majkia drinks tea and reads

Hello! I'm Jean, welcome to my tea and books thread. Despite 20 years in the US Air Force, I never could learn to drink coffee (and believe it that the US military runs on coffee). So, long time tea drinker, long time book reader!

This year my challenges are:
1. Focus Series: Science Fiction -
2. Focus Series: SFF -
3. Focus Series: Mystery/Thriller -
4. Books written before 1950 -
5. Big Fat Books (books >500 pages) -
6. Bookspin -
TBR Deck of Cards -
7. Library Books (trying desperately to read the stuff in my library wishlist) -
8. Dog, KITs and CATs (selected options here, and just dipping a toe in where the topic fits my TBR) -

Challenges I'm scheduled for:
March: MysteryKIT
May: SFFKIT
August: MysteryKIT
November: RandomKIT
December: SFFKIT

Tickers:









🎵 🕮

Books Read First Quarter


January (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
1. Dying to Sin - Stephen Booth - Series: Cooper&Fry #8 - ROOT, MysteryKIT, Focus:Mystery
2. The Executor - Margaret Oliphant - Series: Calingford #1 - ROOT, Classic
🖤 3. City of Dragons - Robin Hobb - Series: Rainwilds #3 - ROOT, Focus-SFF, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, BingoDOG
4. This Immortal - Roger Zelazny - ☑ (Read by: Victor Levine) - ROOT, TBRCARDS, AlphaKIT
5. Inspector French's Greatest Case - F.W. Crofts - Series: Insp French #1 - ROOT, Classic, MysteryKIT
6. The Rector - Margaret Oliphant - Series: Carlingford #2 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, Classic
7. City of Stairs - Robert J. Bennett - Series: Devine Cities#1 - ROOT, Focus:SFF, Bookspin
8. The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman - Series: Thursday Murder Club #1 - ☑ (Read by: Leslie Manville ) - AlphaKIT, #NYWHODIS, Library Book
9. The Blessing Way - Tony Hillerman - Series: Leaphorn #1 - ROOT, mysteryKIT
10. The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Kline - ☑ (Read by: Daniel Henning ) - ROOT, Bookspin (December), RandomCAT
11. Veiled Alliances - Kevin J. Anderson - ☑ (Read by: David Colacci ) - ROOT, Focus:SciFi,
12. Closed Circles - Vivica Sten - Series: Sandhamn #2 - ☑ (Read by: Angela Dawe ) - ROOT, MysteryKIT, Bookspin, BingoDOG
13. The Doctor's Family - Margaret Oliphant - Series: Carlingford #3 - ROOT, Classic
14. Dreadnaught - Jack Campbell - Series: Geary #7 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi
15. Mindstar Rising - Peter F. Hamilton - Series: Greg Mandel #1 - ☑ (Read by: Toby Longworth) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, Series: SciFi

February (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
16. The Ten Thousand Doors of January - Alix E. Harrow - ☑ (Read by: January LeVoy) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, BingoDOG
17. Sheepfarmer's Daughter - Elizabeth Moon - Series: Deeds of Paksenarrion #1 - ROOT. Focus:SFF. BingoDOG
🖤 18. Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir - ☑ (Read by: Ray Porter) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, BingoDOG
19. The Blood of Dragons - Robin Hobb - ☑ (Read by: Anne Flosnick) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, Focus-SFF
20. Black Cat Murders - Karen Baugh Menuhin - Series: Lennox #2 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, RandomCAT
21. Aunt Dimity and the Duke - Nancy Atherton - Series: Aunt Dimity #2 - ROOT, MysteryKIT, TBR Deck, BingoDOG

March (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
22. Termination Shock - Neal Stephenson - ☑ (Read by: Eduardo Ballerini) - ROOT, BFB, Bookspin
23. A Peace Divided - Tanya Huff - Series: Confederation #7 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi, Bookspin
24. Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet - M.C. Beaton - Series: Agatha Raisin #1, (Read by: Diana Bishop) - ROOT, mysterykit
🖤 25. Invincible - Jack Campbell - Series: Lost Fleet #8 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi,
26. Arcadia - Ian Pears - ROOT, BFB, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT
27. Slow Horses - Mick Herron - Series: Slough House #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, BingoDOG
28. Ruins of the Galaxy - JN Chaney - Series: Ruins of the Galaxy #1 - ROOT, BFB, AlphaKIT, Focus: Sci Fi
29. Duplicate Effort - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval Artist #7 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi,

Books Read Second Quarter


April (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
30. How To Rule an Empire and Get Away With It - K.J. Parker - Series: Siege #2 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, Deck of Cards
31. A Place of Hiding - Elizabeth George - Series: Lynley/Havers #12 - ROOT, BFB, Focus:Mystery
32. A Study in Silks - Emma Jane Holloway - Series: Baskerville Affair #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, BFB, Bookspin
33. Corporation Wars: Dissidence - Ken MacLeod - Series: Corporation Wars #1 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi,
34. The Darkness - Ragnar Jonasson - Series: Hidden Iceland #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, MysteryKIT, RandomKIT
35. The Summer Before the War - Helen Simonson - ROOT, Deck of Cards, - DNF
🖤 36. One Good Dragon Deserves Another - Rachel Aaron - Heartstrikers #2 - ROOT, Bookspin, SFFKIT
37. Murder at Old St. Thomas's - Lisa M. Lane - Early Reviewer

May (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
38. Fool's Assassin - Robin Hobb - Elderlings #5 - ROOT, BFB, Focus:SFF
39. Spin - Robert Charles Wilson - Spin #1 - ROOT, SFFKIT, Focus:SciFi
40. The Privilege of Peace - Tanya Huff - Confederation #8 - ROOT, SFFKIT, Focus:SciFi
41. He Who Fears the Wolf - Karin Fossum - Series: Sejer #3 - ROOT, MysteryKIT
42. Redemption Ark - Alastair Reynolds - Series: Revelation Space #3 - ROOT, BFB, Focus:SciFi, Bookspin
43. Dance Hall of the Dead - Tony Hillerman - Series:Leaphorn #2 - ROOT, AlphaKIT
🖤 44. The Once and Future Witches - Alix E. Harrow - ROOT, AlphaKIT, BFB,
45. On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service - Rhys Bowen - Series: Her Royal Spyness #11 - ROOT, Focus:Mystery, AlphaKIT
46. Anniversary Day - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval Artist #8 - ROOT, Bookspin, Focus:Scifi
47. A Deepness in the Sky - Vernor Vinge -Series: Zones of Thought #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, BFB

June (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
48. The Gate Keeper - Charles Todd - Series: Ian Rutledge #20 - ROOT, MYsteryKIT, Library Book, Series: Mystery
49. Lady Audley's Secret - M.E. Braddon - ROOT, Classic, BFB, Bookspin, mysterykit
51. Blowback - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval Artist #9 - ROOT, Series:SciFi, SFFKIT
52. A Murder of Clones - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval Artist #10 - ROOT, Series: SciFi, SFFKIT
53. An Officer and a Spy - Robert Harris - Library Book, MysteryKIT
54. The Case of the Missing Marquess - Nancy Springer - Series: Enola Holmes #1 - MysterKIT, AlphaKIT
55. A Quantum Murder - Peter F. Hamilton - Series: Greg Mandel #2 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SeriesFocus:SciFi, SFFKIT
56. Miss Mackenzie - Anthony Trollope - ROOT, BingoDOG, Classic
57. The Man Who Died Twice - Richard Osman - Library,
🖤 58. The Starless Crown - James Rollins - ROOT, BFB, Bookspin
59. The Salzburg Connection - Helen MacInnes - ROOT
60. Bob's Saucer Repair - Jerry Boyd - Series: Bob and Nikki #1 - ROOT,

Books Read Third Quarter


July (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
🖤 60. Artemis - Andy Weir - Deck of Cards, ROOT
61. Crimson Shore - Preston/Child - Focus: Mystery, Library
62. They Found Him Dead - Georgette Heyer - ROOT, Classic, AlphaKIT, MysteryKIT,
63. One Way - S.J. Morden - Bookspin, Root
64. Search & Recovery - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval Artist #11 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi, SFFKIT
🖤 65. Guardian - Jack Campbell - Series: John Geary #9 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi,
66. The Family Trade - Charles Stross - Series: Merchant Princes #1 - ROOT, Focus:SFF, SFFKIT
67. Bob's Saucer Repair
68. Meet Me In Malmo - Torquil MacLeod - Sundstrom #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIt
69. The God Is Not Willing - Steven Erickson - Series: Witness #1 - ROOT, Bookspin, AlphaKIT
70. The High Crusade - Poul Anderson - ROOT
71. Mayhem At the Orient Express - Lylie Logan - DNF, ROOT
72. Axis - Robert Charles Wilson - Series: Spin #2 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi

August (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
73. Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding - Rhys Bowen - Series: Her Royal Spyness #12 - ROOT, Focus:Mystery
74. Grey Mask - Patricia Wentworth - Miss Silver #1 - ROOT, classic, DNF
🖤 75. Shards of Earth - Adrian Tchaikovsky - Series: Final Architect #1 - ROOT, BFB, Bookspiin
76. The Peyti Crisis - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval ARtist #12 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi,
77. The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra - Vaneem Khan - Series: Baby Ganesh Detective Agency #1 - ROOT
78. Kingdom of Bones - James Rollins - Series: Sigma Force #22 - ROOT, Focus:Mystery
79. Death in the Fifth Position - Edgar Box (Gore Vidal) - Series: Peter Sergeant #1 - ROOT, Doublespin, BingoDOG, Classic
80. Listening Woman - Tony Hillerman - Series: Leapchee #3 - Library Book, Focus: Mystery
🖤 81. The Nano Flower - Peter F. Hamilton - Series: Greg Mandel #3 - Focus Series, AlphaKIT, BFB,
82. Death in a Strange Country - Donna Leon - Brunelli #2 - ROOT



September (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
83. In Plain Sight Arcane Casebook 1 - Dan Willis - Series: Arcane Casebook #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT
🖤 84. Fool's Quest - Robin Hobb - Fitz and the Fool #2 - SFFKIT, Focus:SFF, Library Book,
85. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E. Schwab - AlphaKIT, SFFKIT
86. Nophek Gloss - Nicholas Eames - Series: The Graven #1 - DNF - ROOT
87. Kings of the Wyld - Nicholas Eames - Series :The Band #1 - AlphaKIT, ROOT, SFFKIT
88. The Sussex Downs Murders - John Bude - ROOT, Classic
89. Beneath a Scarlet Sky - Mark Sullivan - ROOT, BFB,
90. The Comforts of Home - Susan Hill - Series: Serrailer #9 - ROOT,
91. The Obsidian Chamber - Preston/Child - Series: Pendergast #16 - ROOT, BBFB, Focus:Mystery
92. The Bullet That Missed - Richard Osman - Library,
93. The Kill Call - Stephen Booth - Series: Cooper & Fry #9 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, BFB, Focus: Mystery
94. The Kaiju Preservation Society - JOhn Scalzi - ROOT, AlphaKIT
95. Assassin's Fate - Robin Hobb - Fitz and the Fool #3 - Focus-SFF,

Books Read Fourth Quarter


October (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
96. Vortex - Robert Charles Wilson - Series: Spin #3 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT
97. Sabriel - Garth Nix - Series: Absoren #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT
98. Iron Widow - Ziran Jay Zhao - AlphaKIT, Library Books
99. Steadfast The Lost Fleet - Jack Campbell - Series: Admr Geary #10 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi, SFFKIT
100. The Space Between Worlds - M Johnson - DNF - Bookspin, Library Book
101. With No One As Witness - Elizabeth George - Series: Lynley/Havers #13 - BFB, Focus:Mystery, ROOT
102. Ringworld - Larry Niven - ROOT, AlphaKIT
103. A Dead Djinn in Cairo - P Djeli Clark - ROOT
104. Vigilantes - Retrieval Artist - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval ARtist #13 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi
105. The Black Ascot - Charles Todd - Series:Rutledge #21 - ROOT, Focus:Mystery


November (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
106. Spinneret - Timothy Zahn - ROOT, AlphaKIT
107. The Citadel of Weeping Pearls - Aliete deBodard - ROOT, Bookspin
108. The Grace of Kings - Ken Liu - Dandelion Dynasy #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT
109. Starbase Human - K.K. Rusch - Retrieval Artist #14 - ROOT,. Focus:Sci Fi,
110. Inkheart - Cornelia Funke - DNF
111. Masterminds Retrieval Artist series - K.K. Rusch - Retrieval Artist #15 - ROOT, Focus: SciFi
112. A Practical Guide to Conquering the World - K.J.Parker - Series: Siege #3 - ROOT
113. Touch Not the Cat - Mary Stewart - ROOT, MysteryKIT
114. Lost Fleet: Leviathan - Jack Campbell - Series: Adm Geary #11 - ROOT, Focus: SciFi
115. No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished - Rachel Aaron - Series: Heartstriker #3 - ROOT, BFB
116. Upgrade - Blake Crouch - ROOT, alphaKIT

December (I'll 🖤 the month's favorite book )
117. Sorcery Reborn - Steve McHugh - Rebellion Chronicles #1 - ROOT
118. Mythos - Stephen Fry - ROOT
119. Lost River - Stephen Booth - Series: Cooper and Fry #10 - ROOT, Focus: Mystery
120. Binti - Nnedi Okorafor - ROOT, Series:Sci Fi
121. Wanderers - Chuck Wendig - ROOT, BFB, AlphaKIT
122. A Ghost of a Chance - Dan Willis
Series: Arcane Chronicles #2 - ROOT, AlphaKIT,
123. Age of Ash - Daniel Abraham - Series: Kithamar #1 - ROOT, Bookspin
124. The Armored Saint - Myke Cole - Series: Sacred Throne #1- ROOT, Focus:SFF, SFFKIT
125. The Salvage Crew - Y Wijeratne - ROOT, AlphaKIT
126. What Came Before He Shot Her - Elizabeth George - Series: Lynley/Havers #14 - ROOT, BFB, AlphaKIT, Focus: Mystery
127. The Praxis - Walter Jon Williams - Series: Dread Empire's Fall - ROOT, AlphaKIT, Series:SciFi

Challenge 1 : Focus Series: Science Fiction - Read: 6


Revelation Space - Alastair Reynolds
✅ #3 - Redemption Ark
#4 - Absolution Gap - Tantor
#5 - The Prefect - Tantor
#6 - Elysium Fire

Greg Mandel -Peter F. Hamilton
✅ #1 - Mindstar Rising
✅ #2 - The Quantum Murder
#3 - The Nano Flower

Confederation - Tanya Huff
✅ #7 - A Peace Divided
✅#8 - The Privilege of Peace

✅ The Retrieval Artist - K.K. Rusch
✅ #7 - Duplicate Effort
✅ #8 - Anniversary Day
✅ #9 - Blowback
✅ #10 - A Murder of Clones
✅#11 - Search and Recovery
✅ #12 - The Peyti Crisis
✅ #13 - Vigilantes
✅ #14 - Starbase Human
✅ #15 - Masterminds

The Lost Fleet - Jack Campbell
✅ #7 - Dreadnaught
✅ #8 - Invincible
✅ #9 - Guardian
✅ #10 - Steadfast
✅ #11 - Leviathan

Saga of Seven Suns - Kevin J. Anderson
✅ #8 - Veiled Alliances
#9 - The Dark Between the Stars
#10 Blood of the Cosmos
#11 - Eternity's Mind

✅ Spin - F. Paul Wilson
✅ #1. Spin
✅ #2. Axis
✅ #3. Vortex

Embers of War - Garth Powell
#1. Embers of War
#2. Fleet of Knives
#3. Light of Impossible Stars

Corporation Wars - Ken McLeod
✅ #1. Dissidence
#2. Insurgence
#3. Emergence

Ruins of the Galaxy - JN Chaney/ Hopper
✅ #1 - Ruins of the Galaxy

Challenge 2: Focus Series: SFF - Read: 4


The Daevabad Series - S.A. Chakraborty
#1. City of Brass
#2. Kingdom of Copper (Library)
#3. Empire of Gold (Library)

A Chorus of Dragons - Jen Lyons
#1. The Ruin of Kings (K)
#2. The Name of All Things
#3. The Memory of Souls
#4. The House of Always


The Devine Cities Trilogy- Robert Bennett
✅ #1 - City of Stairs (re-read)
#2 - City of Blades
#3- City of Miracles

Repairman Jack - F Paul Wilson
#7 - Gateways (K)
#8 - Crisscross
#9 - Infernal
#10 - Harbingers
#11 - Bloodline
#12 - By the Sword
#13 - Ground Zero
#14 -Fatal Error
#15 - The Dark at the End
#16 - Nightworld

✅ Realm of Elderlings - Robin Hobb
✅ #12 - City of Dragons
✅ #13 - Blood of Dragons
✅ #14 - The Fool's Assassin - library audio
✅ #15 - Fool's Quest - library audio
✅ #16 - Assassin's Fate - library audio

Deeds of Paksenarrion - Elizabeth Moon
✅ #1 - The Sheepfarmer's Daughter
#2 - Divided Allegiance
#3 - Oath of Gold

Book of the Ancestor - Mark Lawrence
#1 - Red Sister
#2 - Grey Sister
#3 - Holy Sister

The Sacred Throne - Myke Cole
✅ #1 - The Armored Saint
#2 - Queen of Crows
#3 - The Falling Light

Merchant Princes - Charles Stross
✅ #1 - The Family Trade
#2 - The Hidden Family
#3 - The Clan Corporate
#4 - The Merchant's War
#5 - The Revolution Business

Challenge 3: Focus Series: Mystery/Thriller - Read: 3


Ian Rutledge - Charles Todd
✅ #20 - The Gate Keeper
✅ #21 - The Black Ascot
#22 - A Divided Loyalty
#23 - A Fatal Lie

Seb St Cyr - C.S. Harris
#12 - Where the Dead Lie
#13 - Why Kill the Innocent
#14 - Who Slays the Wicked
#15 - Who Speaks for the Damned
#16 - What the Devil Knows

Pendergast - Preston/Child
✅ #15 - Crimson Shore (Library)
✅ #16 - Obsidian Chamber (Library)
#17 - City of Endless Night (Library)
#18 - Verses for the Dead (Library)
#19 - Crooked River (Library)
#20 - Thunderhead

Leaphorn - Tony Hillerman
✅ #2 - Dance Hall of the Dead
✅ #3. Listening Woman


Gamache - Louise Penny
#13 - Glass Houses (Library)
#14 - Kingdom of the Blind (Library)
#15 - A Better Man (Library)
#16 - All the Devils Are Here (library)

Cooper & Fry - Stephen Booth
✅ #8 - Dying to Sin
✅ #9 - The Kill Call
✅#10- Lost River
#11 - The Devil's Edge
#12 - Dead and Buried
#13 - Already Dead
#14 - The Corpse Bridge
#15 - The Murder Road
#16 - Secrets of Death
#17 - Dead in the Dark
#18 - Fall Down Dead

Lynley/Havers- Elizabeth George
✅ #12 - A Place of Hiding
✅ #13 - With No One As Witness
✅ #14 - What Came Before He Shot Her
#15 - Careless in Red (Library)
#16 - The Body of Death
#17 - Believing the Lie
#18 - Just One Evil Act
#19 - A Banquet of Consequences (Library)
#20 - A Punishment She Deserves (Library)

Her Royal Spyness - Rhys Bowen
✅ #11 - On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service
✅ #12 - Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding
#13 - Love and Death Among the Cheetahs
#14 - The Last Mrs Summers

Max Tudor - G. M Malliet
#1. Wiked Autumn
#2. A Fatal Winter
#3. Pagan Spring
#4. A Demon Summer
#5. The Haunted Season

Challenge 4: Books written before 1950. - Granted, an arbitrary date, but one that's close to the year I was born.


1. The Executor - Margaret Oliphant - 1861 - 01/22
2. The Rector - Margaret Oliphant - 1863 - 01/22
3. Inspector French's Greatest Case - F.W. Crofts - 01/22
4. Lady Audley's Secret - M.E. Braddon - 6/22
5. Footsteps in the Dark - Georgette Heyer - 5/22
6. Miss Mackenzie - Anthony Trollope - 6/22
7. They Found Him Dead - Georgette Heyer - 7/7

Ideas:

Why Shoot a Butler - Georgette Heyer
The Unfinished Clue - Georgette Heyer
Old Curiosity Shop - Charles Dickens
David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
Appleby's End = Michael Innes
A Night of Errors - Michael Innes
The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton
Enter a Murderer - Ngaio Marsh
He'd Rather Be Dead - George Bellairs
Murder Underground - Mavis Doriel Hay
The Middle Temple murder - J S Fletcher
The Division Bell Mystery - Ellen Wilkinson
The Perpetual Curate (1864) - Margaret Oliphant


Agatha Christie

Challenge 5: Big Fat Books (books larger than 500 pages)


1. Termination Shock - Neal Stephenson - 720 Pages
2. Arcadia - Ian Pears - 528 pages
3. Ruins of the Galaxy - 528 pages
4. A Place of Hiding - 528 pages
5. A Study in Silks - 549 pages
6. Fool's Assassin - 688 pages
7. Redemption Ark - 704 pages
8. The Once and Future Witches - 528 pages
9. A Deepness in the Sky - Vernor Ving - 792 pages
10. Lady Audley's Secret - M.E. Braddon
11. The Starless Crown - James Rollins - 560 oages

Challenge 6: Bookspin (from Litsy.com) and #TBRDeckofCards from Litsy.com
Bookspin and Doublespin
1. January - ✅ #8 Closed Circles ✅ #15 City of Stairs
2. February - ✅ Termination Shock ✅ A Peace Divided
3. March - ✅ A PLace of Hiding, An Ember in the Ashes
4. April - ✅ A Study in Silks , ✅ One Good Dragon
Deserves Another
5. May - ✅ Redemption ARk ✅ Anniversary Day
6. June - ✅ Lady Audley's Secret - ✅ The Starless Crown
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
TBR Deck Of Cards - READ: 1
Hearts: Classics:
Ace - Dickens
2 -Georgette Heyer
3 - Mystery/Thriller
4 - Supernatural
✅ 5 - Manners - April - The Summer Before the War
6 - WWI
7 - WWII
8 - Ancient World
9 - Spies
10 - Country House
Jack - Exploration
Queen - Mythos
King - Victorian

Spades: SciFi
Ace - Military
2 -Space Opera
3 - Indy in Space
4 - Heist
5 - Science SciFi
6 - Hard SciFi
7 - Classic
8 - Focus Series
9 - Generation Ship
10 - Colonization
✅ Jack - Dying Earth - January - This Immortal - Roger Zelazny
Queen - Focus Series
King - Punks

Diamonds: Mystery/Thriller
Ace - Cozy
2 - Historical
3 - Focus Series
4 - British Mystery
5 - Nordic
6 - Technothriller
7 - Caper
8 - Gothic
9 - Golden Age
10 - Focus Series
Jack - Science Thriller
Queen - Psychological
King - Supernatural

Clubs: SFF
Ace - Dragons
✅ 2 - Ghosts - February - Aunt Dimity and the Duke
3 - Alt History
4 - Focus Series
5 - Epic
6 - Urban
✅ 7 - Sword and Sorcery - March - How to Rule an Empire ...
8 - Focus Series
9 - Grimdark
10 - Dystopian/ Apocalyptic
Jack - Retelling
Queen - Flintlock/Gaslight
King - Portal Fantasy

Challenge 7: Library Books from my wishlist or newbies.


1. The Gate Keeper - Charles Todd
2. Lady Audley's Secret -M.E. Braddon
3. An Officer and a Spy - Robert Harris
4. The Case of the Missing Marquess
5. Crimson Shore
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Challenge 8: A Dog, and several KITs and CATs


AlphaKIT
Jan: R and H - City of Dragons , This Immortal , The City of Stairs
Feb: A and B - Ten Thousand Doors of January Black Cat Murders
Mar: P and S - How to Rule an Empire Slow Horses Arcadia
Apr: L and J - Murder at St Thomas's The Darkness A Study in Silks
May: O and D - Once and Future Witches - Dance Hall of the Dead A Deepness in the Sky
Jun: Q and C The Case of the Missing Marquess The Gate Keeper
Jul: E and T - They Found Him Dead
Aug: M and F
Sep: K and I
Oct: V and N
Nov: G and U
Dec: Y and W
Yearlong X and Z - This Immortal

SFFKIT

Jan: City of Dragons, The City of Stairs
Feb: Ten Thousand Doors of January
Mar: How to Rule an Empire
Apr: One Good Dragon Deserves Another
May: Spin A Deepness in the Sky
Jun: Blowback A Murder of Clones
Jul:
Aug:
Sep:
Oct:
Nov:
Dec:

MysteryKIT

Jan: Dying to Sin , Inspector French's Greatest Case . Closed Circles
Feb:
Mar: Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet
Apr: The Darkness
May: He Who Fears the Wolf
Jun: An Officer and a Spy The Gate Keeper Lady Audley's Secret
Jul: They Found Him Dead
Aug:
Sep:
Oct:
Nov:
Dec:

RandomKIT

Jan: House in Cerulean Sea
Feb: Black Cat Murders
Mar:
Apr: The Darkness
May: The Once and Future Witches
Jun:
Jul:
Aug:
Sep:
Oct:
Nov:
Dec:

✅ 1. An Award Winning book - This Immortal
✅ 2. Published in a year ending 2 City of Dragons
3. A modern retelling of an older story Mythos
4. A book you'd love to see as a movie (maybe starring your favourite actor)
✅ 5. A book that features a dog - The Starless Crown
✅ 6. The title contains the letter Z Miss Mackenzie
✅ 7. Published the year you joined LT The Case of the Missing Marquess
✅ 8. A book by a favourite author - Sheepfarmer's Daughter
✅ 9. A long book (long for you) - Termination Shock - Neal Stephenson
✅ 10. A book you received as a gift The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra
✅ 11. The title contains a month - Ten Thousand Doors of January
✅ 12. A weather word in the title - Project Hail Mary
13. Read a CAT
✅ 14. Contains travel or a journey - The Blood of Dragons
✅ 15. A book about sisters or brothers - A Place of Hiding
16. A book club read (real or online)
✅ 17. A book with flowers on the cover - Aunt Dimity and the Duke
✅ 18. A book in translation Closed Circles
19. A work of non-fiction
✅ 20. A book where a character shares a name of a friend - Bill - Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet
✅ 21. A book set in a capital city - Slow Horses
✅ 22. A children's or YA book one Good Dragon Deserves Another
✅ 23. A book set in a country other than the one you live The Gate Keeper
✅ 24. A book by an LGBTQ+ author Death in the Fifth Position - Edgar Box

Stats

Year Book Published:
January: 1861 , 1863, 1966, 2012 , 2014,

Male/Female:
January: 4/2

Group Reads

Trollope
Oliphant

Nice pictures decorating your categories. Good luck with the series reading.

Pretty pictures.
Very challenging thread with so many books listed. Hope you enjoy your reading (and do not pressure yourself too much to meet your goals).

Great to see you all set up and ready for 2022. I'm starring your thread and I'm ready to follow along.

>17 sallylou61: Oh, I don't believe I can read all that many of them, but if I put them up on the thread I'll keep checking them and hopefully have more incentive to read from my series than from the new and shiny.

I like your theme this year. Although I learned to drink and enjoy coffee when I was in the Air Force (and I do drink it black), I still start my day with a cup of tea and like a nice cup mid-afternoon. Your pictures are great and I look forward to following your reading this year.

Beautiful pics! Good luck with your 2022 reading!

Beautiful theme! I'm looking forward to following your reading especially the mystery series. However, I've never developed a liking for tea so I'll have black coffee.

Unfortunately I can't drink coffee - it makes me go lightheaded and I end up with a horrific hangover, but without the nice giggly bit beforehand that you get the night before a wine hangover. I have to be careful with tea too, as the tannins give me a headache, but I will have the odd cup of Lapsang Souchong or Earl Grey, or a tannin/caffeine-free one like Rooibos. I also have all my tea without milk, which makes some people question my true Brit credentials!

Looking forward to following along with your cups of tea!

Happy reading and tea drinking in 2022.

I love every single one of those teacups! And I am Team Tea as well -- the only coffee drinks I really like are lattes, but I can't have them unless I want to mess up my sleep for a couple of days :)

I don't drink coffee but I like my tea a little weak and sometimes add a bit of lemon weather it is hot or with ice.

A lot of those teacups look vintage to me.

Beautiful pictures! I enjoy coffee in the morning or an occasional espresso after dinner out at a restaurant. Then I switch to tea for the rest of the day. Mint teas are my favorite!

I started drinking coffee and tea when I was a kid. There was always a pot of coffee perking at our house. School teachers are also notorious coffee drinkers and there was always coffee in the office or teacher’s lounge!

Nice theme and pictures, Jean. I think I'll go off and brew some Assam...

I like how your thread is organized. And good luck with those series!

Great layout. So organized. I am really intrigued by the Bookspin. I want to join that one. How does it work?

>31 Kristelh: On litsy look for the tag #bookspin. There's an explanation also by the user TheAromaofBooks who runs it. You pick 20 books each month and list them on Litsy tagging them #bookspin and #TheAromaofBooks. Then, on the second of each month TheAromaofBooks selects two numbers. One for #bookspin and a second if you want to do two books for #doublespin. There's also a #bookspinbingo but I'm not participating in that one.

Thanks for the comments everybody, tea and coffee drinkers both! And a few cola breakfast drinkers that I know are out there!

I always start out organized but tend to fall away from keeping things up toward the end of the year. Hoping this year I can keep the act together all the way through!

This year I didn't read as many of my series as I'd hoped. So this time I'm going to ignore more KITs and CATs and be tempted less to read off my series list. We'll see how that works.

>32N Thank you so much. Great idea.

>33 majkia: - I used the Alpha Kit this year for just my series books and so I got 26 out of the way. And I'm planning the same thing for next year. I think I probably have too many series.

>35 dudes22: 'I probably have too many series.'
heh. Yeah, me too.

>36 majkia: Ditto. Reading my series is a challenge I am considering.

I've never been a coffee drinker either.
They look at me like I’m an alien or something, so it's nice to find my people! 😂

Following along here. I'm going to try to catch up on a few series myself this year. Some are on a little longer catch-up plan.

>39 thornton37814: I am trying desperately to be more disciplined about series. I have way too many started.

>40 majkia: Me too, but I know that some of the series will never be finished. I actually have some marked as DO NOT READ in my own files now. (I do give a reason so I can revisit that if I change my mind based on information on later installments.)

Well, doggonit. I would go out to Litsy and find a challenge I'm wanting to add to my thread. I should know better.

#TBRDeckofCards. Assign a prompt, or a specific book, or a genre or something to each card. Then each month shuffle the deck and pick however many you want to read that month.

>42 majkia: ooohhhh, that's a good one!

>42 majkia: That's an exciting concept. If you assign a specific book, do you dismiss the card after reading or do you read it twice if it comes up again?

>44 MissWatson: LOL. I'm certainly going to dismiss those cards.

>45 majkia: As you can tell, I've been mulling this idea in my mind. A 52-card-deck could last a whole year...

>46 MissWatson: I've added mine to my challenges above. I assigned a genre to each suit, then used a prompt or a subgenre for each card.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/336333#7640318

>47 majkia: - That makes a lot of sense. When I first read what you were doing, I was thinking how long it would take to assign books, but that makes it more doable.

This is a great set up! Love the tea cups...tea drinker here. My mother's tea cup collection is lost in the family archives somewhere. No one claims to have it - LOL! There weren't a lot but these pics make me think of her! Thanks for the memory. I will follow along with your reading year. Enjoy your year!

What a pretty thread! I drank coffee when I worked but now rarely drink anything but tea of varying temperatures. I worked primarily with engineers, all men most of my career, and I got lots of ribbing in when I came in one morning and discovered they had bought a big coffee maker and plumbed it in so they wouldn't have to fill a pot with water!

I just started reading the Lynley/Havers series, I think I've read three, maybe two, but I've enjoyed them and plan to read on. I hope you have a very pleasurable reading year!

>49 beebeereads: You are welcome! I hope your reading year goes wonderfully.
>50 clue: I soooo Identify with the working with mostly men. For most of my career I was often the only female in the outfit.

I really enjoy the Lynley/Havers books. I read a lot of them quite a few years ago, got away from the series, and recently returned to it. I'm very glad I did.

>47 majkia: Ohhh, great idea! I've been thinking along similar lines for my ROOTing next year.

January plans: Hoping to get to all of them. We'll see!

Redemption Ark - Alastair Reynolds - Focus Sci Fi series, AlphaKIT
City of Dragons - Robin Hobb (pub 2012 - BingoDOG) - Focus SFF series, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT
Racing the Devil - Charles Todd - MysteryKIT, Focus Mystery Series, AlphaKIT
Where the Dead Lie - C.S. Harris - MysteryKIT, Focus Mystery Series, AlphaKIT
Inspector French's Greatest Case - F W Crofts - Classics
Mindstar Rising - Peter F. Hamilton - Focus Sci Fi series, AlphaKIT
The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman #NYWHODIS - AlphaKIT, LibraryBook
Caraval - Stephanie Garber #NYWHODIS, LibraryBook
The Blessing Way - Tony Hillerman - AlphaKIT
This Immortal - Roger Zelazny - TBRCards - Jack of Spades- Dying Earth

What beautiful images! Just browsing your thread is calming.

I'm also a tea-drinker. I have tea every day--right now I'm rather addicted to London Fogs. I've never had a cup of coffee--I don't even like that coffee-brewing aroma that most people love.

Love the deck-of-cards thingy! I like the randomness of it, which is why I like RandomCAT/Kit best of all the challenges.

Have a fun reading year!

Beautiful teacups. Good luck with your 2022 reading.

The teacups are pretty. One year my daughter and I made candles in the teacups we found at Goodwill for my church's bazaar in December.

1. Dying to Sin - Stephen Booth - Series: Cooper&Fry #8 - ROOT, MysteryKIT, Focus:Mystery

This series uses the intriguing setting, weather and people of the Peak District to set the mood and heighten suspense and confusion. Such an interesting series.

>57 majkia: Glad your first book was a hit!

>58 thornton37814: That's always a good sign!

2. The Executor - Margaret Oliphant - Series: Calingford #1 - ROOT, Classic

Short intro to Calingford. A bit contrived but enjoyable.

Happy New Year, Jean! Tea is always a good choice, especially when combined with flowers and books.

>61 Chrischi_HH: yes!

>60 majkia: I have the first six books in this series in an omnibus. I don't think I can get to it this year, but maybe next! I will be watching for further reviews on this series!

>63 Tess_W: lyzard is leading a group read of these in the Virago Book group. I'm too far behind to catch up I think, but the threads are there to peruse if you like when you get 'roundtuit'.

3. City of Dragons - Robin Hobb - Series: Rainwilds #3 - ROOT, Focus-SFF, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, BingoDOG

Excellent as usual. The City of Dragons is found in ruins. But, will it awake for the dragons? Meanwhile, once they learn of it, the traders will hurry to pull it to pieces to sell off everything. How to stop them...

Hobb is so very good at mixing plot lines and creating such complex characters.

4. This Immortal - Roger Zelazny - ☑ (Read by: Victor Levine) - ROOT, TBRCARDS, AlphaKIT

Hmm.. Not my favorite Zelazny. Not much of a plot, llthough parts of the story were very good. The mythology mainly.

5. Inspector French's Greatest Case - F.W. Crofts - Series: Insp French #1 - ROOT, Classic, MysteryKIT

Lots of travel for the good detective as he attempts to solve a diamond robbery and murder. Not much in the way of suspense, just a concentration on detecting.

I enjoyed it, especially somebody running around London and getting anywhere he wished to be in a matter of minutes!

>67 majkia: It's been awhile since I read it but I recall plenty of good detecting but no not much suspense. Usually in Crofts the "suspense" is about how Inspector French will break down the alibi.

6. The Rector - Margaret Oliphant - Series: Carlingford #2 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, Classic

Interesting to see a book about a male doubting his calling and putting his mother first.

7. City of Stairs - Robert J. Bennett - Series: Devine Cities#1 - ROOT, Focus:SFF, Bookspin, alphaKIT

I listened to the Audio version read, very ably, by Alma Cuervo

What is reality? Is it something solid and independent of us, each and every one of us? Or is it created by what we believe, and how we think it is? Can we make the world change by merely creating a shared reality that we all agree to live within? And if so, how can that be altered? Can it be?

This was a terrific read. A strong female protagonist, a complex plot, world-building that was deep and elaborate and well-planned. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a fantasy that has depth and thought behind it.

This is getting expensive since this is my 15th Thingaversary!

Books Bought So Far:

1. Gridlinked
2. Boy with the Narwhal Tooth
3, Ink & Sigil
4. The Code Hunters
5. The Poe Shadow
6. The Last Passenger
7. A Practical Guide to Conquering the World
8. The Accidental Alchemist
9. The Starless Crown
10. The God is Not Willing
11. A Psalm for the Wild-Built

>71 majkia: I know! I often use either the used bookstore or purchase cheaper Kindle titles for most and then splurge on a few.

Happy Thingaversary!

>71 majkia: I've started saying "the first X books I buy this year are Thingaversary books", where X is my Thingaversary number. This year mine will be #11.

Happy Thingaversary! Since mine is early too (the 6th), I used to forget all about it until the last minute and then not remember the books I wanted. Now when I buy books, if I don't think I'll be reading them before my next Thingaversary, I hold them aside and count them with a few right at the end. But they must be Thingaversary "worthy".

Happy Thingaversary, Jean!

>74 rabbitprincess: That's what I do too (I think it's easier because my Thingaversary is later on in the year)! I'll be 10 years in August, and I'm sure I'll have bought more than 11 books by then, so that'll be my Thingaversary quotient for the year :)

Happy Thingaversary, Jean. I, too, spread my Thingaversary purchases out over 3 or 4 months but I note that none of us considers not buying the books!!

>78 DeltaQueen50: - ha, ha - you're so funny!

8. The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman - Series: Thursday Murder Club #1 - ☑ (Read by: Leslie Manville ) - AlphaKIT, #NYWHODIS, Library Book

This was fun. What do retired folks do to entertain themselves. Well, solving murders sounds like a great way to stay active.

Nicely written, lots of humor and just a touch of melancholy.

>71 majkia: Happy Thingaversary! I celebrated my 15th in November, and still have three purchases up my sleeve.

9. The Blessing Way - Tony Hillerman - Series: Leaphorn #1 - ROOT, mysteryKIT

Interesting with lots of local color and Navajo background. Surprised at how little Leaphorn appeared in the story.

Today is special for our family. We're increasing our numbers by one. Meet little Buffy the Dragon Rider (second cousin to a certain vampire slayer).

She was born November 1st and is 3/4 standard poodle, 1/4 Golden Retriever.

Our other doodle, L.C., isn't all that happy with this new state of affairs but it's only been a couple of hours. Hopefully they'll bond fine.

Oh, she's gorgeous! Congratulations!!!

Congrats!

What a beauty! Hopefully L.C. and Buffy will become great friends.

Congrats! She looks lovely!

I thought I had posted last night but I must not have hit "save". She's really adorable. Looks similar to the do our neighbors have.

10. The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Kline - ☑ (Read by: Daniel Henning ) - ROOT, Bookspin (December), RandomCAT

A very sweet, sometimes a bit too sweet, if I'm honest, tale of finding one's place in the world, no matter who you are.

>83 majkia: So precious! She has a look alike up the street from me too but Ginger is much, much bigger!

Just catching up on your thread. Congrats on the new puppy! :)

It's hard to get a picture of Buffy. She's hell on wheels or out cold, not much in-between time, LOL.

She doing well, and L.C. is even staying closer than before, although no playing together yet, but then Buffy tries to chew on her, so I don't blame L.C, one bit. And I have the tooth marks and scars to prove I'm dealing with a puppy!

Thanks for all the kind words about her. She's a sweetheart.

11. . Veiled Alliances - Kevin J. Anderson - ☑ (Read by: David Colacci ) - ROOT, Focus:SciFi, AlphaKIT

A Prequel for The Saga of Seven Suns. Cleared up a few questions I had, but nothing really surprising.

12. Closed Circles - Vivica Sten - Series: Sandhamn #2 - ☑ (Read by: Angela Dawe ) - ROOT, MysteryKIT, Bookspin, BingoDOG

Pretty good series set in a beach resort in Sweden. Good characterization and interesting and complex mystery.

>94 majkia: We have been doing a group read of that series. We caught up last year. We plan to read the installment that came out in January in March.

>95 thornton37814: I saw that group read. I'd never heard of the series but it sounded pretty good so I gave it a shot!

13. The Doctor's Family - Margaret Oliphant - Series: Carlingford #3 - ROOT, Classic

Okay, I have to admit I was greatly annoyed with Nettie. And didn't feel much love for the doctor either. I suspect they deserve one another.

Congratulations on your newest member of the family! She is so sweet looking, and I love the name. I have a soft spot for poodles - we had four of them, but sadly they are all gone now. Hoping that she and L.C. become the best of friends.

>82 majkia: I have read all of the Chee and Leaphorn series. The first book is different than the rest of the series. It seems like maybe he wasn’t sure where he was going with the first one, but then he got his groove, if that makes sense. The books definitely get better. I enjoyed this series very much.

>99 marell: Oh, that's interesting intel. Thanks!

>100 majkia: After her father’s death, his daughter, Anne Hillerman, continued the series with the Chee, Leaphorn and Manuelito series. I haven’t read any of them yet but my daughter-in-law likes them. I hope to get around to them one of these days.

14. Dreadnaught - Jack Campbell - Series: Geary #7 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi

I don't know what exactly it is about this series, but when I start one of these I just can't put it down. Logistics! Battleship maneuvers! Political shenanigans, treachery, aliens! What's not to like?

Congratulations on your new and adorable family member!

>101 marell: I'd heard that she'd taken the series over. If I get that far I'll try to check hers out.

>103 RidgewayGirl: Thanks! We're so happy to have her.

Two weeks and finally LC is allowing Buffy to come close to her.

OMG! They're so cute!

>106 dudes22: :)

15. Mindstar Rising - Peter F. Hamilton - Series: Greg Mandel #1 - ☑ (Read by: Toby Longworth) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, Series: SciFi

A SciFi murder mystery. Very odd, interesting. Lots of tech and complex plot.

January Wrap-Up

I read 15 books, one a re-read. 4598 pages, but no chunksters this month. 5 by female authors, 10 by males.
4 mysteries
4 SFF
3 classics
3 sci fi

Oldest written in 1861, newest in 2021.

Favorite of the month : City of Dragons altho Dreadnaught was a close second. These are books I enjoy, not necessarily based on how well written or whatever. I'm in it for the joy of reading, and try not to judge between genres except in figuring out what I most enjoy.

February Plans
Blood of Dragons - Robin Hobb - Focus Series: SFF, AlphaKIT,
Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir - AlphaKIT,
Lady Audley's Secret - M.E. Braddon- Classic, group read

Aunt Dimity and the Duke - Nancy Atherton - AlphaKIT, TBRCard (2 of clubs: ghosts)
The Body Finder - Kimberley Derting - Library Book
The Black Cat Murders - K.B. Menuhin - RandomCAT, AlphaKIT
Salem Chapel - M Oliphant - Classic

✔ Ten Thousand Doors of January - Alix E. Harrow - SFFKIT, AlphaKIT, BingoDog
City of Blades - Robert J. Bennett - Focus Series: SFF, AlphaKIT
The Future of another time line - A Newitz - SFFKIT, AlphaKIT
A Place of Hiding - Elizabeth George BigFatBook, Focus Series: Mystery

16. The Ten Thousand Doors of January - Alix E. Harrow - ☑ (Read by: January LeVoy) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, BingoDOG

Hmmm. Fascinating concept, which I thought got muddled a few times, but good and interesting and well written book nonetheless.

>110 majkia: - I have heard about this before and thought it sounded interesting.

>110 majkia: I enjoyed this one. A friend highly recommended Harrow's next book The Once and Future Witches, so that's on my TBR list.

17. Sheepfarmer's Daughter - Elizabeth Moon - Series: Deeds of Paksenarrion #1 - ROOT. Focus:SFF. BingoDOG

Lots of slogging through mud going on but still loving Paks and her Duke. Lots of character development, realistic vision of warfare. strong women and men who accept that.

18. Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir - ☑ (Read by: Ray Porter) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, BingoDOG

What a fabulously upbeat story. Lots of science!!!! Science!!!!! Rocky! And Engineering!!!!!

The sun is dying with an infection of some sort, and all Earth is activated to figure out what the heck is going on and stop it. And it ends up that a high school science teacher, who doesn't want to go off to space to save the world, is the one true Earth hero. Rocky, being the alien hero!

19. The Blood of Dragons - Robin Hobb - 🎵 (Read by: Anne Flosnick) - ROOT, AlphaKIT, Focus-SFF

Great wrap-up to the tale of the return of dragons and the re-founding of Kelsingra. Not much else I can say because everything's a spoiler!

Hest finally getting his!!!! Seldon finally rescued! Bad guys punished, dragons!

20. Black Cat Murders - Karen Baugh Menuhin - Series: Lennox #2
- ROOT, AlphaKIT, RandomCAT

Country house murder involving opera singers, wedding doings and a curmudgeonly crime solver.

21. Aunt Dimity and the Duke - Nancy Atherton - Series: Aunt Dimity #2 - ROOT, MysteryKIT, TBR Deck, BingoDOG

I'm very much enjoying this series. I really like the vibes and the characters and the mystery had a few surprises.

22. Termination Shock - Neal Stephenson - 🎵 (Read by: Eduardo Ballerini) - ROOT, BFB, Bookspin

All about what to do about climate change, and how to deal with societal disruption, competing countries, and luddites. Intriguing, if a bit hard to follow at times.

23. A Peace Divided - Tanya Huff - Series: Confederation #7 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi, Bookspin

A rather confusing entry in the series. I found the constant jumping back and forth between good guys and bad guys a bit difficult to follow. Still, it's Gunny ...

24. Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet - M.C. Beaton - Series: Agatha Raisin #1, (Read by: Diana Bishop) - ROOT, mysterykit,

Fun cozy with the unrepentant Agatha Raisin. Still struggling to fit into a small Cotswold village.

25. Invincible - Jack Campbell - Series: Lost Fleet #8 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi,

Still an excellent series and still so oddly compelling, considering the majority of the action is one guy moving ships through space.

26. Arcadia - Ian Pears - ROOT, BFB, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT

Complex, as most of Pears work is. Well written, and thought provoking.

27. Slow Horses - Mick Herron - Series: Slough House #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, BingoDOG

Quite different from most spook books. Will have to watch the series on AppleTV now.

28. Ruins of the Galaxy - JN Chaney - Series: Ruins of the Galaxy #1 - ROOT, BFB, AlphaKIT, Focus: Sci Fi

Pretty good mil sci fi. Nothing ground breaking but a fun read nonetheless.

29. Duplicate Effort - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval Artist #7 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi,

Still enjoying this series. Imaginative look at social issues when aliens are involved, not to mention crazy humans.

30. How To Rule an Empire and Get Away With It - K.J. Parker - Series: Siege #2 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, Deck of Cards

So funny in a dry and imaginative way. I mean, who can create a series about a siege! And who'd imagine an actor would be the GOAT.

31. A Place of Hiding - Elizabeth George - Series: Lynley/Havers #12 - ROOT, BFB, Focus:Mystery

This is certainly a change-up for the series. Starring Simon and Deborah rather than Lynley or Havers. Interesting though.

32. A Study in Silks - Emma Jane Holloway - Series: Baskerville Affair #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, BFB, Bookspin

Well, that was a refreshing change up on Holmesian pastiche. A bit steampunk, but not a lot, nice writing, interesting characters, and a magic twist.

33. Corporation Wars: Dissidence - Ken MacLeod - Series: Corporation Wars #1 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi,
Hmmm. I'm a hard science fan, and particularly of AI and trans humans, but I found the plot hard to follow and the unreliable narrators making it harder to follow along.
Fascinating ideas though.

34. The Darkness - Ragnar Jonasson - Series: Hidden Iceland #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, MysteryKIT, RandomKIT

Very atmospheric, with a complex mystery with twists and surprises galor. And the ending...

35. The Summer Before the War - Helen Simonson - ROOT, Deck of Cards, - DNF

I just didn't click with this book. I found most of the women horrible, and didn't care enough about the main characters to wade through the annoying bits.

Took a BB for A Study in Silks! Thanks, I think!

>132 mysterymax: LOL. Hope you enjoy it!

36. One Good Dragon Deserves Another - Rachel Aaron - Heartstrikers #2 - ROOT, Bookspin, SFFKIT, BingoDOG

Fun YA series. Neat Characters, and not a lot of romance, thank heavens. I'm enjoying this a lot, and love the world she's created.

37. Murder at Old St. Thomas's - Lisa M. Lane - Early Reviewer
I enjoyed this mystery. It was nearly a cozy. Well researched, interesting characters, nicely written, and although not many twists and turns, still a pretty good mystery.

>135 majkia: I clicked over and read additional reviews. This one sounds very interesting. I do love a good historical mystery!

38. Fool's Assassin - Robin Hobb - Elderlings #5 - ROOT, BFB, Focus:SFF

Wow. Took a couple of chapters to get my head out of the Rainwilds and back to FitzChivalry, but once I did.... And... she's still awfully good at torturing the poor guy.

Complex and wonderful characters, twists and turns, and terrifically written story.

39. Spin - Robert Charles Wilson - Spin #1 - ROOT, SFFKIT, Focus:SciFi

This is a re-read for me so I can read the entire trilogy. Just as good, if not better, on re-read. A truly alien take on aliens, with not a lot of answers, humanity just trying to exist, despite what seems to be a lethal takeover by truly alien 'hypotheticals'.

40. The Privilege of Peace - Tanya Huff - Confederation #8 - ROOT, SFFKIT, Focus:SciFi

Great wrap-up for the series. I'll miss Gunny and Craig and Alamber especially. I loved the mix of races and how the Confederation is attempting to integrate all into a functioning whole.

41. He Who Fears the Wolf - Karin Fossum - Series: Sejer #3 - ROOT, MysteryKIT

Very interesting murder mystery, with the focus on the criminals rather than the detectives or their investigation. Psychological and complex.

42. Redemption Ark - Alastair Reynolds - Series: Revelation Space #3 - ROOT, BFB, Focus:SciFi, Bookspin

Epic space opera with intelligent pigs. I am enjoying the imagination involved in picturing the far future and guessing what humanity would do with unlimited (almost) resources and time.

43. Dance Hall of the Dead - Tony Hillerman - Series:Leaphorn #2 - ROOT, AlphaKIT

Lots of local color, lots of Navajo and Zuni mythology and religion. Very intriguing given that, and the mystery wasn't bad either. I guessed who did it, but not why.

44. The Once and Future Witches - Alix E. Harrow - ROOT, AlphaKIT, BFB

Very well done alternate reality where women are being held down because there were witches in the world. But three sisters find the ways and the words and decide to bring back the magic and free their sisters from men who beat and control them.

45. On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service - Rhys Bowen - Series: Her Royal Spyness #11 - ROOT, Focus:Mystery, AlphaKIT

Why attempting to help her friend, Belinda, our heroine gets ordered by the queen to go to a meeting in Italy to check up on her errant son and Wallace Simson. Needless to say, murder and mayhem ensue.

A fun series, which often makes me laugh out loud.

46. Anniversary Day - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval Artist #8 - ROOT, Bookspin, Focus:Scifi

Wow. I really enjoy this series. Lots of atmosphere, great characters, and impressive world-building - in this case, world-destroying. Eager for the next book.

47. A Deepness in the Sky - Vernor Vinge -Series: Zones of Thought #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT, BFB

Very intriguing alien story, with the humans threatening to destroy an intelligent species.

48. Footsteps in the Dark - Georgette Heyer - ROOT, Classics

Definitely not my favorite Heyer. One woman was so annoying I nearly stopped reading the book. I also figured out the main mystery way too early.

49. The Gate Keeper - Charles Todd - Series: Ian Rutledge #20 - ROOT, MYsteryKIT, Library Book, Series: Mystery

I love this series. So good on the psychological effects of shell shock, and the economic and cultural changes right after WWI.

>148 majkia: I've just read the first in the Rutledge series and I don't know why I hadn't read it before now. I look forward to continuing on.

>146 majkia: I quite enjoyed A Deepness in the Sky -- one of the books I read at that time in my life that I still think about!

50. Lady Audley's Secret - M.E. Braddon - ROOT, Classic, BFB, Bookspin, mysterykit

Some of it I found jarring, old thoughts about women, how they were sly and plotting, and yet, how little power they had in the day, even the wealthy ones.

51. Blowback - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval Artist #9 - ROOT, Series:SciFi, SFFKIT

The pressure mounts as assassins/bombers are loose on the Moon. Great series. Immediately reading the follow on.

52. A Murder of Clones - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval Artist #10 - ROOT, Series: SciFi, SFFKIT

Darn it! This book follows the money, as they say, looking for bombers and assassins, and didn't check back in on the Moon and Miles and DeRicci at all. Now gotta hurry and read the next one too.

53. An Officer and a Spy - Robert Harris - Library Book, MysteryKIT

Interesting novelization of the Dreyfus Affair in France. Quite the bunch of miserable people were involved in this.

I'm going to start the Rusch books, I imagine they should be read in order.

54. Case of the Missing Marquess

55. A Quantum Murder - Peter F. Hamilton - Series: Greg Mandel #2 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SeriesFocus:SciFi, SFFKIT

Murder mystery at the quantum level. Different, cool.

56. Miss Mackenzie - Anthony Trollope - ROOT, BingoDOG, Classic

What a horrible book. Apparently the lesson is that women should remain poor because money teaches them to stand up for themselves, and we can't very well have that.

57. The Man Who Died Twice - Richard Osman - Library,
Funny, enjoyable mystery.

58. The Starless Crown - James Rollins - ROOT, BFB, Bookspin

Great book. Impressive world-building and Rollins, master of the thriller, created a plot that never slows.

59. The Salzburg Connection - Helen MacInnes - ROOT
Old time spy drama from the cold war, with Nazis and Commies and US and British spies all converging on a tiny lake in Austria that holds a box.

Brought back some old memories from the 60s and 70s. Including my trip in 1970 still with spies running around Europe. And everywhere else I suppose.

>160 majkia: It's always great when a book reignites an old memory!

60. Artemis - Andy Weir

What a fun caper story, complicated by being set on the moon in the only colony there. Escape is well, limited? Anyway, great characters, complicated plot and science!

61. Crimson Shore - Preston/Child - Focus: Mystery, Library

Pendergast is always weird, and this book was no exception. I do like bringing Constance more into the story. And, an old enemy reappears!

62. They Found Him Dead - Georgette Heyer - ROOT, Classic, AlphaKIT, MysteryKIT,

Enjoyable whodunnit, with lots of twits and lots of lovely dialogue. I guessed the murderer, but had my doubts!

63. One Way - S.J. Morden - Bookspin, Root

Very powerful and sadly believable book about what a corporation will do to make money.

Prisoners are sent to Mars to set up a base for NASA. Lies, and plots and multiple murderers make for an exciting and twist filled plot.

64. Search & Recovery - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval Artist #11 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi, SFFKIT

Not as good as some of the other books in the series, but still pushing the plot forward.

65. Guardian - Jack Campbell - Series: John Geary #9 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi,

Great addition to the series. I particularly loved the ending.

66. The Family Trade - Charles Stross - Series: Merchant Princes #1 - ROOT, Focus:SFF, SFFKIT

This is a re-read so I can read the rest of the series. Really enjoyed the modern sci fi take on the Merchant Princes of Italy.

Great main character and interesting world-walkers she meets. Lots of action, and Miriam is no wilting violet, even if the women of her new-found relatives are expected to be pretty, well-spoken and obedient. NOT.

67. Bob's Saucer Repair - Jerry Boyd - Series: Bob and Nikki #1 - ROOT,

Fun first contact. Snarky humans meet snarky ... human aliens. When Nikki's saucer nearly crashes Bob comes to her rescue. The rest, as they say, is history.

68. Meet Me In Malmo - Torquil MacLeod - Sundstrom #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIt

Enjoyable Swedish based mystery. Lots of twists.

69. The God Is Not Willing - Steven Erickson - Series: Witness #1 - ROOT, Bookspin, AlphaKIT

Malazan! Great to be back.

70. The High Crusade - Poul Anderson - ROOT

I liked the idea, but since despise the whole crusade idea, this was a challenge.

71. Mayhem at the Orient Express - Kylie Logan

DNF Didn't make it past the first chapter. What a bunch of obnoxious people. I don't have the patience to read about people like that.

>173 majkia: I've avoided that one. I was afraid I'd be disappointed because it didn't measure up to the classic Christie.

73. Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding - Rhys Bowen - Series: Her Royal Spyness #12 - ROOT, Focus:Mystery

Such a fun series. Georgie finally gets her own mystery and rises to the occasion, backed up by Granddad and Mom.

74. Grey Mask - Patricia Wentworth - Miss Silver #1 - ROOT, classic, DNF

I understand that there are many stupid people in the world, but I don't have to read about them. The protagonist is stupid and the potential victim is even worse. I'd stab her myself if I had to listen to her drivel for more than a minute.

75. Shards of Earth - Adrian Tchaikovsky - Series: Final Architect #1 - ROOT, BFB, Bookspiin

I'll need to re-read this when I get the rest of the series. Great start and can't wait.

76. . The Peyti Crisis - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval ARtist #12 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi,

I really enjoy this series. Imaginative, complex, and lots of twists and turns.

77. The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra - Vaneem Khan - Series: Baby Ganesh Detective Agency #1 - ROOT

Indian style cozy with a baby elephant sidekicking the retired inspector. A fun, fanciful read.

>179 majkia: - I'm planning to read this next month for the Alpha Kit.

>179 majkia: That's such a fun series!

78. Kingdom of Bones - James Rollins - Series: Sigma Force #22 - ROOT, Focus:Mystery

Compelling as always. Our guys and gals go into the Congo to discover the origin of a terrifying new disease, and discover far more than they expected.

79. Death in the Fifth Position - Edgar Box (Gore Vidal) - Series: Peter Sergeant #1 - ROOT, Doublespin, BingoDOG, Classic

Interesting look back at the communist purges in the artistic community. Lots of historical references as usual with Vidal's work. The mystery was confusing enough that I was never certain I'd figured it out.

80. Listening Woman - Tony Hillerman - Series: Leapchee #3 - Library Book, Focus: Mystery

Such a fascinating series, with lots of lore, colorful characters and scenery.

81. The Nano Flower - Peter F. Hamilton - Series: Greg Mandel #3 - Focus Series, AlphaKIT, BFB,
82. Death in a Strange Country - Donna Leon - Brunelli #2 - ROOT

Nano Flower was a very odd first contact/mystery story. Greg Mandel is asked to help a friend find her missing husband, who appears to have disappeared as a result of, or with, the first alien to visit Earth. I really enjoyed the series .

Death in a Strange Country was an interesting murder mystery that says a lot about America's presence in other countries. It also deals with climate issues, which are so relevant now.

I enjoyed both books quite a lot.

83. In Plain Sight Arcane Casebook 1 - Dan Willis - Series: Arcane Casebook #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT

What a fun SFF cozy type of mystery. I liked the characterization and the mystery was convoluted enough to confuse me. Altogether a very pleasant read.

84. Fool's Quest - Robin Hobb - Fitz and the Fool #2 - SFFKIT, Focus:SFF, Library Book

No one can quite torture her characters (especially Fitz) - and her readers - quite like Robin Hobb. As usual, Fitz is full of plans but, alas, life intervenes. But he's back with the Fool and searching for little Bee.

85. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E. Schwab - AlphaKIT, SFFKIT

Hmmm. What to say. I loved the concept and it was beautifully written. But it is also a bit slow going, and I figured out the ending long before the book ended. Still, enjoyable.

86. Nophek Gloss - Nicholas Eames - Series: The Graven #1 - DNF - ROOT

I really wanted to read this book. I love the concepts and most of the characters, and it's very imaginative. My problem is the main character who begins at 14 and acts like it. But then he's supposed to be 'augmented' which will age him to 20 and update his brain and emotions as well. Except, even after the augmentation, instead of a competent adult, we're still stuck with a 14 year old in a grown up body, who is just utterly stupid all round.

So, anyway, DNF for me at about 50%.

>186 majkia: - a BB for sure!

>190 mysterymax: HOpe you enjoy it!

87. Kings of the Wyld - Nicholas Eames - Series :The Band #1 - AlphaKIT, ROOT, SFFKIT

Fun 'getting the band back together' story. One of the guys (all retired) finds out his daughter is at risk as she'd followed in Daddy's footsteps, and gone off hunting demons in the wyld. The guys go after her to save little Rosy.

88. The Sussex Downs Murders - John Bude - ROOT, Classic
Pretty good classic murder tale. Lots of twists and some surprises.

89. Beneath a Scarlet Sky - Mark Sullivan - ROOT, BFB,
This is a story about a young man in Italy during WWII. Interesting life, supposedly based on reality.

90. The Comforts of Home - Susan Hill - Series: Serrailer #9 - ROOT,
I love this series. Simon is complex and surprising. His family convoluted and comforting in many ways. The mysteries are okay, but Simon is definitely the draw for me.

>193 majkia: Another BB! Please stop, lol.

>196 mysterymax: Sorry! (not...)

91. The Obsidian Chamber - Preston/Child - Series: Pendergast #16 - ROOT, BBFB, Focus:Mystery

Still dealing with Diogenes. Go Constance.

92. The Bullet That Missed - Richard Osman - Library,

This was a surprise. I suggested the Library purchase this book and when they did they set me as first in line for the copy.

I do love this series. I particularly love Joyce's wild unfiltered train of thought mutterings. Great characters, the mysteries are almost reduntant. Almost. ;)

>199 majkia: I'm looking forward to this one too! I want to be Joyce when I grow up. :)

>200 christina_reads: LOL

93. The Kill Call - Stephen Booth - Series: Cooper & Fry #9 - ROOT, AlphaKIT, BFB, Focus: Mystery

This series is deeply focused on the area (the Peak district), its history, its geography, its people. The mysteries are well thought out, and effective at keeping you guessing. And such interesting characters.

94. The Kaiju Preservation Society - JOhn Scalzi - ROOT, AlphaKIT
Typical crazy Scalzi fun scifi. Much like his book Redshirts he expands an existing idea and runs with it. Great fun.

>94 majkia: Stop!!! Enough with the BBs!

LOL

95. Vortex - Robert Charles Wilson - Series: Spin #3 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi, AlphaKIT, SFFKIT

Finished it, and, oh well, the world and science and physics is strange....

96. Assassin's Fate - Robin Hobb - Fitz and the Fool #3 - Focus-SFF,

Wow. Robin Hobb is the best writer I have ever read. What a wrap up to the series.

>207 majkia: Wow, that is a ringing endorsement! Looks like I'll need to try something by Robin Hobb.

>208 christina_reads: She tortures her people better than anyone. There were times I wanted to strangle her, LOL.

97. Sabriel - Garth Nix - Series: Absoren #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT

I'd probably have liked this a lot better if I hadn't also been reading Iron Widow which is blowing me away.

98. Iron Widow - Ziran Jay Zhao - AlphaKIT, Library Books

Wow. Girls tired of being sacrifices. Look out world. Great characters, empowering, lots of action.

99. Steadfast The Lost Fleet - Jack Campbell - Series: Admr Geary #10 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi, SFFKIT

Still loving this series, as suddenly a new threat appears. Of their own making?

100. The Space Between Worlds - M Johnson - DNF - Bookspin

Alas, my 100th book is a DNF. Couldn't get into this one. Too much talking, not much action.

101. With No One As Witness - Elizabeth George - Series: Lynley/Havers #13 - BFB, Focus:Mystery, ROOT

Wow. Major character development and life change in this one. Did not see that coming.

102. Ringworld - Larry Niven - ROOT, AlphaKIT
Meh.

103. A Dead Djinn in Cairo - P Djeli Clark - ROOT

The library surprised me with ordering this audiobook, so they checked it out to me. Fun book, and definitely will be reading more of this series.

104. Vigilantes - Retrieval Artist - K.K. Rusch - Series: Retrieval ARtist #13 - ROOT, Focus:SciFi

Oi. When will we learn the truth!

105. The Black Ascot - Charles Todd - Series:Rutledge #21 - ROOT, Focus:Mystery

Still my favorite mystery series. Ian is such a complex, flawed, and interesting character. And his method of investigation is mostly about putting threads that seem unrelated together to flesh out a whole picture.

106. Spinneret - Timothy Zahn - ROOT, AlphaKIT

Science-y and surprising.

107. The Citadel of Weeping Pearls - Aliete deBodard - ROOT, Bookspin

My first venture into this weird world. I have a couple of others from this universe I guess I'll check them out too.

108. The Grace of Kings - Ken Liu - Dandelion Dynasy #1 - ROOT, AlphaKIT
Nicely written but for some reason I never really engaged fully with this book.

my 2023 challenge thread is here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/345399

111. Masterminds Retrieval Artist series - K.K. Rusch - Retrieval Artist #15 - ROOT, Focus: SciFi

Wow. Quite the wrap up to a really imaginative and well done series.

112. A Practical Guide to Conquering the World - K.J.Parker - Series: Siege #3 - ROOT

What a terrific series. I loved the snark and the characters. Great fun.

113. Touch Not the Cat - Mary Stewart - ROOT, MysteryKIT

It took me a bit to get into this book, but after about half way it picked up and I enjoyed it far more. I did think our heroine was a bit silly in jumping to conclusions but she finally got there.

114. Lost Fleet: Leviathan - Jack Campbell - Series: Adm Geary #11 - ROOT, Focus: SciFi

Still compelling read for me. Can't ever put them down. No idea why, LOL.

115. No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished - Rachel Aaron - Series: Heartstriker #3 - ROOT, BFB

Fun series, with lots of twists and turns. I enjoy the characters a lot, and can even put up with the romance as it isn't too steamy.

116. Upgrade - Blake Crouch - ROOT, alphaKIT

His books are always in my wheelhouse. I love all the science and the action is great too. Recommended for the hard science inclined.

117. Sorcery Reborn - Steve McHugh - Rebellion Chronicles #1 - ROOT
Well, darn. This didn't work out like I expected. This is a straight follow on to his previous series, which I only read the first book of. Sigh. Now I'm back to that series, because I loved this even though I didn't understand parts based on the previous series.

118. Mythos - Stephen Fry - ROOT
Audio version, so I got to enjoy listening to Stephen as well as enjoying his version of the myths. Interesting, presented in an easily approachable manner.

119. Lost River - Stephen Booth - Series: Cooper and Fry #10 - ROOT, Focus: Mystery

I do like this series, but this book was quite different, as Fry was dealing with her past in Brum. Also,
quite a few triggers for abuse in this one, which made it hard reading for me.

Binti - Nnedi Okorafor - ROOT, Series:Sci Fi

Hmm. Not sure I'll continue this series. I'll try the next one and see. Not that I didn't like it, just wasn't drawn in the way I like to be.

121. Wanderers - Chuck Wendig - ROOT, BFB, AlphaKIT

Wow. Lots of science, lots of mystery, lots of enjoyment.

122. A Ghost of a Chance - Dan Willis
Series: Arcane Chronicles #2 - ROOT, AlphaKIT,

I'm enjoying this cozy sort of SFF. Alex is a runewright who is also a detective. He's always broke, often because he offers to help folks who can't afford to pay him. Good guy, fun story.

Yup, Another BB.

argh. Sorry. (not sorry)

123. Age of Ash - Daniel Abraham - Series: Kithamar #1 - ROOT, Bookspin
I'll definitely have to re-read this when the rest of the series comes out. Complex plot, as well as character development.

124. The Armored Saint - Myke Cole - Series: Sacred Throne #1- ROOT, Focus:SFF, SFFKIT

I enjoyed this one. Surprises, and plot twists and great characters.

125. The Salvage Crew - Y Wijeratne - ROOT, AlphaKIT

A sort of Firefly story, told by Nathan Fillion. Fun, with some twists.

126. What Came Before He Shot Her - Elizabeth George - Series: Lynley/Havers #14 - ROOT, BFB, AlphaKIT, Focus: Mystery

Until the end I didn't realize what this was about. It is the story of who did the shooting in the 11th book of the series. Wow.

127. The Praxis - Walter Jon Williams - Series: Dread Empire's Fall - ROOT, AlphaKIT, Series:SciFi

I really enjoyed this, although I admit the first half is pretty slow, setting the rest of the series up. After about half way in it became really interesting!

I'm moving over to my 2023 thread as of now. https://www.librarything.com/topic/345399