2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Update to msg 32: 10/24.

Updated to here!

Updated message 11
16/48

Slightly behind, but I'm definitely going to catch up in time :)

Laura wrote: "Reija wrote: "I forgot that I bought Poirot book lately so I'm reading Poirot's Early Cases: 18 Hercule Poirot Mysteries

8/24

Laura, your book looks so really interesting!"
It is rea..."
I read Anything Is Possible at first, it wasn't good as My Name Is Lucy Barton but fine. Now I'm reading Poirot's Early Cases: 18 Hercule Poirot Mysteries and I love Agatha and I haven't read it earlier either so it's nice to read it and it's pretty good.

10/24

Message #35 updated: 9/22

Updated msg 41: 8/24

Day 8 From

Double Blind - 5 stars

Another brilliant Fleet story in which we can follow the fortunes and misfortunes of Michael Christopher Jensen Jr. after his previous encounter with the infamous space pirate MacKenzie James from The Antagonist.

In her usual witty and imaginative style Janny gives us here the story of a blackmail, where a father is forced to betray the Fleet in exchange for the lives of his little daughters and a newly appointed commander has to choose between getting even for a degrading humility at the hands of his nemesis or saving innocent lives.
And still, appearances are never what they seem and even the best intentions may come with attached strings.

White Wing - by Janny Wurts

Updated msg 64. Not going as well as it sounded.
Day 3 and 4 completed over the weekend. 4/24

Update to msg 32: 11/24.

Update to msg 23: 10/24

Message #35 updated: 10/22

Update msg 4: 11/24
✔️ Story 5: Once upon a time by Kaaberbøl/Friis

Update to msg 32: 12/24.

message #35 updated: 11/22

Update to msg #4: 12/24

✔️Day 12: pg 726/1348 (ch 48/78)

Note to self: When this challenge is offered next year, choose a shorter book.

11/24 hoping to finish my 12th chapter tonight

Update to msg 32: 13/24.

Updating message #7 to show 24 out of 56 selections completed.

Message #35 updated: 12/22

I've finished
Six short stories to wait for Santa in sexy company...

Update msg 4: 13/24
✔️ Story 6: Home robbery by Dennis Jürgensen

Updated msg 41: 9/24

Day 9 From

The Snare - 4.5 stars
Story Inspired by the painting 'The Wizard' by Don Maitz

The Great Wizard of Trevior is bound in a trap by his apprentice Iveldane. And Iveldane wants revenge. He is angry and full of hatred because of thousands of years of agony in a prison fashioned by the Master. Now that he got free, he's come to collect. Tit for tat he plans to make his master suffer.
But what were the reasons behind his imprisonment? Iveldane still doesn't know and his Master isn't fighting back despite all the suffering Iveldane is causing him. Why are there tears streaming down the master's cheeks?

A moving little tale that teaches us to go beyond appearances and try to understand with our hearts. I only wish it would have been a little longer, as the end felt a little too abrupt.

The Wizard by Don Maitz

Updated msg 41: 10/24

Day 10 From

Dreamsinger's Tale - 5 stars

This little story takes us back to Huntress Skyfire and her companion wolf Woodbiter from Tale of the Snowbeast. Woodbiter is old now, and surly where he had once been full of antics. And Skyfire is stronger and faster than ever, the chieftess of her pack of Wolfriders. But something is missing, lacking and not right and Skyfire can't see or understand what.

Alone in the forest at night she hears a haunting melody and follows. What she finds out on that trail will turn her life upside down and may be a blessing or a curse for herself, as well as her whole race.

Haunting and imaginative this tale is one to keep!

Skyfire's Wolfriders Den - that's how I picture it. (elves fence forest wolf fantasy wallpaper)

Updated msg 41: 11/24

Day 11 From

Triple Cross - 5 stars
Another Fleet story continuing the adventures of the overly proud and ambitious Michael Christopher Jensen Jr.; it describes another of his encounters with the infamous space pirate MacKenzie James.

An officer by now and captain of his own ship The Sail, Jensen has turned the chase for his archenemy MacKenzie James into an obsession and this time he devised a well laid trap for him to fall into. Except that, as matters stand and if we trust Jensen's pilot, the whole plan may depend on MacKenzie James being quantum leaps dumber than Jensen is.

Of course everything goes down the drain again and Jensen needs to use his brains because he can't change his fuckup. So he decides to do something heroic and rescue a survivor. If only his heroic intentions wouldn't lead to trouble yet again! Because 'Obsession is a tool, invaluable because it's genuine. And a man's hatred is always more reliable than the best of laid plans.'

Full of twists and turns and one plot under another, this little Fleet story is bound to keep you on your toes!


art by Don Maitz

Message #35 updated: 13/22

Update to msg 32: 14/24.

Update to msg 32: 15/24.

Update to msg 23: 14/24

Update to msg #22, 15/24

Message #35 updated: 14/22

Update msg 4: 15/24
✔️ Story 7: A Christmas present by Leif Davidsen

Updated message 9:

15/24

Updated to here!

(And now that my vacation and, hopefully, weeks-long dire cold, is over and done with, I'll be able to check in a little more often)

Mid-month already, over halfway done with the challenge for many of you - yay!

Update to msg 32: 16/24.

Well, Poirot was so tempting that I ended up opening all boxes already and so now I'm reading The Lonesome Bodybuilder: Stories

16/24

@Reija - your book seems really interesting from the blurb. Will you please let me know how you find the stories?

I finished all my stories up to date but didn't get time to update properly - will do it tomorrow. :)

Message #35 updated: 15/22

Update to message #30 - 16/24. I've read short stories from Florida by Lauren Groff and poetry from Maya Angelou's Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer

Katie, how is Florida? It's on my tbr.

Uptade to msg 45: 16/24

16/24

Update to message 15: 16/27.

Message #35 updated: 16/22

Update msg 4: 17/24
✔️ Story 8: The Manor by Inger Wolf

Updated message 11
33/48

Update to msg 32: 17/24.

Update to msg 32: 18/24.

Oops! Finished a little early... sorry... But my choice of Christmas calendar was actually so bad, that I just wanted it over and done with, hahaha...

Update msg 4: 24/24
✔️ Story 9: Sixpence in the Christmas pudding by Anne Fortier
✔️ Story 10: Love.com by Gretelise Holm

Update to msg 23: 18/24

Update to msg #5: 18/24

✔️Day 18: p1348/1348 (ch 78)

Oops! I finished reading The Stand--I just couldn't wait to find out how it turned out.
Looking for something else to read for the last six days. :/
#noregrets

Message #35 updated: 17/22