Eons and eons ago, I did a post talking about some of my five star predictions… now I’ve finally read all the books and can tell you what I thought of them! (of course I wrote the original so long ago that this follow up post might seem irrelevant- maybe just play along and pretend this isn’t coming from left of field 😉) Let’s not waste any more time and get to it!
Strange the Dreamer– success! In fact, I’ve since completed this duology and considered it perfection! Though it doesn’t come as a surprise- I’ve rated every. single. one of Taylor’s books 5 bananas- and that’s cos they deserve ALL THE LOVE!!
Belle Sauvage– this came very close with 4½/5 well deserved bananas. This was a little on the slow side and it didn’t quite live upto the original trilogy. Having said that, this new series has an exquisite fairy tale feel and I got the sense it was building towards something big and beautiful in the next book- we shall have to wait and see when the Secret Commonwealth comes out in October.
Wolf By Wolf- I’ve read this entire series now and am happy to say it ended up with an average rating of 4/5 bananas- which is not to be sniffed at! There were aspects I liked less than I expected, but obviously glad I read it.
Iron Gold– oh so close: this got 4½/5. I’m counting that as a win though- because I loved the bloodyhell out of this book and it was fantastic to have the gang back together. As with Belle Sauvage I had the sense that the series is *going places*.
Girl in the Tower– we have a winner! Arden, like Taylor, has never let me down and it’s completely unsurprising that I gave this 5/5 bananas. This is another one where I’ve since read the sequel and given that 5 bananas as well!
Alrighty then- I’d say that went pretty well! And obviously, cos this was so successful, I want to see if I can do it again. Here are some upcoming releases/future reads I reckon I’ll be giving all the bananas:
Some of these could go either way, but I have high hopes for them all!
I’ll probably update you about how this went in a few years 😉 For now, I want to know what upcoming books you think will be 5 star reads? Let me know in the comments!
I need to copy this post idea 👀👀 Maybe it will hold me accountable to read all those books I think I will love.
Let’s see, off the top of my head: Wayward Son, The Priory of the Orange Tree, Red White and Royal Blue and Wilder Girls? ☺
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ooh please do! I’d love to see your predictions!! Ahh such a good list- I have high hopes for all of those!! 😀
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I need Starsight so badly!!! I also think it will be 5 stars!
I am very intrigued about Ninth House, of course I’m going to read it but something in me is sceptical and I ha love no idea why!
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Ahh me too!!
Ah I think that’s fair, because it is different to her other stuff, so I’m not sure what it’s gonna be like either… but I still have high hopes!
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If she could just publish a little earlier, like now, that would be great 😂
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Okay,I just read an ARC of Blood sky by S.Massery and O.M.G you have to read that book it’s AMAZING!!
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Oh awesome!
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I also predict that Call Down the Hawk will be a 5 star read for me. I’m so excited to see where Stiefvater is going with this new series.
I’m also absolutely sure that The Toll by Neal Shusterman will be a 5 star. I can’t wait!
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Ahh me too!!
Oh yes!! I have high hopes for that as well! really looking forward to it- it’s a fantastic series!!
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Ooh I love seeing this type of post, especially when it’s so successful! That’s awesome that you know your reading taste so well 😄 Several of those on your upcoming predictions are ones that I’m really hoping to love as well, such as Wayward Son and Call Down the Hawk and Starsight 😍
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Thank you!! hehe I’m really glad about that too 😉 That’s awesome!! I hope they’re as good as both of us suspect they will be 😉
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LOL, maybe you cheated a little with a couple of those (favourite authors), but it’s great that you picked up so many winners! I thought I’d gotten better at buying books that I would really like, but my latest batch went both ways. And to think that I read tons of reviews before I commit to a book! Maybe I read the wrong ones this time haha.
What’s with all those snakes and birds on covers? Is that a new trend? 🤔 😂
Totally random question, but I’ve been wondering about it for a while now: do you design all your graphics yourself? because they’re so colourful and lovely and funny!
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hahaha I was just thinking that 😉 definitely seems like I went in with an advantage 😉 I do think that a lot of my books, generally speaking, go either way, but I know there are some books I’m almost guaranteed to like.
haha hadn’t thought about that!
And yes- thank you so much for saying that! Really means a lot! 😀 ❤
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Sometimes I think with melancholy back at the time I worked in a library and had access to almost unlimited funds to order books for a collection.But then I think of the rest of the red tape and the 9 to 5 routine and … nah… I prefer the other side of the counter.
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hehe well that’s understandable!
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I’m impressed that you got so many highly rated books. Best of luck in your next batch 🙂
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Thank you!! I was super lucky with these 😀 (but they were also mostly authors I know I like 😉 )
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Thanks for reminding me I still need to read Small Spaces!
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hehe you’re welcome!
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I gotta read Laini Taylor… Since it comes highly recommended by you… Rest are not on my list so far
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oh gosh I can’t recommend it enough!
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I’m glad these books turned out so well for you.
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Thanks!!
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Oooh I look forward to see if these will get 5 stars ^^
Laini Taylor’s books will NEVER disappoint, you should know that 😛 And now I have to try Arden too!
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Ahh I so agree about Laini Taylor!! She never disappoints!! Oh definitely do- Arden’s perfect for fans of Laini Taylor- she has such a beautiful, atmospheric writing style 😀
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I’m glad you liked Strange the Dreamer! I love Taylor’s writing and hope maybe she’ll bring back Weep and those characters again in another series.
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Thanks!! Ahh me too!!
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I was wondering whether Pullman could produce something as startlingly original as the Northern Lights series. Seems like although the new book is not quite as good as the earlier titles, its pretty close
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Yeah it definitely is!!
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Sounds great! I haven’t been in the habit of predicting 5-star reads, but I do love having authors that I know don’t disappoint. I want to read Small Spaces, too, so I hope it’s amazing!
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Thanks! Ah me too!
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I’m really glad all these books lived up to your expectations (well for the most part, none of then were below four bananas or so so that’s a success in my mind!) I loved Strange the Dreamer, and neither Taylor or Arden has let me down either!
I’m so excited for Dark Age and Wayward Son, I think they’ll be five star reads for me too!
Great post. 🙂 ❤
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Thank you! I definitely count that as a win too!! Ahh glad you feel the same way 😀
Me too!!!
Thanks!! 😀 ❤
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I am The Worst, and I bought Le Belle Sauvage ages ago because I wanted to finally get into Philip Pullman only to later realize it was part of the His Dark Materials universe, so it’s been sitting on my shelf for so long. I’ve since gotten hold of the original trilogy and have plans to read it, but I’m excited to see you liked it so much!
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Oh it’s definitely worth it- but I’d recommend trying the original trilogy first- it’s so good!! One of my favourites of all time!!
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I am definitely reading the original trilogy first! I saw the movie when I was younger, not even realizing they were books, and I adored the concept, so I’m sure I’ll love it.
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Good call!! Ah well then I’m confident you’ll like it, cos the concept is still amazing, but the execution is better!
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Glad you got some winners there!!
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Thanks!
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Oooo … I’m glad you enjoyed Book of Dust. I loved the original trilogy so I was nervous starting this one. I kinda want to read it, and then the trilogy, and then the new books. But I don’t know if it’ll make sense that way?
Fun post idea!
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Ah I totally get that- the original series is one of my favourites, so I was nervous too. But it was really good! I think it’ll make sense either way to be honest- I think the series are supposed to end up overlapping? (I think I read that somewhere anyway)
Thanks!
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That’s what I heard! I think Book of Dust is like a prequel, while the next two books will take place after The Amber Spyglass. I have to double check though.
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Ahh I love this post so much and I’m happy they mostly live up to your expectations!! 🙂 I agree with what you said on The Book of Dust, it was a bit slow and didn’t quite gave me the same feels as the original trilogy, but i’m looking forward to the sequel anyway 😀
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Thank you!! Ah I’m glad you agree! Me too 😀
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Yay! I’m so glad all those books lived up to your expectations! I have high hopes for both Ninth House and Call Down the Hawk! Hopefully they are huge hits for us both! ❤
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I just finished Strange the Dreamer myself and really loved that one too. It took a little while to get going for me, but it really snared me by the ending. I need to read the second book soon.
Iron Gold was so good! I love the whole aftermath of the revolution and all the conflicts. It’s so messy and real.
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Hope you have enough bananas for Crowfall! I’d give it all the bananas in the world! 😀 Okay, maybe I shouldn’t raise expectations either. Hope you enjoy all of those in batch #2! 😀
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Yay so glad to hear it- definitely one of my most anticipated books this year! 😊 Hehe I think they’re already pretty high to be fair 😉 thank you!
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Totally agree on much of your next list. I can see myself giving Call Down the Hawk 670 stars if it means we’ll get the rest of the trilogy earlier!!!
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