Half-Year Book Tag: 2020

I love doing book tags and also reflecting on my reading progress, so I’ve decided to also do the Half Year Book Tag, which was created by BexnBookx.

Favorite standalone book hauled and read so far in 2020

These weren’t purchased this year — I don’t think I’ve yet read a book I bought this year — but they were hauled at some point.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (illus.)

So far, my favorite standalone books read this year are these two. The Goblin Emperor is a fantasy novel about a teenage goblin who unexpectedly becomes the leader of his kingdom, and Nimona is a YA fantasy graphic novel about a mysterious girl who becomes an assistant to a notorious villain. Both are great reads and I highly recommend them.

Favorite series that I started or continued to read in 2020

Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
The Boys, Vol. 1: The Name of the Game by Garth Ennis, illus. by Darick Robertson

The Discworld books are my favorite series I’ve continued with this year. I love it more and more with each book. And the Boys comic book series is my favorite new-to-me series I started this year.

Wyrd Sisters is a fantasy novel about three witches trying to save their small kingdom from a tyrant. It’s funny and very entertaining. The Boys, Vol. 1 is a bit of a thriller about a group of individuals who police superheroes. It’s dark, violent, and very interesting.

Favorite bookish items purchased or received this year

Funko Pops! 😀

I love these things and picked up a few of my favorite characters/people earlier this year. I have here warrior Mulan, Batman from Superman Red Son, Klaus from the Umbrella Academy, Raiden from Mortal Kombat, Scorpion from Mortal Kombat, and Tupac!

Favorite debut author

C.M. Waggoner

I read Unnatural Magic earlier this year and really liked it, so I’m looking forward to trying her next book, The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry.

Unnatural Magic is about a young woman who leaves the conservative country she is from so that she can study magic but gets caught up in solving a series of grisly murders. I liked the story and the writing and am glad that the next book is set in the same world.

Favorite underhyped book that I read this year

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall

Apart from Unnatural Magic, it would probably be Hello Lighthouse, a children’s picture book about the new caretaker of a lighthouse. As we follow this caretaker, we learn about what goes into managing a lighthouse. There are also facts on lighthouses at the end of the book. I love the illustration of the lighthouse on the front and the illustrations throughout the book are beautiful as well. And since I knew nothing about lighthouses prior to reading this, I learned quite a bit too.

(The book has won awards, so I guess it’s not that underhyped.)

Favorite book read this year that you were late to the party on

Sex Criminals, Vol. 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction, illus. by Chip Zdarsky

There are many I loved but was late to: The Da Vinci Code, Nimona, Wyrd Sisters, Vicious, The Book With No Pictures, The Boys, The Goblin Emperor. But I went with Sex Criminals because it’s one I’ve been curious about and can’t believe I took so long to read it. It’s a fantasy comic book series about a young woman who can stop time when she has sex. When she meets a guy who can do the same, they decide to use their ability to rob banks so that they can save a library. It was a bit funny. I enjoyed it.

Potential favorite that you haven’t gotten around to reading yet

Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng

I’m pretty sure it will be one of my favorites. I just need to get started on it.

Favorite reread in 2020

the Farseer trilogy

If you’ve been following me for a while, then you’re probably aware of my immense love for Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings series, which I actually completed last year. Well, I missed it as soon as I was done, so a few days later (in the new year), I started rereading it by audiobook and I LOVED it! I sped through the Farseer books so quickly! They were a delight to revisit.

Favorite cover on a book released this year

Our of Body by Jeffrey Ford

I just really like the effect inside the Os. It’s a horror novel about murders in a small town.

And that’s it.

What underhyped book have you read so far and liked?

Advertisement