Mid year Book Check in Tag – 2021

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It’s that time of the year again, where we go through all the books read so far to recommend our favourites, rant about our worst reads and lament about all the books left to read. It’s time for the Mid Year Book Check In Tag – 2021!!
I had set up a GR challenge for 100 books, beginning of this year, thinking I would have no time to read but, well, here I am halfway through 2021, still waiting for exam dates. So more stress, more reading to escape and before I knew it – 131 books read so far this year. I have mostly been focused on fantasies or Sci-fi this year with a few mysteries, romances and historical fiction thrown in. A lot of five stars, a lot of nearly five stars and a few 1 and 2 stars later here we are in the middle of another pandemic year. So without further ado, let’s get on to the questions.

Best book you’ve read so far in 2021

This is the absolute worst question to start with because I have had a brilliant year when it comes to books and there are far too many favourites 😭 But I would attempt to pick a top five.

Popisho/This One Sky Day by Leone Ross would be my top pick so far. It’s so wildly imaginative and the lyrical writing elevates it to a whole other level. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison would be a close second and We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker, These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever , Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe would make the rest of the top five.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2021

Again far too many 😭😭 but if I have to pick one, then Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko would be my pick. This series couldn’t have ended any more perfectly and it is one of my absolute favourite YA fantasies ever.

Ok I was lying, I have to pick one more. The War of Swallowed Stars by Sangu Mandanna also deserves all the love. This scifi reimagining of Mahabharata was absolute perfection.

A new release you want to read but haven’t yet..

Pretty caught up with all the new releases so far but if I have to pick one then Detransition Baby/ The Anthropocene Reviewed/ Sorrowland/ Dear Senthuran. Ok that was four and not one 🌚

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I am actually pretty caught up with all my anticipated releases after getting approved for most of them on Netgalley 😱😱

Oh wait, I do have one. Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson. It’s the third installment in the Skyward series and I can’t wait to go on more adventures with M-bot, Spensa and Doomslug.

Biggest disappointment so far this year

I have had a few disappointing reads and a lot more dnfs than usual but for once we have a clear winner. The Road Trip by Beth O’leary was so bad, I cry. I very rarely give one star reviews and this was the only one so far, this year to have had that honour 🥲

Biggest surprise so far this year

Another tough one 🙈🙈 Ok here goes, these are my top three biggest surprise reads of the year so far

The Celestial Trilogy recommended to me by Shruti , Fanna , Simant

Empire of Pain recommended by Jordan (@jordysbookclub)

Popisho recommended by Ashwin (@brownboyreads)

Favourite debut author or new to you author so far this year

Leone Ross, Micah Nemerever – the way these two write, ughh, so good. I mean they have access to the same 26 alphabets in the English language as we do but somehow they create magic with their words. I have become a forever fan!

Newest Fictional crush

I don’t usually have fictional crushes but Fatma el-Sha’arawi from A Master of Djinn is so badass that I stan!!

Newest Favourite Character

There can only be one answer for this question – Maia from The Goblin Emperor . He is so so so precious 😭😭😭

A Book that made you cry

I enjoy torturing myself with tearjerkers so here are the top five

• We begin at the end by Chris Whitaker.
• Under the Whispering Door by T J Klune
• The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
• And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman
• The Celestial Trilogy by Sangu Mandanna

A Book That Made you Happy on

I gravitate towards feel good books when I am stressed out. They are my comfort reads and with the COVID situation and all the uncertainty surrounding my exams I have been bingeing on them. Here are my top three feel good books that made me happy.

• Flash Fire by T J Klune
• A Psalm For The Wild Built by Becky Chambers
• Act Your Age Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

The most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year

Realm of Elderlings being my favourite fantasy series, I had to get The Assassin’s Apprentice Illustrated by Robin Hobb but it’s still on it’s way . So I am waiting with bated breath to finally hold it in my hands.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

Not setting up any books to read coz I am 100% sure I wont follow them 🤭 but I would like to read Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi before the end of the year.

Favourite book to screen adaptation you’ve seen this year

I am going with manga/anime for this one – Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya 😭😭😭 Everyone go watch it and come cry with me. This is the most perfect, heartbreaking but feel good (don’t ask me what that means, just go with it) anime ever!! And it’s over!!! So watch me curl up in the corner in a puddle of tears. I blame Uma (@books.bags.burgers) for this condition 😑

Let’s Catch Up

So there you have it, the mid-year book check-in tag. Have you read any of the books I have mentioned? Or are you planning to read any of them ? Let me know down below.

I love checking out the mid year check-in tags so if you have posted one in your blog, feel free to send me link down below 👇🏻