2025 Reading Challenge discussion

I am planning on two reading challenges this year: Popsugar and 52 Books. I may try to finish up the alphabet challenge I didn't finish in 2022. I only lack x,y, and z which are the hardest ones.

Ok, I jumped into two more challenges: the monopoly challenge and the United in Reading challenge.

The Lost Book of the White by Cassandra Clare

This is the second book in the Eldest Curses series. I really liked the first book: The Red Scrolls of Magic. There's been no news on when the last book is going to come out.

This book fits prompts for three of my challenges:

Popsugar: a book with mythical creatures. It would also work for a book with a color in the title.
Bibliopoly: a book set on more than one continent
52 Books: a book with a fashionable character. There are not many characters more fashionable than Magnus Bane.

I must be a glutton for punishment, or a sucker for a good reading challenge......... probably both.

The 52 Books group has an Agatha Christie reading challenge where you work toward reading all of her 70+ books. I put my name down for 12. I thought surely I could manage one each month. We shall see if I have gone overboard this year.

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman

This was such an interesting read. It was a group of short stories written as a fictional account of the dreams of Einstein as he worked on his theories of time. Really makes you think about life.

Works for the prompts:
52 books: a book under 200 pages
Bibliopoly: shortline railroad a book under 200 pages

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

This was a five-star read and I would give it more if I could. I love Octavia Butler. Her writing is so unique, and her stories are woven so well. This book kept you interested from the very beginning. And it is one that I think everyone should read. It brought to life a very troubling time in American history, a time that shouldn't be ignored because history ignored is doomed to be repeated.

This book fits the prompts:

Popsugar: a book becoming a tv show or movie
52 Books: by Octavia Butler
Bibliopoly: Red: a book whose author or character is of a different race or ethnicity than you

For popsugar it would also fit a book on a celebrity book club list, about a family, or historical fiction

Chloe by Sarah Brianne

This is the third book in the Made Men series, and in it we learn more about how Chloe got her scars. I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. I had expected an HEA after reading the first two in this series but what we get is a cliff hanger. I'm not one who hates cliff hangers, but it was unexpected. The first two books could have worked as stand alones, but I shall continue to see what happens to Chloe.

This books fits the following challenge prompts:
Popsugar: Main character whose name is in the title
52 Books: a contemporary setting
Bibliopoly: B&O Railroad: a book whose character or author starts with B or O

Maddox by Callie Rhodes

I'm so hooked on this series. I had hoped that it would have worked for more prompts, but it only fits bibliopoly Red: any shade of red on the cover.

It would work for a character's name on the cover, a book less than 200 pages, or two POV but I've filled all those.

City of Ghosts

Love a spooky read! This was a great middle grade age book, by an author that I haven't read before. Cass almost drowns and is saved by a ghost, Jacob, and learns that she can go behind the veil.

Works for promps:
Popsugar and 52 Books: a book I meant to read last year. I actually started reading it after Xmas and got sidetracked on another read.
Bibliopoly: Dark blue: with a cat on the cover

Bloodchild and Other Stories

Octavia E. Butler was a master science fiction writer, and one of my favorite authors. Bloodchild is a collection of short stories, and I found them all fascinating.

This book fit the following prompts:
Popsugar: favorite prompt from a past challenge: social horror
Bibliopoly: Free parking: book of choice
United in reading: Education: Butler's works are used in the teaching of many subjects
52 Books: doesn't fit another prompt

Death on the Nile

I've always been an Agatha Christie fan. My mother introduced me to her work when I was a little girl. I've read many of her books, but it has been a while. I chose this one because it fit prompts on several challenges, but I thought it was rather obvious who did it, maybe not how it was done, but who was involved. It was, nevertheless, a fun read.

Popsugar: about a vacation
Bibliopoly: Orange involving water travel
52 Books: Featuring an inheritance

Gild by Raven Kennedy

I picked this one for the Popsugar prompt for a retelling. This is the first in the Plated Prisoner series that is a retelling of the story of King Midas.

I loved Void by Raven Kennedy and this series was popular so I decided to see if it lived up to all the hype. I did like it, but not as much as I had hoped. I will likely continue the series because I want to know how things go.

Popsugar: a retelling
52 Books: begins with G
Bibliopoly: Chance: a book on my TBR within the 10 highest ratings.

Lucca by Sarah Brianne

This is the fourth book in the Made Men series and the best so far. I was completely blown away. I first chose this for the popsugar prompt a book with a love triange, but changed it to the prompt a book that I would like to read again for the first time. It would also work for a retelling of beauty and the beast.

52 Books: about secrets
Bibliopoly: Go to jail-- crime fiction

Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

I loved getting to go to the land of Confection, where Sumi went. It seems like a great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. This is my favorite book in the series so far. It would take a lot for one of the others in the series to be better than this one. 5 stars

52 Books: a book about body positivity
Bibliopoly: Pink: any shade of pink on the cover.

Dr. Rick Will See You Now

This was a fun read. Most of us have seen these commercials (I saw one as I was making this post). The book is just like the commercials. I admit, I am guilty of a few things in here LOL

52 Books: written by a comedian.
Bibliopoly: blue any shade of blue on the cover

Troy by Callie Rhodes

This is book 5 in the Boundarylands series. I've been trying to pace myself and not binge read them all at once, but it's difficult.

52 Books: enemies to lovers (she was raised in an anti-alpha cult and was taught to believe they are devils)
Bibliopoly: green: a character who has a different gender than your own.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

52 Books: a dystopia
Popsugar: Recommended by a friend
Bibliopoly: a hat on the cover

Octavia Butler was an amazing author and, like most science fiction writers, was before her time. It amazed me there was such a controversy on the 52 books challenge Facebook page this year over her name listed on the challenge. Her work has such depth and shouldn't be taken at face value. She deserved every award she won and then some.

Ark by Veronica Roth

I picked this one for the shortest book on my TBR popsugar prompt. I had listened to Emergency Skin by N.K. Jemisin last year and it was awesome so I picked the first one in the series.

Popsugar: shortest book
52 Books: set in a workplace
Bibliopoly purple: a plant on the cover
United in books: women in science

Moth by Lily Mayne

This is the first book in the Monstrous series: a dystopian MM monster series. This might be my favorite of the series, although I really loved the first one: Soul Eater

Bibliopoly: Blue a character with a different sexual orientation from you
Popsugar: Self published

Wakestone Hall by Judith Rossell

This is the last book in the series. I had to find out what happened after the last book. The books in this series fit the prompt about a family. Stella, who lives a miserable life at the hands of her aunts, searches for information about her parents. They are middle aged grade books but they are all fun reads.

Popsugar 2023: about a family
52 Books: with a dedication
Bibliopoly: electric company -- a light source on the cover

Sigvard the Nameless

This is the last book in the Dokiri Brides series. I hate to see this series come to an end. I have found nothing that compares to it.

52 Books: the last book in the series
Bibliopoly: a readathon

Bare Bones: Conversations on Terror with Stephen King

I picked this one for a celebrity memoir. While not technically a memoir, its close enough for me

Popsugar: celebrity memoir
52 Books: sends you down a rabbit hole (The rabbit hole that is Stephen King. I am now listening to the audiobook version of Thinner and have Salem's Lot to read soon)

Craving Them: Scarlett City Series Book 1 by SJ Meares

I must admit I am biased when it comes to this book. This book was written and published by my daughter, however even though I am biased it is still a really good book. This is a mafia romance with some dark elements. I love the characters and the storyline. She has more books she is getting ready to publish in this series. I'm really proud of her, I think she did an amazing job.

I used this book for:
Popsugar: first time author
52 books: a book with an epilogue

It would also work for an author who self-publishes or a forbidden romance.

Cade by Callie Rhodes

This book fits the popsugar prompt for a book with a fat lead (that prompt just sounds so rude to me)

This is my favorite out of the series so far, and I have loved most all of them so far. Cade is #8 and I am so hooked! I want my own alpha! *pouting*

If you haven't went down the omegaverse rabbit hole, and you like romance, you should grab the first one in this series and keep going.

Gender Queer: A Memoir

I read this book for my banned book prompts. I was hesitant when I saw that it was a graphic novel because usually, they will not hold my attention. That was not the case here. I finished this book in one sitting. I couldn't stop reading it. 5 stars! Highly recommend.

The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis

This science fiction read is set far in the future after man has colonies on other planets. But one thing hasn't changed: man still wages war. So much about this was unique. I loved seeing the possibilities of the future and the diversity in the characters. I'm looking forward to the next one in this series.

I used this one for the following prompts:
52 books: a book whose chapters have cliffhangers
Bibliopoly: luxury tax: precious metal on the cover

All the Stars and Teeth

The first in the YA duology, this wasn't a bad read. I actually enjoyed quite a lot of it.

I chose this for several prompts:
Popsugar: with a map
52 Books: starts with "the"
Bibliopoly: water works
United in books: world water day

I have posted a teaser from Craving Them: Scarlett City Series Book 1 by SJ Meares on my blog

https://fromthebootheelcottonpatch.bl...

There will be an author interview soon and a giveaway coming soon.

The Alchemist of Riddle and Ruin by Gigi Pandian

This one works for the alliteration prompts.

I have been waiting on this to come to audible. I love the series, especially Dorian with his little grey cells and wiggling his horns. I don't think I would like the books as well as the auido, but maybe I'll give it a shot sometime. If the author's secret staircase was read by the same narrator I think I would like those. But I don't like the narrator, and I can't seem to get into the story in the physical books.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

I picked this for the 52 Books prompt for a Newberry Award Winner. I can see why this won. Love the characters and the story. Not all is as it seems, or we expect it to be.

Popsugar: Book with "Girl" in the title
Bibliopoly: award winning book

Frankencat by Kathi Daley

I'm not going to say much about this book, because I don't like to give spoilers. But I will say that I don't recommend this book. I love this author, but this book bothered me.

Popsugar: features a holiday other than Christmas
Bibliopoly: a character whose spiritual beliefs are not your own.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

I chose this for the Popsugar prompt: a book that takes place in a day. I thought it was really good. It was an original idea about a boy heading to take revenge for the death of his brother and the ghosts of his past that he meets in the elevator. However, I found the ending confusing.

In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

This is a prequel to Every Heart a Doorway, the book that caused me to fall in love with this series. This is Lundy's story and for me this story is a mirror. I can so understand Lundy. But even though I knew how her story ends, I dreaded it. I love a HEA even though I know every story cannot have one.

This fits the 52 Books prompt for a book title that begins with I.

I finished the first two audio books in the Dispatcher series. In this world, if you are murdered you don't stay dead. You disappear where you are murdered and reappear at home.

The Dispatcher
52 Books: related to the word murder

Murder by Other Means
52 Books: includes a funeral
Bibliopoly : tax: , money the cover

5 stars for both
There is one more in the series, I hope there are more.

Ready Player One

I picked this for the Popsugar and 52 Books prompts for only text on the cover.

I wonder what actual gamers thought about this book? (Do gamers read?) I haven't played video games since I was in my 20s, and I won't tell you how long that's been. This was a good book, I enjoyed it. But I got tired of the Oasis and living vicariously in the 80s at about the midpoint of the book.

Angel by Sarah Brianne

I used this book for the Popsugar prompt: a forbidden romance.

This is book 5 in the Made Men series. It is an unspoken rule that there shouldn't be any friendliness, much less romance, between a Caruso and Luciano but that's just what happens in this installment. It is a bit dark, but not overwhelmingly so for me. There was remembrances of past child abuse.

Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire

This is book 5 in the Wayward Children series. It continues Jack and Jill's story after they went back to the Moors. I was heartbroken with the way things played out even though it couldn't have gone any other way. I guess I affected so strongly because I am the parent of two daughters who were close at one time.

52 Books: about siblings
Bibliopoly: Yellow: a character with an emotional disorder

Finding Her by SJ Meares

This is the 2nd book in the Scarlett City series and is a mystery/thriller that centers around Anika-- one of the twins from book one. This was a thrill ride to say the least. There were a lot of twists that I did not see coming. 5 stars. This book can be read alone, but it is always best to start with book 1.

Popsugar prompt: a book published in the spring of 2023

The Second Rebel by Linden A. Lewis

I must say that I absolutely love this trilogy so far. Although at the end of this one I had to place the book down gently because I wanted to throw it across the room. The characters I wanted together are not behaving and I shall say no more about that. And that ending!!! I did not see that coming, although I kick myself for not doing so. Looking back all the clues were there. Ugh! Can't wait to find out how this ends!

Popsugar: book with a queer lead
52 Books: Second hand book
United in Reading: human space travel

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater

I'm trying to read more banned or challenged books this year, and if they fit challenge prompts that's a bonus. This was an audiobook that I listened to on Libby and found it to be a really interesting story. It told not only what happened on the 57 Bus but also gave background on those involved and told what happened after.

It fits prompts:
52 books: a book with a subtitle
Bibliopoly: Red: bus in the title
United in Reading: World Press Freedom because its a banned book

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

This was one strange read. I couldn't help but wonder if the author was dropping acid when he wrote this. It is all over the place. The MC believes he is traveling through time and abducted by aliens, but it's pretty obvious that he suffers from PTSD and mental illness.

This book has been on banned book lists for violence (it was war after all), sexually explicit scenes and language. I saw nothing shocking in any part of this book.

This book fills the prompts:
Popsugar: a book I should have read in high school
Bibliopoly: Orange on the cover

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

This is a book that everyone should read. It has been banned/challenged for violence. But it is a reality that many live in every day. It should not be ignored or banned because their reality makes you uncomfortable.

It fits the same prompt for Popsugar and Bibliopoly: on a celebrity book club list.

I have started a group on Goodreads: Read Banned Books, to discuss what books are banned, why they are banned, and what can be done about it. Anyone is welcome, as long as discussion is civil.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
There is also a facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/13907...

Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez

This was such a powerful book. It was a work of fiction that was based around an actual tragedy. Interwoven with it all was the story of a family, interracial relationships that were forbidden/taboo at the time, abuse, and the mistreatment and discrimination of minorities. I had so hoped for a happy ending, but I'm sure Wash and Naomi did too.

I honestly prefer books with a happy ending, so be warned that this book does not have one.

This book is a banned/challenged book that is cited for depictions of abuse and said to be sexually explicit.

This fit the Popsugar prompt for a book that features two languages. It would also work for historical fiction.

I have finished two books that fit prompts since my last post.

Scepters & Scrolls by S.R. Meadows

This was a sweet MM romance. Loved it. This fit the 52 books prompt for books on the cover.

Torn Apart by K. Webster

OMG! So much drama!!! This is the first of a duology and it ends on a major cliffhanger. Now I must know what happened, so despite my better judgement, I've started the second one.

This fits the Popsugar prompt for song lyric in the title.

Bound Together

This is the second book in the duology with Torn Apart. I enjoyed it much more than the first one. Although, it too has a lot of drama in it. But the characters have grown a lot and I liked them much more in this book.

Popsugar: a book with an athlete or about a sport. Two of the MC are hockey players, and one is a swimmer.

I've finished a couple for reading challenges since my last post.

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
This was a truly unique dystopian afrofuturism fantasy. The author is absolutely amazing. I would put her with Ursula LeGuin, Margarette Attwood, and Octavia Butler. If you have not read any of her work, you definitely should.
This fit the Popsugar prompt for a book with a love triangle.

The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story by Hyeonseo Lee
This is the true account of the author's defection from North Korea. It is a truly engrossing tale that will keep you glued to the pages. It was unreal what all she went through.

This fit the 52 books prompt for a survival story and United in Readings prompt for world refugee day.

Both of these books received 5 stars from me.

Bear Next Door is the first in a series of standalones that feature shifters in their 40s. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more of this series.

Popsugar: a book about a divorce
United in Reading: friend day

An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten

This is a small book of short stories featuring Maude who is an 89 year old spinster that is clearly up to no good. Laced with dark humor, you can't help but like how Maude takes care of business.

I used this for the 52 books prompt: a Nordic noir.

Tomorrowville by David Isaak

This was an odd book. It was published posthumously, so I have to wonder if it was meant to be a standalone or if there should have been more books that followed? The MC died and was frozen and then thawed out way in the future. I never really understood the point of it, and (view spoiler)[the book had no ending (hide spoiler)]

This fit the 52 Books prompt for a book published posthumously.

Purrfect Murder by Nic Saint

I really wanted to like this one, there are cats that talk to certain humans. So much of it just seemed implausible. You can't look at someone and tell if they would be guilty of sexual assault. I ended up giving it three stars, because I did love Max the cat. I'm not sure if I will continue the series or not.

This book fits the Popsugar prompt for a book with a pet character.

My goodness! I did not realize that I was so far behind with updates.

Popsugar updates:
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Color in the title

Now I Rise by Kiersten White
Historical fiction. Love this series but I don't know if I can finish it because I fear the ending.

The Silmarillion
For a book I read more than 10 years ago, even though that's not the last time that I read it.

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Rabbit on the cover. All I can say is weird!

Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Second hand book. Loved it! I'm now hooked and must read the rest of this series.

Galen by Jaclyn Osborn
I used this for fanfiction, but I'm not sure it truly is. But there was a horcrux involved so that's close enough for me.

Secret Hollywood: Crazy and Interesting Stories about the Rich and Famous by Bill O'Neill
About Hollywood. I thought this was really interesting, but I liked the more modern stories best.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
NaNoWriMo. I really enjoyed this one. I hope there are more.