Can you imagine if Deadhouse Gates wouldn't have held up on re-read? Lol, glad we averted that potential identity crisis 🤣 Absolutely love your unapologetic gushing over Discworld, you are singlehandedly rekindling my interest in that series. My favourites of December were Obsidian: Revelation by Sienna Frost, Pluralities by Avi Silver and Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson 🤩
I'm so happy you liked Orconomics so much! The whole Dark Profit saga was my biggest positive surprise read of 2024. I have good news for you, the next books get even better, with better writing, better plot and awesome twists! I love the way Zachary Pike clearly shows respect for both the readers' intelligence and the things he makes fun of.
Hi Tori, looks like December was a good reading month for you. Glad you are still enjoying Discworld. I keep thinking about trying Austin and also Erikson, but never seem to get round to it. I had a good reading month to finish the year off, I read: The Jackal Of Nar - John Marco (this was a re-read and I didn't enjoy it as much as the first time) Jade City - Fonda Lee (really interesting set up and read, but the ending felt rushed and weak) A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (great to finally read this) The Raven And The Reindeer - T Kingfisher (awesome retelling of the Snow Queen) Also read a bunch of Hellboy & BPRD comic books: B.P.R.D. Omnibus Volume 2 B.P.R.D. Omnibus Volume 3 B.P.R.D. Omnibus Volume 4 Hellboy Omnibus Volume 3: Wild Hunt Hellboy Weird Tales Omnibus Book of the month was The Raven And The Reindeer.
Glad that you had a good reading month, my 2024 ended on a bit of a whimper with some mediocre reads. 2025 though...starting out on a bang. Great work!
Deadhouse Gates is still my favorite Malazan book out of the 10 books. I didn't cry at the Chain of Dogs, but I cried with Mappo and Icarium. Erikson's ability to portray base human connections and evoke emotions is unbelievable.
I loved Mappo and Icarium so much more on this reread than I did the first time around. They're amazing. And the other arcs just hit home more as well. I could be wrong, we'll see, but I don't know that Deadhouse will be dethroned by anything else in the series.
Hmm. I can't remember everything I read in December, but I will give it a go.... Agatha Christie's Pocket Full of Rye and Million Dollar Bond Robbery. A Conan short story by Robert E. Howard. The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett. The Colorado Kid by Stephen King. Those We Drown by Amy Goldsmith. And Danger Girl: The Ultimate Collection (comic book). For the first week in January, I read a Sherlock Holmes short story and That Which Stands Outside by Mark Morris, a Nordic Folklore Horror novel that I think you might like. Anyway, happy reading, Tori.
Oooh man, Jane Austen is something special. I think you're going to love Persuasion 😋 Love that you loved Orconomics! I'm excited to read it myself 😊 Also really need to get on the Malazan train...
Zammar, you're going to love Malazan, I think. Based on what I know of your reading taste already. I can't wait for Persuasion! Orconomics was such a pleasant surprise. I hope you enjoy it when you pick it up!
I always say that Deadhouse Gates is one of my favourite Malazan books because that’s where Erikson really gets into his style as compared to Gardens of the Moon. A lot of people prefer Memories of Ice out of the first 3, but I don’t think you get Memories without Deadhouse setting the tone and style.
Head over heels in love with Malazan is what I'll always be ever since I finished it the first time. I totally get your feelings for that book. I just finished a re-read of Assail (by Esslemont), which completed a re-read of all 16 of the main books, and am just blown away again. Cheers!
I appreciate that positive ending message ❤. I read Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi and it was very good. I hope I don't have to wait too long for any sequels.
I also struggled a little bit with the first book of Black Company. The series is up and down for me, but I love his writing style. From what you've said, you'll probably not finish the series but I recommend reading book two for its own sake. Certified banger! Fans of the series universally love it and most think it's his best book.
I wonder how a reread of the Black Company would land with me now that I'm two books into Malazan not to mention a lot older. Bring on Memories of Ice! Orconomics sounds awesome...I'll have to pick it up sometime. 😛. And I think Pippin needs to introduce every TT video -Cheers
I found your stomped-on heart. Never believe it. Someone used it as a bowling ball and it got stuck in the ball return. Apparently, it's not the first time they've seen something like this. There were no bowling shoe prints on said heart. So, that's a win.
Here's what I read Real love by alexis hall Resurrection walk by Michael Connelly Be my baby by ronnie spector memoir My song by harry bellefonte memoir Only for the holidays by abiola bello Second chance in new port Stephen by tj Alexander The true love experiment by christina Lauren Blackwood farm by Anne rice book 8 in the vampire chronicles Just for the summer by abby Jimenez Wild eyes by elsie silver I hope you enjoy persuasion it's really good
Mmm let me see, the books that I read for December were: 1: Consider Phlebas by Ian M. Banks 2: Blindsight by Peter Watts 3: The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of Their Lost World by Steve Brusatte 4: Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb.
Love the City Watch!😄 In December I read: «The Power Broker» by Robert Caro (Political Biography/Investigative Journalism Classic, my Q4 long-read) «Dreaming the Eagle» («Boudica» #1) by Manda Scott (Historical Fiction about the Celtic British Queen and her Rebellion against the Romans) «Baudolino» by Umberto Eco (Historical Fantasy set during the Later Crusades on the border of Myth and History in 13th Century Europe and Middle East) «Dictator» (Cicero Trilogy #3) by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction about the Roman Politician Cicero) «City of Thieves» by David Benioff (Historical Fiction set during the WW2 Seige of Leningrad (Modern Day St. Petersburg)) My January TBR has been slightly delayed due to being in bed sick with pneumonia, unfortunately! 🤒🤧😅
Hey, Tori, would you recommend starting with Deadhouse Gates, or the first book in the Malazan series? I recently read the 2008 novel Graceling by Kristin Cashore, and loved it. I saw the title, picked it up off the library shelf, and started reading. Didn't read the blurb until I was half-way into the novel. I've never read anything quite like it. Every twist and turn was different than I expected and it was paced really well. It's like it was written for me. I don't know if I could have fully appreciated it when it first came out - my life is different now, of course, so my understanding is so much more nuanced - but I think it's a great example of feminist fantasy done well. A motley crew of characters and found family, yet no loss of personal autonomy.
I would definitely recommend starting with Gardens of the Moon. The style and tone are a bit different than the following books, but it’s still an important opening for the characters! 💜 I’m so glad you had a great time with Graceling! I haven’t read that one.
@@ToriTalks2My library system has 2 electronic copies of Gardens of the Moon and I am 75th in line. But I just read - last night and this morning - the 478-page library paperback of The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne and requested the other print titles. I feel most invested in Orka's personal quest, though I want to know what happens with all three POV storylines. Edit: I tried my search again, and my library system does seem to have some Erikson paperbacks, and I just requested at least three of them.
Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne! She wanted fantasy that wasn't crazy long, had more than one book if she liked it, and something where dragons or mythical creatures aren't "cute and bonded to humans." She also likes Nordic inspired fantasy.
There's a really great adaptation of Northanger Abbey with Felicity Jones and JJ Field. I definitely recommend!
I've seen that floating around and I really want to watch it now that I've read the book!
Can you imagine if Deadhouse Gates wouldn't have held up on re-read? Lol, glad we averted that potential identity crisis 🤣
Absolutely love your unapologetic gushing over Discworld, you are singlehandedly rekindling my interest in that series.
My favourites of December were Obsidian: Revelation by Sienna Frost, Pluralities by Avi Silver and Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson 🤩
Omg, thank goodness. XD The entire channel would crumble. I'm so happy to rekindle your interest! I think you'd like the audiobooks.
Gorgeous. You can tell he is a happy cat.
Thank you! He is 💜
🩷I'm glad you enjoyed Northanger Abbey. I really need to reread that at some point.
And the world is a better place because you are in it too
Aww thanks Kaat 💜 Have you read other Austen books too?
@@ToriTalks2 I've also read Pride & Prejudica and Sense & Sensibility. Both definitely worth reading
@thefairylibrarian3282 I'm really looking forward to both of those! I'm reading Persuasion next.
@@ToriTalks2 I hope you enjoy it! I think my next one is going to be Emma whenever i'm in an Austen mood
I'm so happy you liked Orconomics so much! The whole Dark Profit saga was my biggest positive surprise read of 2024. I have good news for you, the next books get even better, with better writing, better plot and awesome twists! I love the way Zachary Pike clearly shows respect for both the readers' intelligence and the things he makes fun of.
Ahh, yay! That makes me happy to hear. I started reading Son of a Liche on my kindle recently but haven't had a chance to get very far in it yet.
Hi Tori, looks like December was a good reading month for you. Glad you are still enjoying Discworld.
I keep thinking about trying Austin and also Erikson, but never seem to get round to it.
I had a good reading month to finish the year off, I read:
The Jackal Of Nar - John Marco (this was a re-read and I didn't enjoy it as much as the first time)
Jade City - Fonda Lee (really interesting set up and read, but the ending felt rushed and weak)
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (great to finally read this)
The Raven And The Reindeer - T Kingfisher (awesome retelling of the Snow Queen)
Also read a bunch of Hellboy & BPRD comic books:
B.P.R.D. Omnibus Volume 2
B.P.R.D. Omnibus Volume 3
B.P.R.D. Omnibus Volume 4
Hellboy Omnibus Volume 3: Wild Hunt
Hellboy Weird Tales Omnibus
Book of the month was The Raven And The Reindeer.
That’s a great month of reading!
Glad that you had a good reading month, my 2024 ended on a bit of a whimper with some mediocre reads. 2025 though...starting out on a bang.
Great work!
I’m glad your 2025 is starting off well! I just got my copy of True Grit this week, looking forward to reading it! 🔥🔥🔥
@@ToriTalks2 I hope you do, it's a very good book. Might give it a re-read myself this year. It's been some time.
Deadhouse Gates is still my favorite Malazan book out of the 10 books. I didn't cry at the Chain of Dogs, but I cried with Mappo and Icarium. Erikson's ability to portray base human connections and evoke emotions is unbelievable.
I loved Mappo and Icarium so much more on this reread than I did the first time around. They're amazing. And the other arcs just hit home more as well. I could be wrong, we'll see, but I don't know that Deadhouse will be dethroned by anything else in the series.
Hmm. I can't remember everything I read in December, but I will give it a go....
Agatha Christie's Pocket Full of Rye and Million Dollar Bond Robbery. A Conan short story by Robert E. Howard. The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett. The Colorado Kid by Stephen King. Those We Drown by Amy Goldsmith. And Danger Girl: The Ultimate Collection (comic book).
For the first week in January, I read a Sherlock Holmes short story and That Which Stands Outside by Mark Morris, a Nordic Folklore Horror novel that I think you might like.
Anyway, happy reading, Tori.
Happy reading to you too!
Those Malazan covers behind you are fantastic! Super jealous.
Thank you! I spent a long time collecting them all. :)
Kitty! Aww, so beautiful. 🥰🐾 I also have a little brown tiger kitty. He's very soft and likes greeting me at the door with my sister's large dogs.
💜💜💜
I love her pet cat. 🐱🐈🐱🐈🐱🐈🐱🐈
Oooh man, Jane Austen is something special. I think you're going to love Persuasion 😋
Love that you loved Orconomics! I'm excited to read it myself 😊
Also really need to get on the Malazan train...
Zammar, you're going to love Malazan, I think. Based on what I know of your reading taste already. I can't wait for Persuasion!
Orconomics was such a pleasant surprise. I hope you enjoy it when you pick it up!
I always say that Deadhouse Gates is one of my favourite Malazan books because that’s where Erikson really gets into his style as compared to Gardens of the Moon. A lot of people prefer Memories of Ice out of the first 3, but I don’t think you get Memories without Deadhouse setting the tone and style.
Agreed 100% with all of this. Memories hits harder after Deadhouse, and House of Chains CERTAINLY hits harder.
Head over heels in love with Malazan is what I'll always be ever since I finished it the first time. I totally get your feelings for that book. I just finished a re-read of Assail (by Esslemont), which completed a re-read of all 16 of the main books, and am just blown away again. Cheers!
Wow, what an achievement! That's amazing, and I can't wait to be there someday. Malazan is something incredibly special.
I appreciate that positive ending message ❤.
I read Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi and it was very good. I hope I don't have to wait too long for any sequels.
I also struggled a little bit with the first book of Black Company. The series is up and down for me, but I love his writing style. From what you've said, you'll probably not finish the series but I recommend reading book two for its own sake. Certified banger! Fans of the series universally love it and most think it's his best book.
Thank you for sharing! I've heard that book 2 is much more widely enjoyed, so I may pick it up at some point to try.
I wonder how a reread of the Black Company would land with me now that I'm two books into Malazan not to mention a lot older. Bring on Memories of Ice! Orconomics sounds awesome...I'll have to pick it up sometime. 😛. And I think Pippin needs to introduce every TT video -Cheers
I found your stomped-on heart. Never believe it. Someone used it as a bowling ball and it got stuck in the ball return. Apparently, it's not the first time they've seen something like this. There were no bowling shoe prints on said heart. So, that's a win.
It's always the dumb ball return. I should've known. Probably had some pins stuck in it too.
Definitely need to start Malazan this year!! I think I’m less intimidated by it than I was a year ago…
That’s awesome! Don’t be intimidated. Just start. 💜💜💜 I hope you have an amazing time with it!
Here's what I read
Real love by alexis hall
Resurrection walk by Michael Connelly
Be my baby by ronnie spector memoir
My song by harry bellefonte memoir
Only for the holidays by abiola bello
Second chance in new port Stephen by tj Alexander
The true love experiment by christina Lauren
Blackwood farm by Anne rice book 8 in the vampire chronicles
Just for the summer by abby Jimenez
Wild eyes by elsie silver
I hope you enjoy persuasion it's really good
Mmm let me see, the books that I read for December were:
1: Consider Phlebas by Ian M. Banks
2: Blindsight by Peter Watts
3: The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of Their Lost World by Steve Brusatte
4: Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb.
Love the City Watch!😄
In December I read:
«The Power Broker» by Robert Caro (Political Biography/Investigative Journalism Classic, my Q4 long-read)
«Dreaming the Eagle» («Boudica» #1) by Manda Scott (Historical Fiction about the Celtic British Queen and her Rebellion against the Romans)
«Baudolino» by Umberto Eco (Historical Fantasy set during the Later Crusades on the border of Myth and History in 13th Century Europe and Middle East)
«Dictator» (Cicero Trilogy #3) by Robert Harris (Historical Fiction about the Roman Politician Cicero)
«City of Thieves» by David Benioff (Historical Fiction set during the WW2 Seige of Leningrad (Modern Day St. Petersburg))
My January TBR has been slightly delayed due to being in bed sick with pneumonia, unfortunately! 🤒🤧😅
Oh no! I hope you feel better soon! What a fantastic list of books. 🔥
Hey, Tori, would you recommend starting with Deadhouse Gates, or the first book in the Malazan series?
I recently read the 2008 novel Graceling by Kristin Cashore, and loved it. I saw the title, picked it up off the library shelf, and started reading. Didn't read the blurb until I was half-way into the novel. I've never read anything quite like it. Every twist and turn was different than I expected and it was paced really well. It's like it was written for me. I don't know if I could have fully appreciated it when it first came out - my life is different now, of course, so my understanding is so much more nuanced - but I think it's a great example of feminist fantasy done well. A motley crew of characters and found family, yet no loss of personal autonomy.
I would definitely recommend starting with Gardens of the Moon. The style and tone are a bit different than the following books, but it’s still an important opening for the characters! 💜
I’m so glad you had a great time with Graceling! I haven’t read that one.
@@ToriTalks2My library system has 2 electronic copies of Gardens of the Moon and I am 75th in line. But I just read - last night and this morning - the 478-page library paperback of The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne and requested the other print titles. I feel most invested in Orka's personal quest, though I want to know what happens with all three POV storylines.
Edit: I tried my search again, and my library system does seem to have some Erikson paperbacks, and I just requested at least three of them.
Boop! 🫵 Pippin.
He loves making cameos. I think he likes being on camera 😂
Awww💗
Should check out M.W. Craven "The Puppet show" Washington Poe series. So far the first book is incredible.
What fantasy book did you recommend to your friend?
Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne! She wanted fantasy that wasn't crazy long, had more than one book if she liked it, and something where dragons or mythical creatures aren't "cute and bonded to humans." She also likes Nordic inspired fantasy.
Have you seen the graphic novel of Northanger Abbey? It's by Nancy Butler. Highly recommend
Oooh, I haven’t! I’ll check it out!