2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

I didn't do so well with keeping up with my posts this past year, but I vow to do better in 2025. I finished 2024 strong with 150+ books. I hope to do as well this year, but I will set a conservative number of 130. After all, we never know what this year will bring.

I am only doing the 52 Books challenge this year, and skipping the Popsugar challenge. I saw the list and it didn't look fun. I decided that if it's not fun then what's the point. That being said, it only takes up about a third of my challenge for the year so it will leave a lot of room to just read what I want to. I have enough stress to add reading books that I don't want to.

Good luck to everyone on your challenges this year!

I ended up reading 162 books in 2024. I set this years goal at 140. I'm looking forward to the 52 Books challenge and I'm also doing a local challenge.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading everyone!

Finished my first book of the new year. Flury: Journey of a Snowman by Tony Bertauski.

This is the third in the series of Christmas retellings. They can all be ready separately but I prefer to go in order. I've enjoyed all of them that I have read so far, but this one is my favorite. It also fits Prompts on the 52 Books challenge. I am going to put it on the prompt for contains a journal entry, but it could also be used for set during the winter.
It also fits Sonya's challenge for a book that has more than 25 chapters.

I just finished Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin

I didn't realize it was a children's book when I chose it. I just thought the idea of a cat with wings was an interesting concept. I picked it to go with the prompt of a book written by Ursula LeGuin. It also fits the 52 books prompt of having a character that flies.

It was a sweet story. Good for younger kids.

I just finished Diary of the White Witch by Melissa de la Cruz

I had recently read Witches of East End and really liked it and then found the prequel, which is one of the prompts for 52 books and Sonya's challenge. It was much shorter than I expected. It didn't add a lot to the first story.

Wed to the Minotaur by Eden Ember

Third book in this series. I've enjoyed them all so far, but this one is not my favorite.

52 Books: a crossover (to be used with Wed to the Phoenix)

The Alchemist of Brushstrokes and Brimstone: An Accidental Alchemist Mystery by Gigi Pandian

Finished listening to this audiobook. I just love Dorian. I don't think actually reading this series would be quite as fun because of Dorian's character.

It fits Sonya's challenge prompt for a book with the title in black font.

The Unbreakable Code by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

I read the first in this series, Book Scavenger, back in the summer and really liked it. These are fun books with lots of learning thrown in for kids. I like that they encourage kids to learn and use their brains.

It fit the 52 book prompt for I think its blue, and Sonya's prompt for a book that has research.

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

This is the second book in the Last Survivors series. There are many similarities between this on and the first one. They are set during the same timeline, but I would have thought the storylines would have been more different. I didn't like this one as well as the first because of the heavy emphasis on religion. I know that churches can help people, but the emphasis on it seemed a bit excessive.

52 books prompt: a moon on the cover
Sonya's challenge: an apocalyptic book

Venom by Fel Fern

I gave this one 3 stars, and that was a bit of a stretch.

I have read some Omegaverse, and some with MPreg. And I have soooo many questions about Mpreg. But we won't go there today. (view spoiler)[One of the biggest issue that I have with Omegaverse with mpreg is that the authors seem to treat women as though they don't really exist. This book was particularly bad about that. It was like all the males were either alphas or omegas with only brief mentions of a couple of females. All of the bear shifters mc members were alphas with male omegas. And mentions of their parents and grandparents were the same. It would just make a more realistic universe if there was more of a balance with MM and MF pairings. My other issue with this book is that there was nothing original. It was very predictable, and I thought I would never get through it. (hide spoiler)]

52 books: a character's name in the title
Sonya's: the word venom in the title

A Kiss of Roses & Moonlight by Bliss Devlin

This is the fourth book in this series. I like how Jacinthe's character has really grown and I like the relationships that she has with her bonded. However, it seemed like I would never finish this one. But I will continue the series. I look forward to seeing how everything wraps up.

52 Books: a found family
Sonya's: a female hero

Caught by Claire Cullen

This is the fifth and final installment of this omegaverse. I have enjoyed this series. I love the balance of characters. While all the MC are MM, they are surrounded by a mix of both MM and MF couples. It seems a more natural mix.

52 Books: title has 10 letters or less
Sonya's: part of a 5 book series

Wed to the Wolfman by Cara Wylde

Love this series. Each one is a standalone but they take place in the same world. Each is an arranged marriage between a human and a non-human. This one was a human with a wolf shifter. It was good, like all the others, but I wish it had been a bit longer. I would have loved to have learned about the pups to come.

It doesn't fit any prompts, but that is fine by me.

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

This was a 5-star read, no question about it. I would give it more stars. This was an awesome, incredibly creepy read. Loved it!!!

52 books: a book that has 300-400 pages
Sonya's: a mystery

This World We Live Inby Susan Beth Pfeffer

This is the third installment in this series. It's a YA about a world where the moon has been knocked closer to the earth and the apocalypse that follows. It has been really good, except for all the religion.

It doesn't fit any prompts, but I wanted to see how things progressed. There is still one more book in this series, but I don't think I'll read it.

Wed to the Phoenix by Eden Ember

This is set in the same world as Wed to the Minotaur and I used it for the second of those two prompts in the 52 Books challenge.

I liked this one ok, but I liked it least of the series so far. I liked the last half of it better than I expected. It was a bit predictable, and I didn't care for Jayden's character. But I still liked it, and I have loved this series so I will continue on to the next!

Wed to the Dragon by Cara Wylde

Loved this one! I've enjoyed the whole series so far, but this is one of my favorites. I just wish it had been longer or at least had an epilogue.

52 books: a character with red hair
Sonya's: a character with scales.

Wed to the Orc by Layla Fae

I enjoyed this one much more than I expected. I'm usually not a fan of orc characters, but this was such a good read. Love this series.

Wed to the Lionman by Cara Wylde

I'm shamelessly addicted to this series. This was a really sweet romance. Not my favorite of the series, but I still liked it a lot. I wish these were a bit longer.

If You're Reading This, It's Too Late by Pseudonymous Bosch

This is such a fun series. Yes, its for kids, but I still enjoyed it. It also could have fit several prompts. I picked it for the 52 Books prompt of a book that breaks the fourth wall. However, it could also be used for a book with a magician, and a book that contains an adventure.

I used it for Sonya's prompt of a book with more than 250 pages.

Wed to the Lich by Layla Fae

Absolutely loved this book!!!! It gets all the stars and then add some more stars to that. The love story between May and Virgil was so real, so heartfelt.

If you enjoy monster romance, read this one if you don't ready any other. But I warn you, this book can cause serious book hangover.

Sonya's prompt: a character with an illness

Wed to the Bullman by Eden Ember

I liked this one, not my most favorite or least favorite but somewhere in between. It's related to Wed to the Minotaur the FMC is the sister to the one in this book.

I'll soon finish all the books in this series. I shall be lost

Never Been Witched by Molly Harper

This is the last in this trilogy. I've enjoyed each one. All have been fun ghosty reads.

I think this fits 52 books prompt for a genre set in autumn. It starts with the renovation of the hotel in the off season.

The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming

This was a very interesting read about young women who helped break coded messages and helped the Allied forces win WWII. I would recommend this to anyone with any interest in history. I don't read a lot of nonfiction, but this got 5 stars from me.

Fits 52 books prompt for a book set in the 1940s. (It would also work for a book with short chapters)

Wed to the Dark Elf by Eden Ember

I don't know what happened with this book, but it really didn't belong in this series. It does contain the marriage temple and arrangements between humans and other races. But everything else is very different. And the picture on the cover does not match the description of the MMC. And it really needed an editor. One passage near the end has Vamen walking down the corridor with Iris on his arm and then he's watching through the doorway while she is speaking to a group when she turns to see him. It can't be both ways.

I love the series, but I recommend that this one just be skipped.

Wed to Krampus by Cara Wylde

This is a very close second to my favorite of this series. Wed to the Lich is still the very top of that list. Wed to Krampus is very much a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Was such a good love story, but I wish it had been a bit longer. I would have loved an epilogue.

This fits the 52 books prompt for a separate genre set in Winter and Sonya's challenge for a character that experiences a life changing event. (Her house burns down)

Taken by Erin Bowman

This is a YA dystopian that starts with a group of people, mostly young people in a town within a wall. Boys get taken when they turn 18. It was a good read that held my attention. (view spoiler)[There is a love triangle, not really sure how I feel about it (hide spoiler)] I may or may not continue the series. I have found that it is on KU.

52 Books: includes a heist
Sonya's: set during the summer

This Book Is Not Good for You by Pseudonymous Bosch

This is the third book in the series, and I liked it ok. It is a kid's book, and I got bored with it about half way through. Readers are teased with the knowledge of who Cass' parents are. I don't know if its worth continuing the series to find out the information or not.

Gray Back Bad Bear by T.S. Joyce

Now I remember why I loved this series. Loved this one. I think I had gotten burnt out for a while on it because I had read so many. But I'm glad that I came back to it.

This fit the 52 books prompt for a genre set in summer.

Wed to the Basilisk by Layla Fae

Voss gets all the stars here!!! Alina, not so much. She will give you whiplash if you aren't careful. Not my absolute favorite, but still high on the list because of Voss.

Sonya's challenge for a MMC with touch and die vibes.

Wed to the Lynx by Cara Wylde

This was, to me, the strangest of the series. Shadow is a big cat. The lynxes have some human ways, and sometimes walk upright, and they do talk and write but that's where the similarities end. They have fur, and whiskers, and they purr. They sleep a lot, they drink milk, and they are curious about everything.

It's not my least favorite, but not at the top of the list either. I read it because it goes to help a cat charity, and I have enjoyed so many in this series.

Gray Back Alpha Bear by T.S. Joyce

I'm really glad that I picked this series up again. This was a great second chance shifter romance.

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire

Loved this!! The only one in this series that I like only fractionally better was Beneath the Sugar Sky. I know you don't have to read these in order, but I think it's better that way.

52 Books prompt for a title that starts with M.

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor

I honestly didn't care for this book and skimmed the last half of it. There was just too much going on. Some things were too strict, others were too outlandish. I may try again some other time, but for now it just didn't hold my attention.

52 Books for a book that includes a magician
Sonya's for a book with mostly purple on the cover.

The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C.J. Archer

I've had this in my kindle for a while and decided to give it a go. I did like this cozy mystery. I didn't realize it was a spin off of another series so I will go back and read it before I finish this series. I liked the chemistry between the characters and the touch of magical realism. I'm not sure how the love triangle is gonna work out. There was no conclusion at the end of this book.

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

This is one of my very favorite reads. I read it nearly every year. I just love the history of Middle Earth and all that happened with the Eldar.

This year it fits prompts for:
52 books: non-human antagonist
Sonya's: an immortal character

The Brave by Dannika Dark

This is the newest installment in the shifter series by Dannika Dark. Black Arrowhead and the original series, Seven, are some of my favorite audiobooks. There were a lot of things that I liked about this one: I was not expecting what happened with Joy. And some things I wish had been different: (view spoiler)[we never got to "see" her shift. (hide spoiler)] I also keep wondering if Catcher will get his own book, or is he going to be like he is forever?

Fits prompts for both 52 Books and Sonya's challenge for books published this year.

Gray Back Ghost Bear by T.S. Joyce

I ended up liking this book much more than expected. I don't usually care for insta-love but the last couple of chapters made up for that. I marked it 4 stars, but it's actually more like 3.5 because of the insta-love.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

There was soooo much to this book. It was both dark and hopeful, angry and sad, filled with love and hate. It left me a little bit emotionally drained. I'm sure I will continue the series, but it will be a little while before I start the second book.

52 Books: written in third person

Tethered by Elayna R. Gallea

OMG! Why did I wait so long to read this?!? It gets all the stars and then add some more stars.

Awesome dark romance between a vampire prince and a human princess. An arranged marriage that becomes so much more. It is a slow burn, but I hope the next book has some spice in it.

Sonya's challenge: a character with fangs

Beren and Lúthien by J.R.R. Tolkien

This was a hard read. It was one of my favorite tales out of the Silmarilion. But this was more than just the story. It was also the history of how Tolkien wrote the story and the different changes he made to it over the years. I would have enjoyed it much more if it had been the story that was published but with more details added.

52 books: written in prose

Elf Prince by Tara Grayce

Love, Love, Love Farrendel. He is absolutely the sweetest elf. I re-read Fierce Heart before this one and I loved seeing his side of the relationship develop. This book will be listed as one of my favorites.

Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel

Love a good science fiction read, and this fits the bill. A giant female humanoid robot was dismembered and buried thousands of years ago by an alien civilization has been discovered and put back together. Told in a fashion similar to World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, it was awesome!! It gets 5 stars and I've ordered the whole set.

52 books: a book with short chapters

I've had a hard time settling on something to read lately.

I finally got into Something Wicked by Emma Dean. I liked it and will likely continue the series. At the back there is a section for the Council of Paranormals Timeline. This series is the last section of the timeline, and I've read the For Fox Sake series, which falls somewhere in the middle. I'd like to go back to the beginning and read it in order.

Oops! Looks like I skipped a couple since finishing Sleeping Giants

Maniac by Onley James
Took me a couple of tries to get into this, but once I did, I was hooked. The first part of this is difficult because Thomas is so out of character. It's nothing like how he is in any of the other books. But after getting past the first couple of chapters it all comes together. Really liked it!

Wish by Morgan Rice

When I finished this I had to ask myself what I just read. Nothing made sense. It was like you're a vampire, but you're not one yet. Wait! What? And your dad is dead, but maybe he's not dead. Wait, he's dead and he killed your sister. Maybe?

Anyway, not a fan of this series. I will not be continuing.

Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

Loved this book! How could you not love an inn that is sentient? There were some odd takes on vampires and werewolves, but it is fiction and the author's world can be whatever they make it. This has so much promise as an RH, but I don't see it headed in that direction. I will be continuing the series.

This would have fit the 52 books prompt for a book with a pun in the title, but I used it for an audio book with multiple narrators. I didn't listen to the narration, but it is on audible for free.

I finished 2 books this week:

The Seventh Hour by Tracey Ward

Really loved this one! This is set far in the future where the earth's rotation has slowed down so days last months of darkness and months of searing heat and daylight. Some people live on boats and circle the globe and live in the perfect time of day. Others have built cities underground and only come out when temperatures and daylight are tolerable. Suddenly one of the ships is hit by lightening and a survivor is saved by the people living underground. It gets five stars from me. It is a standalone, but I would love to read more books set in this world.

52 books: a standalone

Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews

This is the second book in the Innkeeper Chronicles. It's not absolutely necessary to read the first one in order to read this one, but it helps. I love all the characters and the flow of the book and the magic of the inn especially. When three warring factions in the universe come together for a peace conference what could possibly go wrong? Turns out, everything. Love this series and I will be continuing. Five stars from me.

This would work for prompts such as magical realism or pun in the title.

The Wandering Inn by Pirateaba

This was a unique adventure to say the least. I listened to this, I don't think I could have read it, 1250 pages is intimidating. It began with Erin Stoltice found herself in an RPG like world complete with leveling up and adventurers. This book was addicting despite the length. I will be listening to the next book. I think the audio version is worth it, even though the chapters are free on its website.

52 Books: a pun in a title

The Name of the Game Was Murder
by Joan Lowery Nixon
This was a fun read. It was like Agatha Christy but YA.

I had two issues that kept it from getting that other star from me. There was no clarity about the age of the MC. Unless I missed it, her age was not stated in the beginning. Sometimes she seemed to be 14 or 15, other times closer to 12. The second was where the manuscript was hiding and who was guilty. Being YA, maybe that's why it was easier.

All in all, it was a great Christy inspired who done it. Highly recommend.

52 books: an author that has won the Edgar award.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

This book was a cross between Alice in Wonderland on steroids and Every Heart a Doorway. I liked it, but I admit that it gave me the creeps. That's what took me so long to read it.

52 books: has an epigraph
Sonya's: morally Gray FMC

The Fall of Númenor: and Other Tales from the Second Age of Middle-earth

I love all things Tolkien and that includes the histories of Middle Earth. This is a beautiful book that is not only arranged well, but also has beautiful illustrations.

52 Books: spoiler in the title