AmyT's 144 in 2010

[Literary Ames]

I've read 93 books so far this year so 144 will be a challenge but I'm looking forward to it.

[Literary Ames]

Just for practice I'm going to add the books I've read in December 2009:

1) Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1) by Richelle Mead ★★★★☆
2) A Quick Bite (Argeneau, #1) by Lynsay Sands ★★☆☆☆
3) City of Bones (Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare ★★☆☆☆
4) My Soul to Lose (Soul Screamers, prequel) by Rachel Vincent ★★★☆☆
5) My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers, #1) by Rachel Vincent ★★★★☆
6) Silent Blade (not part of a series, short story) by Ilona Andrews ★★★★★
7) City of Ashes (Mortal Instruments, #2) by Cassandra Clare ★★★☆☆
8) The Awakening (Vampire Diaries, #1) by L.J. Smith ★★☆☆☆
9) The Struggle (Vampire Diaries, #2) by L.J. Smith ★☆☆☆☆
10) Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, #1) by Richelle Mead ★★★☆☆
11) City of Glass (Mortal Instruments, #3) by Cassandra Clare ★★★★☆
12) Would-Be Witch (Southern Witch, #1) by Kimberly Frost ★★★☆☆
13) Dream Chaser (Dark-Hunter, #15/ Dream-Hunters #3) by Sherrilyn Kenyon ★★★★☆
14) Acheron (Dark-Hunter, #16) by Sherrilyn Kenyon ★★★★★
15) One Silent Night (Dark-Hunter, #17) by Sherrilyn Kenyon ★★★☆☆
16) Dream Warrior (Dark-Hunter, #18/ Dream-Hunters #4) by Sherrilyn Kenyon ★★★★☆
17) Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, #2) by Patricia Briggs ★★★★☆
18) Angels' Blood (Guild Hunters, #1) by Nalini Singh ★★★★★
19) Death's Mistress (Dorina Basarab, #2) by Karen Chance ★★★★☆

[Literary Ames]

Favourite Books Released in 2009

[Literary Ames]

Master List of Books Read in 2010

January 2010
1) Moonshine
2) Angels' Pawn
3) Lover Eternal
4) Lover Awakened
5) Kitty's House of Horrors
6) Storm Born
7) Thorn Queen
8) Kamikaze
9) Hurricane
10) Soulless
11) Graceling
12) Awaken Me Darkly
13) Virgin Daiquiri
14) A Rush of Wings

February 2010
15) Flirt
16) Archangel's Kiss
17) Bad Moon Rising
18) Hawksong
19) Shift
20) Midnight Reflections
21) Hunter Kiss
22) On the Edge
23) Three Days to Dead
24) Evermore

March 2010
25) Skinwalker
26) Black Magic Sanction
27) Need
28) Hush, Hush
29) Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The First Death
30) Once Dead, Twice Shy
31) Slave to Sensation
32) Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Volume 1
33) Pleasure Unbound
34) Beautiful Creatures
35) Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Volume 2
36) Tales from the Otherworld
37) Blood and Chocolate
38) Storm Front
39) Angelic

April 2010
40) The Reckoning
41) Voices of Dragons
42) Vampire Kisses
43) Carmilla
44) Desire Unchained
45) My Soul to Save
46) The Lightning Thief
47) Spider's Bite
48) Coraline
49) Visions of Heat
50) Night Shift
51) Silver Borne
52) Kiss of Death
53) Bitter Night
54) Ashes To Ashes

May 2010
55) The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty
56) Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs
57) Some Girls Bite
58) Dead in the Family
59) Friday Night Bites
60) Wake
61) Blood Cross
62) The Giver
63) Caressed by Ice
64) Battle Royale: The Novel
65) Magic Bleeds
66) The Smoke Thief
67) The Darkest Kiss

[Afsana]

doesn't look like you would have any probs with 144 as only 12 a month and am sure as dec is xmas would have been busy month

[Literary Ames]

December actually wasn't busy for me but November was, I read 10 books in that month. The next three months are set to be exceptionally busy so I know I'm going to struggle.

[Afsana]

Amy wrote: "December actually wasn't busy for me but November was, I read 10 books in that month. The next three months are set to be exceptionally busy so I know I'm going to struggle."

well 10 in a busy month and 19 in the less busy months-they should balance themselves out

good luck!!

[Literary Ames]

Thanks :)

[Literary Ames]

Yes! I've reached my quota of 12 books for this month!

Average rating for 12 books - 3.5 stars.

Best book so far - Kitty's House of Horrors.

I've read 4 books outside of my comfort zone - Soulless (Victorian steampunk), Awaken Me Darkly (aliens), Storm Born (fae) which I liked so much I read the sequel Thorn Queen the next day. I think I will read Changeless, the sequel to Soulless and I'm definitely looking forward to Iron Crowned.

I've read 3 new authors - Gail Carriger, Kristin Cashore and Moira Rogers. Out of these Carriger's book, Soulless was the best.

I've given 2 authors another chance - J.R. Ward and Gena Showalter. I'm not in love with the Black Dagger Brotherhood yet but I'm liking the series now. I don't think Showalter's Alien Huntress series is for me but I'll definitely start reading her Lords of the Underworld series again.

I have also completed my first group challenge (10 books, 10 paranormal themes).

1. Vampires: Lover Eternal byJ.R. Ward ★★★★☆
2. Werewolves: Kitty's House of Horrors byCarrie Vaughn ★★★★★
3. Shifters: Moonshine by Moira Rogers ★★★☆☆
4. Immortals: Lover Awakened byJ.R. Ward ★★★★☆
5. Angels: Angels' Pawn by Nalini Singh ★★★★☆
6. Magic users: Thorn Queen by Richelle Mead ★★★★★
7. Fae: Storm Born byRichelle Mead ★★★★☆
8. Aliens: Awaken Me Darkly by Gena Showalter ★★★★☆
9. Paranormal abilities: Soulless by Gail Carriger ★★★☆☆
10. Hunters/warriors/slayers/guardians Graceling by Kristin Cashore ★★☆☆☆



I'm not sure if I can keep this speed up as I've just started a new job and I'm studying part-time but I'm going to try.

Lets see if I can read any more before the 31st...

UPDATED 31 Jan:

I managed to read two more books!

I skipped over the third book by Moira Rogers in the Last Call series so I could read the 4th - I've never done that before but it was very good. I also read another new author Adrian Phoenix who I originally thought was a male author but she's female! I didn't understand the hype surrounding this book, it was deeply flawed. I'm unsure as to whether this was down to first-book syndrome or just bad writing.

Average rating for the 14 books read in Jan - 3.43 stars

[Afsana]

congrats

i like how you have summed things up!!

[Literary Ames]

Thanks Afsana. :)

[Literary Ames]

Books Read in January 2010

1) Moonshine (Mystic Valley, prequel) by Moira Rogers ★★★☆☆ Jan 1 Review
2) Angels' Pawn (Guild Hunters, prequel) by Nalini Singh ★★★★☆ Jan 1 Review
3) Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #2) by J.R. Ward ★★★★☆ Jan 2
4) Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #3) by J.R. Ward ★★★★☆ Jan 3 Review
5) Kitty's House of Horrors (Kitty Norville, #7) by Carrie Vaughn ★★★★★ Jan 6 Review NEW!
6) Storm Born (Dark Swan, #1) by Richelle Mead ★★★★☆ Jan 9 Review
7) Thorn Queen (Dark Swan, #2) by Richelle Mead ★★★★★ Jan 10 Review
8) Kamikaze (Last Call, #1) byMoira Rogers ★★☆☆☆ Jan 11
9) Hurricane (Last Call, #2) by Moira Rogers ★★★☆☆ Jan 11
10) Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate, #1) by Gail Carriger ★★★☆☆ Jan 16 Review
11) Graceling by Kristin Cashore ★★☆☆☆ Jan 21 Review
12) Awaken Me Darkly (Alien Huntress, #1) by Gena Showalter ★★★☆☆ Jan 24 Review
13) Virgin Daiquiri (Last Call, #4) by Moira Rogers ★★★★☆ Jan 28 Review
14) A Rush of Wings (The Maker's Song, #1) by Adrian Phoenix ★★☆☆☆ Jan 30 Review

[Literary Ames]

February 2010

15) Flirt (Anita Blake, #18) by Laurell K. Hamilton ★★☆☆☆ Feb 3 Review NEW!
16) Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunters, #2) by Nalini Singh ★★★☆☆ Feb 5 Review NEW!
17) Bad Moon Rising (Dark-Hunter, #19 / Were-Hunter, #4) by Sherrilyn Kenyon ★★★☆☆ Feb 6
18) Hawksong by (The Kiesha'ra, #1) Amelia Atwater-Rhodes ★★★★☆ Feb 7
19) Shift (Shifters, #5) by Rachel Vincent ★★★★★ Feb 12 Review NEW!
20) Midnight Reflections by Katrina Michaels ★★★★☆ 14 Feb
21) Hunter Kiss (Hunter Kiss, prequel) by Marjorie M. Liu ★★☆☆☆ 20 Feb Review
22) On the Edge (The Edge, #1) by Ilona Andrews ★★★★☆ 21 Feb
23) Three Days to Dead (Dreg City, #1) by Kelly Meding ★★☆☆☆ Feb 27 Review
24) Evermore (The Immortals, #1) by Alyson Noel ★★★☆☆ Feb 28 Review

[Literary Ames]

February round-up

Let's see, I only read 10 books this month but I read 14 in Jan so I'm bang on target.

Average rating for the 10 books in Feb: 3.2 stars worse than last month's 3.43.

Favourite book in read in Feb Shift by Rachel Vincent which also happened to be a new release as was last month's favourite.

Worst book of the month goes to Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding. I really struggled with it, it was predictable, it dragged and became never-ending as was Hunter Kiss but it was only a short story, thank god.

Of the 10 I read 5 were by authors new to me: Katrina Michaels, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Marjorie M. Liu, Kelly Meding and Alyson Noel.

Best of authors new to me Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (YA fantasy). It was an easy and interesting read. I also found Evermore to be an easy free-flowing read but the story had its faults.

Disappointments
Number 1 on this list has to be Archangel's Kiss because it was so unexpected. I loved Angels' Blood and the short story prequels.

Number 2 is Bad Moon Rising because the book was REALLY long and the series is starting to lose my interest, though the story was one I wanted to read.

Number 3 is obviously Flirt though I suppose this was to be expected. Perhaps Bullet will be better.

I was also a little disappointed to learn that the sequel to On the Edge will be from another couple's perspective, I really want to know how Rose and Declan (& co.) get on with their new lives together.


Well, that's it. 24 books down and 120 to go.

[Literary Ames]

March 2010
25) Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock, #1) by Faith Hunter ★★★☆☆ Mar 5
26) Black Magic Sanction (Rachel Morgan/The Hollows, #8) Kim Harrison ★★★★☆ Mar 6
27) Need (Need, #1) by Carrie Jones ★★★☆☆ Mar 7
28) Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick ★★★☆☆ Mar 8
29) Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The First Death(prequel) by Laurell K. Hamilton ★☆☆☆☆ Mar 9
30) Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery, #1) by Kim Harrison ★★★☆☆ Mar 12
31) Slave to Sensation (Psy-changeling, #1) by Nalini Singh ★★★★★ Mar 13
32) Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Volume 1 (graphic novel) by Laurell K. Hamilton ★★★★☆ Mar 14
33) Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, #1) by Larissa Ione ★★★★☆ Mar 20
34) Beautiful Creatures (The Caster Chronicles, #1) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl ★★☆☆☆ Mar 26
35) Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Volume 2 (graphic novel) by Laurell K. Hamilton ★★★★☆ Mar 26
36) Tales from the Otherworld (Women of the Otherworld - anthology, #2) by Kelley Armstrong ★★★★☆ Mar 27 New!
37) Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause ★★★☆☆ Mar 27
38) Storm Front (The Dresden Files, #1) by Jim Butcher ★☆☆☆☆ Mar 29 [audio:]
39) Angelic (Women of the Otherworld, ltd ed.) by Kelley Armstrong ★★★☆☆ Mar 30 [audio:]

[Literary Ames]

March round-up

I've read 15 books this month so I'm 3 ahead.

Average rating = 3.07 (15 books) due to 2 one star ratings

Favourite book - Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Worst book - It's a toss up between the Anita Blake graphic novel, First Death (a prequel) and Storm Front but ultimately I think Storm Front was worse because it was the first book I've read by this author - a very bad first impression.

Authors new to me: Faith Hunter, Carrie Jones, Becca Fitzpatrick, Larissa Ione, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl, Annette Curtis Klause and Jim Butcher.

Best of authors new to me - Larissa Ione

Audiobooks - I made my first foray into audiobooks. Although Storm Front was awful the narrator James Marters (Spike from Buffy & Angel) was brilliant, I enjoyed listening to his voice. Angelic wasn't as good but I liked being able to get paid to work and listen to these at the same time but ultimately I prefer reading books so I have the ability to skim when needed or re-read something more easily in case I missed something.

New release(s) - Technically Tales of the Otherworld hasn't been released yet (13th April) but it was my first signed book so I was excited to receive it.

39 books down, 105 books to go!

[Literary Ames]

April 2010

40) The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, #3) by Kelley Armstrong ★★★★☆ Apr 1
41) Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn ★★★★☆ Apr 3
42) Vampire Kisses (Vampire Kisses,#1) by Ellen Schreiber ★★☆☆☆ Apr 6 [audio:]
43) Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu ★★★☆☆ Apr 7 [audio:]
44) Desire Unchained (Demonica, #2) by Larissa Ione ★★★☆☆ Apr 10
45) My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers, #2) by Rachel Vincent ★★★☆☆ Apr 10
46) The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan ★★★☆☆ Apr 14 [audio:]
47) Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassin, #1) by Jennifer Estep ★★★☆☆ Apr 15
48) Coraline by Neil Gaiman ★★☆☆☆ Apr 20 [audio:]
49) Visions of Heat (Psy-Changeling, #2) by Nalini Singh ★★★★☆ Apr 23
50) Night Shift (Jill Kismet, #1) by Lilith Saintcrow ★☆☆☆☆ Apr 24
51) Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, #5) by Patricia Briggs ★★★☆☆ Apr 25
52) Kiss of Death (Morganville Vampires, #8) by Rachel Caine ★★★☆☆ Apr 27
53) Bitter Night (Horngate Witches, #1) by Diana Pharaoh Francis ★★★☆☆ Apr 30
54) Ashes To Ashes (Blood Ties, #3) by Jennifer Armintrout ★★★☆☆ Apr 30

[Literary Ames]

April 2010 Round-up

I’ve read 15 books this month so I’m 6 books ahead.

Average rating - 2.93 stars (this just seems to be dropping every month)

Favourite book – Least favourite –

Authors new to me – Ellen Schreiber, Diana Pharaoh Francis, Jennifer Estep, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu and Rick Riordan.

Best of authors new to me by Jennifer Estep because I'm definitely going to read the sequel.

Audiobooks – I’ve listened to . The best narration in my opinion was Vampire Kisses.

New releases

Male authors – This month I've read books by Neil Gaiman, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu and Rick Riordan, and last month Jim Butcher. Only 4 books by male authors this year so I think I’d like to read at least 10 by the end of this challenge.

54 books down, 90 to go!

[[deleted user]]

Wow, well done, Amy!
It's really fun to read through your posts =)

[Literary Ames]

Aw, thanks Ginny!

[Literary Ames]

May 2010

55) The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (Sleeping Beauty, #1) by A.N. Roquelaure ★★☆☆☆ May 2
56) Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs (Jane Jameson, #1) by Molly Harper ★★★★☆ May 3
57) Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires, #1) by Chloe Neill ★★★☆☆ May 5
58) Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse, #10) by Charlaine Harris ★★★☆☆ May 6
59) Friday Night Bites (Chicagoland Vampires, #2) by Chloe Neill ★★★★☆ May 8
60) Wake (Dream Catcher, #1) by Lisa McMann ★★★★★ May 8
61) Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock, #2) by Faith Hunter ★★★☆☆ May 13
62) The Giver by Lois Lowry ★★★☆☆ May 14
63) Caressed by Ice (Psy/Changeling, #3) by Nalini Singh ★★★★★ May 15
64) Battle Royale: The Novel by Koushun Takami ★★★★☆ May 19
65) Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, #4) by Ilona Andrews ★★★★☆ May 28
66) The Smoke Thief (Drakon, #1) by Shana Abé ★★★☆☆ May 29
67) The Darkest Kiss (Lords of the Underworld, #2) by Gena Showalter ★★★★☆ May 30

[Literary Ames]

May round-up

I read 13 books in May. I’m now 7 books ahead of my average to read each month.

Average rating this month: 3.62 stars - the highest its been all year!

Favourite book: Least favourite:

Authors new to me: Anne Rice (The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty), Molly Harper, Chloe Neill, Lisa McMann, Lois Lowry, Koushan Takami and Shana Abe.

Best of authors new to me: Tie between Lisa McMann (Wake) and Molly Harper (Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs)

Audiobooks: none this month – too expensive, lol!

New releases: Dead in the Family, Caressed by Ice (new cover release), Magic Bleeds. The last two were my favourites.

I also have to give a special mention of , simply due to it’s superb humour. Maybe I should have another category, most humourous book of the month. I’d have to mention Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs and Magic Bleeds as well.

[Literary Ames]

June
- 16 books, 3.19 avg rating

68) Mine to Possess
69) Bullet Worst Book of the Month! (New Release)
70) My Soul to Keep (New Release)
71) Early to Death, Early to Rise (New Release)
72) Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men
73) Evernight -Author New to Me
74) The Dark One - Best Book of the Month!
75) Hostage to Pleasure
76) Passion Unleashed
77) Sizzling Sixteen (New Release)
78) Mark of the Demon -Author New to Me
79) Blood Song (New Release)
80) The Darkest Pleasure
81) Raised by Wolves -Author New to Me, Best of (New Release, Best of)
82) Web of Lies (New Release)
83) Branded by Fire

July
- 19 books, 3.37 avg rating

84) Kitty Goes to War (New Release)
85) Blaze of Memory - (Joint) Best Book of the Month!
86) Pack Challenge -Author New to Me
87) The Mage in Black
88) Grimspace -Author New to Me
89) Go Fetch! - (Joint) Best Book of the Month!
90) Starlight -Author New to Me
91) Twice Bitten (New Release)
92) Here Kitty, Kitty!
93) Bonds of Justice (New Release, Best of )
94) You Slay Me -Author New to Me, Best of
95) Nice Girls Don't Live Forever
96) Inside Out
97) When He Was Bad
98) Beastly -Author New to Me
99) Cain's Apples -Author New to Me
100) Uncle Ed's Lap -Author New to Me
101) The Hob's Bargain
102) The Pocket Book of Death -Author New to Me

[Literary Ames]

August
-23 books (Most Books Read in a Month), 3.43 avg rating

103) Fire Me Up
104) Light My Fire
105) The Tell-Tale Heart
106) One Eye Open -Author New to Me
107) Cast in Chaos (New Release)
108) The Dark Divine -Author New to Me
109) Forbidden -Best Book of the Month (and possibly of the year)! -Author New to Me, Best of
110) The Darkest Whisper
111) Holy Smokes
112) 13 to Life (New Release) -Author New to Me
113) Enchanting the Lady -Author New to Me
114) Blue Moon -Worst Book of the Month!
115) Scent of Darkness -Author New to Me
116) The Mane Event
117) Shadow Game
118) The Poison Throne -Author New to Me
119) The Warlord Wants Forever -Author New to Me
120) A Hunger Like No Other
121) Mockingjay (New Release, Best of )
122) Hunger (New Release -ARC) -Author New to Me
123) No Rest for the Wicked
124) Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
125) The Body Finder -Author New to Me

[Literary Ames]

September
19 books, ___ avg rating

126) Dark and Disorderly -Author New to Me
127) Darkfever -Author New to Me
128) Bloodfever
129) Beneath a Rising Moon
130) Beneath a Darkening Moon
131) Sins of the Heart -Author New to Me (New Release)
132) The Darkest Passion
133) The Tale of the Vampire Bride
134) The Panther's Lair -Author New to Me
135) The Sevenfold Spell -Author New to Me (New Release -ARC)
136) Beyond the Highland Mist
137) The First Days -Best Book of the Month!
138) Fighting to Survive
139) The Beast in Him
140) Crave -Author New to Me, (New Release)
141) The Fallen: Volume 1 -Author New to Me, Joint Worst Book of the Month!
142) Enchanted Dreams: Erotic Tales of the Supernatural
143) Stolen Fury -Author New to Me Joint Worst Book of the Month!
144) Moonlight -Author New to Me

[Literary Ames]

***144/144 Books read in 2010 - CHALLENGE COMPLETE!***

I think I might aim for 200 now!

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

Congrats, Amy!

[Literary Ames]

Thanks Danielle!

[Literary Ames]

October
12 books, ___ avg rating

145) Alpha
146) Venom
147) Bayou Moon - Best Book of the Month!
148) The Crowded Shadows
149) The Rebel Prince
150) Nadia's Curse
151) Rage
152) Tempting the Enemy -Author new to me, Best of
153) Staked -Author new to me, Joint Worst
154) Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator -Author new to me, Joint Worst
155) Amethyst Bound -Author new to me
156) Ghost Town -New Release

[Literary Ames]

November
3 books read

157) Prophecy of the Sisters ★☆☆☆☆ Nov 2
158) Play of Passion ★★★★★ Nov 6
159) Half Past Dead ★★☆☆☆ Nov 9



December
5 book read

160) Living Dead Girl ★★★★☆ Dec 9
161) The Night Before Christmas ★★★★★ Dec 18
162) A Christmas Carol ★★★☆☆ Dec 17
163) Stolen: A letter to my captor ★★★★★ Dec 29
164) Darkness Under the Sun ★★☆☆☆ Dec 30

[Literary Ames]

165 books read in 2010.

~The End~