Urban Fantasy discussion

Now that we’ve successfully tackled those New Year’s Resolutions, let’s plan a fun vacation to celebrate. This month’s reading challenge is based on the challenges of planning a great getaway.

I’ve also heard some input that it might be nice if we adding ratings our posts when we finish a book. This is optional, but if you’re interested you should be able to copy and paste this heart or star and add it to your own posts: ❤ ★

For example:
Book X by Author Y – April 09 ★★★★
Book D by Author F – April 15 ★★
Book Z by Author Z – May 17 ★★★★★


Vacation Challenge
Apr 1, 2014 to Jun 30, 2014

Levels
Easy: 1- 3 books
Medium: 4 – 6 books
Hard: 7-9 books
Extreme: All 11 books

1. Choose a destination: Read a book that is set in a place you would like to visit or have visited in the past. This place may be real or imaginary.
2. Choose your travel dates: Read a book that is set in another time from our own. (More than 15 years in the future or more than fifteen years in the past.
3. Choose your travelling companion(s): Read a book in which the main character has a nifty side-kick or entertaining friend. Animal companions count, too!
4. Choose your method of transportation: Read a book with some form of transportation pictured on the cover (plane, car, boat, bicycle, horse. Anything that can get you from one place to another.)
5. Research your destination: Read a book with a character who works in a scientific or medical field or a book in which characters (or monsters) are the result of experimentation.
6. Plan your activities: Read a book featuring a character who has a job or power that you would like to try. Tell us what that job/power is.
7. Pack your bags: There is always something that you forgot to bring along on your trip. Read a book with a character who is suffering from memory loss or who is searching for a lost item.
8. Be Spontaneous: This one can’t be planned ahead! Read a book that called to you suddenly and that you hadn’t been planning on reading just yet.
9. Try the local cuisine: Try a book that’s outside your usual comfort zone or one of those wildly popular series that you’ve been avoiding.
10. Send some postcards: Do people still do that? Visit a Goodreads friend’s bookshelves and read a book that they gave a four or five star rating.
11. End on a high note: Read the last book in a series or the most recent release in a continuing series.


When you've completed a book for the challenge, please come back to this thread and post a NEW comment so we can see how everyone is doing.

◆As always, all formats are accepted (print, ebook, audio) and rereads are fine as long as you read the entire book and not just skim it.
◆Any genre is acceptable unless specifically stated otherwise.
◆You can change your list or level at any time or just make it up as you go along.

Questions? Just ask.

I'm in!

I would like to participate.

Great challenge! Thanks!

Count me in! :-)

Very creative list, sounds like fun! #6 is going to be the challenge for me since I tend to read really escapist things and I'm too old to want to fight monsters and evil villains anymore. ;)

Vacation Challenge
April 1 - June 30

11/11 completed

1. Choose a Destination (set in a place I'd like to visit or have visited, real or imaginary)
Done 5/12 - Void Moon by Michael Connelly (Las Vegas; audio book) ★★★

2. Choose Your Travel Dates (set in another time more than 15 years +/-)
Done 6/8 - Uglies by Scott Westerfeld ★★★★

3. Choose Your Travelling Companion (main character has a nifty sidekick or entertaining friend)
Done 5/29 - Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins ★★★

4. Choose Your Method of Transportation (some form of transportation pictured on the cover)
Done 4/25 - Insurgent by Veronica Roth (train) ★★★

5. Research Your Destination (character works in a scientific/medical field)
Done 5/6 - Sleep Donation by Karen Russell ★★★★

6. Plan Your Activities (character has a job or power I'd like to try - specify job/power)
Done 4/16 - Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead (Georgina works in a bookstore AND has the power to shift her appearance at will) ★★★

7. Pack Your Bags (character suffers from memory loss or is searching for a lost item)
Done 4/24 - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn ★★★

8. Be Spontaneous (book that called to me suddenly)
Done 4/9 - Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon ★★★

9. Try the Local Cuisine (outside my usual comfort zone)
Done 4/4 - Voyage Around My Room by Xavier de Maistre ★★

10. Send Some Postcards (four or five star book from a friend's shelf)
Done 5/15 - Shakespeare Undead by Lori Handeland ★★

11. End on a High Note (last book in a series)
Done 4/19 - Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead ★★★★

Count me in, please!
Completed: 2/11
1.Choose a destination:
2.Choose your travel dates:
3.Choose your Travelling Companion
4.Choose your method of transportation
5.Research your destination
6.Plan your activities
7.Pack your bags
8.Be spontaneous
9.Trya the local cuisine
10.Send some postcards: The Sandman Vol. 5 A Game of You by Neil Gaiman & ilustrators April, 4
11. End on a High Note:Black Arts Jane Yellowrock 7 by Faith Hunter April, 7

10/11


DONE 1. The Fox Woman by Kij Johnson (4/30) ★★★
DONE 2. A Question of Death: An Illustrated Phryne Fisher Treasury by Kerry Greenwood (5/13) ★★★
3. Sabriel by Garth Nix
DONE 4. Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne Valente (4/9) ★★★
DONE 5. The Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard (6/4) ★★★★
DONE 6. Agatha H and the Airship City by Phil Foglio - (Mad Scientist) (5/21) ★★★
DONE 7. Agents of Light and Darkness by Simon R. Green (5/16) ★★★
DONE 8. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (4/13) ★★
DONE 9. Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep (5/28) ★★★
DONE 10.Fated by Benedict Jacka (5/5) ★★★
DONE 11.Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch (5/9) ★★★★

I'm in again.

Vacation Challenge
Duration: April 1 - June 11
Completed: 11/11


✔1. Choose a destination: Read a book that is set in a place you would like to visit or have visited in the past: Chicago
Ghost Story (4/21) ****

✔2. Choose your travel dates: Read a book that is set in another time from our own: 1895
A Great and Terrible Beauty (4/17) ****

✔3. Choose your traveling companion(s): Read a book in which the main character has a nifty side-kick or entertaining friend.
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (5/5) ***

✔4. Choose your method of transportation: Read a book with some form of transportation pictured on the cover: Airplane
The Dog Stars (6/11) ****

✔5. Research your destination: Read a book with a character who works in a scientific or medical field: Astronaut
The Martian (4/15) ****

✔6. Plan your activities: Read a book featuring a character who has a job that you would like to try: Field Agent
Indexing (4/4) ****

✔7. Pack your bags: Read a book with a character who is searching for a lost item: Missing person
The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (4/4) ****

✔8. Be Spontaneous: This one can’t be planned ahead! Read a book that called to you suddenly and that you hadn’t been planning on reading just yet.
Pushing the Limits (5/1) ****

✔9. Try the local cuisine: Try one of those wildly popular series that you’ve been avoiding.
Insurgent (4/6) ***

✔10. Send some postcards: Visit a Goodreads friend’s bookshelves and read a book that they gave a four or five star rating.
Eleanor & Park (4/20) ***

✔11. End on a high note: Read the last book in a series.
Dreams of Gods & Monsters (5/6) ****

11/11 COMPLETED


1. Destination - The Isis Collar by Cat Adams- COMPLETED 5/13

2. Travel Dates - Born of Ice by Sherrilyn Kenyon - COMPLETED 4/5

3. Traveling Companion - Hounded by Kevin Hearne - COMPLETED 5/18

4. Transportation - Safe House by Dez Burke - COMPLETED 5/19

5. Research Destination - Divergent by Veronica Roth - COMPLETED 5/22

6. Plan Activities - Heart of Venom by Jennifer Estep - COMPLETED 6/7

7. Pack Bags - Darkness Unmasked by Keri Arthur - COMPLETED 4/15

8. Be Spontaneous - Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon - COMPLETED 6/17

9. Local Cuisine - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - COMPLETED 6/5

10. Send Postcards - Cinder by Marissa Meyer - COMPLETED 6/11

11. High Note - Up from the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - COMPLETED - 6/13

Vacation Challenge
Apr 1, 2014 to Jun 30, 2014
Completed: 10

1. Destination (Scotland): On Dublin Street-April 2 ★★★★★
2. Travel Dates: The Giver-April 4 ★★★
3. Traveling Companion:
4. Transportation (Car): Exclusively Yours-April 24 ★★★★★
5. Research Destination: Bitterblue-April 17 ★★★★★
6. Plan Activities (Lead singer): Faking It-April 9 ★★★★
7. Pack Bags: Champion-April 7 ★★★
8. Be Spontaneous: Island Girls-April 16 ★★★★
9. Local Cuisine: Meet Me at the Cupcake Café-April 11 ★★★
10. Send Postcards: Losing It-April 8 ★★★★
11. High Note: Dreams of Gods & Monsters-April 25 ★★★★

11/11 FINISHED!


DONE 1. The Fox Woman by Kij Johnson (4/30) ★★★
DONE 2. A Question of Death: An Illustrated Phryne Fisher Treasury by Kerry Greenwood (5/13) ★★★
DONE 3. Sabriel by Garth Nix (6/7) ★★★★
DONE 4. Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne Valente (4/9) ★★★
DONE 5. The Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard (6/4) ★★★★
DONE 6. Agatha H and the Airship City by Phil Foglio - (Mad Scientist) (5/21) ★★★
DONE 7. Agents of Light and Darkness by Simon R. Green (5/16) ★★★
DONE 8. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (4/13) ★★
DONE 9. Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep (5/28) ★★★
DONE 10.Fated by Benedict Jacka (5/5) ★★★
DONE 11.Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch (5/9) ★★★★

Great job, Elizabeth!

Finished! Thanks for the challenge -- I really enjoyed it.

All finished!

Vacation Challenge
Duration: April 1 - June 11
Completed: 11/11


✔1. Choose a destination: Read a book that is set in a place you would like to visit or have visited in the past: Chicago
Ghost Story (4/21) ****

✔2. Choose your travel dates: Read a book that is set in another time from our own: 1895
A Great and Terrible Beauty (4/17) ****

✔3. Choose your traveling companion(s): Read a book in which the main character has a nifty side-kick or entertaining friend.
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (5/5) ***

✔4. Choose your method of transportation: Read a book with some form of transportation pictured on the cover: Airplane
The Dog Stars (6/11) ****

✔5. Research your destination: Read a book with a character who works in a scientific or medical field: Astronaut
The Martian (4/15) ****

✔6. Plan your activities: Read a book featuring a character who has a job that you would like to try: Field Agent
Indexing (4/4) ****

✔7. Pack your bags: Read a book with a character who is searching for a lost item: Missing person
The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (4/4) ****

✔8. Be Spontaneous: This one can’t be planned ahead! Read a book that called to you suddenly and that you hadn’t been planning on reading just yet.
Pushing the Limits (5/1) ****

✔9. Try the local cuisine: Try one of those wildly popular series that you’ve been avoiding.
Insurgent (4/6) ***

✔10. Send some postcards: Visit a Goodreads friend’s bookshelves and read a book that they gave a four or five star rating.
Eleanor & Park (4/20) ***

✔11. End on a high note: Read the last book in a series.
Dreams of Gods & Monsters (5/6) ****

Beth wrote: "Finished! Thanks for the challenge -- I really enjoyed it."

Congrats, Beth!

Finished at the hard level! This was a fun one. :-)

URBAN FANTASY - Challenge #17: Apr 1, 2014 to Jun 30, 2014

Vacation Challenge
Apr 1, 2014 to Jun 30, 2014

Levels
Easy: 1- 3 books
Medium: 4 – 6 books
Hard: 7-9 books
Extreme: All 11 books

Complete: 9/11

1. Choose a destination: Raven Cursed (New Orleans)
2. Choose your travel dates: Ready Player One (future)
3. Choose your travelling companion(s): Play Dead (Lou, canine companion)
4. Choose your method of transportation: Sparrow Hill Road (car)
5. Research your destination: The Far Time Incident (scientists/researchers in a college time travel lab)
6. Plan your activities: The Affinity Bridge (works at the British National Museum, and as an investigative agent for the Crown)
7. Pack your bags: Etiquette & Espionage (searching for a missing prototype)
8. Be Spontaneous: Midnight Crossroad (Been on the reserve list for so long at the library, I'd forgotten I'd requested it!)
9. Try the local cuisine: Try a book that’s outside your usual comfort zone or one of those wildly popular series that you’ve been avoiding.
10. Send some postcards: Do people still do that? Visit a Goodreads friend’s bookshelves and read a book that they gave a four or five star rating.
11. End on a high note: Skin Game (latest Dresden Files release)

Great job, ladymurmur!

Congratulations to everyone who has finished the challenge while I wasn't looking!


I totally forgot it's almost time for the next quarterly challenge.

Vacation Challenge
Apr 1, 2014 to Jun 30, 2014

Levels

Hard: 7-9 books
Completed: 9 books

DONE--1. Choose a destination: Read a book that is set in a place you would like to visit or have visited in the past. This place may be real or imaginary. DESTINATION UK/England: Steadfast by Jack Campbell 6/20
DONE--2. Choose your travel dates: Read a book that is set in another time from our own. (More than 15 years in the future or more than fifteen years in the past. FUTURE: X-Force/Cable: Messiah War by Craig Kyle 6/19
DONE--3. Choose your travelling companion(s): Read a book in which the main character has a nifty side-kick or entertaining friend. Animal companions count, too! COMPANION Bess/Metal Golem: The Iron Jackal by Chris Wooding 5/22
DONE--4. Choose your method of transportation: Read a book with some form of transportation pictured on the cover (plane, car, boat, bicycle, horse. Anything that can get you from one place to another.) TRANSPORTATION Blackbird: Astonishing X-Men, Vol. 1: Gifted by Joss Whedon 5/15
DONE--5. Research your destination: Read a book with a character who works in a scientific or medical field or a book in which characters (or monsters) are the result of experimentation. Zack Overkill is a clone: Incognito by Ed Brubaker 5/15
DONE--6. Plan your activities: Read a book featuring a character who has a job or power that you would like to try. Tell us what that job/power is. JOB--Ninja/Assassin: Daredevil Visionaries: Frank Miller, Vol. 2 by Frank Miller 6/11
DONE--7. Pack your bags: There is always something that you forgot to bring along on your trip. Read a book with a character who is suffering from memory loss or who is searching for a lost item.:X-Force, Vol. 1: Angels And Demons by Craig Kyle (Wolverine has memory loss)
DONE--8. Be Spontaneous: This one can’t be planned ahead! Read a book that called to you suddenly and that you hadn’t been planning on reading just yet.: The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas 6/24
DONE--11. End on a high note: Read the last book in a series or the most recent release in a continuing series.: The King by JR Ward 4/7

Are we doing a challenge for July through September?

Christine wrote: "I totally forgot it's almost time for the next quarterly challenge."

It's time! :)

Natalie wrote: "Are we doing a challenge for July through September?"


Opps! It kind of slipped my mind. I'll get to work on one right now.

Done!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...