Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2016

January 2, 20167 Comments

One thing I have learned in more than six years of blogging is that the only type of reading challenges I actually like taking part in are the ones that aren’t really ‘challenges’ at all! That’s why the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge hosted by Passages to the Past is perfect for me. I never have any trouble completing it as I already read so much historical fiction anyway, but I still enjoy linking my reviews to the monthly challenge posts and seeing what other participants have been reading. It’s a great way to discover new historical fiction novels and readers.

The challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st 2016 and there are six different levels to choose from:

20th Century Reader – 2 books
Victorian Reader – 5 books
Renaissance Reader – 10 books
Medieval – 15 books
Ancient History – 25 books
Prehistoric – 50+ books

Any type of historical fiction is accepted including sub-genres such as Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy and Young Adult.

I’ll be joining at the Prehistoric level again. In 2015 I read 72 historical fiction novels (you can see the list of titles here) so I’ll be aiming for 50+ books again this year.

I’ll be keeping track of my progress on this page.

If you’re interested in joining the challenge too, please see the sign-up post at Passages to the Past!

It’s time for R.I.P. X

August 31, 201510 Comments

Banner by Abigail Larson

R.I.P. (R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril) is one of my favourite reading events. I have taken part in it every year since 2010, with varying levels of success, and it’s now something I automatically associate with the beginning of September and the shortening of the days. The challenge has previously been hosted by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings but this year (the 10th anniversary) it is being hosted by someone else: Andi and Heather of The Estella Society.

As usual, the idea of R.I.P. is that during the months of September and October we will be reading books that fit one or more of the following categories:

Mystery
Suspense
Thriller
Dark Fantasy
Gothic
Horror
Supernatural

There are different levels of participation to choose from, but I am signing up for this one:

Peril the First: Read four books, any length, that you feel fit (the very broad definitions) of R.I.P. literature. It could be King or Conan Doyle, Penny or Poe, Chandler or Collins, Lovecraft or Leroux…or anyone in between.

Part of the fun of R.I.P. is making a list of books you could read. I don’t expect to read all of these – and I usually find that once I’ve made a list I end up wanting to read something else entirely – but here are a few possibilities.

From my Classics Club list:
The Romance of the Forest by Ann Radcliffe

For my TBR Project:
The Bones of Avalon by Phil Rickman

Next in a series:
The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters
Sovereign by CJ Sansom
The Lady of Sorrows by Anne Zouroudi
The Dead in their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley

First in a series:
What Angels Fear by CS Harris
The Queen’s Man by Sharon Penman

Books left over from previous R.I.P. lists:
Blood Harvest by Sharon Bolton
Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor
Ten Second Staircase by Christopher Fowler
Savage Magic by Lloyd Shepherd

Are you taking part in R.I.P. this year? What will you be reading?

Once Upon a Time IX

March 21, 2015March 21, 201511 Comments

(Art by Kimberly Kincaid)

Spring is here at last – and so is the start of this year’s Once Upon a Time reading challenge, hosted by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings. The challenge is in its ninth year but this is the first time I’ve decided to take part.

The event runs from 21st March (today) to 21st June and involves reading books (or watching films or playing games) that encompass four categories: Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy and Mythology. There are different levels of participation and as this is my first year – and these are not genres I read very often – I’m signing up for The Journey level. This is perfect for me because it means I don’t need to commit to any specific number of books, as long as I read at least one.

I already own several books that would count towards this challenge, including these:

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay
Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Have you read any of these books?

Will you be taking part in Once Upon a Time?

Forgotten Histories Reading Challenge

February 21, 2015February 21, 201513 Comments

I have been trying not to sign up for many reading challenges this year, but I really like the idea of this one – and it overlaps with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge that I’m already taking part in.

The Forgotten Histories Reading Challenge is hosted by Jess at Curiouser and Curiouser in partnership with Amy at Passages to the Past (the host of the Historical Fiction Challenge) and any books read can count towards both challenges.

The rules:

The challenge will run from the 2nd-29th of March and each week will feature a different theme:

Week 1 – Read an alternate history book (e.g. Dominion by C. J. Sansom)

Week 2 – Read a book with a non-white protagonist (e.g. The Queen’s Secret by Victoria Lamb)

Week 3 – Read a book with an LGBT protagonist (e.g. Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters)

Week 4 – Read a book that is NOT set in Europe (including Britain) or North America (e.g. Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin)

As you can see, the aim of Forgotten Histories is to encourage people to read more diversely within the historical fiction genre, which I think is a great idea. I don’t know if I’ll be able to read books from all four of these categories in March, but I’ll read as many as I can. I’m already looking at my shelves to see if I have something to fit each category – any recommendations are welcome!

2015 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

January 6, 2015January 6, 201510 Comments

I’ve been avoiding the temptation to sign up for any reading challenges for 2015 as I want to keep things simple and free of stress. However, I’ve been awaiting the announcement of this year’s Historical Fiction Reading Challenge as it’s one challenge that I always like to participate in and don’t find stressful at all!

This challenge has previously been hosted by Historical Tapestry but there’s a new host this year – Amy at Passages to the Past. Amy is very active in the historical fiction community and I’m sure she’ll be a great host.

The challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st 2015 and there are six different levels to choose from:

20th century Reader – 2 books
Victorian Reader – 5 books
Renaissance Reader – 10 books
Medieval – 15 books
Ancient History – 25 books
Prehistoric – 50+ books

Any type of historical fiction is accepted including sub-genres such as Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy and Young Adult.

As such a large proportion of my reading is historical fiction anyway, I know I will read more than 25 books so although I might not reach 50 I’m going to aim for the Prehistoric level.

I’ll be keeping track of my progress on my Challenges page.

If you’re interested in joining the challenge too, please see the challenge sign-up post at Passages to the Past!

R.I.P. IX is here!

August 30, 2014August 30, 201420 Comments

It’s the first day of September on Monday and that can only mean one thing…the start of R.I.P. (R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril), my favourite reading challenge! R.I.P. is now in its ninth year and is again hosted by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings.

If you need a reminder, the idea of R.I.P. is to read books that fit one or more of the following categories during the months of September and October:

Mystery
Suspense
Thriller
Dark Fantasy
Gothic
Horror
Supernatural

As usual, there are different levels of participation to choose from – and I have chosen this one:

“Peril the First:

Read four books, any length, that you feel fit (the very broad definitions) of R.I.P. literature. It could be King or Conan Doyle, Penny or Poe, Chandler or Collins, Lovecraft or Leroux…or anyone in between.”

I’m hoping to read some of the books below. I know I won’t have time to read all of these, but part of the fun of R.I.P. is compiling a list of possibilities! I find it difficult to stick to lists, though, so I might change my mind and decide to read something entirely different.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (The Estella Society are hosting a R.I.P. readalong)
The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters
The Romance of the Forest by Ann Radcliffe
Savage Magic by Lloyd Shepherd
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom
The House by the Churchyard by Sheridan Le Fanu
Vlad: The Last Confession by C.C. Humphreys
What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris
Blood Harvest by Sharon Bolton
Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor
The Dead in their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley

Will you be taking part in R.I.P. this year?

Completed Challenge: What’s in a Name?

August 16, 201414 Comments

I only signed up for two reading challenges at the beginning of 2014 and I’m pleased to say that I’ve now completed one of them! This was the What’s in a Name? challenge, hosted for the first time this year by Charlie of The Worm Hole.

The idea of the challenge was to read one book from each of five categories, plus an optional bonus category. The categories and the books that I read are listed below:

A reference to time: