The Challenge Factory discussion

Team 1 - Formula 1 Readers

Captain: Maddielucy(Patti)
Nikk the Sapphired Book Dragon
☘Misericordia☘ ~ The Serendipity Aegis ~
Sam

(view spoiler)[
Used 11/15 (hide spoiler)]

Bonus Points:
Earned: 6
Used: 3

Helpful Links:

Dice Roll (1 die on Thursdays & Sundays, US Central Time)
R12 SSS Post Your Spot
R12 SSS Discussion Thread

Time Zone Converter

ALTERNATE LIST:
**titles exclude leading articles (a, an, the)

1. Less than 100 ratings
2. Title 'L'
3. Cover Item: Furniture
4. Author 'B'
5. South America
6. Cover: Black
7. Published 2019
8. MC has a pet
9. Cover Item: Lamp/Candle
10. Set in a place you've visited
11. Romance
12. MC has at least one child
13. Set sometime before 1600 AD
14. Cover Item: Jewelry
15. Book that a teammate rated 5 stars
16. Cover: Pink
17. Four or More Words Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
18. MC is older than 60
19. North America
20. Title 'G'
21. Cover Item: Animal
22. Set anytime between 1600-1837
23. Female Author
24. Cover: Green
25. Published 2015-2016
26. Non-Fiction
27. Cover Item: Two or more people
28. Author uses their middle name/initial (e.g. Robert J. Sawyer, Rita Mae Brown)
29. Cover: Red
30. Cover Item: Water
31. Young Adult/New Adult
32. Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
33. Africa
34. Seasonal Theme (i.e Christmas, Halloween etc)
35. Author 'S'
36. GR average rating >4.0
37. Number in the Title (Third Grave Dead Ahead or Every Fifteen Minutes)
38. Originally published in a language other than English
39. School/College/University
40. Cover Item: Food/Drink
41. Title 'E'
42. Cover Item: Weapon
43. Published 2011-2012
44. Author 'M'
45. LGBTQ+
46. Cover: White
47. Published 2001-2010
48. Australia
49. Author 'P'
50. Cover: Blue
51. Published 2017
52. Cover Item: One person
53. Author 'O'
54. Published before 1950
55. Set anytime between 1837-1901
56. One Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Witness or Divergent
57. Cover: Yellow/Gold
58. Mystery/Thriller
59. Author H
60. Asia
61. Several authors
62. Author 'R'
63. Award Winner (must state which/when)
64. New to You Author
65. Published 2013-2014
66. Title 'T'
67. Cover Item: Book
68. MC travels by train
69. Title has a subtitle
70. Cover Item: Mode of Transportation
71. Title 'J'
72. Set in the future
73. Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)
74. Book to Movie/TV (must state how book qualifies: listopia, imdb, precis)
75. Male Author
76. Two Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) Deadly Silence, The Hunger Games
77. Title 'F'
78. Cover: Purple
79. Debut Novel or Debut Author
80. Author uses a pseudonym
81. Title 'C'
82. Cover Item: Building
83. Published between 1950 and 1999
84. Author 'D'
85. MC is in their 20's
86. Title 'V'
87. Cover Item: Sun/Moon
88. Science Fiction
89. Title 'B'
90. Cover: Orange
91. Published 2018
92. Three Word Title (excludes articles like A, An, The) Behind Closed Doors or Etched in Bone
93. Europe
94. Author 'W'
95. Cover Item: Dress
96. Fantasy
97. Cover Item: Hat/Helmet/Other Headwear
98. Author 'I'
99. MC travels by airplane
100. Author 'L'
101. Four or more Words Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
102. Cover: Brown
103. Published 2020
104. Author 'F'
105. Title 'G'
106. Romance
107. Anthology/Short Stories
108. Cover: Green
109. Title 'N'
110. Favorite Author
111. Author 'Y'

A couple of things to keep in mind:

✸ Communication is key. Please make sure to check in regularly with your team.

✸ Let your team know if it looks like you won't get your review posted by Wednesday/Saturday, 11:59pm. You do have all of Thursday/Sunday to submit your review, but it can be intensely frustrating for your captain if they don't know when or if they can expect your review before the deadline.

✸ If you know beforehand that you won't be able to read and review a book during a certain period of time, you can request a pre-arranged absence from me, either by posting the request in the discussion thread or by sending me a pm. The request has to be submitted before the team rolls for the time period in question, can only be approved by me as the mod in charge of running the game, and has to state a reason for the absence. (Reasons for pre-arranged absences can include e.g. going on vacation or work trips, planned hospital stays, exam period, etc.)

✸ If you do not have a pre-arranged absence and won't be able to finish your book in time for an unforeseen reason, please let your team know as soon as possible. If the team has earned the free pass, it can be used to cover the missing review. Without a free pass, the team has to sit out the next roll.

✸ We all know that real life gets in the way sometimes, be it through family emergencies, work emergencies, natural disasters, technical problems making it impossible to get online, or in other ways. That being said, please do keep in mind that this is a team challenge and your team relies on you to do your part unless an emergency occurs.

✸ If you find that the pressure of keeping up with the pace of the game gets too much for you or you wish to stop playing for any other reason, you can drop out of the challenge at any time. In that case, please let your team captain and/or me know that you wish to drop out rather than just disappearing without a word so your team won't be penalized when you fail to turn in your review. Thank you!


Captain's Handbook

✸ The team's captain is its chief organizer. This includes rolling the dice, posting the team's new spot to the team thread and the Post Your Spot thread, collecting links to team members' review posts in a single post to be linked in the Post Your Spot thread, doublechecking that books and review posts comply with requirements, reminding team members to post their reviews in time if necessary, etc.

✸ The captain may delegate some tasks, such as rolling and posting the new spot to the team thread, to another team member if they so choose. (Either a designated roller who fulfills this role for every roll, or whichever team member is online first once rolling is possible.) Collecting reviews into a single post and posting to the Post Your Spot thread should always be handled by the captain.

✸ Instead of having everything handled by a single team captain, teams can also choose two co-captains to handle the workload.

✸ Selection posts are not strictly required by the game's rules and I won't be checking for them. It's up to the team captain to decide whether they want them.

✸ If the team captain requests a pre-arranged absence, it's their responsibility to arrange for another team member to step in as temporary captain.

✸ The team captain is my primary point of contact for the team and should allow receiving private messages.

Hi, team. Checking in.

Hey!

Hi team, checking in :-)

I'll reserve this MSG spot for doing a running roll of my books to see how and whenever I qualify for bonus points. ( I think no spreadsheet is needed for this one, so probably that's how I'll track my books but we'll see about it.)

Running roll of my books:
✒Week 1: Roll 1. Spot: 6
TangleRoot Book: Jean Kilczer - TangleRoot (Star Sojourner, #6)
✒Week 1: Roll 2. Spot: 11
Brighter Than the Sun Book: Maya Banks - Brighter Than the Sun (KGI, #11)
Bonus: 2 in 1 (Alternate: Romance).☑
✒Week 2: Roll 1. Spot: 15
The Loranth Book: Jean Kilczer - The Loranth (Strar Sojouner #1)
✒Week 2: Roll 2. Spot: 16
What's Not Said Book: Valerie Taylor - What's Not Said
✒Week 3: Roll 1. Spot 21
The Midnight Library Book: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
✒Week 3: Roll 2. Spot 24
Halcyon Nights Book: Halcyon Nights by Jean Kilczer (Star Sojourner #2)
✒Week 4: Roll 1. Spot 29
Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All Book: Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All by Erno Rubik
✒Week 4: Roll 2. Spot 33
The Doll Book: The Doll by Taylor Stevens
✒Week 5: Roll 1. Spot 39
Two Witches and a Whiskey Book: Two Witches and a Whiskey (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #3) by Annette Marie
✒Week 5: Roll 2. Spot 42
Trial by Fire
Book: Trial by Fire (Raised by Wolves, #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
✒Week 6: Roll 1. Spot 45
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
Book: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (#1) by Mackenzi Lee
✒Week 6: Roll 2. Spot 50
Haiku
Book: Haiku by Anrew Vachss
✒Week 7: Roll 1. Spot 54
Demon Magic and a Martini
Book: Demon Magic and a Martini (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #4) by Annette Marie
✒Week 7: Roll 2. Spot: 59
Satan's Forge (Star Sojourner)
Book: Satan's Forge (Star Sojourner #5) by Jean Kilczer
✒Week 8: Roll 1.
....
✒Week 8: Roll 2.
....

✒Week 9: Roll 1.
....
✒Week 9: Roll 2.
....

✒Week 10: Roll 1.
....
✒Week 10: Roll 2.
....


🎲BONUS POINTS: ⬜✅
✅ One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series.
☒ One point can be earned for reading a book with >500 pages.
⬜ One point can be earned for starting and finishing a series. There must be at least 4 books in that series. Series + spin-off totalling ≥4 books also counts. For series with >9 books, point will be awarded for reading books 1-9. For still ongoing series, all books published to date (OR up to #9 in longer series) must be read.~ No re-reads on this one.
✅ 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on.
⬜ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90.
✅ Halloween Bonus: One point can be earned for reading a Horror/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy book for the roll on 10/27.
NOTE:
✸ Each point can only be earned once per team.
✸ The series-specific bonus points (3 or more books/ starting and finishing a series) must be two different series.
✸ Single book bonuses (>500 pages/ Halloween/ 2 in 1) may overlap with a series bonus.
(view spoiler)[TBRs
Hunting November Book: Hunting November (Killing November #2) by Adriana Mather
Blood of Denebria Book: Book: Blood of Denebria by Jean Kilczer (Star Sojourner #3) (hide spoiler)]

Hi everyone! I'm Patti and checking in!! Good idea, M, on the post for tracking bonus points!!

Team Bonus points: Earned 5/6

🎲BONUS POINTS: ⬜✅
XX One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series. -- completed by M 10/8
XX ✸ One point can be earned for reading a book with >500 pages. -- COMPLETED by Nikk
XXX ✸ One point can be earned for starting and finishing a series. There must be at least 4 books in that series. Series + spin-off totalling ≥4 books also counts. For series with >9 books, point will be awarded for reading books 1-9. For still ongoing series, all books published to date (OR up to #9 in longer series) must be read.~ No re-reads on this one. Patti 11/12
XX ✸ 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on. COMPLETED by M
✸ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90.
XX ✸ Halloween Bonus: One point can be earned for reading a Horror/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy book for the roll on 10/27. -- earned by M
NOTE:
✸ Each point can only be earned once per team.
✸ The series-specific bonus points (3 or more books/ starting and finishing a series) must be two different series.
✸ Single book bonuses (>500 pages/ Halloween/ 2 in 1) may overlap with a series bonus.

We seem to need a captain and a nice name.
I'm not in a good for dice rolling timezone and I work much too much at the moment. So, name ideas from me:
1) The Identity Unit
2) BiblioUnity
3) The Basic Bibliovores
4) Factor 1 Team
5) We are Number 1
6) Formula 1 Readers
7) One More Book
8) The Book of Dice
9) The Book Unit
10) WDB1 (We Dice Books)
... more ideas from you are welcome!

Hey Patti, looks like you are stuck with me on both teams. :)

Nikk, do you want to be captain?

I would prefer not to be but can if no one else wants to.

I like formula 1 readers

Hey Sam! Glad to be with you on both teams!

I like Formula 1 Readers

So I have never done this before but I’m happy to give it a go to be team captain, since I think Sam is doing it for my other team and it doesn’t seem like anyone wants to do it. Lol.

You guys can just tell me what I do wrong. 🤷🏼‍♀️😂. Thanks!

I like Formula 1 Readers too.

Patti, you're welcome to be captain. I don't mind but I always like to give others the chance first. It's not hard; you'll do fine. I can be your backup if you need it. Remembering to post our completions and then rolling the die is the most important thing.

Thanks Sam.

So it looks like everyone likes Formula 1 Readers!!

I will confess now that if I have any trouble with timing, it will be for the Thursday rolls since I work Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. That said, I usually still manage to get a lot of reading done so I don't expect it to be a problem but if the hospital gets super busy, I might be cutting it close to the deadline.

Maddielucy(Patti) wrote: "So I have never done this before but I’m happy to give it a go to be team captain"
Great! Thanks a lot, Patti! You're going to do great, I know it!

Maddielucy(Patti) wrote: "Thanks Sam.

So it looks like everyone likes Formula 1 Readers!!"
Yay! Formula 1 Readers, go! :)

Sam wrote: "I will confess now that if I have any trouble with timing, it will be for the Thursday rolls since I work Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. That said, I usually still manage to get a lot of readi..."

No worries, Sam. We will all be fine :)

I'm very excited for midnight to come tonight so we can roll!!!!

Sam wrote: "I'm very excited for midnight to come tonight so we can roll!!!!" Aren't we all, Sam :)

So I can roll at what time?? Very confused already. lol. Sorry I thought it was Thursdays at 11:59 CST

Maddielucy(Patti) wrote: "So I can roll at what time?? Very confused already. lol. Sorry I thought it was Thursdays at 11:59 CST"

Thursdays at 12:01 CT. After this roll, it'll be Thursdays 12:01 as long as we all have our reviews in. If all the reviews aren't in by Thursdays 11:59 CT, we don't get to roll for that week.

ETA: Well not a Thursday roll that week; we could still get a Sunday roll assuming all our reviews are in.

So our roll for this week is in ~ 1.5 hours.

But if we babe to get our reviews in by Tbursday at 11:59 the roll would be Friday at 12:01. No?

The rolls are on Thursdays and Sundays but technically you have until the end of that day to get your reviews in, but it costs us a day of reading.

Maddielucy(Patti) wrote: "So I can roll at what time?? Very confused already. lol. Sorry I thought it was Thursdays at 11:59 CST"

Sam wrote: "So our roll for this week is in ~ 1.5 hours."
So, we plan to roll at midnight at the beginning of each Thursday/Sunday CST? Seems great and will give us more time to prepare for the next round.

But basically, we can roll between 0:01 and 23:59 Thursday CST (if someone's late posting, since all reviews have to be in and the requisite roll can happen only after that).

It's always better to get your reviews in by the day before so we can roll as early as possible on roll day.

Well that is great news that we can roll after all of our books are finished. I was confused about that. Thanks!!

Let's get ready Formula 1 readers!!!!

I rolled a 6

6th in a series

Alternate list: Cover: Black

We forgot to ask, Patti. Do you want selection posts?

Hi ladies!! No need for selection posts!

Let's try to be done by Saturday, midnight if possible :)

Just do your completion post and I will get them all together in one post.

Have fun!!

Completion posts: Roll #1 - 6
Completed: 4/4 -- YAY!!

Patti Creamy Pumpkin Killer Jean Kilczerby Summer Prescott (Read 9/18) https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Nikk Brewing Up a Storm by Amanda M. Lee (read 9/19) https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
M TangleRoot by Jean Kilczer (Read 9/19) https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Sam Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire (read 9/17) https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Maddielucy(Patti) wrote: "Hi ladies!! No need for selection posts!

Let's try to be done by Saturday, midnight if possible :)

Just do your completion post and I will get them all together in one post.

Have fun!!" Okay! Great roll, BTW! Lucky hand!

Completion post
Spot: 6

Book: Ashes of Honor- Seanan McGuire
Qualification: October Daye #6
Date read: 9/17/20
Rating: 4 stars
Review: When a fellow knight asks Toby to help find his missing changeling daughter, she can't say no. When she discovers that the teenager is ripping holes through Faerie as she teleports and that these holes can destroy Faerie, finding her becomes even more important. But Toby has suffered some pretty bad losses and is finally starting to realize that she can't do everything alone. So this time, she asks for help from her friends before things get too bad. I liked seeing that Toby is starting to grow up and accept her responsibilities without thinking that they are hers alone. I loved seeing the growth in her relationship with Tybalt. I liked seeing more about her new powers and seeing more of Faerie. I am a little worried about the consequences of some of things that happened in this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing what adventures/troubles Toby gets into next.

Sam wrote: "Completion post
Spot: 6

Book: Ashes of Honor- Seanan McGuire
Qualification: October Daye #6
Date read: 9/17/20
Rating: 4 stars
R..."

Yay Sam!! Thanks for getting us started!!

Completion post: Spot 6
Book: Creamy Pumpkin Killer by Summer Prescott

Qualification: Cupcakes in Paradise #6
Read: 9/18
Rating: 4 stars
Review: Since this is the sixth in the series, the characters are becoming more defined and seem like old friends. What I like is that the author no longer has to spend much time on character development and can concentrate more on the mystery as well as character interaction. I think Beulah was a good addition. Also, I'm glad the Chas/Missy story line is becoming more than just her being accused of a crime she so clearly didn't commit and Chas coming to her defense. These books are fun, quick & easy reads.

Hi Formula 1! Just a friendly reminder that if you can get your book read and completion post up by midnight tonight CST, I can roll! Thanks and have a great day!!

Completion post
Spot: 6
TangleRoot[*book:TangleRoot|32328649]
Book: Jean Kilczer - TangleRoot (Star Sojourner, #6)
Qualification: Star Sojourner, #6
Date read: 9/18/20
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

An omnivoracious alien plant Blackroot/bristra gets away from Jules' lab and the fun hunt starts. Blackroot is something out of a nightmare, since it not only harms other plants but is 'having domestic and wild animals for lunch':
Q:
... a black branch snapped free of its ground holds and raised up, exposing pink stubs that lined its underside, where clods of earth still clung wetly, and a circle of teeth like a Lamprey eel's mouth. Yellow flowers suddenly sprouted along its sides like tiny fists opening to attract insects. (c)

Of course, some interested parties immediately start believing that Blackroot is something they'd like to have. Yeah, who wouldn't like to have a teeth-studded liana with an outsized appetite at home?

Jules is still being irresposible to the point of comical:
Q:
Guess I shouldn't have left Althea with a baby and gone to the primitive planet Syl' Tyrria to look for emerging mammals. (c)

Huff, the polar bear alien, being huffy:
Q:
“Jesus Christ!” Chancey said. “How do you put up with him?”
“Did you ever consider, Chance…how he puts up with us?” (c)

And as telepathic as ever (along with 2 other telepathical alienforms we've got to meet!):
Q:
I extended a light telepathic probe across four men inside the vehicle… (c)
Q:
I had stretched my powers to the point of achieving distant probes, seeing visuals of surroundings through the minds of others, and the death blow that burned through the brainstem. (c)

The world-building is as quirky as ever, the character building has quite a lot of cardboardiness to it. Also: damsels in distress identified (that's a minus). The boatloads of general angst set it off a bit (that's a plus). Some interesting religion is set in the background, all set with reincarnation, the Great Mind, Spirit and more interesting stuff. So, the overall rating would be 4 stars.

Some more religious talk in this installment (am I getting Zadig vibes here?)
Q:
“When you go past the rituals and customs of any true religion, we all meet at the Gates of Heaven.” …
“A Buddhist will tell you to shed ego and follow the right path. A Muslim will say that the real jihad is to conquer your own negative base desires. A Christian will say to follow the Ten Commandments.”... “In the end, what difference?” …
We strive to arrive at the same Gates.” (c)

☘Misericordia☘ ~ The Serendipity Aegis ~ wrote: "Completion post
Spot: 6
TangleRoot[*book:TangleRoot|32328649]
Book: Jean Kilczer - TangleRoot (Star Sojourner, #6)
Qualification: Star Sojourner, #6
D..."

THank you for getting it in early :-)

Maddielucy(Patti) wrote: "THank you for getting it in early :-)" You're welcome, Patti!

Completion post
Spot: 6

Book: Brewing Up a Storm by Amanda M. Lee
Qualification: Star Sojourner, #6
Date read: 9/19/20
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have the rest of the previous books of the series. The mystery felt a little too drawn out and I almost lost interest a number of times before we got the next clue or plot twist. I also found Galen a little annoying in this book though I am not quite sure why. What I did like was that we got to know a little more about the island in this book which added to the series as a whole and I like that Hadley is becoming stronger and they are trusting her more.

I also think because I have read so many of Amanda M Lee's series as well as her series' as Lily Harper Hart I am starting to see repettiive storylines or elements which may have detracted from this book a little.

Overall while I didn't necessarily love the mystery n this one, I am still enjoying the series as a whole and will continue to read on in the series.

Nikk the Sapphired Book Dragon wrote: "Completion post
Spot: 6

Book: Brewing Up a Storm by Amanda M. Lee
Qualification: Star Sojourner, #6
Date read: 9/19/20
Rating: 3 stars
Review:
I didn't enjoy this..."

Thanks Nikk for posting early!! Sorry you didn't enjoy the book. I feel like #6 makes or beaks a series. Like you either love it forever or just say, ehhh no more :) Right?

Yay Formula 1 Readers!! We are complete for Roll #1. Thanks ladies!!

Hi Formula 1. I rolled a 5, which takes us to spot 11

11 in a series
1st in a series
Stand alone
Alternate: Romance

Let's try to post or reviews by 11:59 CST Wednesday. Let me know if you have a problem. Happy reading!!

Great roll, Patti. Now I get to start one of the two series that I picked for this challenge.

Maddielucy(Patti) wrote: "Hi Formula 1. I rolled a 5, which takes us to spot 11" Yay! Another great roll, Patti! You totally rock! :)

Completion post Week 2
Spot: 11
Brighter Than the Sun[~book:Brighter Than the Sun|20453985]
Book: Maya Banks - Brighter Than the Sun (KGI, #11)
Qualification: #11
Date read: 9/20/20
Rating: 3 stars
Bonus points earned: 1. Alternate: Romance. ✅ Fits 2 in 1 simultaneously.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Q:
“You’re my dearest friend, ... There’s no way I’d ever turn my back on you. Besides, I have mad skills. (c)
A nice angsty setting of abused gilrs / friends on a mission to get one of them way away from her former self and morph into something safer and more kick-butt. The rest is history.
Formulaic plot vehicles (-1 star),
character building - none (-1 star),
STEM gal doing nerd-stuff (+1 star),
stilted dialogue (-1 star),
world dumps when characters talk their setting at each other or the sci-fi plague (-1 star),
no virgins/slutshaming/male sluts/(+3 stars),
the 'very special telepathic bonds' (+-1 star),
no dancing goddesses (+1000000 stars, ok, kidding, only +1 star).
Marlene: she does look & sound nice & intimidating.
So, overall: 3 stars.
Q:
... my brothers kick asses for a living (c)
Q:
They’ve done fugitive recovery, rescue missions, obliterated terrorist organizations, and that’s when they aren’t meeting their significant others while on a mission. (c) Busy guys.
Q:
I was on the other side of the fence growing up. White trash. Troublemaker. Loser. Pick your poison. (c)
Q:
My brothers give her shit about her propensity for collecting ‘strays.’ Strays being all the people she’s adopted into the family over the years. (c)
Q:
you never even set foot out of your apartment without makeup to conceal your freckles, because your father viewed them as an imperfection. (c) Daddy dreadful.