2022 Mid-Year Check-In

So, I think it was July 2nd that was technically the mid-point of the year? I was still down with COVID at the time, so I missed that the Mid-Year Check-In tag was starting to make its rounds. But, I’ve highly enjoyed doing it in the past (here’s 2020 and 2021), so I figured: better late than never, right?

The original tag was created by ReadLikeWildfire and Earl Grey Books.

2022 Mid-Year Check-In

Below are the questions for the Mid-Year Check-In tag. I may have edited and/or removed a few, just to fit my own personal reading experiences better. We’re also going to skip stats this time around (I included a few last year) because they are depressing, honestly. Hopefully, this post will be the kick into gear I need to get reading again properly!

The best book you’ve read so far this year?

Oh, without a doubt The Councillor by E.J. Beaton. A book hasn’t enamored me like this has in a long, long time. I wasn’t expecting to love this nearly as much as I did, but I am waiting with bated breath for the sequel. And, since reading it, I’ve begged everyone I know to give it a shot, so…

The best sequel you’ve read this year?

Oh, Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter, hands down. The man doesn’t know sophomore book syndrome. (We’re also going to ignore that this is the only sequel I’ve read this year 💀).

New releases you haven’t read yet but want to

God, all of them? Y’all, I’ve read 15 books this year. 15. I’m practically illiterate that this point. (Okay, we all know this isn’t true and that 15 books is still a lot more than zero. But for me personally, that’s…a very small number, especially compared to everything I want to read).

But, I am really excited to dive into my first David Dalglish book with The Bladed Faith. While the next two are by authors who I’ve already read and adored before. I’m stoked to see a new series by Lesley Penelope with The Monsters We Defy. Meanwhile, Tasha Suri has me yearning for The Oleander Sword, a follow up to the incredible The Jasmine Throne.

Most anticipated releases for the second half of the year

The First Binding by R.R. Virdi has enamored me by cover alone (and the challenge of tackling its rumored 800+ pages). Then, there is The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang, which I hear is queer misfits in space, so sign me the fuck up. Finally, I am really stoked for A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows, who I haven’t read yet, but have always meant to.

 Biggest disappointment

I’ve been very lucky that I’ve enjoyed most of the books I’ve read this year! The current main outlier would be Assassin’s Gambit by Amy Raby. You know it’s not great when you struggle to connect to the chemistry in a romance novel…

Biggest Surprise

One of my more recent reads, Star Eater by Kerstin Hall. I didn’t know too much about this book before I started reading it, but the worldbuilding was absolutely fascinating. Honestly, I continue to keep thinking about it, it was just that thought-provoking for me.

Favorite new to you, or debut, author

Andrew Stewart, hands down. I absolutely was blown away by The Bone Shard Daughter. I thought the plot was absolutely masterful and I’m so excited to read the next book. But, I’m pretty sure I’m a new fan for life (not to mention I would die for Mephi, so there’s that).

Newest favorite character

I haven’t rooted in a long time for someone as hard as I rooted for Zhu from Shelley Parker-Chan’s She Who Became the Sun. She over came so much and she’s not done yet.

Book that made you cry

I think I used to cry a lot more in books, but it doesn’t happen as often anymore. However, this year, that title certainly goes to Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel. Oof, this book gutted me.

Book that made you happy

Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long made me incredibly happy, but not because of the book itself. Don’t get me wrong: I really enjoyed the story and loved the writing. But, I was so happy to finally find a fantastic comp title for BLOOD PRICE!

What books do you need to read by the end of the year

God, saving all of the hard questions for last. If I had to limit it to six (by authors who aren’t currently on this list), it’d be…

• A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers: The Long Way to An Angry Planet is one of my favorite books of all time, so…
• The Vanished Queen by Lisbeth Campbell: I honestly know nothing about this book but I fell in love with the cover and the author is cool on Twitter, so I’d like to make it a priority
• A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane: I’ve read her book by her other name, so I want to give this series a shot!
• For the Throne by Hannah Whitten: I was so pleasantly surprised with how much I loved For the Wolf last year, I really need to second installment in this duology!
• Chaos Vector by Megan E. O’Keefe: Considering a new trilogy was just announced, I should really finish the second two books in her Protectorate series.
• Jade War by Fonda Lee: Speaking of reading the last two books of trilogies…

Favorite post you have done this year

This was also a hard one to narrow down, so I decided not to and I picked a couple instead. I’m particularly proud of:

• Ways to Support Me in 2022: Mostly because I’m usually really bad at promoting myself and I did an entire post about it!
• Writing Weaknesses: a vulnerable, introspective writing post
• Video Game Characters I’d Love to F*ck: This was the most fun I had writing a post, by far
• The Importance of Commenting on Book Blogs: this has certainly been my most successful post this year!
• Your Stories Matter, Especially Now: a reminder we all need, I think

And that’s a wrap on 2022’s take of the Mid-Year Check-In! I just barely had enough books read that I could still only use a book once, which is something I try to do. Let’s hope that my yearly wrap up has many more contenders on it.

What about you? Did you complete this tag? Or, have answers you want to share? Link up or post in the comments below, so I don’t miss it, especially since I haven’t blog hopped in a while.

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