Book Tag. Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag

How did time fly by so fast? 😱 I'm sure that just a few weeks ago, I was planning my bookish resolutions for 2019 and, now, here I'm looking back at the last six months to share with you some of my favourite (and not so favourite) readings. Welcome to the Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag! I hope you're ready for lots of gushing, incoherent sentences and maybe some gifs. I don't know who created this tag (if you do know, please, share with me so that I give her/him credit), but I first saw it first on The Literary Phoenix. I immediately knew I had to join this tag. How could I ever pass up the chance of rambling about books?

What is the best book you've read so far in 2019?

I refuse to only pick one book. I might not have read much this year and be getting my hands on some very disappointing books lately, but I was lucky to read these three gems and I will talk about them until you come to me and tell me that you've read them because of me. I've yet to share my review of Spin the Dawn, but that's because I'm part of the blog tour. So, get tuned for it! 😉

What has been your favourite sequel of the first half of the year?

Well, I'm really bad at sequels and this year, so far, I've only read three sequels (well, Corpse & Crown was actually a companion novel to Cadaver & Queen). I'll have to pick Den of Wolves by Juliet Marillier. It took me a thousand years to read the ending of this brilliant trilogy, but I finally did it! I love how Marillier chooses not so well-known folk tales and rewrites them so beautifully.

  

Is there a new release that you haven't read yet but you're really excited for?

There are so many new releases that I'm so excited about and I've yet to get my hands on them. Sadly, money doesn't grow on trees (unless you live in the Sim world) and I need to restrain myself. Only once in a blue moon do I indulge myself with some new books and most are e-books. Anyway, less talk and more book covers. 😋 Here are some books that came out in the first half of the year that I'm still super excited for:

Related blog post: TTT. Can't Wait Books of 2019

What is your most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

I'm going to keep breaking the rules (when do I don't break the rules when joining book tags?), because I can't just pick only one book. I truly envy every single book dragon who can narrow down their lists to only to one single book. I'm too indecisive to do be able to do that!!! I picked a book coming out in each month of the second half of the year. These are some of my most anticipated YA releases for the second half of the year:

Related blog post: Ten Young Adult Retellings Coming Soon

What is your biggest disappointment so far?

My last readings have actually been very disappointing. The first chapters always offer me so much hope, but then halfway through the twists and/or lack of information regarding the world building or characters don't work out for. My biggest disappointment has definetly been Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean. I was warned about the ending, but I never expected it to be so rushed. Also, some parts of the story seemed so forced (even the feminist vibes and I'm all for a story that shares female empowerment).

What is your biggest surprise so far?

This is going to sound awful, but my biggest surprise has been A Spark of White Fire. Let me explain before picking up your forks and torches and follow me to a windmill. I downloaded A Spark of White Fire from Edelweiss. I didn't request it, I simply downloaded it. I know that I'm about to say is prejudiced, but, in my experience, most downloadable e-ARCs suffer from lack of editing. I was over the fence, but I heard amazing things about the book and I'm really happy I listened to these reviewers because A Spark of White Fire turned out being one of my favourite books of the year. Have you already read my review yet?

Who is your favourite new to you, or debut author?

For the hundredth time, I can't only pick one! For the sake of me, I'll pick two new to me authors and two debut authors, okay? That makes four and I don't have to be mad at myself for not mentioning someone whose books I loved wholeheartedly. Two new to me authors that I loved are Sangu Mandanna and Shea Ernshaw (she was a debut author last year, but I only read The Wicked Deep this year). Now, two 2019 debut authors that I loved are Ann Dávila Cardinal and Elizabeth Lim.

So much love for these authors. <3

A book that made you cry?

Can we just skip this one? Books rarely make me cry. Unless it's contemporary and even then it's because the story makes me think how freaking bad and sad my life is. I think I told you this before, but if I haven't, here it goes: I think I'm broken inside. Books with emotional deaths and sacrifices and lots of pain don't make me cry. I can list (but I won't because of spoilers) at least ten characters I loved that died and I didn't shed a tear. Now, if a pet dies (or if the book features animal cruelty), then, you may find me trying to swallow my tears.

How dare someone hurt these adorable creatures?

A book that made you happy?

Every time I have to pick a happy book or a book that made me happy, I always go with contemporary readings. However, so far this year, I haven't read any contemporary. So, you can see how this might be a difficult question to answer. 😅 I guess I can pick Den of Wolves by Juliet Marillier because the ending was everything I wanted. Or maybe I can go with The Girl Who Drunk the Moon by Kelly Barnhill because buddy reading it with Evelina @AvalinahsBooks made me happy.

Your favourite book to film/TV show that you've seen so far?

You know that I'm completely addicted to Netflix (even though I haven't been binge watching any series lately due to life getting too busy). This year I watched Grimm, You and the fifth season of Lucifer, all of them inspired by/based on books. Books that I've actually never read, but no reason to dweel on it. Now, if I REALLY have to pick a favourite, it has to be Lucifer. Who doesn't love this devilish Satan?

Lucifer being develish. 😈

Related blog post: Seven Book-to-Series Adaptations I'll Love to Watch  

What is your favourite post that you've written so far this year?

There are actually many posts that I've written so far this year that I'm proud of, which is something that I don't think that has ever happened before. 😋 I worked hard to put some of these posts together and I'm very happy with the response I received from the community. My favourite post hasto be my discussion about how books affect my mental health. It's one of my most honest posts and I'm still surprised I had the courage to share it with you.

What is the most beautiful book that you've bought?

We are talking about beautiful book covers, right? You know that I can never pass up a chance to gush about pretty book covers. I live to drool over beautiful book covers. 💛 However, sadly, I haven't bought many books since the year began, so I don't have man books to choose from. I did receive e-ARCs with some pretty covers, such as Spin the Dawn, but since I've to go with a book I bought, I'll pick The Tethered Magic by Melissa Caruso. I love everything about the cover - the colours blend so well together.

What are six books you want to read by the end of the year?

I haven't read much this year and it makes me sad that I'll not be able to read 77 books again, but there are a lot more than six books on my list of books that I plan on reading before the year ends, from e-ARCs to dusted books on my bookshelf. Once again, it was very troubling for me to narrow down this list to six (I probably forgot some book that I'm dying to read), but I did it! So, here are six books that I really, but really, want to read by the end of the year:

I know a lot of book lovers have already joined this tag, but I'm tagging:

• Annemieke @ A Dance With Books 
•  Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity 
•  Sam @ We Live and Breath Words

 Have you read or want to read any of the books I mentioned? What has been your favourite book read in 2019 so far?

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