Urban Fantasy discussion
BOOK READING CHALLENGES
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Challenge # 11: October 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012
I'm in :) I'll swing back and fill in my books in a bit.Basic Categories
1. Any Urban Fantasy Title:
2. An Urban Fantasy Title with a single character on the cover:
3. Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title (not strictly UF) :
4. Any book that was released in 2012.
This time, I’ve tried to keep the optional categories relatively simple.
Optional Categories: ~ any genre
Cover Hunt: Using October’s, November’s, and December’s birthstones as a guide (opal or pink tourmaline, topaz, and tanzanite or turquoise) , read a book with a predominately white, pink, yellow, or blue cover, or any combination of the four colors.
October 24 is United Nations Day: Read a book set in a country other than the one in which you live (fictional worlds count, too!)
November 21 is World Hello Day: Say hello to a new author or a new series
December 21 is the Solstice: Depending on your hemisphere this is either the shortest or longest day of the year. So for this one, you get to read two books:
a. Read a book with 200 or fewer pages
b. Read a book with 400 or more pages
Out With the Old: Read that book you’ve been putting off all year –OR- the book that will finally make you current in a favorite series (in other words: the most recent release in an ongoing series, or the final book in a series that has ended)
Jacquie wrote: "Ok I am going to try this time since I couldn't finish the last time I joined - new job and all.Any Urban Fantasy Title -
Don't Kill the Messenger by Eileen Rendahl
Urban Fantasy Title w/Single ..."
Congrats on the new job! Hope it's going well.
Ashley wrote: "Completed 1/10I just read the novella Legion, and loved it! The first line is a pretty good teaser for the whole story, "My name is Stephen Leeds, and I am perfectly sane. My hallucinations, ho..."
That's the kind of first line that makes me buy books....
Jacquie wrote: "Ok I am going to try this time since I couldn't finish the last time I joined - new job and all."I hope the new job is going well. Congratulations.
I'm in! Here's my list (subject to change):COMPLETED 4/10
1. Any Urban Fantasy Title: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews (COMPLETED 10/14)
2. An Urban Fantasy Title with a single character on the cover: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (COMPLETED 10/21)
3. Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title (not strictly UF) : Sorcery and Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede
4. Any book that was released in 2012: Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
5. Cover Hunt: Unclean Spirits. M.L.N. Hanover (Choosing the version with the blue cover!) (COMPLETED 10/29)
6. United Nations Day: Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier
7. World Hello Day: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (COMPLETED 10/17)
8. Solstice < 200: The Dreaming Place by Charles de Lint (to reread)
9. Solstice > 400: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
10. Out With the Old: The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope
READ:
TO READ:
Ashley wrote: "Completed 1/10I just read the novella Legion, and loved it! The first line is a pretty good teaser for the whole story, "My name is Stephen Leeds, and I am perfectly sane. My hallucinations, ho..."
I read
too, and it was quite good. (But I love anything that Brandon Sanderson writes.) I heard that there may be a TV show based on it too. *crosses fingers*
Jenika wrote: "I'm in! Here's my list (subject to change):1. Any Urban Fantasy Title: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
2. An Urban Fantasy Title with a single character on the cover: Halfway to the Grave by Jeanien..."
Ooh, Jenika! You have some good ones on your list. I loved
, and the Kate Daniels series is one of my favorites.
can be a bit tough to get into, but each book gets better and better.
Thanks Jean :) This is the first reading challenge I’ve done, so am looking forward to it. Good to hear you enjoyed the Kate Daniels series – I’ve been meaning to start it for a while. Happy reading everyone – some great lists so far!
Jenika - There are some die-hard Kate Daniels fans around here, so hopefully you'll enjoy it. This is a good challenge to start with - not too long (i.e. not a year-long challenge) with enough time to finish the books. Good luck!
Completed 2/10Just finished The Rook, and I am batting a thousand so far with opening lines!
"Dear You,
The body you are wearing used to be mine."
This book was such a page turner - I couldn't put it down. I keep describing it (to anyone who will listen, because I'm now Daniel O'Malley's biggest fan) as what you'd get if James Bond and Jason Bourne had a baby, and it was an X-Man.
A really fun read!
Updated list:
1. Any Urban Fantasy Title: A Kiss Before the Apocalypse
2. An Urban Fantasy Title with a single character on the cover: The Dirty Streets of Heaven
3. Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title (not strictly UF): Guilty Pleasures
4. Any book that was released in 2012: Nocturnal
5. Cover Hunt: The Necromancer
6. United Nations Day: Dead Men's Boots
7. World Hello Day: The Lies of Locke Lamora
9. Solstice > 400: The Rook
10. Out With the Old: UnWholly
Jean wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Completed 1/10I just read the novella Legion, and loved it! The first line is a pretty good teaser for the whole story, "My name is Stephen Leeds, and I am perfectly sane. My hal..."
A TV show would either become my new favorite thing, or be really terrible. Let's hope it's more Sherlock and less Dresden Files!
Ashley wrote: "Completed 2/10Just finished The Rook, and I am batting a thousand so far with opening lines!
"Dear You,
The body you are wearing used to be mine."
Ashley, You're killing me these opening line!
Jenika wrote: "Thanks Jean :) This is the first reading challenge I’ve done, so am looking forward to it. Good to hear you enjoyed the Kate Daniels series – I’ve been meaning to start it for a while. Happy readin..."Yeah! Kate Daniels!
Greetings, here is my list of my books. 1/10 1. Any UF Title: Angels’ Blood – Nalini Singh
2. UF Title (Single Character): Slave to Sensation – Nalini Singh
3. Any Fantasy or PR Title: Lover Enshrined – J.R. Ward: Completed 10/8/12
4. Released Book in 2012: The Book of Souls – James Oswald
5. Cover Hunt: How to Marry A Millionaire Vampire – Kerrelyn Sparks
6. United Nations: Shadow Claim – Kresley Cole
7. World Hello Day: Moon Called – Patricia Briggs
8. Solstice (200 pages or less): Father Mine – J.R. Ward
9. Solstice (400 pages or more): Lover Avenged – J.R. Ward
10. Out with the Old: Pleasure Unbound – Larissa Ione
Ashley wrote: "A TV show would either become my new favorite thing, or be really terrible. Let's hope it's more Sherlock and less Dresden Files! "Yep, it could easily fail, but hopefully it would be a good one. It reminded me a bit of Leverage, but his team is in his head.
6 of 10 CompletedI'm flying through these. Of course it helped that I held back on library books to read them when I picked up my last batch.
Omigosh, Darcy!!! You're going to finish this month most likely!
I probably will, I have a bunch of vacation days coming up this month, so that will give me more free time.
1/10 completed with
. I definitely recommend reading the novellas (starting with
) before this book. It was enjoyable, but I wasn't too thrilled with the love triangle. (Not a fan of those.) I'll still check out the next book, but I thought this one focused more on romance than the kickass action.
Darcy wrote: "I probably will, I have a bunch of vacation days coming up this month, so that will give me more free time."Those are the best vacations: lots of time for reading. : ) Enjoy!
Nakeesha wrote: "2/10 CompletedDONE 1. Any Urban Fantasy Title: Fire: Graceling Realm #2
"Fire" was good, especially if you're a feminist or womanist. This book was chock full of women's issues addressed in a setting that was dystopian of another fantasy world. Three stars.
1/10 COMPLETED1. Any UF Title: Demon Song by Cat Adams...COMPLETED 10/5
2. UF Title (Single Character): Drink Deep by Chloe Neill...IN PROGRESS
3. Any Fantasy or PR Title: Midnight Enchantment by Anya Bast
4. Released Book in 2012: Shaded Vision by Yasmine Galenorn
5. Cover Hunt: Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead
6. United Nations: Darkness Devours by Keri Arthur
7. World Hello Day: To Walk the Night by E.S. Moore
8. Solstice (200 pages or less): Hansel and Gretel are Dead by Kevin Richey
9. Solstice (400 pages or more): Lothaire by Kresley Cole
10. Out With the Old: Vampires Dead Ahead by Cheyenne McCray
Challenge # 11: October 1, 2012 to December 31, 20122/10
1. Any Urban Fantasy Title:
2. An Urban Fantasy Title with a single character on the cover:
3. Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title (not strictly UF) :
4. Any book that was released in 2012.
Optional Categories: ~ any genre
Cover Hunt:
October 24 is United Nations Day: Ward Against Death (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #1) by Melanie Card (Oct 2nd)
November 21 is World Hello Day: Claimed (Brides of the Kindred #1) by Evangeline Anderson (Oct 6th)
December 21 is the Solstice:
a. Read a book with 200 or fewer pages
b. Read a book with 400 or more pages
Out With the Old:
2/10 completed with
. I loved this book. It was so fun! No paranormal elements. It's about girls who go to a spy school. Lots of humor. I read it super fast and need to hunt down
.
Carrie wrote: "Challenge # 11: October 1, 2012 to December 31, 20122/10
1. Any Urban Fantasy Title:
2. An Urban Fantasy Title with a single character on the cover:
3. Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title..."
What did you think of
? I have this one in my TBR pile. Sounds good...
I liked
, I didn't love it. But I did however really liked Ward, it was a nice change reading about a more awkward, shyer, dorky male. So many, if not most books we are given the alpha male, or the darker male. I don't know if you are familiar with Stargate SG-1, well if you are I kept on picturing Daniel Jackson as him.
Nakeesha wrote: "3/10 CompletedJust finished "A Kiss at Midnight" by Eloisa James. I gave it three stars. It took awhile to get started but it finished with a bang!
Christine wrote: "Butterflycager wrote: "Okay, here's my list:1. Any UF title: Crave by J.R. Ward
2. UF title with single character on cover: Changes by Jim Butcher
..."It looks like..."
Good to see I'm not alone in catching up with Harry before Cold Days
Urban Fantasy - Reading Challenge #111st October to 31st December
0/4
1) Any Urban Fantasy Title - Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead
2) An Urban Fantasy Title with a single character on the cover - Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake - Currently Reading
3) Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title (not strictly UF) - Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione
4) Any book that was released in 2012 - Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
My progress so far:1. Any UF title: Crave by J.R. Ward
2. UF title with single character on cover:
3. Fantasy/PNR title: Under a Vampire Moon by Lynsay Sands
4. 2012 release: God Save the Queen by Kate Locke
5. Cover hunt Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon
6. Set in country besides U.S. -
7. New author/series:
8. Solstice
A. 200 or fewer pages
B. 400 or more pages
9. Out with the old Cold Days by Jim Butcher
Butterflycager wrote: "My progress so ..."An ugly sweater book? Too funny!
Carrie wrote: "I liked , I didn't love it. But I did however really liked Ward, it was a nice change reading about a more awkward, shyer, dorky male. So many, if not most bo..."Yes, I quite enjoyed Daniel Jackson. (I liked Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, but I never got around to watching Stargate Universe. It sounded quite different and maybe not my cup of tea.) I look forward to reading about Ward then. I bought
, because it sounded good but then got sucked in by other books and forgot about it. Thanks for the update!
Christine wrote: "Butterflycager wrote: "My progress so ..."An ugly sweater book? Too funny!"
I'm intrigued by the ugly sweaters too!
Nakeesha wrote: "Nakeesha wrote: "2/10 CompletedDONE 1. Any Urban Fantasy Title: Fire: Graceling Realm #2
"Fire" was good, especially if you're a feminist or womanist. This book was chock full of women's issue..."
I love Kristin Cashore. I really enjoy that her heroines are kick ass and not in need of rescuing - refreshing in YA!
0/10Basic Categories:
1. Any Urban Fantasy Title:
2. An Urban Fantasy Title with a single character on the cover:
3. Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title (not strictly UF) :
4. Any book that was released in 2012.
This time, I’ve tried to keep the optional categories relatively simple.
Optional Categories: ~ any genre
Cover Hunt: Using October’s, November’s, and December’s birthstones as a guide (opal or pink tourmaline, topaz, and tanzanite or turquoise) , read a book with a predominately white, pink, yellow, or blue cover, or any combination of the four colors.
October 24 is United Nations Day: Read a book set in a country other than the one in which you live (fictional worlds count, too!)
November 21 is World Hello Day: Say hello to a new author or a new series
December 21 is the Solstice: Depending on your hemisphere this is either the shortest or longest day of the year. So for this one, you get to read two books:
a. Read a book with 200 or fewer pages
b. Read a book with 400 or more pages
Out With the Old: Read that book you’ve been putting off all year –OR- the book that will finally make you current in a favorite series (in other words: the most recent release in an ongoing series, or the final book in a series that has ended)
5 Down!Any Urban Fantasy Title:
by Jim Butcher ***** Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title (not strictly UF):
by Katie Reus * Cover Hunt: any combination of the four colors:
by Molly Harper****New Series: Jane Jameson Series:
book #1**** Read a book with 200 or fewer pages :
34 pages****
Mod
Any Urban Fantasy Title:
by Jim Butcher ***** Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title (not strictly UF):
by Katie Reu..."I've wanted to read that Stephen King/Stuart O'Nan bookk for a while. King is amazing, of course, but Stuart O'Nan is also terrific. His other books are among my favorites.
1/10One down. I need to detour into Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter for a minute, thank you library, but then I'll be right back on track.
1. Any Urban Fantasy Title: Monster Hunter International
2. An Urban Fantasy Title with a single character on the cover: Cold Days (I know, it doesn't come out until 11/27, but that still gives me a few weeks to read it)
3.
4. Any book that was released in 2012: Magnificent Devices
5. Cover Hunt: My Life As a White Trash Zombie
6. United Nations Day: The Midnight Mayor
7. World Hello Day: Soon I Will Be Invincible
8. Solstice < 200: Devil in the Dollhouse
9. Solstice > 400: The Mark of Athena
10. Out With the Old: Goth Girl Rising
Read
Ashley wrote: "Completed 2/10Just finished The Rook, and I am batting a thousand so far with opening lines!
"Dear You,
The body you are wearing used to be mine."
This book was such a page turner - I couldn'..."
This has been on my list for a while. Might need to move it up now.
Challenge # 11: October 1, 2012 to December 31, 20123/10
1. Any Urban Fantasy Title: The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko (Oct 10th)
2. An Urban Fantasy Title with a single character on the cover:
3. Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title (not strictly UF) :
4. Any book that was released in 2012.
Optional Categories: ~ any genre
Cover Hunt:
October 24 is United Nations Day: Ward Against Death (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #1) by Melanie Card (Oct 2nd)
November 21 is World Hello Day: Claimed (Brides of the Kindred #1) by Evangeline Anderson (Oct 6th)
December 21 is the Solstice:
a. Read a book with 200 or fewer pages
b. Read a book with 400 or more pages
Out With the Old:
Completed 3/10Just finished Dead Men's Boots, and I honestly liked it a lot more than I thought I would based on the first few chapters. This one had a bit of a rough start for me, but I found myself totally sucked in to the ending. 4 stars!
1. Any Urban Fantasy Title: A Kiss Before the Apocalypse
2. An Urban Fantasy Title with a single character on the cover: The Dirty Streets of Heaven
3. Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title (not strictly UF): Guilty Pleasures
4. Any book that was released in 2012: Nocturnal
5. Cover Hunt: The Necromancer
7. World Hello Day: The Lies of Locke Lamora
9. Solstice > 400: The Rook
10. Out With the Old: UnWholly
Ashley wrote: "Completed 3/10Just finished Dead Men's Boots, and I honestly liked it a lot more than I thought I would based on the first few chapters. This one had a bit of a rough start for me, but I found m..."
Mike Carey has been on my TBR shelf for ages! Have you read the first two books in the series?
Christine wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Completed 3/10I have, and I really like them. The first took me a bit to get into - it's very British, and I didn't always get the references and idioms. Once I got into the flow of the story, however, it really grabbed me. It's a much darker take on some of the same themes and gimmicks that Butcher covers with Dresden. I guess I'd call it Dresden Noir?
The second book is more accessible than the first, and is a great detective story. I definitely liked the third book best in terms of plot resolution, however. I didn't see the end coming at all.
This sounds like fun! 0/10, but I've got ideas for nearly all of the categories... will codify them this weekend.
Ashley wrote: "Christine wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Completed 3/10I have, and I really like them. The first took me a bit to get into - it's very British, and I didn't always get the references and idioms. Once I..."
Dresden Noir? I like it! Interesting you mentioning the third being the best so far. I was just having a conversation in another group about how the third book in a series often ends up being the best or a personal favorite.
Fred wrote: "This sounds like fun! 0/10, but I've got ideas for nearly all of the categories... will codify them this weekend."Welcome to the challenge, Fred. Have fun!
Christine wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Christine wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Completed 3/10I have, and I really like them. The first took me a bit to get into - it's very British, and I didn't always get the references and ..."
I can agree with that. The third book seems to have given the author time to get all the character dev/exposition out of the way and spend more time writing a really interesting story.
Completed 4/10I exercised my right to change books, because The Dirty Streets of Heaven has about 352905797235 holds before me at my library. . .and I'm really glad I did! I picked up Shadow and Bone on a whim, and loved it. It's YA in the tradition of Graceling and the Hunger Games - a complex female heroine with a major obstacle to overcome. It's set in a fantasy world modeled on Russia. Some denizens of this world are "Grisha," and have powers (called the Small Science) that fall into one of three categories: the ability to summon an element, the ability to heal or harm, or the ability to fabricate. Really good - I gave it five stars.
Updated list:
1. Any Urban Fantasy Title: A Kiss Before the Apocalypse
3. Any Fantasy OR Paranormal Romance Title (not strictly UF): Guilty Pleasures
4. Any book that was released in 2012: Nocturnal
5. Cover Hunt: The Necromancer
7. World Hello Day: The Lies of Locke Lamora
9. Solstice > 400: The Rook
10. Out With the Old: UnWholly
Urban Fantasy
Books mentioned in this topic
Exposure (other topics)Froi of the Exiles (other topics)
Hounded (other topics)
Rogue Rider (other topics)
Born of Fire (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jennifer Estep (other topics)Lynsay Sands (other topics)
Gail Carriger (other topics)
Yasmine Galenorn (other topics)
Ilona Andrews (other topics)
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2. UF with a single character on the cover: Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire
3. Fantasy or PNR: Undecided
4. Released in 2012: The Last Full Measure: Death in Battle Through the Ages
Optional Categories:
5. Cover Hunt: Kartography by Kamilla Shamsie
6. United Nations Day: Arrows in Flight: Short Stories from a New Ireland by Caroline Walsh
7.
World Hello Day: The Devotion of Suspect Xby Keigo HigashimoFinished Oct. 2!8. a. Read a book with 200 or fewer pages: The Best American Essays 2009, ed. Mary Oliver
9/b. Read a book with 400 or more pages: Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly
10. Out With the Old: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez