Top Three Buddy Reads of 2018

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Maybe the book was one of the best you read or maybe it was the discussion that was amazing. What were your three favourite buddy reads you were a part of in 2018?

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

So since it's a reread I'll put Malazan off the list.

1. Best series start to finish: Remembrance of Earth's Past (3 books) The Three-Body Problem

2. Best solo - The Poppy War

3. Best continuation of a series - A Reaper at the Gates

[Soo]

Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds BR - I had the most fun talking about the stories in that BR. Made a new friend and all that jazz.

Naught Book Club BRs & Solo - Bonded over romance novels regardless of our individual tastes. I tend to not fit in molds. LoL

Super Powereds: Year 1 - I read the series earlier in the year. Recommended it to Iain. Now there's a BR for the series and it's really fun to see how everyone is reacting to the book. They totally caught some things that I didn't when I read it and can't wait to talk about them about other parts of the series as they get farther.

Heroes Die Solo Read - The story is not perfect but it stands out as a favorite for this year. There are lots of parts that hit really well in a mental and emotional state.

[Anni]

1.) The Way of Kings (and actually all the other Sanderson books). First because I loved the book and second because it was way more interesting reading together and get all the Cosmere-input and opinions.

2.) Prince of Thorns and the whole broken Empire Trilogy. Not because I liked the book, for me the trilogy was just ok, but because the Buddy Read was so much fun!

3.) And I think that was my favourit Buddy Read this year Super Powereds: Year 1, I really enjoy our weekly reading schedule, it's a little like waiting for a new Episode of a TV Show 😂 And I really like the discussion we had, like Soo said, there's always something I missed myself but Iain and Virginie don't :) Plus I liked the book of course, can't wait to start Year 2.

[Bill]

1) Kushiel Universe - the first 6 books are some of my favorite ever.
2) Liveship Traders - great series with amazing characters. Got me back into the RotE series after how depressing Fitz was.
3) Greatcoats - hated the books but enjoyed trashing them with Mayim.

[Yanique, Thread Master]

1) Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy. Just amazing. All The STARS!


2) Malazan. A new favourite fantasy world yay! Still reading.


3) The Gentleman Bastards. So much fun and such great, interesting characters and relationships.

[Virginie]

Those are the BRs in which I had the most rewarding discussions, in no particular order:

- Super Powereds: Year 1 with Iain, Anni and Soo; the book is really good, and I love reading about everyone thoughts (even Soo's "haha, I know what will happen and you don't!") each week. Like Anni said, it's like waiting for weekly episodes of your favorite TV show :D

- Georgina Kincaid (in the PNR thread) with Diana & Iain; this series really reconciled me with UF/PNR, and speculating (and sharing our favorite 'hot' scenes) together with the PNR reading squad was great!

- The Wheel of Osheim with Zaara (and a ghost haunting the thread); we were the only survivors of the Red Queen's War buddy-read, and went a little insane with this BR: super-long philosophical essays, world-building explanations, crazy theories and camel quotes!

[Soo]

It's a war! I can't talk cause I already know what happened and if I encourage any of the "what if comments" or answer a question, it spoils the story for what comes up. WAR!

So I just run around going, YAY reading! And wait for when I can talk without spoiling stuff. Bwahahahah

I am TOTALLY going to go all out and drag everyone into talks about the story at the end. YUP. Already planned. =D

[Anni]

Soo wrote: "It's a war! I can't talk cause I already know what happened and if I encourage any of the "what if comments" or answer a question, it spoils the story for what comes up. WAR!

So I just run around..."

Haha, now I imagine how you calculated how long it will take us to finish all the books, reading 20 chapters a week and marking the date in your calendar 😂

[Virginie]

Soo wrote: "It's a war! I can't talk cause I already know what happened and if I encourage any of the "what if comments" or answer a question, it spoils the story for what comes up. WAR!

So I just run around..."

Hahaha, I'm picturing you trying to decide what you can or can't say, and settling for 'woohoo awesome!' just to be sure :p

[Mayim]

Malazan is great. All the buddy reads in this series were epic. So I guess all my top three is taken. :D

In terms of buddy ranting - Greatcoat with Bill (what fun) and now The Crown of Stars with the Incomparable Ladies. Books were atrocious but reads were pretty much great.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

My favs were:

Menagerie

Hidden Legacy

Last Dragon Standing


Although this thread is making me realize I’ve been really lax in BR participation this year.

[Jeffrey]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "My favs were:
Last Dragon Standing


I'm currently on One Good Dragon Deserves Another; and really enjoying it. Great plot, characters, and world-building.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

It’s good, isn’t it?!! She’s one of my fav authors, especially for her Paradox series. :)

[Tammie]

When I think of best buddy reads it's the discussion that comes to mind for me, so these are my favorite buddy read discussions I had this year.

1. The Ember Blade
2. Age of Myth
3. The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

[Shae]

I really enjoyed all my BR's this year, standouts for me were:

1. Greatcoats #1 & #2 (De Castell) - was hugely entertained by all the group discussion.
2. The Ember Blade (Wooding) - again, really loved reading everyone's comments on this as we went along.
3. The Poppy War (Kuang) - could not put this book down!

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

Mine are all Malazan.

1. The Crippled God BotF 10
2. Reaper's Gale BotF 7
3. Dust of Dreams BotF 9

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Faithful and the Fallen series

Ship of Magic

The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter

[Kathrine]

I only joined the group a few months ago so I haven't been in a lot of BR's, but I loved the Harry Potter-buddy read we did. It was amazing getting to experience the story with other HP fans!

[Maria]

Kathrine wrote: "I only joined the group a few months ago so I haven't been in a lot of BR's, but I loved the Harry Potter-buddy read we did. It was amazing getting to experience the story with other HP fans!"

I only saw this thread just now but I was gonna say the same! I only participated in the Half Blood Prince BR and I really, really enjoyed myself. Might be the best buddy read I've EVER done

[Graeme]

The first 5 Malazan reads and the whole of the Harry Potter BRs were all a fantastic experience.

[Aakash]

My favourite BRs were,
1)Harry Potter (My most favourite.
2)Blood of olympus
3)The lion the witch and the wardrobe.