Challenge Planning Thread

[Tien]

I thought this link may help: Dark Magic -it's just what GR users have shelved/tagged as dark magic but may give you ideas.

[Tien]

Chiara wrote: "Hi Liz, Pantera Press would definitely be considered small press :) I hope you like If I Tell You!"

YES! I just saw this and am currently reading Graevale :D

ps: I LOVED If I Tell You! I hope you like it, Liz! AND it will also fit prompt 4: #LoveOzYA small town ;)

[Marie]

Liz wrote: "A quick question, would Take Three Girls suit the Supportive Friends prompt? I haven't read it yet, reading the blurb on the back makes me think not?"

I've just finished it and that's one of the main themes so absolutely (it's also fantastic).

[rachel, x]

I know the mods are saying the prompts are mostly open to interpretation but I just looked up the definition for mystical beings and it said "mystical beings are mythological creatures that are part human or resemble humans through appearance or character" if that helps!

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd)]

Candace wrote: "Does anybody have any recommendations for mystical beings? I was thinking Of Poseidon by Anna Banks or Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, but I'm not sure whether they're mystical or not"

rachel wrote: "I know the mods are saying the prompts are mostly open to interpretation but I just looked up the definition for mystical beings and it said "mystical beings are mythological creatures that are par..."

That's a great interpretation! Personally it makes me think of fae, merpeople, witches, wizards, sprites, faeries, sirens. Let your imagination run wild.

[Gothie]

Would this fit the prompt for Small Press/Self Published?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Chiara]

Hi Gotherella!
Pretty much any big that isn't published by the big five (Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster) fits the small press and self published prompt :)

[Rebecca]

I'm thinking either Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty or Girls Made of Snow and Glass for the dark magic prompt. Hopefully one of them counts or it's back to the drawing board.

[Chiara]

GMOSAG would definitely fit the prompt, Rebecca! And it's a fantastic book as well :D

[Angie]

My plans for January catch up (only just joined the challenge)
#1. Shadowshaper
#2. Finding Nevo
#3. Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel
#4. In the Dark Spaces

And February
#1. Godsgrave
#2. Sister Heart
#3. Queens of Geek
#4. Remind Me How This Ends

[Tash]

Angie wrote: "My plans for January catch up (only just joined the challenge)
#1. Shadowshaper
#2. Finding Nevo
#3. Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel
#4. [book:In t..."
Hey Angie, Whilst Godsgrave is an amazing book, it's not actually YA despite people shelving it as .

[Rebecca]

Chiara wrote: "GMOSAG would definitely fit the prompt, Rebecca! And it's a fantastic book as well :D"

Awesome, thanks for letting me know! Yes, I've heard fantastic things and know you loved it from your review :)

[Chiara]

@ Rebecca: I hope you like it, too!

[Chiara]

February:
#1 dark magic: The Rat And The Raven ✔
#2 small press/self published: May Day Mine (this can also be used for small town if anyone is keen on reading it!) ✔
#3 protagonist with anxiety: The Secret Science of Magic
#4 LoveOzYA - small town: Night Swimming ✔

[Angie]

Tash wrote: "Angie wrote: "My plans for January catch up (only just joined the challenge)
#1. Shadowshaper
#2. Finding Nevo
#3. Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel
..."

Huh! I did not know that. Would Steadfast fit the dark magic prompt instead?

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd)]

Angie wrote: "Tash wrote: "Angie wrote: "My plans for January catch up (only just joined the challenge)
#1. Shadowshaper
#2. Finding Nevo
#3. [book:Vampire Academy: The Graphic No..."

That looks like a great choice Angie!

[Grace]

My February Challenge:
- Dark Magic - Dorothy Must Die
- Self-Pub/Small Press - Graevale
- Protagonist w/ anxiety - Finding Audrey
- LoveOzYA “Small Towns” - Remind Me How This Ends

[Marie]

My April Challenge:-
- Bi-racial protagonist - Tithe, Holly Black
- Animal companion - this is hard, unless I choose dragons. Will do some more research.
- Dragons (ha) - the second Talon book.
- OZYA first love - Tidy Towns, Kate O'Donnell or Beautiful Mess

May prompts
1: Retelling:
2: Artificial Intelligence: OBSIDIO
3: Mysterious Monsters:
4: #LoveOzYA / #LoveNZYA book: Songs that Sound Like Blood, Jared Thomas
ideas here! https://www.readings.com.au/collectio...

[Bernadette]

Marie wrote: "I’m planning ahead and I am stuck at Twinning. I’ve already read I’ll Give You The Son. Any other suggestions?"

Have you read The Upside of Unrequited?

[Rebecca]

My February Challenge:

Dark Magic: Girls Made of Snow and Glass
Small press: Charm & Strange (hope that's a small enough press. It's not one of rate big 5)
Protag with anxiety: The Upside of Unrequited
LoveOzYA: Small town Pieces of Sky✔

[Rebecca]

Marie wrote: "I’m planning ahead and I am stuck at Twinning. I’ve already read I’ll Give You The Son. Any other suggestions?"

I'm planning on This Side of Home :)

[Clare]

Marie wrote: "I’m planning ahead and I am stuck at Twinning. I’ve already read I’ll Give You The Son. Any other suggestions?"

Are You Seeing Me? has twins.

[Chiara]

Hi Candace, yes Legend does fit the biracial protagonist prompt! :)

[Angie]

My March picks:
1. The Dark Days Club (demons are mystical beings, right?)
2. Obsidio
3. The Upside of Unrequited
4. Does My Head Look Big in This?

[rachel, x]

@Marie: I'd recommend Mind Games for the twinning prompt :))

[Clare]

@Marie & @Rachel
I don't think they're twins. I haven't read Mind Games, but I thought it looked interesting and had a look at some of the reviews. A couple of readers say one sister is older.

Breathing Under Water by Sophie Hardcastle has twins

[Marie]

Ah I’ve read Breathing Underwater but thanks for the other tips!

[Chiara]

March
Mystical beings: Inkmistress ✓
Last in a series: Outside In ✓
Twinning: Breathing Under Water
LoveOzYA - Muslim protagonist: Living on Hope Street ✓

[Marie]

Have you read The Upside of Unrequited?"
No, but it's on my list, so I think I'll pick this one :)

[Tash]

Rebecca wrote: "My February Challenge:

Dark Magic: Girls Made of Snow and Glass
Small press: Charm & Strange (hope that's a small enough press. It's not one of rate big 5)
Protag w..."

Rebecca when you get around to reporting . Charm and Strange doesn't count unfortunately. Both US/UK publishers are considered big

[Tash]

Angie wrote: "My March picks:
1. The Dark Days Club (demons are mystical beings, right?)
2. Obsidio
3. The Upside of Unrequited
4. [book:Does My Head Look Big in T..."

Angie it does count

[Grace]

My March Plan:
#1: Mystical beings: Magonia
#2: Last in a series: Obsidio
#3: Twinning: I'll Give You the Sun
#4: #LoveOzYA / LoveNZYA book, A Muslim protagonist: Does My Head Look Big in This?

[Clare]

Are there monsters in The Night Circus? Now I'm not sure its YA. Is it?

[Chiara]

Hi Clare, unfortunately The Night Circus is not YA so not eligible for this challenge! Good luck in picking another title :D

[Rebecca]

Tash wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "My February Challenge:

Dark Magic: Girls Made of Snow and Glass
Small press: Charm & Strange (hope that's a small enough press. It's not one of rate..."

No worries! I found another title that will fit instead and I'll save C&S for another prompt.

[Tash]

I'm really late to March
but I'm planning to knock them out in the next few days
#1: Mystical beings
#2: Last in a series
#3: Ice Wolves
#4: The Lebs

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd)]

Thanks to Chiara and Tash for their hours of work combing through lists to compile a list of recommended reads for the April Prompts.

Recommendations that include biracial representation include:
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
If Birds Fly Back
Song of the Current
The Astonishing Colour of After
The Girl from Everywhere
Wing Jones
Radio Silence
Between Us #LoveOzYA
No Limits #LoveOzYA
Everything Leads to You
Our Own Private Universe
Ida #LoveOzYA
Shadowshaper.

Books including an animal companion include:
Life of Pi
The Knife of Never Letting Go – Extended Sampler
Night Swimming #LoveOzYA
Throne of Glass
The Unexpected Everything
Draekora #LoveOzYA
Tempests and Slaughter
The Tiger's Watch
Fire & Flood
Of Fire and Stars
The Raven Boys
Rain Fall #LoveNZYA.

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd)]

Books for the Dragons, Dragons everywhere prompt include:
Inkmistress
The Alchemists of Loom
Talon
Draekora #LoveOzYA
Eragon
Seraphina
Scorched
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
The Sweetest Dark.
Check out the Goodreads Listopia list HERE

#LoveOZYA / #LoveNZYA book: First Love include:
The Secret Science of Magic
Life in Outer Space
Queens of Geek
Girl Saves Boy
The Wrong Girl
The Flywheel
Beautiful Mess
Cloudwish
White Night
Every Breath
Words in Deep Blue
You're the Kind of Girl I Write Songs About.

[Rebecca]

Planned reads for April:
1. Bi-racial protagonist - Everything, Everything ✓
2. Animal companion - The Unexpected Everything or The Knife of Never Letting Go
3. Dragons - The Ice Dragon
4. OZYA first love - If I Tell You✓

[Chiara]

April
Biracial protagonist: When Light Left Us ✓
Animal companion: Sleight ✓
Dragons, dragons everywhere: Beyond Your Boundaries
#LoveOzYA first love: LIFEL1K3 ✓

[Clare]

Thanks for the lists everyone!
I was all excited to read Rain Fall. That cover! Horses! Half way through it reads like a paen to economic rationalism co-written by Tony Abbott. If only I wasn't one of those greenies Annie hates.
Good thing I bought Stripes of the Sidestep Wolf recently.
If anyone wants dog companion books I have a list https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... because I'm obsessed with dogs. not all are YA

[Marie]

Thanks for all the lists!

[Clare]

Loving the Dragons prompt this month. Already onto my 2nd dragon tale - I know that doesn't count. It's been too long since I last read a dragon book! Thanks Mods. I just discovered

"Dragons aren't good at metaphor."

Learning so much from Seraphina 😂

[Gothie]

So planning way ahead again, but I'm stuck on the prompt for faith/spiritual.

I'd like to avoid overly preachy and Catholic/Christian based books so i can enjoy it.
I'd love something based around alternative religions/faiths like Satanism.
Any suggestions?

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd)]

Gotherella wrote: "So planning way ahead again, but I'm stuck on the prompt for faith/spiritual.

I'd like to avoid overly preachy and Catholic/Christian based books so i can enjoy it.
I'd love something based around..."

You could also look beyond religion for that prompt and be more creative too. For example, a book with a cult type community and spiritual leader or you could look at books with Pagan characters. Even Greek Gods could be worked in there. I'll have a search and see if I can find a few options for you.

[Clare]

Strange the Dreamer has religion/faith in the form of actual gods and angels who do some things that the folks on the ground (view spoiler)[don't appreciate (hide spoiler)]. It is AMAZING - those dreams.

Because I've read Strange, I'm tossing up between Hexenhaus - witches or Grave Mercy - assassin nuns(!?)

[Liz]

Hi Clare, I've read Hexenhaus and loved it, thought it was brilliant.
Liz

Clare wrote: "Strange the Dreamer has religion/faith in the form of actual gods and angels who do some things that the folks on the ground [spoilers removed]. It is AMAZING - those dreams.

Becau..."

[Liz]

Hi All, have been busy with other things so am falling behind with my challenge reading. But I am still planning, here is what I have so far. Thanks for the lists, they are really helpful. As you can see I have a few question marks, so any suggestions on these topics are welcome! I have some thinking time...

January prompts
#1: First in a series - How to Hang a Witch ✓
#2: Non-binary, Genderfluid or Genderqueer point of view protagonist* - Ida by Alison Evans ✓
#3: Supportive friends -Take three girls ✓
#4: LoveOzYA / LoveNZYA book: Among the stars - In the Dark Spaces by Cally Black ✓

February Prompts
#1: Dark magic - Palace of Fires/Red Queen/
#2: Self published / Small press - If I tell You
#3: Point of view protagonist with anxiety* - Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
#4: #LoveOzYA / LoveNZYA book: Small town - The Centre of My Everything ✓

March prompts
#1: Mystical beings - ?
#2: Last in a series Obsidio ✓
#3: Twinning - One/I’ll Give You The Sun
#4: #LoveOzYA / LoveNZYA book: A Muslim protagonist - Living on Hope Street

April prompts
#1: Biracial protagonist* - Between Us?
#2: Animal Companion - Changing Gear ✓
#3: Dragons, Dragons everywhere - Dragon rider
#4: #LoveOZYA / #LoveNZYA book: First Love - The Learning Curves of Vanessa Partridge ✓

May prompts
#1: Retelling - I am Sasha by Anita Selzer
#2: Artificial Intelligence - Invictus
#3: Mysterious Monsters ?
#4: #LoveOzYA / #LoveNZYA book: Aboriginal / Indigenous Australian or Māori author. - The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina

June prompts
#1: A book adapted for film or television ?
#2: Heroes and villains Found by Fleur Ferris ✓
#3: Faith or spirituality ?
#4: LoveOzYA/NZ book: Bisexual protagonist ?

July prompts
#1: A book by two or more authors
#2: A character you identify with
#3: Visually / Hearing impaired protagonist
#4: #LoveOzYA / #LoveNZYA book: Gay or lesbian protagonist

August prompts
#1: Fighting injustice
#2: Sibling rivalry
#3: Jewish protagonist
#4: #LoveOzYA / #LoveNZYA book: Thrills and chills. Check out a few of Chiara's TBR recommendations here!

[Clare]

Liz wrote: "#4: #LoveOzYA / LoveNZYA book: A Muslim protagonist - Living on Hope Street..."

I'm currently reading Living on Hope Street. I found it through someone else's challenge books. Thanks reader who I've now forgot :-) Loving it and crying buckets

[Clare]

Liz wrote: "Hi Clare, I've read Hexenhaus and loved it, thought it was brilliant.
Liz..."

I'm thinking of reading both my choices - can't stop myself!?