The Reading Challenge Group discussion

My main goals this year are to read the books I already own, and to make progress on series I've started. So pretty much the same as last year! I'll be participating in challenges that help me with these goals, but I'll also get sidetracked on new and shiny things and that's ok.

50 Book Challenge *Completed*
Overachiever's Challenge - What Comes After 50?

Number of books to date: 121
January: 12
February: 7
March: 7
April: 7
May: 7
June: 13
July: 10
August: 11
September: 13
October: 13 *Annual Goal Reached!*
November: 13
December: 8

(view spoiler)[
January




1. Snow Like Ashes ★★★★★
2. The Ghost Bride ★★★★
3. Long Summer Day ★★★
4. Ice Like Fire ★★★★
5. A Symphony of Echoes ★★★★1/2
6. The Emperor's Conspiracy ★★★★
7. Frost Like Night ★★★★★
8. Rivers of London ★★★
9. To Defy a King ★★★
10. The Oversight ★★★
11. Incognito ★★★
12. The Fifth Season ★★★★

February



13. The Winter Rose ★★★
14. Say Yes to the Marquess ★★
15. Dark Deeds ★★★★
16. The Reincarnationist ★★★★
17. The Clockwork Crown ★★★★
18. Murder on Bank Street ★★★★
19. Fated ★★★

March



20. The Gathering Storm ★★★★
21. Dark Triumph ★★★★
22. The Likeness ★★★★
23. The Seventh Scroll ★★★★
24. Princess at Sea ★★★★
25. Black Powder War ★★★
26. Owl and the Japanese Circus ★★★

April



27. One for Sorrow ★★★
28. The Rose Master ★★★
29. The Mindful Path through Shyness: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Help Free You from Social Anxiety, Fear, and Avoidance
30. Tigana ★★★★★
31. Susanna and the Spy ★★★★
32. The Shivering Sands ★★★
33. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ★★★★

May



34. Aunt Sophie's Diamonds ★★★★
35. A Court of Mist and Fury ★★★★
36. Valor's Choice ★★★★
37. A Gathering of Shadows ★★★★
38. Flame of Sevenwaters ★★★★
39. House Immortal ★★
40. Moonglow ★★★

June




41. The Hallowed Hunt ★★★★
42. Dark Minds ★★★★
43. Bewitching Season ★★
44. Iron Kissed ★★★★
45. The Field Guide ★★
46. Houses of Stone ★★★
47. Murder on Waverly Place ★★★
48. Cruel Beauty ★★
49. The Spirit Thief ★★★
50. By Divine Right ★★★★
51. In the Ruins ★★★
52. The Secret of Spellshadow Manor ★★★
53. Book of a Thousand Days ★★★★

July - Overachiever's Challenge - What Comes After 50?



54. Banquet of Lies ★★★★
55. Cast in Fury ★★★★
56. Barefoot Season ★★★
57. The Case Is Closed ★★★★
58. Servant of the Crown ★★★★
59. The Queen's Captive ★★★
60. The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There ★★★★
61. The Edge of Worlds ★★★★
62. The Harbors of the Sun ★★★★
63. The Black Gryphon ★★★★

August




64. Deadline ★★★★
65. The Firebird ★★★★★
66. The Hound of the Baskervilles ★★★
67. The White Gryphon ★★★
68. Cetaganda ★★★
69. Career of Evil ★★★★
70. The Midnight Rose ★★★
71. Magic in the Wind ★★
72. Her Royal Spyness ★★★
73. This Gun for Hire ★★★
74. Kiss of Steel ★★★★

September




75. A Hundred Summers ★★★★
76. A Conjuring of Light ★★★★
77. The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince ★★★
78. The Tudor Secret ★★★
79. The Rest Falls Away ★★★★
80. The Waterborne Blade ★★★★
81. Penric's Demon ★★★
82. Penric and the Shaman ★★★★
83. The Dreaming Suburb ★★
84. Mistress of Rome ★★★
85. The Demon King ★★★★
86. A Letter of Mary ★★★★
87. Secrets in the Mist ★★★

October




88. Lady Thief ★★★
89. The Island ★★
90. Promise of Blood ★★
91. A Beautiful Blue Death ★★★
92. The Restorer ★★★★
93. Crown of Stars ★★★★
94. The Better Part of Valor ★★★
95. Mortal Heart ★★★★★
96. A Dangerous Madness ★★★
97. Bone Crossed ★★★★
98. Between Two Thorns ★★★★
99. The Lotus Palace ★★★
100. The Exiled Queen ★★★★★

November



101. The Gray Wolf Throne ★★★★
102. The Crimson Crown ★★★★★
103. Sixth of the Dusk ★★★★
104. Vengeance in Death ★★★★
105. A Court of Wings and Ruin ★★★★★
106. All for Love ★★★
107. The Medium ★★★
108. The Other Side of Midnight ★★★★★
109. Shadow Study ★★★★★
110. Jane, Unlimited ★★★
111. Night Study ★★★★★
112. Dawn Study ★★★★★
113. The Other Daughter ★★★
(hide spoiler)]

December



114. The Corinthian ★★★★
115. Bloody Jack ★★★
116. Oath of Fealty ★★★★★
117. Kings of the North ★★★★
118. Smoke and Mirrors ★★★
119. Any Other Name
120. Love, Lies and Spies ★★★★
121. The Kings of Clonmel ★★★★

Buyer's Remorse Challenge

Round 1 *Completed*
(view spoiler)[
Level One (5 TBR books) = List Tickler
1. The Ghost Bride (2014)
2. Long Summer Day (2015)
3. A Symphony of Echoes (2016)
4. The Emperor's Conspiracy (2016)
5. To Defy a King (2011)

Level Two (10 TBR books) = List Tamer
6. The Oversight (2015)
7. Incognito (2014)
8. The Winter Rose (2012)
9. Dark Deeds (2016)
10. Fated (2015)

Level Three (15 TBR books) = Captain of the Shelf
11. The Gathering Storm (2015)
12. Princess at Sea (2016)
13. One for Sorrow (2014)
14. Susanna and the Spy (2014)
15. Valor's Choice (2014)

Level Four (20 TBR books) = Master of All Dust Bunnies
16. Flame of Sevenwaters (2016)
17. House Immortal (2015)
18. Dark Minds (2016)
19. Houses of Stone (2015)
20. The Spirit Thief (2014)
Dance of Book Joy ensues!
(hide spoiler)]

Round 2 *Completed*

Level One (5 TBR books) = List Tickler
1. By Divine Right (2015)
2. In the Ruins (2015)
3. Servant of the Crown (2015)
4. The Queen's Captive (2016)
5. The Edge of Worlds (2016)

Level Two (10 TBR books) = List Tamer
6. The Harbors of the Sun (2016)
7. The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince (2016)
8. The Tudor Secret (2014)
9. The Rest Falls Away (2015)
10. The Waterborne Blade (2015)

Level Three (15 TBR books) = Captain of the Shelf
11. Penric's Demon (2016)
12. Penric and the Shaman (2016)
13. The Dreaming Suburb (2015)
14. Mistress of Rome (2014)
15. Promise of Blood (2014)

Level Four (20 TBR books) = Master of All Dust Bunnies
16. Crown of Stars (2016)
17. Between Two Thorns (2014)
18. The Medium (2015)
19. The Other Side of Midnight (2016)
20. Oath of Fealty (2014)
Dance of Book Joy ensues!

Cereal Numbers Challenge

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✔ Snow Like Ashes - Sara Raasch - Level 1: Grab A Spoon: 3-4 books *Completed*


(view spoiler)[
✔ 1. Snow Like Ashes
✔ 2. Ice Like Fire
✔ 3. Frost Like Night
(hide spoiler)]
----------------------------------------------------------------

✔ Crown of Stars - Kate Elliott - Level 1: Grab A Spoon: 3-4 books *Completed*


(view spoiler)[
✔ 5. The Gathering Storm
✔ 6. In the Ruins
✔ 7. Crown of Stars
(hide spoiler)]
----------------------------------------------------------------

✔ Gaslight Mystery Series - Victoria Thompson - Level 1: Grab A Spoon: 3-4 books *Completed*


(view spoiler)[
✔ 10. Murder on Bank Street
✔ 11. Murder on Waverly Place
✔ 12. Murder on Lexington Avenue
(hide spoiler)]
----------------------------------------------------------------

✔ Regency London - Michelle Diener - Level 1: Grab A Spoon: 3-4 books *Completed*


(view spoiler)[
✔ 1. The Emperor's Conspiracy
✔ 2. Banquet of Lies
✔ 3. A Dangerous Madness
(hide spoiler)]
----------------------------------------------------------------

✔ Seven Realms - Cinda Williams Chima - Level 1: Grab A Spoon: 3-4 books *Completed*



(view spoiler)[
✔ 1. The Demon King
✔ 2. The Exiled Queen
✔ 3. The Gray Wolf Throne
✔ 4. The Crimson Crown
(hide spoiler)]
----------------------------------------------------------------

✔ Soulfinders - Maria V. Snyder - Level 1: Grab A Spoon: 3-4 books *Completed*


(view spoiler)[
✔ 1. Shadow Study
✔ 2. Night Study
✔ 3. Dawn Study
(hide spoiler)]

Doorstopper Challenge (800+)

I'm planning to read two doorstoppers this year.

✔ 1. The Gathering Storm (989 pgs)
2.

Potentials:
Winter of the World (960 pgs) - abandoned
War and Peace (1784 pgs)
Great North Road (948 pgs)

Chunkster Challenge (400+)

Round 1 *Completed*
(view spoiler)[
Level One (Chunkster)
1. Ice Like Fire (479 pgs)
2. A Symphony of Echoes (478 pgs)
3. Frost Like Night (496 pgs)

Level Two (Flower Presser)
4. To Defy a King (520 pgs)
5. The Oversight (464 pgs)
6. The Fifth Season (500 pgs)

Level Three (Back Breaker)
7. The Winter Rose (720 pgs)
8. The Likeness (494 pgs)
9. The Seventh Scroll (496 pgs)
10. Tigana (692 pgs)
(hide spoiler)]

Round 2 *Completed*
(view spoiler)[
Level One (Chunkster)
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (508 pgs)
2. A Court of Mist and Fury (432 pgs)
3. A Gathering of Shadows (512 pgs)

Level Two (Flower Presser)
4. Flame of Sevenwaters (455 pgs)
5. Moonglow (432 pgs)
6. In the Ruins (624 pgs)

Level Three (Back Breaker)
7. Cast in Fury (416 pgs)
8. Barefoot Season (400 pgs)
9. Servant of the Crown (406 pgs)
10. The Queen's Captive (416 pgs)
(hide spoiler)]

Round 3 *Completed*
(view spoiler)[
Level One (Chunkster)
1. The Edge of Worlds (400 pgs)
2. The Harbors of the Sun (416 pgs)
3. The Firebird (544 pgs)

Level Two (Flower Presser)
4. The White Gryphon (400 pgs)
5. Career of Evil (492 pgs)
6. The Midnight Rose (496 pgs)

Level Three (Back Breaker)
7. Kiss of Steel (448 pgs)
8. A Conjuring of Light (512 pgs)
9. The Waterborne Blade (512 pgs)
10. The Dreaming Suburb (480 pgs)
(hide spoiler)]

Round 4 *Completed*

Level One (Chunkster)
1. Mistress of Rome (470 pgs)
2. Promise of Blood (560 pgs)
3. Crown of Stars (624 pgs)

Level Two (Flower Presser)
4. Mortal Heart (464 pgs)
5. Between Two Thorns (400 pgs)
6. The Exiled Queen (592 pgs)

Level Three (Back Breaker)
7. The Gray Wolf Throne (517 pgs)
8. The Crimson Crown (608 pgs)
9. A Court of Wings and Ruin (597 pgs)
10. Jane, Unlimited (464 pgs)

Potentials:
(view spoiler)[
Thief's Magic (560 pgs)
In the Night Garden (496 pgs)
The Shock of Night (464 pgs)
The Silver Gryphon (400 pgs)
(hide spoiler)]

New to You in 2017 (Jan-April) *Completed*

Going for Level Three.

Level 1: 1 New Author
1. Snow Like Ashes - Sara Raasch

Level 2: 3 New Authors
2. Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
3. The Oversight - Charlie Fletcher

Level 3: 6 New Authors
4. Tigana - Guy Gavriel Kay
5. The Shivering Sands - Victoria Holt
5.5. Hadrian's Wall - William Dietrich -- suspended at 20%
6. Susanna and the Spy - Anna Elliott

Travel the World, 1st Leg - Africa (Jan-March)

Completed:


Travel the World, 2nd Leg - Europe (April-June)

Completed:


Travel the World, 3rd Leg - Asia & Oceania (July-Dec)

Completed:



Travel the World, 4th Leg - The Americas (July-Dec)

Completed:

Down with History (Jan-March) *Completed*

Level 1 - 2 Books
1. The Ghost Bride
2. Long Summer Day
Level 2 - 4 Books
3. The Emperor's Conspiracy
4. To Defy a King
Level 3 - 6 Books
5. The Winter Rose
6. Murder on Bank Street

Reach for the Stars *Completed*

Level 1 Suiting Up (1-5 books)
1. Dark Deeds
2. Valor's Choice
3. Dark Minds
4. Cetaganda
5. The Better Part of Valor



Potential Books:

Feather Weight Challenge (280-) *Completed*

Level 1 - Ruffled Feathers
1. Incognito (201 pgs)
2. The Rose Master (217 pgs)
3. Susanna and the Spy (276 pgs)
4. The Field Guide (144 pgs)
5. By Divine Right (119 pgs)

Level 2 - Flapping Wings
6. The Hound of the Baskervilles (256 pgs)
7. Magic in the Wind (112 pgs)
8. The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince (184 pgs)
9. Penric's Demon (85 pgs)
10. Penric and the Shaman (160 pgs)

Level 3 - Taking Flight
11. A Letter of Mary (275 pgs)
12. The Island (28 pgs)
13. Sixth of the Dusk (96 pgs)
14. All for Love (208 pgs)
15. The Medium (261 pgs)

Potentials:
(view spoiler)[
Devices Brightly Shining (96 pgs)
The Corinthian (272 pgs)
Bloody Jack (191 pgs)
(hide spoiler)]

Dust the Shelf (April-December) *Completed*

Update 5/2017: Since the challenge has been extended until the end of the year, I plan to complete at least level 2.

Level 1 (2 Books) - Swipe the duster
1. Tigana
2. The Hallowed Hunt

Level 2 (4 Books) - Dust bunnies beware
3. Book of a Thousand Days
4. Her Royal Spyness

Level 3 (7 Books) - Cobwebs begone
5. The Demon King
6. A Beautiful Blue Death
7. Vengeance in Death

Level 4 (10 Books) - Polish and shine
8. The Corinthian
9. Bloody Jack
10. The Kings of Clonmel

My Oldest Books:
(view spoiler)[
✔ Vengeance in Death
✔ The Kings of Clonmel
Oliver Twist
✔ Bloody Jack
✔ Tigana
✘ Dead Witch Walking - Sampled, off the shelf
✘ Eyes of Crow - Sampled, off the shelf
✘ The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Sampled, off the shelf
✘ India Black - Sampled, off the shelf
✔ Her Royal Spyness
✔ Book of a Thousand Days
✔ The Demon King
Bearers of the Black Staff
✔ The Hallowed Hunt
The Face of a Stranger
Daggerspell
Imager
Dragon Prince
The Last Stormlord
✔ A Beautiful Blue Death
✔ The Corinthian
(hide spoiler)]

Fantasy Faire (April-December) *Completed*

Level 1 - Linger with Elves (2 Books)
1. Tigana
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Level 2 - Fly with Dragons (4 Books)
3. A Court of Mist and Fury
4. A Gathering of Shadows

Level 3 - Eat the Food in Faerie (7 Books)
5. Flame of Sevenwaters
6. The Hallowed Hunt
7. Bewitching Season

Level 4 - Go on a Quest to Save the World (10 Books)
8. Iron Kissed
9. Cruel Beauty
10. The Spirit Thief

Level 5 - Explore Another World (15 Books)
11. In the Ruins
12. Book of a Thousand Days
13. Cast in Fury
14. The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There
15. The Edge of Worlds

Set Sail! (Ends Sept 20th) *Completed*

The Harbors of the Sun

The Finish Line (July-Dec) *Completed*

The Mission: Series completion. Only the last book of each series counts for this challenge.

I hope to complete 5 series (Level 3).

Level 1: A Quick Sprint (1 Series Finished)
1. The Harbors of the Sun (Raksura #5)

Level 2: The Last Leg (3 Series Finished)
2. The Firebird (Slains #2)
3. A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3)

Level 3: Cross the Finish Line! (5 Series Finished)
4. Crown of Stars (Crown of Stars #7)
5. A Dangerous Madness (Regency London #3)

Potential Final Books:
(view spoiler)[
Dawn Study (Soulfinders #3)
The Silver Gryphon (Mage Wars #3)
Lion Heart (Scarlet #3)
(hide spoiler)]

New Release Challenge (Jan-Dec) *Completed*

Mission: Books published in 2017.

I'm aiming for level 2.

Level One: Curious
1. The Secret of Spellshadow Manor

Level Two: Curiouser
2. The Harbors of the Sun
3. A Conjuring of Light

Level Three: Most Curious
4. A Court of Wings and Ruin
5. Jane, Unlimited
6. Dawn Study

Level Four: You killed the cat (12 books)

Potentials:
(view spoiler)[
Penric's Fox
The Essex Serpent
(hide spoiler)]

Seize the Day! (Sept-Dec) *Completed*

The mission: Read books by favorite authors or in a favorite series.

Level 1 - Have a Treat (3 Books)
1. Penric and the Shaman by Lois McMaster Bujold
2. Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers
3. A Dangerous Madness by Michelle Diener

Level 2 - Savor the Moment (6 Books)
4. The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima
5. The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima
6. The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima

Level 3 - Seize the Day (10 Books)
7. The Other Side of Midnight by Simone St. James
8. Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder
9. Night Study by Maria V. Snyder
10. Dawn Study by Maria V. Snyder

The Game is Afoot (Sept-Dec)

The mission: Explore the Mystery genre. Going for level 2.

Level 1 - Break the Code (2 Books)
1. A Letter of Mary
2. A Beautiful Blue Death

Level 2 - Shadow the Suspect (4 Books)
3. The Restorer
4. A Dangerous Madness

Level 3 - Crack the Case (7 Books)
5. Between Two Thorns
6. The Lotus Palace
7. Vengeance in Death

Level 4 - Chase the Villain (10 Books)
8. The Other Side of Midnight
9. Smoke and Mirrors
10.

Potentials:
(view spoiler)[
India Black - sampled, off the shelf
The Tudor Secret - ended up not being a mystery
Murder on Lexington Avenue
(hide spoiler)]