The Mid Year Freak Out Book Tag 2022

Yes, I am still alive. I couldn’t not do this tag even if my blog seems to be on an accidental hiatus (one I am unsure will ever end). Writing this post took me literal months – I do not even know how I did this regularly (remember when I posted every second day?? How??).

Question 1 – The best book you’ve read so far in 2022

Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik

I adored this. It took me half by surprise because I had enjoyed but not loved an earlier book by this author but this was just perfection. And it proved me wrong: apparently I can love a sci-fi romance.

Question 2 – Your favorite sequel of the year

Archangel’s War (Guild Hunter #12) by Nalini Singh

Apparently book 12 is where Nalini Singh really pulls out the big guns (book 12 in the Psy Changeling Series is also arguably the best book). I adored this book in a series that I always want to love more than I usually ultimately do.

Question 3 – A new release that you haven’t read but really want to

This is difficult – not because there aren’t great new releases that I haven’t gotten to but because I am kind of not focussing on that at all. I am giving myself the grace to just read whatever the hell I want and this apparently means for now that I am mostly reading speculative romance of some kind. And those books tend to release over the summer so they haven’t come out yet. The closest one I can come up with is Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda.

Question 4 – Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

So many books in amazing series are coming out the next few months (new Psy-Changeling! New Mercenary Librarians!) but I am, hands down, most excited for Ruby Fever (Hidden Legacy #6) by Ilona Andrews and Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik. I adore both series and I need the books now. (Sidenote: as this post took me forever to write, I have now already read and enjoyed Eclipse the Moon)

Question 5 – Your biggest disappointment

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi fell well below my, admittedly very high, expectations. I just did not love this and it also has not stuck with me.

Question 6 – Biggest surprise of the year

Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik was so much better than I had hoped. I read it because it has been pitched to me as perfect for fans of Heart of Obsidion by Nalini Singh and the first Hidden Legacy trilogy by Ilona Andrews (both of which are things I really enjoy) and yes, that was the perfect pitch.

Question 7 – Favourite new to you or debut author

I am making my way through T. Kingfisher’s backlist and so far haven’t hit a book I didn’t enjoy. From the very first chapter I knew that this was an author I was going to adore and I was correct.

Question 8 – Your new fictional crush

Torran Fletcher from Hunt the Stars is just my romance hero catnip. I had so much fun with this book.

Question 9 – New favourite character

Risking sounding like a broken record here, but Tavi from Hunt the Stars was just perfection.

Question 10 – A book that made you cry

There is an essay in Girlhood by Melissa Febos (a really excellent book btw) where she directly addresses her mother and her relationship to her and it floored me. It recontextualizes things in her second memoir (Abandon Me) which I read last year and adored also in a perfect way. And it had me sobbing on my way to work.

Question 11 – A  book that made you happy

Is anybody surprised that I am mentioning Hunt the Stars again?

Question 12 – Your favourite book to movie adaptation that you’ve seen this year

I have not seen any.

Question 13 – Favourite book post you’ve done this year

This was not a good year for blogging so far.

Question 14 – The most beautiful book you have bought/received this year

I adore the cover for The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher. I also really appreciate the over-the-topness of both The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller (which perfectly encaptulates the book which I adored) and Archangel’s War by Nalini Singh.

Question 15 – What are some books you need to read by the end of the year

As long as I keep reading, I do not care. Just, good books, hopfully.

How is your reading year? What has been your favourite book of the year? If you do this tag (as I know many people do this time of the year), please let me know because I have been the worst blogger and want to be better.