Reading Challenge Progress Report 2019

This year, I set a goal on Goodreads to read 30 books this year. So far, I have 8 books towards those 30! Here’s a list of the books and my thoughts on them.

Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan, completed January 7

I’m not sure if I should count this book, because I read most of it in 2018. This was a great book, but it came at unfortunate timing. When I started reading it, we were in the middle of moving. I checked a hard copy out from the library because my copy was packed up in a box. However, I loved it SO MUCH, I decided to buy it as an eBook. I read it at my desk at work when I had down time, I read it at lunch, I read it in bed before going to sleep. I even read it in the bathtub! It’s the sixth book in the Wheel of Time series, and I am enjoying reading this series. It’s a classic high fantasy series, with a battle between darkness and light, good and evil. Jordan did an excellent job with world-building and character development.

Circe by Madeline Miller, completed January 17

This is, by far, my favorite so far this year. I loved, loved, loved this book! I love mythology, so this one was a no-brainer for me. My husband’s grandmother gave it to me for Christmas, because my in-laws are Scandinavian and like to keep some of the old world traditions alive. This was a beautiful story about an independent goddess in a world that wasn’t ready for her. I cannot suggest this book enough!

The Melted Sea by Sara C. Roethle, completed January 20

This was the second book in the Tree of Ages series, which I wrote about previously. The series, as I said before, is a little flat, but I truly believe it’s because it’s a fantasy novel trying to fit in a young adult novel’s voice and word count. It was enjoyable, but not in the challenging way I enjoy. If you’re looking for something light, this is a great option.

The Blood Forest by Sara C. Roethle, completed February 1

Third in the Tree of Ages series, this one fell a bit flatter than the others. It suffered from what I like to call “middle book syndrome,” where it’s more filler to get you to where you need to be for the next books. It’s not as significant as the first two or last two. However, I never skip books in a series, so I read it. A major plot point was introduced at the end of this book, and I feel it would’ve been better had this been introduced earlier in the series.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, completed February 3

This book takes place in the 70s, but it could easily take place today. It made me angry, which I think is what the author intended. I hated how everyone treated Dana. Dana is initially condescended to in her present day world by her husband, thinking she is irrational and emotional. When she travels back in time, she’s mistreated because she’s black and in the antebellum South. Eventually her husband believes her stories, but only because he gets pulled in with her. Her treatment worsens when she’s in the South. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so bad for a fictional character before.

Queen of Wands by Sara C. Roethle, completed March 5

This was a significant improvement from book 3 in this series. As I stated before, I feel the large plot device introduced at the end of the third book feels very rushed and I think it would’ve been better if it had been introduced earlier. It was starting to feel like I was telling the characters, “JUST KISS ALREADY, FOR PETE’S SAKE!”

The Oaken Throne by Sara C. Roethle, completed March 7

Ok, I’ll be honest on this one. I devoured it. It got good. I finally got what I wanted in the last book of the series. I cared about the characters. I knew there was going to be a way to avoid the horrible outcome the story looked to be on track for. I was glad when they avoided that horrible outcome. The author says she isn’t done with these characters yet, but I’m not sure if I want more with them. Time will tell, and I may decide to read more from this author some day.

Touch of a Highlander by Katy Baker, completed March 11

This one was a time-travel romance novel, set in Scotland. I got it for free on Amazon, and I’ll be honest, I’m glad it was free. It was pretty much what you would expect from a romance novel: girl meets boy after accident where he saves her, they fall in love in a matter of days, things accelerate, one party thinks the other has betrayed them, it gets revealed it was all a big misunderstanding, and then there’s a wedding. It’s one big Hallmark romcom. Only in print, and set in 1500s Scotland. Where everyone smells and their teeth are rotting out of their heads.

Eight books down, 22 to go! You can find all of these books on Amazon. I do not receive any kind of financial compensation for writing about these books.

What’s your reading goal for the year? Comment below or hit Contact Me up at the top! Happy reading!