In this video, the creator reviews and ranks 26 books read in 2024, a personal record year for reading. He categorizes each book into a tier list (S, A, B, C, D, E) and provides a spoiler-free sentence-long summary, along with personal opinions. The collection is predominantly sci-fi and fantasy, though he ventures into other genres like self-help and contemporary fiction. Key themes emerging from his top-ranked books include compelling characters, unique world-building, intricate magic systems, and engaging, conversational writing styles that evoke strong emotional responses. He highlights the "Red Rising" series, "Piranesi," "Project Hail Mary," "The Sword of Kaigen," "The Will of the Many," "Blood Over Bright Haven," and "Mistborn: The Final Empire" as standout S-tier reads that ignited and sustained his passion for reading. The video also touches on his preferences for shorter, immersive books and his evolving tastes.
2024 Book Review & Tier List:
0:00 Introduction: The creator read 26 books in 2024, a personal record, and will rank them on a tier list with spoiler-free summaries and personal opinions. Rankings are subjective and could change.
Summary: Follows Piranesi, a man navigating a vast house of infinite rooms, statues, and ocean tides, visited weekly by "The Other," as he uncovers the house's secrets.
Details: First book read in 2024, sparked his reading journey. Initially slow but incredibly unique setting described beautifully, written as journal entries (first-person perspective). Praised for its genius narrative choice and concise 250-page length.
Summary: Dystopian sci-fi set on Mars, where society is color-coded. Darrow, a Red-class minor, infiltrates the ruling Gold class to fight for justice.
Details: Compared to Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones. Speaker fell in love with the series, calling Darrow a "Beast." Praised for its vibrant characters, action, sci-fi elements, rags-to-riches story, and conversational writing. Despite its high quality, it's considered the "worst" in the trilogy, as the others are even better.
3:36 Golden Son & Morning Star by Pierce Brown (S-Tier, Capital S-Tier):
Summary: Books 2 and 3 of the Red Rising series, continuing Darrow's journey. (Specific plot details avoided to prevent spoilers).
Details: Clumped together to avoid spoilers for the first book. These books level up the series, introducing new characters, deepening existing relationships, and increasing drama and stakes. Speaker highly recommends reading the first book to understand.
Summary: A sci-fi thriller where Jason Dessen is thrown into a parallel world and desperately tries to return to his original family and timeline.
Details: Read for an upcoming show adaptation, aiming to say "the book was better." While multiverse stories feel played out, this book offered unexpected twists. Praised for Blake Crouch's easy-to-understand, fast-paced writing, making it an enjoyable read suitable for travel.
6:12 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (D-Tier):
Summary: A poignant novella set in 1980s Ireland, where a coal merchant faces a moral dilemma during Christmas.
Details: Picked for its short length (100 pages) and to expand genre. However, the speaker found it too slow-paced and the writing style not to his taste, despite acknowledging its critical acclaim and upcoming movie adaptation.
7:15 Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (C-Tier):
Summary: An oral history chronicling the rise and fall of a fictional 1970s rock band.
Details: Written as a series of interviews. The speaker initially believed the band and songs were real, highlighting the book's immersive storytelling. Praised Daisy Jones as a believable character. However, the story became stale halfway through for the speaker, possibly due to craving sci-fi/fantasy.
Summary: A lone astronaut must solve a scientific mystery in space to save Earth from an extinction-level event.
Details: Initially hesitant due to the science/astronaut theme, but trusted a recommendation. Praised for its conversational and relatable writing, making complex science accessible. Main character described as smart and a "certified goofball." Features an unexpected twist that keeps readers invested. Highly recommended, especially the audiobook with a "terrific" narrator.
Summary: A self-help guide on the creative process by a legendary music producer.
Details: Read because it felt like "required reading" for content creators. Offers insights into inspiration and artistic expression. Speaker found physical self-help books hard to enjoy, listening to half the audiobook narrated by Rubin. Agreed with Rubin's wisdom but lacked tangible takeaways, viewing it more as a "nice reminder" of known concepts.
Summary: A standalone, character-driven tale of war and resilience, following the Matsuda family as they discover powers and painful truths while protecting their homeland.
Details: Compared to Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Game of Thrones. Features two favorite characters (Masaki and Mamuro) and memorable supporting cast. A "Big Boy book" (600+ pages) with deep cultural immersion. Starts small but escalates dramatically. Praised for its "banana land" magic system (water, air, fire wielding) and intense emotional moments, almost making him cry. Acknowledged a lull in the middle but urged readers to power through.
Summary: A Coming-of-Age story about a charismatic but self-destructive high school senior.
Details: Read after loving the movie. Explores themes of youth, love, and fear of growing up. Speaker found the first-person narrative from the main character, Suter, "annoying" and "excruciatingly painful," feeling the character's voice wasn't authentic to a teenager. Considered not finishing it. Preferred the movie significantly.
Summary: The fourth book in the Red Rising saga, continuing the story after the original trilogy.
Details: A return to his favorite series after a difficult read. Speaker found it not quite up to par with the original trilogy, causing concern about the author's writing. Features four character POVs, two of which are new. Described as more of a "political drama with heists" than the action-packed earlier books. Primarily sets the stage for future books, which the speaker found too long for a "setup book" (581 pages).
Summary: Book 5 in the Red Rising saga. (Specific plot details avoided).
Details: Confirmed Pierce Brown had not lost his "fast ball," but gained speed. Described as "crazy" with "crazy villains." Multiple POVs are handled better. Stakes, action, and drama are all elevated. Noted its considerable length (751 pages) but found it an absolute page-turner.
Summary: A humorous novel about a bank robbery turned hostage situation, exploring misunderstandings, second chances, and human connection.
Details: A much-needed break from lengthy sci-fi/fantasy. Praised for its dry humor and positive themes. Considered "on the cusp of A-tier," recommending it as a fun, easy vacation read.
Summary: A police officer and neuroscientist team up to combat a mysterious affliction causing people to have memories of unlived lives.
Details: Read after enjoying Dark Matter, expecting a similar experience due to Crouch's fast-paced, psychological thriller style. While the premise was hooking, it didn't resonate as much as Dark Matter. Speaker didn't connect with the characters as deeply and struggled to recall the ending.
Summary: The penultimate book in the Red Rising series. (Specific plot details avoided).
Details: Expressed excitement for the final book, Red God, releasing this year. Described the book with an emphatic "Wow!" Noted its length (678 pages).
20:55 The Will of the Many by James Islington (S-Tier):
Summary: A dark academia epic fantasy set in a hierarchy-ruled world. A new student with a secret past seeks revenge by navigating an elite academy.
Details: Compared to Red Rising due to its similar premise of a young guy trying to overthrow a hierarchical structure for vengeance. Described as a "Banger" and "darker version of Harry Potter" with mystery, eeriness, and magic. Excited for it to be another series, despite the hassle of carrying around a 700-page hardcover.
Summary: A dark fantasy following a war orphan who rises through a military academy, discovering the true nature of magic and war.
Details: A popular book on BookTok. Surprised by its dark tone and the painful nature of its magic. Praised the author's visual writing. Main character, Rin, is determined, talented, and vengeful, making it hard to always root for her. Found it interesting but didn't connect as deeply or feel as invested as with Red Rising or The Will of the Many, possibly due to burnout from similar storylines.
Summary: An astronaut stranded on Mars must use science, ingenuity, and humor to survive.
Details: Same author as Project Hail Mary and adapted into a movie. Had high expectations after loving Project Hail Mary. Found it similar in tone and character but lacking the "unique elements" that made Project Hail Mary emotionally resonant. Believed he might have liked it more if he'd read it first.
24:30 Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio (B-Tier):
Summary: A space opera sci-fi epic about a man recounting his role in blowing up a sun to end an alien empire.
Details: First book in the popular "Sun Eater" series. Praised for its intricate world-building, comparing it to Dune or Name of the Wind. The main character, Hadrian Marlowe, is melodramatic, and the story is told through his journal entries. Found the writing "poetic" and "super detailed," making it a difficult but rewarding read, requiring constant attention. Connected with the universe and lore but not deeply with the characters. Heard the series improves significantly after this solid first book.
27:04 Constituent Service by John Scalzi (E-Tier):
Summary: An Audible exclusive about an intergalactic politician dealing with unexpected alien constituents.
Details: A "hard listen" that he "did not enjoy for a single second." Counted as a read due to the "painful" experience from start to finish. Compared it to Parks and Recreation with aliens, but "not as funny."
Summary: A quirky comedic story about an ordinary guy inheriting his uncle's supervillain empire.
Details: Recommended on Goodreads, attracted by the concept and cover. Felt the book didn't deliver on its promising premise, ultimately "puttering out."
28:21 Howling Dark by Christopher Ruocchio (A-Tier):
Summary: The sequel to Empire of Silence, focusing more on sci-fi elements and villains. (Specific plot details avoided).
Details: A significant improvement over the first book, almost a different genre, more sci-fi. Villains shine and get more page time. Hadrian, the main character, becomes less whiny and more "badass." Praised for its insane, vivid world-building and imagery. Compared again to Dune for its immersive world. Enjoyed the villains but still struggled to root for any particular character. On the "cusp of S-tier," noting the entertainment value and scale increased. Acknowledged it was still a difficult, detailed, and "cumbersome" read.
30:14 Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang (S-Tier):
Summary: A woman attempts to become a prestigious Mage in a Utopian city dependent on magic, uncovering dark truths about her city.
Details: A "breath of fresh air" after complex sci-fi. Although 400 pages, it felt much shorter and easier to understand due to the writing style. A compact, standalone story that hits every emotion. Touches on themes of oppression due to gender and social class. Main character is a "Prodigy" and "beast," with a great counterpart. Developed a strong connection with the characters, similar to The Sword of Kaigen, establishing M.L. Wang as a must-read author.
31:36 The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (A-Tier):
Summary: An eccentric detective and her new assistant investigate a murder in a world of magic, deceit, and murder.
Details: Described as Sherlock Holmes in a fantasy world. A unique, funny, intense, and gripping read. The detective, Anna, is a favorite character, providing comedic relief while solving mysteries. The main character (assistant) is a "dud" but has interesting magical abilities. A "blast of a read," but not S-tier caliber. Another fantasy trilogy identified.
32:42 Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson (S-Tier):
Summary: In a world ruled by a tyrannical immortal, a street thief discovers rare magical powers and joins a rebellion to overthrow the empire.
Details: First Brandon Sanderson book, chosen as a recommended entry into his "Cosmere" universe. Praised the amazing magic system, which is clearly and repeatedly explained. Characters are distinctive and full of personality. Constant plotting, politics, and action. Writing style is "easily digestible," comparable to Red Rising. Created memorable heroes and villains. Highly recommended for beginner and experienced fantasy readers alike. Despite being 500 pages, it "flies by."
34:58 Key Takeaways: 2024 was an amazing year of reading, particularly for sci-fi and fantasy. The creator discovered a new passion and preferred genres/styles.