Challenges galore!

Is it already halfway through April? What is happening to this year - it's just flying. I thought, since the first quarter of the year has passed, that I'd write an update on my reading challenges. 

At the beginning of the year I took on five challenges - two reading bingos, two of my own goal challenges, and a challenge over at Worlds Without End. I think I'm doing pretty great so far. While I may be behind on my overall goal, I'm much better than I thought I would be on the individual challenges.

Bingo 1

This is one of the challenges I think I'm doing pretty awesome with. Not to brag or anything. I've read 9 books towards it and have completed about a quarter ish, if my maths is correct (which it probably is not...) so I'm on track to finish on time.

Here are the books I've read:

The Immortal Rules | Julie Kagawa

Sworn To Raise | Terah Edun

The Castle Behind Thorns | Merrie Haskell

Rebel | Amy Tintera

Proxy | Alex London

Fragile Eternity | Melissa Marr

Radiant Shadows | Melissa Marr

Stolen Songbird | Danielle. L. Jensen

Black Dog | Rachel Neumeier

Bingo 2

11 books down!! Only 13 to go. This is by far my favourite bingo of all time. Each square is different and inventive. Here are the books I've read:

The Murder Complex | Lindsay Cummings

Riot | Sarah Mussi

The Blood List | Sarah Naughton

Ignite Me | Tahereh Mafi

Altered | Jennifer Rush

The Vanishing Season | Jodi Lynn Anderson

Daughter of Smoke and Bone | Laini Taylor

Infinityglass | Myra McEntire

The Gathering Dark | Leigh Bardugo

Days of Blood and Starlight | Laini Taylor

The Winner's Curse | Marie Rutkoski

Science Fiction challenge

This is one of the goals I set for myself. I want to read 10 sci fi books by the end of the year. So far I have read:

1 - Infinityglass | Myra McEntire

2 - Erased | Jennifer Rush
3 - Rebel | Amy Tintera
4 - The Murder Complex | Lindsay Cummings

Dystopia challenge

Another challenge I set for myself to make myself actually read the dystopic books on my shelves, specifically 25 books. As you can see, I'm doing shit on this challenge. Here's what I've read:

1 - Riot | Sarah Mussi

2 - Ignite Me | Tahereh Mafi

3 - The Immortal Rules | Julie Kagawa
4 - Proxy | Alex London

Women writers of genre fiction challenge

I haven't done so good with this one, mostly because there's only a few specific women writers listed on the Worlds Without End database and the books I've been writing aren't listed. But I have read:

1 - Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke & Bone)

2 - Leigh Bardugo (The Gathering Dark, A.K.A. Shadow & Bone)

General stats:

Books read as of 20/4: 21

Did not finish: 6

Series started: 9

Series completed: 4

Favourite so far: Daughter of Smoke & Bone / Days of Blood & Starlight | Laini Taylor

Least favourite so far: The Blood List | Sarah Naughton

The Headhunters Race (RC Review)

Headhunters: The Headhunters Race | Kimberly Afe

Published by: January Sky Publishing, January 3rd 2014

Genre: YA, Dystopia, Survival Story

Pages: 196

Format: Ebook

Source: Provided by author in exchange for an honest review

Sixteen-year-old Avene was sentenced to prison at thirteen for a crime she didn't commit. Now she has a chance to win her freedom back – if she enters the Headhunters Race. Second prize isn't so bad either, an upgrade to the Leisure Prison if you make it to the finish line. To win either prize, Avene and the other prisoners must navigate one hundred and fifty miles of dense forest, desert, and worst of all, cannibal territory.

With a mechanical collar timed to strangle the prisoners if they're not back in nine days, Avene allies herself with seventeen-year-old McCoy, another prisoner that insists on helping her at every turn and a boy she's trying hard not to fall for. Together they battle nature, other prisoners, and the timed death collars to win the coveted prize. But when Avene is tested with one deadly conflict after another, she realizes there is more at stake than winning her freedom – first she has to survive.

When I started reading this, I expected more dystopia than survival story and I am extra happy that this book is what it is.

In The Headhunters Race Avene, the protagonist, is imprisoned with only one hope of getting out of jail - win a manhunt of prisoners organised by the governor, and capture a fugitive in return for her freedom. But she'll have to battle criminals much more deadly than her in order to return the fugitive to the governor - her sadistic stepfather.

The Headhunter's Race reads, quite unexpectedly, as a modern survivalist fairy tale. The imprisoned girl, the malevolent stepfather, the huge task she has to complete in order to achieve her goal - freedom. I loved all the different elements of this book. The transition from prison to wildlands is seamless, the threats and dangers piled on top of each other to create an impossible summit of conflict Avene had to overcome, and made for a compelling and at parts emotional thrill ride.

I had a couple issues with the middle of the book, where it seemed like threats were being thrown at Avene one after another for no apparent reason. I feel like this could have worked better had Avene made some real progress and then had set backs spaced at crucial moments - which actually did happen later in the book. But other than that, I enjoyed it.

The Headhunters Race is a fast paced, quick read to be enjoyed by fans of dystopia, post-apocalyptic, and contemporary thrillers alike.

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing Style ★★★☆☆

Proxy ( #LGBTApril Review)

Proxy: Proxy | Alex London

Published by: Philomel, June 18th 2013

Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Pages: 384

Format: Ebook

Source: Bought

Knox was born into one of the City’s wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.

Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own.

Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.

Proxy is a fast paced science fiction thriller with twists and turns abound and a (hallelujah) diverse cast of characters.

I liked a lot of things about Proxy. I liked the diversity of characters, how Alex London so spectacularly made his characters people, and didn't fall into the monotony of perpetuating the same old stereotypes. Syd's skin colour and sexuality is not made a big deal of - it's part of him, but it's not his personality and it's not his story. I loved that and I loved Syd.

I especially loved Knox, the little shit that he is, but let's just not go there ... ever.
((What the hell was that ending? *squints at Alex London for a full hour* What was that?))

Marie was pretty great too and I liked her motives ad beliefs and complexities. Looking forward to learning more about her in Guardian.

The plot, the pace, and the worldbuilding (oh, the worldbuilding!) were all pretty miraculous. Not gonna lie when I heard this book was about a) a character of colour and b) a gay guy, I assumed most of the plot would revolve around that character being pigeonholed or vicitimised because of said traits (made a slave because he's black, institutionalised because he's gay, etc). But what I got was a fully developed futuristic dystopic world, a fucked up ruling system, social classes, inequality that had little to do with race or sexuality, shit hitting the fan, a rich party boy thrown into the real world, and a rebellion that was equal parts 'whoa cool' and 'what the ever-loving fuck?'

Basically, read this book right now.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing Style ★★★☆☆

Out Today: House of Ivy and Sorrow

House of Ivy & Sorrow | Natalie Whipple

from HarperTeen

Josephine Hemlock has spent the last 10 years hiding from the Curse that killed her mother. But when a mysterious man arrives at her ivy-covered, magic-fortified home, it’s clear her mother’s killer has finally come to destroy the rest of the Hemlock bloodline. Before Jo can even think about fighting back, she must figure out who she’s fighting in the first place. The more truth Jo uncovers, the deeper she falls into witchcraft darker than she ever imagined. Trapped and running out of time, she begins to wonder if the very Curse that killed her mother is the only way to save everyone she loves.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

From my review (x)

A unique tale of family, love, and witchcraft. House of Ivy and Sorrow was a quick, enjoyable read.

Reading round up (22)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress and my thoughts on each book as I read it. *drops down dead* I'm not sure what my life even is at this point. I need another Rosamund Hodge book to read.

7th April

I don't know what I'm doing. I'm still hung over from DoSaB, and Gilded Ashes, and now The Winner's Curse. So I started The Gathering Dark (Shadow & Bone) by Leigh Bardugo (50 pages). I really like it so far, though I don't love it, which I expected to. The world building is great though.

8th April

Currently reading: The Gathering Dark | Leigh Bardugo

Current page/percent: page 127

# of pages/percentage read today: 77 pages

Thoughts: Love Alina, love the Darkling. But not as enamoured as I thought I'd be.

9th April

Currently reading: The Gathering Dark | Leigh Bardugo
Current page/percent: page 230
# of pages/percentage read today: 103 pages

Thoughts: Loving the Darkling's irredeemable evil. Hoping he doesn't turn good in the next two books!

10th April

Finished The Gathering Dark. It wasn't as epic or sweeping as I hoped it would be, but it was still pretty amazing and I can't wait to read the next book in series. I also started reading 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare again and it's much better now I'm patient enough to stick with it.

11th April

Currently reading: The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare | MG Buehrlen

Current page/percent: 29%

# of pages/percentage read today: 10%

Thoughts: I'm still not completely into this. Sensing a 3 star review. It's alright though, I like it well enough.

12th April

So I read Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor (100%) because I NEED DREAMS OF GODS AND MONSTERS ALREADY. I'm so impatient. Can it be next week already? (or better yet: can I live in the US so I can have already got it? If with a sub-beautiful cover because ours are SO much nicer, but I'll settle!!)

13th April

I've lost interest in 57 Lives at 33%. I just don't think this book is for me right now. Maybe in the future, I'll read it and love it. But any time soon? Nope. So I carried on reading Proxy by Alex London to 70% (24% read). I like it but I don't love it right now.

Books finished this week: 2