2021 TBR Cleanup Challenge

[Midiain]

9/20

1. take a gamble - Caliban's War
gambling that a single, small ship can save the galaxy

2. red or black - His Majesty's Dragon
red and black cover

3. behind the 8 ball - The Warded Man
the characters are in a massively disadvantaged position

4. charade - The Windup Girl
character pretends to be something he is not

5. agreeable alliteration - Misfit Mage

6. jackpot - Fuzzy Nation
the character (Jack haha) finds a treasure

7. pawns - Orconomics
the characters are forced into a possibly suicidal job

8. 8 or 21 - Gods of Jade and Shadow
#8 on my tbr list

9. dealer's choice - Promise of Blood

10. x marks the spot - Annihilation
Area X

11. murrderrrr - Six Wakes
clones investigating their own murders

12. back from the dead - The Book of Phoenix
main character has the ability to resurrect herself

13. features a game or puzzle - The Torch that Ignites the Stars
lit rpg where the characters have to solve puzzles in a tower/dungeon

14. I have no head for strategy - The Poppy War
character learns military strategy in a school for warriors

15. features best friends - Birthplace

16. queen of hearts - Queen of the Conquered

17. role-play - The Mere Wife
the wives are forced to play the roles expected of them by their society

18. amazing race - Leviathan
main character is on the run

19. taboo - The Bear and the Nightingale
religious step-mother forbids the pagan rituals that appease the spirits

20. critical hit - Ancillary Justice
it was a hit with the critics

[Tanu]

Do all picks for this have to be SFF? :)

[Anna]

Tanvi wrote: "Do all picks for this have to be SFF? :)"

No, anything from your TBR!

[Gabi]

Here is mine. I will update in my personal challenge thread, cause I'll find it more easily there.

The most fascinating thing with these tbr cleaning challenges is always the amount of books I find on my TBR shelf where I haven't got the slightest clue why I ever put them on there.

2021 TBR

1. Take a gamble - Dalí
Sounds like one of the multitude of books I tend ot get bored with or dnf, still I put it on my tbr, I guess cause I thought it had something to do with the painter.

2. Red or black - Salute the Dark
Cover has red and black on it, that's good enough for me

3. Behind the eight ball - The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions
I guess when it comes to disadvantage regarding time not much can beat a Dodo

4. Charade - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Feels like the heroine could take on a lot of false personas to get through this book. Not sure if this is correct. I will probably exchange after reading if it didn't fit.

5. Agreeable alliteration

6. Jackpot

7. Pawns - The Prophets
Same as with #4. Could work with the prompt, but I will only know when I've read it.

8. An 8 or 21 - Once There Were Wolves
Expected publication: 8/21

9. Dealer's choice
Here I hope that one of my TBR books will show up in one of the mod polls. I would go for this then to fit the prompt.

10. X marks the spot

11. Murrderrrrr - Venomous: How Earth's Deadliest Creatures Mastered Biochemistry
Sounds like murdering conditions to me.

12. Back from the dead - Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures
Fungi nowadays instantly make me think of Discovery and who knows me a bit knows that the mycellium network brought my most beloved fictional character back to life. So Fungi always works for this prompt :D

13. Features a game or puzzle - An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
Blurb says there is a mystery puzzle to solve in the story.

14. I have no head for strategy

15. Features best friends - The Memory Theater
Blurb says it's about best friends - tada!

16. Queen of hearts - The Age of Innocence
Seems some lovey dovey going on there

17. Role-play - Shakespeare for Squirrels
Perfect, isn't it?

18. Amazing race - The Salt Path
I'm stretching this one a bit, it's more a journey for life than a race for life, but I guess it comes down to the same in the end.

19. Taboo - One Day All This Will Be Yours: Signed Limited Edition
Not sure if it works, but it sounds as if some timetravel taboo will be broken here (if not I'll exchange after reading)

20. Critical hit - The Fall of Koli
The third part of my best series discovery in 2020 - definitely a critical hit with me.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

haha Gabi 17 IS in fact just perfect XD

[Anna]

Gabi, I can't wait for Memory Theater! I'm going to nom it so hard for everything, now that people have rejected Amatka, again!

[Gabi]

Anna wrote: "Gabi, I can't wait for Memory Theater! I'm going to nom it so hard for everything, now that people have rejected Amatka, again!"

If this happens, I will swap it to #9 :D

[Mareike]

@Gabi: Your number 3 sounds fascinating!

@Anna: I just looked at your list and it made me realize that Catfishing on CatNet, which I bought when it was a group read but then didn't get to, should also match nr. 17. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Anna]

Yes, CatNet fits #17 very well! Also #4 and #15 :) And #5, and probably all the prompts :D

[Mareike]

Ha! I'll keep that in mind when I'm reading.

[DivaDiane]

I’m definitely including CatNet on this list somewhere. I bought it in September well after it was a group read because of all the positive things I’d heard about it. Plus I really enjoyed Kritzer’s story “So Much Cooking”.

[Petar]

Caillen, The Court Guesser wrote: "0/20

1. take a gamble - Caliban's War
gambling that a single, small ship can save the galaxy

2. red or black - His Majesty's Dragon
red and black cover

3. behind the..."

Nice list Caillen. That's a good year ahead.

[Midiain]

Thanks, Petar. I'm excited that I was able to pull all of them from my tbr list so I have at least the illusion of making it smaller this year.

[Raucous]

Gabi wrote: "... 17. Role-play - Shakespeare for Squirrels
Perfect, isn't it?.. "

That is perfect. It's also a book that I already have. I may have to steal this idea from you. Thanks.

I'm keeping a list of alternative reads for these prompts - taken from my existing TBR and from lists that others have posted here. I'm not sure what to make of "Back from the Dead" and "Role Play" having by far the most entries.

[Dj]

Allison wrote: "iiii just now realized it should be "i have no gift for strategy."

am the worst princess bride fan!"

No worries it gets the message across.

[Dj]

1. Take a Gamble
Dune: The Butlerian Jihad
This is a personal gamble since for the most part the only book in the series I liked was the first book.

2. Red or Black
Inkheart
The version I have the cover is mostly red.

3. Behind the Eight Ball
Fahrenheit 451
The basis of this book would put everyone in the group behind the eight ball

4. Charade
Snow White and the Seven Samurai
Seems a tad fanciful

5. Agreeable Alliteration
The Washington War

6. Jackpot
The Prince
Someone would believe that this book was the key to power

7. Pawns
The Island of Dr. Moreau
People being experimented on...

8. An 8 or 21
The City and the Stars
Number 21 on my to-read list

9. Dealer's Choice
Tales before Tolkein
An Anthology, pretty much chosen by the dealer

10. X marks the spot
The Familiars: Secrets of the Crown
Have to find something to save the Kingdom

11. Murrderrrrr
Libromancer
A new breed of Vampires running around killing Librarians with special powers, with Gutenberg possibly involved

12. Back from the dead
Woken Furies
The Last Altered Carbon book. With the way the Memory Stacks work, lots of people keep coming back from the dead.

13. Features a game or puzzle
Spellbreaker
Who is she really working for

14. I have no gift for strategy
Nuking the Moon
Seems obvious to me, but...

15. Features best friends
Babylon's Ashes
Another book in the Expanse series and those people are friends

16. Queen of Hearts
The Women that Changed the World
Some queens some not but all could have been

17. Role-Play
Minimum Wage Magic
The cover makes it look like one of the old Shadow Run books

18. Amazing Race
Twenty Million Tons Under the Sea
One man's race to capture a U-boat by boarding action. The story of the U-505 now housed in the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, a tour I took when I was in Jr. High.

19. Taboo
The Mythology and History of Witchcraft
Again seems obvious to me...

20. Critical Hit
Tuesdays at the Castle
A Castle that changes it's own floorplan every Tuesday and a change of rulers?

All Set and ready to go.

[Dj]

Dj wrote: "1. Take a Gamble
Dune: The Butlerian Jihad
This is a personal gamble since for the most part the only book in the series I liked was the first book.

2. Red or Black
Inkheart
The version I have ..."

Sorry.
Queen of Hearts is actually:
The Women that Changed the Course of History

[Tanu]

1. Take a gamble
2. Red or black The Blacksmith Queen or Seven Blades in Black
3. Behind the eight ball
4. Charade
5. Agreeable alliteration
6. Jackpot
7. Pawns
8. An 8 or 21
9. Dealer's choice
10. X marks the spot Ninefox Gambit or When Fox is a Thousand
11. Murrderrrrr Malice
12. Back from the dead Cemetery Boys
13. Features a game or puzzle
14. I have no gift for strategy
15. Features best friends
16. Queen of hearts
17. Role-play
18. Amazing race
19. Taboo
20. Critical hit

[Anna]

Foxes are great for X! :)

[Dj]

Anna wrote: "Foxes are great for X! :)"

They are indeed, although with the way it was worded for mine I was thinking more of the treasure map thing. And to be honest I had already used the Ninefox Gambit. LOL.

[Anna]

Oh totally, me too, but any interpretation is allowed, especially if it results in reading Ninefox!

X marks the spot where the fox is hidden :)

[Dj]

Anna wrote: "Oh totally, me too, but any interpretation is allowed, especially if it results in reading Ninefox!

X marks the spot where the fox is hidden :)"

I didn't have to do any interpretation at all. It is for the Pokemon, catch them all...ooops, for the club library read them all challenge. Tried not to mix those up too much.

[Anna]

lol, that can be difficult, since the group books run around and they're pretty hard to catch :D

[Dj]

Anna wrote: "lol, that can be difficult, since the group books run around and they're pretty hard to catch :D"

True that. It can be dizzying with all the colors weaving in and out as well.

[Melanie, the neutral party]

my planned list of books/ like last year, I am focussing on books I already own:
1. Take a gamble- Their Eyes Were Watching God (Life’s Library book club pick, not my choice)
2. Red or black- Redshirts
3. Behind the eight ball- The Others (client goes missing, antagonist ahead of mc?)
4. Charade- A Study in Brimstone, Shakespeare for Squirrels (characters pretending to be something they are not)
5. Agreeable alliteration- Rosemary and Rue
6. Jackpot- Trustee from the Toolroom (mc discovers … something)
7. Pawns- Gettysburg
8. An 8 or 21- The Three Musketeers (21 book on audio owned list)
9. Dealer's choice- When Fox is a Thousand (Amazin’ Eights first card dealt)
10. X marks the spot- X-Files - Cold Cases 2
11. Murrderrrrr- Frankenstein in Baghdad (murder spree in city)
12. Back from the dead- Sandman Slim (mc returns from hell, literally)
13. Features a game or puzzle- Ascend Online (lit RPG)
14. I have no gift for strategy- Agent to the Stars (characters need to hire PR)
15. Features best friends- Fate of the Fallen
16. Queen of hearts- Pride and Prejudice, Kushiel's Dart (romance)
17. Role-play- AlterWorld
18. Amazing race- Dreamsnake, Year One (high stakes road trips)
19. Taboo- Differently Morphous (hush, hush secret brought out into open)
20. Critical hit- David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants (David fells Goliath with just 1 hit)

[Angie]

I wasn't going to do this after my miserable failure in 2020, but I caved.

1. Take a gamble: Thieftaker
2. Red or black: His Majesty's Dragon
3. Behind the eight ball: Artemis
4. Charade: The Stolen Child
5. Agreeable alliteration: Spinning Silver
6. Jackpot: A Master of Djinn
7. Pawns: Pawn of Prophecy
8. An 8 or 21: Unfallen Dead
9. Dealer's choice: The Neverending Story
10. X marks the spot: The Tombs of Atuan
11. Murrderrrrr: Death on the Nile
12. Back from the dead: Guilty Pleasures
13. Features a game or puzzle: A Night in the Lonesome October
14. I have no gift for strategy: Small Favor
15. Features best friends: The Children of Húrin
16. Queen of hearts: A Wrinkle in Time
17. Role-play: Station Eleven
18. Amazing race: The Long Walk
19. Taboo: A Discovery of Witches
20. Critical hit: The Way of Kings

Explanations: (view spoiler)[
1. This has mixed reviews, so I'm taking a gamble that it's going to be good.
2. Red and black cover
3. According to the blurb, the protagonist is facing major debt
4. The book is about changelings.
5. Very pleasing alliteration
6. I've loved his previous books set in this world, so this should be a jackpot.
7. I'm guessing that someone is a pawn. Of prophecy.
8. I went to my Fantasy shelf and picked the eighth unread book.
9. I just wanna.
10. Ged is looking for a treasure.
11. It's Christie. Someone will be killed off.
12. The protagonist is a necromancer.
13. The plot revolves around Players in The Game (which I'm assuming involves world domination or some such shenanigans).
14. Harry's strategy is usually something along the lines of, "I'll put myself in the middle of this situation, outgunned and armed with a shaky plan and hope I don't die."
15. Turin and Beleg
16. This is technically a reread, but since I'm planning to read it in 2021... This book is one of the ones I credit with jumpstarting my love of fantasy. Thus, L'Engle is a queen of my reading heart.
17. Troupe of actors and musicians (actors = role-play)
18. Centers around a race to the death
19. Taboo relationship between a vampire and a witch
20. A best seller that won awards (hide spoiler)]

[Raucous]

Angie wrote: "... 13. Features a game or puzzle: A Night in the Lonesome October..."

I love this choice! I totally overlooked it when I was making up my list.

I don't think that any progress on reading goals can be judged very critically compared to 2020 the year.

[Saar The Book owl]

Let's see if I'm able to do all of them.

1. Take a gamble
2. Red or black
3. Behind the eight ball
4. Charade
5. Agreeable alliteration
6. Jackpot
7. Pawns
8. An 8 or 21
9. Dealer's choice
10. X marks the spot
11. Murrderrrrr
12. Back from the dead Blameless 07/23/21: vampires and werewolves, dead and then revived.
13. Features a game or puzzle
14. I have no gift for strategy
15. Features best friends Seraphina: Seraphina partner's up with Prince Lucian Kiggs.
16. Queen of hearts
17. Role-play Ready Player Two: story takes playes in Oasis.
18. Amazing race
19. Taboo
20. Critical hit

[Stephen]

I’ll give this a try. I guess the trick is to fit your books to the cryptic categories.

1. Take a gamble
Gateway- Premise seems to involve characters taking huge gambles ✔️

2. Red or black
Nova - My copy has a red cover. I read it once, long ago, but I’ve been meaning to reread it. ✔️

3. Behind the eight ball
The Ministry for the Future - Our common situation.✔️

4. Charade

The Glamour - Apparently deals with appearance and reality.✔️

5. Agreeable alliteration

Moving Mars✔️

6. Jackpot

The Book of Skulls - apparently involves a quest for immortality. The jackpot perhaps.✔️

7. Pawns

The Scar - online discussion suggests some characters are manipulated by others✔️

8. An 8 or 21

Pump Six and Other Stories - published 2008✔️

9. Dealer's choice

Dead Astronauts - A book I want to read that didn’t seem to fit any other category. I guess I’m the dealer.✔️

10. X marks the spot

Free Live Free - apparently involves some sort of “treasure hunt”✔️

11. Murrderrrrr

Complicity - non-genre work by a great sf writer, apparently involving a serial killer✔️

12. Back from the dead

Creatures of Light and Darkness✔️

13. Features a game or puzzle

The Book of Dreams Plot involves a magazine contest✔️

14. I have no gift for strategy

Terms of Enlistment. Grunt’s eye view military sf, I believe✔️

15. Features best friends

Master and Commander - I have no excuse for this nongenre choice. I want to start an Aubrey/Maturin reread.✔️

16. Queen of hearts

Beren and Lúthien - love story✔️

17. Role-play

Double Star Another I haven’t reread in decades✔️

18. Amazing race

Gulliver's Travels Lilliputians etc.✔️

19. Taboo

(No way I’m going to read this)To Sail Beyond the Sunset - apparently includes some kind of incestuous relationship

(Replacement book) The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner✔️

20. Critical hit

Words Are My Matter: Writings About Life and Books, 2000–2016, with A Journal of a Writer's Week - well received collection of critical writing and other nonfiction✔️

[Emmett]

Lots of interesting books people have chosen so far!

Did I read this discussion at lunch and then wait all day until work was over so I could spend way too much time fitting books into a list? I'll never tell.

1. Take a gamble- The Auctioneer
2. Red or black- The Boat to Redemption ✔
3. Behind the eight ball- We Are the Dead
4. Charade- The White People and Other Weird Stories ✔
5. Agreeable alliteration- The Stone Sky ✔
6. Jackpot- Yes, Daddy ✔
7. Pawns- Magic's Pawn ✔
8. An 8 or 21- The Mad Apprentice ✔
9. Dealer's choice- The Chandelier
10. X marks the spot- Những Giấc Mơ Ở Hiệu Sách Morisaki ✔
11. Murrderrrrr- The Plotters ✔
12. Back from the dead- A Head Full of Ghosts ✔
13. Features a game or puzzle- Vòng Đu Quay Đêm
14. I have no gift for strategy- Outer Dark ✔
15. Features best friends- I Hear Your Voice
16. Queen of hearts- Malice ✔
17. Role-play- Nekropolis ✔
18. Amazing race- Martha Peake: A Novel of the Revolution ✔
19. Taboo- The Wasp Factory ✔
20. Critical hit- Strike Your Heart ✔

Tally: 11/20 (May 10), 15/20 (Aug 7)

(view spoiler)[
1. betting at an auction= gamble
2. just look at that gorgeous black-red cover
3. certainly seem at a disadvantage
4. turns out this is not actually about white people! A charade, I tell you!
5. 'nuff said
6. "Yes Daddy!" as alternative to calling out jackpot? 🤔
7. fine, I will finally read you
8. believe this is his 8th full length novel published
9. the champion- Clarice Lispector
10. this one has the place where the story takes place in the title- Hieu sach Morisaki= Morisaki book store
11. begins with assassination attempt
12. ghosts, you say?
13. "night ferris wheel", gotta have a few carnival games, right?
14. so you got pregnant by your brother and now you are wandering around in the forest being stalked? poor planning, I'd say.
15. story of 2 orphan best friends in Seoul
16. queer retelling of sleeping beauty... who will have whose heart?
17. what's really going on here? are you REALLY a robot?
18. running away from the UK to the US
19. disturbing tale of a child psychopath
20. right in the heart, from my #1 fav author


(hide spoiler)]

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Nice, Stephen! Yes, we're providing inspiration, you're providing creativity and grit :D Great list, good luck!

ETA: No excuses needed for non-genre books! We do recognize that there are other books in the library, no judgment here for wanting to branch out!

LOL Emmett, I had just said to myself "no, Allison, we really need to get this work done; we can fill our our choices later" and then I saw your post XD

Really good mix there!

[Anna]

Nekropolis! I really liked it, still think about it often.

[DivaDiane]

I finally filled in my book choices. I tried to use books I've got slotted in for other challenges, but there are several that are not. I'm sure I'll be swapping some out, but these prompts are hard. What with trying to choose books that fit when I don't really know what they are about? Mostly, I stole the idea from someone else (thanks!) Well, we'll see.

See the list here:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Saar The Book owl]

Can you use books that you've started in December, but finished in 2021?

[Anna]

Saar, yes! :)

[Dj]

Now that I have actually started the challenge I find that I may have jumped without looking in at least one case.

The Mythology and History of Witchcraft: 25 Books of Sorcery, Demonology & Supernatural: The Wonders of the Invisible World, Salem Witchcraft, Lives of the Necromancers, Modern Magic, Witch Stories…


This book is listed as 5705 pages long. Well, at least I have all year to finish it. LOL

[Anna]

lol, that's hilarious! Good luck! :P

[Petar]

Dj wrote: "Now that I have actually started the challenge I find that I may have jumped without looking in at least one case.

[book:The Mythology and History of Witchcraft: 25 Books of Sorcery, Demonology &..."

I have a new nomination for number 3 - Behind the eight ball - DJ's TBR challenge. :-)

[Maryam]

I'd like to read my TBR list added back in 2013, will match them to categories later :)

Dust of Eden
Pilgrimage to Earth
7. Pawns
The Stars My Destination - Done

More Than Human
The Spinoza Problem
Sun of Suns

[A.N.]

This is my first attempt at throwing myself into this community, and I can't wait to get started!

1. Take a gamble—American Gods (Neil Gaiman)
Shadow (the protagonist) takes a gamble on a stranger offering him a job after he gets out of prison.

2. Red or black—The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
A lot of this novel is surrounded in red as a symbol.

3. Behind the eight ball—To Be or Not To Be (Ryan North)
When I think of an eight ball, I think of asking it questions. If asking a skull questions in the same manner doesn't work, I don't know what would lol.

4. Charade—If We Were Villains (M.L. Rio)
All of the characters play a part in the play of life. They're all acting like it's a game of charades in how they hide a crime committed by someone in their group and convince themselves they're innocent.

5. Agreeable alliteration—A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)
What more needs to be said?

6. Jackpot—The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde)
When I got this book for my birthday nearly a year ago, I thought it was a jackpot because I was so excited to read it. Sadly, it got pushed aside when I was working on college reading.

7. Pawns—Horrorstor (Grady Hendrix)
The protagonists are just workers at an Ikea. They're just pawns for management and use the events of this novel to get ahead and solve the mystery.

8. An 8 or 21—The Princess Saves Herself in this One (Amanda Lovelace)
This one's a long shot. It was published in 2016, and 16 is divisible by 8. I may end up changing this one further into the challenge, though.

9. Dealer's choice—Sweet Water (Cara Reinard)
I'm currently working on this read but it didn't fit into any of the other categories.

10. X marks the spot—Simon vs. the Homo Sapien Agenda (Becky Albertalli)
Simon spends most of the novel searching for Blue, reminding me of the end of a treasure hunt when Simon does find Blue.

11. Murrderrrrr—Helter Skelter (Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry)
This is a nonfiction about the Manson Murders. Pretty self explanatory lol.

12. Back from the dead—The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
The protagonist is a ghost observing her family and trying to solve her own murder.

13. Features a game or puzzle—The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern)
The two protagonists are competing to be the best magician, their bosses making it all a game even if it's at the risk of their deaths.

14. I have no gift for strategy—Thorn Jack (Katherine Harbour)
The protagonist's love interest's personality just screams this phrase.

15. Features best friends—Artistotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Benjamin Alire Saenz)
These two start out as strangers, become best friends, and then begin dating by the end of the novel.

16. Queen of hearts—Mirror, Mirror (Jen Calonita)
This is a twisted fairytale about the evil queen from snow white. I figured she would try to take Snow White's heart at some point like in the real story.

17. Role-play—Carry On (Rainbow Rowell)
This is a beautiful DND/Harry Potter novel. I chose it for this category because it checks off so many boxes of characters and events I'd love to see in my own DND campaigns.

18. Amazing race—Good Omens (Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett)
It's a race to stop the Apocolypse with the protagonists being an angel and a demon. What more amazing is that?

19. Taboo—The Fascinators (Andrew Eliopulos)
In a small town where magic is practically taboo, three friends practicing magic try to graduate and get out while discovering more about themselves.

20. Critical hit—Wayward Son (Rainbow Rowell)
This is novel is like rolling a 20 from a D20. It makes me so happy that Carry On wasn't the end but only the beginning of the protagonists' life together.

[Montzalee]

I'm new to the group but I'm in!
I will try for all 20.

1. Take a gamble-Last Wish by M.D. Thomas
If it was my very last wish, that would be a gamble!

2. Red or black-On the Matter of the Red Hand by G.M. Guillen.
Red is in the title.

3. Behind the eight ball-Dungeon Robotics (Book 1): Establish by Matthew Peed.
Someone has to be behind the robotics.

4. Charade-Tidecaller: A LitRPG Crafting Adventure by Scout Cross.
A role playing book.

5. Agreeable alliteration-Doctor Dead: A Percy & Quincey Adventure by Tyler Tork.
That's as close as I could get with my list.

6. Jackpot-Tyrannosaurus Knights by K.T. Tomb.
Having your own t-rex knights would be a jackpot!

7. Pawns-The Curious Case of the Hounds of Hell by Peter Cawdron.
Hounds of hell are just pawns the poor pups!

8. An 8 or 21-Soul Sanctuary by Susan Faw.
I didn't have any books that I hadn't already read that had 8 or 21 so I took my 21st book on my list.

🏁 9. Dealer's choice-The Biker Ghost Meets His Match by Jo-Ann Carson.
It's a Ghost gambling book.

🏁 10. X marks the spot- Latitudes & Cattitudes by Jeanne Foguth.
Well, this is as close to numbers as I had that marked a spot!

11. Murrderrrrr- Mojitos & Murder: A Tropical Witch Mystery by Sara Bourgeois.
A murder mystery.

12. Back from the dead-Haunt the Haunt, Walk the Walk by Rose Pressey.
Ghost ghost.

13. Features a game or puzzle-The Holy Grail by Christopher Cartwright.
An adventure book in search for the Holy Grail.

14. I have no gift for strategy-Strange Luck by A.I. Winters.
Luck would have to work if there was no skill!

15. Features best friends-Ghosts Of Pinkerton: Vampire And The Frenchman by Andy DeJong.
An odd friendship.

🏁 16. Queen of hearts-Queen Of The Two Lands: A Forgotten Gods Origin Story by Laura Greenwood.
Fantasy with romance.

17. Role-play-Body Jumping by Brenda Lowder.
A demon jumping bodies, role playing for sure!

18. Amazing race-Chasing Graves by Ben Galley.
Not your typical race...

19. Taboo-Devil's Due by Percival Constantine.
Giving to the devil is not the norm.

20. Critical hit-Extinction Island by Janice Boekhoff.
I took this literally, an extinction event.

[Anna]

Montzalee wrote: "Latitudes & Cattitudes"

This made my day! :D

[Montzalee]

Anna wrote: "Montzalee wrote: "Latitudes & Cattitudes"

This made my day! :D"
Wasn't sure if it would fly😁

[Dj]

Petar wrote: "Dj wrote: "Now that I have actually started the challenge I find that I may have jumped without looking in at least one case.

[book:The Mythology and History of Witchcraft: 25 Books of Sorcery, D..."

The whole thing? I don't think it is that bad. LOL. Just the one.

[Dj]

A. wrote: "This is my first attempt at throwing myself into this community, and I can't wait to get started!

1. Take a gamble—American Gods (Neil Gaiman)
Shadow (the protagonist) takes a gamble on a stranger..."

Some nice choices

[~ Giulia ~]

I'm in! And since I completely failed the 2020 challenge, I'm going to finish that one too.

7/26 ✔

1. Take a gamble
➜2. Red or black -
3. Behind the eight ball - Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City
Seems a pretty disadvantageous situation
✔4. Charade - The Lies of Locke Lamora
5. Agreeable alliteration - The Crimson Campaign
I predict I'll change it for something shorter
6. Jackpot
7. Pawns - Return of the Thief
Everyone, us readers included, are pawns in Gen's hands
8. An 8 or 21 - No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished
Published in August
✔9. Dealer's choice - The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Yay! Free spot!
10. X marks the spot - The Hanging Tree
Unless my eyes are tricking me there's actually an X on the map on the cover!
✔11. Murrderrrrr - Murder on Pleasant Avenue
12. Back from the dead - The Fear Institute
The MC is a necromancer, someone is bound to come back from the dead at some point
13. Features a game or puzzle - The Riddle-Master of Hed
Puzzles, riddles
14. I have no gift for strategy - Raven Stratagem
I only need to finally find the time to reread Ninefox
15. Features best friends - LIFEL1K3
"With her best friend and her robotic sidekick in tow[...]"
✔16. Queen of hearts - Emma
The MC loves playing matchmaker
17. Role-play - Furland®
The MC plays a nazi lieutenant in a country-wide theme park
18. Amazing race - Fiore di roccia
Civilian women climbing mountains to bring supplies to the army during WWI
19. Taboo - Qualityland
Rejecting what the algorithm buys for you seems a big taboo in this world
✔20. Critical hit - Waking Gods
Getting hit by those giant mechas must hurt

Carry-over from 2020:
(view spoiler)[
✔5. Recommended by a public figure - Conrad's Fate
It has one of those small blurbs/endorsements on the cover by Neil Gaiman
6. Steal from someone else - Foundryside
MC is a thief
9. #ownvoices - Descendant of the Crane
It's tagged own-voices on the first page of tags
10. Won a smaller or regional award - The Help
✔14. Seven or Twenty - Skyward
The 7th book on my TBR list
15. Dialect, slang, or pidgin languages - White Night
More a catchphrase, but... Hell's bells, Harry! You sure like to repeat it.
(hide spoiler)]

[Maggie]

I have way to many books in my TBR not to try.....
to be filled in after I let it percolate in my brain!

1. Take a gamble The Blinding Knife
2. Red or black the red cover for Have Space Suit—Will Travel
3. Behind the eight ball Up the Walls of the World
4. Charade When Fox is a Thousand Because foxes like to take over and pretend to be other people
5. Agreeable alliteration Bag of Bones
6. Jackpot Redemption in Indigo Although it might be disputed, being the carrier of a chaos stick can certainly work out ot be a jackpot for the right person
7. Pawns The Kingdom of Copper
8. An 8 or 21 Bound #8 in the Alex Verus series
9. Dealer's choice A Spark of White Fire
10. X marks the spot
11. Murrderrrrr The Naked Sun --a murder mystery on a planet full of robots who are "incapable" of hurting humans.....
12. Back from the dead The Grass Dancer
13. Features a game or puzzle Children of Ruin Because the Octopi think that exploring ship systems is a great puzzle
14. I have no gift for strategy Patternmaster
15. Features best friends The Song of Achilles
16. Queen of hearts Battle Ground there are quite a few queens and princesses in this world!
17. Role-play Raven Stratagem
18. Amazing race World of Trouble
19. Taboo The Zenith
20. Critical hit--Houston, Houston, Do You Read?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I think this year I'm going to try this the other way 'round,. I'm going to try to read off my TBR and then fit it in to my list

1. Take a gamble
2. Red or black
3. Behind the eight ball
4. Charade
5. Agreeable alliteration
6. Jackpot
7. Pawns - The Queen's Gambit
8. An 8 or 21
9. Dealer's choice
10. X marks the spot
11. Murrderrrrr
12. Back from the dead
13. Features a game or puzzle
14. I have no gift for strategy
15. Features best friends - The Way of Thorn and Thunder
16. Queen of hearts
17. Role-play
18. Amazing race
19. Taboo - Everfair
20. Critical hit - Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care about Has Borderline Personality Disorder

reasons:

(view spoiler)[

7. This is a book about chess, with lots of rookpawn things happening.

15. Two characters become so close they call each other siblings

19. Queer love, polygamy, interracial marriage, large age gaps...lots of things considered taboo!

20. There's a lot of criticism for this book that's also used a lot in counseling.

(hide spoiler)]

[Jemppu]

Allison wrote: "I think this year I'm going to try this the other way 'round,. I'm going to try to read off my TBR and then fit it in to my list."

Exactly how I've liked to approach it, too. Though, then, at the end of the year I found I had read enough to not care as much for if or how the stuff fit the prompts <:D

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Haha! Hey, if you're reading off the TBR and keeping it manageable, you don't likely need this challenge at all! I like fitting things to the prompts, but when about half of my reading is for group and the libraries by us are still closed, it's sort of a gamble what I'll be able to find.