The 2015 Book Genre Challenge discussion

This is where you can all post about what novel you chose to read independently (if you chose to do so!) You are not obligated to, but again it's just to allow flexibility if you are unable to participate in the group read! You can share what book you are reading and give/receive recommendations!

I personally have already started The Bone Season although I know it was also nominated as a group read! I'm also reading Suspicion and plan to finish Daughter of the Forest! I know I'm all over the place, but I couldn't resist!

Tell us all about what you guys are reading or plan on reading!

As Renuka, I already started one of our nominees for group read, The Night Circus. It's so mysterious and intriguing and I don't understand anything but I can't wait to see what happens. What are you guys reading?

I've already read both The Bone Season and The Night Circus and enjoyed both but I'm not sure what fantasy book I want to read this month, recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

I've started listening (yay audiobooks!) to The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson as I've always been meaning to read his books. I still am halfway through The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms - just need to knock off The Rosie Effect first. I'm also planning to read The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman - I got a copy for Christmas and can't believe I haven't read it yet!

I'm really tempted to also start the Bone Season (I've had it on my shelf for too long) but I'm already reading multiple books - really need to stop doing that... How is The Bone Season so far Renuka? :)

Silvia im so jealous - I wish I could go back and read The Night Circus for the first time! You're in for a real treat. :)

MarIssa have you read Daughter of Smoke and Bone (one of the nominees)? Like The Night Circus it has beautiful lyrical writing and (trying to be vague re spoilers, tell me if you want more detail and I can message you) a similar method of storytelling

. If you're looking for something more medieval inspired I adore The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini: it's got dragons and elevens and dwarves - the whole epic fantasy feel.

The Mime Order (sequel to The Bone Season) is also coming out this month. ;)

I've heard so many good things about Daughter of Smoke and Bone so I'll probably read that one though I'll have to give The Inheritance Cycle a try.

I'm reading Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente. It's a very different kind of fantasy book than I am used to reading, but I am love love loving it so far!

I have Deathless in my the stack on my desk, I'm actually really looking forward to reading it.

Tbr **

I'm going to (re)read The Night Circus because I really want to reread it this year and this is a great opportunity to read it. It's one of my favourite books and cannot wait to reread it :)

I'm gonna read The Burning Sky but I I'll start it only when I'll finish what I'm reading right now.

I've decided to read Heir of Fire this month as my pick! I've been meaning to read it for ages and I shouldn't put it off any longer! I'm only about 50 pages in but it's really good so far :')

I'm planning on reading Dreams of Gods & Monsters, but I'm currently reading The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman!

I'll be reading Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

I think I'll be readig The Night Circus as well. It's been sitting in my shelf for a while and I really want to finish it. I love the details.

Marissa wrote: "I've heard so many good things about Daughter of Smoke and Bone so I'll probably read that one though I'll have to give The Inheritance Cycle a try."

I'll start reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone as well since it's a story I can buy where I live. Hopefully, if that's not the group read, I'll also be able to get my hands on the other book we vote too.

(@Yasmin) I'm loving the Bone Season so far! The beginning was a little confusing because there was so much world-building and many confusing acronyms, but now I'm really getting into it! I can't wait to see where it goes! (I can't tell who the bad guys really are...)

The Night Circus is such an amazing novel!! I'm jealous of Sylvia too! I should reread it someday, but there's so little time.

(@Jazmin and Marissa) I've had Deathless on my TBR forever! I've gotten it recommended so many times, I must read it soon! It sounds breathtaking.

(@Ron) I'm curious about the Burning Sky, tell us how it is when you get around to it!

I'm probably going to try and get to The Name Of The Wind. It's been in my tbr pile for well over a year now.

I'm going to be reading Mort by Terry Pratchet because I just got into the discworld series. I really like the series a lot, and I think it has all the elements of a good fantasy novel without being too heavy of a read. I had started the series earlier, but I hadn't had time to read anything recently, so I'm really glad I have the chance to continue it now. I have to wait for the local book lenders to deliver it though...

I read The Book of Skulls at the beginning of January but it turned out to be more about psychology than actual fantasy -- next one is The Book of Lost Things.

I'm currently rereading Howl's Moving Castle by listening to the audiobook and I'm planning to finally start reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

I have a giant stack of fantasy books (my holidays hoardhaul! I meant haul!) so I won't be taking part in the monthly read (none of them are among the nominations).
I'm not sure how much I'll get to read because I have exams the second half of the month. I've just finished Ship of Magic the other day, so I'll be reading the two sequels, The Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny, provided I don't get distracted (I will get distracted. I am absolutely unable to not get distracted by a towering pile of fantasy books).

Honestly I should be really busy this month, so I'll be stoked if I can go through a whole book.

I am planning on reading Dreams of Gods & Monsters this month, but I've already started Shadow and Bone from the Grisha trilogy. I'm about 1/3 of the way through and it's still somewhat slow. Has anyone else read the book/trilogy? Does the pace eventually pick up?

I absolutely LOVE Shadow and Bone. I never felt like it was slow actually, I always felt this delicious tension. The second book is absolutely my favorite though, so you may enjoy the series more as you continue to read. I do hope you do like it eventually!

I've decided to read Chime for this month's genre. It seems to have mixed reviews but to me it looks like an interesting book. I'm 60 pages in already and I'm okay with it. Nothing too horrible about it. -shrug-

Renuka wrote: "I absolutely LOVE Shadow and Bone. I never felt like it was slow actually, I always felt this delicious tension. The second book is absolutely my favorite though, so you may enjoy the series more a..."

It took a little bit, but now I am devouring the book! From the winter ball on, I am just hooked now. Thanks for the encouragement! :)

(@Dallas) I read Chime a while ago. I loved it when I read it, I think I really liked the language. But looking back on it, I barely remember it. I hope you like it, but I think it's forgettable.

(@Nicole) Don't you just love it! The world and the characters? It is so fascinating and Alina is so cool, you just wait ;)

Renuka wrote: "(@Dallas) I read Chime a while ago. I loved it when I read it, I think I really liked the language. But looking back on it, I barely remember it. I hope you like it, but I think it's forgettable.
..."

Aw, that's a little sad but at least you remember that you liked it at the time. :'D

I've decided to read The Wise Man's Fear this month..it's been sitting on my shelf for a while. Although, I can't wait to see what I'll start when we pick a group book! I also just finished Heir of Fire and it was really good so I recommend that for sure!

Lineke wrote: "I'm currently rereading Howl's Moving Castle by listening to the audiobook and I'm planning to finally start reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane."

I LOVE Howl's Moving Castle so much. I own the other 2 books in the series but am yet to read them (which shall be this year)

Jessica wrote: "I LOVE Howl's Moving Castle so much. I own the other 2 books in the series but am yet to read them (which shall be this year) "

Omg they're awesome! Have fun reading them :)

Just finished Shadow and Bone last night - it was so GOOD! I'm so glad I stuck with it. Will be starting Dreams of Gods & Monsters tonight for our fantasy challenge. Kinda sad I'm going to be finishing such an awesome trilogy. I hope the ending is as brilliant as the beginning was.

Nicole wrote: "Just finished Shadow and Bone last night - it was so GOOD! I'm so glad I stuck with it. Will be starting Dreams of Gods & Monsters tonight for our fantasy challenge. Kinda sad I'm going to be finis..."

I think that might be the reason I haven't read Dreams of Gods and Monsters yet, I'm not ready to say goodbye to this story and these amazing characters!

I've just started Deathless by Catherynne Valente and it's really interesting so far.

Marissa wrote: "I've just started Deathless by Catherynne Valente and it's really interesting so far."

I really need to read this book. I need to get my hands on it.

Maryjane wrote: "I'm not a huge fantasy fan, or at least not of books that are strictly just fantasy, so this is giving me the motivation to try and read some of the books that have been sitting on my shelf for a w..."

Oh how did you like Eon! I loved that series, especially the second book. Graceling is amazing too! But OMG The Queen of the Tearling is my love. I cannot express how much I loved that book.

I'm reading Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas.

I decided to read Blood of Dragons, it's been sitting on my shelf for a while so it's about time I started it...

I am debating between Dorothy Must Die or Equal Rites, because I'm also playing around in the Seasonal Reading Challenge and those two were already in my reading plan for that.

I'd like to read both if I'm able, but (because my eyes are currently funked up) if I can only do one it might be Equal Rites, because I've read it before & that may make it a little easier to concentrate on it.

I plan on reading Daughter of Smoke & Bone and a few more fantasy novels, but I haven't decided which ones yet.

Lauren wrote: "I plan on reading Daughter of Smoke & Bone and a few more fantasy novels, but I haven't decided which ones yet."

Enjoy! You will definitely love the trilogy. I am starting the last book and am sad it's ending. :( Zuzana is my fave: she's so spunky. If you want to chat about the book as you read it, let me know. :)

I plan on reading Ignite for my fantasy book of the month, and as well as Dealing with Dragons, because it's been on my TBR for what feels like a million years!

Melissa wrote: "I plan on reading Ignite for my fantasy book of the month, and as well as Dealing with Dragons, because it's been on my TBR for what feels like a million years!"

Dealing with Dragons *squeee* I absolutely LOVED that book series in middle school. Completely obsessed.

I've read Grave Mercy, Dark Triumph and Mortal Heart for the individual reads and I'm just about to start The Night Circus :)

This is my first group on Goodreads! Should be interesting... I tend to read a lot of the same stuff, so it will be nice to get some fresh ideas. I have just started reading The Bone Season for my individual read, per some other suggestions.

I'm reading my second Neil Gaiman book, Stardust. The Hempstock references *heart eyes*

Jodie wrote: "I've read Grave Mercy, Dark Triumph and Mortal Heart for the individual reads and I'm just about to start The Night Circus :)"

OOOh what did you think of the series?? Aren't they all adorableee. My personal favorites are Sybella and Beast though. Too cute <3

And we hope you enjoy The Night Circus!!!

Jamie wrote: "This is my first group on Goodreads! Should be interesting... I tend to read a lot of the same stuff, so it will be nice to get some fresh ideas. I have just started reading The Bone Season for my ..."

I'm reading The Bone Season right now! I'm almost finished! What did you think so far?

I read Chime and Princess of Thorns, both of which were quite entertaining and original...but simply not meaty enough for me: personally, short-ish, standalone fantasy books tend to feel a little smushed and just not as epic as they could be. I also read (finally) Heir of Fire, which was as fantastic and satisfying as I expected. Plenty more to read within this lovely genre, so I'm thinking Night Circus next (soon?) and then really any other fantasy book I can find on epubbud or livebrary. :)

Hllawrence wrote: "I read Chime and Princess of Thorns, both of which were quite entertaining and original...but simply not meaty enough for me: personally, short-ish, standalone fantasy books tend to feel a little s..."

I just finished reading Chime and yeah it could have been better. It was entertaining as you said, but it also left a few unanswered questions and that bothered me... I also didn't connect to the characters much. It was good for what it was though.

Hello this is the first group read I've joined and I'm really excited to participate! My new years resolution is to read more because before this I have read nothing ( always had a distaste toward reading when I was younger) so this challenge will help me find what kind of genre I like :). With this said my independent book is Blood Rights by Kristen Painter and I'm 50 pages in and the book is already exciting and can't wait to find out more!