The Challenge Factory discussion

Week 1, spot 8
8th in a series
Read: 01/21/2016
Rating: 4 stars
There are some personality traits Toby has that have a tendency to drive me up a wall, but the ensemble set of characters and the fast paced action more than makes up for it. I like how well this series keeps track - characters and things that happened in the past aren't forgotten and you never know when tevents from previous books will be brought up.

Colleen wrote: "Week 1, spot 8
8th in a series
Read: 01/21/2016
Rating: 4 stars
There are some personality traits Toby has that have a tendency to drive me up a wall, but the e..."

I read this one last year and it was about a 3 for me. What kills me with this series is how we don't get any real answers about Luna's background and her relationship with Toby. I have high hopes for book #10 though! Glad you are enjoying this series :)

Week 1, Spot 8
Alternate: Text Item Phone


Built by Jay Crownover
Read: 01/22/16
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

"My hand went numb and the phone tumbled to the ground." - KL: 452

Review: This book is the first in a new series which is a spin-off of The Marked Men series. This book is about Zeb Fuller and Sayer Cole, who we both meet in the previous series. I loved this book and I'm so glad we got a book about these two since from the first moment they met, you just knew they had something special. I really enjoyed how patient Zeb was with Sayer, and with Hyde. I loved that he could just see past her cold walls into the warm and kind woman underneath. I love that Jay Crownover decided to explore more characters in this world that she created and I love the glimpses of old familiar characters from the previous series. I will definitely read more books in this series.

OK, we are ready for Week 2!

I rolled a 7, so we are on spot #15

Read 1st in series, 5th in series, 15th in series, or Alternate:
Goodreads Choice Awards 2014

Already got my book for this one! I'm gonna read , which is the 1st in series

Week 2, Spot 15

Sandy: Review
Laila Jane: Review
Petya: Review
Christal: Review
Sunshine✰✰✰: Review
Julie: Review
Colleen: Review

I'm going to read . It's a stand alone so I will use it as a 1.

I'll read 5th in series

I will read Shadowland by Meg Cabot. Series #1

I plan to read .

I will read its a stand alone and I'll use it as a number 1

Christal wrote: "..."

I didn't read the author's forward for #8 until after I read the book - which probably made a difference. I would have had higher expectations had I understood her stance before I read it.

Sorry to hear we don't get as much about Luna. Her background and her father did seem ripe for more, and her attitude in #8 felt like she could become a pretty decent adversary.

I will read , series #5

Colleen wrote: "I will read , series #5"

I love that series! I am anxiously awaiting the next one. Well at least I am hoping there will be a next one!

I read as a stand alone
Read: 25/01/2016
Rated: 2 stars
Review: I expected a lot more from this bool. It was slow, the plot was just okay and I couldnt connect to any of the characters. Overall, it was a meh book.

Week 2, spot 15
5th in a series
Read: 01/25/2016
Rating: 4 stars
Each book in this series has gotten a 4 star from me - this one might be nudging to the 3.5 setting because it wasn't quite as strong as the others, also the teenager focus isn't my favorite. However, the author continues to spin a good story and write fascinating characters. Well worth reading.



@Sandy - I see there is a 6th one scheduled to be published in August. Sounds like it's going to focus on Conway, which I think should be interesting.

Colleen, that is great news!

Week 2, Spot 15
Task: 1st in series


Sins & Needles by Karina Halle
Read: 01/26/16
Rating: ✮✮✮✮

Review: I really didn't know what to expect when I started this book. I barely read the summary before starting the book, so I was really surprised to find out our main character was a con artist and she was running from the Mob/Mafia. Once I got over the surprise I found myself really enjoying the story. There were times where events seemed predictable to me, which affected how I saw the main character. She's supposed to be a professional con artist, but some things were so obvious to me that weren't to her, which really just made her seem kind of not smart at all. I'd have to say the book was saved by Camden, the male protagonist. I really felt for his character and I really just wanted to read more about him. I'm definitely going to continue with the next book in the series.

Week: 2
Spot: 15 (Alternate: Goodreads Choice Awards 2014)


Book: Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto
Finished: 1/27/16
Rating: ★★★
Qualification: Standalone = 1

Revenge and the Wild was a pleasant read, but it felt like Michelle Modesto threw everything and the kitchen sink into it. Western, steampunk, romance, young adult, vampires, magic, weres, cannibals, leprechauns, alcoholism... and the list goes on. I really liked Westie, but every male character seemed to be in love with her and it just got old. The story had decent pacing and was a little predictable, but there was one twist in the end I didn't see coming. While I didn't love this book, I think it was a solid enough debut that I wouldn't hesitate to pick up a book by this author in the future.

Week 2 - Spot 15 (1st in a series)
by Meg Cabot
Finished: 1/28/16
Rated: ★★★

This was better than I thought it was going to be. I'm not usually a fan of YA books, but this didn't have the teenage love drama, so, Bonus!

Susannah is a mediator, which just means she can see and talk to the dead. She trys to help them out and send them on their way. Her mother just remarried and moves them across the country from NY to CA. First day at school Suze sees the ghost of a girl and, at the same time, discovers that Father Dominic, the Principal, is a also mediator. The ghost has become became a really angry and wants to kill her boyfriend. Now,, by the way, she is dead because she offed herself after her boyfriend broke up with her once she suggest marriage. (ugh, please).

I liked Susannah. She didn't come off as the outcast the author kept claiming her to be. No surprise she became friends with the 2 loners, but seriously?, what school is going to make the new girl instantly popular just because she told off a bully (who I thought was part of the cool class anyway), let alone make her the class VP when she hasn't even been at the school for a week???

If I was a younger audience, I would of dove into this series. As an adult, I'm not against reading the next book but it's not a must read.

I should finish my book tonight. Haven't found much reading time this week! :-(

Week 2: Stars of Fortune.
Finished: 1/28/16
Rating: 4 stars
I think one of the reasons I enjoy Ms. Roberts books so much is because I imagine meeting almost any of her characters on the street and I know I would want to get to know them better.

Week 2- Spot 15
5th ins series

Read: 1/18/16
★★★★

Review: A little backstory: It is the late 9th century. What we know today as England is divided up into several kingdoms ruled by Christian kings or pagan Danish warlords. Alfred, King of Wessex, wants to drive out all the pagans and unite the country as one Christian land. Uhtred of Bebbanburg has been instrumental in helping Alfred achieve great victories over the Danes. When Uhtred was a child, the Viking Ragnar killed Uhtred's father then raised the boy as his own son. Consequently, Uhtred has been straddling the fence between Viking and Saxon for most of his life. His life's goal is to return to Bebbanburg and reclaim his land from his usurping uncle, but Alfred has bound him to an oath that he can't seem to get out of. At the start of this book, Uhtred is a wealthy man in the king's favor. Naturally, tragedy strikes and naturally, Uhtred does something stupid and flees North. Will he finally retake his ancestral home? I love this character because he is brave, loyal, and fights for the underdog. These books are always full of twists and turns -- you never quite know what is coming next. The action is non-stop, and the violence is interlaced with humor. The author's writing is so visual, you can see yourself on the battlefield or looking out at the fortress by the sea. I'm going to wait a bit to read the next installment because I want the series to last!

Week 3

I rolled 11. We are now on spot 26.

Read 2nd in series, 6th in series, 26th in series.
Alternate: Science Fiction

Good luck!

I'm going to read , book 2 in a series.

I think I will go with

Laila Jane wrote: "I'm going to read , book 2 in a series."


I read the first in the series and enjoyed it, but never made it to book 2 for some reason. I hope it's good!

Christal wrote: "Laila Jane wrote: "I'm going to read , book 2 in a series."


I read the first in the series and enjoyed it, but never made it to book 2 for some reason. I ..."

I really enjoyed the first book also, and I was really excited for book 2 to come out and then just never found the time for it. Now I have a reason to get to it! I'll let you know if it's worth it

I will go with .

I will read for Sci-Fi

I will read 6th in series

Week 3 - Spot 26

Sandy: Review
Laila Jane: Review
Petya: Review
Christal: Review
Sunshine✰✰✰: Review
Julie: Review
Colleen: Review

Sunshine✰✰✰ wrote: "I will read for Sci-Fi"

I finally read Ender's Game last year (had been on my TBR for ages) and enjoyed it. It wasn't quite what I expected. I hope you like it!


I might change this weekend, but for now I'm going with which is both series #2 and science fiction.

I'm reading for a second book in a series

I read as a Number 2 in a series
Read:02/02/2016
Rated: 5 stars
Review: It was definitely better than the first book. I liked the world buildning and the character growth. I'm anxious to read the third and final book to see how this series will conclude.

I'm changing my book to . It'll fit better with another challenge I'm doing.

Laila Jane wrote: "I'm changing my book to . It'll fit better with another challenge I'm doing."

OK!

Week 3, spot 26
Read Firewalker. 2/4/16
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I am having a difficult time with this. I enjoyed the book and I am glad we learned more about why everything was happening. I did feel like it was drawn out. I thought the idea of the same person from different worlds who have completely different experiences and one of them ending up being evil was very interesting. I liked how Lily wanted to know what Lillian's reasons were just so she would know how to avoid becoming like her, but Lillian's explanations felt as if she was trying to justify her actions. I began to wonder if the series was a trilogy instead of just a long book in order to sell more books. That feeling did get on my nerves a little, although I am not entirely sure that was the reasoning.

Week 3 - Spot 26 (Sci-Fi)
by Orson Scott Card
Finished: 2/4/16
Rated: ★★★★


I didn't want to read this. It's not a genre I tend to read and I couldn't get my nerve up, but I finally did. And I loved it! Andrew (Ender) is such a brilliant kid. 6 years old and he's seeing what his leaders are doing wrong in their games. I liked how we got to see the comander's POV and why they did what they did to Ender. It taught him to expect no help from anyone except himself. I felt so bad for him though with how hard they pushed him and how isolated he was. He may of unknowling saved the world, but at such a high cost to himself. I didn't really see the point in the parts with Ender's siblings, Peter & Valentine. The ending was also really dragged out and I pretty much just skimmed through the last chapter.

Week 3, Spot 26
Task: 2nd in series


Shooting Scars by Karina Halle
Read: 02/04/16
Rating: ✮✮✮✮

Review: It was so easy to get sucked into the story. This book starts off right after the ending of book one. I could barely put it down wanting to find out what happens next. But I rated it only 4 stars because the main character, Ellie, drove me crazy with her decisions. I really just wanted to reach through the book and shake her sometimes. But once again, like with the 1st book in the series, this book was saved by Camden. I just love his character. My heart completely broke for him in this book. Out of all the characters, I hope he gets his happily ever after.

I'm running behind but will get mine posted by end of day.

Week: 3
Spot: 26 (Alternate: Science Fiction)


Book: Night Study by Maria V. Snyder
Finished: 2/5/16
Rating: ★★★★
Qualification: #2 in Soulfinders

Night Study was so much better than Shadow Study, the first book in the series! I was so worried that Maria V. Snyder didn't have a real plan for this series after reading the previous book (it was just bad), but this definitely redeemed everything. I was so happy that Yelena and Valek were together for most of the book and that so many things and developments happened here. All in all, so much better this go around and now I am actually excited for the conclusion to Soulfinders!

Wanted to let you know I will post my review by lunch time!

Week 3 - Spot 26
6th in series


Read 2/5/16
★★★★

Review: The title refers to four women in the novel: Demelza, former maid and now wife to Ross Poldark, who becomes a young naval officer's object of obsession; Morwenna, married against her will to a beastly man; Catherine, recently married to Dr. Dwight Enys and finding that her marriage isn't as happy as she expected it to be; and Elizabeth, Ross's former love, now married to Ross's greatest enemy, George Warleggan. What made this 4 stars for me rather than 5 is that I want every Poldark novel to be mostly about Ross and Demelza; this one was just about 25 - 30% about them. I do like reading about the other characters, but I just wish R&D had more screen time. I still love this series and I'm going to read the next one for sure.

Week 3, spot 26
by James S.A. Corey, 2nd in a series - science fiction
Read: 02/05/2016
Rating: 4 stars

The world building in this series is flat out amazing. This continues on from where book 1 left off and follows some of the ensemble set of characters there to a new "adventure" while maintaining the overall arc of the threat of war and the struggles between Earth, Mars and Belters. I really love how this author team can write a whole set of characters who don't interact but have differing POV about the same events and have it not feel like it's jumping around. With all these voices, the story still flowed nicely.

I did miss Miller. Holden is fine as a protagonist and I really like the two new female characters, but I do miss Miller. This one also ended on much more of a cliffhanger than the first, I like my series books to have an arc but be complete stories - so that was mildly disappointing.

Still, the overall tone, writing, dialogue, characters, themes and action make up for it. Really an amazing series and I'm looking forward to the TV series being available on Netflix one day (or whatever SyFy shows go now).

Week 4

Roll: 6, 4 = 10

New Spot: 36

Read 3rd in series, 6th in series, 36th in series
Alternate: Audiobooks

My link to audiobooks is wrong. I will fix it later when I get my laptop back from the kids. Meanwhile you can go to post 4 for the link.

I will read #3

The link to the Audiobooks shelf in post 96 is now fixed.

Week 4, spot 36
I will read
Shelved as Audiobooks 97 times