Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag 2019

It's somewhat the middle of the year so I thought it was time for the Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag. I'm not sure who made this tag to begin with because I saw it on a couple of different blogs by now but I first saw it on The Bibliophile Girl. And as always I'm encouraging other bloggers to do this tag as well. It's really fun!

1. What is the best book you’ve read?

This is an easy question for me. In The Full Light of the Sun by Clare Clark. It's been my favorite book of the year since March and no other book has been able to top it yet. The story takes place in Berlin, Germany over the course of ten years from 1923 to 1933, between the first and second world war. I actually bought it because I saw it on Sissi's instagram (SissiReads) I just had a feeling I was going to love it and I was right!

2. What is the best sequel you’ve read?

Also a pretty easy one to pick for me. The Wicked King by Holly Black. I loved it SO much! I'm totally obsessed with Jude and Cardan. It was also my first five star read of the year so that definitely means something. I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on The Queen of Nothing in November. I'm sure it's going to be amazing!

3. What release haven’t you read yet, but want to?

There are so many new releases that I haven't gotten around to readin yet, to be honest... but We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal is one that's at the top of my list to read. I got the book pretty recently but it's still sitting on my never ending TBR pile on my nightstand. I hope to read it soon though!

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

This is probably the most easy question for me and people who know me even a little bit definitely won't be surprised by my answer. The Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer, of course! For those who don't know... Eoin Colfer is my favorite author and the Artemis Fowl series are my favorite books ever. The Fowl Twins is a story about Artemis' younger brothers so I'm super excited for it!!

5. What is your biggest disappointment?

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. I think it's going to be pretty surprising to most because I know a lot of people that loved this book. I won't say there wasn't anything good about it because some things I did like but overall I just had expected more. I've read almost all of Brigid's books, even the Elemental series and I don't know... ACSDAL just didn't live up to the hype and I wasn't impressed by it or enjoyed most of the characters. I still want to read the sequel, though, because I'm hoping it will be better and I want to continue to support Brigid.

6. What is your biggest surprise?

This was a tougher question because I feel like I haven't been especially surprised by most of the books I've read but The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau was definitely one of them. It was about espionage, it had romance and the color blue was heavily feautured which was just really fascinated. It surprised me for sure!

7. Who is your favorite new author?

This has got to be Barry Strauss. I've only read one of his books so far but I can already tell that I'm going to enjoy his other work as well. Ten Caesars: Roman Emperors from Augustus to Constantine was one of the best nonfiction books I've read. I randomly dowloaded it from NetGalley but I ended up highly enjoying it, which was great. I'm not sure why but I didn't think I'd love it as much as I did so this would also count as one of the most surprising books of the year along with The Blue.

8. Who is your newest fictional crush so far in 2019?

Liam North from Overture and Concerto (especially this book was AMAZING) by Skye Warren. It's forbidden romance at its best! Liam made me swoon like almost no other fictional crushes. Skye Warren never disappoints me with the romance.

9. Who is your newest favorite character?

I'm still listening to this audiobook but I'm loving Yumeko from Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kawaga. She is such a fun and courageous character. I adore her! Also didn't expect to enjoy this audibook as much as I am. I haven't read a book by Julie since the Iron Fey series. I only have a few hours left at this point so I'm probably going to finish it sometime soon. And of course I'm already excited for the sequel that's going to be released this year!

10. What book that made you cry?

I didn't realize it until now but no books have made me cry yet this year. I consider this to be a good thing. 

11. What book that made you happy?

Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost because FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY we got a book about Ian. After so many years! All the fans pretty much wanted this and now it has happened. This is a spin-off series from Frost's Night Huntress series (which is by far the best vampire series ever!) I can't wait for the second book to see how things will continue. 

12. What is your favourite book to movie/tv adaptation you saw this year?

I can't think of any that I've seen. I don't watch a lot of book adaptions these days since they always end up disappointing me.

13. What is your favorite post that you have written so far this year?

I'm really liking the reviews I've written so far this year actually. Especially Sunwise by Helen Steadman because I loved the book so much and it ended up being my fastest read ever so couldn't wait to share the love for it. Find my review here.

14. What is the most beautiful book you bought so far this year?

There are quite a few beautiful books that I have bought this year but I gotta say that The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker sticks out for sure. The cover is so freaking gorgeous! And even more than that it also ended up being a favorite book of the year. It comes in second to In The Full Light of the Sun. It wasn't a happy book but I loved it. Also yay for Greek mythology retellings! 

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15. What is one books that you want to read by the end of the year?

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare! I got the book for Christmas and I still haven't read it which is actually unusual for me because I'm a huge fan of this series and pretty much anything Cassie writes. The size of the book is a bit intimidating to me so that's why I haven't picked it up yet.

Please feel free to comment your own answers to one or more of these questions. I'm curious!