SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R21: Team #12 ~ 12 Dalgona Candies

Happy Reading!
Shelf Announcements ~ Check for the latest shelf announcement & review the requirements for each shelf
Captain's Log ~ Share team shelf stats prior to requesting a stamp
Stamp Me! ~ Request a stamp for your bingo card
Discussions ~ Throughout the game, head here to chat with other players & shelf chant til your heart's content
Bingo Rules ~ Rules of the game
Free Space Rules ~ Where to look when pickin' your free space book
Bingo FAQ ~ Don't hesitate! If you have a question, let us know.

Your job, should you choose to accept it, will require a few things:
1 ~ Be our go-to person should we have any questions about your team
2 ~ Organize your teammate's weekly reads for each shelf/category so that the BSB Ninjas can quickly and easily verify and approve your stamp request(s)
2a ~ Create a master list in a post (preferably on the first page of your team's thread) and update it weekly or as often as necessary
2b ~ Post your team's stats on the Captain's Log prior to requesting a stamp
3 ~ Encourage and motivate your team (you may also ask to borrow Judithe's whip whenever necessary)
4 ~ Post regularly to ensure your team is communicating and on track each week
4a ~ Send them a PM and friendly poke if they haven't posted at least once a week, noted their book choice, and/or appear to have dropped out of webspace
5 ~ Send us a PM (Steph, Sandra or Judithe) should you need us for any reason throughout the game

So glad to have Bingo to look forward to.
No ideas about name...and Twelve Monkeys is soooo 1995...or 2015 if you liked the TV series.
Somehow Player 212 (Han Mi-nyeo from Squid Game, willing to say or do anything to survive) is maybe too ambiguous or obscure a reference.
12 Dalgona Candies?

Sooo happy to indulge in Bingo again...and names are the hardest part...
What are Dalgona candies? Off to google it...

Free Space STAMP RECEIVED
Tatenisha Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton 2 Stars Read 2/10/2022 REVIEW
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ Archangel's Light by Nalini Singh 4 Stars Read 2/5/2022 REVIEW
Judithe [book:Lionheart by Thea Harrison 4 Stars Read 2/9/2022 REVIEW
Week 1: Shelf: Sci-Fi Romance STAMP RECEIVED
Tatenisha Heart of a Warrior by Johanna Lindsey 3 Stars Read 2/9/2022 REVIEW
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven 4 Stars Read 2/9/2022 REVIEW
Judithe Alien Research by Gini Koch 4 Stars Read 2/5/2022 REVIEW
Week 2: Shelf Alternate Reality/Universe STAMP RECEIVED
Tatenisha Cinder by Marissa Meyer 4 Stars Read 2/17/2022 REVIEW
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ Claimed by the Horde King by Zoey Draven 3.5 Stars Read 2/15/2022 REVIEW
Judithe Radiance by Grace Draven 4 Stars Read 2/11/2022 REVIEW
Week 3 Shelf Favorite Couples STAMP RECEIVED
Tatenisha Corrupt by Penelope Douglas 4 Stars Read 2/22/2022 REVIEW
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ Madness of the Horde King by Zoey Draven 3 Stars Read 2/19/2022 REVIEW
Judithe Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews 5 Stars Read 2/17/2022 REVIEW
Week 4 Shelf Magic or Magic Users STAMP RECEIVED
Tatenisha Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout 3 Stars Read 3/3/2022 REVIEW
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ Dervishes Don't Dance by Kim McDougall 4 Stars Read 3/2/2022 REVIEW
Judithe Broken Bonds by Keri Arthur 4 Stars Read 2/28/2022 REVIEW
Week 5 Shelf Shifter STAMP RECEIVED
Tatenisha Echoes of Fire by Suzanne Wright 4 Stars 3/13/2022 REVIEW
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ Dark Fire by Ruby Dixon 3.5 Stars, 3/7/2022 REVIEW
Judithe Munro by Kresley Cole 4 Stars, 3/7/2022 REVIEW
Week 6 Shelf Urban Fantasy STAMP RECEIVED
Tatenisha Lover Unveiled by J.R. Ward 5 Stars Read 3/17/2022 REVIEW
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ Shadows by Suzanne Wright 4 Stars Read 3/16/2022 REVIEW
Judithe Crowbones by Anne Bishop 5 Stars Read 3/14/2022 REVIEW
Week 7 Shelf Swoon Worthy STAMP REQUESTED
Tatenisha Sweet Addiction by J. Daniels 4 Stars Read 3/24/2022 REVIEW
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ Sherakeren's First Date by Susan Trombley 4 Stars 3/25/2022 REVIEW
Judithe A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet 4 Stars Read 3/21/22 REVIEW
Week 8 Shelf Kindle Freebie
Tatenisha Royal Savage by Victoria Ashley 4 Stars 3/29/2022 REVIEW
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ Possessed by Tana Stone
Judithe Vampire Vacation by C.J. Ellisson
Week 9 Shelf
Tatenisha
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~
Judithe
Week 10 Shelf
Tatenisha
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~
Judithe
Week 11 Shelf
Tatenisha
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~
Judithe
Week 12 Shelf
Tatenisha
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~
Judithe

Free Space
Archangel's Light by Nalini Singh (SOS Group Bookshelf)
# pages: 396

Shelf #1 : Sci-Fi Romance (shelved 57 times as sci-fi-romance)
Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven
# page: 327


I like 12 Dalgona Candies..because I have a sweet tooth

I've not been captain for awhile, but not itching for that- said with a smile! Thank you, Captain Tatenisha!
I'll post my books tonight.


And Val, I'm planning to read

I hope it’s good. I got lucky, it was on sale for 0,99$ A few months back. I just have too many books and not enough reading time.

Free Space
Lionheart by Thea Harrison (SOS Group Bookshelf)
# pages: 362

Shelf #1 : Sci-Fi Romance (SOS Group Bookshelf)
Alien Research by Gini Koch
# page: 544


On another note, both books finished. I'll get my reviews up tomorrow, and please pester me if I don't!

I’ve finished my Free Space book and starting week 1 book. I’ll let my thoughts percolate and write the review before shelf call.

Shelf #1 : Sci-Fi Romance (SOS Group Bookshelf)
Alien Research by Gini Koch
# page: 544

Date finished: 02/05/22
Rating: ★★★★☆
Thoughts:
It's been several years since I read the 7th book in this series, and I'd forgotten how funny/snarky it can be. There are numerous characters, good and bad, to remember...so getting into it again was a bit of a challenge. But after I set aside the, "Now who is that?" or "Wait, what exactly happened in that operation?", it was quite fun. I did also remember more of the past situations as the book went along.
In this installment, the bad guys are regrouping, which means quite a lot of unpleasantness for the A-Cs. Kitty Katt-Martin and her unusual leaps of logic/intuition lead them through the maze of pitfalls to halt, or at least slowdown the latest evil genius plan. There are new hybrids joining the "cast", cuteness in the poofs and pelicans, as well as a rather big surprise or two with the Operations Team and Kitty's daughter, Jamie.
This series would be rather hard to read out of order, I think. I won't reread it from the start, but will definitely move it to my "pick-up-sooner-and-read" pile and keep on reading. It is quite the roller coaster to see each new plot and how Kitty & gang can foil it.

Free Space
Lionheart by Thea Harrison (SOS Group Bookshelf)
# pages: 362

Date finished: 02/09/22
Rating: ★★★★☆
Thoughts:
Pre-Bingo, I picked up the first in this series and quite liked it. Quickly read the second, then worried how the third would fit with Bingo. I was quite happy to find it suited Free Space, so I could finish up the trilogy and find out Oberon's fate and HEA.
Thea Harrison created a rich world in her Elder Races' series, and this trilogy is an offshoot of that. Dragos makes a cameo in book 2, and this one.
A bit of back story, the Light and Dark courts have been battling it out for ages, with the Dark court losing ground as their king, Oberon, has gone into stasis as the only way to battle a curse. If the curse is not broken, or Oberon doesn't die, the Dark Court's land may also fall.
The first two books set the stage for the finale, and of course, the HEA. While we know that in the end, Oberon and his doctor will win, the twists and turns, impossible situations and inventive solutions make the journey there a fun and exciting read.
The story was fresh and fast paced. The characters were complex and conflicted. Not everything was neatly tied up, and I'd like to see where some characters, particularly the puck, Robin, end up in the future. I think this story arc is concluded, but do hope some of these characters will visit in other Elder Races stories.

Free Space
Archangel's Light by Nalini Singh (SOS Group Bookshelf)

# pages: 396
Date finished: 05/02/22 (day, month, year)
Rating: ★★★★☆
I am surely not the only one waiting for Illium's story since the beginning of the series when he was introduced in book 1.
I guess that when all her previous books were M/F pairing....and this one is M/M. It's a difficult thing to pull off so instead of focusing on the physical aspect it was a story about a centuries long friendship that developed over time.
It was a lovely story of Aodhan and Illium with flashbacks from their first meeting as young angels and all the major milestones of their lives that shaped them as adults.
I would have liked to have more emphasis on the reconstruction of China and it's lingering evil but it was not to be.
Still it sets the stage for further books that I will read.

Shelf #1 : Sci-Fi Romance
Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven

Shelved 57 times as sci-fi-romance
# page: 327
Date finished: 09/02/22
Rating: ★★★★☆
I was expecting a little bit more scifi than just stating that Luna and the people in her village are refugees on another planet placed there by the Uranian Federation. Since it's my first book by this author I am wondering if I am not missing a bit of backstory. The federation made a deal with the indigenous population, the Dakkari, to let other races settle on their planets.
The human villagers are confined in a walled village and have very little knowledge or contact with the Dakkari. When Luna's younger brother, in an act of desperation, and little thought, decide to burn the fields hoping to improve their crop...they attract the attention of the dreaded Dakkari.
Luna, trying to protect her brother, offers her life to the Horde King in exchange.
I like reading nomadic stories because they always have a different value system and customs. The Horde King, because of immense childhood trauma, is very dedicated to his Horde. he plays everything close to the chest and always have the best for his people at heart. It's easy to see that Luna, being uneducated in the ways of the Dakkari, will struggle a lot with misunderstandings and plainly being in the dark. The problem is that the Horde King, Arokan, is too private and does not help Luna integrate.
I would have liked the heroine to have a useful skill to bring to the Horde. Being a seamstress I would have liked this knowledge be of use. Why could she not be a healer or have specialized knowledge that could improve Horde life? there is a missing opportunity here.
The couple do grow close and love each other but I feel that Luna was too one dimensional and always in catching up mode.
It seems that the following books are better so I will keep reading.

Shelf #2 : Alternate Reality/Universe (shelved 3 times as Alternate Universe)
Claimed by the Horde King by Zoey Draven

# page: 270

Shelf #2 : Alternate Reality/Universe (shelved 9 times as Alternate Universe)
Radiance by Grace Draven
# page: 297


Not at all!
Personally I liked Grace Draven way more. Her writing style, poetic and slightly dismal, has so much more depth.
@Judithe: Radiance is quite good….and Master of Crows is in the same universe. There are tangential references in both series but they can be read separately. If you liked this series I recommend starting the other.

Shelf 1: Sci-Fi Romance

Heart of a Warrior by Johanna Lindsey
Shelved 11 times
Pages: 416
Date finished: 2/9/2022
Ratings: 3 Stars
Review:
Dalden is now searching for his ex-friend to retrieve the weapon he stole. He follows him to earth where Brittany offers to help him find who he is looking for. She does not expect to find him so headstrong and expecting her to follow his orders. He must now come to terms with his non-warrior side that he fails to acknowledge, or he will lose Brittany who he has come to consider her his. She decides to help him find the person he is looking for and does not understand that she has changed She does not make it easier for him and her wit will keep you entertained.

Free Space
SOS Best of Audiobooks

Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton
Pages: 340
Date finished: 2/10/2022
Rating: 2 Stars
Review:
I believe I ready to get off the Anita Blake train. I have been trying to stay hoping it would change again but it seems to be getting worse. The sex scenes are forced and frequent but leads to more. She once would not sleep with who she gets into bed with. These scenes take away from the story which has drastically changed. There is always fighting and sexing and her always needing more.

You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'sci-fi romance' and 'free space'.
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D

Free Space
SOS Best of Audiobooks

Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton
Pages: 340
Date finished: 2/10/2022
Rating: 2 Stars
..."
I feel your pain Tatenisha! I'm sorry to say that it does not improve at all. Personally the decline started after Obsidian Butterfly. I gave up purchasing her books because of all the sexing and polyamorous relationship drama. I do indulge when the library gets a copy and I have developed a system: read chapter 1-2 and skip to halfway of the book. Most of the time the story ''starts'' after the numerous hurt feelings and juvenile tantrum. The author tried to get back to the beginning of the series at book 27 but the ''story'' was so pathetic I fell asleep many times. Book 28 had some good moments but not enough to give better than 2.5 stars.
Why do I continue reading you ask? Because of Edouard.

Shelf #2 : Alternate Reality/Universe
Claimed by the Horde King by Zoey Draven

Shelved 3 times as Alternate Universe
# page: 270
Date finished: 15/02/22
Rating: ★★★☆☆1/2
The hero, Horde king Seerin, was introduced in the previous book on his way to punish a village for poaching their herd. The heroine, Nelle, is punished for hunting game reserved for the Dakkari. Feeling a connection while Nelle is being lashed with a whip, he decide to bring her to his horde and care for her.
The Horde king admires her stoicism and courage. It
What's not to like from a hardworking individual to her adoptive horde? Apparently being human is a deal breaker for many members.
There are a few blackmail moments to separate the couple and a lot of groveling afterwards.

Selection Post
Shelf #3 ~ 16 Feb 22: Favorite Couples
Madness of the Horde King by Zoey Draven

Shelved 2 times

Shelf #2 : Alternate Reality/Universe (shelved 9 times as Alternate Universe)
Radiance by Grace Draven
# page: 297

Date finished: 02/11/2022 (month/day/year)
Rating: ★★★★☆
Thoughts:
Oh! This was fun!! Brishen Khaskem, prince of the Kai, and Ildiko, niece of the Gauri king, are both "oddballs" in their respective court. BUT, when it's time to cement an alliance, they are chosen for the political marriage. They are both refreshing characters, and deal quite well with the challenges they face as their respective species rather disgust the other. They see beyond the exterior to the being inside, and come to appreciate, and love each other.
Along the way, there are numerous challenges (scorpion pie!!), battles, an evil queen (who is mother and mother-in-law....definitely glad my MIL shared NO characteristics with that one!), prejudices, magic and a happy (sort of) end.
There are more in the series. I'll probably pick it up again at the library. I enjoyed Ms. Draven's writing style and universe!

Val, I quite liked her writing style as well. Wanting a bit of light and fluffy at the moment (should be more careful with my wishes as we got that in SNOW! This far south (northern hemisphere peep), it's a rarity). Today is a corona-cancelled work day (not my corona, but at today's workplace) and snow day. So, looking forward to book-exploring!
In consideration of today's shelf....
I JUST finished Abandoned in Death....timing!
Off to find something!

2 people...favorite couple shelf...need that "S" (and Am. spelling)... Keep going with the search, and ONE person has it shelved properly!
That was quick!

Shelf #3 ~ 16 Feb 22: Favorite Couples
Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews

Shelved 1 time
# page: 222
Books mentioned in this topic
Breath of Fire (other topics)Possessed (other topics)
Blood Truth (other topics)
Breath of Fire (other topics)
Vampire Vacation (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Amanda Bouchet (other topics)Tana Stone (other topics)
J.R. Ward (other topics)
Amanda Bouchet (other topics)
C.J. Ellisson (other topics)
More...
Captain: Tatenisha
Members:
Tatenisha
Valerie ~ Val Hall ~
Judithe