Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

TEAM GODS




• Michelle (Captain)
• Laura (Co-Captain)
• Lisa Hill (Co-Captain)
• Lindsay
• Emelie
• Beth
• Lucy
• Kate
• Shy
• Alma
• Kelly Palmer
• Amanda
• Christene Paula
• Vanessa Deneen
• Pooja
• Vivi


• Ilsen Moved to Team Ajax
• Kristina Smith
• Jen Sabo (Co-Captain) Moved to Team Circe
• Cat
• Marla
• Frida
• Celia Buell Moved to Team Circe
• Angela Schwarz
• Niki Franklin
• Kat Moved to Team Cassandra
• Carrie Elrick Moved to Team Cassandra
• Sunflower Moved to Team Agamemnon
• Jen Moved to Hector
• Debra Monteith• Rose moved to Penelope
• Meghna Sunny moved to Helen
• Snowtulip moved to Achilles

Official Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Challenge Status Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

*

*

Hi Everyone!

To let you all enjoy the TT fun while waiting for your official groups, we have created Team Gods! As slots become available elsewhere we will be moving people out into them. In the mean time, enjoy the TT fun.

Team Planning Sheet (use this one to post your books)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Points and Rules
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Countdown to the Start
https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...
You can only count books started after this time!

May Mini Challenge
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
(view spoiler)[
Meet The Muses May Mini

Our hosts on Mount Olympus (or TBR) would like to introduce themselves in preparation for the forthcoming festivities. To that end, they have inspired a mini-challenge to get your creativity started.

For this challenge, each muse has a selection of tasks to be completed. These are under the spoiler below.
(view spoiler)[
Thalia (“The Cheerful One”) was the Muse of Comedy and was often portrayed holding a comic mask or a shepherd’s crook
• Spell out Thalia - T
• Spell out Thalia - H
• Spell out Thalia - A
• Spell out Thalia - L
• Spell out Thalia - I
• Spell out Thalia - A
• MPG Humour
• Mask on cover

Urania (“The Heavenly One”) was the Muse of Astronomy, and you can often see her holding a globe
• Spell out Urania - U
• Spell out Urania - R
• Spell out Urania - A
• Spell out Urania - N
• Spell out Urania - I
• Spell out Urania - A
• Stars on the cover
• Map at the front of the book

Melpomene (“She Who Sings”) was the Muse of Tragedy, and she is either holding a tragic mask or some other symbol of tragedy (sword, club, buskins)
• Spell out Melpomene - M
• Spell out Melpomene - E
• Spell out Melpomene - L
• Spell out Melpomene - P
• Spell out Melpomene - O
• Spell out Melpomene - M
• Spell out Melpomene - E
• Spell out Melpomene - N
• Spell out Melpomene - E
• Sword on cover
• Tagged Tragedy

Polyhymnia (“She of the Many Hymns”) was the Muse of Hymns and sacred poetry, often depicted with a pensive look hidden behind a veil
• Spell out Polyhymnia - P
• Spell out Polyhymnia - O
• Spell out Polyhymnia - L
• Spell out Polyhymnia - Y
• Spell out Polyhymnia - H
• Spell out Polyhymnia - Y
• Spell out Polyhymnia - M
• Spell out Polyhymnia - N
• Spell out Polyhymnia - I
• Spell out Polyhymnia - A
• Letters of HYMN in title
• Author initials in SACRED

Erato (“The Lovely One”) was the Muse of Lyric Poetry; naturally, she’s usually represented with a lyre;
• Spell out Erato - E
• Spell out Erato - R
• Spell out Erato - A
• Spell out Erato - T
• Spell out Erato - O
• Poetry quote in the text
• MC is a writer

Calliope (“The One with a Beautiful Voice”) was the Muse of Epic Poetry; Hesiod claims that she was the foremost among the nine, since “she attends on worshipful princes”; Calliope can often be seen holding a writing tablet;
• Spell out Calliope - C
• Spell out Calliope - A
• Spell out Calliope - L
• Spell out Calliope - L
• Spell out Calliope - I
• Spell out Calliope - O
• Spell out Calliope - P
• Spell out Calliope - E
• Royal title in book title
• 1st in series

Clio (“The Celebrator,” “The Proclaimer”) was the Muse of History, and, quite fittingly, she usually holds a scroll;
• Spell out Clio - C
• Spell out Clio - L
• Spell out Clio - I
• Spell out Clio - O
• MPG History/Historical Fiction
• A celebration in the book

Euterpe (“She Who Pleases”), was the Muse of Flute-playing, which is why she is time and again portrayed with an aulos;
• Spell out Euterpe - E
• Spell out Euterpe - U
• Spell out Euterpe - T
• Spell out Euterpe - E
• Spell out Euterpe - R
• Spell out Euterpe - P
• Spell out Euterpe - E
• Musical instrument on cover
• Characters attend a musical performance

Terpsichore (“The One Delighting in the Dance”), was the Muse of Choral Lyric and Dancing; as expected, she is usually shown dancing and sometimes holding a lyre.
• Spell out Terpsichore - T
• Spell out Terpsichore - E
• Spell out Terpsichore - R
• Spell out Terpsichore - P
• Spell out Terpsichore - S
• Spell out Terpsichore - I
• Spell out Terpsichore - C
• Spell out Terpsichore - H
• Spell out Terpsichore - O
• Spell out Terpsichore - R
• Spell out Terpsichore - E
• Dancing in the book
• Letters CLD in title of book
(hide spoiler)]

◈ Only books read and finished from the start of the challenge until 9pm GMT+1 on 31st May will count for the Meet the Muses mini challenge.
◈ You will gain 5 points for each task you complete.
◈ For each Muse you complete all the tasks for, you get an additional 10 points.
◈ You may only complete each task once.

How a "spell it out" works
Spell out the word(s) using the first letter in the book's title, the first letter in the author's first or last name, or the first letter of a character's first, last, or nick-name, or the first letter of the series name. As always, if the first letter of a title starts with an indefinite or definite article ('A', 'An', 'The', etc.), you may use the first letter of the second word in the title to spell out your chosen word. If you are listening to an audiobook, the first letter in the narrator's first or last name also can be used. We're also allowing for Translators names, as long as the edition you are reading is a translation version.
(hide spoiler)]

r

r

Welcome, everyone! It's so great that the mods figured out a fun way for everyone to participate who somehow missed the deadline (raises hand!). Some of you will start here, and then move into other teams, but we will all get a chance to join the fun on Team Gods.

I have enjoyed many years of TT fun, and I'm sure this round will be no different.

To get started, introduce yourself! Is this your first Tower Teams, or are you a veteran? What are your favorite genres and authors? Where in the world do we all live? What is the best book you've read in 2022?

Share as much as you'd like to kick things off.

Glad to be back for another round of Tower Teams!

I live in the forests of Southern Oregon, outside of Crater Lake National Park on a small homestead. When I'm not reading, I'm playing outside with my animals, hiking, running, camping, or watching the Chicago Cubs play baseball (unfortunately, not very well this season, but I still love them).

Books! I will read basically anything. All genres, but my favorites are mysteries, historicals, romance (mainly historical, but I do read a few contemporaries here and there), non-fiction, dystopian, and fantasy. Occasionally horror or sci fi, but not as my usual go-to. I like books that make me cry, and books that have that Happily Ever After.

My best book in 2022? Not sure I've had one that has blown me away yet. My 4 and 5 stars are given very sparingly. Maybe I'll read a 5 star during this challenge!

Hi everyone!! I’m one of the first reserves because I was too busy with finals to sign up and I was going back and forth signing up. This is my first time joining this group challenge and a group challenge on this group in general! I’m kinda scared but I’m also excited.

I live in Miami so I’m excited for the summer so I can go to the beach and read! I like singing, baking, and journaling as well as reading but I mostly read as my hobby. I love all types of genres and I am trying to experiment but I mostly read YA fantasy, contemporary, and mystery. I also am trying to dabble in different age ranges as well.

So far my favorite of 2022 has been Amari and the Night Brothers and Vicious Spirits! But I’m hoping to read a lot more because I’ve mostly been reading for school (so I failed the last group challenge which was UNO and I hope I don’t fall into a slump). I hope all of us can have fun despite missing the deadline to sign up.

Hi everyone! Im Christene! from Philippines! This is my first TT challenge but was into many reading challenges already and also one of the reserved players. Im excited for this 3 months long challenge. My fave genre these days are fantasy, mysteries, Psychological Thriller, and Romance.

Here's my shelf for this challenge: NBRC TT9 Team God

Christene, looking forward to getting some psychological thriller recs from you!

Ilsen, Amari and the Night Brothers looks great. Adding it to my shelf.

I'm Lisa. I'm from Minnesota. I have never played before but someone in one of my other challenges mentioned this so I thought I'd try for it. I'm a co-captain, but not sure what that entails. I did wheel last year and I do a Spell challenge that is similar on the MM group. That is what I primarily read. Not much else as I like the escapism that it provides after a long day at work. My only child is 17 and is finishing her Jr year of high school and my husband is deployed half way around the world until the end of July.

Hello! Can't recall how many times I've done TT, but I always enjoy it :D. I was on vacation during sign ups, and only got online to update UNO, so missed out.

I live in the US in New Mexico, getting a little hot at the moment and unfortunatly we are dealing with wildfires.

I love romance, fantasy and sci-fi the most, but read just about everything except horror (unless I absolutely have to).

I haven't had any 5 star reads so far this year, but a few I've enjoyed or been intrigued by are The Girls I've Been and The Bone Scroll (love this series).

Hello!

This is a cool idea. I've been on every TT since I think the 4th? I read like every genre except self help and light on horror. Hmm.. probably Return of the Thief is my favorite this year, because it was the perfect ending for a series I've been reading for like a decade. I'm in New York City (originally Minnesota).

How does the game work for this team vs. the others?

Hi Team! My name is Jen, this is my 6th (I think) Tower Teams. I was in a reading rut and decided not to sign but, but changed my mind. Tower Teams always gets me reading more!

I live in Oregon, where I am from. Last year during Tower Teams I moved from North Carolina back to Oregon. I'm finally settling in.

Mostly, I read popular fiction but I am open to trying new things.

The best books I've read this year were The Song of Achilles and The Nothing Man.

Snowtulip wrote: "Hello! Can't recall how many times I've done TT, but I always enjoy it :D. I was on vacation during sign ups, and only got online to update UNO, so missed out.

I live in the US in New Mexico, gett..."

Can you believe I only just last month read Night's Reckoning? I think I was subconsciously avoiding it because I knew that Tenzin was going to completely ignore what Ben wanted! (Not that I wanted Ben to die!) But now I'm so mad at E.H. for making me feel this way! But I plan to read Dawn Caravan as soon as I can fit it in with my challenges.

Hi Team! I'm one of the co-captains here. I currently live in Southern California. We're currently fixing up our house in order to list it this summer and move to North Carolina. We can pay off our mortgage and buy a new home debt free out there! Housing prices are ridiculous out here!

I read a little bit of everything except horror & thriller. Which isn't entirely true, because I can usually find something on my TBR that will fit any task.

I'm excited to find out what our experience will be compared to other teams.

I've done TT a few times. What usually happens is that Uno is winding down, and I'm worn out, so I don't sign up for TT, but then Uno ends and it's weird to finish updating all my challenges in 5 minutes, so then I sign up late. :)

Laura wrote: "Snowtulip wrote: "Hello! Can't recall how many times I've done TT, but I always enjoy it :D. I was on vacation during sign ups, and only got online to update UNO, so missed out.

I live in the US i..."

I know what you mean, that book made me cry and want to throw my kindle. I have a soft spot for Ben, so all the emotions were there. What would I have done if you hadn't introduced me to EH!!!

Snowtulip wrote: "Laura wrote: "Snowtulip wrote: "Hello! Can't recall how many times I've done TT, but I always enjoy it :D. I was on vacation during sign ups, and only got online to update UNO, so missed out.

I li..."

Your life would be less colorful, for sure. No B and Gio? No Carwyn? No Ox and Emmie? The horror!

Is there a spreadsheet or something that we are filling out before the captains fill out the spreadsheet. I get that we are here for fun until some of us are able to compete, but I'm looking at the May Mini Challenge and can fill two of those already with books i'm reading this week....

Assuming this is similar to Wheel that I played last year we had a spreadsheet where we document the book, series, page count, read date and the letters that could be used for our selected word.

It's similar to Wheel in some ways, and a planning spreadsheet works well to give us flexibility for the mini tasks.
This planning sheet is basically a duplicate of the official sheet, with a few additonal columns on the books tab.

And since there is a penalty for reading over the amount you said when you signed up, feel free to add any extra books on the overflow tab and we will move things around to maximize points.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

If you aren't able to use the spreadsheet, please post a full completion post here and someone can help move your books over.

I totally started three books this weekend before the deadline bc I knew I wasn't on a team. oops !

Same here. I have a few to finish up before I can count anything.

Planning to read for the task sword on cover. And The Pillars of the Earth for task historical fiction.

Hey all!

I'm Amanda, I live in metro Detroit, and this is my first time signing up for Tower Teams. I think I hesitated to sign up initially because I mainly read MM/LGBT Romance and the buddy reads scared me off. I also tend to read a lot and some months its way more than projected so was worried I'd get the penalty but with this last round of UNO I just didn't note down all the books I finished so figured I could do that again if needed!

Like I said I mainly read MM romance, and have a ton of favorite authors, but the one I recommend to all (especially with his most recent traditional publishing success) is TJ Klune. I love paranormal romances especially if there is a mystery subplot. I have lots of favorites this year but I've been super into all the Hazard and Somerset books by Gregory Ashe starting with Pretty Pretty Boys. If you're a mystery/police MC romance fan who is thinking of dipping their toes into LGBT romance this is a good place to start!

I'm a little overwhelmed but will try to figure everything out! I'm pretty far down on the reserves so I'll probably be here for the long haul with whoever else is here :)

You never know, Amanda. It all depends on who drops out. They don’t only go down the list. They try to also match # of books. I signed up for 45 a month, so I’m unlikely to be out on a team, but if you signed up for less, you could make it.

Laura wrote: "You never know, Amanda. It all depends on who drops out. They don’t only go down the list. They try to also match # of books. I signed up for 45 a month, so I’m unlikely to be out on a team, but if..."

If I remember correctly I signed up for 40 so it might be me and you here until the end lol

Amanda wrote: "Hey all!

I'm Amanda, I live in metro Detroit, and this is my first time signing up for Tower Teams. I think I hesitated to sign up initially because I mainly read MM/LGBT Romance and the buddy rea..."

I had been looking at those Gregory Ashe books. I'll probably put them on my TBR. If they are mystery, they will probably help for Hunt?

I read primarily MM as well. My favorite right now (cause it changes a lot) is Tal Bauer. I'm not quite sure why, but their writing is fantastic and give me all the feels.

MN Lisa wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Hey all!

I'm Amanda, I live in metro Detroit, and this is my first time signing up for Tower Teams. I think I hesitated to sign up initially because I mainly read MM/LGBT Romance an..."

Oh Gregory Ashe is SO GOOD. I can't remember if you do audio, but the first couple are on Hoopla and narrated by Tristan James, so they're amazing. He just pulled Hazard and Somerset off KU (he put a different series up on KU, maybe North and Shaw which is also really good but characters are a little more ridiculous) but I own them so if/when you decide to read them send me a message and I can lend them to you.

And YES to Tal Bauer. Jack and Ethan from Executive Office are one of my favorite couples. Bauer is just amazing at the balance between political suspense and romance and it feels so romantic while also keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Amanda wrote: "MN Lisa wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Hey all!

I'm Amanda, I live in metro Detroit, and this is my first time signing up for Tower Teams. I think I hesitated to sign up initially because I mainly read MM..."

I haven't read the Executive Office Series yet, but its on my list for Hunt. Its got a lot of good points for that. I just checked Hazard and Somerset on Kindle and the first book was free so I got that. If I need the others I'll let you know.

I sometimes hesitate to join challenges that are not in the MM group, just because you never know how people will react and it can be hard to discuss your books/authors because you don't read the same. Glad to see a fellow MM reader here, even if its only for part of the game!

MN Lisa wrote: "Amanda wrote: "MN Lisa wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Hey all!

I'm Amanda, I live in metro Detroit, and this is my first time signing up for Tower Teams. I think I hesitated to sign up initially because I..."

Same here! I usually bring a fellow MM reader with me and ask to be put on the same team 😆

Howdy, everyone!

My name is Vanessa. I have participated in Tower Teams previously, but it has been a while. I live in Western Kentucky and my family just moved here from Omaha, Nebraska.

The genres I read most are fantasy, romance, science fiction, and comics with all kinds of subgenres in there. I read both adult and young adult books. Some of my favorite authors are Annette Marie, Stacey Marie Brown, Meghan Quinn, Monica Murphy, L.A. Cotton, Rina Kent, S. Massery, Leigh Bardugo, Holly Black, Susan Dennard, Elisa Kova, Kelly St. Clare, Jaymin Eve, and loads more.

I actually have a ton of five-star reads this year. The series that I would recommend most that I have read this year are THe Savage Lands series by Stacey Marie Brown and the Guild Codex: Unveiled series by Annette Marie. Both are close to my heart. =)

@MN Lisa, you have to read the executive series...one of my favorite m/m series and I also love Tal Bauer. Hush is also one that completely crushed me, but learned so much.

@Amanda, I also did audio for the first few Hazard and Somerset and agree on the narration...I admit that the last few in the series kind of fizzled for me.

@Christene, I hope you love The Way of Kings as much as I did, I plan to read the most recent book in the series for TT...just not sure when i want to tackle it ;)

I feel like I should use this as an excuse to start Way of Kings, but it's very intimidating. lol

Rose wrote: "I feel like I should use this as an excuse to start Way of Kings, but it's very intimidating. lol"

I agree it was intimidating and it's not a book to be rushed, but so much amazing world building and it has some great characters that kept me completely engaged.

I keep trying to get my husband to read it, but the page count completely made him turn away :D

I loved Way of Kings! It's a big one, so lots of points for us, too. :)

Snowtulip wrote: "@MN Lisa, you have to read the executive series...one of my favorite m/m series and I also love Tal Bauer. Hush is also one that completely crushed me, but learned so much."

That and The Grave Between Us are books I'm hoping to get done this summer. I have to space them with fluffy books.

Hi everyone! I see some familiar faces! :D

Amanda wrote: "Hey all!

I'm Amanda, I live in metro Detroit, and this is my first time signing up for Tower Teams. I think I hesitated to sign up initially because I mainly read MM/LGBT Romance and the buddy rea..."

I’m also in metro Detroit!

Beth! Hi there. Glad to read together again.

I'm Debra and this is my first time playing.

I’m currently at work but once I’m home ~1.5 hours I’ll look everything over and see what I should be picking up

Hi everyone.
I am Meghna from Africa.. I just got added in the group..
I am currently reading Jasmine Days

Hi everyone,are we a team or what’s happening?im a bit confused.I’ve signed up really late and I am probably the second last of the reserves so I don’t think I will be in a team this time around or will I?

Hello everyone! I see familiar faces. I've played TT before but have been in a reading slump for maybe 2ish years? Trying to get back into it. I'm from the Philippines.

I read a lot of fantasy but do I read across genres except for horror. I don't have the courage for it am afraid. I adore Melina Marchetta's Lumatere Chronicles (Book 1 is Finnikin of the Rock) and highly recommend that to everybody! Also love Megan Whalen Turner's The Queen's Thief series The Thief. I can't say I have a favorite author but I think anything that has Ilona Andrews to it I read haha.

I've only read 10 books so far this year and the 5s I've given were for the non-fiction inspirational ones.

Hi all! Carrie from PA.

I’ve played Tower Teams for several years. Real life distracted me and I was late signing up this year. I’m very excited the mods created team Gods because I was starting to get a bit jealous seeing all the Tower Teams activity going on lol.

I see several familiar faces here, as well as some new ones, and I’m so glad to join you all!

I love thrillers, horror, mystery and Nordic noir but I’ll read pretty much anything. I just finished The Change by Kirsten Miller and loved it. I’m currently reading The Lighthouse Witches and really enjoying it as well!

Jen wrote: "Hi Team! My name is Jen, this is my 6th (I think) Tower Teams. I was in a reading rut and decided not to sign but, but changed my mind. Tower Teams always gets me reading more!

I live in Oregon, w..."

I loved The Nothing Man!