reasons for at least few of them still being unread and in my mind, they are some valid reasons, too. The others, well, a few of them I am just not totally interested in anymore and the rest, my moody mind hasn’t let me get into them yet. Yeah. I am totally great.
The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
I knew I was going to read this book, come hell or high water. It was the concluding novel to the Winternight trilogy and I was ridiculously in love with the writing and the atmosphere and just everything by then to not read it as soon as I could get my hands on it. I loved it, of course, because it’s the Winternight trilogy, it’s just….brilliant.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
I wasn’t too sure I was going to read it during 2019 because my trend of reading the books bought in a year and being in the same year has never been great. However this one got lucky and I read it. More like devoured it, really. I loved it far more than I thought I would and I still have some thoughts about it that really itch at me but…overall, it’s a great book that I would definitely be reading again.
The Test by Sylvain Neuvel
I read it by accident. I was just on the verge of a reading slump and I was afraid. So I read a bit of Tolkien and then immediately afterward, this one. Yes, I know. A bit of a whiplash. It was a much needed one though! Also this book was a bit scary, no scratch that, it was a bit terrifying all the time. I don’t think I will be reading it again but trust me, it’s worth the read.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
I ended up reading this one in 2020 but that’s fine. I read it. That’s what matters, right? In any case, like The Night Circus, this one swept me off on an adventure that I wasn’t ready for. However I feel, this one was more me than The Night Circus and I am not sure if that’s a good thing or not? It was just whimsical and magical and abstract enough to make me love it. People have hated it for that same reason. I don’t know I find it fascinating that people can have such vastly different experiences from the same book.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
When I read The Enchantment of Ravens, I fell in love with Rogerson’s writing. It was lyrical and just wonderful. With Sorcery of Thorns, it became more. The characters felt more real, the world had a bit more flesh to it and I loved it too!
Wilder Girls by Rory Power
This was a book I wasn’t too sure of despite being intrigued about it. However when I read it, I knew I really did love Power’s writing and the plot and characters were intense. I also realised that I am sort of okay with body horror? You learn something new everyday, I guess. While it might not have been a super favourite of mine, I can’t wait for the next book from this author.
+++++
That’s it for my anticipated books that I ended up reading. I know that it isn’t a great indicator of me as a reader, perhaps but I know that I will always read what I really feel like doing it or I won’t be doing it justice. So, I am not beating myself too much for this.
I too absolutely adored The Priory of the Orange Tree, that book blew me away! I have The Starless Sea on my yearly TBR for this year! I cannot wait to get to it! I have seen such wonderful reviews of it, I think I have been avoiding the bad ones!
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Glad you loved Priory too! Also it’s almost feels impossible to avoid the good and the bad reviews of The Starless Sea to me but kudos to you for managing it. 😂
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