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0:00 Intro & Sponsorship
2:11 When the Moon Hatched
4:08 The Hurricane Wars
7:19 Quicksilver
8:38 The Serpent and the Wings of Night
10:48 A Dark and Drowning Tide
11:32 Daughter of the Moon Goddess
13:49 A Court of Thorns and Roses
15:12 Faebound
16:35 Fourth Wing
#romance #fantasy #books
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I'm happy that I'm not the only one who hate ACOTER . That book is sooo boring that I couldn't even finish it. And the worst of the main characters! When I was reading it I felt what I was missing that everybody is loving and crazy about it. But I just couldn't force myself anymore to read it.
I really wish to broaden the genres I read but I have been put off from romantasy for a long time. Thank you for the recommendations! 😊
it's fun how you make the most
of the bad books you read. 😊
I haven’t read Romantasy in many years, but you sold me on The Hurricane Wars. I checked it out from theb,ivrary before you had even finished discussing it! Added the rest of your best to my TBR. Looking forward to a change of pace. Thank you for the honest takes.
I recently read Faebound and I have to say, I kinda liked it but it didn't give me the impression that it was incredible. I got the feeling that towards the end the author lost herself. I actually wrote a review in my reading journal (I just started it this year) and I don't remember exactly what it said but there's something wrong with the portrayal of the characters, towards the end more than anything they egt imbued with this adolescent rage that makes them jump, constantly. And while I understand that for Lettle it's normal, as she's naturally a reactive character, I felt like for the rest of them their reactions were forced. The narration also becomes more "tell´-like" and less "show-like". I felt like I was being narrated the happenings but not given time ro reflect on them with the characters nor given their thoughts anymore. It felt a lot more distanced to me.
I will buy the continuation because the story itself is nice and I liked the plot twists, I just felt like they weren't relayed in the best way, it surprised me but my reaction was never "oh WOW, who could ahve thought?!", but more of a "huh, so that happened". Did anyone else get the same feeling?
I did finish acotar, (started it, because I wanted to know what all the fuss was about) and it does not get any better…
Have you read Swordheart by T. Kingfisher? I absolutely adore that one.
Just downloaded your two top recs on my audiobook app. 😃
I had to stop after ACOWAR..and should've stopped before then. I don't understand the high goodreads ratings!!!!!
I recommend half a soul
I tried to read Daughter of The Moon Goddess but everything came too easily to the protag and I ended up DNFing it 🥲 The only proper romantasy I've read in full was An Enchantment of Ravens and I didn't like it at all sadly.
when i need fantastic book reccomendations that surely will broden my horizons i have this pleasant pavlovian like itch to re-watch your older videos. i was in one of those watching sprees currently! got so many great recs but your words about 'aftershock' by zhang ling were especially so interesting to me! i am going to start reading it tonight :] very much appreciate your efforts Willow <3
Honestly? Thank God for you. I read all ACOTAR series and quicksilver because "it would change my world" and, although I didn't hated it, I was not impress (I'm a very tolarant person). I will totally try your romantasy recomendation. Your explanation on Hurricane wars gave me goosepumps lol.
Having read the ACOTAR series in full and dissected it, and had seen from the outside the two major camps of that fandom: I’ve come to learn that I trust more the people who liked the first book and hated/disliked ACOMAF than those who hated/disliked ACOTAR and loved/adored ACOMAF
It is one of the most egregious forms of retconning I’d ever witnessed. The amount of EFFORT that SJM went through to HIDE and UNDERMINE the first installment to uphold her little “twist” at the cost of her reliability as a writer was astounding to me. It haunts me that she was the massive influence to bring this genre in because I think it made it have a difficult upstart to be a genuinely good genre (too many authors rely on HER narrative troupes and writing style for the sake of roping in her readership). I can only hope more people continue to remove their rose-colored glasses when they read ACOTAR and for authors find their own voice in their work, to write for the love of the genre than to ride coattails for short term success.
The Hurricane Wars sounds great.
I highly recommend the shepherd king duology: One dark Window & Two Twisted Crowns
I wonder if you would like Lidiya Foxglove's fantasy-with-romance books:
The Sorcerer's Concubine
The Sorcerer's Wife
The Sorcerer's Equal
Doll Girl Meets Dead Guy
She has a YouTube channel, too, where you can even watch her read Doll Girl Meets Dead Guy, in full, for free. (It stands alone fine, if you only want to start with just one.)
I like the idea you have here to alternate 1 bad/1 good Fantasy novel 😊! I am in the mood for Fantasy after few years of lack of motivation for this genre, I am back on it so I am very glad to listen to your thoughts here 👍
Not to defend ACOTAR too much… but one of the main points in book two was pointing out how toxic the male lead was in book 1. (Yes I am aware that the next male lead also has issues)
I just checked and Faebound got translated and published in my country, nice! 😊
Now I kind of want to read the horrid books. It might inspire me to write more, and better. Seeing wretched books get published makes me feel like I can do better. So thanks for this.
I'm so glad you also hate When the Moon Was Hatched because sometimes I feel crazy surrounded by 5 star reviews of it.
The way I've been avoiding The Hurricane Wars because I've learned to not always trust the internet. 🤣 But you, I trust whole heartedly. Will definitely check it out! 🤩
I just finished Fourth Wing, and you summed up my thoughts on it perfectly. Did I cackle when the author started talking about playground equipment in her medieval fantasy setting? Yes. Did I thoroughly enjoy myself? Also yes.
The Hurricane Wars is on my wishlist. I'm so glad you enjoyed reading it.
I really enjoyed the hurricane wars by thea guanzon im planning on reading the second book in the series soon a monsoon rising
lol “an abuse of language” had me dying – good for you 😂
Have you heard of Queen of the tearling? From watching this video I feel like it could be up your ally, even though it barely contains romance. It’s a fantasy series with a twist and the best part are the women characters in it, the author is so good at creating multilayered and complex women protagonists and side characters! Some of the men are cool too but it’s very noticeable how much more thought and effort she put into the women 😂
If you enjoyed The Serpent and the Wings of Night, I highly recommend the author's first series starting with Daughter of No World (I personally find the name a little cringe but titles are hard 🤷♀️). Its an epic trilogy with a sweet, genuine romance and an incredible interweaving plot that comes together in an unbelievably satisfying way
I was so excited to read Faebound when it came out that I pre-ordered which I never do. I was so disappointed by the book and its shallow characters and worldbuilding that I still get mad thinking about it . I love that you loved it, though😅
Yes, i also felt gaslit by Quicksilver! Gosh you are a bit too harsh about WTMH though…
I loved this Read This, Not That! format. Several of these books have been on my radar and seeing them compared was very helpful! I agree on Fourth Wing, a literary masterpiece it is not, but it's very entertaining!
I'm gonna read the ones u said to avoid lmao
opens StoryGraph -> adds books to "to read"
hm, when you characterized romantasy as started by ACOTAR I was wondering if all the queer fantasy romance books that existed before and since don't count as romantasy. I personally don't understand the genre and have not read any of the popular books in it, but have read a lot of queer fantasy with spice. Maybe romantasy is just a name for the straight fantasy romance?
I usually avoid romantasy genre like a plague but I would recommend The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh. I feel that the romance was accompanied by an interesting theme of duty. Plus it has Studio Ghibli vibe 🙂
Oooh I'm happy you enjoyed The Serpent & The Wings of Night! Her newest book is a lot of fun too.
I'll def have to check out Faebound and The Hurricane Wars.