SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R5: Team #12 ~ The Dirty Dozen {1st Place}
Judithe, good luck to the boys for the baseball tourney! Two of our girls played fast pitch softball and we did the travel and tournaments with them. I miss those days sometimes :)
Eeek, sorry about the ticket, Susan! Good luck with baseball, Judithe -- hope you and the boys don't get rained out! I'm about halfway through Skylark - it's slow-going but finally starting to pick up. :) A bit nervous about the next shelf!
BINGO R5: The Dirty Dozen
Shelf: 8/19 ~ 2011 (G15)
5/5; stamp requested 8/29; stamp received 8/30
Judithe: Blood Cross | finished 8/22/12 | 4 stars | review
Karen F: Equal Rites | finished 8/24/12 | 5 stars | review
Susan: Destined for an Early Grave | finished 8/21/12 | 4 stars | review
Tania: Delirium | finished 8/24/12 | 5 stars | review
Valerie: Forever | finished 8/22/12 | 3 stars | review
Another four-in-a-row! This was a good shelf for many teams. If new-series is called next week, we'll be competing for BINGO with Teams 1, 2, and 17. If psychic is called, we'll be competing with Team 13.
This is a huge shelf, so hopefully everyone finds something they like! :)
I've got 3 books I need to finish for a monthly challenge and one of them was released this year so it's not on there. Of the two remaining I'm going with
is my choice for the 2011 shelf.
Shelf: angels
Finished: August 18th, 2012
Rating: 4 stars
Thoughts: You know how sometimes you read a book and you really have to push through it, but the ending makes it all worth it? This was one of those.
Lark is a 16 year-old girl growing up in the City, where she's been told she's a failure. The City's fueled by magic. Upon adolescence, kids have their latent magic harvested and given to the City; however, Lark's never been harvested. That is, until she finds out that she's something special: a Renewable.
At first, she's given extra-special attention by the Institute -- feasts and lots of food -- although the process of being harvested is painful. However, she discovers a dark secret about the Machine that runs the city, and plans her escape. She embarks on a journey to the Iron Wood, fighting off cannibals and encountering pockets of wild magic along the way.
Hoo boy, I feel like I'm giving a terrible summary, but this book packed a lot in. First of all: I love the Philip Pullman influence all over this book. I wish Lark was a bit smarter, and I wish there was a bit more variation in her story -- she passed out and woke up more times than I could count. But by the last third of the novel, a lot of things got turned on their heads and made it really worth it. Plus, the concept is just so darn interesting. I'm eager to read the next one, though it won't be coming out for a while. Golden Compass, dystopian, and steampunk fans should like this.
(There weren't any actual angels in this, but... hey, I'm not complaining. THANK YOU, PERSON WHO SHELVED THIS!)
LOL @ Valerie! Have moments like that, too (the final THANKS)Sounds quite interesting!
I'm still dithering on my book (Just finished a GREAT one today...collection of short stories...Dreams Made Flesh) for one of my fave series.
So...I have a list, and the one I pick up first (and get into!) will be it. Will post that tomorrow...sorry!
BTW, Kid Locust & team lost their game, but it was a really good one. After two days (plus sunburn) of VERY early mornings with very little sleep, long drives, and long hikes carrying (pulling) tea & sports drink bottles, camp tables, chairs, cooler boxes and other stuff to keep them from fainting in the heat & humidity, I'm exhausted. It's 9 p.m. I'm going to bed. This is the earliest I've slept in years (decades?) Night all!
Happy reading
Completed: August 19, 2012 for Angel shelf
Rating: 4 stars (would give it 4.5 if I could)
Thoughts:
Despite a slow start, I actually loved this book. Another great job by J. R. Ward. This USA totally different story, but I love how she has incorporated places and people from " The Black Dagger Brotherhood". She's made them just accessories to the story, not a focus, but found it a bonus to actually recocognize places and characters from the other series.
The first book in the series focuses on Jim an ex-assassin turned construction worker; who is thrown into the fight of demons vs angels after a near death experience. Nothing is as it seemed, now that he can see demons and angels his life takes on new purpose. Save 7 people from making evil decisions and the world will be as it is. Don't and it will be as it never existed.
Along will fabulous characters, interactions and description, this book surprisingly pulled me in and would not let me go until it was done with me! This book has it all: excellently written, strong characters, action and the perfect amount of steamy romance!
Would definitely recommend and can't wait to start book 2!
For my 2011 read I have picked:
Thanks for the great reviews, my TBR list just keeps on growing!
Judithe how do you do it all? Glad the game was good! You are a superwoman.....
Susan, hope things are better on your end, i've been thinking of you and your family.
Thanks, Tania! It was a long week, but we're home now. I talked to Mom last night and she had scrubbed her kitchen cabinets and cleaned her fridge, inside and out. I think she's trying to keep herself busy. School starts today for the girls! YIPPEE! I've got a TON of stuff to do today, including finishing my Angels shelf book (I'm almost done with it). I figured out why it's on the Angels shelf, cause Gideon calls Eva "Angel". I'm taking a page from Tania, thank you to whoever labeled it Angels!
I AM SUPERWOMAN! Ha. Just wishing...and if I say it long enough, loud enough, will it be true? (And I wanna pick my OWN superpowers...)Susan, I need to follow your Mum's example! (Cleaning that is, I always manage to keep busy for one reason or another). Hope she's doing well...
Popped in to "officially" state my book, and almost hit post before doing that. I'm reading
. Thought you'd not be lovin' me if I picked my second choice, A Game of Thrones, even though it isn't a bingo-shelf-week...waiting, waiting to read it. (September or post-bingo, whichever comes first! LOL)
shelf Angels
date completed 8/20/12
rating 4 stars
I just don't know how to put my feelings into words for this one. Did I like it? Without a doubt. Will I read the rest of the series? Of course. Did it make me squirm and blush, even reading it while I was alone and the kids were at school? Yes. But there was just something about this that left me feeling like all is not right in Gideon and Eva's world and I can't put my finger on it.
I don't think I've ever read of two characters who were more messed up than these two. Both are EXTREMELY broken, jealous, and manipulative in their own ways. By the end of the book, Eva's jealousy made her seem more immature than insecure and that kind of got on my nerves. And Gideon's stalker tendencies sort of creeped me out. However, I think these two really love one another. I have to say that I did love that Gideon wouldn't accept Eva's tendency to run when things got out of her comfort zone; he wanted to talk it out so they could get past it.
I'm anxious to find out what happened in Gideon's past, and to see how he gets rid of his ardent admirers. Needless to say, I'll be getting the next one in the series on the day it comes out :)
*This was found on page 36 of the Angels shelf and I figured out the reason it was listed there - Gideon calls Eva "Angel". I'm so glad someone listed it :)
Requested the angels stamp, woot! :)Judithe wrote: "Thought you'd not be lovin' me if I picked my second choice, A Game of Thrones, even though it isn't a bingo-shelf-week...waiting, waiting to read it. (September or post-bingo, whichever comes first! LOL)"
Haha, I know that feeling! I've been trying to cover this and the Check/Balance challenge, but it's difficult when most of my remaining unread books are 500+ page adult fantasy tomes. I hope you enjoy A Game of Thrones when you do read it! :D
CONGRATULATIONS, Dirty Dozen! You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'angels'.
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D
Congrats on the stamp Dirties!
Shelf 2011
Date Finished 8/21/12
rating 4 stars
This was great! It was angstier than I expected from having read the previous books in the series. That's ok, though, since I love angst.
The whole premise of this book is that a vampire named Gregor claimed that he was married to Cat. Truthfully, I'm going to have to go back to whichever book Cat and Bones married in cause (view spoiler)
I'm looking forward to the next one!
If you find it...let us know! I didn't pick up on that...dang, gotta get that series re-read, too! Loved it, and think it's time for a revisit.
I was right! What Cat said to each of them were different! Both Bones and Gregor said, "by my blood, you are my wife". Cat responded to Bones, "by my blood, you are my husband", but to Gregor, she said, "by my blood, I am your wife". I know that technically, she was making the same claim, but she never acknowledged Gregor as her husband! Wouldn't that make a difference? LOL
LOL! It definitely should!
Shelf: 2011
Finished: 8/22/12
Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Man. That ending. Man.
This is the third book and the conclusion of Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls series. I didn't like the first book, but enjoyed Linger well enough - I wanted to see where Isabel and Cole ended up. Well... I didn't like this as much as Linger. Even though (view spoiler), there didn't seem to be much action going on. There were a lot of chapters that seemed to be padded out for a higher page count. I wasn't really convinced by Sam and Grace's connection -- there didn't seem to be a sense of urgency anymore. And there were some plotlines, such as Olivia's story, that were tied up too quickly without much elaboration.
I dunno, I didn't dislike it, hence the 3 stars (and Cole, aaagh, I loved Cole), but I wasn't really feeling it, either. I'm excited for her upcoming book, The Raven Boys, but it's a four-part series and I just hope she's able to maintain the same level of consistency throughout the whole thing.
by Faith HunterShelf: 2011
Date finished: 8/22/12
Rating: ★★★★☆
Thoughts:
Jane Yellowrock is a skinwalker with Cherokee roots, in a world where vampires (fairly traditional kind) and witches exist. The witches and vamps don't particularly get along, but generally leave one another alone, for various reasons. We learn a little more about that, and the "origin" of vamps this time.
Jane has been hired to track down a vamp that is making new vamps, but without proper precautions, allowing those young vamps to go rogue. Her employer is not particularly pleased with her related to her previous task for them, so she's walking a careful line. Her best friend, Molly, and Molly's two kids are also visiting...and get horribly caught up in the vampire hunt.
This is a very solid, interesting world. The sexual tension between Jane and the guys interested in her (blood servant George "Bruiser" Dumas, and cop Rick (Ricky Bo) LeFleur) gives a nice spice to the action as well. I enjoy the interaction between Beast and Jane as well.
I waited quite awhile to pick this up (soooo many books I want to read...not enough time!), and am happy to have the next on hand, and more waiting for me to purchase!
Apologies in advance for the gigantic review!
Shelf: 2011
Date Finished 8/24/12
Rating 5 Stars
I really liked this book. I wish I didn't need to write a review on it since my thoughts on it are disjointed and chaotic but I'm doing it for a challenge that needs a review. So remember that no matter what rambling direction this review takes, I really liked this book.
My history with Pratchett is a weird one. I read Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch longer ago than I care to remember. I loved it. But somehow I tranfered all that love to Neil Gaiman, maybe because I'm shallow and have always been a sucker for that floppy, dark hair(
). Anyway, I read (and enjoyed) a ton of Gaiman books after that. But didn't pick up a Pratchett for a very long time. Then I tried to read The Color of Magic. I tried a couple of times and just could not get into it. But then I hear, don't start at the beginning, it's not that good. And then I find This awesome guide to discworld reading orders. And then I read The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30) and loved it, even though I'm not a particular fan of YA. I am a fan of wordplay, satire and dry British humor so I knew I wanted to read more in the series. So now here I am.After Wee Free Men I was intrigued by Granny Weatherwax so I decided to start on the "Witches" track. Equal Rites is the first book in the Witches series and after reading Wee Free Men, you can see that Granny is not quite as formed a character here. But I still love Granny. She's confident and brave and dispenses sage advice that sounds like meaningless drivel. Here she's mentoring Esk, a young girl given the power of a wizard accidentally at birth. Accidentally because women aren't wizards, they're witches. So Granny does the best she can to teach Esk witchery but really can't help her with her wizard's power. I could easily write an essay here on the wonderful way Pratchett incorporates traditional High (wizard) and Low (witch) magics. But I won't...
The other reason this spoke to me was the fact that I was reading it this week in the US and it deals greatly (thought with great humor) with gender expectations and politics. I could again write a diatribe on it but given all the talk about "legitimate" rape and the fundamental assault on women's rights that have occurred in this country since this book was written...but...well...I won't...
So, what about the actual book. Not as full of wordplay as Wee Free Men, there were still puns aplenty to find. Wonderful, silly nuggets of wisdom abound and Esk & Granny find them selves on quite the adventure. It was full of sentences that I read both for the humor and for the subtle wisdom - “She was already learning that if you ignore the rules people will, half the time, quietly rewrite them so that they don't apply to you.” - being just one.
Long story longer, I'm sold. I may go back and one point to read the first two but really, from here, I'm excited to move forward.
YES. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Karen! The witch books are my absolute favorites -- Pratchett is really talented with female characters. <3
BINGO R5: The Dirty Dozen
Shelf: 8/26 ~ magic (O22)
5/5; stamp requested 9/1; stamp received 9/2
Judithe: Grave Dance | finished 8/28/12 | 4 stars | review
Karen F: Shadow Walker | finished 8/27/12 | 4.5 stars | review
Susan: The Peach Keeper | finished 8/27/12 | 4 stars | review
Tania: Crave | finished 8/31/12 | 4 stars | review
Valerie: Seraphina | finished 9/1/12 | 5 stars | review
Very surprised that this week was a non-winning shelf! Next week will definitely be a game-ender, though. Here's where we stand:- Our winning shelves are *reader's choice, new-series, and psychic.
- Teams 4, 9, 13, and 18 also need *reader's choice. Teams 13 and 15 also need psychic. Teams 1, 2, 13, and 17 also need new-series.
I'll be reading Seraphina for the magic shelf. :)
Wow! Cannot believe that it's not a winning shelf!And I have one book left for my August challenges and it's on the Magic shelf so I'll be reading
I also have 1 left for my August challenge and it's on the shelf too YAY! I'll be reading
Ooh, looking forward to your review Susan. I haven't read that one but really enjoyed the others that I read by her.
KarenF wrote: "Ooh, looking forward to your review Susan. I haven't read that one but really enjoyed the others that I read by her."I've enjoyed the other books I've read by her too, so I'm looking forward to this one.
I'll be reading
.Also poked around and picked out books (NOT A Game of Thrones, even though it seems to be on every list recently...gotta read that SOON) just in case it's OUR shelf next week....ohhhhhh....the anticipation!
That's a good idea, Judithe. I may have to poke around and see what I can find so it'll be ready, cause I want to win!
Hi guys!Just got back from a trip to see a NASCAR race and have not had cell service in the states. Was looking hard for free wi-fi but no luck.
My book is done and I will post my review tomorrow and pick this weeks book.
Can't believe the game is still going! We can actually win! Will be reading fast and will post review early so I don't hold anything up.
Hope you a had a great weekend
Hi gang,I will be reading "Crave" by LJ Smith
Shelf magic
date finished 8/27/12
rating 4 stars
I haven't read a book by Sarah Addison Allen that I haven't liked. She has a quality to her writing that sucks you in with it's beauty and magic.
This was a book about friendship. Yes, it had some romance in it, but it was ultimately about Willa and Paxton becoming friends, like their grandmothers had been. I don't want to say too much cause it will give away the plot :) I will say that I have a smile on my face that I don't see going away ;) I'm looking forward to reading more by SAA.
Just finished and loved mine!!! Have to finish another paper (that I pushed off because I HAD to know how Grave Dance ended) but will be back with it soon (probably tomorrow...tonight if my fingers, and brain(!) fly!)
Shelf: Magic
Date Finished: 8/27/12
Rating: 4.5 *s
4.5 *s This was my favorite of the series yet. It's certainly the most emotional. And I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish it. Janet is battling to save her own life, Mick's life and their relationship. She's running against a deadline and to top it all off, she's often fighting against the man she loves. I don't want to give too much away but it becomes clear pretty early on that Mick is not himself. And the only thing scarier than Mick not being himself is the being powerful enough to make him that way.
But Janet isn't alone. We learn much more about her family as her powerful, take no BS grandmother comes to stay for a while. Her half sister starts popping up (literally) everywhere. Nash, Maya and the rest of the gang are around. Coyote doesn't get much screen time in this book but he pops up for the important parts, as he does. Some dragons from the last book are back, including the charming, roguish Colby and the "by the book" Drake. He's like the Nash Jones of the dragons.
I really liked the first book, and was kind of "meh" on the second. This one really sold me on the series and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Completed August 24, 2012
Rating: 5 Stars
Thoughts:
I absolutely fell in love with this book. The author did such an amazing job with a different plot. When I first started reading this book, I thought “how corny is this going to be”? I mean love actually being removed from people, a criminal offence etc… However, the deeper I got the more enthralled I was with the story.
The characters are realistic, loveable and easy to associate with. The relationship between the two main characters; Lena and Alex, is truly interesting. A successful portrait of first love and its emotions. From the sweaty palms to the stomach butterflies, the author managed to capture it all. By the end of the book, you can actually feel the emotion and I for one find the intensity a rarity with many of the novels of today.
This first installment surpassed my expectations, from the vivid details to the characters and their interactions. There was action, romance, drama and weirdness all wrapped into one. I would highly recommend this book, as well as this series to anyone.
Loving the reviews. Just requested the 2011 stamp!
CONGRATULATIONS, Dirty Dozen!You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on '2011'.
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D
by Kalayna PriceShelf: Magic
Date finished: 8/28/12
Rating: ★★★★☆
Thoughts:
I finally got this series started two weeks ago (reviewed book 1 here for Angels Shelf), and really enjoyed the world. Obviously, as I scooped up book 2 fairly quickly.
This story picks up a month after book 1. Alex has had some time to recover and consider. She's also realizing that the fight with the sorcerer under the Blood Moon made more changes in her than she expected or was prepared for. Now, she's been hired to investigate another strange case, and ends up getting much more involved with the Fae than she expected/wanted.
The pacing is great, conversation & characters very good with lots of suspense and more. Very enjoyable series and I'm glad to see there's more coming out (and still have one to read while I wait)!
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
Visions of Heat (other topics)Visions of Heat (other topics)
Bonds of Justice (other topics)
The Peach Keeper (other topics)
Grave Dance (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Neil Gaiman (other topics)Susanna Kearsley (other topics)
Gena Showalter (other topics)
Jennifer Estep (other topics)
Melissa Marr (other topics)
Just a heads up, I'll be away at a baseball tourney (again) tomorrow...hoping not to get MORE sunburned...and hoping for no more cancellations due to thunderstorms! (The boys won, YAY!...but today's last game got moved to tomorrow...after a one-hour start delay....I'm gonna rush to get in at least a couple hours sleep before the next too early departure time!)
So, won't be checking in until late, but will get back to ya soon! Happy Shelf Day a little early!