Mid-Year Book Freak Out 2018

Welcome to the Mid-Year Book Freak Out of 2018 everyone!  Since time got away from me, I'm sharing this a bit later than I was originally planning - I can't believe it's already July!  Anyway, I've been taking part in this since 2015 - if you like you can check out my previous posts from 2015, 2016, and 2017 - and I always enjoy seeing what everyone's been reading.  Of course, I always end up adding a lot of books to my TBR thanks to this as well.  By the way, this tag was originally created by ReadLikeWildFire and Ely Jayne. Without further ado, let's get on to the tag:

1. Best book you've read so far in 2018.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - I have managed to read so many wonderful books so far this year, but Holly Black's newest release still stands out to me even though I read it back in January.  Her work is consistently stunning, if you ask me.  Plus, I kind of want to share the spotlight throughout this post for other fantastic reads rather than giving one or two all of the glory.

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2018.

The Arm of the Sphinx (The Books of Babel #2) by Josiah Bancroft - I'm pretty sure Josiah Bancroft is a genius.  Book one in this series, Senlin Ascends, was uniquely brilliant and somehow the sequel was actually better than the original.  I'd say this is actually one of my top reads of 2018.  If you haven't tried his series yet, I have a feeling you'd love it if you're also a fan of The Great Library series by Rachel Caine, High-Rise by J.G. Ballard, and An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors by Curtis Craddock.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to.

Future Lost (Future Shock #3) by Elizabeth Briggs - I loved the first two books in this YA sci-fi time travel series, Future Shock & Future Threat, and I absolutely need to pick up the final book of the trilogy.  But, you know, I just don't want it to end...  This series (the first two books anyway) comes highly recommended from me and it deserves so much more attention.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.

Vengeful (Villains #2) by V.E. Schwab - V.E. Schwab has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I'm dying for this sequel which will be released on September 25th.  If you haven't yet Vicious, her first adult novel, there's still time to get caught up before the sequel comes out.  I can't wait to be back with Victor, Sydney, and Mitch!

5. Biggest disappointment.

#PrettyBoy Must Die by Kimberly Reid - This sounded like a really cool combination of #AlexFromTarget meets the Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter and Spy Kids, but the main character was too arrogant and irritating to salvage what could have been a fun romp.

6. Biggest surprise.

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson - Nonfiction isn't my go-to genre, but this is absolutely compulsively readable and a fascinating account of H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer, and the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.  It's a history book, but it isn't dry in the least.  In fact, it reads like a thriller.

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you).

Tomi Adeyemi - Her debut novel, Children of Blood and Bone, is absolutely stunning.  Seriously, if you haven't picked it up yet what are you waiting for?!

8. Newest fictional crush.

Have I mentioned how much I like the character of Thomas Cresswell from Hunting Prince Dracula (Stalking Jack the Ripper #2) by Kerri Maniscalco?  By the way, the above fan art is from PhantomRim - you can see more of their work on Redbubble.

9. Newest favorite character.

Grace Lafferty from Nothing But Sky by Amy Trueblood - This YA historical fiction debut was brilliant and Grace, a wingwalker from a Roaring Twenties barnstorming team, could have soared right off the page.

10. Book that made you cry.

Nevermore (Cal Leandros #10) by Rob Thurman - This is one of my favorite urban fantasy series and this installment was no exception, but I'm sad because it's looking like it's going to be the last book although it ended on a cliffhanger.  Everwar, the next book in series, has missed it's publication by more than a year with no word from the author or the publisher as to what's going on.

11. Book that made you happy.

Skin Game (The Dresden Files #15) by Jim Butcher - This is another one of my all time favorite series and even though it's currently on the fifteenth installment it's still so awesome.  I smiled the whole way through this Dresden-style heist!

12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received).

Amberlough (The Amberlough Dossier #1) by Lara Elena Donnelly - I just recently finished up this 2017 John le Carre meets Cabaret LGBT+ fantasy thriller set in a Weimar Republic, Germany -esque world - just look at how amazing that cover is!

13. What books do you need to read by the end of this year?

And that's it for the Mid-Year Book Freak Out of 2018!  Have you read any of these books, or have a I piqued your interest in any of them?  Have you taken part in this tag yet this year?  As always, thanks for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!