July Wrap Up!! (My Biggest Wrap up Ever lol)

TL;DR

Regan shares her thoughts on various books she read in July, including urban fantasy, contemporary retelling, historical thriller, grim dark fantasy, rom-com, middle-grade fantasy, and non-fiction anti-racism novels.

Transcript

this is ridiculous i've read this many books okay this is dangerous hi everyone it's regan and welcome back to another video today i'm gonna be doing my july wrap up which honestly if as i was gathering all the books to chat about for this video i think this is the most i have ever read both at the number of books and the number of pages in a singl... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫠 Regan read a diverse range of genres in July, including urban fantasy, contemporary retelling, historical thriller, grim dark fantasy, rom-com, middle-grade fantasy, and non-fiction anti-racism novels.
• 💭 She shared her thoughts on each book, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
• ❓ Regan found "The Poppy War" and "The Empire of Gold" to be exceptional in their respective genres and highly recommended them.
• 🫠 She emphasized the importance of reading non-fiction anti-racism books for personal education and growth.
• 🫠 Regan enjoyed exploring different cultures and historical settings through the books she read.
• 😑 She expressed excitement for upcoming adaptations of certain books, such as "Anna K" and the Daevabad trilogy.
• 💪 "The Assassin's Quest" stood out as the strongest installment in the Farseer Trilogy so far.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were Regan's thoughts on the Dresden Files series and "Grave Peril"?

Regan enjoyed the urban fantasy and mystery elements of the series, but she had issues with the protagonist's portrayal of women, making her uncomfortable. She noted that some readers have mentioned improvements in later books and might consider continuing the series in the future.

Q: How did Regan feel about the books she read for the Korean culture readathon?

Regan found "Anna K," a contemporary retelling of "Anna Karenina," to be an absurdly captivating teen drama with a glamorous New York City backdrop. She enjoyed the book's entertainment value and plans to watch the upcoming television adaptation. Regarding "The Silence of Bones," she praised its historical setting, enthralling mystery, and captivating characters.

Q: What genre is "The Poppy War," and how did Regan react to it?

"The Poppy War" is a grim dark fantasy novel inspired by Chinese history. Regan fell in love with the book, appreciating the author's accomplishments and the book's dark exploration of war. She also mentioned that the book can be divisive, but she personally found it to be highly satisfying and engaging.

Q: What age group is "Get a Life, Chloe Brown" aimed at, and what aspects of the book did Regan enjoy?

"Get a Life, Chloe Brown" is a rom-com contemporary romance novel. Regan loved the charming and funny nature of the book, particularly enjoying the romance, banter, and likable main characters. She also praised the disability representation and how the story tackles the protagonist's chronic pain.

Q: What message did Regan take away from the non-fiction anti-racism novels she read?

Regan found both "So You Want to Talk About Race" and "How to Be an Anti-Racist" to be essential reads for everyone, as they provide valuable insights, personal anecdotes, and practical tools to become better allies in the fight against racism. She emphasized their importance and the need to revisit them multiple times.

Q: How is Regan finding "The Assassin's Quest" compared to the rest of the Farseer Trilogy?

Regan stated that "The Assassin's Quest" is the strongest book in the trilogy so far, praising its character development, emotional depth, and engaging plot. She plans to finish it in August.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Regan read a variety of books, including the third novel in the Dresden Files series, "Grave Peril," which she found to have some enjoyable aspects but had issues with the protagonist's voice and portrayal of women.

• She participated in a readathon celebrating Korean culture and enjoyed two books from the event: "Anna K," a contemporary retelling of "Anna Karenina," and "The Silence of Bones," a historical thriller set in the Joseon era.

• Regan also delved into the grim dark fantasy genre with "The Poppy War," a highly engaging and dark story inspired by Chinese history, and the final book in the Daevabad trilogy, "The Empire of Gold," which she found satisfying and emotional.

• She tried but ultimately did not finish "From Unseen Fire," a Roman historical fantasy with an interesting setting but a writing style that did not resonate with her.

• Regan took a break from fantasy and enjoyed the rom-com "Get a Life, Chloe Brown," which she found charming and fun, and two middle-grade novels: "The Girl Who Drank the Moon," a classic and richly woven fantasy, and "Aru Shah and the End of Time," an adventurous modern reinterpretation of Hindu mythology.

• She also engaged in personal education by reading two non-fiction anti-racism novels: "So You Want to Talk About Race" and "How to Be an Anti-Racist," both of which she highly recommends for their valuable insights and practical tools.

• Lastly, Regan made progress in "The Assassin's Quest," the final book in the Farseer Trilogy, finding it to be the strongest installment so far.