Tag Archives: 2019

March 2019

Image result for march image

March has been a crazy month of trying to get my paperwork sorted for my PhD’s year milestone, starting my big year of fieldwork and trying to get my hand fixed. There’s a reason we call it Mad March here…

Poems

Standalone stories

Series

Short story collections

Image source: Lawhimsy

February 2019

February is an insane month. It is the month of my birthday. The month of Valentine’s Day (which isn’t quite as important to me). And the month that I seriously get back into my study life. Which has meant that I have been hammering the short stories a lot more. They’re a lot quicker to read, and I don’t get as wrapped up in them when I am trying to be a productive member of society…

Poems

Standalone stories

Series

Short story collections

Image source: My Cute Graphics

January 2018

It’s a new year… so hopefully that means that I’ll start finishing off some series that I started a while ago… although… maybe not this month!

Standalone stories

Series

Short story collections

Image source: Clipart Fox

2019 Pick Your Poison Challenge

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018
Number of books: 104
Hosted by: Take a Walk Down Gregory Road

Baker’s Dozen | 13 books
Choose one category from any 13 of the topics provided except for the wildcard books
Fortnightly | 26 books
One category from each topic–you can choose one wildcard
52 Pickup | 52 books
Two categories from each topic–you can choose one wildcard
Goin’ for the Burn | 78 books
Three categories from each topic–you can choose two wildcards
Freaky Reader | 104 books
Two books a week–must complete all the topics–you can choose two wildcards

Name Game
A book by an author who uses a pseudonym – Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke
A book with a pun in the title – High Stakes by Erin McCarthy
A book whose title should be a band name – Wild Fire by Christine Feehan
A book by an author with initials in their name – The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

Schoolhouse Rock
Conjunction Junction: ________ and ________ – Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moira Fowley-Doyle
I’m Just a Bill: A book about law – The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
Interplanet Janet: A book about space – Alien Sex edited by Ellen Datlow
My Hero, Zero: A book with a number in the title – One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Family Ties
A book written by a husband / wife team – Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews
A book about cousins – Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine
A book about grandparents – Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
A memoir about reconnecting with a family member – Coraline by Neil Gaiman

What It’s Not
A book with the word “love” in the title that is not a romance – Love is Hell by Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin & Laurie Faria Stolarz
A book with a dog on the cover that is not an animal story – Masques by Patricia Briggs
A book with the word “death” in the title that is not a mystery – 
A book with a car on the cover that is not about a road trip – Journeys to the Other Side of the World by David Attenborough

Onesies!
A book with a one word title – Greylands by Isobelle Carmody
The first book in a series – A Date With the Other Side by Erin McCarthy
The first book by an author – Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
A book about an only child – Heiress for Hire by Erin McCarthy

Things that Flip
A book about circus performers – 
A book with a house on the cover – An Apple for the Creature edited by Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner
A book with a coin in the title – Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
A book with alternating narrators – The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil

Learning About Others
A book about someone from a different religion – The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
A book about a mythology you are unfamiliar with – American Gods by Neil Gaiman
A book translated from a different language – Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
A book set in a country you’ve never read about before – In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall (Tanzania)

Seasonal
A book about cooking or food – The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair
A book by an author with Winter, Spring, Autumn or Summer in their name – Burned Promises by Willow Winters
A holiday themed book – The Incredible Adventure of Cinnamon Girl by Melissa Keil (summer holidays)
A book set in a weather season (rainy season, dry season) – Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige (snow)

The World We Live In
A book that takes place on multiple continents – The Siren by Kiera Cass
A book about wildlife – The Last Rhinos by Lawrence Anthony
A book about world history – The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman
A book about migration – Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

Things You Can’t Hold Onto
A book about money – The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair
A book about the past – Gene of Isis by Traci Harding
A book with water in the title – Sea Fever by Virginia Kantra
A book with a picture of a cliff on the cover – Percy Jackson & the Titan’s Curse: The Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan & Robert Venditti

Is It Hot In Here?
A book about global warming – 
A book about a woman “of a certain age” – Persuasion by Jane Austen
A beach read – Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra
A book that takes place in the desert – Holes by Louis Sachar

Catch Me If You Can
A book about a ball – The Duke & I by Julia Quinn
A book with a bus on the cover – Rosa Parks: My Story by Rosa Parks
A book about “the one that got away” – Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown
A book about chasing down a bad guy – The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen

Either Or
A book with either trendsetters or prairie settlers – Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
A book with either hijackers or hijinks – Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by Zarqa Nawaz
A book with either paddleboats or paddling – Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
A book with either wormholes or bookwormsIlluminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Punctuation
A book with a period in the title – The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells
A book by an author with a hyphenated name – 
A book with an ampersand in the title – African Myths & Tales by Flame Tree Studio
A book with exclamation points in the description – Dates from Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelley Armstrong & Lori Handeland

Things That Stink
A book with the word “company” in the title – Company Town by Madeline Ashby
A book with fish on the cover – 
A book with the word “feet” in the title – Cold Feet by Brenda Novak
A children’s book about stinking or bath time – 

Guilty Pleasures
A chick lit book – Bit the Jackpot by Erin McCarthy
A book you’d be embarrassed to be seen with – Hotel Valhalla by Rick Riordan
A book about chocolate – 
A book you’ve been waiting to savor – Hexed by Ilona Andrews, Yasmine Galenorn, Allyson James & Jeanne C. Stein

Working on that TBR Pile
A classic you’ve always meant to read – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Write five titles onto a piece of paper and have a friend choose one for you – Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
The first unread book you see when you walk into your house – Black Spring by Alison Croggon
A book you meant to read last year but didn’t have time for – Fairest of All by Serena Valentino

Niche Genres
A magical realism book – 
A noir detective book – 
A YA dystopian book – Enclave by Ann Aguirre
An Amish romance or mystery – 

The Many Faces of Death
A book with a skeleton on the cover – The Beast of Blackmoor Bog by Kate Forsyth (dragon skeleton)
A book where Death or the Grim Reaper is a character – Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
A classic murder whodunnit – Bloody Valentine by James Patterson
A book with a character who is dead – Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Where’d You Get That?
A book about heredity – She Has Her Mother’s Laugh by Carl Zimmer
A book from the library – Blood Work by Kim Harrison
A book someone gave you – The Silver Horse by Kate Forsyth (a gift from my Mum)
A book you found at a used bookstore – The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance edited by Trisha Telep

80s Music
Thriller (Michael Jackson): A horror story – Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Africa (Toto): A book set in Africa – 
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Wham): A book about dancing – 
She Blinded Me With Science (Thomas Dolby): A nonfiction book about science – Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

Green
A book with a green cover – The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
A book about the environment – Beluga Days by Nancy Lord
A book about mold or microorganisms – 
A book that is set in the jungle – Through the Tiger’s Eye by Kerrie O’Connor

Laugh It Up
A humorous novel – Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye
A memoir by a comedian – The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
A book with someone on the cover laughing – 
A collection of comics from the “Funnies” page – 

I Shouldn’t Say That
A book about secrets – The Turn by Kim Harrison
A book with a cuss word in the title – 
A book censored due to language – Haven by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda
Read whatever the f*** you want – Seeing is Believing by Erin McCarthy

5 W’s and H
When and Where: A book that takes you to a different time and place – When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs
How: A “how to” book – How to Sleep Well by Dr. Neil Stanley
Who did What: A biography about an inventor – The Inventions, Researches and Writings of Nikola Tesla by Nikola Tesla
Why: A book with “why” in the title – Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Things You Go Through
A book with a door or gate on the cover – Four Dukes and a Devil by Cathy Maxwell, Elaine Fox, Jeaniene Frost, Sophia Nash & Tracy Anne Warren
A book about a secret tunnel – 
A book with the word “window” in the title – The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket
A book about a portal to a different world – The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

*** Wildcards ***
A book mentioned in another one you read this year – 
A book about public speaking – 
A book inspired by (or that inspired) a game – 

A book about your favorite animal – Dragon Blood by Patricia Briggs
A book about something that scares you – IT by Stephen King

2019 A – Z Titles Challenge

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018
Number of books: 26

A – An Apple for the Creature edited by Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner
B – Battle of the Heroes by Kate Forsyth
CCirce by Madeline Miller
D – The Drowned Kingdom by Kate Forsyth
EEvolve edited by Nancy Kilpatrick
F – Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
G – Gene of Isis by Traci Harding
H – Harry Potter: A History of Magic by J.K. Rowling & the British Library
IInkheart by Cornelia Funke
J – Journeys to the Other Side of the World by David Attenborough
K – Killing Moon by Rebecca York
L – Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by Zarqa Nawaz
M – The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
N – Novellas & Stories by Meljean Brook, Carolyn Crane & Jessica Sims
O – One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
P – Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine
Q – Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
R – The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
S – Seeing is Believing by Erin McCarthy
TThe Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence
U – Unbound by Kim Harrison, Melissa Marr, Jeaniene Frost, Vicki Pettersson & Jocelynn Drake
VThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
W – When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs
X – Xoe by Sara C. Roethle
Y – The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Z – The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman

2019 A – Z Series Challenge

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018
Number of books: 26

A – The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair (Accidental Witch Trilogy)
B – Tempting the Beast by Lora Leigh (Breeds)
C – A Date With the Other Side by Erin McCarthy (Cuttersville)
DDead End Dating by Kimberly Raye (Dead End Dating)
E – West by Edith Pattou (East)
F – The Falconer by Elizabeth May (The Falconer)
G –
H – Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (His Fair Assassin)
I – The Beast of Blackmoor Bog by Kate Forsyth (The Impossible Quest)
J –
K –
L – Wild Fire by Christine Feehan (Leopard People)
M – Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (Mercedes Thompson)
N – Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (Night Huntress)
O –
P – Percy Jackson: The Ultimate Guide by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)
Q –
R – The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen (Rizzoli & Isles)
SMasques by Patricia Briggs (Sianim)
TThrough the Tiger’s Eye by Kerrie O’Connor (Telares Trilogy)
U –
V – Fairest of All by Serena Valentino (Villains)
W – The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson (The Wren Hunt)
X – Xoe by Sara C. Roethle (Xoe)
Y – The Young Elites by Marie Lu (The Young Elites)
Z –

2019 A – Z Male Character Names Challenge

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018
Number of books: 26

A – Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (Adam)
B – A Date With the Other Side by Erin McCarthy (Boston)
C – Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra (Caleb)
D – Heiress for Hire by Erin McCarthy (Danny)
EThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis (Edmund)
FEnclave by Ann Aguirre (Fade)
G – The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl by Melissa Keil (Grady)
H – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (Heathcliff)
I –
J – Greylands by Isobelle Carmody (Jack)
KThe Turn by Kim Harrison (Kal)
L – The Silver Horse by Kate Forsyth (Luka)
MInkheart by Cornelia Funke (Mo)
N – Sucker Bet by Erin McCarthy (Nate)
O – Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs (Oreg)
PThe Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis (Puddleglum)
Q – Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke (Quinn)
RThrough the Tiger’s Eye by Kerrie O’Connor (Ricardo)
S – The Beast of Blackmoor Bog by Kate Forsyth (Sebastian)
T – Battle of the Heroes by Kate Forsyth (Tom)
U –
V –
WMasques by Patricia Briggs (Wolf)
X – Red Phoenix by Kylie Chan (Xuan Wu)
Y –
Z – Holes by Louis Sachar (Zero)

2019 A – Z Female Character Names Challenge

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018
Number of books: 26

A – Heiress for Hire by Erin McCarthy (Amanda)
B – Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs (Bastilla)
C – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (Catherine)
DEnclave by Ann Aguirre (Deuce)
E – The Silver Horse by Kate Forsyth (Emilia)
FThe Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence (Flavia)
G – Sucker Bet by Erin McCarthy (Gwenna)
H – Company Town by Madeline Ashby (Hwa)
I – Wild Fire by Christine Feehan (Isabeau)
J – Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine (Juliet)
K – The Siren by Kiera Cass (Kahlen)
L – Black Spring by Alison Croggon (Lina)
M – Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra (Margred)
N – West by Edith Pattou (Nyamh)
OSpellbook of the Lost and Found by Moira Fowley-Doyle (Olive)
P – Seeing is Believing by Erin McCarthy (Piper)
Q – The Drowned Kingdom by Kate Forsyth (Quinn)
R – Sea Fever by Virginia Kantra (Regina)
S – When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs (Shamera)
TThe Turn by Kim Harrison (Trisk)
U –
V – The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Annette Blair (Vicky)
W – Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (Wanda)
X –
Y –
Z – Pride by Ibi Zoboi (Zuri)

2019 A – Z Authors Challenge

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018
Number of books: 26

A – Journeys to the Other Side of the World by David Attenborough
B – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
C – Greylands by Isobelle Carmody
DMad Hatters and March Hares edited by Ellen Datlow
E – The Mammoth Book of Celtic Myths and Legends by Peter Berresford Ellis
F – The Beast of Blackmoor Bog by Kate Forsyth
G – The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
H – Gene of Isis by Traci Harding
I –
J – Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
K – Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra
L – Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
M – A Date With the Other Side by Erin McCarthy
N – Laughing All the Way to the Mosque by Zarqa Nawaz
OThrough the Tiger’s Eye by Kerrie O’Connor
P – Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe
Q – The Duke & I by Julia Quinn
RDead End Dating by Kimberly Raye
S – To Marry Medusa by Theodore Sturgeon
T – Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
U –
V – Fairest of All by Serena Valentino
W – The Wrent Hunt by Mary Watson
X –
Y – Killing Moon by Rebecca York
Z – Pride by Ibi Zoboi

2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge

Duration: 1st January – 31st December 2018
Number of books: 50
Hosted by: Pop Sugar

A book becoming a movie in 2019 – IT by Stephen King

A book set in space – Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

A book that makes you nostalgicThrough the Tiger’s Eye by Kerrie O’Connor

A book by two female authors – Haven by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda

A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction) – Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis

A book with a title that contains “salty”, “sweet”, “bitter” or “spicy” – Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

A book you think should be turned into a movie – Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

A book set in Scandinavia – West by Edith Pattou

A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

A book that takes place in a single day – Bloody Valentine by James Patterson

A debut novelMasques by Patricia Briggs

A book with a plant in the title or on the cover – Wild Fire by Christine Feehan

A book that’s published in 2019 – What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume

A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature – Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

A reread of a favourite book – Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

A book about a hobby – The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl by Melissa Keil (drawing)

A book recommended by a celebrity you admire – The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (recommended by Emma Watson)

A book you meant to read in 2018 – Journeys to the Other Side of the World by David Attenborough

A book with “love” in the title – Love is Hell by Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin & Laurie Faria Stolarz

A book with “pop”, “sugar” or “challenge” in the title – 

A book featuring an amateur detective – Return to the Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz

A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover – The Siren by Kiera Cass (dress)

A book about a family – Greylands by Isobelle Carmody

A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America – The Last Rhinos by Lawrence Anthony

A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore – Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra

A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the titleMidnight Thief by Livia Blackburne

A book published posthumously – Persuasion by Jane Austen

A book that includes a wedding – Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine

A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movieThe Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letterCirce by Madeline Miller

A retelling of a classic – Fairest of All by Serena Valentino

A book with a question in the title – Dark Emu Black Seeds: Agriculture or Accident? by Bruce Pascoe

A ghost story – Seeing is Believing by Erin McCarthy

A book set on a college or university campus – Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown

A book with a two-word title – Sea Fever by Virginia Kantra

A novel based on a true story – The Blind Side by Michael Lewis

A book about someone with a superpower – Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

A book revolving around a puzzle or game – Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (Miryem’s battle of wits)

A book told from multiple character POVs – Gene of Isis by Traci Harding

Your favourite prompt from a past Popsugar Reading Challenge (a steampunk novel, 2017 challenge) – Curiouser and Curiouser by Melanie Karsak

ADVANCED

A “cli-fi” (climate fiction) book – 

Two books that share the same title (1) – 

Two books that share the same title (2) – Blood Magic by Eileen Wilks

A “choose-your-own-adventure” book – 

An “own voices” book – 

A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom (e.g. Big Brother from 1984) – 

Read a book during the season it is set in – Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige (Winter)

A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent – An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands

A LitRPG book – 

A book with no chapters / unusual chapter headings / unconventionally numbered chaptersInkheart by Cornelia Funke (each chapter starts with a beautiful quote that reflect the chapter heading)