christene_littlelibrary’s Comments (group member since May 03, 2022)

christene_littlelibrary’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Hi team! Checking in! by the way I'm Christene, 29.

🌍 Where are you journeying from?
-- I'm from Philippines! Somewhere in Southeast Asia

💖 A book, author, or genre that’s always “preciousss” to you?
-- I usually read fantasy, romance and thriller. I'm more into series than standalone. My fave authors are Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction), Emily Henry (Romance), Brandon Sanderson (Fantasy), for thriller I'm juggling and love reading new to me authors.

🍫 Optional snack check: if you were bringing second breakfast for the road, what’s in your pack?
-- I'm a pizza girl so I'll probably bring that one. and yes COKE!!

🧿“Who is your favourite villain… and why is it obviously Me, Sauron?”
-- I can't think of a villain right now. I'll edit soon

💍 Which unread book on your shelf whispers to you most like the Ring?
-- I want to read LOTR, The Witchers and GOT.

🌋Which books/characters did you feel like throwing into Mount Doom?
-- All my DNF books!

🥾What’s your favourite real-life walk… and why is it clearly the Road to Mordor?
-- Loved trekking when I was in college (5 years ago) but lately been busy with work and family. probably walking from my house to work! lol

🎒 Would you survive the Tongariro Alpine Crossing carrying Sam’s cookware set and Frodo’s the Mighty Lord Sauron's Ring?
-- Nope

⚔️ If you needed rescuing, which literary character(s) would you choose would you choose the Nazgûls, the Balrog or the Orcs?
-- None of the above lmao but maybe Balrog too

Cathy M. wrote: "I have an egg for anyone who needs it! It is good for 3 HP."

Can I have it?

Quest Starting 8/10/25

Summer Scrounge Getaway
Queen Skye needs a break. Two whole weeks away from queenly duties sounded heavenly—until the packing began, an arcane ritual involving trunks, lists, and a baby who believed sleep was a conspiracy. Princess Lyra, at three months old, already has more luggage than most invading armies.

Your mission: gather items from Her Majesty’s Vacation Must-Have List before departure. Queen Skye is offering reward potions to those who help her pack.

Scrounger List (20 items)
• Sunscreen
• Beach towel
• Swimsuit
• Flip-flops
• Sun hat
• Cooler (Must be an actual item; don't try to be cool and sneak in an adjective!)
• Beach umbrella
• Snorkel set
• Backpack
• Bug spray
• Hiking shoes
• First-aid kit
• E-reader
• Portable speaker
• Travel pillow
• Map or travel guide
• Lightweight stroller
• Diaper Bag
• Baby wipes
• Travel Cot / Travel Crib

Each scrounger list item may only be found once. Items are found in the text or title of a book. Only one item may be found per book. The word may be plural. Each potion is listed with the number of scrounger items needed to win it. You may trade in items for potions at any time.

• Minor Heal Potion - 1 Item
• Heal Potion - 2 Items
• Major Heal Potion - 3 Items
• Minor Poison Potion - 2 Items
• Enhanced Weapon Potion - 3 Items
• Damage Potion - 4 Items
• Find Items Potion - 2 Items
• Time Walking Potion - 3 Items
• Duplication Potion - 4 Items
• Weakening Potion - 2 Items (must be unlocked through Alchemy That! quest)
• Transmogrification Potion - 1 Item (must be unlocked through Alchemy That! quest)
• Pet Plus Potion - 4 Items (must be unlocked through Alchemy That! quest)

Quests starting in August 2025
(view spoiler)[

Magical Field Trip
The Geography Department of the Novel Kingdom Academy has decided to embark on an ambitious field trip beyond the borders of our Kingdom! However, being the dreamers they are, the professors have no idea how to plan such a journey. Will you step in and help them craft an itinerary?

1. Choose a Starting Point: Read a book with the name of a city or town from your home country (or the country you currently live in) in its title.

2. Set Your Destination: Read a book featuring the name of a city where you’d like to end your trip in its title. This city must be on a different continent and at least 3,000 miles (4,830 km) from your starting point.

3. Plan Your Stops: Read 4 books with the names of cities in their titles, representing the places you'd like to visit on your journey. Each stop must be in a different country, distinct from both your starting point and final destination. (So it's 6 cities altogether: a starting point, a destination and 4 stops along the way.)

4. Pick Your Transportation: Select how you'll get there! Read 3 books featuring different means of transport on the cover or in the title. Make sure your choices match your journey—for example, traveling from New York to London requires something to get you safely across the ocean, i.e. a plane, ship, submarine, or dirigible. (Be realistic—no spaceships or unicorn rides! Choose something that exists and is capable of making the trip, e.g. a carriage pulled by horses would be fine for a trip over land but not across the ocean.)

5. Share your itinerary in the Local Tavern thread so the patrons can admire your planning skills—and who knows, you might even earn yourself a free tankard of beer as a token of their appreciation!

Example: You currently live in the UK.
Itinerary: 1. The Last Bookshop in London-2. The Paris Wife-3. A Gentleman in Moscow-4. The Man from Beijing-5. Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan-6. Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between
distance: over 11,000 miles (over 18,000 km)
means of transport: train: The Girl on the Train, plane: Up in the Air by Walter Kirn, ship: Sharpe's Trafalgar (Sharpe, #4) by Bernard Cornwell

As a thank-you for planning their grand adventure, the professors will reward you with 12 XP and 2 Shield Potions. Safe travels!

The Teapot Conspiracy
“It’s just tea,” said the Duchess. “Perfectly ordinary tea.”
Which would have been convincing if the spoon hadn’t just tried to strangle the maid.

Rumours are steeping across the land—someone’s enchanted the royal teapot, and now every pot of tea brewed within the castle walls has... effects. Sleepwalking guards, dancing cutlery, highly opinionated biscuits. Her Majesty suspects sabotage. Or possibly a prank gone very, very wrong.

You have been summoned to the High Kitchen as the Kingdom’s most reliable disaster-containment specialist (you read one book on herbology once and haven't exploded anything important in weeks). Investigate the source of the chaos and restore order to teatime.

Complete the following tasks to get to the bottom of the conspiracy:

1. The Cursed Cup – Read a book with a teacup or teapot on the cover.
2. Kitchen Confidential – Read a book featuring chef or baker as the main character.
3. Earl Grey Enigma – Read a whodunnit involving an inheritance and/or poisoning.
4. Sip Happens – Read a humorous or absurd book that leans into the ridiculous.
5. Spell-It-Out: T-E-A-P-O-T – Use standard spell-it-out rules.
6. Crumble the Conspiracy – Read a book where the main character is part of a secret society or works for an intelligence agency.

The investigation is a success. The culprit turns out to be the castle butler, who mistakenly spiked the royal tea with one of Bill the Alchemist’s experimental concoctions, having confused it for lemon juice which Queen Skye loves to be added into her afternoon tea. He has since been reassigned to polishing helmets well away from anything remotely herbal, alchemical, or liquid.

Reward: 12 XP + 10 Herbs (for your next tea).

Eighteen Candles and a Quiet Corner
It’s a momentous occasion in the Kingdom: Prince Rowan—Queen Skye’s only son and noted introvert—is turning eighteen. A celebration of royal proportions is underway, complete with feasts, fireworks, and far too many speeches. The only person less excited than the Prince is the royal historian, who’s just discovered that no proper record of royal coming-of-age ceremonies exists. None. Not even a doodle.

Queen Skye, determined that her son's birthday go down in history, tasks you with researching legendary rites of passage and birthday traditions. The Prince, meanwhile, just wants to disappear into the library. Conveniently, so do you.

To ensure the Prince’s birthday is properly celebrated—and documented:
1. Read 5 books with a primary genre of “Coming of Age” (first 7 genres listed on GR) and/or are on the first page of this GR list: Best Coming of Age Stories
2. Read a book in which a character celebrates their birthday.
3. Since the Prince is a devoted bookworm, read a book that features a book or books on the cover—as the perfect gift.

Success! The celebration proceeds with only minor firework-related incidents. The Prince smiles (an actual, visible smile) upon receiving your bookish gift. Turns out, literature really is the way to his heart. For organizing a historic and heartfelt event, you earn 10 XP and 3 Roses.

Beware of the Equine Gourmets
Wild horses have recently discovered the village's vegetables and developed quite a taste for them, leaving the farmers in a state of frantic vegetable defense. To stop these hungry critters, you’ll need to outsmart them with a bit of reading:

1. To catch one: Read a book with a horse on the cover. It's a simple start—nothing too extravagant.
2. To catch two: Read the second book in a series where someone, presumably a character with a fondness for saddles, is seen riding a horse.
3. To catch three: Read a book that mentions the word “unicorn”—which, for some reason, these particular horses seem to be very keen on.

Once you’re done, the grateful farmers, though still slightly bewildered by the events, will reward you with 3 XP and 5 carrots. Let’s hope these carrots are better behaved than the horses!

Note: This quest was inspired by the brilliant suggestion of Lady Saar. Many thanks for the wonderful idea! (hide spoiler)]

Quests Starting 6/8/25
(view spoiler)[

Kindlecorn Soup for the Spiritually Knackered
Battling monsters is all well and good, of course, but even the bravest adventurers eventually run out of sheer spite and mediocre swordplay. After your latest clash with the forces of unpleasantness, you glance at your party and realize they look like overcooked noodles—wobbly, pale, and only upright thanks to strategic leaning.

This simply won’t do. So you drag the lot of them to Dr. Cottage, eccentric herbalist, field surgeon, and soup theorist. He hops closer, using his trusty cane, peers at your companions, sniffs loudly, and mutters, “Spiritually knackered. Only one thing for it. You’re cooking Kindlecorn Soup.”

Of course, he won’t just give you the recipe. That would be far too easy. “It’s a sacred broth,” he insists, “reserved for moments of true crisis… and mild social inconvenience.”

Time to prove yourself worthy of soup.

You must have a Kitchen at least LVL 1 to begin.

Part 1: Equip Your Kitchen (Non-repeatable)
To even attempt Dr. Cottage’s restorative cuisine, you need proper tools. He refuses to let his sacred soup touch anything “chipped, cursed, or emotionally fragile.”

• Spell out CAULDRON using standard spell-it-out rules.
• Pay 15 gold to the local blacksmith for a soup-approved cauldron.
Reward: 1 Cauldron, 4 XP

Part 2: Earn Dr. Cottage’s Trust (Non-repeatable)
“The soup isn’t just a meal,” he says, clutching his satchel of suspicious herbs. “It’s a commitment. A lifestyle. A legally binding culinary oath.”

• Cook 1 Drop Bear Steak to prove your culinary competence. (You must complete the Drop Bear Feast quest first if you haven't already.)
• Read a book with a pen, pencil, or quill on the cover to show you’re ready to copy down the recipe into your personal grimoire.
• Bribe—ahem, supply—Dr. Cottage with 3 Minor Heal Potions. (You’re not proud to encourage his tonic addiction, but desperate times call for mildly unethical measures.)
Reward: Kindlecorn Strengthening Soup Recipe, 4 XP

Kindlecorn Strengthening Soup Recipe:
- 10 Kindlecorn Meats
- 5 Salt
- 5 Herbs
- 3 Carrots
- 3 Peas
- 1 Book with the word "weed" in the text
- 1 Spicy book (steamy, fiery, or just full of drama)
- 1 Book by an author whose first or last name starts with W (for water)


Part 3: Cook the Soup (Repeatable)

!!! Only super fresh books can be used for this quest. A super fresh book is one read within the month prior to completing the quest. !!!

With the recipe now (somewhat legibly) transcribed into your book, it’s time to cook.
• You must have a cauldron and the recipe.
• Gather 5 Tree Branches to fuel the fire.
• Gather 5 Phoenix Feathers to ignite the fire with a flourish.
• Follow Dr Cottage's recipe and cook 1 cauldron of his delicious soup for your mercenaries.
Reward: 1 Cauldron of Kindlecorn Soup – Doubles your hired mercenary’s strength for 1 battle.
(Note: Radagast, a staunch vegetarian and soup snob, will politely decline your meaty masterpiece.)

Important Notes:
• You can only cook 1 Kindlecorn Soup per calendar month.
• The soup spoils 30 days after being cooked.
• The Magical Pumpkin cannot duplicate Kindlecorn Soup.
• Curious about mercenaries who benefit from soup boosts? Visit the Ye Olde FAQ.

Threads of the Rainbow Tapestry
The Royal Tapestry Room is in a bit of a cheerful mess. Spools of thread are scattered everywhere, magical bobbins are tangling themselves into knots, and someone (probably a sprite) left jam on the edge of the warp loom.

“It’s supposed to tell everyone’s story,” says Pip, the youngest weaving apprentice, peering at a section of the cloth. “But we noticed… well, some colors are missing.”

They hold up a bundle of shimmering rainbow thread. “Would you help us stitch in the ones we forgot? We need stories full of love, discovery, pride, adventure, and joy—especially the kind that’s been left off the page for far too long.”

And just like that, you’ve joined the Weaver’s Circle.

To weave in the colors of rainbow into the Royal Tapestry:
• Read 5 books featuring an LGBTQ+ main character.
These characters should be central to the narrative—whether they’re leading epic battles, falling in love, solving mysteries, or simply finding themselves. All genres welcome.
• Read 3 books written by LGBTQ+ authors.
These books may feature queer themes—or not. Let the author’s voice be part of the tapestry, even if their own story stays between the lines.
• At the Local Tavern, share the title of one book that moved you and why. Was it joyous? Tender? Fierce? Let your fellow adventurers know why it belongs in the weave.

Pip rewards your efforts with 10 XP + 1 Potion Token. (hide spoiler)]

Quests Starting 6/1/25

A Royal Flush
Queen Skye had many concerns—border disputes, economic stability, the occasional dragon—but few things troubled her more than the stench permeating the kingdom’s streets. The Novel Kingdom was grand and glorious, but it had one fatal flaw: an absolute disaster of a sanitation system. The streets reeked, the rivers ran suspiciously brown, and the castle’s moat had gained a rather unsettling reputation (the less said about the glowing green sludge, the better).

Some said this was simply the way of things. Others, usually after an unfortunate slip in something unmentionable, insisted that something must be done. Queen Skye, being a forward-thinking ruler (and also quite tired of holding her breath while walking through the city), declared that you should be the one to fix the mess.

Thus begins your most noble and revolting quest yet!

The Steps to Sanitation:
☑️1. Prepare yourself – No hero should enter this "battle" unaware of what awaits them.
Spell out the word STENCH using standard spell-it-out rules.
S - The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides 6/26/2025
T - The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julia Leong 6/15/2025
E - Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry 6/6/2025
N - Normal People by Sally Rooney 6/14/2025
C - The Love Haters by Katherine Center 7/15/2025
H - Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum 7/21/2025

2. Brave the Depths – The kingdom’s sewers await. Abandon hope, all ye who sniff.
Read a book where the main character must navigate an underground location.

3. The Rat King’s Dominion – The sewers have a ruler of their own, and he’s not pleased to see you.
Read a book featuring a crime lord (or a mafia boss) to help drive the Rat King out of his smelly domain.

☑️4. The Source of the Problem – Ah, the blockage. A horrifying combination of waste, lost treasures, and things best left unmentioned.
Read a book where a treasure is discovered (hopefully, it's worth the smell).
Quicksilver by Callie Hart 6/18/2025

5. Clear the Pipes – With heroic determination (and probably a very long stick), you set things right.
Read a book with a shovel, a bucket or a spoon on the cover.

6. A Cleaner Kingdom (Mostly) – The filth is flowing freely again! Er... to the river. That’s future-you’s problem.
Read a book that contains the word “ecology” in the text.

Success! While you haven't solved all of the kingdom’s sanitation problems, you've tackled the worst of them—the blocked sewers. The noblemen still grumble about stepping in dung on the streets, but honestly, you're not a magician. Let everyone clean up after their own pets.

Queen Skye, now able to walk through her city without pinching her royal nose shut, bestows upon you a well-earned reward.

Your Reward for Services Rendered:
15 XP + 3 Minor Poison Potions (because let’s be real, you definitely came across some nasty concoctions down there).
Now go forth, brave adventurer, and may your nose recover swiftly!

(view spoiler)[
Twice Upon a Title
As you wander through the bustling streets of the Novel Kingdom, you stumble upon a peculiar little shop. Its sign reads: “Twice Upon a Title – Where Stories Meet Their Match.” Intrigued, you step inside, only to find shelves brimming with books that seem eerily similar. A cheerful gnome with glasses perched on the tip of his nose pops up from behind the counter.

“Ah, a fellow book lover!” he exclaims. “Welcome to my humble shop of duplicates, doppelgängers, and downright strange coincidences. I specialize in books that share the exact same title but couldn’t be more different in story, genre, or tone. Fascinating, isn’t it? Two tales, one name! I call it... book twinning!”

“Care to join me in celebrating the beauty of title twins? Find pairs of books with the same title, read them both, and marvel at how wildly different they can be—or how surprisingly similar! Complete my challenge, and I’ll reward you with something truly unique.”

• Read 3 pairs of books that share the same title. (Example: The Gift by James Patterson and The Gift by Cecelia Ahern).
• Report your twin books titles in the Local Tavern.
• Read a book where twins are the main characters.
• Read a book where a character sells something or works in a shop.

For completing this quest, you’ll receive 10 XP and one of Sir Bargainbeak’s Lucky Feathers. How the gnome got his hands on it is a mystery—one you decide not to investigate. It’s probably better that way. (Sir Bargainbeak’s Lucky Feather grants you a 50% discount on 1 item purchase from Jack’s Store.)

Note: If a book has a subtitle, you may ignore it. For example, Great Expectations and Great Expectations: a national US Bestseller count as the same title.

Alchemy That! Part II: The Spectral Brew
Bill the Alchemist greets you with a suspiciously enthusiastic grin as you return to his laboratory. “You’re back! Fantastic! I’ve been working on something revolutionary—something that will change the way we deal with monsters forever! Imagine bringing them back to life, but, uh… more dangerous. I call it The Reanimation Potion! Just think of the rewards! The glory! The academic papers! All I need now are a few… minor… ingredients.”

You eye the cluttered lab nervously, noting the bubbling cauldron that seems to be emitting a faint scream. “Let me guess,” you mutter, “I’m collecting the ingredients?”

“Oh, of course, dear hero. But I assure you, this one will work perfectly. No side effects. Probably.”

Pre-requisite: You must complete Alchemy That! quest before attempting Part II (if you haven't already).

The Alchemist is asking for fresh ingredients as he brews the potion.
!!!Only fresh books can be used for this quest, i.e. read after 6/1/25!!!

1. The Essence of Past Battles
“First, we’ll need the essence of a worthy adversary. Read a book featuring a duel, battle, or fight scene—it must really make you feel the adrenaline rising.”
(“Perfect! The potion's starting to look dangerous now.”)

2. Ghostly Whispers
“Next, I need something spooky—a whisper from beyond the grave, if you will. Read a book with a ghost, spirit, or other spectral being in it. And no, that romance novel with the ‘hauntingly handsome hero’ doesn’t count.”
(“Ah, now it’s bubbling! A good sign!”)

3. Shadowed Memories
“This step requires an emotional touch. We need the memory of loss. Read a book where a character mourns, grieves, or faces some kind of profound personal loss. The potion feeds on sadness, you see. For, uh, scientific reasons.”
(“Excellent work! The potion’s gone black. That’s totally normal, right?”)

4. The Spark of Life
“Now, we need something bright—a spark to reanimate the spirit. Find and read a book with lightning, storms, or electricity in its pages. Kudos if someone yells ‘It’s alive!’ but that’s optional.”
(“Aha! It’s glowing now! …Wait, is it supposed to move?”)

5. An Unwilling Sacrifice
“Lastly, we need… oh, you’re going to love this one! We need a book that’s been neglected. You know, the one collecting dust on your physical or virtual bookshelf for the minimum of 3 years. Sacrifice it to the cause by actually reading it.”
(“Brilliant! The potion is complete! And it only singed my eyebrows a little.”)

You hand over the final ingredient, and the Alchemist triumphantly raises the potion into the air. It glows ominously, and you feel an unsettling chill in the room.

“Behold! The Re-animation Potion is ready! Soon, every rare monster in the Novel Kingdom will have a ghostly counterpart—and I’ll be rich! Uh, I mean… science will thrive!”

He sends you off with a sample to present to Jack’s Store, where the potion is immediately stocked for purchase (at a very steep price). As thanks for your efforts, Jack tosses you a free sample.

Reward: 1 Re-animation Potion. Moreover, the Potion is now "unlocked" for purchase - it means you can buy it at Jack's Store if you can afford it. Mind that as a highly advanced potion it cannot be duplicated by the Magical Pumpkin.


Re-animation potion
- Resurrects a defeated rare monster (including rare magical ones) as a ghostly version of its former self. Works only on monsters you originally defeated longer than a year ago. This ghost is far more dangerous than the original, with both its attack power and health doubled.

Upon defeating the ghost, you receive the same amount of XP and regular loot (such as potions, potion tokens, mercenary coupons, and gold) as you would for slaying the original creature. Any monster-specific items (such as gems, orbs, or body parts) will appear as the "shadow" of the original, and can be used only once before they dissipate permanently (e.g., the Shadow of the Orb of Fire grants +3 AP to your magic staff for a single battle).

Each rare monster can be reanimated only once, and the process does not work on Halloween Monsters, other Event Monsters, and zombies, as they’ve already been reanimated once before. The Rare and the Rare Magical Monsters eligible for reanimation will be revealed in waves (stay tuned for announcements in the Notice Board thread). You must defeat all the monsters in one wave before you can start reanimating those from the next. Detailed stats and rewards for each Ghost of [Monster] can be found in the Ye Olde FAQ thread.

Price: 50 gold. This highly specialized item cannot be duplicated by the Magical Pumpkin or exchanged for a Potion Token—Jack insists on cold, hard cash only. (must be unlocked through Alchemy That! Part II: The Spectral Brew quest) (hide spoiler)]

What's in the Name

Hamnet, Carl, James, Piranesi, Cora

May the Fourth Be With You (Repeatable once)
(view spoiler)[
(view spoiler)[Queen Skye has uncovered a cache of ancient tomes chronicling tales of distant galaxies, fearless rebels, sinister empires, and the timeless struggle between the light and dark sides of the Force. Stirred by the valor of Jedi, the cunning of Sith Lords, and the political tensions rippling through the stars, she has declared this May a celebration of Star Wars - through the power of storytelling.

Now, the time has come for you to choose your path. Will you walk the noble way of the Jedi, seeking peace, wisdom, and balance? Or will you embrace the path of the Sith, driven by ambition, power, and passion?

Before you decide, you may consult one of these light-hearted quizes to discover which side of the Force your allegiance lies:
[Buzzfeed quiz: https://www.buzzfeed.com/eheman/are-y...] or [Google Forms quiz: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... ]

Whether you raise a lightsaber or a library card, your journey begins now. The galaxy awaits - one chapter at a time.

Follow the tasks aligned with the path you’ve chosen (Jedi or Sith).
!!!!! Only fresh books count for this quest (i.e. books read after 5/1/25)!!!!! (hide spoiler)]

The Jedi Path: Order, Balance, and Peace
"There is no ignorance, there is knowledge."

1. The Youngling Trials
• Read a book with a young protagonist (15 or younger).
The Golden Frog Games

2. Archives of the Jedi Temple
• Read a book that includes a temple, church, or castle setting.

3. Balance in the Force
• Read a book where a warrior chooses diplomacy over violence or seeks to resolve conflict without fighting.

4. Across the Galaxy
• Read a science fiction or fantasy book set in space or on another world.

5. Guardian of Peace
• Read a book with a source of light on the cover.
• Read a book that includes all of the following words somewhere in the text: peace, knowledge, harmony or harmonious, serenity or serene, force.

6. Report to the Jedi Council
• Complete your mission by spelling out the first name, last name, or both of a Jedi Master from the list below. Choose your guide among the guardians of peace and justice:
[Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Koon, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Shaak Ti, Luminara Unduli, Depa Billaba, Qui-Gon Jinn, Aayla Secura, Luke Skywalker]

Rewards For Completing Your Jedi/Sith Journey: Use the reward system below to calculate your XP.
You gain 2 XP per each book read + 1 Shield Potion (for a Jedi) or 1 Damage Potion (for a Sith).
• Bonus XP:
 +1 XP for each Star Wars book read (canon or Legends) for tasks 1 to 6.
 1 XP for each Star Wars film or full season of a Star Wars TV series watched between starting the quest (the date you finished the first book towards this quest) and collecting your reward. Mark the date you watched them.

The Theatre of War: A Play in Too Many Acts
(view spoiler)[Queen Skye, ever the sensible ruler, preferred her kingdom to be a place of peace, prosperity, and only the occasional riot when the bakery ran out of pastries. Sadly, the rest of the world seemed committed to the idea that war was just diplomacy with extra bloodshed. Beyond her borders, armies marched, kingdoms clashed, and rulers—some wise, some profoundly not—kept flinging their soldiers into battles over territory, grudges, and the occasional royal insult involving someone’s choice of headwear.

But war, as Queen Skye knew, was not just a thing of generals and kings. It was a storm that swept through villages and cities, shattering lives and reshaping history. If her kingdom was to remain at peace, her people had to understand war—not just its battles, but its causes, its costs, and the scars it leaves behind. Your quest is to uncover the tales of war and share your findings so that others may also learn. For if enough people understand war, perhaps fewer will choose to wage it.

So, grab your books, sharpen your wits, and embark upon this noble quest. After all, history has a habit of repeating itself… unless, of course, someone stops it. (hide spoiler)]

1. The Fires of the Present – War is not just a relic of history; it continues to shape the world today.
• Read two books by authors from or set in countries or territories that have experienced war in the 21st century (e.g., Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Chechnya (Russia), Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia).

2. The Scars of Civil War – Some wars are fought between nations, but others tear apart a country from within.
• Read a book by an author from or set in a country that has recently endured the devastation of civil war (e.g., Myanmar, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, Libya).

3. Echoes of the 20th Century – The last century was marked by conflicts that reshaped the world in fire and steel.
• Read two books about or set during a 20th-century war or civil war, where the conflict plays a major role in the story.

4. Battles of the Past – History is filled with wars that shaped civilizations, empires, and entire continents.
• Read three books about or set during different major wars or civil wars from before the 20th century, where the conflict is a central theme.

5. War Beyond the Stars and Realms – Even in worlds of magic and distant galaxies, war is a force that shapes destinies.
• Read two fantasy or science fiction books set during a war, where the conflict is a major part of the story.

6. Chronicle Your Knowledge – Queen Skye values the lessons you have learned.
• Share your reading list in the Local Tavern thread (mark the setting/author's nationality for tasks 1 and 2, and the conflict for tasks 3, 4 and 5) so that others may learn from your wisdom.

For completing this quest, you earn 12 XP and 3 Shield Potions.
(hide spoiler)]

The Trials of a Royal Godparent
(view spoiler)[Huzzah! Queen Skye has given birth to a beautiful baby princess, and in a twist of royal fate (or perhaps an error in the guest list), you have been chosen as the royal godparent. But there's one small catch: before you're officially knighted into this role, you must pass the "Godparent's Reading Trials" to prove your worthiness. After all, a proper godparent must be well-read and ready to inspire the princess with tales of adventure and wisdom! (hide spoiler)]

Your Tasks:
1. Read a book where the protagonist has a unique and memorable name. Make a note of why it stands out—it might make the princess’ nickname list!

2. Read a book with one of these words in the title: child, baby, prince or princess. Every princess needs companions for tea parties and hide-and-seek.

3. Read a book with characters navigating social rules or (royal) protocols. Jot down one rule for the princess—like how not to cause an uproar during a state banquet.

4. Read a book featuring a magical, mythical, or wise mentor figure. Let’s face it—you’re going to need tips.

5. Read a book with a gift on the cover—wrapping paper, bow and all. Find inspiration for the perfect naming ceremony present.

6. Read a fairy tale or a fairy tale retelling. Queen Skye insists that all proper godparents believe in happy endings.

Complete all six tasks to earn the title of Super Duper Godparent, along with 6 XP, 3 Major Heal Potions, and the everlasting gratitude of the Novel Kingdom!

Cat wrote: "@Christene, can you add My Friends to your challenge shelf please?"

Done

Sorry been busy lately. I just finished The Sword of Kaigen this month huhu Can I still join the discussion?

Day 3 Chapters 14-20

11. Whether the stories are true or not, are you interested in the back stories of Margaret’s family? What did you think of Freddy’s first interaction with Bernie? (The one that contained the only laugh out loud line so far “Because of your wardrobe?”)
- Margaret's family backstory is pretty interesting. Not sure if Freddy is really in love or just like the idea of being with Mararet.

12. Who exactly is Jodi? Will she be a part of the BIG REVEAL?
- Hmmm I have an idea but not sure.

13. I do not have kids, but Hayden’s list of “what ifs” to worry about was a lot. Do you parents worry about that stuff?
- of course.

14. Why do you think Alice thinks that Margaret’s tales of her childhood are true, as opposed to the stuff about her family before she was around? Do you find her insightful or naive?
- Pretty naive to me. I feel like Margaret hides some truths.

15. Think the visit to Alice’s family will go well? Think we will meet Hayden's family also?
- Hopefully. I'm excited. But we know how Emily Henry's books goes. so I doubt.

DQs Day 2
The Story to Chapter 13

5. Margaret is lying – and probably not just about one singular thing. Do you think she’s even telling Alice and Hayden the same story? Personally I’m also really curious where Margaret’s sister Laura is – to me it feels like she might be key to the whole story… anything specific that made you perk up?
- I'm also curious if she was lying. I hope not. it would be unfair to both of them.

6. Similarly, it was kind of an aside but I thought it was interesting when Margaret mentioned the Ives family’s rivalry with the Pulitzers. Is it just a random coincidence that Hayden is a Pulitzer-prize winning author who now also gets to talk to her? Especially since she requested him? And he has a bunch of family issues too?
- I don't know but it's kinda suspicious why Margaret want Hayden to write her story if her family had a history with Pulitzers.

7. I was a little shocked when they were already kissing 25% in – and then not surprised when Hayden rejects Alice. Do you think he’s telling the truth when he says “I’m not going to hook up with someone whose dream job I’m about to take from them”? Or is there something else going on?
- I think he just don't like to be attached based on his experienced with life. But who knows, right?

8. We get quite a bit of detail on Alice’s job and research process as a journalist: what she’s searching for, working with fact-checkers, etc. Do you enjoy these types of details, i.e. minute of characters’ jobs and hobbies?
- I like how organize she is. It is very vital for her job as a journalists.

9. I’ve been to Hearst Castle, but long before I actually knew anything about him. The Ives family seems to be quite obviously inspired by him (and I guess he was name-dropped for plausible deniability). Is there a specific family dynasty you’re really interested in?
- Not really.

10. Bonus question: So… anyone else feel like they’re reading Evelyn Hugo 2.0?
- I did. It was the first thing that came to my mind when I read about the interview something.

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 to 7

1.) Emily Henry is a popular contemporary romance author and a fair few of her books have been previous NBRC BOM selections. Any expectations for this book going in?
- I like all her books so I expect it to be a good one!

2.) What are your first impressions of Alice? And sending that drink to Hayden?
- She is nice, nosy and a bit competitive, so I'm guessing she was just curious on Hayden's achievements.

3.) Would you agree to the month long trial or tell Margaret she's a nutter and move on to something else? Why do you think Margaret is doing things this way?
- I agree to a month long trial. It's a great opportunity as a writer but I was thinking a month is short enough to get all information about someone.

4.) After learning a few tidbits about Hayden's family and how he grew up, did you opinion change a bit on his character?
- I don't know. He looks like one who is not a trustworthy kind of guy.

The Easter Bilby

Capture the Rabbits:
1) Read a book where someone has a pet rabbit.
2) Read a book with a rabbit on the cover.

3) Spell out the word RABBIT using spell-it-out rules.
R
A
B
B
I
T
4) Read a book with the word rabbit in the title or series.
5) Read a book featuring chocolate or where the main character is a pastry chef.
6) Read a book set during Spring.
7) Read a book with an invasion in it.
8) Read a book where the main character is a doctor or vet.
9) Read a book where there is an Easter celebration.
10) Read a book with grass on the cover.

Oh that's smart! I think I'm good with this one! What a big help! thank you!

Omg you're good with wordy stuff!

The Academy - part II
(view spoiler)[You've been teaching at the Novel Academy for what feels like eons (see The Academy quest here ). While it's a great honour you've become a bit bored. The Principal Mage just announced that there's an opening in the exchange program and you're eager to jump on the opportunity and teach at the Witches and Honourable Banshees university for the next semester. To get the job you have to prove that you're a Goodreads expert and know your way around without a map.

Complete the requirements to apply successfully for the new teaching job. You do not have to complete the requirements in order.

Note: Books need to be read after announcement of the quest. Books used in these tasks are still available to be applied towards other quests. These are participation tasks. (hide spoiler)]

Levels:
Fill in the application form - Complete 6 Requirements
List your teaching accomplishments - Complete another 5 Requirements
Complete the application process successfully and get the job - Complete the rest of the Requirements

Requirements:

☑️1 Visit the Goodreads blog: News & Interviews & check out at least 3 of their articles. (link to the articles you read & report on the most interesting one in The Local Tavern)
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
☑️2 Pick out and read a book based on News & Interviews recommendation (list the book and link to the article that features it)
132 Page-Turner Books to Help You Beat Any Reading Slump
6/23/2025
☑️3 Check out the books that won Goodreads Choice Awards & read a book that has either won or been nominated for this award (any year will do)
https://www.goodreads.com/choiceaward...
5/3/2025
☑️4 Check out New released books listed on Goodreads: Click on Browse>New Releases > "By authors" and/or "By Genre". Pick at least one book and add it to your "Want to read" GR list. List the book.
https://www.goodreads.com/new_release...
6/22/2025
☑️5 Find the answer to this question on Goodreads: "What do I do if I can't find a book using search on Goodreads?". (Either link to the answer or "copy & paste".)
I usually look books at lists and news and interviews articles.
☑️6 Find your GR Reading stats and put down how many pages you read last year (hint: search under "My books").
90,400p
☑️7 Go through your "Want to Read" list and delete all the books you're no longer interested in reading. List the number of remaining books.
From 2500 to 2279 want-to-read books
☑️8 Go through your "Read" list and shelve at least ten books that have no tag other than "read" (if all your books are already shelved, you deserve a "task complete").
☑️9 Set up a new shelf on "My books" page, either for unfinished/abandoned books or any other genre/tag that you've been missing. List the name of your new shelf. (if your shelving system is perfect as it is, you deserve a "task complete")
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
10 Go to Recommendations, select recommendation by shelf or by genre and read at least one book recommended to you and mark at least one book as "not interested". List those books.

☑️11 Go to Listopia and vote for your favourite books on at least three lists (link to the lists).
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
12 Check out GR Popular Quotes and "like" at least three of them. Copy & paste your favourite one and post it to the Theatre thread.
☑️13 Ask your friends and the Goodreads community what you should read next. Use a Goodreads feature to do that.
5/10/2025
☑️14 List how many GR groups you are a member of, which one is your favourite and how many comments have you made in that group so far.
I am in 140 GR groups LMAO. My faves are
- NBRC for team challenges with 255 comments
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
- Feeding the Kindle Addiction . . . with HOT FREEBIES! for chill team challenges with 60 comments
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
- Turn of a Page for solo challenges with 853 comments
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
☑️15 Find at least three GR Groups that are interested in your favourite genre or author or reading activity (e.g. challenges), link to them (you don't have to join them).
- Fantasy Buddy Reads with 37 comments
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
- RRRC with 219 comments
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
- YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ with 171 comments
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
☑️16 Check out your GR Profile, Account & Emails settings and update them if needed.

Rewards
☑️Application Form: 3 XP, 1 Minor Heal Potion
☑️Accomplishment List: 4 XP, 1 Major Heal Potion
Successful job application: 6 XP, 1 Health Gem (grants +1 Max HP and refills HP)

.

ADVENTURE LOG AUGUST 2025

8/1/2025
New Gang in Town - QUEST COMPLETED +4 XP
Empire of SilenceEmpire of Silence 7/15/2025
When the Wolf Comes Home 8/1/2025
Hero: LVL 6 || HP: 8 || Sword: Level 4 (AP: 6) || Magic: Level 3 (AP: 5) || XP: 117


8/1/2025
Attack Sewer Rat - QUEST COMPLETED +1 XP
(view spoiler)[•Hero Attacks Monster with Sword (6 AP) => Monster: 5-6=DEAD
Sewer Rat: Killed: 8/1/25, Available Next: 8/8/25 (hide spoiler)]
•Hero: +1XP
Hero: LVL 6 || HP: 8 || Sword: Level 4 (AP: 6) || Magic: Level 3 (AP: 5) || XP: 118

8/8/2025
Attack Sewer Rat - QUEST COMPLETED +1 XP
(view spoiler)[•Hero Attacks Monster with Sword (6 AP) => Monster: 5-6=DEAD
Sewer Rat: Killed: 8/8/25, Available Next: 8/15/25 (hide spoiler)]
•Hero: +1XP
Hero: LVL 6 || HP: 8 || Sword: Level 4 (AP: 6) || Magic: Level 3 (AP: 5) || XP: 119

8/11/2025
Using Egg given by Cathy M. +3 HP
•Hero: +3HP
Hero: LVL 6 || HP: 11 || Sword: Level 4 (AP: 6) || Magic: Level 3 (AP: 5) || XP: 119

I have no idea with task but maybe since it's pride month maybe we can add 5 books with characters/author that are part of LGBTQ+... In relation to your title "Embracing the Different"