Mid-Year Freak-out Book Tag

Incredibly, we’re halfway through 2022. I did this book tag last year and had a lot of fun with it. This tag was originally created by Chami over on booktube and is very popular over there. So here’s my 2022 version and I invite anyone who wants to to join, it’s really fun and great to look back on.

I’ve read 54 books so far in 2022, not counting 2 that I DNF’d. It’s been a bit of a weird reading year for me, with a big slump in May but pretty good overall. I’m just slightly behind my 2021 pace but still agrees of goal of 100 books.

1 – Best Book

I’ve had a couple really good reads so far in 2022 but the one that sticks out is Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer. I read this one in early June and fell in love, it was everything I love about YA fantasy but with a fresh feel to it. I loved the characters and the world and I can’t wait for the sequel to be released so I can jump back into it.

2 – Best Sequel

I’ve read a ton of sequels so far this year but this was still an easy choice. Misrule by Heather Walter runs away this one. Not only did I give it 5 stars, I actually preferred it to the first book in the duology. This one took a turn that I found so fascinating and the world was so different and fun. I think I’m in the minority in my love of this one but I think it was awesome.

3 – New Release You Haven’t Read Yet

There are a bunch of these but the one I can’t believe I still haven’t read is The Chandler Legacies by Abdi Nazemian. Like a Love Story was one of my favorite books of 2020 and I still think about it sometimes. I need to read this next book by Nazemian.

4 – Most Anticipated Release of Second Half of the Year

Again, there are a bunch I could list here but I think the top spot has to go to Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer, the sequel to my favorite book of the year so far.

5 – Biggest Disappointment

For this one, I couldn’t decide between two books that both disappointed me in different ways. First, How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu had such a promising start. I was totally in love with this book and ready to give it 5 stars. The last quarter of the book was almost unreadable, it was so bad. I ended up at 3 stars so not terrible but it was such a disappointment. Then, The Beholden by Cassandra Rose Clarke had such a pretty cover and the description sounded great but I hated it. I gave it 1 star and a ranting review.

6 – Biggest Surprise

This one was easy because I would have told anyone who suggested I read this book that they were crazy. A Deadly Education may be one of my earliest DNFs ever, I made it through like 40 pages and realized I was routing for the main character to die and I should probably stop reading. During Realmathon, a lot of people were reading His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik and I realized I could get a ton of points for a military fantasy by a second chance author that had dragons. I went in with the lowest of low expectations and found myself really enjoying it. I gave it 4 stars and have already read the next book in the series. I had totally written off Novik previously, I guess I should try some others.

7 – Favorite New Author

This was hard, I just didn’t have many authors that I’ve read multiple books by and I have a hard time seeing an authoris a favorite based on one book. I decided to go with Laini Taylor. I read the Strange the Dreamer duology in 2020 and absolutely loved it. I’ve been afraid to pick up anything by Taylor or reread Strange since. Everyone talked about the flowery writing and I typically don’t like that style. I thought it was a weird thing that I liked it and didn’t want to ruin it. I finally got up my courage and read Daughter of Smoke and Bone and really enjoyed it. I think this safely means Laini Taylor is a favorite author and not a one off.

8 – Newest Fictional Crush

I don’t really get fictional crushes, especially on book characters but since I have to pick, I’m going with Prince Charming from Happily Ever Island despite how horribly cheesy that sounds. The scenes with him were adorable. But the main reason for this is that I loved how he was willing to totally buy into this role playing fantasy world to make his mom happy. It was so sweet and I kind of loved him for that.

9 – Newest Favorite Character

Temeraire from His Majesty’s Dragon and Reichis from Spellslinger are my favorite animal companions and I almost went with one of them. But then I remembered the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb. I have read the first two books in this series and the characters are the real star. I love Fitz and Burrich but the real star for me is the Fool. The Fool is such an interesting character and the history and depth of the character in Royal Assassin made me so connected with this strange person. I don’t know how Hobb made me care so much, it really snuck up on me but I almost cried a few times over the Fool.

10 – Book That Made You Cry

A lot of books have made in tear up or almost cry but the only one that really made me cry was Know My Name by Chanel Miller which made me cry like a baby. This book is amazing and powerful and important and all the things. It was hard to read but I’m so glad I did.

11 – Book That Made You Happy

Reading makes me happy in general and a lot of books I’ve already mentioned (Misrule and Happily Ever After in particular) made me very happy but of the books I haven’t mentioned yet, I think Shadowblack by Sebastien de Castell made me the happiest. Reichis had me laughing out loud so many times, I love that squirrel cat.

12 – Most Beautiful Book Bought This Year

I don’t buy books so I’m going with the most beautiful book I’ve read this year and that prize easily goes to A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin. This is one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen and the world was equally beautiful and atmospheric.

13 – Books You Need to Read by the End of the Year

I don’t really need to read anything. I hold myself accountable for ARCs so I guess those I sort of need to read. Other than that, I read what I want, when I want and that’s the way I like it.

Happy Reading! If you do (or have already done) this tag, please leave a link in the comments, I’d love to see your answers.