Wacky Reading Challenges - Book Tag Challenge #7 Finished

Book Tag Challenge #7 hosted by Wacky Reading Challenges on Goodreads.

This challenge went faster than I thought and I managed to read 9 of the 10 books already in September. My last book as expected was the classics, I usually find them boring and that was also the case this time.

Book Tag Challenge, #7
Duration: 3 Months from Start Date - September 1st - November 30th

Below is a list of 10 'tags', also referred to as 'shelves'. The challenge is to find and read a book for each tag. In order for the book to count, the tag (or shelf) must be listed within the first two pages of the book's most popular shelves, and must match exactly. If you are unsure about the location of the tag, or concerned it will drop from the second page, it's a good idea to post a message here, so that Jan or I can verify it for you.

To find a list of tags for your book, click on the book's home page, then click the link - 'see top shelves', found just below "Genres" on the right side of the page. The first page of shelves will populate. Down at the bottom will be a list of page numbers, where you can access page 2.

You may start the challenge at any time. The end date will be three months from your start date.

Challenge Rules:
Tags must be listed within the first two pages of the book's most popular shelves. Books must be at least 125 pages. All formats are acceptable. Re-reads are fine--just be sure to re-read the entire book. When updating your challenge with the books you've read, include the book title link, include the author's name, and the date you finished reading the book.

List of Tags:
1. adventure: Fire Country by David Estes
2. to-get: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa
3. 2008: The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa
4. bookshelf: Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
5. epub: A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter
6. 5-stars: Born in Shame by Nora Roberts
7. classics: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
8. abandoned: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
9. mine: Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig
10. favorite-authors: Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the hostility of the villagers. From Goodreads.

I should know better than reading anything that is called a classic. This was supposed to be a horror but I didn't find it scary at all, but quite boring. There was never any doubt who the killer was and it all just moved along extremely slowly. Not for me.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
FrightFall RaT 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: Companion Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7
Wacky Reading Challenges: Autumn Fun
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z

Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father's gruff stableman. He is treated like an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him sectetly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz's blood runs the magic Skill--and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family. As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom. From Goodreads.

Another enjoyable book from Robin Hobb. Bastard children of nobles aren't treated very well and Fitz is no exception. Fitz is secretly training to become an assassin, he also has a hidden power that even his teacher is unaware of. When the Kingdom is threatened, he and several others have to learn the skill, which is not his hidden power, to help save the Kingdom. I like Fitz and also Burrich the stable master. I have already ordered the next book from the library.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016
Crazy Challenge Connection: Read your age

A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter

A phone call from an old friend sets Dr. Giovanni Vecchio back on the path of a mysterious manuscript he's hunted for over five hundred years. He never expected a young student librarian could be the key to unlock its secrets, nor could he have predicted the danger she would attract.
Now he and Beatrice De Novo follow a twisted maze that leads from the archives of a university library, though the fires of Renaissance Florence, and toward a confrontation hundreds of years in the making. From Goodreads.

An interesting vampire story. Though in this one most of the myths of how to kill a vampire don't work and the vampires also have different powers connected to earth, wind, water and fire. It is centred around books and the search for 500 year old books that has been thought destroyed. I might return to this series at a later date.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: I Spy
Rawk-A-Tiers: Get Ready for Autumn!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Campfire Cookout
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7
Wacky Reading Challenges: Autumn Fun
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016
Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z

Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb concludes her nautical fantasy epic with Ship of Destiny, set in the world of her Farseer series. It lives up to its predecessors, Ship of Magic and Mad Ship in every way: the characters continue to develop, the plot moves swiftly, and the setting is vividly realized.
Again, three generations of Vestrit women are at the heart of the story. Ronica, the matriarch, stands alone against accusations that her family is responsible for the chaos that has overtaken Bingtown. She fights to uncover treachery and maintain the Trader's Council. Her daughter, Althea, sails on the disturbed liveship Paragon, hunting for Vivacia, the Vestrit's liveship, now the flagship of a pirate fleet under Kennit, who is both ruthless and compassionate. Her granddaughter, Malta, has disappeared following an earthquake in the ancient treasure city by the Rain Wild River. Her fiancé, Reyn, and her brother, Selden, are trapped while seeking her. They are rescued by the dragon Tintaglia, whom they helped liberate. Reyn asks Tintaglia's aid in finding Malta, but Tintaglia has her own urgent mission to accomplish, one which will change everything. Hobb weaves these plot threads into an exciting and satisfying conclusion. This is an original trilogy well worth reading! From Goodreads.

This was a good end to the trilogy. I have enjoyed it a lot. It all comes together and everybody fulfills their destiny whether it is by dying or living. It was interesting to see how young Malta changed from the very vain girl from the last book to the brilliant person she became during this one. I did not like her then but she completely won me over now. They all battle problems but it ends fairly well.  

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Big Books Bonus Club
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016
Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Elantris was built on magic and it thrived. But then the magic began to fade and Elantris began to rot. And now its shattered citizens face domination by a powerful Imperium motivated by dogged religious views.
Can a young Princess unite the people of Elantris, rediscover the lost magic and lead a rebellion against the imperial zealots?
Brandon Sanderson's debut fantasy showed his skill as a storyteller and an imaginer of baroque magical systems to be fully developed from the start. From Goodreads.

I enjoy Brandon Sanderson's fantasy books and this is no exception. Both Sarene and Raoden are very likeable characters. I liked that even though their marriage was arranged for political reasons they had communicated a lot and were looking forward to meeting each other. All the characters are interesting and have hidden traits and secrets. Even Sarene's dad who seems like a good king has secrets and he is just a small side character.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Yahtzee Challenge
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: I Spy
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Big Books Bonus Club
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Campfire Cookout
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016 

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

IN THE REAL WORLD, WHEN YOU VANISH INTO THIN AIR FOR A WEEK, PEOPLE TEND TO NOTICE
After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.
But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all. From Goodreads.


I enjoyed this. I feel a bit sad about the way Keirran is turning out but I guess you always need a bad guy. I like the way Ethan and Kenzie's relationship is slowly getting stronger and how Kenzie is quite strong despite of or maybe because of her illness.
I am looking forward to reading the next book when it comes out in November.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: I Spy
Rawk-A-Tiers: Get Ready for Autumn!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Summer cAMMP BINGO
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7 
Wacky Reading Challenges: Autumn Fun
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016 
Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z

Fire Country by David Estes

In a changed world where the sky bleeds red, winter is hotter than hell and full of sandstorms, and summer's even hotter with raging fires that roam the desert-like country, the Heaters manage to survive, barely.
Due to toxic air, life expectancies are so low the only way the tribe can survive is by forcing women to procreate when they turn sixteen and every three years thereafter. It is their duty as Bearers.
Fifteen-year-old Siena is a Youngling, soon to be a Bearer, when she starts hearing rumors of another tribe of all women, called the Wild Ones. They are known to kidnap Youngling girls before the Call, the ceremony in which Bearers are given a husband with whom to bear children with.
As the desert sands run out on her life's hourglass, Siena must uncover the truth about the Wild Ones while untangling the web of lies and deceit her father has masterfully spun. From Goodreads.


I like the way this was written from Siena's point of view but it was a well-known male dominant world. Girls and women are treated whichever way the man of the house decides and at a call they are given to whoever the village elders, who are all male, decide. It is also about wanting to do anything to stay alive and in power and not in a good way.
I liked it but I am not convinced I will continue this series.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: I Spy
Rawk-A-Tiers: Get Ready for Autumn!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
A Million More Pages: Campfire Cookout
A Million More Pages: Summer Song Shuffle
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7 
Wacky Reading Challenges: Autumn Fun 
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Wacky Reading Challenges: Animal House
Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016

Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig

Live . . . Laugh . . . Read . . . with New York Times bestselling author Christie Craig . . .
“Readers who enjoy Jenny Crusie and Janet Evanovich will fall head over heels for Divorced, Desperate and Delicious . . .” —New York Times Bestseller Dianna Love
Ever since photographer Lacy Maguire caught her ex playing Pin the Secretary to the Elevator Wall, she's been content with her dog Fabio, her three cats, and a vow of chastity. But all of that changes when the reindeer-antlered Fabio drags in a very desperate, on-the-run detective who decides to take refuge in her house—a house filled with twinkling lights and a decorated tree. (Okay, so it's February, but she has a broken heart to mend, a Christmas-card shoot to do, and a six-times divorced, match-making mother to appease.) For the first time in a looooong while, Lacy reconsiders her vow. Because sexy Chase Kelly, wounded soul that he may be, would be an oh-so-delicious way of breaking her fast. Now, if she can just keep them both alive and him out of jail . . .  From Goodreads.

This was cute and a bit of fun. The description of Lacy and her animals in Christmas attire was hilarious. I think she took to Chase a bit fast but it was okay. It is a feel good book that of course ends well. I will read more books by Christie Craig.  

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: I Spy
Rawk-A-Tiers: Get Ready for Autumn!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
A Million More Pages: Summer cAMMP BINGO
A Million More Pages: Summer Song Shuffle
Wacky Reading Challenges: Favorite Album - Away From the Sun
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7  
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Wacky Reading Challenges: Animal House
Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z

The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa

The first major English translation of one of contemporary Japan's bestselling and most celebrated authors. 
From Akutagawa Award-winning author Yoko Ogawa comes a haunting trio of novellas about love, fertility, obsession, and how even the most innocent gestures may contain a hairline crack of cruel intent.

A lonely teenage girl falls in love with her foster brother as she watches him leap from a high diving board into a pool--a peculiar infatuation that sends unexpected ripples through her life.
A young woman records the daily moods of her pregnant sister in a diary, taking meticulous note of a pregnancy that may or may not be a hallucination--but whose hallucination is it, hers or her sister's?
A woman nostalgically visits her old college dormitory on the outskirts of Tokyo, a boarding house run by a mysterious triple amputee with one leg.
Hauntingly spare, beautiful, and twisted, The Diving Pool is a disquieting and at times darkly humorous collection of novellas about normal people who suddenly discover their own dark possibilities. From Goodreads

 

Unfortunately I found these three novellas boring and uninteresting. I only finished them because they were so short. They stories are twisted but neither beautiful nor darkly humorous as described in the blurb. 

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Rhyme Time
Rawk-A-Tiers: I Spy
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
A Million More Pages: Summer Games
Wacky Reading Challenges: Favorite Album - Away From the Sun
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Wacky Reading Challenges: Animal House
Crazy Challenge Connection: Read your age

Born in Shame by Nora Roberts

Three modern sisters bound by the timeless beauty of Ireland...
Shannon's life is rocked by an emotional earthquake when she learns the identity of her real father: Thomas Concannon.
Obeying her late mother's last wish, American Shannon travels to County Clare, Ireland, to meet the sisters she never knew she had. Warmed and comforted by the bond that grows between her and her sisters, her heart is lured by the charm of the Irish countryside and tempted by the attraction of horseman Murphy Muldoon.
Murphy takes one look at Shannon and knows that she is the woman he's waited for all his life. But Shannon is a practical woman. Will she open her heart and mind to the timeless, magical bond that connects them? Or will she reject fate's plan and leave Murphy to return to her life in America?
And amid the lush Irish landscape, she discovers the possibility of a love that is meant to be. From Goodreads.



I have really enjoyed this Born In trilogy of Nora Roberts. Shannon experiences the loss of her parents that she loved and the loss of her identity as her mother reveals that her father was not her biological father. I like that though these books of course have a happy ending, the characters have to struggle with loss and work their way through it. It also shows that you can get past the loss but it will always stay with you. 
Finally Murphy falls in love with the extremely lovely, nearly too nice, young man, who has been part of all the books. I will definitely read more of Nora Roberts' books.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: I Spy
Rawk-A-Tiers: Get Ready for Autumn!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
A Million More Pages: Summer cAMMP BINGO
Wacky Reading Challenges: Favorite Album - Away From the Sun
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt
Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z
Crazy Challenge Connection: Scrabble, anyone?

Wacky Reading Challenges - Book Tag Challenge #7

Book Tag Challenge #7 hosted by Wacky Reading Challenges on Goodreads.

Book Tag Challenge, #7
Duration: 3 Months from Start Date - September 1st - November 30th

Below is a list of 10 'tags', also referred to as 'shelves'. The challenge is to find and read a book for each tag. In order for the book to count, the tag (or shelf) must be listed within the first two pages of the book's most popular shelves, and must match exactly. If you are unsure about the location of the tag, or concerned it will drop from the second page, it's a good idea to post a message here, so that Jan or I can verify it for you.

To find a list of tags for your book, click on the book's home page, then click the link - 'see top shelves', found just below "Genres" on the right side of the page. The first page of shelves will populate. Down at the bottom will be a list of page numbers, where you can access page 2.

You may start the challenge at any time. The end date will be three months from your start date.

Challenge Rules:
Tags must be listed within the first two pages of the book's most popular shelves. Books must be at least 125 pages. All formats are acceptable. Re-reads are fine--just be sure to re-read the entire book. When updating your challenge with the books you've read, include the book title link, include the author's name, and the date you finished reading the book.

List of Tags:
1. adventure: Fire Country by David Estes
2. to-get: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa
3. 2008: The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa
4. bookshelf: Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
5. epub: A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter
6. 5-stars: Born in Shame by Nora Roberts
7. classics: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
8. abandoned: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
9. mine: Divorced, Desperate and Delicious by Christie Craig
10. favorite-authors: Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb