Bro, who are you???? How in the world have I found someone with almost exactly the same taste that I have. Incredible video. I know I can trust all the books you talked about that I haven’t read. Getting on it now. Keep it up brother!!
Same for me! I was watching the fantasy section and I had read and love almost every book in there, and it then goes to sci-fi and I watched Dark Matter and loved that. And then goes to Red Rising which was incredible. I definitely gotta check out Suneater now I think.
Bro im right there with you on all of this. Youre on point af🗿 (fellow young black bookworm) you literally matched all my books. Misaki from Sword of Kaigen AMAZING character just finished that
Hey Smitty, thanks for helping me get into reading. Speaking as a guy who often struggles to read, The Lies of Locke Lamora had me on the edge of my seat.
Hard agree. Its sequels maintain that high standard, too. I really crave more, but the author is struggling with a lot. Just got to treasure what he's given us ❤
@@katesherrod3498 I agree. Book 2 has an amazing "Sanderlanche". With all the problems Locke and Jean had to contend with, I kept thinking there was no way they could pull off their scheme. And within the last 100 pages, everything falls together. And with the Book 3 introducing a character only known previously by her absence, the character did not disappoint.
Bro until now I haven’t seen anybody that looks like us occupy this space of content, I gotta subscribe bro. you’re recommendations are things I’m already consuming or really sound like I would like them. 100% keep doing this I’m hoping it reaches the YNs to show them something different.
Demon in White is INSANE. Definitely my favourite version of Hadrian so far, loving his character and the stakes are through the roof!! Haven’t been this engaged with a book since WoR/Oathbringer
Hell yeah, golden son and light bringer are my favorite books in the series. I highly recommend the dramatized audiobook version! My bf is listening to it right now and the music/sound effects/ensemble cast are sickkk
Yessssssssssss! All of your 6 stars to my TBR! Loved Project Hail Mary! It’s what got me into sci-fi! That’s how new I am to the genre! Just finished The Martian! Another excellent read!
We have basically the same taste and if you haven’t read lonesome dove I highly recommend it. It’s a western which I hate westerns and it’s my favorite book of all time. The characters feel more real to me than any others I’ve ever read.
A lot of people told me green bone saga gets better as it goes on, which is kind of the case. I really really loved Jade City, Jade War is of course amazing but Jade Legacy messed me up, easily my favorite. Such a great ending to the series.
If you love Jade City, Jade War and Jade Legacy will blow your mind. I feel like each time I thought the series couldn’t get any better Fonda Lee raised the bar.
I loved Jade City, was okay with Jade War and skipped whole chapters of Jade Legacy. I think I'm the only person. It just went on and on and on and less and less Jade and I was just so done with it.
i follow a lot of book folks on the internet in various places and came across this video and was expecting to have already read or heard of the books included in here. you got me! a couple books added to my list now thanks bro
I was such an avid reader as a kid and lost the habit. I really want to get back into it and struggled to find recommendations. Really appreciate your channel in helping give me some guidance!
We have read so many of the same books. I finished The Sword of Kaigen last night and thought of you because it was 6/5. Omg. Thank you for finally getting me to read it. Sun Eater is also 6 star.
The book that has "broken my scale" this year so far is These Burning Stars. Holy cow that book was mind blowing. The sequel comes out next month and i have pre ordered it. Two of the best characters in any story....period.
Based on how you described and recommended Mistborn, I decided to read it. You made it seem approachable for a non-fantasy reader and it was an immediate fantasy favorite of mine. So for that, I say, thank you sir.
Got recommended this video and saw words of radiance. Knew instantly i was going to like anything you recommended 😂 adding them all to my endless TBR list
For me a 5 star book is when I cannot stop thinking about the book when I’m not reading it. I’m definitely a character driven reader as well, so if there is a character I can gravitate to that definitely helps. It’s not something that has happened though in my reading journey as an adult. Also, thanks for all the great suggestions. Several of these were on my list, and have now been pushed up! Jade city specifically
Hero of Ages was a 6 star book for me as well. Literally loved every second of that book. One of those books i will always reminisce on. The ending had me in my feels.
I don’t have all five stars laid out in my head, but the biggest must for me is pacing! If the story is rushing along and it doesn’t feel proper, I really lose immersion, as well as if the opposite happens. I just finished Mistborn (my first step into Sanderson) and its pacing was so well done. The ending comes quite fast but it sets up every scenario and gives proper reasons for why time is of the essence. Been loving the videos btw man! You showed up in my TH-cam feed one day and I love hearing your thoughts and getting recommendations, had to subscribe to get them notifs
He is great in interviews. I love that he was inspired to write his books after not seeing black people as the protagonists in fantasy books. He wanted his child to see himself in books. Such good books.
I came here to say this. Was hoping that Project Hail Mary and 11/22/63 were in his 6 star ranking. At least one was. But 11/22/63 blew my freaking mind. As did PHM
Some others have already told you this but I also wanted to thank you for getting me into reading. Needed a new hobby in my life that wasn't resulting in staring at a screen and I couldn't be happier to dive head first into reading. The Will of the Many was my first read and that book rocked my world. Fully committed to the Cosmere now and my bookshelf is ready to be built up with more Brando Sando.
Skin is glowwwing! Words of Radiance and The Sword of Kaigen are some of my favorites of all time, too. Some other "6" star reads for me would be All Systems Red , Senlin Ascends, Caliban's War(3rd book in The Expanse), and The Blacktongue Thief! Glad to have joined the book club btw, The Shadow of the Gods has been on my tbr toooo long lmao
I wonder if you’d like any books from Octavia Butler. She wrote a couple of my favourite scifi book series. But my most beloved series so far is the Radch series by Ann Leckie… bonus points for amazing audiobook versions of the books. Also… if you ever want to dip your toes into the weird fiction corner… Jeff Vandermeer’s Borne has a special place in my heart, he’s more known for the Southern Reach Trilogy (Annihilation, for example), and anything from China Mieville after that.
Since your taste in books seems extremely similar to mine, I recommend The Locked Tomb series. Absolutely phenomenal writing and lively characters. The second book is my favorite book of all time just solely based on the intricate layers of the writing. Tamsyn Muir is genius! Also, this is my first time watching and I subscribed right away:)
Great list and love a lot of the books on here. My recommendation for your next 6* would be Lonesome Dove. I’ve yet to recommend it to anyone hasn’t put it straight into their top books of all time list!
I know you said " I probably wouldn't read these today" for the Harry Potter books. But bro, I'm almost 30 and I just re-read them and they're still fantastic. I thought it was rose tinted nostalgia glasses that I was remembering HP through. But they truly are still amazing (Also I 100% agree with you on Red Rising, awesome books)
I'm in the almost done reading To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, first book in the Fractalverse by Christopher Paolini (author of Eragon), and it's absolutely amazing. It's pure sci-fi written for adults, and it's so gripping and deep and just plain fantastic. Definitely recommend. Definitely going to be a five star book
@@Smitty1423 sorry, I mixed that up a bit. That's the title of the book. The series is called The Fractalverse. And two amazing fantasy books that I haven't seen talked about at all are The Aeronaut's Windlass, book 1 The Cinder Spires series by Jim Butcher and She Who Rides the Storm, book 1 of the Gods-Touched duology by Caitlin Sangster (this one I'm in middle of the first book). Please comment a quick reply so I know you saw this
Six Star Reads: -Oathbringer -Words of Radiance -Rhythym of War (These three books are literal perfection. Never have I been so sucked into any of them. All three are well over 1000 pages and I read them each in less than a week. I remember reading them while I was on winter break for college and I literally would wake up at like 6 am everyday and go to bed at like 1-2am and would read them from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed. ) -Dune (Never in my life have I read a book as good as this. Dune itself beats out Stormlight for me as my favorite book series ever. I have read the first three and all three are great (Messiah and Children are both 5 stars), but something about this franchise, something about these books itches everything I love. I adore it so fucking much. It is literally my entire thing. Whenever it is my birthday or the holiday season everyone gets me Dune stuff. It is truly a perfect novel. Not even a joke when I say that I struggle so fucking hard to read any other Sci-Fi now because this book was just so perfect, that it has ruined most non-Dune sci-fi for me. There are now so few Sci-Fi that I can sit and read) -Killers of the Flower Moon (As a native individual we so rarely have books that illustrate the true attrocities that our ancestors experienced and this one is such a devestating true crime novel, but it was so gripping I read it in two days. As I read through there were times I forgot it was a non-fiction book because of how well it was written. It is one of the most gut wrenching and gut twisting novels I have ever read, because all the disgusting and horrible stuff actually happened. That book genuinely left me shaken to my very core and being as a person.)
Just finished my first ever Brandon Sanderson book (Final Empire!) and have been looking for more commentary on the series and his books in general. This made me so excited to finish the series and continue with all the cosmere books. Final Empire is my new favorite fantasy book of all time.
Just finished a 6 star non-fiction book last night called "Say Nothing" about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Absolutely blew me away and I'd recommend it to anyone regardless of their interest in non-fiction, history, or Irish history more specifically. And I read Project Hail Mary over the summer and loved it as well; totally agree that Rocky is one of my favorite literary characters. Great video!
Hero of Ages was the craziest end of a saga I've ever read. It's so perfect, everything ties up so perfectly, even the sad things such as deaths of characters fall into place in such a satisfying way.. i don't think i will ever find another book or trilogy like that
@@Smitty1423 well you told me to let you know when THAT happens and let me tell you i just finished and i am speechless like the emotions are all over the place i can’t believe thisssss
Wow! Thank you for representing US 🤜🏾 I read half the books you listed and fully agree with everything. I can’t wait for Evan Winters book 3!! I highly recommend you try reading David Estes, Kingfall histories series. It was an u expected delight. I’d love to hear your review on it for an epic fantasy series. I’m following you. Excellent work here 😊
I’m so glad to hear you say Oathbringer has an amazing sanderlanche because I’ve been struggling through it for months because it feels so slow 😭 but this actually makes me so motivated to finish it!
Amazing list! I started the Sun Eater series, i like it so far. To answer your question - everything changed for me when i started Malazan book of the fallen. Nothing compares to the scale of world building and characters. The Way of Kings and Gardens of the Moon Are my 6 star reads.
@@Smitty1423 I just wanted to update - I've been listening to Sun Eater finally after enough prodding. Holy Moly! I'm absolutely blown away with the story so far!!! I'm on book 4 now and it's probably one of the best damn stories I've ever had the pleasure to listen to so far in sci-fi.
For sci-fi, I’d recommend looking at Project Hail Mary. Same author and vibes of The Martian. Andy Weir has some great character work and Project Hail a Mary has such a great ending!
Whoa! Great list! I don’t really give my books ‘star’ ratings but I definitely judge my favorites based on books I either re-read a lot, or immediately buy the next copy of in it’s series. Based on that, I love: FANTASY - Harry Potter Series (but especially any chapters with Umbrage or Dumbledore involved) - Dawn of Wonder - Lord of the Rings - A Storm of Swords - The Name of the Wind - Changes (The Dresden Files) THRILLERS - The Killer (from the ‘Victor the Assassin’ Series) - Career of Evil (from the Cormoran Strike series) NON-FICTION - Born a Crime: Audiobook Version (Trevor Noah) - In Order to Live (Yeonmi Park) CLASSIC LITERATURE - Pride and Prejudice - Frankenstein - Jane Eyre - Sense and Sensibility - Dracula Trying to read Red Rising and Empire of Silence but I keep having a hard time pushing through those books for some reason so I’m glad you talked about that
Man, Stormlight Archive is such a ride. I've never cheered harder for a character than I have for Kaladin. I've never come across another character that is as well written as Dalinar. I cannot wait for book 5. Currently reading the Sun Eater series and I'm halfway through Howling Dark. I can already tell that I'm not ready for what this series is going to throw at me and I'm so excited.
For something to be a 5 star for me it needs to check a lot of categories😭 needs top tier protagonist, antagonist, side cast, plot/story, themes, symbolism, conflicts, peaks, dialogue/monologue, character dynamics, etc. 😭
A lot of the books you have in this video are on my TBR. You are talking me into finally picking them up. I did just finish The Final Empire. I am now reading The Well of Ascension.
I loved Hero of Ages but Well of Ascension was a 6 star for me. It was just perfection, the way Sanderson just raises the plot, the character growth, tension, politics and magic just elevates to another level and Sanderson does it so incredibly well. I have read that one book 6-7 times❤
I agree with most everything. The Will of the Many didn’t land for me as well as it did most, but I’ll continue the series for certain. I love The Well of Ascension the most out of the Mistborn series, but really I think of it as one big story so I love it all. Had I made a 5 star video, I’d have to talk about The Lies of Locke Lamora and Before They are Hanged for certain.
I agree with a lot of your 5 star books. I also loved hero of ages. "In the end they will kill us, but first they shall fear us!" I'm currently reading a lot of horror books. They are usually the ones that make me feel more interested about what happens in that story. I guess it's the mistery about what that monster/aliem/demon could be
@@Smitty1423 I recently read all The fiends of Hell and the Reddening, both from Adam Nevill, the Deep, from nick cutter, the Mist from Stephen King, and the Fisherman from John Langan. I think you would like all of them because they have some sci fi element or paranormal element. If you want them for a video maybe the Mist is too famous already, but I still usually recommend It in case someone likes the genre. My personal favorite was all The fiends of hell, probably one of the best this year for me. Sci fi and horror combined. Currently reading The Forgotten Island from Sodergren and I will probably check more of his work.
Great video, and great list. Any that I haven't read went straight on my shortlist, and you've definitely convinced me to return to a few series that I've been meaning to.
@ Definitely man don’t read much fiction anymore but I’m inspired to from this vid. Can I read Hero of Ages right away, or is there a book I’d have to read prior?
Agree with so many of these! I know I’ve commented this on like 5 of your videos but I cannot wait for your reaction to Jade War and Jade Legacy. I’m calling it now, it’s gonna become your all time favorite series! Also really looking forward to hearing what you think about the later books in the Red Rising series and the multiple POVs.
In the "hero of ages" I always thought to myself, how will sanderson tie all these plots together to make it fit in these last few pages until I felt like, he can't possibly achieve it. And then, boom. Everything down to the last part fit so perfectly, it was actually insane.
Completely agree Words of Radiance is a 6*. I remember literally shouting in excitement and pacing my room whilst reading the the final climax like you would cheering on your favourite sports team😂 iykyk lol
I'm about 1/3 through The Spear Cuts Through Water and I'm absolutely adoring it. The narrative style is so unique and captivating. I'm nowhere near the fantasy fan that you are but I can see this maybe ending up a 5 or 5+. I love how all the voices come together like a whole culture is trekking me its greatest story. I love how much you're loving the Sun Eater series. I've read all of it to date, even the short story collections, and it's basically flawless. I mean, there's even good disability rep! I'm going to give The Will of the Many another try on your say so. It didn't hit with me when I had it from the library earlier this year and lots of others were waiting for it so I let it go to be a good citizen but I think now I need to make sure I don't miss out. Thank you for this video!
All the books in the First Law by Joe Abercrombie. Some of my favorite books of all time. If you’re a character focused reader, that entire series will be wild for you. The audiobooks are also incredibly. Stephen Pacey has amazing accents for each character and there some of the only books to make me laugh out loud.
Have you read the Hyperion Cantos? Definitely should check it out. I feel like you would like them. Great characters. The first two books are some of my all time favorites.
New booktuber here. Thanks so much for these recommendations, Smitty! :) I didn't think I would like the Green Bone saga, but boy am I glad I read them anyway. Such a great series! :) I fell in love quickly with some of the characters and ended the trilogy weeping, smiling, and just so glad I read it! :) New subscriber in me!
Bro LOVE that you have HP OOTP as one of your favs! It’s MY fav of the series because of the constant emotional turmoil/rollercoaster Harry goes through over the course of the book… the scene of Harry destroying Dumbledore’s office from his grief over Sirius/Dept. of. Mysteries fiasco lives rent free in my head as one of the most powerful points in the entire story. Props, and subscribed (also added a few of your reqs to my TBR!)
Here's a thriller recommendation for you: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (published in 1966). There's a film adaptation directed by Richard Brooks that was released in 1967.
Found you on TikTok maybe a week and a half ago. Just finished The Will of the Many and about halfway through Mistborn. You singlehandedly got me back into reading fantasy
The next 3 Red Risings!!!!!!! You need to read ASAP! Iron Gold is on the level of the first book, but Dark Age and Light Bringer are UNREAL. Red God, the 7th and final one should be coming out this coming year sometime.
i've been following you on tiktok for a while and i just finished the sword of kaigen 20 minutes ago... i dont even know what to say... it was breathtaking so i came here to say thanks and to look for more recs
Finding your channel is such a treat! We seem to enjoy a lot of the same authors. I would love to hear your reaction to The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey. That is probably my all-time- favorite SciFi series.
@@dkellywatson It was definitely special. Andy Weir is such a visual author...which is why i guess his books keep getting made into movies. I hope they do it right. The genuine emotion between the characters will be hard to reproduce on screen for sure.
I am so happy this video popped up in my feed. I read mostly thillers and horror but want to branch out into fantasy and sci-fi. I added some of your recommendations to my TBR. I have to recommend Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. It is one of my all time favorite books.
You’re the only other person I’ve seen whose favourite Harry Potter books are 3 and 5. My entire reading life between 12-15 was the HP series but those two hit different and I couldn’t wait to get to them on a reread. I also need to get to one dark window asap! If you’re a character focused reader the realm of the elderlings has to be on your TBR if you haven’t read yet. Love the video 💕
Love this list! I really need to get on the Brandon Sanderson train. I’m not new to fantasy but I haven’t read one of his books yet. The entire Empire of the Wolf trilogy was a 5 star for me. The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Killing Vampires by Grady Hendrix and Bear Town by Fredrick Backman were recent 5 stars for me as well. I’m putting your 6 star books on my TBR!
I remember getting One Dark Window for free at my local Barnes and Noble. It sat on my shelf for two years. I couldn’t believe some 🔥 like that was just sitting on my shelf. So good.
@@gregorykay2472 sweet! Maybe I’ll just look it up but one thing I could not comprehend from the language and how it’s written is why villfort locked him up? I am just past that part in the book but I wasn’t sure how he was connected to the letter he was carrying? Maybe I’ll find out later in the book but I failed to understand that part. The language is hard to interpret at times ( for me anyway)
I'm reading red rising now, I'm enjoying it much more than what people describe it to be. Im excited to read the second book since it's supposed to be much better.
@@Smitty1423 If you ever have an itch for horror comedy like terry pratchett or ‘The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy’ but horror. Please check out “Tales from the gas station” by Jack Townsend I’m trying to preach the good word and get people to read it (Not to toot my own horn but last time I recommended a series it was to Daniel Greene via livestream dono… and we’ll know how that went (; )
Just discovered your channel. Love it! I added so many books to my wish list watching this lol. Thank you! I was yelling Project Hail Mary at my screen so was stoked it earned your coveted sixth star. It’s my favorite book ever.
You randomly showed up on recommended and I'm insta subbed. I just started reading after 10+ years of not. And it's been a blast getting back. I'm here for the long call, keep up the good stuff man.
Im currently waiting for my hold of Empire of Silence and Blood Over Bright Haven from the library. Super excited!! Piranesi is definitely a 6 star book for me. Not for everyone but it sure did it for me
Bro, who are you???? How in the world have I found someone with almost exactly the same taste that I have. Incredible video. I know I can trust all the books you talked about that I haven’t read. Getting on it now. Keep it up brother!!
So dope love it when that happens and thank you so much!
Agreed! definitely lined up in taste, so added a a few to my TBR for sure!
Same for me! I was watching the fantasy section and I had read and love almost every book in there, and it then goes to sci-fi and I watched Dark Matter and loved that. And then goes to Red Rising which was incredible. I definitely gotta check out Suneater now I think.
I second this emotion 😂
My man is black, young, reads, likes fantasy the most, and has the manning shirt on. This is my guy right here, gem of a channel.
Yo we lit haha
Bro im right there with you on all of this. Youre on point af🗿 (fellow young black bookworm)
you literally matched all my books. Misaki from Sword of Kaigen AMAZING character just finished that
Hey Smitty, thanks for helping me get into reading. Speaking as a guy who often struggles to read, The Lies of Locke Lamora had me on the edge of my seat.
Ahh so amazing!
I picked up that last week. If I have a struggle with a book, I partner it with Audible. Helps a lot.
The Lies of Locke Larmora would definitely be a "6" for me.
Hard agree. Its sequels maintain that high standard, too. I really crave more, but the author is struggling with a lot. Just got to treasure what he's given us ❤
@@katesherrod3498 I agree. Book 2 has an amazing "Sanderlanche". With all the problems Locke and Jean had to contend with, I kept thinking there was no way they could pull off their scheme. And within the last 100 pages, everything falls together. And with the Book 3 introducing a character only known previously by her absence, the character did not disappoint.
Thank you for defining your criteria. Really adds a lot to the video/helps us understand what are you looking for when giving your scores.
Got you!
Bro until now I haven’t seen anybody that looks like us occupy this space of content, I gotta subscribe bro. you’re recommendations are things I’m already consuming or really sound like I would like them. 100% keep doing this I’m hoping it reaches the YNs to show them something different.
Haha the YNs! 😭 Naw I appreciate you for sure
Demon in White is INSANE. Definitely my favourite version of Hadrian so far, loving his character and the stakes are through the roof!! Haven’t been this engaged with a book since WoR/Oathbringer
Same here! Sun Eater goes absolutely insane
I'm 50% through Golden Son. Cannot put it down. Absolutely incredible so far.
@@seanmbranch let me know when you finish 👀
Hell yeah, golden son and light bringer are my favorite books in the series. I highly recommend the dramatized audiobook version! My bf is listening to it right now and the music/sound effects/ensemble cast are sickkk
Thoughts on the ending ?
@@Loco2xs Almost there. Don't spoil it please. LOL. I'm just out of the "mud" with Darrow. 😉
@@Smitty1423 Just finished Golden Son! OMG OMG OMG OMG. Literally sitting here in shock! OMG
Yessssssssssss! All of your 6 stars to my TBR! Loved Project Hail Mary! It’s what got me into sci-fi! That’s how new I am to the genre! Just finished The Martian! Another excellent read!
I need to check out the Martian and amazing it’s on your TBR!
I’ve got Project Hail Mary from the library, heard lots of good things about it!
We have basically the same taste and if you haven’t read lonesome dove I highly recommend it. It’s a western which I hate westerns and it’s my favorite book of all time. The characters feel more real to me than any others I’ve ever read.
I gotta check it out!
💯 Well worth the read, it will stick with you.
A lot of people told me green bone saga gets better as it goes on, which is kind of the case. I really really loved Jade City, Jade War is of course amazing but Jade Legacy messed me up, easily my favorite. Such a great ending to the series.
I’m soooo excited to get through this series!
If you love Jade City, Jade War and Jade Legacy will blow your mind. I feel like each time I thought the series couldn’t get any better Fonda Lee raised the bar.
This I’m really excited for!
I loved Jade City, was okay with Jade War and skipped whole chapters of Jade Legacy. I think I'm the only person. It just went on and on and on and less and less Jade and I was just so done with it.
I was looking for this comment! Jade city was decent but i put down jade war half way through because nothing was happening. @@marieanne2680
i follow a lot of book folks on the internet in various places and came across this video and was expecting to have already read or heard of the books included in here. you got me! a couple books added to my list now thanks bro
@@Swampratatta yo that’s so damn dope glad you found some new ones!
Smitty your TH-cam video quality is going like this 📈 keep going the world needs to hear your book recommendations 🔥
Appreciate that! Trying my best to keep improving!
I was such an avid reader as a kid and lost the habit. I really want to get back into it and struggled to find recommendations. Really appreciate your channel in helping give me some guidance!
Got you! Hope you get back into it!
Blood Over Bright Haven was my only 6 star read this year, I loved it so so much!
That book was absolutely incredible
In love with your shirt!! As a citizen of TN and a true VOLS fan, seeing someone representing the VOLS and Manning makes me heart very happy!
So dope!
We have read so many of the same books. I finished The Sword of Kaigen last night and thought of you because it was 6/5. Omg. Thank you for finally getting me to read it.
Sun Eater is also 6 star.
Ahhh so glad you agree!
The book that has "broken my scale" this year so far is These Burning Stars. Holy cow that book was mind blowing. The sequel comes out next month and i have pre ordered it. Two of the best characters in any story....period.
I gotta check it out
Yeah, I'm going to B&N Friday, going to check that one out. I have been hearing a lot of buzz. 😊
@@lorifrederick2367 🔥🔥🔥
I agree! Such an under rated series!
Based on how you described and recommended Mistborn, I decided to read it. You made it seem approachable for a non-fantasy reader and it was an immediate fantasy favorite of mine. So for that, I say, thank you sir.
This literally made me smile because I always recommend that series for people getting into fantasy. Hope you continue on!
@@Smitty1423 Just bought the trilogy. Much appreciated! Love your content man!
Got recommended this video and saw words of radiance. Knew instantly i was going to like anything you recommended 😂 adding them all to my endless TBR list
Haha so dope!
For me a 5 star book is when I cannot stop thinking about the book when I’m not reading it. I’m definitely a character driven reader as well, so if there is a character I can gravitate to that definitely helps. It’s not something that has happened though in my reading journey as an adult.
Also, thanks for all the great suggestions. Several of these were on my list, and have now been pushed up! Jade city specifically
Good way to look at it! And got you!
@@Smitty1423it seems like what I described is your 6 stars. I might need to adjust my system maybe with that being said 😂😂
Guys, I think I'm in love (the tbr list is so refreshing and well crafted). Loved the content.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hero of Ages was a 6 star book for me as well. Literally loved every second of that book. One of those books i will always reminisce on. The ending had me in my feels.
The ending is really what made this book jump from a 5 star to a 6 star book for me.
Book was so damn good, ending had me stuck
I don’t have all five stars laid out in my head, but the biggest must for me is pacing! If the story is rushing along and it doesn’t feel proper, I really lose immersion, as well as if the opposite happens. I just finished Mistborn (my first step into Sanderson) and its pacing was so well done. The ending comes quite fast but it sets up every scenario and gives proper reasons for why time is of the essence. Been loving the videos btw man! You showed up in my TH-cam feed one day and I love hearing your thoughts and getting recommendations, had to subscribe to get them notifs
@@lucamogliazzi4596 yes pacing has to be on point! Also thanks for the love!
Can't wait for the Evan Winter interview!!! Great video ❤
It’s going to be a rideeee
He is great in interviews. I love that he was inspired to write his books after not seeing black people as the protagonists in fantasy books. He wanted his child to see himself in books. Such good books.
@@katieamarsh love this so much!
@@katieamarsh that's amazing & inspiring to hear 👏🏾💯.
You were just suggested to me. From what I can tell for a reason. Love your book taste. Subscribed.
This is so amazing welcome to the community!
Add 11/22/63 to your reading list, and you’ll be making a 7 out of 5 tier list!
I came here to say this. Was hoping that Project Hail Mary and 11/22/63 were in his 6 star ranking. At least one was. But 11/22/63 blew my freaking mind. As did PHM
Some others have already told you this but I also wanted to thank you for getting me into reading. Needed a new hobby in my life that wasn't resulting in staring at a screen and I couldn't be happier to dive head first into reading. The Will of the Many was my first read and that book rocked my world. Fully committed to the Cosmere now and my bookshelf is ready to be built up with more Brando Sando.
This is so amazing! Like the best compliment you could give. The Will of the Many was an absolute banger and so happy you are into the Cosmere!
Skin is glowwwing! Words of Radiance and The Sword of Kaigen are some of my favorites of all time, too. Some other "6" star reads for me would be All Systems Red , Senlin Ascends, Caliban's War(3rd book in The Expanse), and The Blacktongue Thief! Glad to have joined the book club btw, The Shadow of the Gods has been on my tbr toooo long lmao
Will add those to my list! Thanks and yeah the book club is a great time for sure
The will of the many is one of my favorites! New to booktube but definitely like your taste in books and will stick around!
The Will of the Many was soooo good!
I wonder if you’d like any books from Octavia Butler. She wrote a couple of my favourite scifi book series. But my most beloved series so far is the Radch series by Ann Leckie… bonus points for amazing audiobook versions of the books. Also… if you ever want to dip your toes into the weird fiction corner… Jeff Vandermeer’s Borne has a special place in my heart, he’s more known for the Southern Reach Trilogy (Annihilation, for example), and anything from China Mieville after that.
Thanks for the recs!
Since your taste in books seems extremely similar to mine, I recommend The Locked Tomb series. Absolutely phenomenal writing and lively characters. The second book is my favorite book of all time just solely based on the intricate layers of the writing. Tamsyn Muir is genius! Also, this is my first time watching and I subscribed right away:)
Thank you!
As always, your taste in books is impeccable 🙏🏼
Appreciate that!
i loved jade city too. jade war lost momentum for me a bit, but im excited to see what you think. i need to pick up some sanderson!!
Will let you know!
Hero of Ages has the best ending Ive ever read. I cried it was so perfect and beautiful.
Ending was so beautiful
Great list and love a lot of the books on here.
My recommendation for your next 6* would be Lonesome Dove. I’ve yet to recommend it to anyone hasn’t put it straight into their top books of all time list!
I’ve been hearing about it need to check it out
I know you said " I probably wouldn't read these today" for the Harry Potter books. But bro, I'm almost 30 and I just re-read them and they're still fantastic. I thought it was rose tinted nostalgia glasses that I was remembering HP through. But they truly are still amazing
(Also I 100% agree with you on Red Rising, awesome books)
That’s so fire!
I reread at least the first one every summer. They are so good and full of nostalgia.
I'm in the almost done reading To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, first book in the Fractalverse by Christopher Paolini (author of Eragon), and it's absolutely amazing. It's pure sci-fi written for adults, and it's so gripping and deep and just plain fantastic. Definitely recommend. Definitely going to be a five star book
@@joedoe7572 thanks for the rec will check it out for sure
@@Smitty1423 sorry, I mixed that up a bit. That's the title of the book. The series is called The Fractalverse.
And two amazing fantasy books that I haven't seen talked about at all are The Aeronaut's Windlass, book 1 The Cinder Spires series by Jim Butcher and She Who Rides the Storm, book 1 of the Gods-Touched duology by Caitlin Sangster (this one I'm in middle of the first book).
Please comment a quick reply so I know you saw this
Six Star Reads:
-Oathbringer
-Words of Radiance
-Rhythym of War (These three books are literal perfection. Never have I been so sucked into any of them. All three are well over 1000 pages and I read them each in less than a week. I remember reading them while I was on winter break for college and I literally would wake up at like 6 am everyday and go to bed at like 1-2am and would read them from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed. )
-Dune (Never in my life have I read a book as good as this. Dune itself beats out Stormlight for me as my favorite book series ever. I have read the first three and all three are great (Messiah and Children are both 5 stars), but something about this franchise, something about these books itches everything I love. I adore it so fucking much. It is literally my entire thing. Whenever it is my birthday or the holiday season everyone gets me Dune stuff. It is truly a perfect novel. Not even a joke when I say that I struggle so fucking hard to read any other Sci-Fi now because this book was just so perfect, that it has ruined most non-Dune sci-fi for me. There are now so few Sci-Fi that I can sit and read)
-Killers of the Flower Moon (As a native individual we so rarely have books that illustrate the true attrocities that our ancestors experienced and this one is such a devestating true crime novel, but it was so gripping I read it in two days. As I read through there were times I forgot it was a non-fiction book because of how well it was written. It is one of the most gut wrenching and gut twisting novels I have ever read, because all the disgusting and horrible stuff actually happened. That book genuinely left me shaken to my very core and being as a person.)
@@kingblackthorn4195 so fireeeee
Just finished my first ever Brandon Sanderson book (Final Empire!) and have been looking for more commentary on the series and his books in general. This made me so excited to finish the series and continue with all the cosmere books. Final Empire is my new favorite fantasy book of all time.
Oh you def have to finish! Let me know when you do!
Just finished a 6 star non-fiction book last night called "Say Nothing" about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Absolutely blew me away and I'd recommend it to anyone regardless of their interest in non-fiction, history, or Irish history more specifically. And I read Project Hail Mary over the summer and loved it as well; totally agree that Rocky is one of my favorite literary characters. Great video!
Thanks for the recs! Will have to check it out
@cameroncarroll5703 Just checking that you know Disney have made a TV series of Say Nothing?
Wonderful video! I now have several more books on my tbr. I absolutely agree with you that engaging characters are a must for a 5-star read.
Yepp 1000%!
Currently on Words of Radiance and I am SHOOK!! This book has consumed my whole life 😭😭😫
How insane is that book lol
Hero of Ages was the craziest end of a saga I've ever read. It's so perfect, everything ties up so perfectly, even the sad things such as deaths of characters fall into place in such a satisfying way.. i don't think i will ever find another book or trilogy like that
@@bambuu_ so damn perfect!
I‘m nearly exactly halfway through Golden Son and your comparison with the red wedding really made me ✨nervous✨
Let me know when you finish 👀
@@Smitty1423 well you told me to let you know when THAT happens and let me tell you i just finished and i am speechless like the emotions are all over the place i can’t believe thisssss
@@xenia6577 HOW CRAZY?!?
@@Smitty1423 IT WAS INSANE LIKE I’M SO AFRAID OF THE THIRD BOOK 😩
@@xenia6577have you started the next trilogy 👀
Wow! Thank you for representing US 🤜🏾
I read half the books you listed and fully agree with everything. I can’t wait for Evan Winters book 3!! I highly recommend you try reading David Estes, Kingfall histories series. It was an u expected delight. I’d love to hear your review on it for an epic fantasy series. I’m following you. Excellent work here 😊
Thanks for the rec I will have to look into it and yeah really looking forward to book 3!
I’m so glad to hear you say Oathbringer has an amazing sanderlanche because I’ve been struggling through it for months because it feels so slow 😭 but this actually makes me so motivated to finish it!
Check back in when you finish 👀
Same here. I put it down about halfway through and haven't picked it back up. Maybe I'll try to finish it before the end of the year
Amazing list! I started the Sun Eater series, i like it so far. To answer your question - everything changed for me when i started Malazan book of the fallen. Nothing compares to the scale of world building and characters. The Way of Kings and Gardens of the Moon Are my 6 star reads.
Everyone keeps telling me to read that series it’s def on my list!
I have now added any remaining books that I didn't have already that you mentioned. Look forward to them all! Great list man!
Let’s gooo! Let me know your thoughts when you finish!
@@Smitty1423 I just wanted to update - I've been listening to Sun Eater finally after enough prodding. Holy Moly! I'm absolutely blown away with the story so far!!! I'm on book 4 now and it's probably one of the best damn stories I've ever had the pleasure to listen to so far in sci-fi.
For sci-fi, I’d recommend looking at Project Hail Mary. Same author and vibes of The Martian. Andy Weir has some great character work and Project Hail a Mary has such a great ending!
Just got to your 6 star portion. Happy to see we are on the same page! Haha.
Haha all good! Loved the book
Whoa! Great list! I don’t really give my books ‘star’ ratings but I definitely judge my favorites based on books I either re-read a lot, or immediately buy the next copy of in it’s series. Based on that, I love:
FANTASY
- Harry Potter Series (but especially any chapters with Umbrage or Dumbledore involved)
- Dawn of Wonder
- Lord of the Rings
- A Storm of Swords
- The Name of the Wind
- Changes (The Dresden Files)
THRILLERS
- The Killer (from the ‘Victor the Assassin’ Series)
- Career of Evil (from the Cormoran Strike series)
NON-FICTION
- Born a Crime: Audiobook Version (Trevor Noah)
- In Order to Live (Yeonmi Park)
CLASSIC LITERATURE
- Pride and Prejudice
- Frankenstein
- Jane Eyre
- Sense and Sensibility
- Dracula
Trying to read Red Rising and Empire of Silence but I keep having a hard time pushing through those books for some reason so I’m glad you talked about that
Thanks for taking the time to make this list! Will add a few of them for sure
Man, Stormlight Archive is such a ride. I've never cheered harder for a character than I have for Kaladin. I've never come across another character that is as well written as Dalinar. I cannot wait for book 5.
Currently reading the Sun Eater series and I'm halfway through Howling Dark. I can already tell that I'm not ready for what this series is going to throw at me and I'm so excited.
Yeah let me know when you finish Howling Dark and your thoughts because that book is absolutely incredible.
And yeah can’t wait for Stormlight 5
For something to be a 5 star for me it needs to check a lot of categories😭 needs top tier protagonist, antagonist, side cast, plot/story, themes, symbolism, conflicts, peaks, dialogue/monologue, character dynamics, etc. 😭
You’re kinda like me prioritizing characters in your story for it to be a 5!
you both have great criteria for giving books 5 stars, because I also feel the same as well 💯.
A lot of the books you have in this video are on my TBR. You are talking me into finally picking them up. I did just finish The Final Empire. I am now reading The Well of Ascension.
@@the_kansan_reader nice! Let me know when you finish Hero of Ages!
I loved Hero of Ages but Well of Ascension was a 6 star for me. It was just perfection, the way Sanderson just raises the plot, the character growth, tension, politics and magic just elevates to another level and Sanderson does it so incredibly well. I have read that one book 6-7 times❤
That’s dope! Yeah I loved Well of Ascension such a vital part of the trilogy that gets slept on a lot
I agree with most everything. The Will of the Many didn’t land for me as well as it did most, but I’ll continue the series for certain. I love The Well of Ascension the most out of the Mistborn series, but really I think of it as one big story so I love it all. Had I made a 5 star video, I’d have to talk about The Lies of Locke Lamora and Before They are Hanged for certain.
I gotta get to those 2 books for sure!
I agree with a lot of your 5 star books. I also loved hero of ages. "In the end they will kill us, but first they shall fear us!"
I'm currently reading a lot of horror books. They are usually the ones that make me feel more interested about what happens in that story. I guess it's the mistery about what that monster/aliem/demon could be
Let me know some good horror recs need some for October
@@Smitty1423 I recently read all The fiends of Hell and the Reddening, both from Adam Nevill, the Deep, from nick cutter, the Mist from Stephen King, and the Fisherman from John Langan. I think you would like all of them because they have some sci fi element or paranormal element. If you want them for a video maybe the Mist is too famous already, but I still usually recommend It in case someone likes the genre. My personal favorite was all The fiends of hell, probably one of the best this year for me. Sci fi and horror combined. Currently reading The Forgotten Island from Sodergren and I will probably check more of his work.
@@omniboy-prime ahhh thank you so much!
Great video, and great list. Any that I haven't read went straight on my shortlist, and you've definitely convinced me to return to a few series that I've been meaning to.
Dope hope you enjoy it!
You don't see many people who review books. Good list I'm impressed.
@@billwoods7578 appreciate that!
@ Definitely man don’t read much fiction anymore but I’m inspired to from this vid. Can I read Hero of Ages right away, or is there a book I’d have to read prior?
@ you have to read Mistborn: The Final Empire, and The Well of Ascension before Hero of Ages
@ ok thank you!
You’re the reason I started reading sci-fi and fantasy. Love the content
That’s soooo amazing!
Agree with so many of these! I know I’ve commented this on like 5 of your videos but I cannot wait for your reaction to Jade War and Jade Legacy. I’m calling it now, it’s gonna become your all time favorite series! Also really looking forward to hearing what you think about the later books in the Red Rising series and the multiple POVs.
@@jules.mp3 will let you know!
In the "hero of ages" I always thought to myself, how will sanderson tie all these plots together to make it fit in these last few pages until I felt like, he can't possibly achieve it. And then, boom. Everything down to the last part fit so perfectly, it was actually insane.
Such a perfect ending had me stuck!
Completely agree Words of Radiance is a 6*. I remember literally shouting in excitement and pacing my room whilst reading the the final climax like you would cheering on your favourite sports team😂 iykyk lol
Yepp that book was insane!
I'm about 1/3 through The Spear Cuts Through Water and I'm absolutely adoring it. The narrative style is so unique and captivating. I'm nowhere near the fantasy fan that you are but I can see this maybe ending up a 5 or 5+. I love how all the voices come together like a whole culture is trekking me its greatest story.
I love how much you're loving the Sun Eater series. I've read all of it to date, even the short story collections, and it's basically flawless. I mean, there's even good disability rep!
I'm going to give The Will of the Many another try on your say so. It didn't hit with me when I had it from the library earlier this year and lots of others were waiting for it so I let it go to be a good citizen but I think now I need to make sure I don't miss out. Thank you for this video!
Yeah give it another try but yess loved Sun Eater and Spear!
All the books in the First Law by Joe Abercrombie. Some of my favorite books of all time. If you’re a character focused reader, that entire series will be wild for you. The audiobooks are also incredibly. Stephen Pacey has amazing accents for each character and there some of the only books to make me laugh out loud.
I’ll have to check it out on audio
Have you read the Hyperion Cantos? Definitely should check it out. I feel like you would like them. Great characters. The first two books are some of my all time favorites.
Next year for sure!
New booktuber here. Thanks so much for these recommendations, Smitty! :)
I didn't think I would like the Green Bone saga, but boy am I glad I read them anyway. Such a great series! :) I fell in love quickly with some of the characters and ended the trilogy weeping, smiling, and just so glad I read it! :)
New subscriber in me!
Amazing! I can’t wait to get through the series!
My next read needs to be a Sanderson book! You've convinced me!
Super dope! Hope you enjoy it!
Bro LOVE that you have HP OOTP as one of your favs! It’s MY fav of the series because of the constant emotional turmoil/rollercoaster Harry goes through over the course of the book… the scene of Harry destroying Dumbledore’s office from his grief over Sirius/Dept. of. Mysteries fiasco lives rent free in my head as one of the most powerful points in the entire story.
Props, and subscribed (also added a few of your reqs to my TBR!)
That book is such a classic!
About to start Words of Radiance... I was already excited, but hearing you talk about it has got me even more hyped
Ahh so amazing! One of my favorites of all time!
@@Smitty1423 I just finished and yeah, it had me hooked from beginning to end! How is this book even real
the first law gonna be in that 5 star group soon enough!
Just started the Blade Itself last night so we shall see
@@Smitty1423 i read it recently, how you enjoying it? :D
The Age of Madness trilogy is just incredible. The Heroes is probably one of the top ten best books I have ever read. Best Served Cold close behind.
Really enjoyed this video-always looking for great book recommendations and can't wait to dive in with some of these!
So amazing!
Here's a thriller recommendation for you: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (published in 1966). There's a film adaptation directed by Richard Brooks that was released in 1967.
Thank you 🙏🏾
@@Smitty1423 It's also a true-crime thriller and told expertly well.
Found you on TikTok maybe a week and a half ago. Just finished The Will of the Many and about halfway through Mistborn. You singlehandedly got me back into reading fantasy
Damn this is so cool 🔥
The next 3 Red Risings!!!!!!! You need to read ASAP! Iron Gold is on the level of the first book, but Dark Age and Light Bringer are UNREAL. Red God, the 7th and final one should be coming out this coming year sometime.
I knowwww!! I need to get on it
I was impatiently waiting for that Kaigen mention under 6 stars. Great video!
One of the best for sure
I’m here for an awesome black brother giving me recommendations thank you for being here I love this so much instant subscribe!
I appreciate you!
i've been following you on tiktok for a while and i just finished the sword of kaigen 20 minutes ago... i dont even know what to say... it was breathtaking so i came here to say thanks and to look for more recs
Yoooo glad you enjoyed it. An insane but great story for sure
Can’t wait for Light Bringer to be one of the 6 star books😁😁
Will let you know!
Finding your channel is such a treat! We seem to enjoy a lot of the same authors. I would love to hear your reaction to The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey. That is probably my all-time- favorite SciFi series.
@@CarieHarling so dope and will let you know once I read it!
@@Smitty1423I’m grabbing The Sun Eater series post-haste!
Yeah, Project Hail Mary was magnificent
So damn good
Rocky and Grace have the greatest relationship in any book ever!
@@dkellywatson It was definitely special. Andy Weir is such a visual author...which is why i guess his books keep getting made into movies. I hope they do it right. The genuine emotion between the characters will be hard to reproduce on screen for sure.
I can’t believe how similar our tastes are! Love it! I e added all the books I haven’t read from you!
Amazing hope you enjoy them!
This is one of the best videos I've seen on booktube. The idea of showing your 5 star books and a few six stars is great. I love this guy.
@@wesleymercer908 ahh so dope!
I am so happy this video popped up in my feed. I read mostly thillers and horror but want to branch out into fantasy and sci-fi. I added some of your recommendations to my TBR. I have to recommend Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. It is one of my all time favorite books.
So dope and thanks for the rec! Loved All the Sinners Bleed so looking forward to this
Yo smitty I've read the first 3 books of red rising saga its soo good book 3 is my favourite
Same here! Morning Star went so crazy
Loved the list! Several overlaps with my personal lists so I feel confident adding some of these to my tbr list. Thanks!!
That’s incredible!
You’re the only other person I’ve seen whose favourite Harry Potter books are 3 and 5. My entire reading life between 12-15 was the HP series but those two hit different and I couldn’t wait to get to them on a reread. I also need to get to one dark window asap! If you’re a character focused reader the realm of the elderlings has to be on your TBR if you haven’t read yet. Love the video 💕
I will look into the realm of the elderlings! Thanks
Love this list! I really need to get on the Brandon Sanderson train. I’m not new to fantasy but I haven’t read one of his books yet. The entire Empire of the Wolf trilogy was a 5 star for me. The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Killing Vampires by Grady Hendrix and Bear Town by Fredrick Backman were recent 5 stars for me as well. I’m putting your 6 star books on my TBR!
You gave me some books to check out so I appreciate this!
I remember getting One Dark Window for free at my local Barnes and Noble. It sat on my shelf for two years. I couldn’t believe some 🔥 like that was just sitting on my shelf. So good.
Like sooooo good. Sneaky good haha
This was great to see what you liked. Some books I did not like as much as you did but you did give me a lot other books to check out.
That’s dope!
if you only had to pick one of those 6 star books?
Words of Radiance is my favorite book of all time so I would say that. It’s in a series however so if it was to be a standalone The Sword of Kaigen
@@Smitty1423I will never get over how good words of radiance is, might never read a better book in my life
@@itskcalb9152 sameeee
Lots of fantastic recommendations, thanks for sharing.
Got you!
If he read The Count of Monte Cristo, he’d truly know what a 6 star book is.
We’ll see
That and Frankenstein is the only classic I've read several times
What a coincidence. I am reading it right now and it’s amazing so far
Not to overhype it for you, but enjoy it my friend, because you’ll never read a better book.
@@gregorykay2472 sweet! Maybe I’ll just look it up but one thing I could not comprehend from the language and how it’s written is why villfort locked him up? I am just past that part in the book but I wasn’t sure how he was connected to the letter he was carrying? Maybe I’ll find out later in the book but I failed to understand that part. The language is hard to interpret at times ( for me anyway)
I'm reading red rising now, I'm enjoying it much more than what people describe it to be. Im excited to read the second book since it's supposed to be much better.
The second book goes so crazy! Let me know when you finish that!
SUN EATER BABYYYYY
So lit
@@Smitty1423
If you ever have an itch for horror comedy like terry pratchett or ‘The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy’ but horror. Please check out “Tales from the gas station” by Jack Townsend
I’m trying to preach the good word and get people to read it
(Not to toot my own horn but last time I recommended a series it was to Daniel Greene via livestream dono… and we’ll know how that went (; )
Just discovered your channel. Love it! I added so many books to my wish list watching this lol. Thank you! I was yelling Project Hail Mary at my screen so was stoked it earned your coveted sixth star. It’s my favorite book ever.
Ahh yes that book was so amazing and it’s dope you love the channel!
Guh, Project Hail Mary was SO GOOD!
Bro! I just finished Dark Matter. Easiest 5 star read. I couldn’t put this book down. Epic all the way through. Loved every bit of this book.
Dopeee
You randomly showed up on recommended and I'm insta subbed.
I just started reading after 10+ years of not. And it's been a blast getting back.
I'm here for the long call, keep up the good stuff man.
@@trumpetdoty27 so dope man welcome back!
@@Smitty1423 thank you for being a dope creator
Im currently waiting for my hold of Empire of Silence and Blood Over Bright Haven from the library. Super excited!!
Piranesi is definitely a 6 star book for me. Not for everyone but it sure did it for me
I gotta check out Piranesi
So glad to see you loving some of my favorite books!!! ❤️
Love it when that happens!