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Miss Percy's Pocket Guide sounds intriguing!

I had never heard of A Green and Ancient light. That sounds fascinating. And I do think it's time for me to give Terry Pratchett a go at long last! A several more of these have already been on my radar and I'm really looking forward to them (Hills of Heather and Bone and Piranesi!!)

I agree that the Christmas holidays are a good time for light, fun reads. But then what season is a good time for deep, involved, dark epics? 8-) In keeping with your list, I'll also suggest Kristen Painter's "Jayne Frost" series. It's a cozy mystery/suspense series starring Jack Frost's daughter (the niece of Santa Claus). In the first book, she has been sent to Nocturne Falls to manage the local Santa's Workshop store ... and find out why employees are disappearing.. It's rather silly, but a fun and fast read.

Doing my annual reread of The Hobbit! It’s just the best. -T

Hills of Heather and Bone is next on my list, I ordered it a couple days ago! Not sure if you’d like this, but what immediately comes to mind for me for the perfect winter read is The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. It’s a retelling of a Russian folktale about a childless couple who build a snow child one night and the next day they see a girl running through the woods. It’s historical fiction/magical realism set in Alaska. I’m a big sucker for folktale-esque books and this one is a favorite.

Kings of the Wyld has been on my TBR way too long. One I need to get to this year. Great List, Tori! I read some more great stories from the Advent of Winter, which would be my add to the Winter Reading List. - Cheers

Great list Tori! I’ll be reading Wickwire Watch next year. I absolutely adore Kings of the Wyld! 😊

I’ve only read The Hobbit from your list. My TBR is never ending. 😂

I hope to read Misery again this winter.

The Book of Zog is calling my name 👾

Well I’m sold

Your friend’s description of wanting dragons but scary ones made me think of Stephen Deas. She should try Adamantine Palace. It’s the first book of a trilogy. They are shorter books. Yes people ride dragons but only because they have potions that turn them into slaves. And yes, when one/some stop eating the potions things get interesting

Merry Christmas to you and ur family! 🎄🎊☃️

The kind of topic that makes you want to go write a winter themed fantasy book.

My biggest gripe with Piranesi is how much information you're given and almost none of it matters to the plot.

I paused the video to download a copy of Green and Ancient Light to my e-reader. One of my favorite winter reads is The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. It is considered a 10-12 year old level, but fun to read in the Dark of Winter.

My winter recs would be Silence of the Girls, Silence of Bones, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and The Night Tiger. Less cheery vibes but they all have a slower more folklore type of vibes to their writing which makes me think of winter. I have also added Miss Percy’s to my kindle, it seems like a great read!

I wondered if you would mention Hills of Heather & Bone. Very good read!

I hope you have a good Christmas.

It's nice to see an green and ancient light appear

Great list, Tori! I'm just now reading The Spider Key and it's SO good. I honestly made my 2024 fav reads video too soon because this one may have snuck in! Miss Percy sounds like it'll fill the void in my life left by Lady Trent 😁

Oh what a wonderful and insightful chat!! She's an absolute gem, and I loved hearing about all her wild life experiences that she used as inspiration for this story. This stream definitely gave me a whole new appreciation for the book. Also amazing that book 2 is already so close, can't wait to hear your thoughts on it Tori!! Happy reading 🤩

Not to be a total nerd but "in the beginning, God created heaven and earth." actually think that is a killer opening line

2:55 Yes, brilliant place to start with Christie, "And then there were none." 👏🥰

1:50 Your pain is valid, whatever your age.

15:00 visual organization. A lot of us ADHDers find it helpful. 👍

10:25 "I sat down at ten o'clock at night and decided that I'm going to catalog my library" in a spreadsheet is the most-relatable ADHD thing I've ever heard. 😅👏🥰😆👍

For 2025 one of my top 5 picks is Infrequent Frequencies Rare Resonance by G.E. Poole. Award-winning non-fiction, highly topical exploration of science, mysticism and consciousness. Completely unconventional lens on everything, practical guidance for negotiating through the coming times of turbulence, great filters, impacts of AI and hope for humanity.

Only the first book could pass as YA. The rest, especially the sequel tetralogy, is very much adult.

What did Emily have to say about "your" book! 🧐 And based on what you said and because the world extends beyond English writers 😜 I'd recommend: 1. The Flanders Panel - Arturo Pérez-Reverte 2. The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco 3. Leo Africanus - Amin Maalouf (Can't comment on the quality of the translations though... 😅)

I'm starting off the year by finally reading The Lord of the Rings

I love the manga/anime! I need to start picking up the physical volumes. I’ve been reading online.

I was surprised at a few of these, but good video!

Great video! I used to read James Patterson in high school and enjoyed his Alex Cross books. I just picked up the first two to get back into it. Also, I picked up Michael Connelly’s first book. Red Fury Books has talked about him.

That is why I make my yearly goal something achievable like 10 books and if I read over that great! But if not no problem. I read for relaxation and if I pressured my self with a higher reading goal reading would turn from something I love! to something that is a chore.

I’ve been a fan of Stephen King since I was fairly young, and I’ve always liked his writing style. I read Salem’s Lot every other Halloween or so. But the Dark Tower is weird and starts off in a strange spot so I get not liking it. You should check out the Sun Eater series if you haven’t! After finishing Malazan it was a great follow up.

Oooh this was so fun, thanks for taking us along this adventure!! If you do end up fully entering your thriller era, I would highly recommend prioritising S.A. Cosby and C.J. Cooke, their storytelling seems to be exactly what you are looking for. And omg Pippin is an ASMR legend, would put that on loop all day hahahah 🤣😍

Thank you so much for this video! I just read the first two books in record time and was very suprised at the categorization of YA. I wanted to discuss those books below so fair warning to anyone who hasen't read them. I feel like a lot of the reason Red Rising might feel like YA is that the protagonist and allies seemingly overcome impossible odds. This at point did break immersion for me, especially when it was revealed that Dancer was still alive. Also while there are a lot of very emotional moments that seemed to be glossed over quickly due to the fast paced nature of the book. (I am wether for good or bad a fast reader and I'll admit that could have changed my perception.) This also made the book feel less mature than its contents because the impact on Darrow's psyche isn't fully explored. I think this is probably on purpose, each loss waying on Darrow less as he gets used to war, but I imagine it strikes some readers as lacking depth. I was also suprised at how frequent the Hunger Games comparison was. The only connection I see is perhaps the maturity of the stories?? The battle royals feel and read completely different. Red Rising does remind me of other books but they're hard to place (mostly cause it feels like a bit from each). I'm reminded most of The Poppy War (definitly not a YA novel). With the going to an elite academy, realizing the world is a lie, then leaving the academy to join an army, lots of betrayal and politics. I definitely have more thoughts but my brain has abandoned me as I didn't get much sleep last night (I bet you can guess why).

Such a great idea 🥰 and I’m glad you still trust your neighbors 🤣

My main thought with Bride: “you’ll learn things you never knew you never knew” 😂

Hello from Texas👋 Definitely enjoying my temps here, lowest we've had recently is about 44°. 2 thrillers that I've enjoyed are Here and Gone by Haylen Beck and Blame by Jeff Abbott. Gonna check out Charlie Donlea. Also, love the NF shirt!!! Great vid Tori!

The attack on titan review hurt my soul 😂 man I loved that series. Loved the dark tower also but that’s books for ya. It’s always interesting to see what works for some and doesn’t for others. Completely agree though with priest of crowns. Started off loving that series so much but really battled through the rest of it. The MC became so hypocritical that he just became hard to tolerate

Aww pippin is adorable 🥰 This was fun as someone that also isn't as well-versed in thrillers. Only one I've read is Paul Sussman's historical fiction/archeological mystery thriller «The Lost Army of Cambyses» which i really enjoyed.

She reminds me of Janet Devlin

Unfortunately yes I think that’s Le Guin’s style. I recently read Left Hand of Darkness and had the same feelings. And I recall feeling that way back when I read Earthsea a billion years ago

Purrrrsssssss. I love that your reading partner is the same type of reading partner I have. 😅😅❤ I used to really like Shari Lapena when I started thrillers. You might can try some of hers.... have you read Gone Girl? One of my all-time favs. Or Taylor Adams No Exit. I'm wanting to get into John Le Carre. I hear his writing is STELLAR for spy thrillers.

❤

I knew you had to be from Minnesota from your accent!!!

Love a good mystery/thriller! How did Emily like hers?