SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Expired Challenges
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"Firsts" Challenge
Me, too! That has been a favorite for years, and I've quite enjoyed the books afterwards...though Ender's Game is probably the best.Posted at the same time as you, Kerstin! I love the others of the series...have read all of them numerous times...5 star reads for me.
Thanks Judithe. I figured it would be hard to top this one, but I'm really looking forward to the rest of them anyway.
Well, I was recommended this series by one of my scifi friends and she said the next one is even better
and I must admit I gave it 5 stars too. It happens about 3,000 years after the first one, so Ender is no longer a child, as he faces up to what he did. I'm only up to #3
but am looking forward to reading this series over time.
Oh, that's great news then! I shall have to pick up the rest of them asap. Thanks guys :)
Always glad to recommend a great series of whatever genre.
I've heard good things about this series, but never read it. I'm going to have to hunt up
and give it a try.
Absolutely!
SOS Firsts ChallengeJuly 2010-Out of Bounds7/20, also read The Hunger Games 7/24,The Darkest Night 7/29
August 2010-You Slay Me 8/10, also read Skin Game 8/18
September 2010-Wolf Signs 9/4, also read Slave to Sensation 9/6, The Surgeon 9/7, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula 9/11
October 2010-Vampire Academy 10/14
November 2010- Pack Challenge 11/10 also read Trey: Red Hot & Blue, Book 1 11/17
December 2010- Beyond the Highland Mist 12/8- also read On Fireand Simply Irresistible
January 2011- Three to Ride 1/5 also read Club Shadowlands 1/11
February 2011- Darkfever 2/3
March 2011- First Grave On The Right-Darynda Jones 3/6
In the Enderverse, but different series and TOTALLY okay (I think) to read without finishing Ender's series first. You guys gotta read
. It's up there with Ender's Game. And about half the book actually tells the same story from Bean's perspective, super-interesting! I think I mentioned it earlier when Sandra first read Ender's Game, but I'm repeating it cuz the book's just that good :)
Excellent Vivian, and no I don't think you did mention it. Going to rush away now & add it to the list!
Oooh, that sounds good. I shall have to add it as well!
9/12 CompletedJuly 2010 - 7/6/10 ***
July Also Read:
August 2010 - 8/1/10 ****
August Also read:
September 2010 - 9/5/10 ***
September also read:
October 2010 10/3/10 ***
October also read:
November 2010 - 11/18/10 **
November also read:
December 2010 - 12/2/10 ***
December also read:
January 2011 - 1/1/11 ****
January also read:
February 2011 - 2/19/11 ***
February also read:
March 2011 - 3/6/11 ***
March also read:
Vivian wrote: "In the Enderverse, but different series and TOTALLY okay (I think) to read without finishing Ender's series first. You guys gotta read . It's up there with Ender's ..."That is a great book/series! I love all of them...another is rumored to be coming out...SOMEDAY! (I think in Ender's world, not Bean's). Do you know more?
Haven't heard anything about it, but will share if I come across any news :)
I do know that OSC suffered a mild stroke in January, but don't know about a new book.Link to OSC's website re the stroke and future work etc
http://www.hatrack.com/misc/stroke.shtml
Oh...that's just too bad! I love the tone of the message. Strokes are one of the terrors for me...just below sharks! Seriously.(I can count on one hand the number of times I've been in the sea above knee level in the past thirty years...as a pre-teen, I couldn't even get in a pool by myself thanks to sneak-watching Jaws...after sneak-reading the book!)
Not even the pool? Sharks freak me out too, I still swim though. When we lived in Hawaii, a 13 yr old surfer girl had her arm bitten off not too far from the beach. Eeek! no surfing for me, thank you!
Pools are OK now...though absolutely no bikini's! Love the skirt combos that are really popular now (and t-shirts to protect one's pale skin from icky melanin poisoning...LOL!) If you don't know what I mean, I'll hunt up a beach pic for ya (not of ME...just the general beach-wear tendencies!)
I know what cha mean. Esp since I practically glow in the dark! Gotta love the Japanese and their sun effects awareness. LOL!Wow! We have gotten sooooo off topic! LOL!
Well...Jaws was a first!Now back to our regular programming....:D
Hey, Aus land of spiders, snakes & sharks. Am I the only one not afraid of sharks? Or the others either?Definitely more frightened of strokes & heart attacks as it runs in the family big time.
Sandra wrote: "Hey, Aus land of spiders, snakes & sharks. Am I the only one not afraid of sharks? Or the others either?Definitely more frightened of strokes & heart attacks as it runs in the family big time."
I'm OK with snakes & spiders (within reason and up to a certain size, then I run like hell!).
I'm not afraid of snakes or spiders. I was fascinated with some we had in our place in AU. (Spiders, not snakes, although there was one at the Embassy)
I am utterly terrified of anything that has more than four legs, lol, especially spiders! Sometimes I'm wondering if it was such a great idea to move to Aus... too many creepy crawlies ;). I'm not too worried about sharks though.
Sharks...no legs! LOL ;D I live in a land of big creepy crawlies, too (though probably not so bad compared to you guys). The worst was unexpectedly encountering a spider larger than my hand when cleaning behind the office copy machine....I will admit just one very-high-pitched vocalization. Then there are the 747 roaches...
LMAO! 747 roaches! Something JP & Hawaii have in common! Freaky buggers! Will outlive us all!
I'd actually rather they didn't!
Update ~ 3/19/11Read: 9/12
Jul/10
Riding the Storm ~ Read @ 3 Jul ★★★★☆
Also read (8):
Grimspace // Blood Oath // Embers // Black Dust Mambo // Some Girls Bite // Flat-Out Sexy // Spider's Bite // Unholy Ghosts
Aug/10
Marked by Passion ~ Read @ 2 Aug ★★★★☆
Also read (3):
Hearts at Stake // Fantasy Lover // Boys that Bite
Sep/10
Raised by Wolves ~ Read @ 4 Sep ★★★★☆
Oct/10
50 Ways to Hex Your Lover ~ Read @ 8 Oct ★★★☆☆
Also Read (4):
Enchanted, Inc. // Intertwined // Sins of the Heart // Strange Angels
Nov/10
Poison Study ~ Read @ 8 Nov ★★★★★
Also Read (3):
Assassin's Honor // Beautiful Lies // You Slay Me
Dec/10
Almost to Die For ~ Read @ 3 Dec ★★★★☆
Also Read (1):
Queen of Shadows
Jan/11
Night's Cold Kiss ~ Read @ 1 Jan ★★★☆☆
Also Read (6):
Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye // Pack Challenge // Black Wings // Dark Embers // Kitty and the Midnight Hour // Afterlife
Feb/11
The Scent of Shadows ~ Read @ 4 Feb ★★★☆☆
Also Read (5):
Mind Games // Birthmarked // Song of Scarabaeus // Serengeti Heat // Kiss of Moonlight
Mar/11
13 to Life - Read @ 8 Mar ★★★★☆
Also Read (2):
Strange Neighbors // Trick of the Light
Apr/11
May/11
Jun/11
Monthly Reads:
Add'l Reads:
Pretty post!!! WTG, Steph!
Thanks :) Lots of good ones in there. Fun finding new ones, no matter how many I'm already in the middle of. Thanks for creating a nice excuse for me to start new ones, at least for a few more months.
LOL! We'll have to think of a twist to keep the firsts rolling!
;) Sounds good to me.
Creative thinking caps...ON!
LOL! First thing that popped into my mind when I read your post just now was, "Wonder Twin powers, Activate!" :)
LOL! Pretty much the same thing!
SOS Firsts ChallengeJuly 2010-Out of Bounds7/20, also read The Hunger Games 7/24,The Darkest Night 7/29
August 2010-You Slay Me 8/10, also read Skin Game 8/18
September 2010-Wolf Signs 9/4, also read Slave to Sensation 9/6, The Surgeon 9/7, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula 9/11
October 2010-Vampire Academy 10/14
November 2010- Pack Challenge 11/10 also read Trey: Red Hot & Blue, Book 1 11/17
December 2010- Beyond the Highland Mist 12/8- also read On Fireand Simply Irresistible
January 2011- Three to Ride 1/5 also read Club Shadowlands 1/11
February 2011- Darkfever 2/3
March 2011- First Grave on the Right 3/5. Also read Surrender 3/17, I Am Number Four 3/21
09/12 DoneJuly -
August -
September -
October -
November -
December -
January -
February -
March -
April -
May -
June -
Other first in series books read (during this challenge):
*currently reading
*
*
10/12 July-Moon Called by Patricia Briggs-DONE*****
August-City of Bones by Cassandra Clare-DONE****
September-Evermore by Alyson Noel-DONE****
October-My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent-DONE****
November-Forgive My Fins by Tara Childs-DONE***1/2
December -Goblin Quest by Jim C.Hines-DONE 12/31 ***
January -Wicked(Witch) by Nancy Holder-DONE 1/9 ***1/2
February -Dark Lover by J.R Ward-DONE 2/2 *****
March -Black Moon by C.L Bevill-DONE 3/26 ***1/2
April -Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr-DONE 4/26 ****
May -
June -
9/12 July 2010 -
★★★ also read:
★★★
★★★
★★★August 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★
★★★★
★★★ September 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★
★★★
★★October 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★★
★★★November 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★
★December 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★ January 2011 -
★★★★also read:
★★★
★★★★
★★★
★★February 2011 -
★★★ also read:
★★★★
★★★March 2011 -
★★★★★also read:
★★
★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★April 2011 -
May 2011 -
June 2011 -
Laura Lulu wrote: "9/12 July 2010 - Sisters Red Jackson Pearce July 3
★★★ also read:
★★★ ★★★ [bo..."Wasn't [book:Unwind|764347] amazing?
Cristina wrote: "Wasn't Unwind amazing? "It was. And I've had it on my TBR for months, but not until I left my review did I notice how many of my friends had given it 5 stars. How did I not notice that before? :)
9/12 Completed (Done) July/2010 Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
August/2010 Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
September/2010 Beyond The Highland Mist
October/2010 Stray by Rachelle Vincent
November/2010 Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh
December/2010 Edge of Sight by Roxanne St. Claire
Jan/2011 Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Feb/2011 Heart of the Wolf by Terry Spear
March/2011 Storm Born by Richelle Mead
Duration: July 1 - June 30, 2011Rules: Read 12 books that are the first novel in a new-to-you series. Read one book per calendar month (that means, can't read and count 3 new ones in ONE month...)
Read: 9/12
Jul/10
Riding the Storm ~ Read @ 3 Jul ★★★★☆
Also read (8):
Grimspace // Blood Oath // Embers // Black Dust Mambo // Some Girls Bite // Flat-Out Sexy // Spider's Bite // Unholy Ghosts
Aug/10
Marked by Passion ~ Read @ 2 Aug ★★★★☆
Also read (3):
Hearts at Stake // Fantasy Lover // Boys that Bite
Sep/10
Raised by Wolves ~ Read @ 4 Sep ★★★★☆
Oct/10
50 Ways to Hex Your Lover ~ Read @ 8 Oct ★★★☆☆
Also Read (4):
Enchanted, Inc. // Intertwined // Sins of the Heart // Strange Angels
Nov/10
Poison Study ~ Read @ 8 Nov ★★★★★
Also Read (3):
Assassin's Honor // Beautiful Lies // You Slay Me
Dec/10
Almost to Die For ~ Read @ 3 Dec ★★★★☆
Also Read (1):
Queen of Shadows
Jan/11
Night's Cold Kiss ~ Read @ 1 Jan ★★★☆☆
Also Read (6):
Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye // Pack Challenge // Black Wings // Dark Embers // Kitty and the Midnight Hour // Afterlife
Feb/11
The Scent of Shadows ~ Read @ 4 Feb ★★★☆☆
Also Read (5):
Mind Games // Birthmarked // Song of Scarabaeus // Serengeti Heat // Kiss of Moonlight
Mar/11
13 to Life - Read @ 8 Mar ★★★★☆
Also Read (4):
Strange Neighbors // Trick of the Light // Primal Hunger // Immortal Beloved
Apr/11
May/11
Jun/11
Monthly Reads:
Add'l Reads:
SOS Group Firsts ChallengeJuly 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011
Completed: 9/12
Read 12 books, 1 per month, that are the first in a new to me series.
March 2011 Update
See post 322 for July - October firsts
See post 441 for November - February firsts
March
Night's Cold Kiss, Tracey O'Hara, 3-3-11 2 Stars and here's why: The mythology of O'Hara's world confused me. It confused me a lot. I don't know if she was attempting a slow discovery process, but it didn't work. We have CHaPR, The Department, The Guild, The Council. What are they? How are they related? Who is a member of each? I still wasn't sure when I reached the end of the book. Then I found the glossary at the back and boy, I wished I'd known it was there. It did a better job of explaining things than the narrative did.
As for Antoinette and Christian's relationship, it was resolved way to quickly. Antoinette went from hatred to sex in 0.5 seconds. Okay, admittedly, the first time can be justifiably explained by other events. But not the subsequent times, especially given her reaction to a later event proves she hasn't totally lost her prejudice against the Aeturnus.
Also read:
Warrior, Zoe Archer, 3-8-11 4.5 Stars. Definitely recommend this book. It's a historical, but doesn't "feel" like a historical. Thalia has been living in Mongolia since she was a little child, so she is a strong character with atypical views. Gabriel Huntley is also a very strong character, having been in the army for the majority of his adult life. But he hasn't become hardened and still cares about doing the right and fair thing. The book is well written and the action moves along well. I'm definitely going to be reading the other three books in this set.
Heart of Stone, C.E. Murphy, 3-21-11 A lot of UF features a strong female protaganist who can fight with magic, swords, teeth and occaisionly claws. Heart of Stone is different. Margrit Knight's strength lies not in the physical or magical, but the mental. As a lawyer with Legal Aide, she's learned the value of determination, stubborness and negotiating. Suddenly thrust into a world with Gargolyes, Dragons, Djinn, Selkies and Vampires, Margrit's heritage and experience give her an interesting perspective in dealing with the five Old Races. To her, they are not monsters. Fiercly opposed to racism of any kind, she views them as people, not human, but still people who are no worse than those she deals with every day on the job. Negotiating with the Old Races is just a matter of figuring out their motivations. I really enjoyed reading this and will be finishing the rest of the trilogy soon.
Beyond the Highland Mist, Karen Marie Moning, 3-22-11 Quick, fun read. I read the first five Highlander books when they first came out, but somehow never got around to Adam's story. Which surprises me, because I was really looking forward to that one. Not remembering a lot of details, I decided to reread the entire series while I wait for a copy of Shadowfever from the library and was pleasantly surprised. It was still entertaining and actually pretty good for a first published novel.
I Am Not A Serial Killer, Dan Well, 3-29-11 Much darker and more graphic than I expected a young adult/teen book to be, I still enjoyed I Am Not A Serial Killer. It's almost impossible not to draw comparisons between John Wayne Cleaver and Dexter. Both are atypical heroes, sociopaths with no understanding of emotion and determination to protect the "innocent" from themselves. Dexter has his Dark Passenger. John has his Monster behind a wall, a wall built out of rules to combat his own sociapathic inclinations and which he struggles to maintain constantly. Dexter was taught The Code of Harry by his foster father, but John has had to reasearch what constitutes bad behavior and formulate rules for himself. A big difference lies in John's unwillingness to kill at all. Afraid that letting his monster out from behind the wall to kill would totally unleash it, John struggles with what to do when a demon begins killing residents of his home town and it seems he is the only person capable of stopping it. The demonic aspect of the killer, the only fantasy element in the book, seems almost secondary and unnecessary until you take into consideration that this is exactly the impetus needed for John to overcome his reluctance to deal with the killer. Regular methods won't stop the demon and nobody is going to believe the truth, so John has to deal with the situation on his own. John, just starting high school, hasn't yet learned the surface charm typical of a sociopath, but I find myself liking him despite myself. He's terrifying and I wouldn't want to draw his attention in real life, but I still found myself hoping he would come through everything okay. I will definitely read the next book in this series.
April
Also read:
May
Also read:
June
Also read:
Future Plans:
Here's my March update!9/12 Done
July 2010:
August 2010:
September 2010:
October 2010:
November 2010:
December 2010:
January 2011:
February 2011:
March 2011:
April 2011: Dark Embers by Tessa Adams
Also read these firsts this month...
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
Jenny Pox (other topics)Heroes Die (other topics)
Wild Magic (other topics)
Nightshade (other topics)
Tyger Tyger (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Suzanne Enoch (other topics)Lorraine Heath (other topics)
Katie MacAlister (other topics)
Robin Kaye (other topics)
Karen Marie Moning (other topics)
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It was fantastic Sandra! Are the rest of them as good?