So, last year I listed 5 books that were on my Physical TBR that I felt were quite intimidating. I wanted to list a brand new 5 for 2021 but before I jump into those 5, I want to just update you on the reading status of the last 5 I mentioned in the last list.

1. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel by Susanna Clarke – I DNFed this book really early on in 2021, the pacing was super slow and I didn’t love the writing style.
2. American Gods by Neil Gaiman – I have not read this book and I don’t think I will. I read a bunch of Neil Gaiman books last year and was disappointed by most of them so I don’t think he is the author for me.
3. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova – I have not read this yet but I do plan on reading this. Just haven’t got round to it yet.
4. The Black Prism by Brent Weeks – I have read this and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would and I am looking forward to seeing where the rest of the series goes.
5. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon – I haven’t read this yet but I do plan on reading this. Just haven’t got round to it yet.

Ok, let’s look at this years most intimidating books!

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

So, this is the second book by Stuart Turton and his debut novel, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle made it to my Top 3 in 2019. I loved it so much! So, I am intimidated by this novel as since I loved his first book so much I am worried that maybe I won’t feel the same about this one. I did recently drop an author whose first couple of books were 5 stars and then the next novels they published were 2 stars and I just felt disappointed and I don’t want it to be the case with this author!

The Child Thief by BROM

Last year I DNFed a book as I felt that the content was too dark for me and I heard it only got worst as the novel continued and I have also heard that this book has some very dark elements. So, it is making a bit anxious to read this novel as this re-telling was on my list back when I first got Goodreads as at that point dark re-tellings of fairytales were something I really enjoyed but I think this novel is one whole level above what I have read before. Also, the copy I have is so beautiful with illustrations and everything so I want to really enjoy it.

The Fall of Babel by Josiah Bancroft

As I write this, I have pre-ordered by copy of this novel but they haven’t released the cover yet. This series is my all-time favourite book series ever! I am so sad it’s coming to an end but super excited to see what happens to these amazing characters that being said I am super intimidated to read this novel as I want the ending to be amazing and I am scared in the tiny off-chance that it misses the mark.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

I am not an autobiography or biography reader at all. It has never really interested me but I was interested in Michelle Obama’s story and her take on being the First Lady. I am just intimidated in the fact that this is genre that I just don’t read at all and I really want to like it but I am worried it may not appeal to me as the genre isn’t something I always go for.

The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan

This will be my 4th Wheel of Time book so I should be used to this series now but what intimidates me is the pure size of this novel. It’s over 1000 pages! I have never read a 1000 page novel before. my plan is to read this book over a couple of months while reading other books because I think it would put me in a reading slump if I just read this book for one whole month!

So, there we go. My 5 most initmidating books of 2021. I know I will read 2 of these books this year I am unsure on the remaining 3. We shall see next year when I do this for 2022!