Sophie’s Comments (group member since Apr 28, 2013)

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

With Vengeance in Death the stymphalian birds are gone.


Nemean Lion



Nemean Lion has been seen lounging in the sun on your land after feasting on man. He's hard to defeat, don't underestimate him because he sleeps more than he's awake. Also, don't send Kate Daniels, "here kitty kitty kitty" probably won't turn out as well for her this time.

To vanquish this monster you must:
1.) Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
2.) Read a book that takes place in Africa.
3.) Read a book where both hands (of one person) are visible on the cover.
4.) Read a book with an open plain landscape on the cover.
5.) Read a book that features a cat (cat shifter accepted).


We could do with books for 2 and 4.


If anyone has 800+ pages books that they are happy to start, we have 2 claimed at the moment, but more would be v welcome.

So our current minster situation:

3 monsters are waiting on claimed books.



Stymphalian Birds P
#6 in series

Minotaur R
1.) Read a book 800 pages or longer.
3.) Read a book with a map in it.
4.) character described as "bull-headed" or "hard-headed".

Using up this slot

We had a quick monster attack from Echidna last night, but they were defeated with banked books so now we've got:

Minotaur



The Minotaur has been seen on your lands, frolicking through fields and enjoying freedom for the first time. If you manage to defeat him, you will spend the rest of your life wondering how you survived. Don't forget some rope!


To vanquish this monster you must:
1.) Read a book 800 pages or longer.
2.) Read a book where the MC gets lost.
3.) Read a book with a map in it.
4.) character described as "bull-headed" or "hard-headed".
5.) Read a book with a Goodreads rating of 4.0 or higher.

If we get one needing a high series number, those might come in very handy.

Andrea and Amy, thanks for grabbing those 2. Will try to get us some new monsters later this evening.

Carrie wrote: "Audrey Jane wrote: "Carrie wrote: "It seems like the new game starting July 1st is going to take some strategy!"

The Trojans group Alison mentioned :-) :

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/......"

I've just sent invites to you and Kat so you should be in now.

Sorry for the lack of update over the weekend!

Today my husband went to see his dad who is terminal ill with cancer, while I took the kids to a big family birthday. Then got home and have been packing to go away on holiday tomorrow.

In terms of the challenge, general reading looks like it is going well. The 2 tasks that haven't got an option for the monsters are:
Letters of Zeus in title
Gr rating of 3.0 to 3.5

Any takers for those?

Alison - yeah there was a battleship in wobble. We are hoping with the limit to number of attacks/defense we can keep it under control and everyone can join in.

Lightning? Doing a search to fill in some of the blanks.

Denise wrote: "Reading Cackle right now. Do we think witch is different from sorceress? I'm not sure she's ever officially labeled. She casts a lot of spells and has powerful magic."

I'm not sure. I'm happy with the witch's heart as having a sorceress as I think Angrebodr (appalling spelling sorry) was referred to as one.

Amy the book-bat wrote: "Master and Margarita had mermaid in the text as well. (One translation has mermaid while another has naiad. The audio version I listened to was a different translation than the print copy I was usi..."

Options! I like options!

I'd say the title is Broken Bonds too.

Alison - can you mark it for both please with a mermaid quote. We can use it for either as we may end up repeating monsters again.

We've got some slower paced stuff coming up. The last 2 have been more fast and furious than expected.

We can use everything read for the main challenge so please don't feel you have to deal with the mini-challenge. If you can check what you are reading against the current monsters I'll be happy.

Alison - I've just realised I've been completely scatterbrained and put Nicole as completing tasks rather than you for one of the monsters. No idea what my brain was thinking...

I have a bit of a think about making tracking more interactive and up to date! The all monsters sheet now has check boxes after each column of tasks. If we are working on the monster the letter in column 1 is highlighted in blue. If the tasks are claimed then the box is ticked. If you want to claim one of the tasks, please tick the box and put the letter from column one and number 1-5 in the mini code column.

I hope that makes sense... I'll try to update here every day or so as well.

Mare of Diomedes (M) 3/5
2.) Read a book with fire on the cover.
5.) Read a book with a Goodreads rating between 3 and 3.5 (inclusive).

Cerberus (N)
1.) Read a book between 500 and 650 pages (inclusive). (Sophie)
2.) Read a book where a funerary celebration/service takes place. (Sophie)
3.) Read a book with MPG Music. (Alison)
4.) Read a book with a musical instrument on the cover. (Alison)
5.) Read a book that is #3 in a series. (Alison)

Charybdis (F)
5.) Read a book where the characters take a boat trip (of any type).

Typhon (A)
1.) Read a book between 500 and 650 pages (inclusive).
2.) Read a book that mentions a volcano
3.) Read a book with lightning on the cover
4.) Read a book where the title contains all the letters in ZEUS
5.) Read a book where a MC is a father


S birds (P)
2.) Read a book that is #6 in a series.
3.) Read a book with a musical instrument mentioned in the text.
4.) Read a book with something metal on the cover.

just kat wrote: "Hi! Do we post a completion or do we go straight to the sheet and log our finished books and claim tasks for it at the same time?"

I don't have a huge amount to add to what Audrey Jane and Insiyah have said! It's easier for us as captains if you can add it to the tracking SS, but I know that isn't always possible and sometimes completion posts are much easier.

Audrey Jane wrote: "Sophie wrote: "Are you finding my monster updates helpful or are there tweaks to it that would help more?

I've got a book that I'm 50% through that works for the remaining Empusa tasks, then we'll..."

Working on a longer book is fabulous. Even if someone else finishes one that length that I use first, it will probably be needed for another monsters as well. If not, the pages points are good!

Alison wrote: "Sophie wrote: "Are you finding my monster updates helpful or are there tweaks to it that would help more?

I've got a book that I'm 50% through that works for the remaining Empusa tasks, then we'll..."

If you could keep a note for the word in text and event in text. If it is on the cover or to do with the title or something on the book main page we can check that info easily.

I'll see if I can set up a current monsters page so that it is easier for everyone to see what is happening. A post here would rely on someone being able to edit it all the time.

Stymphalian Birds



Stymphalian Birds have been seen filling your orchards and causing delays in harvesting. They are hard to defeat because of their numbers. Music can soothe the savage beasts, may want to try metal bands.

To vanquish this monster you must:
1.) Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
2.) Read a book that is #6 in a series.
3.) Read a book with a musical instrument mentioned in the text.
4.) Read a book with something metal on the cover.
5.) Read a book that features a bird (bird shifter accepted).

Are you finding my monster updates helpful or are there tweaks to it that would help more?

I've got a book that I'm 50% through that works for the remaining Empusa tasks, then we'll see what new monster attacks.

If anyone has a book over 800 pages or between 500-650 on their pile of upcoming reads please shout.