Category: Challenge Accepted

#SciFiSummer Reading Challenge 2025

Published on by RachelleLeave a comment
SCI-FI SUMMERReading Challenge

Summer is the best time of year to read Science Fiction. So, I’ll be reading as much Sci-Fi as possible from June 20th, the Summer Solstice, to the 21st of September (the day before the Autumnal Equinox). I’ve got a lot of it on my TBR, and I’m inviting all of you to join me!

Here are the challenge levels:

  • Red Shirt – 1 to 3 books
  • Viper Pilot – 4 to 6 books
  • Browncoat – 7 to 9 books
  • Time Lord – 10 or more books

This year, I’ll be trying for “Time Lord.” In addition to my TBR, I have a lot of Science Fiction books I want to check out from the library, and since I’m also participating in my library’s Summer Reading Challenge, I’ll be focusing on Sci-Fi books that will fit the prompts and/or bingo board for that as well.

Any book of at least 100 pages that is classified as Science Fiction, including any Sci-Fi subgenres, qualifies for this challenge.  That means audiobooks, physical books, ebooks, library books, free books, other borrowed books, anthologies, and graphic novels are all acceptable options.  You may also count any Sci-Fi book that counts towards another reading challenge.

Are you up to the #SciFiSummer challenge? Sign up by leaving a comment! (Links to reviews or TBR lists are welcome, too!)

The 2025 #ShelfLove Challenge!

Published on by Rachelle5 Comments

I’m bringing back the #ShelfLove reading challenge in 2025 in an attempt to reduce the amount of money I spend on books and the number of books on my TBR.

Goal: Abstain from buying books or set a book buying limit – and focus on clearing your physical and virtual TBR bookshelves for the entire year.

Challenge Dates: January 1st – December 31st, 2025

THE GUIDELINES:

  • Abstain from spending money on books for one calendar year or set a book buying limit (whether that’s monetary or the number of books you may buy).
  • Gift cards are OK as well as any Audible credits you already have in your account.
  • Encourage other challenge participants via blog comments and social media.
  • Library books do not count for this challenge. This challenge is only for books you already own.
  • Netgalley, Edelweiss, or other ARC books can count for this because you have the book, so read it!
  • Read books that are in your personal library that were obtained before January 1, 2025.

NO BOOK BUYING CHALLENGE STEP 1: SELECT YOUR GOAL

  • 1-10 books: shake hands with your shelves
  • 11-20 books: pat your shelves on the back
  • 21-30 books: give your shelves a warm friendly hug
  • 31-40 books: regular date night with your shelves
  • 41-50 books: your shelves are now your BFF
  • 51+ books: your shelves and you are going steady – I’m choosing this goal because my reading goal for 2025 will be more than 50 books.  I’m a member of the Nightmares from Nowhere book club, so I am allowing myself to continue my subscription. These books, plus whatever books I check out from the library should be more than enough, but the key is to stay away from the book stores!

NO BOOK BUYING CHALLENGE STEP 2: Link-Up

  • Create a sign-up post that includes your chosen goal on your blog or any social media platform (Facebook, X, Goodreads, Litsy, etc.).
  • Don’t forget to use the challenge hashtag #ShelfLove.
  • Comment on this post with a link to your sign-up post!

NO BOOK BUYING CHALLENGE STEP 3: READ THOSE BOOKS!

  • Feel free to post updates on how the challenge is going and what books you’ve been reading. I’ll be providing an update every week in my “Building the Book Fort” posts, and you can comment on those posts if you would like, but updates aren’t mandatory.

I can’t wait to read all y’all’s sign-up posts and show my bookshelves some love!

#YuletideSpirit Reading Challenge & Readathon!

Published on by Rachelle

On the event announcement post (click on the image above) over at Seasons of Reading, there is a list of the three ways to participate in the Yuletide Spirit Reading Challenge:

  • Challenge – Pick a level
  • Readathon – read as much (or as little) as you want
  • Participate in both!

Reading Challenge Levels:

  • Candy Cane: read 1 book
  • Mistletoe: read 2-4 books
  • Christmas Tree: read 5 or more books

I’m going to try for the “Mistletoe” level, as I’m not sure I’ll be able to finish 5 books. It’s always a busy time of year visiting and spending time with family. However, I do have a decent-sized list of books I want to read in December that are all Christmas-related.

A few of those books will qualify for the Bingo card that I’ll also be trying to complete:

Will you be participating in the Yuletide Spirit reading challenge? Let me know in the comments and be sure to sign up over at Seasons of Reading!

#FrightFall Readathon!

Published on by Rachelle
Seasons of Reading

The FrightFall readathon starts on October 1st and runs through the end of October, alongside #SomethingWickedFall, which started on September 1st.

There’s only one “rule” for #FrightFall, and that is at least one scary book (thriller, mystery, Gothic, etc.) has to be read during the readathon.  Since that’s pretty much the only kind of book I read during this time of year, I’m good to go.

The read-along for this year’s #SomethingWickedFall is Stephen King’s Fairy Tale, which I’m loving so far. In addition to Fairy Tale, I have a ridiculous number of books I want to read for not only #FrightFall, but also #RIP, #TrappedInASpookyHouse, and #HauntedShelf. To make it easier, I created the list below for the October #BookSpin and #CastTheDie.

I won’t get to all of these books, but I’m going to try.

Are you participating in #FrightFall or #SomethingWickedFall? Leave a comment below!

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril XIX

Published on by Rachelle2 Comments


The R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril challenge, otherwise known as R.I.P. takes place every September 1st through October 31st.


The purpose of the R.I.P. Challenge is to enjoy books that could be classified as Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, or Supernatural.


There are multiple levels of participation (Perils):

  • Peril of the Fiction – Read books of any length that fit the definition of R.I.P. literature.
  • Peril of the Short Story – Read short stories any time during the challenge.
  • Peril of the Real – Read any true tales of horror.
  • Peril of the Listen – Listen to RIP-related audiobooks, podcasts, and music.
  • Peril on the Screen – This is for those of us who like to watch suitably scary, eerie, mysterious, Gothic fare during this time of year. It may be something on the small screen or large.

This year, I’ll be doing Peril of the Fiction, Peril of the Short Story, Peril of the Listen, and Peril on the Screen. I’ve got a huge list of books on Goodreads for me to choose from for this event, the Something Wicked Fall challenge, the month-long FrightFall Readathon, and the 24-Hour Readathon happening in October.

Are you participating in #RIPXIX or reading any spooky reads over the next couple of months? Leave a comment!

#SciFiSummer Reading Challenge 2024

Published on by Rachelle2 Comments
SCI-FI SUMMERReading Challenge

Summer is the best time of year to read science fiction. So, I’m reading as much Sci-Fi as possible from June 20th, the official first day of Summer, to the 21st of September (the day before the Autumnal Equinox). I’ve got a lot of it on my TBR shelves, and I’m inviting all of you to join me!

Here are the challenge levels:

  • Red Shirt – 1 to 3 books
  • Viper Pilot – 4 to 6 books
  • Browncoat – 7 to 9 books
  • Time Lord – 10 or more books

Once again, I’ll be trying for “Browncoat” (I aim to misbehave). I have a large variety of Sci-Fi books I’ve been wanting to read for a while so I think this will be the perfect goal for me.

Any book of at least 100 pages that is classified as Science Fiction, including any Sci-Fi subgenres, qualifies for this challenge.  That means audiobooks, physical books, ebooks, library books, free books, other borrowed books, anthologies, and graphic novels are all acceptable options.  You may also count any Sci-Fi book that counts towards another reading challenge.

Are you up to the #SciFiSummer challenge? Sign up by leaving a comment! (Links to reviews or TBR lists are welcome, too!)

#COYER 2024 – Unwind

Published on by Rachelle

It’s been several years since I’ve participated in #COYER, hosted by Berls, Michelle, Lillian, and Stephanie, but I have so many ebooks I’ve been neglecting in favor of trying to get my physical TBR under control, that I’m going to join in this annual reading challenge once again.

I’m not going to repeat all of the rules since they can be found at the #COYER link above, but the basics are that there are four chapters for the reading challenge portion and four semesters for the community challenge portion. While I’ll participate in the community challenge as I can (which will include some readathons and other activities), my focus will be the reading challenge.

  • Chapter 1 will run from January to March and will return to the strict rules for Winter.
  • Chapter 2 will run from April to June and the rules will be a little looser (including physical books).
  • Chapter 3 will run from July to September and the rules? What rules?!
  • Chapter 4 will run from October to December and the rules will be like in the Spring.

Since #COYER Winter only includes free or nearly free ebooks and audiobooks that aren’t library books, borrowed books, or included in Kindle Unlimited, Amazon Prime, or the Audible Plus Catalog, I’ve added the books from my TBR that count to a new COYER bookshelf on GoodReads. I’ll pull from these throughout the year, and read other books when they count during the other Chapters.

Will you be participating in #COYER? Let me know in the comments!

#SciFiSummer Reading Challenge 2023

Published on by Rachelle10 Comments
SCI-FI SUMMERReading Challenge

For me, the Summer is the best time of year for reading Science Fiction. So, from June 21st, the official first day of Summer, to the 22nd of September (the day before the Autumnal Equinox), I’m reading as much Sci-Fi as possible. I’ve got a lot of it on my TBR shelves, and I’m inviting all of you to join me!

Here are the NEW challenge levels:

  • Red Shirt – 1 to 3 books
  • Viper Pilot – 4 to 6 books
  • Browncoat – 7 to 9 books
  • Time Lord – 10 or more books

If you’ve participated in previous years, you may have noticed that I’ve reduced the number of books this year. I’ve also changed the level name “Jedi” to “Browncoat”, and it’s the level I will be trying for (I aim to misbehave). I have a large variety of Sci-Fi books I’ve been wanting to read for a while so I think this will be the perfect goal for me this year.

Any book of at least 100 pages that is classified as Science Fiction, including any Sci-Fi subgenres, qualifies for this challenge.  That means audiobooks, physical books, ebooks, library books, free books, other borrowed books, anthologies, and graphic novels are all acceptable options.  You may also count any Sci-Fi book that counts towards another reading challenge.

Are you up to the #SciFiSummer challenge? Sign up by leaving a comment! (Links to reviews are welcome, too!)

Sci-Fi Summer Reading Challenge 2022

Published on by Rachelle11 Comments
SCI-FI SUMMERReading Challenge

There’s Sci-Fi November and Vintage Sci-Fi January, but for me, the Summer is the best time of year for reading Science Fiction. I hadn’t planned on doing these anymore, but #WyrdandWonder inspired me to bring this challenge back  So, from June 21st, the official first day of Summer, to the 21st of September (the day before the Autumnal Equinox), I’m reading as much Sci-Fi as possible. I’ve got a lot of it on my TBR shelves, and I’m inviting all of you to join me!

Here are the challenge levels:

  • Red Shirt – 1 to 5 books
  • Viper Pilot – 6 to 10 books
  • Jedi – 11 to 15 books
  • Time Lord – 16 or more books

This year, I’m taking it easy, and shooting for Viper Pilot. I read an average of 6 books a month, but a lot of the Sci-Fi books I’d like to try this year are longer, and I don’t want to zap the fun out of the challenge with the unnecessary pressure to meet a deadline.

Any book of at least 100 pages that is classified as Science Fiction, including any Sci-Fi subgenres, qualifies for this challenge.  That means audiobooks, physical books, ebooks, library books, free books, other borrowed books, anthologies, and graphic novels are all acceptable options.  You may also count any Sci-Fi book that counts towards another reading challenge.

Are you up to the #SciFiSummer challenge? Sign up by leaving a comment! (Links to reviews are welcome, too!)

Wyrd & Wonder 2022

Published on by Rachelle
Artwork by chic2view from 123RF.com

This is my first year participating in the monthlong Wyrd & Wonder Fantasy celebration!

About Wyrd & Wonder (from their sign-up page):

“Wyrd and Wonder is an annual celebration of the fantasy genre. Sign up to join the party as we explore worlds of myth and magic, re-imagine traditional tales, cheer on heroes (prefer villains? Sure, we won’t judge you) and discover the secret doors that lead from familiar streets to adjacent realms where a discourtesy or a misstep may land you in hot water. We’ll be reading books, watching movies, playing games and sharing our thoughts online through blog posts and social media with as many like-minded adventurers as care to join us – there’s always room by the fire for a newcomer with a tale to share.“

There are daily prompts, and even though I’m a bit late in doing this, today’s prompt is titled, “Best Laid Plans,” and is all about our Fantasy TBRs.

Y’all who have followed my blog for a while now probably already know that I’m not great at sticking to a strict TBR or stack of books. I’m a bit of a mood reader, so it’s good for me to have lots of options. Luckily, I have plenty of them from my physical bookshelves alone, and even more to choose from when it comes to ebooks and audiobooks. With that being said, I made a list just for this month on Goodreads. It has 117 potential Fantasy reads for me to pick from throughout the month.

Since I’ve already started it, I did not include Gallant by V.E. Schwab on the list, but I will be finishing it tonight before I go to bed.

After that, I think I’ll pick the book I had been most looking forward to reading yesterday during Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon, The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris.

Here’s to a Wyrd and Wonderful May!!!

Are you participating in #WyrdandWonder? What Fantasy book(s) are you currently reading?