I saw this tag over at TV Addicted Bookworm and thought it looked really fun so here’s my 2018 reading survey!

Reading Stats

Number of books read: 142
Number of rereads: 18
Pages Read: 44,112
Genre you read most: Fantasy

Questions

1. Best book you read in 2018?
This is such a difficult question! I read so many wonderful books in 2018 but the book that really sticks with me is The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden. It was a beautiful conclusion to one of my favourite series of all time, it made me cry a couple of times and I’m honestly still trying to process it enough to write a full review.
2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn’t?This was probably Glass Town Wars by Celia Rees. I loved her books growing up so I was really excited to dive back into her writing but this one didn’t really click with me. It was a solid 3 star read but I was expecting something more.

3. Most surprising book you read (in a good or bad way)?
It definitely has to be Mirage by Somaya Daud. I expected to really enjoy this fantasy/science fiction story with doppelgangers and danger but I didn’t expect to completely fall in love with the story and characters. I need book two now!!

4. Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did)?
I’m not sure I really pushed anyone to read any particular book but I did talk a lot and post lots of pictures of The Sisters of the Winter Wood and a few people said they were going to pick it up. It’s such a beautiful story I couldn’t help but shout about it.

5. Best series you started in 2018?
This one is cheating slightly but it probably has to be The Folk of the Air by Holly Black. Technically I read The Wicked King in 2019 but can I started the series in 2018 and can confirm it’s the best thing ever.

Best Sequel?
This is definitely Darksoul by Anna Stephens. I’m a bit obsessed with the Godblind trilogy so this was an eagerly awaited release. I couldn’t put it down and it was a brilliant addition to the series. I just wish I didn’t have to wait for the next one.

Best Series Ender?
I shamefully didn’t finish that many series in 2018. I did finally finish the Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo and I thought Ruin and Rising was the perfect ending to a series that has absolutely become one of my favourites. 
6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2018?
That would definitely be Jay Kristoff/Ami Kaufman. 2018 saw me finally pick up The Illuminae Files as well as Likelik3 and honestly why did I not read these brilliant books earlier. I’ve since ordered the Nevernight books and I’m already really excited to dive into them.

5. Favourite cover of 2018?
It’s got to go to Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman. This book is gorgeous both inside and out and if you haven’t read it it’s definitely worth getting your hands on a copy because it was a big highlight for me in 2018.

6. A book you can’t believe it took you so long to pick up?
Vicious by V. E. Schwab. 2018 was also my introduction to V. E. Schwab but I can’t believe I’d never read Vicious before. It was so dark and addictive and an instant five star read. I really need to get around to reading Vengeful.

7. Which book made you cry in 2018?
The Letters to the Lost series made me sob in both instalments. I tend not to read books that make you cry but I actually read a few that made me shed a few tears. This heartbreaking series that deals with grief and family and dealing with abuse was impossible not to cry at.

8. Most action packed/unputdownable book you read in 2018?
The second instalment in the Raven’s Mark series was an unputdownable book for me. Ravencry was everything I wanted from the next book in the series. It was fast paced, tons of action and adventure and I raced through it because it was so so good.

9. Book you read in 2018 you’re likely to re-read in 2019?
I read Katherine Arden’s spooky Halloween middle grade Small Spaces this year and thought it was the perfect October read. It’s pretty short so I think I might make it a tradition to read it every Halloween because it’s a lovely creepy story.

10. Best book from outside your comfort zone?
I don’t read much contemporary fiction and 2018 was the year I wanted to push myself outside my comfort zone and read more contemporaries. I read quite a few that I absolutely loved but one surprise was the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before series. I’d never had any intention of picking them up because they seemed too romance heavy for me but I binged the entire series and I thought they were brilliant.

11. Most memorable character from 2018?
I totally fell in love with Alosa from Tricia Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King. I read both books in this duology and I loved the headstrong and brazen pirate princess. This series is so addictive and I really wanted another instalment of Alosa’s adventures!

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?
A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood really sticks out as one of the most beautifully written books of 2018. I completely fell in love with this dreamy historical fiction that brings to life a Gatsby-era romance.

13. Most thought provoking/life changing book of 2018?
The Feed by Nick Clark Windo was definitely a thought provoking read. An end of the world story after technology goes wrong it really made me think about society and our reliance on technology as well as how addicted we are to our phones. It’s a brilliant story and definitely one that’s stuck with me through 2018.

14. Favourite passage/quote from a book you read in 2018?
I don’t really do favourite quotes or anything like that but this one from My Sister, the Serial Killer definitely stuck out:

“The most loving parents and relatives commit murder with smiles on their faces. They force us to destroy the person we really are: a subtle kind of murder.”

15. Shortest and longest book you read in 2018?
My shortest was Warm Up by V. E. Schwab – a short story set in the world of Vicious at just 15 pages. The longest book I read was my reread of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at 744 pages.

16. Book that shocked you most?
Resin by Ane Riel. I have no idea what I was expecting with this book but it definitely wasn’t the twisted and spine tingling story that I read.

17. Best book you read based on someone else’s recommendation/peer pressure?
The Surface Breaks by Louise O’Neil was recommended to me by a friend and I was a bit unsure but I’m so glad I picked it up because it’s a beautifully written reimagining of The Little Mermaid where she lives in a brutal patriarchal society.

18. Best debut you read?
This one has got to be A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinney. This kick ass Alice in Wonderland retelling is so full of action and adventure that it definitely became one of my favourites of the year.

19. Most vivid world building/setting?
For me Out of the Blue by Sophie Cameron really stuck out. Set in Edinburgh the story really captured the heart of a city I love so it was brilliant to fall into this book.

20. Book that put a smile on your face/was the most fun to read?
I laughed so much at The Exact Opposite of Okay. It was a hilarious story and I’m so excited to see what Laura Steven brings out next!

21. Hidden Gem of the year?
I really loved Harley Quinn: Mad Love. This is an all new novel version of Harley’s origin story and it was brilliant to dive into a full length tale of how she becomes one of my favourite comic book characters.

22. Book that crushed your soul?
I’m probably starting to sound like a broken record but The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden. I’m probably never going to get over it.

23. Most unique read?
It took me so long to pick up Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Ami Kaufman but I’m so glad I did because the format is completely unlike anything I’ve ever read and I loved ever second of it.

Looking Ahead

 

1. One book you didn’t get to in 2018 that is first priority in 2019?
Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. I’ve put them off long enough and I really want to get to them before King of Scars comes out because I believe there are potential spoilers!

2. Book you are most anticipating (non-debut)?
My most anticipated release was The Wicked King by Holly Black. This post went up a little late so I’ve already read it but it was definitely worth the wait. Other than that I’m excited about A Curse so Dark and Lonely and All the Wandering Light!

3. Series ending/sequel you are most anticipating in 2019?
Bloodchild by Anna Stephens. This is the concluding book in the Godblind trilogy and INEEDITNOWW.

4. One thing you hope to accomplish in 2019?
Blog more consistently and try to post at least a few times a week instead of sporadically.

5. A 2019 release you’ve read already and recommend?
Stain by A. G. Howard. A gothic fairytale fantasy story, this book is really beautifully written and I think fans of her work are going to absolutely adore this one.

So that’s my 2018 reading survey! If you did a similar post I’d love to see your bookish stats for the year so send me a link!