A Natural History of Dragons feels like 18th century Britain but it’s actually a fantasy world. And Jade City is a set in a fantasy version of Hong Kong in the 1980s to 1990s.
i could never perch a candle ontop of a book stack, my anxiety is already bad enough as is and watching urs in the background had me on edge constantly 😆
"He towered over me like a towering tower" is a level of knee-knocking stupid that I wish you had given me a little more preparation for. Because that was a jackhammer to my funny bone and half a minute later I had to re-teach myself how to breathe. Wuthering Heights for the win!
neil gaiman is such a soft man i love him. strongly recommend the ocean at the end of the lane - very whimsical light fantasy/magical realism vibes. just such a treat. i feel like you would like it if you want to give him another go ~
I read Mask of Mirrors (the whole entire Rook and Rose trilogy in fact) and I promise you, it's absolutely fantastic!! Also great for people who love The Lies of Locke Lamora :D
have you ever read House of Hollow? it's pretty weird, in an interesting way. The genre is paranormal fiction, it was my first time with this genre and I was very surprised but I enjoyed it! I think you would enjoy it as well
If you’re looking for magical markets, light fantasy from the early 20th century, and more Neil Gaiman you MUST read Stardust, it checks all the boxes!
amazing video as always! but i'm here with other interests in mind... i just finished the night circus (totally influenced by you btw), and now i NEED another book just vibes -no plot needed- to read before bed. would you (or anyone reading this 🫶) help me with this quest? love from brazil
I totally agree with Assistant to the Villain! I'm not very picky with books but I cannot tell you a single fact about the Villain other than his name and that is only because I recently logged every male love interest's name in every book I own. (If anyone is curious, Jack was the most popular across all genres)
Girl I HATE it when a character does something creepy/weird but the author plays it off as “cute” bc they’re attractive 😭😭 bc there’s nothing creepy about keeping a picture of a random girl in your room bc the boy in question is cute
Can I just say, that your earrings truly give me life? The moths? Ugh GORGEOUS. The mushrooms, the swords...every time I click on a video of yours I am looking out for your next pair of cool earrings. Also the vibes, the books, the beautiful way in which you describe your thoughts on them...I love everything! keep up the good work
ok so i don't wanna make it about me but i'm 19 turning 20 next year and I'm freaking out sooooo baddd...i had really bad mental breakdowns over turning 18 and i feel the same about turning 20 like I'm losing something if that makes sense...so, i was wondering if you have any advice. It would be much appreciated
@zahrasultan711 you are still so incredibly young. You're not even out of the tutorial yet. Your life won't end at 20, or even 25, in fact there's a good chance it gets even better. You'll be wiser and calmer headed and you'll be able to have a kind of control over your life that you can't really get in your teens. I dropped out of uni aged 20 because of helth problems and now I'm pushing 30 I'm trying again and it's so much easier now I've matured almost a decade. Don't listen to the ageism on the Internet and traditional media, you life gets better with every decade.
"Not young" can still be "not old" also. Lol Contrary to childhood beliefs, age does not actually skip immediately from "young" directly into "old". 😂 There *is* a fairly wide spectrum between the two, methinks!😊 ( Or maybe that's just me? 🤔🤷🤷♀️😆^-^ )
The romance in a study of drowning had me kicking my lil feet, I was sooo into them hahah, it's so interesting to see how different perceptions are in this regard.
Have you already read the raven boys? I really think you would love the series, it’s so atmospheric and character driven, it screams you hahah a video reading the books would be amazing, i'm not gonna lie
I agree with this recommendation, but she said she gave the first book a try years ago and it wasn't for her so she was not going to read the series :C
Just wanted to say that I truly adore your channel and how comfortable I feel watching your videos. I also adore your intellect, and how you’re able to balance neurobiology, a Harvard internship AND a successful UA-cam channel! On that note, would it be possible for you to make a video discussing how you handle your time management, and organization, and studying, etc? I’m only in high school but I aspire to be like you and be prepared for college considering high school is already difficult for me 😅
Ali Hazelwood books are all the same basically but somehow they're always a nice and comfortable read. I don't know, I just love to binge the books in one sitting and never touch them again. But have a great time doing so. I think I like Love Theoretically the most because Elsie's fear of being too much and people abandoning her when she asks for help is a problematic trait I carry, too. So I felt kind of seen in this book. There was too much talking and arguing during the spicy scenes though 😂 I would have told him to shut up tbh
Same!!! I felt seen too! I can relate to her morphing into whatever the per wants her to be. And I will say I thought one was very different than the Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain. But I also work in academia so to an outside party, I could see how they would all seem like the same book. But to an academic, they all touch on different external conflicts in academia or applied research.
I loved Slewfoot! My only complaint was it took a long time to get going. The ending was fire though! I honestly thought the point was the Puritans created their own worst fears by how they treated people. Abitha and Samson could have been allies and protectors of the town if they weren't so rigid. Great video as always, Leonie!
YASSS!! Neil Gaiman is great! The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is soooo good. I really feel like you would enjoy it (from what I get by watching your videos 😃) and The Graveyard Book is another fantastic story. I didn't know about Neil Gaiman until this year and he is a very fast favorite of mine.
I read The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick in October and really enjoyed it. I also thought about Six of Crows while reading it. There are morally grey characters, a political fantasy, and multiple magic systems for the various cultures. It is quite long (600+ pages) and the first in the Rook & Rose trilogy, so I would also recommend the audiobook (narrated by Nicki Massoud). The narrator does a great job with the various accents, especially since there are characters who code-switch between languages and accents. I hope you enjoy it with your new Kindle. 🎭
Ahhh so exciting that you're getting into Neil Gaiman a bit more! Like you, I loved Coraline and didn't like Neverwhere as much, but I enjoyed The Ocean at the End of the Lane and American Gods probably the most! The Graveyard Book was also so much fun and a great time. Happy reading! ❤
For a fantasy set in an alternate 20th century world, I recommend Jonathan Stroud, particularly his Bartimaeus Trilogy. Stroud is probably one of my favorite authors that I read as a child whose books still hold up today. The backdrop for the story is that several magical empires have risen and fallen throughout history and now the British Empire is at its peak. London is governed by magicians who derive their power by summoning and enslaving spirits to do their bidding. We follow the career of a young magician from his apprenticeship to adulthood, his relationship with a djinni, and the rise of an underground movement of commoners revolting against the magical elite. As a bonus, I think Stroud writes strong female characters and there's a lot of snark and humor in his writing.
Bartimaeus is such a good and underrated YA. Lowkey hilarious but still some really emotional moments. I also love the use of footnotes and multiple POVs which is kind of unique for these kinds of books.
I love Gerald Brom art and also his books especially "The Plucker", I have all his books and Slewfoot was just sitting on shelf for a good month before I bought it on my e reader because I didn't want to destroy the hard copy by accident and I just love the way his writing gets so much better with each book he puts out, and his art is just so breath taking.
I'm so sad that book of the month doesn't deliver outside the US, I was so sure it did since I live in the Netherlands too and you obviously had access to it. I'm so disappointed 😢
There is this book called Curious Tides which is fairly similar to Study in Drowning and Divine Rivals - it’s also dark academia with secret societies and I think it covers a lot more of what people said was missing in ASID 👀 (I am determined to get Leonie to read this book lol 😄)
Hi Leo! I've seen you were advertising The Book of the Month. I know that you are from the Netherlands, I also live here:) and I was wondering if Book of the Month delivers to Europe. The last time I checked it looked like they didn't. Did their delivery terms changed since you have it and you live in the Netherlands?
Spoilers for A Study in Drowning: I was just so frustrated for nearly the entire book. Quite early on, I guessed the twist, and then it seemed pretty certainly confirmed about halfway through (around when they found the letters to the real author hidden under the bed)--but the main characters were just being unbearably dense. I considered quitting the book, but I wanted to know what was up with the fairy king. But as you said, surprise, another letdown. I'm surprised Ava Reid is becoming a favorite for you, because I'd also given The Wolf and the Woodsman by this author a try and was just not entertained.
‘Magical markets in books…best trope!’ I 100% agree with you! 🙌 when I think about some of my fave books - ADSOM, Nettle and Bone, Neverwhere (I know you weren’t keen on this) but they all have magical markets…and yes, they are the best! 🧚🏻♀️
Leonie, you’re such an inspiration to me! I love reading, and when I have reading slumps, I always watch your videos to remind myself why I love reading so much 💕
Hi Leonie:), I can't seem to be able to get Book of the month and it says it's because they don't ship to Europe. This really confused me because I know you are Dutch. If anyone can help I'd appeciate it:)
Does anyone know how she gets "Book of The Month" delivered to the Netherlands/the EU? I love the idea of BOTM, but on their website it says that they only deliver to the US and Canada.
oooh my recs for a book with similar vibes to divine rivals/a study in drowning with that twentieth century technology but still set in a fantasy world moment is a far wilder magic and down comes the night, both by allison saft !
Im so glad you liked an Ali Hazelwood! Personally, I really like The Love Hypothesis because it was the book that got me into reading, but I do understand the hate it gets and low key agree with the criticism. The fact that its basically just fanfiction is probably why I liked it in the first place, because I've been reading cringy fics basically all my life.
How did you get book of the month to ship in NL? I’d like to subscribe but they don’t ship to France 😢 Otherwise, I loved your video, your reviews are always sooo on point !!
I read a few od Neil Gaiman's books and I also didn't really vibe with "Neverwhere" (it's a good book, it was just more world-focused and the characters didn't seem that deep). My absolute favourite Gaiman's book is "Ocean at the End of the Lane", it's both scary and fantastical, and incredibly relatable. It deals with topics like the power adults have over children and has some really fantastic characters and worldbuilding.
Ahh, love the autumn atmosphere that we get here 🍂☕ you mentioned you didn't read many things from Neil Gaiman - this is my recommendation that I give everyone who enjoys fantasy: watch the movie Stardust🌠 It is based on the book by Neil Gaiman and honestly, it is very enjoyable^^ So if you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend you to check it out (just 2 hours of your time😉)
I've really liked the T Kingfisher books I have read, but I usually have an issue with how they end. It reminds me of how Robin McKinley writes: it always feels like there is no ending, that we are going to continue the story, but we never get another book. That being said, I do enjoy her characters and her writing style, so I will keep reading her books.
I've read Love, Theoretically and really enjoyed it, I had the same complaints however i only enjoyed it because 1) I'm biased, 2) It's my first Romance book that isn't a Briane Greene, Niel DeGrasse, or whoever else's book about astrophysics (Basically Romance books for space geeks), and 3) I'm a theoretical physics geek (mainly in astrochemistry and quantum physics)
I’m so excited to read Slewfoot after all your videos mentioning it! It sounds so good. But now it has to wait until next fall because my autumn TBR is already out of control 😇
I do prefer Juniper and Thorn by her compared to A Study in Drowning, and one of the reasons why was because I missed the writing style we got in her previous works. I do think it is a sign of a good author who is able to change the style of writing to suit the story being told, and the style she chose did work for the question of whether the fae stories are real that is very present throughout the novel. But I still saw it as...not as good as we saw in her other work. Honestly what made me give the book higher than a three star rating was the ending. She really did well with the tension there and it felt like everything the novel was promising came to, and it made for a stellar edge of your seat ending. But Juniper and Thorn was a better novel overall. As for the plot twist, I didn't think it was one. Partly because it didn't feel like one, and I feel like a lot of people would call it early on. I thought it was case of which you, the audience, was meant to know but not the characters themselves. It was more for them to work it out.
I read both of the Mask of Mirrors books that are out. I liked them, but they didn't hit like Six of Crows did. Personally, if you're looking for a heist book, try Gentleman Bastards. It's much darker than Six of Crows, but it's really really good.
Re: Assistant to the Villain. I was waiting for the villain to have a redeeming quality and our heroine to feel some remorse for her assistance in all the deaths the villain has caused and done but it never came and I finally had to DNF the book. And I agree that we don't know anything about the villain except that he's "hot." I just finished What the River Knows and I love it! Such witty banter between our 2 MCs and their chemistry is palpable and it's beautifully written as well. The author did a great job making me turn the pages. Can't wait for the sequel!
On the one hand, I hear what you're saying, millennial humor can be extremely hyper-specific and hyper-personal and hyper-individualistic(and even amongst millennials, like myself, it can be extremely extremely hit or miss) and sometimes even I can find it incredibly annoying or don't find it all that funny too-but on the other hand ..I actually laughed[ @ _iTwat_ ], ssooo.😅👀🙃🙏😂😂 ((Sorry! -in some part 'I am the problem, it's me' clearly🤭🫣😐😁 Lol))
'Towered over me like a towering tower' sounds like a possible nod to "You are a lying liar who lies" which is, I do believe, originally a movie quote? Either from a character that was so flustered they could not imaginatively conceive of a better insult in the heat of the moment or from a character that was meant to be laughed at by the audience for their unwitting ignorance to their own stupidity and cringe(I think I've encountered it played both ways, and forget which came first). Lol So, perhaps it actually was deliberate satire , possibly? But only she really knows 🤷🤷♀️🤷🏻♂️😊😂🫣🤔😅😆😁
I really think you would love Sandman, is a HQ by Neil Gaiman. We follow the story of the endless, witch are a sibilings, Dream, Death, Desire, Despaire, Destiny and Destruction. It's dark and beautiful. 🖤
I actually, more often than not, read _(past tense -if only because I just don't have the time free to invest in it that I used to)_ fanfiction about characters I don't know from fandoms I'm not even in for media I'm not all that much personally familiar myself-so I truly can not personally relate to this concept of fanfics only working because you're already familiar with the world/characters/etcetera, although I do understand the concept in theory. Lol But my only question for 'Assistant to the Villain' I guess would be to ask if it was perhaps deliberately not so much meant to be a story as meant to be more of a meta-humor outline/caricature or something, like was the fact that you're meant to self- fill-in all those blanks perhaps actually intentional, or intended to be meta digs taking jabs at common tropes or stereotypes or fandom habits/tendencies/proclivities? 🤔 If not, then .. yeah....that is unfortunate. But, if yes, then ...that's actually possibly kind of brilliant. Maybe.🤭🤭🤣 (Just because it's bound in book format and comprised of written fiction doesn't necessarily mean the actual point or function of it definitely absolutely has to be to tell a story, specifically? But that probably does make it difficult to market to audiences rightly, so that people would go into it with the correct mindset or approach[ or such] to really appreciate and enjoy it the most or best like how it was intended to be received/experienced.) There's also, I suppose, the question of story versus character. Like, even if it was written for the story, doesn't necessarily mean it always needs to be written for the characters? I mean, plenty of writers have written great stories even when characters were not their strongest element. But, I digress, this is just me rambling and thinking out loud basically. Not really trying to make any particular point here. 😊🙏😁
Leonie I recently read a book called The Hidden, it's a thriller/mystery based around a lady who believes she's a selkie, and another lady who befriends her and helps her get back to her family. she also has a young daughter (whose name is also Leonie, which I thought was fun) but it was pretty atmospheric and easy to get through, I'd highly recommend it!
Hey! My girlfriend loves books! I'm trying to collect birthday wishes from the famous booktubers she loves to watch for her upcoming birthday! She loves your book reviews btw! Can you wish her prior as a surprise? (Her Name is Christina)
what i really dislike about ali hazelwood's romance is the portrayal of the women. like in the love hypothesis, the FL literally puts on expired contacts and loses her vision for a bit at the beginning. and she's a goddamn biology PhD student. I nearly lost my shit over that. Are we supposed to take this level of irresponsibility to be cute? Despite being a brilliant scientist, she just HAS TO have some quirk that shows she doesn't have her shit together.
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"He towered over me lika a towering tower" is my new favorite sentence. Thinking about stitching in on a T-Shirt as soon as I'm done laughing.
That sentence is eerily similar to "a towering tower towered proud" from the book "The Sneakers' Tapestry" 😂
Kween of alliteration 😍
A Natural History of Dragons feels like 18th century Britain but it’s actually a fantasy world.
And Jade City is a set in a fantasy version of Hong Kong in the 1980s to 1990s.
i could never perch a candle ontop of a book stack, my anxiety is already bad enough as is and watching urs in the background had me on edge constantly 😆
"He towered over me like a towering tower" is a level of knee-knocking stupid that I wish you had given me a little more preparation for. Because that was a jackhammer to my funny bone and half a minute later I had to re-teach myself how to breathe.
Wuthering Heights for the win!
neil gaiman is such a soft man i love him. strongly recommend the ocean at the end of the lane - very whimsical light fantasy/magical realism vibes. just such a treat. i feel like you would like it if you want to give him another go ~
Ohhh myy god I just love your room ....can you plsss plsss give a tour of your plsss plsss.,.it's so cozyy and esthetic.....💕💕
I read Mask of Mirrors (the whole entire Rook and Rose trilogy in fact) and I promise you, it's absolutely fantastic!! Also great for people who love The Lies of Locke Lamora :D
sooo i got a study in drowing because of you, echt het beste boek ooit. Zoveel gejankt. THANKUU for the tip
have you ever read House of Hollow? it's pretty weird, in an interesting way. The genre is paranormal fiction, it was my first time with this genre and I was very surprised but I enjoyed it! I think you would enjoy it as well
If you’re looking for magical markets, light fantasy from the early 20th century, and more Neil Gaiman you MUST read Stardust, it checks all the boxes!
I adore The Graveyard Book and it is one of my favorite Neil Gaiman books!
Dystopian Novel : The End Of Silence by George Ernest
Ive read Mask of Mirrors and I really like it, looking forward to seeing what you think
HI LEO!
I really need someone who can draw to draw a chicken infested demon.
i loved this!!!!
i always look forward to your videos
amazing video as always! but i'm here with other interests in mind... i just finished the night circus (totally influenced by you btw), and now i NEED another book just vibes -no plot needed- to read before bed. would you (or anyone reading this 🫶) help me with this quest? love from brazil
me, a child in 1842 sitting by my candle reading a book from the year two thousand twenty three about an assistant to a murderer: “does not hit 😒”
Stahp, you almost made me spit out my tea 😂
God I read that in a small Victorian boy’s voice 😂
I totally agree with Assistant to the Villain! I'm not very picky with books but I cannot tell you a single fact about the Villain other than his name and that is only because I recently logged every male love interest's name in every book I own. (If anyone is curious, Jack was the most popular across all genres)
That is funny. Jack is the jack of all trades.
I didn't know I needed this information until now😂😂 thank you😅
Lol that's lovely and all, except when your ex's name is Jack.... fml
As a tall man myself, I feel legally obligated to use "Towering over like a towering tower" on the daily from now on, it *is* peak writing.
Girl I HATE it when a character does something creepy/weird but the author plays it off as “cute” bc they’re attractive 😭😭 bc there’s nothing creepy about keeping a picture of a random girl in your room bc the boy in question is cute
You're gonna hate me for this reference but it was the first thing i could think of: Marinette in Ladybug. Girl was CRAZY
@@roxycat7854 NO YOU’RE RIGHT like girl had pictures of him all over her walls
from what i remember it was a pic a family member took of them playing chess or smth so its a little betterr maybe aha
hahaha especially if you think he hates you
"he towered over me like a towering tower" validates my decision to stop picking up hazelwood's books
They are so bad imo😭😭
I can't stop reading them though haha
"Chicken infested demon" lmao sums up Nettle and Bone perfectly
i want someone to write a book about a chicken infested demon
Can I just say, that your earrings truly give me life? The moths? Ugh GORGEOUS. The mushrooms, the swords...every time I click on a video of yours I am looking out for your next pair of cool earrings. Also the vibes, the books, the beautiful way in which you describe your thoughts on them...I love everything! keep up the good work
“Actually, she’s not young, she’s 30 years old”
Me being 30 years old 👁️👄👁️
😂
I'm 34!!! That hurt LMAO
ok so i don't wanna make it about me but i'm 19 turning 20 next year and I'm freaking out sooooo baddd...i had really bad mental breakdowns over turning 18 and i feel the same about turning 20 like I'm losing something if that makes sense...so, i was wondering if you have any advice. It would be much appreciated
@zahrasultan711 you are still so incredibly young. You're not even out of the tutorial yet. Your life won't end at 20, or even 25, in fact there's a good chance it gets even better. You'll be wiser and calmer headed and you'll be able to have a kind of control over your life that you can't really get in your teens.
I dropped out of uni aged 20 because of helth problems and now I'm pushing 30 I'm trying again and it's so much easier now I've matured almost a decade. Don't listen to the ageism on the Internet and traditional media, you life gets better with every decade.
"Not young" can still be "not old" also. Lol
Contrary to childhood beliefs, age does not actually skip immediately from "young" directly into "old". 😂 There *is* a fairly wide spectrum between the two, methinks!😊
( Or maybe that's just me? 🤔🤷🤷♀️😆^-^ )
@@epicwalrus7183 thanks for your wise words it really means alot. and best of luck with uni!
"she's not young. She's 30" Ouuuch 🤣
The romance in a study of drowning had me kicking my lil feet, I was sooo into them hahah, it's so interesting to see how different perceptions are in this regard.
i liked it too
Have you already read the raven boys? I really think you would love the series, it’s so atmospheric and character driven, it screams you hahah a video reading the books would be amazing, i'm not gonna lie
I'm here to second this recommendation
I agree with this recommendation, but she said she gave the first book a try years ago and it wasn't for her so she was not going to read the series :C
The seamless integration of the sirens into the review 🤣 you’re the best
My favorite booktuber! Your videos are always to relaxing.
Okay but the red scarf on the title lowkey reminds me of the attack on titan finale 🥲 Is this timely coincidence or on purpose leonie?
For me the scarf is showing up as blue! Is this the scarf version of The Dress? 👀
Shenanigans are afoot.
@@Arawn505lmao mine is green 💚😂
You all have a scarf?
It’s still going?
Damn i thought it ended awhile ago
Loki?
Just wanted to say that I truly adore your channel and how comfortable I feel watching your videos. I also adore your intellect, and how you’re able to balance neurobiology, a Harvard internship AND a successful UA-cam channel! On that note, would it be possible for you to make a video discussing how you handle your time management, and organization, and studying, etc? I’m only in high school but I aspire to be like you and be prepared for college considering high school is already difficult for me 😅
That was always something I wanted to know too! The girl is the queen of time management and we need the tips
I loved Nettle & Bone! Somehow it reminded me of a darker version of Ella Enchanted!
you will like american gods. very dark. very distopian. entertaining.
Ali Hazelwood books are all the same basically but somehow they're always a nice and comfortable read. I don't know, I just love to binge the books in one sitting and never touch them again. But have a great time doing so. I think I like Love Theoretically the most because Elsie's fear of being too much and people abandoning her when she asks for help is a problematic trait I carry, too. So I felt kind of seen in this book.
There was too much talking and arguing during the spicy scenes though 😂 I would have told him to shut up tbh
Same!!! I felt seen too! I can relate to her morphing into whatever the per wants her to be. And I will say I thought one was very different than the Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain. But I also work in academia so to an outside party, I could see how they would all seem like the same book. But to an academic, they all touch on different external conflicts in academia or applied research.
I loved Slewfoot! My only complaint was it took a long time to get going. The ending was fire though! I honestly thought the point was the Puritans created their own worst fears by how they treated people. Abitha and Samson could have been allies and protectors of the town if they weren't so rigid. Great video as always, Leonie!
I’m so excited for the Jane Eyre video! It’s one of my favorite books and I’ve been waiting for you to finish it 😂
YASSS!! Neil Gaiman is great! The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is soooo good. I really feel like you would enjoy it (from what I get by watching your videos 😃) and The Graveyard Book is another fantastic story. I didn't know about Neil Gaiman until this year and he is a very fast favorite of mine.
omg the ocean at the end of the lane was one of my favorites I read this year, I even made my mom read it (she's really loving it)
I read The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick in October and really enjoyed it. I also thought about Six of Crows while reading it. There are morally grey characters, a political fantasy, and multiple magic systems for the various cultures. It is quite long (600+ pages) and the first in the Rook & Rose trilogy, so I would also recommend the audiobook (narrated by Nicki Massoud). The narrator does a great job with the various accents, especially since there are characters who code-switch between languages and accents. I hope you enjoy it with your new Kindle. 🎭
Millennial here: I think Ali Hazelwood books are absolutely awful. I remain so confused why her books are as big as they are.
Yeah I don't get why her books are so popular (millennial also)
Ok sorry but not all “millennials” think or talk like that? Why is that even considered “millenial”????
Ahhh so exciting that you're getting into Neil Gaiman a bit more! Like you, I loved Coraline and didn't like Neverwhere as much, but I enjoyed The Ocean at the End of the Lane and American Gods probably the most! The Graveyard Book was also so much fun and a great time. Happy reading! ❤
For a fantasy set in an alternate 20th century world, I recommend Jonathan Stroud, particularly his Bartimaeus Trilogy. Stroud is probably one of my favorite authors that I read as a child whose books still hold up today.
The backdrop for the story is that several magical empires have risen and fallen throughout history and now the British Empire is at its peak. London is governed by magicians who derive their power by summoning and enslaving spirits to do their bidding. We follow the career of a young magician from his apprenticeship to adulthood, his relationship with a djinni, and the rise of an underground movement of commoners revolting against the magical elite. As a bonus, I think Stroud writes strong female characters and there's a lot of snark and humor in his writing.
Bartimaeus is such a good and underrated YA. Lowkey hilarious but still some really emotional moments. I also love the use of footnotes and multiple POVs which is kind of unique for these kinds of books.
I love Gerald Brom art and also his books especially "The Plucker", I have all his books and Slewfoot was just sitting on shelf for a good month before I bought it on my e reader because I didn't want to destroy the hard copy by accident and I just love the way his writing gets so much better with each book he puts out, and his art is just so breath taking.
For the Study in Drowning recommandation: A far wilder magic by Alison Saft
I love your videos!! Your aura is so comforting and whimsical
I'm so sad that book of the month doesn't deliver outside the US, I was so sure it did since I live in the Netherlands too and you obviously had access to it. I'm so disappointed 😢
There is this book called Curious Tides which is fairly similar to Study in Drowning and Divine Rivals - it’s also dark academia with secret societies and I think it covers a lot more of what people said was missing in ASID 👀 (I am determined to get Leonie to read this book lol 😄)
Hi Leo! I've seen you were advertising The Book of the Month. I know that you are from the Netherlands, I also live here:) and I was wondering if Book of the Month delivers to Europe. The last time I checked it looked like they didn't. Did their delivery terms changed since you have it and you live in the Netherlands?
Spoilers for A Study in Drowning: I was just so frustrated for nearly the entire book. Quite early on, I guessed the twist, and then it seemed pretty certainly confirmed about halfway through (around when they found the letters to the real author hidden under the bed)--but the main characters were just being unbearably dense. I considered quitting the book, but I wanted to know what was up with the fairy king. But as you said, surprise, another letdown. I'm surprised Ava Reid is becoming a favorite for you, because I'd also given The Wolf and the Woodsman by this author a try and was just not entertained.
‘Magical markets in books…best trope!’ I 100% agree with you! 🙌 when I think about some of my fave books - ADSOM, Nettle and Bone, Neverwhere (I know you weren’t keen on this) but they all have magical markets…and yes, they are the best! 🧚🏻♀️
There is a magical Fair in the left-handed booksellers of London that you might like.
@@yourLittleSinner thank you so much! I haven’t read this yet but I shall add it to my TBR 😊
I'm currently reading The Graveyard Book and enjoying it. Thank you for your reviews. It helps me create my own BTR list. ❤
I have a pet chicken infested demon. His name's Fred.
Leonie, you’re such an inspiration to me! I love reading, and when I have reading slumps, I always watch your videos to remind myself why I love reading so much 💕
Hi Leonie:), I can't seem to be able to get Book of the month and it says it's because they don't ship to Europe. This really confused me because I know you are Dutch. If anyone can help I'd appeciate it:)
Um how do you use BOTM in the Netherlands when they don't ship overseas except for military locations????
Does anyone know how she gets "Book of The Month" delivered to the Netherlands/the EU? I love the idea of BOTM, but on their website it says that they only deliver to the US and Canada.
This really helped me study.
"I'm hearing sirens right now; that's the police, coming to get these love interests." LMAO
One question: how do I get BOTM shipping to Germany or Europe in general? 🥺
Hearing "millenialcore" as a millennial had me dying 😭
i just finished slewfoot the other day and i loooved it, like the vibes were just so good and it was oddly comforting even tho it was so dark
oooh my recs for a book with similar vibes to divine rivals/a study in drowning with that twentieth century technology but still set in a fantasy world moment is a far wilder magic and down comes the night, both by allison saft !
Im so glad you liked an Ali Hazelwood! Personally, I really like The Love Hypothesis because it was the book that got me into reading, but I do understand the hate it gets and low key agree with the criticism. The fact that its basically just fanfiction is probably why I liked it in the first place, because I've been reading cringy fics basically all my life.
A "chicken-infested demon"? Sounds like a great writing prompt.
How did you get book of the month to ship in NL? I’d like to subscribe but they don’t ship to France 😢 Otherwise, I loved your video, your reviews are always sooo on point !!
Leone do you know if book of the month ships in Europe? Also thanks for the recs 💌
I read a few od Neil Gaiman's books and I also didn't really vibe with "Neverwhere" (it's a good book, it was just more world-focused and the characters didn't seem that deep). My absolute favourite Gaiman's book is "Ocean at the End of the Lane", it's both scary and fantastical, and incredibly relatable. It deals with topics like the power adults have over children and has some really fantastic characters and worldbuilding.
Ahh, love the autumn atmosphere that we get here 🍂☕ you mentioned you didn't read many things from Neil Gaiman - this is my recommendation that I give everyone who enjoys fantasy: watch the movie Stardust🌠 It is based on the book by Neil Gaiman and honestly, it is very enjoyable^^ So if you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend you to check it out (just 2 hours of your time😉)
But you can only get book of the month in US and Canada 😢
How can I get a bookofthemonth subscription? It's says its only available in the US and in Canada, not in Germany 😢
You need to read Good Omens by Neil Gaiman bestieeee
Have you read A Far Wilder Magic? I think you will really like that book! 😊
I've really liked the T Kingfisher books I have read, but I usually have an issue with how they end. It reminds me of how Robin McKinley writes: it always feels like there is no ending, that we are going to continue the story, but we never get another book. That being said, I do enjoy her characters and her writing style, so I will keep reading her books.
The picture in the nightstand really gives Ted Bundy ngl
I've read Love, Theoretically and really enjoyed it, I had the same complaints
however i only enjoyed it because
1) I'm biased,
2) It's my first Romance book that isn't a Briane Greene, Niel DeGrasse, or whoever else's book about astrophysics (Basically Romance books for space geeks),
and 3) I'm a theoretical physics geek (mainly in astrochemistry and quantum physics)
Is Book of the Month available in Europe now?
I’m so excited to read Slewfoot after all your videos mentioning it! It sounds so good. But now it has to wait until next fall because my autumn TBR is already out of control 😇
I'm sorry if this is a ridiculous question but... I thought Book of the Month only shipped to the US?? When did this change?
They probably only ship to the people they sponsor outside of those countries
Ah, shame. I had hopes there for a minute. 😂
Oh dear… the “tall vs small” thing is a kink. Maybe? 🤣 there’s a kink for every thing. I’ve never read her books.
ACAB but the police siren timing was perfect 😂
Is book of the month only for the US?
Okay, wait. I thought Book Of The Month was an American thing. They ship to the Netherlands?!
3:47 read good omens if you haven’t it’s 10/10
I do prefer Juniper and Thorn by her compared to A Study in Drowning, and one of the reasons why was because I missed the writing style we got in her previous works. I do think it is a sign of a good author who is able to change the style of writing to suit the story being told, and the style she chose did work for the question of whether the fae stories are real that is very present throughout the novel. But I still saw it as...not as good as we saw in her other work. Honestly what made me give the book higher than a three star rating was the ending. She really did well with the tension there and it felt like everything the novel was promising came to, and it made for a stellar edge of your seat ending. But Juniper and Thorn was a better novel overall. As for the plot twist, I didn't think it was one. Partly because it didn't feel like one, and I feel like a lot of people would call it early on. I thought it was case of which you, the audience, was meant to know but not the characters themselves. It was more for them to work it out.
I read both of the Mask of Mirrors books that are out. I liked them, but they didn't hit like Six of Crows did. Personally, if you're looking for a heist book, try Gentleman Bastards. It's much darker than Six of Crows, but it's really really good.
Zo jammer dat Book of the Month niet vanuit Nederland kan 😢 maar leuke video weer!
Re: Assistant to the Villain. I was waiting for the villain to have a redeeming quality and our heroine to feel some remorse for her assistance in all the deaths the villain has caused and done but it never came and I finally had to DNF the book. And I agree that we don't know anything about the villain except that he's "hot."
I just finished What the River Knows and I love it! Such witty banter between our 2 MCs and their chemistry is palpable and it's beautifully written as well. The author did a great job making me turn the pages. Can't wait for the sequel!
On the one hand, I hear what you're saying, millennial humor can be extremely hyper-specific and hyper-personal and hyper-individualistic(and even amongst millennials, like myself, it can be extremely extremely hit or miss) and sometimes even I can find it incredibly annoying or don't find it all that funny too-but on the other hand ..I actually laughed[ @ _iTwat_ ], ssooo.😅👀🙃🙏😂😂
((Sorry! -in some part 'I am the problem, it's me' clearly🤭🫣😐😁 Lol))
al orgullo que me dió escucharla de ir buenos aires, casi como saber que Taylor swift está en la tierra de los campeones del mundo❤
'Towered over me like a towering tower' sounds like a possible nod to "You are a lying liar who lies" which is, I do believe, originally a movie quote? Either from a character that was so flustered they could not imaginatively conceive of a better insult in the heat of the moment or from a character that was meant to be laughed at by the audience for their unwitting ignorance to their own stupidity and cringe(I think I've encountered it played both ways, and forget which came first). Lol
So, perhaps it actually was deliberate satire , possibly? But only she really knows 🤷🤷♀️🤷🏻♂️😊😂🫣🤔😅😆😁
I really think you would love Sandman, is a HQ by Neil Gaiman. We follow the story of the endless, witch are a sibilings, Dream, Death, Desire, Despaire, Destiny and Destruction. It's dark and beautiful. 🖤
A WHOLE VIDEO ABOUT JANE EYRE???? I'M DREAMING
I actually, more often than not, read _(past tense -if only because I just don't have the time free to invest in it that I used to)_ fanfiction about characters I don't know from fandoms I'm not even in for media I'm not all that much personally familiar myself-so I truly can not personally relate to this concept of fanfics only working because you're already familiar with the world/characters/etcetera, although I do understand the concept in theory. Lol
But my only question for 'Assistant to the Villain' I guess would be to ask if it was perhaps deliberately not so much meant to be a story as meant to be more of a meta-humor outline/caricature or something, like was the fact that you're meant to self- fill-in all those blanks perhaps actually intentional, or intended to be meta digs taking jabs at common tropes or stereotypes or fandom habits/tendencies/proclivities? 🤔
If not, then .. yeah....that is unfortunate.
But, if yes, then ...that's actually possibly kind of brilliant. Maybe.🤭🤭🤣
(Just because it's bound in book format and comprised of written fiction doesn't necessarily mean the actual point or function of it definitely absolutely has to be to tell a story, specifically? But that probably does make it difficult to market to audiences rightly, so that people would go into it with the correct mindset or approach[ or such] to really appreciate and enjoy it the most or best like how it was intended to be received/experienced.)
There's also, I suppose, the question of story versus character. Like, even if it was written for the story, doesn't necessarily mean it always needs to be written for the characters? I mean, plenty of writers have written great stories even when characters were not their strongest element.
But, I digress, this is just me rambling and thinking out loud basically. Not really trying to make any particular point here. 😊🙏😁
Leonie I recently read a book called The Hidden, it's a thriller/mystery based around a lady who believes she's a selkie, and another lady who befriends her and helps her get back to her family. she also has a young daughter (whose name is also Leonie, which I thought was fun) but it was pretty atmospheric and easy to get through, I'd highly recommend it!
Hey! My girlfriend loves books!
I'm trying to collect birthday wishes from the famous booktubers she loves to watch for her upcoming birthday! She loves your book reviews btw! Can you wish her prior as a surprise?
(Her Name is Christina)
sooo sold on slewfoot, it's gonna be my main pick for gabby's witch themed winterween readathon in january :)
I loved Slewfoot! The characters * chefs kiss * the nature * chefs kiss * the revenge plot * chefs kiss *
what i really dislike about ali hazelwood's romance is the portrayal of the women. like in the love hypothesis, the FL literally puts on expired contacts and loses her vision for a bit at the beginning. and she's a goddamn biology PhD student. I nearly lost my shit over that. Are we supposed to take this level of irresponsibility to be cute? Despite being a brilliant scientist, she just HAS TO have some quirk that shows she doesn't have her shit together.
That metaphor that Neil Gaiman says about the mountain. YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT MAN HAD NOT READ PEAKS AND VALLEYS.