End of the Year // 2019

The last day of the year. When this posts we’ll still be in Spain. We’ll be flying at the end of the afternoon back home and probably won’t make it home before the new year is upon us.

Anyway I thought it would be good to step out of the year with the end of the year book survey. This was created by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner many years ago as were the graphics.

STATS

Number Of Books You Read:
Number of Re-Reads: 4
Genre You Read The Most From: Fantasy of course

1. Best Book You Read In 2019?

I would say Jade War, The Sword of Kaigen and The Poison Song and for young adult Coral and The Fever King.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

I really thought that I was going to like The Bone Ships a lot but in the end I was just luke warm. I am still interested in the sequel, I think. The ending certainly promised a better continuation.

And truly, I was a little let down by King of Scars. It just didn’t quite work for me in comparison.

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

I think the most surprising book I encountered would be Coral. I didn’t expect this little mermaid retelling to punch me so hard with depression rep.

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I don’t know. I guess The Sword of Kaigen and The Winnowing Flame?

 5. Best series you started in 2019? Best Sequel of 2019? Best Series Ender of 2019?

The best series I started and ended definitely has to be The Winnowing Flame trilogy by Jen Williams. That series just had everything that I wanted. As for best sequel I think I’ll go with Jade War by Fonda Lee.

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2019?

I added Fonda Lee and Jen Williams for sure to my list of favorite authors and I think that M.L. Wang has a good chance of coming up there too in the future.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Running with Lions by Julian Winters and Heartstopper 1 and 2 by Alice Oseman. Contemporary romance and I generally do not go along very well but I really enjoyed these books.

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

The last book I read that I couldn’t put down would be Thorn by Intisar Khanani

 9. Book You Read In 2019 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

To Be Taught if Fortunate by Becky Chambers

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2019?

But there were so many pretties! I really love the cover of Silver in the Wood, Beneath the Citadel, Steel Crow Sage, Sword of Kaigen, Second Star. The list goes on, truly.

11. Most memorable character of 2019?

Oh. I guess I would say Tormalin and Noon from The Winnowing Flame trilogy. But also Mamoru and Misaki from The Sword of Kaigen

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2019?

I find this a hard question but I am going with Jade City by Fonda Lee.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2019?

Certainly Coral for me regarding depression. But also Not Your Backup for helping me realize that, yes, I am gray ace.

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2019 to finally read? 

The Ninth Rain. Girls of Paper and Fire. Jade City. Red Sister. The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2019?

I still don’t remember quotes, sorry.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?

The shortest book is the short story The Cage by A.M. Dellamonica. And the longest would be The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon.

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

Jade City by Fonda Lee.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Tor and Noon.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Kippa and Maika from Monstress.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2019 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

The Winnowing Flame by Jen Williams. Are you sensing a theme here yet?

21. Best Book You Read In 2019 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:

Running with Lions.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2019?

I don’t really do fictional crushes. But I have a soft spot for the entire Winnowing Flame cast.

23. Best 2019 debut you read?

The Fever King by Victoria Lee

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Silver in the Wood. That wood setting was so atmospheric.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2019?

The Sword of Kaigen. Coral

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Coral. The Sword of Kaigen. The Outside

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Coral… It hit my depression hard.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2019?

Oh boe. I think I will go with The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Moonlocket I guess, looking back. For the unnessecary gun violence in a fantasy middle grade book.

1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2019?

I am drawing a blank right now. Sorry I love you all.
However I am going to share some of my favorite new twitter people/authors/publishers of this year. That counts too:
Becca / Victoria Lee / Angry Robot / Rosiee Thor /Rachel Caine / Chella Man / Shri / M.L. Wang

2. Favorite posts you wrote in 2019?

⌘ Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness
⌘ Books for Riordan Lovers That Aren’t Written by Rick Riordan
⌘ Great Starts to Adult Fantasy If You Are New to the Genre
⌘ Present Tense in Books / The Up and the Down
⌘ Where Do I Draw the Line? / Reading Problematic Authors
⌘ A (Small) List of Trigger Warnings You Can Use
⌘ 20 Female SFF Authors Who Published Before 2000
⌘ Here There be Dragons / My Dragon Collection
⌘ Escaping by Use of Space / Is Sci-Fi Only Escapist Fiction?

3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2019?

4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events,  etc.)?

Oh I would have to say meeting Jonathan Stroud at Castlefest.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2019?

Meeting Jonathan Stroud at Castlefest 😀

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Trying to be on top of things with replying to comments on my blog and blog hopping. My depression especially hit me hard this Fall and it made it so much harder to interact with others in that way.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Overall this year
Dancing with Fantasy and Sci-Fi – A (2019) Reading Challenge + Bingo Cards & Urban Fantasy vs Contemporary Fantasy: Is There a Difference?

Posted this year
Where Do I Draw the Line? / Reading Problematic Authors

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

A (Small) List of Trigger Warnings You Can Use

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Eh that German Amazon accepts Ideal payments?

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I did many and I will talk all about them at a later date in different blog posts.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2019 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2020?

Tristan Strong.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2020 (non-debut)?

Shorefall!

3. 2020 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I don’t know. One thing I never really know if is a book is a debut? And sometimes it can be hard to find.

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2020?

Stormsong!

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2020?

I’d just like to continue on keeping a handle on planning, keeping the blog active and find a balance with replying to comments and blog hopping with that.

6. A 2020 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):

Thorn by Intisar Khanani.