Katie Wu (@katiewuwrites) has been making waves on BookTok with her captivating book recommendations, and her latest video has left fans eagerly awaiting her next pick. In a recent post, she shared her six favorite reads, which she described as “God-tier books” – a term that’s quickly become synonymous with the best of the best on the platform.
The Books
• Blood ver Brighthaven by ML Wang
• Vampires of el Norte by Isabel Canes
• The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
• Sword of Kaigan by ML Wang
• Book Lovers by Emily Henry
• Starling House by Alix E Harrow
These six books were carefully curated by Katie to showcase her writing skills and passion for storytelling. As a writer herself, she brings a unique perspective to her recommendations, highlighting the elements that make each book truly stand out.
Wang’s Favorite Picks
Katie’s first pick was Blood ver Brighthaven by ML Wang, which she described as the “most gripping book” out of all of them. “I’ve never felt such momentum in the very first chapter,” she said. “And if you’ve read this book or the first chapter, you know what that did to you. That’s why it’s true, an amazing writing accomplishment. Because it’s like, how can you make someone go through so many feelings in such a short span of time, even throughout the whole book, this momentum doesn’t let up.”
She also praised the book for moments where characters were philosophizing, and said that the book was definitely “turniness” in nature.
More Praise for Blood ver Brighthaven
- Wang described the book as having a “unique and captivating” narrative voice.
- She praised the book’s ability to evoke strong emotions in readers, saying it was “like a rollercoaster ride for your emotions.”
- Wang also highlighted the book’s world-building, saying it was “impressive” and “well-executed.”
Wang’s Next Pick: Vampires of el Norte
The second book on Katie’s list was Vampires of el Norte by Isabel Canes, which she described as “yearnful” and “perhaps the best example of dual POV.” The novel, she said, features “a romance that defies the stars.”
“That’s how like deep and palpable it is,” she added. “It really makes me want to write a romance where someone can feel that much yearning and tension and just like pure, unadulterated joy and hope about the world.”
More Praise for Vampires of el Norte
- Wang praised the book’s ability to create a sense of tension and yearning between the characters.
- She also highlighted the book’s unique writing style, saying it was “engaging” and “easy to get lost in.”
- Wang noted that the book’s romance was “well-developed” and “satisfying.”
The Tainted Cup and Sword of Kaigan
Katie’s next two picks were The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett and Sword of Kaigan by ML Wang. She described The Tainted Cup as having a lot of world-building and “weird plant magic,” and noted how her friend described it as Lovecraftian meets Attack on Titan. “Really unique world building,” she reiterated. “As a writer, I just sense the dedication to this world and the dedication to make up some really bizarre things.”
She also praised Sword of Kaigan for its unconventional story structure, saying it made her cry four times. “It is my goal as a writer to make the reader cry,” she said. “It’s really easy to make readers cry when characters die, but like, she’s made me cry like in random moments, like random lines that will just hurt so deep.”
More Praise for The Tainted Cup and Sword of Kaigan
- Wang praised the world-building in The Tainted Cup, saying it was “impressive” and “well-executed.”
- She also highlighted the book’s unique writing style, saying it was “engaging” and “easy to get lost in.”
- Wang noted that Sword of Kaigan’s story structure was “unconventional” but “effective.”
Book Lovers and Beach Read
Katie’s next two picks were Book Lovers and Beach Read, which are both by BookTok fave Emily Henry. She said that while she has read over rom-coms in the past, “They don’t hit like Emily Henry books do.”
“I think it’s because she’s so genuinely funny and witty,” Wang said. “And as a writer, just know that humor is so hard to pull off, and other rom coms are situationally funny, but Emily Henry proves that she’s funny in her actual wit.”
More Praise for Book Lovers and Beach Read
- Wang praised Emily Henry’s writing style, saying it was “engaging” and “easy to get lost in.”
- She also highlighted the books’ ability to evoke strong emotions in readers, saying they were “emotional” and “satisfying.”
- Wang noted that the books’ romances were “well-developed” and “romantic.”
Starling House and Final Thoughts
The final book on Katie’s list was Starling House by Alix E Harrow. The main attraction of this book, she said, is the first-person POV. “I always talk about this book because no one does first-person POV like Alex Harrow does,” she said. “As someone who’s recently finished writing a book in first person POV, it is so cringe, it can sound extremely strange and cringe, and very awkward to deliver exposition or setting details. Alex Harrow always imbues her first-person POVs with like, a really deep sense of a voice, and being able to write a book like this that straddles the line between literary and fantasy, it’s really hard to pull that off.”
Commenters’ Reactions
- Commenters were overwhelmingly positive about Katie’s recommendations, with many praising the books for their unique writing styles and engaging storylines.
- Some commenters also mentioned that they had already read some of the books and were grateful for the recommendations.
- One commenter even mentioned that they were inspired to try out a new author after watching the video.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Katie Wu’s book recommendations are a testament to her passion for storytelling and her dedication to helping readers discover new authors and books. With her unique perspective as a writer, she brings a level of depth and insight to her recommendations that is hard to find elsewhere. Whether you’re a seasoned reader or just starting out, Katie’s recommendations are definitely worth checking out. So, go ahead and explore the world of these “God-tier books” – you never know what amazing stories you might discover.
