The Book Mage

The Book Mage

⚔️ 📚 ⚔️

Obsessive reader and constant writer just shouting into the void about book stuff. Fantasy, grimdark, gothic, and occasionally there will be dragons.

Writing, vlogs, book hauls, reviews, literary opinions and dumb book stuff 📚

Feel free to say hi & recommend your favourite book!

May Mystery SFF TBR

May Mystery SFF TBR

2024 Reading Goals

2024 Reading Goals

2023 Booktube Bloopers

2023 Booktube Bloopers

Best Books of 2023

Best Books of 2023

Пікірлер

  • @caitlinfoster9508
    @caitlinfoster950811 күн бұрын

    🧂🫡 I'm late to the party, but I just finished Iron Flame 2 days ago and am still so upset today that I went to go find rant videos about it. Yours is by far the best one I've seen. I knew it wasn't great from a writing or worldbuilding angle, but was willing to put the nonsense aside for the main couple. That's why I was there, for the romance-- as you mentioned. And she lost me. I feel like I slogged through 650+ pages for absolutely no emotional payoff. I loved your Iron Flame Bingo. 😂

  • @jamieserrano827
    @jamieserrano827Ай бұрын

    I think a marble style end papers would look nice in the familiar

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMageАй бұрын

    I might try and add one sometime ^__^

  • @jamieserrano827
    @jamieserrano827Ай бұрын

    New England is the most historic place in North America particularly the US Boston was the reason why the US decided to split from the UK I love books set in Boston I just don't like the massholes that live there

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMageАй бұрын

    I'm just not the biggest fan of low fantasy, especially when it's a UK / US setting since it's too familiar to be captivating for me (pretty much everywhere in the UK is historic lol) so I tend to only do low fantasy if it's very distant history (pre-Tudor) or from a more interesting setting I'm less familiar with. There are always exceptions though!

  • @jamieserrano827
    @jamieserrano827Ай бұрын

    @@theBookMage I’m a fan of urban fantasy. That’s what this is with the setting like Boston or if it’s New York or Chicago same thing even London and yes, I know the British Isle has very historic places.

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMageАй бұрын

    @@jamieserrano827 ik, I do like urban fantasy if it's also high fantasy, though sadly it's not that common. While I don't have the best track record for low fantasy (just personal taste), I'm tentatively hopeful this one might be one of the exceptions ^__^

  • @jamieserrano827
    @jamieserrano827Ай бұрын

    @@theBookMage yup

  • @jamieserrano827
    @jamieserrano827Ай бұрын

    I like the idea of Helm of midnight as well I really want to read that I like the deckled edges when it comes to pages it just gives that book a sense of character

  • @CathenaReads
    @CathenaReadsАй бұрын

    55:16 "I want the bookish drama" well, the book you unboxed right after by illumicrate is being described online as a colonizer romance so.... 💀 and it's YA. Also I loved your reaction to the fairyloot books lmao

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMageАй бұрын

    I heard about that, I have no idea why the author would choose that incredibly dark area of history to inspire their teen romance book but yikes! I can safely say I won't be reading it

  • @aharrold653
    @aharrold653Ай бұрын

    I've not been impressed by any sub box bar broken binding this year. I've had 1 5* read from FL, IC, GSFF and Locked Library combined this year, and dnf'd almost every other one. Love the end music by the way. 🎉

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMageАй бұрын

    I'm usually 50/50 on GSFF picks (though I did get to meet about 10 of their recent pick authors at an event last night which has boosted my enthusiasm for a few of their books!). But sometimes they drop something like The Justice of Kings which makes it worth it for me. I'm waiting to see if the new romantasy box affects the FL adult pics but mostly they're too romance focused for me. IC is hit and miss for me depending on the age demographic. LL is so uninspired to me, I'll be cancelling. PS the outro music is from Dragon Age Inquisition ^__^

  • @10barnfarm
    @10barnfarmАй бұрын

    📚

  • @ReadingNymph
    @ReadingNymphАй бұрын

    I enjoyed Evocation, it felt more like a romance but it was alot of fun

  • @tiba.a
    @tiba.aАй бұрын

    The Tainted Cup was fun. So was Age of Myth 🤓 How many boxes do you reckon you'll need for packing up the books? 😂😈

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMageАй бұрын

    I think it depends on the box size but probably a lot, maybe 50 if there's about 15 books in each, less if I can fit more books per box. Not looking forward to it!

  • @iliannal
    @iliannalАй бұрын

    Oh wow! Do you actually know how many special editions you own??

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMageАй бұрын

    Not currently, but when I move I will do a full inventory of everything. I'm going to guess about 100, mostly monthly subscription books, but I could be wrong

  • @iliannal
    @iliannalАй бұрын

    Doesn't sound great to be honest but the book cover in teal is pretty.🪶 Looking forward to your video trying the chapters!

  • @aharrold653
    @aharrold653Ай бұрын

    Prefer the back if I'm honest, but the pick feels like a FL romantasy pick 😅

  • @katanabluebird
    @katanabluebirdАй бұрын

    That candle read like a novel

  • @tiba.a
    @tiba.aАй бұрын

    I agree, the back of the book looks more appealing 😅

  • @walterfechter8080
    @walterfechter80802 ай бұрын

    Dear lady. Have you been to Whitby during the Halloween season? I have friends in Yorkshire who have attended that event. You definitely have a mid-1960s fashion model "look" about you. The last time I visited London, I took a walking tour of Highgate cemetery. It was interesting, to say the least. Back in 2010, I immigrated to the States. I hope to return to England in the near future. Many thanks, The Book Image. With care -- W --

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMageАй бұрын

    I have yes, I'm in Whitby about a dozen times a year since it's not too far from me! I do love WGW though it's sadly suffered a bit in recent years. I hope you'll get to visit the UK again soon, possibly to enjoy a nice cup of tea up at the abbey ^__^

  • @walterfechter8080
    @walterfechter8080Ай бұрын

    @@theBookMage Thank you, for the reply. Yes, I would love to return to the UK soon. I have relatives and friends in Manchester. Stay safe. With care -- W

  • @sarahjanew1991
    @sarahjanew19912 ай бұрын

    I'm never gonna stop making you read my obsessions 😂😂😂

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage2 ай бұрын

    It's your friendship tax 😂

  • @journalofalongpause
    @journalofalongpause2 ай бұрын

    📚

  • @BooksToAshes
    @BooksToAshes2 ай бұрын

    Totally agreed with rating indie or self published books a bit differently, I tend to be lenient and kinder with my reviews (usually) 🔥🔥

  • @user-lj2hi4th8k
    @user-lj2hi4th8k2 ай бұрын

    🔥🔥

  • @ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk
    @ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk2 ай бұрын

    Best wishes with what you are reading. I hope you get some great stories.

  • @tiba.a
    @tiba.a2 ай бұрын

    🔥

  • @BooksToAshes
    @BooksToAshes2 ай бұрын

    This TBR sounds like a fun time. I’ve been so slumpy lately so I feel you! Hopefully these books are really good and you get to most of them. Happy reading!🔎

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage2 ай бұрын

    So far I'm really enjoying Silverblood and can feel the slump lifting! Hoping you're finding some good books this month too

  • @aharrold653
    @aharrold6532 ай бұрын

    I might have said this before but I didn't have a good time with Voyage of the Damned. 2.8* very nearly DNF'd at 50 pages. It is an acquired taste. 🔍

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage2 ай бұрын

    That definitely doesn't bode well, maybe I'll give it a try and if it's bad for me too I can DNF and get it off my shelves without feeling like I'm missing anything. I'd hoped with 2 sub boxes doing it it might be a good sign but I'll def rethink my expectations

  • @user-lj2hi4th8k
    @user-lj2hi4th8k2 ай бұрын

    🔍

  • @ReadingNymph
    @ReadingNymph2 ай бұрын

    Mystery May sounds great, love a good mystery book 🔍

  • @tiba.a
    @tiba.a2 ай бұрын

    🔎🔍

  • @iliannal
    @iliannal2 ай бұрын

    🔎🖤

  • @belflorxochitl5851
    @belflorxochitl58512 ай бұрын

    🧂🧂🧂

  • @BooksToAshes
    @BooksToAshes2 ай бұрын

    April has been trash for me in regards to reading, honestly the entire year has been slumpy so you’re not alone. The depressed peasants 😂 me. But seriously I haven’t read Empire of the Vampire but I hope I like it more than you did 😬🪐🌌

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage2 ай бұрын

    Most people seem to like EotV more than me, so there's hope! I wish I could be one of those people too 😂

  • @BooksToAshes
    @BooksToAshes2 ай бұрын

    @@theBookMage Considering that it has vampires and you still don’t like it, that itself is tragic honestly 😔

  • @aharrold653
    @aharrold6532 ай бұрын

    I had a reading slump that lasted from mid March to end of April too. I found the multi POV thing in EotD really jarring but otherwise it was ok. Couldn't deal with the audiobook accents though 😂. I did feel like there weren't actually any answers to book 1 questions either. My longest reading slump in general was 10 years. ⭐️

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage2 ай бұрын

    Oh wow 10 years is a long time! What got you back into reading? I haven't braved the audiobooks yet 😂 maybe if I do a re-read before the final book I'll subject myself to it as punishment

  • @aharrold653
    @aharrold6532 ай бұрын

    @@theBookMage I got back into reading when I started learning another language as it really helps with vocab and grammar to read words in context.

  • @iliannal
    @iliannal2 ай бұрын

    April was definitely not giving 😆I had stopped reading for fun/pleasure during my studies so several years during my 20s.. Hope May is better for you 🪐

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage2 ай бұрын

    Ooft that's a long time, I probably would've also stopped reading during my studies but I took English so had to read so many books anyway 😅 out of curiosity was there a book that got you back into reading?

  • @iliannal
    @iliannal2 ай бұрын

    @@theBookMage I was reading a couple of series whenever the next book was published but it was actually my frustration with the book The Binding that led me to booktube and then started reading more again. So although I did not enjoy the book, it got me back to reading, ha!

  • @tiba.a
    @tiba.a2 ай бұрын

    Tars gets mentioned 👀❣🌌

  • @BooksToAshes
    @BooksToAshes3 ай бұрын

    Omg I LOVE those Japanese chocolate mushrooms! I don’t know why but they taste so good, even if it’s just chocolate and biscuit 😂🍄🍄‍🟫

  • @aharrold653
    @aharrold6533 ай бұрын

    Gothic + fantasy is my favourite genre. 🍄

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage2 ай бұрын

    10/10 combination

  • @SimpleScottishLiving
    @SimpleScottishLiving3 ай бұрын

    Yes to all Sherlock Holmes style mysteries and mushroom imagery!! I can’t wait to read this. Thanks for sharing!

  • @tiba.a
    @tiba.a3 ай бұрын

    🍄 yes to more fantasy-mystery books! I'm currently looking whatever Coraline or the Wayward Children series by Seanen Mcguire are or Like Guillermo del Toro vibes 😂 gothic/folklore/fantasy?

  • @iliannal
    @iliannal3 ай бұрын

    I enjoyed this 🍄 and I'm glad you enjoyed the book! I hope April is going well for you!

  • @ReadingNymph
    @ReadingNymph3 ай бұрын

    🐺 your rant about Faebound was hilarious. There was so much hype for it at first but now I keep seeing some mixed opinions. I'm happy to give that one a miss

  • @tiba.a
    @tiba.a3 ай бұрын

    🍄 that Threadlight edition looks stunning 🤩

  • @ReadingNymph
    @ReadingNymph3 ай бұрын

    🍄 I'm so excited to read The Tainted Cup, I think it's got so much potential

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage3 ай бұрын

    I ended up reading it super quick and really enjoyed it! It definitely met my expectations

  • @aharrold653
    @aharrold6533 ай бұрын

    🍄

  • @monicasimms6553
    @monicasimms65533 ай бұрын

    My American edition of empire of the Damned is actually thinner by a lot the the Waterstones edition!!!! So it would have taken up half the space 😢

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage3 ай бұрын

    Oh, odd! Does it have those bible-thin pages? The UK editions are definitely chunky!

  • @jamieserrano827
    @jamieserrano8273 ай бұрын

    I really wanna read that book so bad the tainted cup sounds so cool and I have read a bit of the sample on e-book I’m gonna call the style of this book bio punk, because everything in this world from the plants to the creatures has been genetically altered, which is kind of cool

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage3 ай бұрын

    I read it and would definitely recommend it! My next video is a reading vlog for the book (no spoilers) but I ended up giving it 4 stars. It was fast paced and really entertaining! Loved the worldbuilding.

  • @jamieserrano827
    @jamieserrano8273 ай бұрын

    No, you’re right. It’s pronounced like the bird T.Kingfisher

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage3 ай бұрын

    Thanks! Thought it was just me going mad on my own 😂

  • @jamieserrano827
    @jamieserrano8273 ай бұрын

    @@theBookMage no worries

  • @jamieserrano827
    @jamieserrano8273 ай бұрын

    Book nerd life like regular life, but with dragons

  • @jamieserrano827
    @jamieserrano8273 ай бұрын

    I’m sorry, but shut the front door. I love that shade of purple on Empire of the damned. But I also like the blue from the forbidden planet, edition of the book, blue purple, green and various shades there of o are some of favorite colors I call it, the bruise palette

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage3 ай бұрын

    I do like some purple, but in the UK this shade is almost exclusively seen at halloween haha 😅 someone else will enjoy them when I get around to downsizing ^__^

  • @iliannal
    @iliannal3 ай бұрын

    The Fate Inked in Blood edition looks beautiful! 🍄 I plan to read it this month. But I am looking forward to your comments reading Bride. I think it will be hilarious, please vlog it 😂

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage3 ай бұрын

    OK just for you I will promise to vlog when I read Bride 😂

  • @tiba.a
    @tiba.a3 ай бұрын

    Went from "Maybe we're same bish but different shape" to "I wanna be like you so bad, but my standards are too high" 😂💀 love it 😆 .... also that beautiful eyeshadow 🤩

  • @aharrold653
    @aharrold6533 ай бұрын

    I considered going to the tour but I was not going to do that late in the evening 😭. Wish I had gone now.

  • @theBookMage
    @theBookMage3 ай бұрын

    If it helps I only survived because my lengthy travel got me moved forward in the queue (still after about 1.5hrs queue though) so it might've been much later in the evening for most. I think some locations queued for 4 or 5 hours for a signature, I think the Edinburgh lot got kicked out of the venue iirc 😅

  • @aharrold653
    @aharrold6533 ай бұрын

    @@theBookMage oh my, that's a lot of queueing. Even my inner Brit shudders 😅

  • @CoffeeQueen90
    @CoffeeQueen903 ай бұрын

    Gorgeous book cover and the book’s cover (without the characters cover)