Kahlia’s Comments (group member since Nov 15, 2019)

Kahlia’s comments from the Aussie Readers group.

Complete!

2021 A-Z Locations Challenge
Duration: January 1st-December 31st 2021
26/26

A Australia - The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough AA ★★★★ (12/6)
B Boonah - The Emporium of Imagination by Tabitha Bird AA ★★★★ (15/5)
C China - She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan AA ★★★★★ (16/10)
D Delft - Death in Delft by Graham Brack ★★★★ (22/3)
E Elira - The Councillor by E.J. Beaton AA ★★★★ (31/1)
F France - The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant ★ (16/1)
G Garden Heights - Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas ★★★★ (12/4)
H The Hundred Isles - Call of the Bone Ships by R.J. Barker ★★★★ (11/1)
I Iceland - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent AA ★★★★ (15/7)
J Japan - Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi ★★ (18/6)
K Kekon - Jade War by Fonda Lee ★★★★ (17/4)
L London - The Serpent's Mark by S.W. Perry ★★★★ (6/2)
M Malibu - Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid ★★★★ (27/6)
N Nigeria - Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor ★★★★ (16/3)
O Oceania - Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson ★★★★ (26/1)
P Petrograd - The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers by Kerri Turner AA ★★★ (17/1)
Q Queensland - The Codebreakers by Alli Sinclair AA ★★★★ (5/3)
R Ravka - Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo ★★★★ (21/4)
S Sheffield - The Split by Laura Kay ★★★ (21/2)
T Teixcalaan - A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine ★★★★ (11/3)
U United States - Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark ★★★★ (17/3)
V Victoria - One Hundred Days by Alice Pung AA ★★★ (27/6)
W Winterfells - Den of Wolves by Juliet Marillier AA ★★★★ (28/10)
X Huaxia - Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao ★★★ (31/7)
Y Yorktown - Hamilton's Battalion: A Trio of Romances by Rose Lerner, Courtney Milan & Alyssa Cole ★★★★ (23/12)
Z Nadezra - The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick ★★★★★ (12/10)

I was feeling a bit boxed in by all the challenges mid year and decided to mood read for a bit, but I figured I'd come back and see if I could finish them off based on what I'd picked up naturally.

Places of Interest - Sydney Opera House
Duration: January 1st - December 31st 2021
Level: Hard
15/15

1. Sydney Opera House
Read a book set in Australia: The Codebreakers by Alli Sinclair AA ★★★★ (5/3)

2. Construction
Read a book published in March or October (any year): All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter AA ★★★★ (15/3)

3. Design
Read a book with a shell or a building shown on the cover: Spellmaker by Charlie N. Holmberg ★★★★ (27/3)

4. Architect
Read a book in which the first letter of each title word can be found in JORN OBERG UTZON: The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison ★★★★★ (25/2)

5. UNESCO World Heritage Site
Read a book in which the first letter of each title word can be found in UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE: Dirt Circus League AA ★★ (20/3)

6. Cost
Read a book in which finances plays a part in the story: The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World by Patrick Wyman ★★★★ (4/11)

7. Visitors
Read a book where someone travels: The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary ★ (30/4)

8. Opening
Read a book in which the first letter of each title word can be found in QUEEN ELIZABETH II: The Labyrinth's Archivist by Day Al-Mohamed ★★★★ (21/11)



Spell-it-out

D The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen ★★★★ (9/1)
E The Emporium of Imagination by Tabitha Bird AA ★★★★ (15/5)
N Weapon by Lynette Noni AA ★★★★ (30/1)
M A Song of Flight by Juliet Marillier AA ★★★★ (23/8)
A One Hundred Days by Alice Pung AA ★★★ (27/6)
R Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo ★★★★ (21/4)
K The Split by Laura Kay ★★★ (21/2)

In no particular order:

1. The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
2. The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
4. The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick
5. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
6. The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
7. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
8. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
9. The Bone Ship's Wake by R.J. Barker
10. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

My top 5:

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
The Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
A Song of Flight by Juliet Marillier

Hard mode
0/9

1. Read the first book on your TBR list: She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan AA
2. Read a second book by an author you liked - i.e. you have only read one book written by that author so far: The True Queen by Zen Cho
3. Read the third book in a series: The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon
4. Read a book with a four star Goodreads average: The Wailing Woman by Maria Lewis AA
5. Read a book by an author with five letters in their name (first or last name): Namesake by Adrienne Young
6. Read a book which has a 6 somewhere in the publication date: The Ice Lion by Kathleen O'Neal Gear
7. Read a book which has a 7 in the page count: The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina AA
8. Read a book which was published in the eighth month of any year: The Forest Kingdom by Jamie Thomas
9. Read a book with nine letters in the title: Driftwood by Marie Brennan

My review of The Good Wife of Bath: A (Mostly) True Story by Karen Brooks

It's not always an easy read, but it was a highly rewarding one. 5 stars.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

So hard to choose, but my top 10 (no particular order). A very fantasy heavy year so far, it seems...

The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Sistersong by Lucy Holland
Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater
The Story of Silence by Alex Myers
A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine

My top 5 (in no particular order)

The Codebreakers by Alli Sinclair
The Councillor by E.J. Beaton
Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson
The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough
All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter

I'm a bit late to update even though I finished my books in time, oops...

Level: Medium
9/9

Engine - JUNE
Link 1: A book where the author's initials are in JUNE
Carriage 1: The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin ★★★★ (6/6)

Link 2: A book starting with 'O'
Carriage 2: One Hundred Days by Alice Pung AA ★★★ (28/6)

Link 3: A book with a three word title
Carriage 3: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness ★★★★ (15/6)

Link 4: A book titled 'X of Y'
Carriage 4: A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark ★★★★ (30/6)

Link 5: A book starting with 'M'
Carriage 5: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid ★★★★ (28/6)

Link 6: A book with a two word title
Carriage 6: Wendy, Darling by A.C. Wise ★★★ (20/6)

Link 7: A book with a character's name in the title
Carriage 7: Ariadne by Jennifer Saint ★★★ (26/6)

Link 8: A book written in first person
Carriage 8: The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough AA ★★★★ (12/6)

Link 9: A book by an Australian author
Carriage 9: A Few Right Thinking Men by Sulari Gentill AA ★★★ (10/6)

July 2021 Challenge - Choose a book by its Cover
Level: Hard
8/9

1. an entire person (showing head to toe): One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
2. body parts (but no face): Monkey Around by Jadie Jang ★★★ (18/7)
3. no people at all: Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer ★★★★ (6/7)
4. something edible: The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian ★★★★ (14/7)
5. an animal, bird or insect: body parts - but no face: Daughter Of The Forest by Juliet Marillier AA ★★★★ (13/7)
6. only two colours (other than black/white): The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman ★★★ (28/7)
7. flowers: The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss ★★★★ (17/7)
8. water: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent AA ★★★★ (15/7)
9. a mode of transport: The Good Wife of Bath: A (Mostly) True Story by Karen Brooks AA ★★★★★ (9/7)

I'm in please!

Level: Medium
9/9

Engine - JUNE
Link 1: A book where the author's initials are in JUNE
Carriage 1: The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin ★★★★ (6/6)

Link 2: A book starting with 'O'
Carriage 2: One Hundred Days by Alice Pung AA ★★★ (28/6)

Link 3: A book with a three word title
Carriage 3: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness ★★★★ (15/6)

Link 4: A book titled 'X of Y'
Carriage 4: A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark ★★★★ (30/6)

Link 5: A book starting with 'M'
Carriage 5: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid ★★★★ (28/6)

Link 6: A book with a two word title
Carriage 6: Wendy, Darling by A.C. Wise ★★★ (20/6)

Link 7: A book with a character's name in the title
Carriage 7: Ariadne by Jennifer Saint ★★★ (26/6)

Link 8: A book written in first person
Carriage 8: The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough AA ★★★★ (12/6)

Link 9: A book by an Australian author
Carriage 9: A Few Right Thinking Men by Sulari Gentill AA ★★★ (10/6)

I got the notification and was contemplating not signing up for the next challenge in order to focus on getting through some series... thanks team!

Level: Hard
Finished: 4/12

1a. Read a book which is 1st in a series.
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni AA
b. Read a book by an author you have never read before.
The Good Wife of Bath: A (Mostly) True Story by Karen Brooks AA ★★★★★ (9/7)

2a. Read a book which is 2nd in a series.
The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin ★★★★ (6/6)
b. Read a book which has a two word title
Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi

3a. Read a book which is 3rd in a series.
The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon
b. Read the third book on your TBR
In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

4a. Read a book which is 4th in a series.
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
b. Read a book which was published in April (any year)
Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier AA ★★★★ (13/7)

5a. Read a book which is 5th in a series.
The Wailing Woman by Maria Lewis AA
b. Read a book which a Goodreads friend gave five stars.
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi ★★★★★ (9/6)

6a. Read a book which is 6th in a series.
Unnatural Issue by Mercedes Lackey
b. Read a book which is set in winter.
Cold Fire by Kate Elliott

Done with my three rows!

Level: Medium
15/15

#3 Down
Male MC: Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas ★★★★ (12/4)
Male author: The Black Coast by Mike Brooks ★★★★ (31/3)
One word title: Spellmaker by Charlie N. Holmberg ★★★★ (27/3)
Novella: Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor ★★★★ (16/3)
Female author: All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter AA ★★★★ (16/3)



#4 Across
Set in Australia: The Codebreakers by Alli Sinclair AA ★★★★ (5/3)
Historical fiction: The Heretic's Mark by S.W. Perry ★★★ (11/5)
Novella: Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark ★★★★ (17/3)
Set in another country: A Net for Small Fishes by Lucy Jago (England) ★★★ (4/4)
Love that cover: Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo ★★★★ (21/4)



#5 Down
Suspense/crime: Death in Delft by Graham Brack ★★★★ (22/3)
On TBR longer than two years: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows ★★★ (13/3)
Favourite genre: Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan ★★★★ (24/3)
Love that cover: The Emporium of Imagination by Tabitha Bird AA ★★★★ (15/5)
Paranormal: Dirt Circus League by Maree Kimberley AA ★★ (20/3)

May Challenge – Play on Words
Level: Easy
4/5

#1. What MAY I PRESENT?
Read a book with your chosen word/s spelled in the title
Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik ★★★ (24/5)

#2. MAY I have this FRENCH PASTRY?
Read a book where the author's initials fit into your chosen word/s
Liesmith by Alis Franklin AA

#3. You MAY go UNDER THE BRIDGE
Read a book with the EXACT word/s in your title
Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng ★★★★ (3/5)

#4. MAY I wait DOWN BY THE SEASIDE?
Read a book with the total letters in your chosen word/s, somewhere in the page count
Sistersong by Lucy Holland (416 pages) ★★★★ (28/5)

#5. MAY I call you IN THE AFTERNOON?
Read a book where the first letter of each title word fits into your chosen word/s
The Emporium of Imagination by Tabitha Bird AA ★★★★ (15/5)

I'm not going to finish my original hard mode since I've distracted myself with books that don't fit this challenge (and I don't regret it), but I did still finish for easy mode in the end.

March Challenge - Spell-it-Out
Level: Easy
5/5

1. M is for male: Read a book by a male author
Death in Delft by Graham Brack ★★★★ (22/3)

2. A is for Australia: Read a book by an Australian author
All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter AA ★★★★ (16/3)

3. R is for reminiscing: Read a book from the genre of Historical Fiction
The Smallest Man by Frances Quinn ★★★ (13/3)

4. C is for colour: Read a book with a brightly coloured cover
Dirt Circus League by Maree Kimberley AA ★★ (20/3)

5. H is for home: Read a book set in the country where you live
The Codebreakers by Alli Sinclair AA ★★★★ (5/3)

April Challenge 2021 Spell it out with a difference
Duration: 1/4/21 - 30/4/21
Level: Easy
5/5

2. SPELL IT OUT
🐣 A Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas ★★★★ (12/4)
🐣 P Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales AA ★★★★ (25/4)
🐣 R Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo ★★★★ (21/4)
🐣 I Isla's Inheritanceby Cassandra Page AA *DNF (24/4)
🐣 L The Helm of Midnight by Marina J. Lostetter ★★★ (7/4)

Done! Crazy that it's been (nearly) six months since we all embarked on this challenge...

S Hollow Empire by Sam Hawke AA ★★★★★ (9/11)
O Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade ★★ (11/12)
L The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster ★★★★ (1/12)
I It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake by Claire Christian AA ★★ (20/12)
V The Silent City by Élisabeth Vonarburg ★★ (15/1)
A The Angel of Waterloo by Jackie French AA ★★★ (14/2)
G The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant ★ (14/1)
A The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow ★★★ (26/11)
N The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix AA ★★★ (29/11)
T Tower of Thorns by Juliet Marillier AA ★★★★ (21/11)



A Lore by Alexandra Bracken ★★★★ (28/2)
C The Cartographer's Secret by Tea Cooper AA ★★★★ (3/10)
A A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine ★★★★ (11/3)
T Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton AA ★★ (11/11)
A Blackbirds Sing by Aiki Flinthart AA ★★★★★ (27/10)
L The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers by Kerri Turner AA ★★★ (17/1)
E The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi ★★★ (24/11)
P A Curse of Roses by Diana Pinguicha ★★★ (21/10)
S All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter AA ★★★★ (16/3)
Y The Yield by Tara June Winch AA ★★★ (29/10)



T The White Girl by Tony Birch AA ★★★ (21/10)
R The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal ★★★★★ (23/10)
O On Fragile Waves by E. Lily Yu ★★★ (21/1)
U Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey ★★ (15/2)
V The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab ★★★ (28/12)
A The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison ★★★★★ (25/2)
I Inda by Sherwood Smith ★★ (30/10)
L Legendborn by Tracy Deonn ★★★★ (23/1)
L The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers ★★★ (15/12)
E Heart of Stone by Johannes T. Evans ★★★★★ (9/10)

My.review of All the Murmuring Bones by Aussie author A.G. Slatter

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review of The Codebreakers by Alli Sinclair

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...