2013 Sequel Reading Challenge Finished

2013 Sequel Reading Challenge hosted by Auntie Spinelli Reads.

The goal: To read as many sequels as you can. You set your goal at whatever number works for you.
Guidelines 

1. The challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st.
2. Any books started before Jan. 1 will not count.
3. Any book after the first book in a series counts. Books in the same series also count.
4. Novellas also count, as long as it is after book #1. (ex: #1.5, #2.5, etc)
5. Sign ups will be open until December 1st, 2013.
6. Add the URL of your challenge post to the linky widget.
7. At the end of each month I will post a linky for you to add your sequel reviews to.
8. I will try to do some giveaways throughout the year for participants (as long as I can afford    it).
9. There will be a giveaway at the end of the year for all participants who completed the challenge.

In this challenge I had to set my own goal. I started with 15, and at the end of April upgraded this to 40 and again had to upgrade to 60 sequels.

I reached my goal of 60 the 29th of October with The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan. Since then I have read another 4 sequels.

THIS is a link to all posts for this challenge.

List of books:

1. The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi (Old Man's War #2)
2. A Nomadic Witch by Debora Geary (A Modern Witch #4)
3. The Sagan Diary by John Scalzi (Old Man's War #2.5)
4. Vampire Moon by J.R. Rain  (Vampire for Hire #2)
5. A Different Witch by Debora Geary
6. Twist by Dannika Dark
7. Always the Designer, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker 
8. Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa
9. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa  
10. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
11. Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa
12. The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
13. Witches under Way by Debora Geary
14. Witches in Flight by Debora Geary
15. American Vampire by J.R. Rain 
16. Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder  
17. Amityville Horrible by Kelley Armstrong
18. Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
19. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
20. A Celtic Witch by Debora Geary 
21. Swordfights & Lullabies by Debora Geary 
22. Endlessly by Kiersten White 
23. Virtual Evil by Jana Oliver
24. Queen Of Sorcery by David Eddings 
25. Magician's Gambit by David Eddings 
26. Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings 
27. Enchanters' End Game by David Eddings 
28. The Last Colony by John Scalzi
29. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
30. Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong
31. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
32. Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi
33. Sharpe's Prey by Bernard Cornwell
34. Merrick by Anne Rice
35. Guards! Guards!: by Terry Pratchett
36. All Summer Long by Susan Mallery
37. Persephone the Phony by Joan Holub
38. The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine 
39. Her Own Devices by Shelley Adina 
40. A Lost Witch by Debora Geary
41. Moon Child by J.R. Rain 
42. Magnificent Devices by Shelley Adina
43. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa 
44. Fathom by Ashley L. Knight 
45. The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
46. Bitten Shame by Olivia Hardin
47. Shifty Business by Olivia Hardin
48. Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
49. The Dragon Reborn by Kathleen H. Nelson 
50. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
51. The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
52. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan 
53. WitchLove by Emma Mills 
54. How (Not) to Kiss a Prince by Elizabeth A. Reeves
55. How (Not) to Kiss a Beast by Elizabeth A. Reeves
56. How (Not) to Kiss a Ghost by Elizabeth A. Reeves 
57. Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades by Rick Riordan 
58. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan 
59. UnStrung by Neal Shusterman
60. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan  
61. How (Not) to Kiss a Gargoyle by Elizabeth A. Reeves
62. The Moon Of Gomrath by Alan Garner 
63. Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
64. The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

2013 Ebook Challenge Finished

2013 Ebook Challenge hosted by workadayreads.

 Challenge Guidelines: 

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2013.
2. Anyone can join, you don’t need to be a blogger. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
3. Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.
4. You can plan your books in advance or as you read them.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2013, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:

1. Floppy disk – 5 ebooks - reached January 6th
2. CD – 10 ebooks - reached January 20th
3. DVD – 25 ebooks - reached February 17th
4. Memory stick – 50 ebooks - reached April 9th
5. Hard drive – 75 ebooks - reached May 19th
   
6. Server – 100 ebooks
7. Human brain – 150 ebooks

My goal when I signed up was to read 100 ebooks this year, end of June I upgraded this to 150  as I had reached my goal.

I completed 150 ebooks the 18th of October when I finished reading Wyrd Girl by Jon Jacks. Since then I have read another 11 ebooks and even though I have now finished this challenge I will keep adding books the rest of the year to see how far I get.
I have read a total of 174 ebooks in 2013

workadayreads has already announced the 2014 Ebook Challenge which I will definitely take part in.

HERE are all the posts for this challenge.

My list of books:

1. The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
2. Moon dance by J.R. Rain
3. Sterling by Dannika Dark
4. A Nomadic Witch by Debora Geary
5. The Sagan Diary by John Scalzi
6. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang 
7. To Have and To Code by Debora Geary
8. De Novo Syndrome by Jim Buckner, David Mark Brown 
9. The Scourge by A.G. Henley
10. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller 
11. Dogs Don't Lie by Clea Simon 
12. Legend of the White Dragon: Legends by Melanie Nilles 
13. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
14. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 
15. My Familiar Stranger by Victoria Danann
16. Shadowmagic by John Lenahan 
17. Deadly Legacy by Alison Bruce
18. Vampire Moon by J.R. Rain 
19. Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stace
20. A Different Witch by Debora Geary
21. Twist by Dannika Dark 
22. Cross My Heart by Abigail Strom
23. Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder 
24. Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder
25. Become by Ali Cross
26. Always the Designer, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker 
27. Old Before My Time: Hayley Okines' Life with Progeria by Hayley Okines, Kerry Okines, Alison Stokes  
28. Winging It! by Shel Delisle
29. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen 
30. Skellig by David Almond
31. Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa
32. The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa  
33. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
34. Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa
35. Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
36. The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
37. The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne
38. Witches on Parole by Debora Geary
39. Witches under Way by Debora Geary
40. Witches in Flight by Debora Geary
41. American Vampire by J.R. Rain 
42. Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder  
43. Amityville Horrible by Kelley Armstrong
44. Worm: The First Digital World War by Mark Bowden 
45. Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
46. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks 
47. Stained by Ella James 
48. Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina
49. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs 
50. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper 
51. A Celtic Witch by Debora Geary 
52. Wise Follies by Grace Wynne-Jones 
53. Wait For Me by Elisabeth Naughton 
54. Goddess Legacy by M.W. Muse 
55. Amy's Story by D'Elen McClain
56. Manhattan Grimoire by Sandy DeLuca
57. Hollowland by Amanda Hocking
58. Marked by Kim Richardson
59. For a Good Time, Call... by Trish Jensen
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. Swordfights & Lullabies by Debora Geary 
62. Endlessly by Kiersten White
63. Every Witch Way But Wicked
64. The Hunt by Joseph Williams 
65. Virtual Evil by Jana Oliver
66. WLT: A Radio Romance by Garrison Keillor 
67. Queen Of Sorcery by David Eddings 
68. Magician's Gambit by David Eddings 
69. Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings 
70. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury 
71. Enchanters' End Game by David Eddings 
72. Just Doll by Janice Daugharty
73. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
74. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
75. The Last Colony by John Scalzi
76. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
77. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
78. Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi
79. Guards! Guards!: by Terry Pratchett
80. The Light Within Me by Carly Fall
81. All Summer Long by Susan Mallery
82. Athena the Brain by Joan Holub 
83. Zombacter: Center City Contagion by Sean Bingham 
84. Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch  
85. Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly  
86. Persephone the Phony by Joan Holub 
87. Alone by Robert J. Crane
88. Chocolate Shoes And Wedding Blues by Trisha Ashley
89. Alice in Zombieland by Nickolas Cook
90. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
91. The Case of the Flashing Fashion Queen by Norah Wilson
92. Origins by Kristen Middleton
93. Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
94. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 
95. Her Own Devices by Shelley Adina 
96. The Long Midnight Of Barney Thomson by Douglas Lindsay
97. Amethyst by Heather Bowhay
98. A Lost Witch by Debora Geary
99. To Kill a Warlock by H.P. Mallory
100. Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
101. Moon Child by J.R. Rain
102. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
103. Daughter of Dragons by Kathleen H. Nelson 
104. A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines
105. Witch Way Bends by Olivia Hardin 
106. Cursed by Casey Odell
107. Frey by Melissa Wright 
108. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
109. Magnificent Devices by Shelley Adina
110. Drowning Mermaids by Nadia Scrieva 
111. Eternal Vows by Chrissy Peebles 
112. Between the Land and the Sea by Derrolyn Anderson 
113. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa 
114. Fins by Ashley L. Knight 
115. I Bring the Fire: Part I Wolves by C. Gockel
116. Life of Pi by Yann Martel 
117. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
118. Dorothy: The Darker Side of Oz by Scott Stanford
119. Watership Down by Richard Adams 
120. Fathom by Ashley L. Knight
121. Everblue by Brenda Pandos
122. The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
123. The Weirdstone Of Brisingamen by Alan Garner
124. One Glass Is Never Enough by Jane Wenham-Jones
125. The Owl Service by Alan Garner
126. Bitten Shame by Olivia Hardin
127. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
128. Shifty Business by Olivia Hardin
129. Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
130. Vegan, Virgin, Valentine by Carolyn Mackler
131. Firelight by Sophie Jordan
132. Necrophobia by Jack Hamlyn 
133. Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey  
134. The Dragon Reborn by Kathleen H. Nelson 
135. Dollhouse by Anya Allyn
136. The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
137. DRT by Eric Thomas
138. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory 
139. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice 
140. To Love a Witch by Debora Geary 
141. An Imperfect Witch by Debora Geary 
142. WitchLove by Emma Mills
143. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
144. How (Not) to Kiss a Toad by Elizabeth A. Reeves
145. XBestia by Melissa Conway
146. Good Husband Material by Trisha Ashley
147. Matchmakers 2.0 by Debora Geary 
148. Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett 
149. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi 
150. Wyrd Girl by Jon Jacks
151. How (Not) to Kiss a Prince by Elizabeth A. Reeves
152. How (Not) to Kiss a Beast by Elizabeth A. Reeves
153. How (Not) to Kiss a Ghost by Elizabeth A. Reeves 
154. UnStrung by Neal Shusterman 
155. How (Not) to Kiss a Gargoyle by Elizabeth A. Reeves
156. Leopard Moon by Jeanette Battista
157. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
158. Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake 
159. Burning Chrome by William Gibson 
160. Playing for Time by Barbara Bretton
161. Yule Be Mine by Charlene Teglia
162. Buried Child by Sam Shepard 
163. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
164. Winter Warmers by Carole Matthews
165. While Snowbound by Anna J. McIntyre
166. Red Shift by Alan Garner
167. Wish Upon A Star by Trisha Ashley
168. Tethers by Jack Croxall 
169. Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan
170. Gears of Wonderland by Jason G. Anderson
171. All I Want for Christmas is You by Lisa Mondello
172. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
173. A Cowboy For Christmas by Kristen James
174. The Santa Shop by Tim Greaton

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge Finished

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge hosted by Darlene's Book Nook.

Here are the challenge details:
1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.
2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.
3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.
4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.
5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!
6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!
7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.
8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.
9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.
10. There are four levels for the challenge:
a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.
11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!
12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.
13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
14. Create a sign-up post and link back to this post. Sign up with Mister Linky below! Be sure to use the direct url to your sign-up post and not the url to your blog.
15. Grab the challenge button and post it in your sidebar.

I have completed this challenge as I reached my goal of 12 Mammoth sized books over 450 pages the 17th of October when I finished Good Husband Material by Trisha Ashley.

This challenge was harder than expected as quite a few of what I thought of as longer books were just under 450 pages.

My list of books:

1.  Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang (660 pages)
2.  The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson (765 pages)
3. The Hunt by Joseph Williams (459 pages)
4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (607 pages)
5. Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb (834 pages)
6. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (466 pages)
7. Watership Down by Richard Adams (470 pages)
8. The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice (493 pages)
9. The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice  (464 pages)
10. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice (1058 pages)
11. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (557 pages)
12. Good Husband Material by Trisha Ashley (513 pages)
13. Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett (484 pages) 
14. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan (513 pages) 
15. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan  

 Posts for this challenge are HERE.

2013 Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge Finished

2013 Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge hosted by Reading the Paranormal and On a Book Bender.

Here's how it works:  

• Should you choose to participate in this challenge, your goal is to read at least twelve (12) legally obtained FREE e-books. While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit.
• Anyone can join. You don’t have to be a blogger, and you don’t have to live in the United States. 
• Any E-Reader will work for this challenge, including: iPad, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony Reader, enTourage. 
• Please Note: If you don’t have an e-reading device, you can still join in with Amazon’s Free Kindle Reading Apps which you can download for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC, Blackberry and more.
• The challenge runs from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. You can join at any time.
• e-books in ANY genre count for this challenge as long as it was FREE at the time that you downloaded it.
• Every month in 2013, I will make a post for the 2013 Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge so you can link your reviews.  Based on participation, monthly link ups may be combined.

Challenge Guidelines:

• If you have a blog, create a post announcing your participation in the challenge. Please include a link back to this post.
• Non bloggers: participate by linking up your profile URL from the site you plan to post your reviews on such as Goodreads, Shelfari, LibraryThing, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.
• When you post your book review, you MUST reveal how you obtained the free & legal download. Please make your source clear. We do not condone piracy of any sort.
• You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them.
• Crossovers to other reading challenges is acceptable, but ARCs/galley e-books DO NOT count. Again, this is a Reading Challenge to read as many of the FREE e-books legally offered for your e-reader. 

Levels:
Coupon Clipper: 12 Books
Penny Pincher: 24 Books
Buying in Bulk: 36 Books
Super Saver: 50 Books
Extreme Couponer: 100+ Books

In 2012 I read 28 which is why this year I decided to set my goal at 24 books. Well I have had to upgrade twice and I have now completed this challenge as a Super Saver and read my book number 50, XBestia by Melissa Conway the 16th of October. Since then I have read another three free books.

I have decided to finish at this level as I am sure I won't be able to make it to 100 free books, but I will keep adding books the rest of the year to see how far I can make it.

If Reading the Paranormal and On a Book Bender decides to host this challenge again in 2014 I will definitely take part again. I will have a lower goal though as I have started reading more library books.

My list of books:

1. De Novo Syndrome by Jim Buckner, David Mark Brown 
2. Dogs Don't Lie by Clea Simon 
3. Legend of the White Dragon: Legends by Melanie Nilles
4. My Familiar Stranger by Victoria Danann
5. Deadly Legacy by Alison Bruce 
6. Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stace 
7. Cross My Heart by Abigail Strom
8. Become by Ali Cross 
9. Always the Designer, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker 
10. Old Before My Time: Hayley Okines' Life with Progeria by Hayley Okines, Kerry Okines, Alison Stokes 
11. Winging It! by Shel Delisle
12. Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa
13. Stained by Ella James
14. Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina
15. Wise Follies by Grace Wynne-Jones 
16. Wait For Me by Elisabeth Naughton 
17. Goddess Legacy by M.W. Muse 
18. Amy's Story by D'Elen McClain
19. Manhattan Grimoire by Sandy DeLuca
20. Hollowland by Amanda Hocking
21. Marked by Kim Richardson
22. For a Good Time, Call... by Trish Jensen 
23. The Hunt by Joseph Williams 
24. Just Doll by Janice Daugharty
25. The Light Within Me by Carly Fall 
26. Zombacter: Center City Contagion by Sean Bingham 
27. Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly  
28. Alone by Robert J. Crane 
29. Alice in Zombieland by Nickolas Cook 
30. The Case of the Flashing Fashion Queen by Norah Wilson  
31. Origins by Kristen Middleton
32. The Long Midnight Of Barney Thomson by Douglas Lindsay
33. Amethyst by Heather Bowhay
34. To Kill a Warlock by H.P. Mallory
35. Witch Way Bends by Olivia Hardin 
36. Cursed by Casey Odell
37. Frey by Melissa Wright 
38. Drowning Mermaids by Nadia Scrieva 
39. Eternal Vows by Chrissy Peebles 
40. Between the Land and the Sea by Derrolyn Anderson 
41. I Bring the Fire: Part I Wolves by C. Gockel
42. Life of Pi by Yann Martel 
43. Dorothy: The Darker Side of Oz by Scott Stanford
44. Everblue by Brenda Pandos
45. One Glass Is Never Enough by Jane Wenham-Jones 
46. Dollhouse by Anya Allyn  
47. DRT by Eric Thomas
48. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory 
49. How (Not) to Kiss a Toad by Elizabeth A. Reeves
50. XBestia by Melissa Conway
51. Wyrd Girl by Jon Jacks 
52. Leopard Moon by Jeanette Battista
53. Playing for Time by Barbara Bretton 
54. Winter Warmers by Carole Matthews
55. While Snowbound by Anna J. McIntyre
56. All I Want for Christmas is You by Lisa Mondello 
57. A Cowboy For Christmas by Kristen James
58. The Santa Shop by Tim Greaton
59.  

 All posts for this challenge are HERE.

Dystopia Reading Challenge 2013 Finished

Dystopia Reading Challenge 2013 hosted by Blog of Erised.

Rules

> The challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Each month will have its own link form so you will be able to share your book reviews. You do not have to review the books you read to participate, but only those who read/reviewed at least one dystopian book will be able to participate in the giveaway (you can track your reading without the reviews with Goodreads, Shelfari etc.).

> Books that count in this challenge must include any form of post-apocalyptic theme (book sites like Goodreads are good sources of genre information). The books must be full-length.

> All formats allowed.

> Rereads allowed.

> It does not matter whether it's a series or a stand-alone book.

> If you are participating, grab the challenge button from below and post it on you blog. You can also make a post with the header (the code is also below). Please include the link back to this post so others will be able to participate as well.

> If you will participate, put the sign-up link to your blog post (about the challenge) or blog (for the button) directly into the linky below. Sign-ups will be open until December 20, 2013.

> You do not have to list your books in advance, go and do as you please. Read as many as you want (you can read more than 24!) and whenever you want, as long as you have fun!

> Info about the giveaway will be available in December 2013.
Levels

Level 1: Recruit (1 to 6 books)

Level 2: Rebel (7 to 12 books)
Level 3: Revolutionist (13 to 18 books)
Level 4: Leader (19+ books)

I finished this challenge the 16th of October with XBestia by Melissa Conway. After that I read one more for a total of seven so I guess I could say I actually made it to Level 2: Rebel.

My list of books:

1. The Scourge by A.G. Henley
2. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
3. Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
4. Hollowland by Amanda Hocking 
5. Unwind by Neal Shusterman 
6. XBestia by Melissa Conway
7. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi  

 All posts from this challenge are HERE.

TEA & BOOKS Reading Challenge 2013 Finished

TEA & BOOKS Reading Challenge 2013 hosted by The Book Garden.

Here goes ...

You may pick both fiction and non fiction books!
Contrary to last year short story collections, anthologies or collected works in one volume are now allowed!
Re-reads will now also be ok (though preferably you should read one of those unread tomes that have been collecting dust on your shelves)!
Last year you had to read 700+ pages but I reduced this to 650+ for 2013 (and no, this is not further negotiable)!
And as a little incentive - books with more than 1.200 pages will count for two books (so theoretically you can read four such super-chunksters to reach the Sencha Connoisseur level)!
Last but not least - no large print editions of a book, please!

 

Are you ready? Go ahead and pick your level!

2 Books - Chamomile Lover
4 Books - Berry Tea Devotee
6 Books - Earl Grey Aficionado
8 or more Books - Sencha Connoisseur

I went for the level of Berry Tea Devotee: read 4 books and I completed this challenge the 11th of October. In my sign up post I thought I might be able to go a level up later but that has not been possible as I have only read 4 books that were long enough.

My list of books:

1. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang (660 pages)
2. The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson (765 pages)
3. Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb (834pages)
4. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice (1058pages) 

HERE are all the posts for this challenge

2013 Anne Rice Challenge Finished

2013 Anne Rice Challenge hosted by The Towering Pile....

Rules: 

• Ebooks are fine. Audiobooks are fine as long as they are the unabridged versions.
• Rereads and crossovers with other challenges are fine.
• You can change your level at any time.
• The challenge goes from January 1st to December 31st, 2013.
• If you read, for example, the edition that has the first 3 Vampire Chronicles books together in one volume, that still counts as 3. We're going by how the books were originally published.
• All books written by Anne Rice count, not just the Vampire Chronicles, including those written under a pseudonym.
• You can sign up any time from now until November 30, 2013.

Levels:

• Louis de Pointe du Lac (1 to 5 books)
• Lestat de Lioncourt (6 to 10 books)
• Armand (11 to 15 books)
• Marius de Romanus (16 to 20 books)
• Maharet (21 to 25)
• Akasha (26 to 30) 

My goal was to complete level Louis Pointe du Lac: read 1-5 books. I never take the easy way out with my reading challenges so I would not register this challenge as complete till I had read 5 books.

I completed this challenge the 11th of October when I finished The Witching Hour.

My list of books:

1. Interview with the Vampire
2. Merrick
3. The Vampire Lestat
4. The Queen of the Damned
5. The Witching Hour

All posts for this challenge are HERE.

October 2013 Update

I have read a hell of a lot in October. All in all 27 books. Which is 8504 pages, more than any other month this year. This has been thanks to FrightFall Read-a-Thon 2013, Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2013. and the Read like a Banshee in Tower Teams2 challenge.
I have finished a lot of my different challenges by now, but I just haven't gotten around to write wrap up posts for them but I will get there at some point.
My reading will also slow down now as I am lucky enough to start work again.

List of Books:

1. The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
2. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan 
3. DRT by Eric Thomas
4. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory 
5. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice 
6. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan 
7. To Love a Witch by Debora Geary 
8. An Imperfect Witch by Debora Geary 
9. WitchLove by Emma Mills
10. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller 
11. When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne 
12. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
13. How (Not) to Kiss a Toad by Elizabeth A. Reeves
14. XBestia by Melissa Conway
15. Good Husband Material by Trisha Ashley
16. Matchmakers 2.0 by Debora Geary 
17. Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett 
18. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi 
19. Wyrd Girl by Jon Jacks
20. How (Not) to Kiss a Prince by Elizabeth A. Reeves
21. How (Not) to Kiss a Beast by Elizabeth A. Reeves
22. How (Not) to Kiss a Ghost by Elizabeth A. Reeves 
23. Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades by Rick Riordan 
24. Groovy Greeks by Terry Deary, Martin Brown
25. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan 
26. UnStrung by Neal Shusterman 
27. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan 

All posts from October are HERE

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

Annabeth is terrified. Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy - after six months of being apart, thanks to Hera - it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II, she can't blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon figurehead, Leo's fantastical creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.
And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket, Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving command: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me. Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send seven demigods on a quest to find - and close - the Doors of Death. What more does Athena want from her?
Annabeth's biggest fear, though, is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader - but never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side. From Goodreads.

Rick Riordan continues to write books that I just can't put down. There have been a couple of nights that I have been very tired and decided to go to bed and read for just 5 minutes. Hours later I am still reading. There is a lot going on in this book: romance, battling giants and gods, and also trying to find out why friends act like the enemy in between. This book ends in a cliffhanger, I am glad I have the next one coming from the library soon.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
Tower Teams Read 2013-2
2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge (demigod)
2013 Sequel Reading Challenge
2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

UnStrung by Neal Shusterman

How did Lev Calder move from an unwillingly escaped Tithe to a clapper? In this new ebook original short story, author Neal Shusterman opens a window on Lev's adventures between the time he left CyFi and when he showed up at the Graveyard.Lev's experiences on a Hi-Rez, an extraordinarily wealthy Native American Reservation introduce him to a teen with remarkable musical talent... and whose gifts are destined to end up in the hands of another. And it is this teen's heart-breaking story that inspired Lev to choose the clapper's path.
Pulling elements from Neal Shusterman's critically acclaimed Unwind and giving hints about what is to come in the long-awaited sequel, UnWholly, this short story is a must for fans of the series. From Goodreads





This is definitely not as good as the first book in the series but it does explain a few things about Lev. I actually found this short story rather sad as I really like one of the characters and things don't turn out good for him. I am hoping we will hear more about him in the next books.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
2013 Ebook Challenge
2013 Sequel Reading Challenge

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth
Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem — when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.
Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery — although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely — enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.
Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven. From Goodreads.

Another really good page-turner from Rick Riodan. As the first book in this series wasn't about Percy, this had to be.
I like meeting new characters and I am looking forward to the next book which I have ordered from my library.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
Tower Teams Read 2013-2
2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge (demigod)
2013 Sequel Reading Challenge
2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Groovy Greeks by Terry Deary, Martin Brown

Apparently the Greeks (we are talking about the Ancient variety) were a rather groovy bunch. The boys didn't start school until they were seven and girls didn't have to go at all. Greek children invented all manner of cool games just for something to do, and the grown-ups invented the Olympic Games and made the men run naked.
As Terry Deary points out, though, in his Horrible Histories: Groovy Greeks, things were not always quite as jolly and some of the more disturbing facts unearthed in this funny and clever alternative to the history book are actually quite, well, horrible. From Goodreads.

The only reason I read this short story is that it was in the same book as Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades. This Groovy Greeks story is meant as a history lesson for very small kids.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013

Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades by Rick Riordan

The goddess Persephone has summoned Percy, Thalia and Nico to the Underworld in order to retrieve Hades' powerful sword before it falls into the wrong hands. Easier said than done in a world full of evil daimons, ghosts and ghouls. Not to mention Iapetos - brother of the powerful Titan lord, Kronos. This time the young demigods are really up against it - will Percy manage to return the sword before it's too late? From Goodreads.

This short story was not as good as Rick Riordan's other books but it was still good. A fun little read that is part of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
Serious Readers 2013
2013 Sequel Reading Challenge
2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge (ghosts)