Awesome-Sauce Raiders Showing 1,301-1,350 of 4,677

[Diana Stormblessed]

Chris wrote: "Virginie wrote: "Age of Myth
Michael J. Sullivan
432 pages
Buddy Read + Challenge (Cover)
7.6 points

Sullivan's writing skills improved a lot compared to the Riyria Revelations! I'm really eager t..."

I just finished this book and have never read anything else by the author. Think it's a great book to start on.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Veronica wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "I really loved morning star. It had awesome momentum. I have yet to retry iron gold. I just wasn't in the mood for it I think."

I'm reading that one right now. I thought the de..."

Oddly, I kind of wanted it to either focus on Darrow 100% or take place a couple of generations into the future without him. I feel like I need to wrap my brain around that before I try it again.

[Chris]

Virginie wrote: "You can totally start here. You don't have to have any knowledge from his other series.
I'd advise to start with Age of Myth actually... Sullivan improved a great deal, the pace is much better comp..."

Awesome, I'm really looking forward to it. I'll add it to my mountainous TBR pile lol.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

I finished a whole bunch of things:

His Majesty's Dragon
Naomi Novik
353 Pages
4.5/5 stars. I'm very disappointed I hadn't read this before now.

Nyxia Unleashed
Scott Reintgen
400 Pages
4/5 stars. An awesome continuation!

Haunted
Kelley Armstrong
495 Pages
2.5/5 stars. Not gonna lie, wasn't thrilled with this one.

Despite the one bust, it seems like April has been a great month of reading. I somehow managed to find a system that takes away some of the reading pressure, so it has been 100% a joy again. :)

[Diana Stormblessed]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "I finished a whole bunch of things:

His Majesty's Dragon
Naomi Novik
353 Pages
4.5/5 stars. I'm very disappointed I hadn't read this before now.

Nyxia Unleashed
Scot..."

Good job!

I think I need to reread His Majesty's Dragon. Everyone but me loved it. Maybe it was the boring narrator? I might have to give it another shot but in kindle form instead of audiobook.

I too didn't love Haunted. I gave it 2 stars :-/

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "I finished a whole bunch of things:

His Majesty's Dragon
Naomi Novik
353 Pages
4.5/5 stars. I'm very disappointed I hadn't read this before now.

[book:Nyxia Unle..."

Thanks :)

It definitely had really, really slow pacing. I eat up anything that has to do with the relationship between man and dragon, so I loved all the little moments. However, I think the overall description for the series and general hype did set my expectations for a lot more action. The lack of worked for me, but I don't know that another format would make a difference. Maybe though - how far did you get?

Oh good! I thought I was just being ornery. :P

[Miche]

Great job, Niki!

P.S.: which system are you using?

[Diana Stormblessed]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "I finished a whole bunch of things:

His Majesty's Dragon
Naomi Novik
353 Pages
4.5/5 stars. I'm very disappointed I hadn't read this bef..."

I just read the first book and gave up. I found myself zoning out a lot. It couldn't hold my interest

[Virginie]

Woohoo, way to go Captain!

Miche wrote: "P.S.: which system are you using?"

I'm curious as well :p

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "I finished a whole bunch of things:

His Majesty's Dragon
Naomi Novik
353 Pages
4.5/5 stars. I'm very disappointed I ..."

I'll let you know if the second book is on par or better. I'm hopeful. :)

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Miche wrote: "Great job, Niki!

P.S.: which system are you using?"

Thanks!

It's kind of a hodgepodge of systems.

Part 1 - Establishing High-Priorities: I create a Tackling the TBR post every month on my blog that forces me to par down what I want to read into a list of top priorities only. I do my best to stick to that list. I've been doing this for a couple years and it REALLY helps me stay focused. I was in a bad habit of grabbing low-priority books to read just because they were checked in at the library, or trying to continue series I wasn't enjoying just because I felt I should. This system alone has made a difference.

Part 2 - Utilizing FIFO for Reading: I had a hard time determining which books from my TBR Tackler Shelf to read next. I kind of liked the rigidity of having a pre-determined order to read things in (some people like more flexibility), but I kept having to go out of order because I get most of my books from the digital library and they'd become available really sporadically. It made planning impossible. So, earlier in the month, I decided to let the availability of the top-priority books set my reading list order (a concept that really should've occurred to me earlier. Oh well). So I put a hold on the next in series for all the Incomplete series titles on my list, and I'm reading them in the order they come in. I'm finding I no longer have any trouble with titles expiring before I get to them and if I do face a time crunch, I just return an upcoming one early and put another hold on it. Then when I finish a book, I reserve the next one.

Part 3 - Prioritizing Owned Books vs ARCs. I only have enough time in my day to physically read a book for about 15 min. I can't get through more than a couple a month like this, so I switched my focus from ARCs to my Overflowing bookshelf challenge so I can finally read some of the titles I've been hanging onto for years. It's really, really difficult not requesting ARCs (the new Empire of Ashes by Ryan became available and it physically hurt not requesting it, but I know it will be available on audio on release day and that format will take me 1/10 the time to get through), but I'm finding the low pressure of non-ARC books without deadlines a refreshing change from what I've been doing the last 5 years.

Part 4 - Buddy Read Reduction: I cut back on buddy reads to just the high priority stuff so start dates don't stress me out as much and I can be more engaged in the ones I do have going.

That's all.

Are you sorry you asked? lol

[Miche]

Great system, Niki!

I reduced buddy reads too. I noticed I read faster alone, in most of the cases. I am too moody of a reader to keep a tight schedule. However, long books I do well with BR. For example: Malazan, Stormlight Archives, etc.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Thanks :)

I've never thought too much about it until now, but I don't think I'm a mood reader at all. Granted I almost never do the same genre back to back. I don't think I've ever had a reading slump either.

I agree about longer books for buddy reads. Especially since with the short ones people get through them in a day or two and discussion is so hard.

[Virginie]

Wow, that's a great system! I think I'm going to steal that 'Tackling the TBR' thing and integrate it in my BR tracker. Putting the covers instead of the titles will make me look forward to it like it's Christmas :p

I'm trying to reduce buddy reads as well. I'm aiming at three a month maximum (and failing, I have 5 for May :p).

[Miche]

Virginie, I know the feeling, lol.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Haha yeah my "minimal" approach has me doing 6 ;P

Seeing the covers definitely helps. :)

[Miche]

Title: Burn for Me
Author: Ilona Andrews
Pages: 400
Buddy Read: Yes
Challenge: Yes (Bingo)
Total points: 7.0

Title: The Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages: 375
Buddy Read: Yes
Challenge: Yes (A-Z)
Total points: 6.7

[Miche]

Title: The Sea of Monsters
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages: 279
Buddy Read: No
Challenge: Yes (ISC)
Total points: 3.5

Title: The Titan's Curse
Author: Rick RiordanRick Riordan
Pages: 320
Buddy Read: No
Challenge: Yes (A-Z)
Total points: 4.0

[Virginie]

Miche, are you trying to close the point gap all on your own? ;)
I take it you're enjoying Percy Jackson? I've never read anything by Rick Riordan.

[Virginie]

Golden Son
Pierce Brown
430 pages
Buddy Read + Challenge (Cover)
7.6 points

I lasted 10 minutes before diving into Morning Star. TEN BLOODYDAMN MINUTES!

[Petrik]

Great job, Miche! woohoo so many books xD

[Petrik]

Title: The Waking Fire
Author: Anthony Ryan
Pages: 592
Buddy Read: No
Challenge: Yes
Total points: 7.4

Last book of April! April pages total = 5985. Points = 58.7. 12 books!

[Virginie]

Great job Petrik! How is The Waking Fire? I didn't like Blood Song as much as everyone seemed to... I'm wondering if I should try Ryan's new series.

[Virginie]

My tally for April: 7 books + 4 Bookburners episodes (50 pages each) + 15 mangas, 57.7 points for 3563 pages.

(@Petrik: One point difference... ;) )

[Petrik]

Virginie wrote: "My tally for April: 7 books + 4 Bookburners episodes (50 pages each) + 15 mangas, 57.7 points for 3563 pages.

(@Petrik: One point difference... ;) )"

Whoaaaa :D

[Petrik]

Virginie wrote: "Great job Petrik! How is The Waking Fire? I didn't like Blood Song as much as everyone seemed to... I'm wondering if I should try Ryan's new series."

Completely a different book in comparison to Blood Song. I super loved Blood Song and I thought Waking Fire was decent, nothing amazing. Who knows, maybe you'll love it! :D

[Virginie]

Petrik wrote: "Completely a different book in comparison to Blood Song. I super loved Blood Song and I thought Waking Fire was decent, nothing amazing. Who knows, maybe you'll love it! :D "

Mmmh, guess we'll see :p
Library availability made it so I read Blood Song right after Red Sister. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more otherwise.

[Miche]

Virginie wrote: "Miche, are you trying to close the point gap all on your own? ;)
I take it you're enjoying Percy Jackson? I've never read anything by Rick Riordan."

lol, these were all easy read, just what I needed it. :)

I love Greek Mythology so I am really enjoying Percy Jackson's series. :)

[Miche]

Virginie wrote: "Golden Son
Pierce Brown
430 pages
Buddy Read + Challenge (Cover)
7.6 points

I lasted 10 minutes before diving into Morning Star. TEN BLOODYDAMN MINUTES!"

hahaha, I don't blame you! I liked the third book as much as the second.

I was going to start Iron Gold this past weekend, but I decided to finish Percy Jackson first.

[Miche]

Virginie wrote: "My tally for April: 7 books + 4 Bookburners episodes (50 pages each) + 15 mangas, 57.7 points for 3563 pages.

(@Petrik: One point difference... ;) )"

Amazing job, Virginie!

[Miche]

Petrik wrote: "Great job, Miche! woohoo so many books xD"

Thank you, Petrik! :)

[Miche]

Petrik wrote: "Title: The Waking Fire
Author: Anthony Ryan
Pages: 592
Buddy Read: No
Challenge: Yes
Total points: 7.4

Last book of April! April pages total = 5985. Points = 58.7. 12 books!"

Amazing job, Petrik!

[Virginie]

Thanks, Miche :)

[Diana Stormblessed]

Good job guys!

I'm finishing up Best Served Cold today and then I'll add my April write up. For the first time in months I'll finish all of the books for the month within that month. Feels nice to start May of fresh and not scrambling to catch up.

[Miche]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Good job guys!

I'm finishing up Best Served Cold today and then I'll add my April write up. For the first time in months I'll finish all of the books for the month within that month. Feels nice to..."

That feels amazing, doesn't it? I did it in March and April but I doubt I will make it in May. I am overbooked and some are very long books.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

After talking up my system, I'm all the sudden stressed because I have 6 buddy reads in May. 6!! Considering I only read 10 books a month, that's lofty. All good books though. But still, maybe half the fun I was having in April was due to a light schedule lol.

[Miche]

I have 6 too, Niki. The same will happen in July. 😮

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

At least they're all ones I'm really looking forward to and was planning on reading anyway.

[Virginie]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Good job guys!

I'm finishing up Best Served Cold today and then I'll add my April write up. For the first time in months I'll finish all of the books for the month within that month. Feels nice to..."

Oooh, I don't think that ever happened to me :p

[Diana Stormblessed]

Virginie wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Good job guys!

I'm finishing up Best Served Cold today and then I'll add my April write up. For the first time in months I'll finish all of the books for the month withi..."

I might have spoken too soon. Don't think I'm finishing Best Served Cold today. Been swamped at work so have to keep pausing to focus. If not today tomorrow for sure. Still not too bad.

[Miche]

Title: The Battle of the Labyrinth
Author: Rick Riordan
Pages: 361
Buddy Read: No
Challenge: Yes (Incomplete Series)
Total Points: 4.6

[Miche]

April tally: 10 books, 4186 pages, 56.4 65 points.

It was a productive reading month for me. :)

[Lena]

That’s great Miche!!!

[Petrik]

Miche wrote: "April tally: 10 books, 4186 pages, 56.4 points.

It was a productive reading month for me. :)"

Great job, Miche! Damn, I read almost 2000 pages more than you and my point is lower by almost half xD

[Miche]

@Petrik, the buddy reads bonus makes a big difference. I don't even to that many, but most of the larger
books I read this year were on buddy reads.

Look at this month numbers. Virginie does a lot of buddy reads (go, girl!). I read 600 pages more than her and she still came ahead of me in points this month(great job, Virginie!).

Virginie let me know I checked the wrong numbers. It seems I was ahead of her. Ops! No more Goodreads posting at 2am.

[Kris]

For April: 8 books, 3351 pages, 49.1 points.

Only two buddy reads, but Fires of Heaven helped. :) Still slightly miffed I did not get on that well with Golden Son... Don't think I will be continuing that series for now.

[Miche]

Great job, Lola!

[Petrik]

Yeah.. the BR point is really a massive boost. But yeah.. you know where I stand on this xD

[Miche]

Petrik wrote: "Yeah.. the BR point is really a massive boost. But yeah.. you know where I stand on this xD"

I do! I read faster without buddy reads, so I don't plan on increasing my buddy reads. I will probably decrease the number after July (already overbooked for May and July).

[Virginie]

Nice job, Lola!
Too bad you didn't enjoy Golden Son but hey! To each is own!