The Challenge Factory discussion

Team 7 - Serial Seven

Captain: Stacey
Heli
Reed
Loriidae
Jen K
Shelley
☘Misericordia☘




Bonus Points:
Earned: 5
Used: 5

Helpful Links:

Dice Roll: https://www.random.org/dice/ (2 dice on Fridays, US Central Time)
R13 SS Post Your Spot
R13 SS Discussion Thread

Time Zone Converter: https://www.timeanddate.com/worldcloc...

ALTERNATE LIST:
**titles exclude leading articles (a, an, the)


2. Male Author
3. Cover: Red
4. MC has a pet
5. Mystery/Thriller
6. Set in space
7. Cover: Orange
8. Cover Item: One person
9. Several authors
10. Cover: Pink
11. Author 'N'
12. Cover Item: Book
13. Title 'B'
14. Two Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) Deadly Silence, The Hunger Games
15. Cover Item: Sun/Moon
16. Asia
17. Title 'D'
18. Set in a place you've visited
19. Less than 100 ratings
20. Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
21. Favorite Author
22. Set anytime between 1837-1901
23. South America
24. Book to Movie/TV (must state how book qualifies: listopia, imdb, precis)
25. Published 2011-2015
26. Four or More Words Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
27. Title 'Y'
28. Europe
29. MC is older than 60
30. Author 'E'
31. Set on an island
32. Title 'L'
33. Cover Item: Hat/Helmet/Other Headwear
34. MC travels by airplane
35. New to You Author
36. Author uses their middle name/initial (e.g. Robert J. Sawyer, Rita Mae Brown)
37. Title 'M'
38. Book that a teammate rated 5 stars
39. Three Word Title (excludes articles like A, An, The) Behind Closed Doors or Etched in Bone
40. Cover Item: Building
41. Author 'V'
42. MC travels by train
43. Set anytime between 1600-1837
44. Book with a funeral in it
45. Title has a subtitle
46. Cover: Yellow/Gold
47. Science Fiction
48. Cover Item: Lamp/Candle
49. Author 'Z'
50. MC has at least one child
51. Title 'O'
52. Originally published in a language other than English
53. Cover: Purple
54. Australia
55. Cover Item: Umbrella/Parasol
56. Author uses a pseudonym
57. Young Adult/New Adult
58. Cover Item: Jewelry
59. Non-Fiction
60. Cover: Brown
61. Title 'H'
62. North America
63. Set in the future
64. Published 2021
65. Author 'G'
66. Fantasy
67. Cover Item: Food/Drink
68. LGBTQ+
69. One Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Witness or Divergent
70. Published 2016-2019
71. Author 'F'
72. Romance
73. Africa
74. Title 'S'
75. Published 2001-2010
76. Cover Item: Animal
77. Author 'L'
78. MC is in their 20's
79. Number in the Title (Third Grave Dead Ahead or Every Fifteen Minutes)
80. Published before 1950
81. Title 'P'
82. Author 'B'
83. Published between 1950 and 1999
84. Title 'W'
85. Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)
86. Seasonal Theme (i.e Christmas, Halloween etc)
87. Title 'R'
88. Cover Item: Mode of Transportation
89. Set sometime before 1600 AD
90. Author 'G'
91. GR average rating >4.0
92. Cover: Blue
93. Award Winner (must state which/when)
94. Cover Item: Weapon
95. Author 'T'
96. Published 2020
97. Title 'I'
98. Book with a wedding in it
99. Cover: Black
100. Author 'J'
101. Cover: White
102. Female Author
103. Title 'F'
104. Cover Item: Water
105. Cover Item: Two or more people
106. Published the year you were born
107. Cover Item: Furniture
108. Author 'C'
109. Debut Novel or Debut Author
110. Cover Item: Dress
111. Cover: Green
112. School/College/University

A couple of things to keep in mind:

✸ Communication is key. Please make sure to check in regularly with your team.

✸ Let your team know if it looks like you won't get your review posted by Thursday, 11:59pm. You do have all of Friday to submit your review, but it can be intensely frustrating for your captain if they don't know when or if they can expect your review before the deadline.

✸ If you know beforehand that you won't be able to read and review a book during a certain week, you can request a pre-arranged absence from me, either by posting the request in the discussion thread or by sending me a pm. The request has to be submitted before the team rolls for the week in question, can only be approved by me as the mod in charge of running the game, and has to state a reason for the absence. (Reasons for pre-arranged absences can include e.g. going on vacation or work trips, planned hospital stays, exam period, etc.)

✸ If you do not have a pre-arranged absence and won't be able to finish your book in time for an unforeseen reason, please let your team know as soon as possible. If the team has earned the free pass, it can be used to cover the missing review. Without a free pass, the team has to sit out the next roll.

✸ We all know that real life gets in the way sometimes, be it through family emergencies, work emergencies, natural disasters, technical problems making it impossible to get online, or in other ways. That being said, please do keep in mind that this is a team challenge and your team relies on you to do your part unless an emergency occurs.

✸ If you find that the pressure of keeping up with the pace of the game gets too much for you or you wish to stop playing for any other reason, you can drop out of the challenge at any time. In that case, please let your team captain and/or me know that you wish to drop out rather than just disappearing without a word so your team won't be penalized when you fail to turn in your review. Thank you!


Captain's Handbook

✸ The team's captain is its chief organizer. This includes rolling the dice, posting the team's new spot to the team thread and the Post Your Spot thread, collecting links to team members' review posts in a single post to be linked in the Post Your Spot thread, doublechecking that books and review posts comply with requirements, reminding team members to post their reviews in time if necessary, etc.

✸ The captain may delegate some tasks, such as rolling and posting the new spot to the team thread, to another team member if they so choose. (Either a designated roller who fulfills this role every week, or whichever team member is online first once rolling is possible.) Collecting reviews into a single post and posting to the Post Your Spot thread should always be handled by the captain.

✸ Instead of having everything handled by a single team captain, teams can also choose two co-captains to handle the workload.

✸ Selection posts are not strictly required by the game's rules and I won't be checking for them. It's up to the team captain to decide whether they want them.

✸ If the team captain requests a pre-arranged absence, it's their responsibility to arrange for another team member to step in as temporary captain.

✸ The team captain is my primary point of contact for the team and should allow receiving private messages.

Hey team! Super excited this challenge is back. I'm in the middle of so many series. It is getting out of hand. :)

I know what you mean Jen, I always enjoy this challenge.

Waving hello from Northern Australia.

I can't captain as I am captaining in the SSS - (two books a week version).

@Loriidae, How is it in Australia after the volcano? You are impressive doing both challenges!

I would also prefer not to be captain. I'm traveling for work this weekend and will be basically working 2 jobs for the next 6 weeks. I will get my reading done but will be burned out on managing. :)

Also I'm waving from the Washington, DC area this week but headed to Uganda this weekend, fingers crossed.

Hi guys!

Hello from Finland.

Hello from Michigan to Northern Australia, Washington heading to Uganda, Finland, and other areas of the team not mentioned yet! Sorry I can't captain - too forgetful.

Wow! We are just all over the globe. :) I'm in NC and I'm sorry I'm late to check in -- work was a bit nutty yesterday.

I can Captain-- but I will warn you I'm not the kind of captain who stays up until midnight on Thursday to make the next week's rolls. If Friday is early enough for a new spot for you all -- I'm good to go.

Wonderful thank you Stacey.

Has anyone had any name thoughts????

Super Sixes as there are six of us

someone please come up with something better {{grin}}

Hello everyone!!

Stacey, you are my hero! Thanks for offering to be the Captain!! Friday morning is just fine for rolling the die for me.

I was thinking the Serial Seven since we are team 7 but Serial Six would work just as well. Or the Seven Book Wonders? I'm not so great at the names.

Does anyone have a short series that they think they could start and finish for the bonus point? I'm considering one but would be happy to just pick random series books if someone else has it covered.

Thanks NC!

Friday morning sounds good to me - I go with the flow. Whatever name the majority decides, is good with me.

Thank you Stacey! I'm in a different time zone anyways so Thursday or Friday don't matter so much.

Jen K wrote: "@Loriidae, How is it in Australia after the volcano? You are impressive doing both challenges!..."

Sorry I missed that, we had some incredible sunrises due to the ash cloud. Further south about two days drive, they had some very rough seas that closed beaches etc. it was rather incredible that the effects could be felt from so far away. It is so sad how it has devastated Tonga.

It looks like we are still missing Reed, is that correct?

Here are the bonus point options:
BONUS POINTS:

✸ One point can be earned for reading three or more books in a series.
✸ One point can be earned for reading a book with >500 pages.
✸ One point can be earned for starting and finishing a series. There must be at least 4 books in that series. Series + spin-off totalling ≥4 books also counts. For series with >9 books, point will be awarded for reading books 1-9. For still ongoing series, all books published to date (OR up to #9 in longer series) must be read.~ No re-reads on this one.
✸ 2 in 1: One point can be earned for reading a book that fits both the series number and the alternate for the spot you are on.
✸ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate lists. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90.
✸ Valentine's Bonus: One point can be earned for reading a Romance book for the roll on 02/11.

I do not typically read my series in order -- so I will not be any help with that one. Does anyone else have a series they are dying to plow through? Any of the other options I can probably get if we need.

The FREE PASS is hugely helpful if we can get it early on -- just saves us if life gets in the way later on.

First Roll tomorrow!

Week 1 Roll: 7

#7 in series
Alternative: 7. Cover: Orange
Heli -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Reed
Stacey -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Loriidae -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Jen K -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Shelley -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks Stacey for getting us started!

It's a mighty roll though not the number I was hoping to get. :)

The number 7 I really want to read is the last of The Dark Tower but I'm just not going to manage over a thousand pages this week.

I will probably read Potions and Pastries, Magical Bakery Mystery #7, or The Leavers for orange cover.

Is anyone planning on the no alternates bonus point?

I think I know the answer but, does this count as orange? Not quite sure how to use TinEye.

Shelley wrote: "I think I know the answer but, does this count as orange? Not quite sure how to use TinEye.

"

Unfortunately not, Tineye says Orange is only 29%, Black 33%, Pink 26%, and brown the rest.

Shelley wrote: "Not quite sure how to use TinEye....

It's a bit convoluted, go the book page, hover over the cover, click enlarge cover, then long press on image or right mouse button and choose open image in a new tab.

That new tab address should have .jpg at the end, Copy that and paste it into Tineye where it says enter image URL

Once you have the enlarged cover you can also save the image and then upload it to Tineye. but then you have to delete the image from your device afterwards. The first method avoids that.

Jen K wrote: "...anyone planning on the no alternates bonus point?..."

I will. I always try and avoid using the alternate list.

I'm going to try to finish The Book of the Dead. I'll have a shortie ready to go if it looks like I'm not going to make it.

Stacey wrote: "I'm going to try to finish The Book of the Dead. I'll have a shortie ready to go if it looks like I'm not going to make it."

That's a great series. I'm going to read Pyramids.

Spot #7 selection
Eyes to the Soul Dale Mayer 287 pages

The Duke's Accidental Wife Erica Ridley 260 pages

Loriidae wrote: "Shelley wrote: "Not quite sure how to use TinEye....

It's a bit convoluted, go the book page, hover over the cover, click enlarge cover, then long press on image or right mouse button and choose o..."

Thanks. Played around with the cover and TinEye and your instructions. 🤓

Loriidae wrote: "Shelley wrote: "I think I know the answer but, does this count as orange? Not quite sure how to use TinEye.

"

Unfortunately not, Tineye says Orange is only 29..."

I was hoping I was colorblind.🤓😕

:)

Completion post:
Week 1
Spot: 7

Book: Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
Qualification: Discworld #7
Finished: 1/26/22
Rating: 3 stars

Review:
It's good to be back in the Discworld. Teppic is a son of the king of Djelibeybi. He's just passed his final exam for the Assasins Guild in Ankh-Morpork when his father dies and he has to return to his kingdom. Teppic is forced to build an enormous pyramid for his father, who really didn't want to be buried in one. Magic happens and Djelibeybi disappears while it's old dead kings come back to life. This is not as good as some of the former books in this series. It had no LOL moments like Mort or Wyrd Sisters. An enjoyable read anyway.

Nice work Heli!

I'm super close to finishing mine. My completion post should be done in good time tomorrow.

Mine will be tight -- I ended up changing to Magic Breaks for a comfort read -- but I should get done on the way home from work. :)

As an aside -- we don't have a name other than Team 7. Since I am absolutely terrible at names I am good to keep that, but does anyone have any suggestions?

Jen suggested Serial Seven. That works for me.

Completion Post Week:
Spot: #7

Book: The Duke's Accidental Wife
Author: Erica Ridley
Pages: 260
Spot: #7
How it fits: #7 Dukes of War

Review:
Unconventional Kate and strait laced Lawrence are forced to marry when Kate is compromised through scandal. This was a sweet story of Lawrence who has been brought up from childhood to only think of how his every action reflects on the dukedom. He is cold and withdrawn and it is only when Kate the hoyden realises that Lawrence is an introvert that they begin to understand each other. This romance also touches on isssues of the time, childbirth and the high death rate of young children, the inequity of class and opportunity as well as the heartbreak of Alzheimers, help round out a lovely happy ever after. 4 stars

Date Read: Jan 27 ★★★✰✰

Loriidae wrote: "Jen suggested Serial Seven. That works for me."

I agree. It's a good name.

Completion Post Week:
Spot: #7

Book: Potions and Pastries
Author: Bailey Cates
Pages: 304
Date Finished: 27 January 2022
How it fits: Magical Bakery Mystery #7
Rating: 3 stars

Review:
Katie Lightfoot gets an unexpected and intriguing fortune from one of the women in their group, Orla Black, while strolling the Savannah waterfront. Following up with her the next day at the Honeybee bakery, Katie and her aunt witness Orla step out in front of car and lose her life. Immediately the situation seems suspicious and Katie feels compelled to investigate further with Orla's close knit Traveler family as key suspects. At the same time, Katie is trying to process the plan to leave her beloved carriage house to move into a bigger shared space with Declan.

While I missed a few in the series, I really appreciated that I didn't feel too left behind when jumping into the series. Katie is a bit more settled in her life which is an improvement from earlier in the series. I enjoy the quirky cast of characters especially the familiars. It was pretty obvious as to how it would end but I was still engaged throughout.

Loriidae wrote: "Jen K wrote: "...anyone planning on the no alternates bonus point?..."

I will. I always try and avoid using the alternate list."

Nice!! I like to try the same but helpful to not have the pressure. :)

I'm good with any name.

Completion Post -- Week 1

Spot: 7

Book: Magic Breaks
Author: Ilona Andrews
How it Fits: #7 in Kate Daniels
Completed: 1/27/22
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I've worked my way through this series so many times, I can pick up anywhere and thoroughly enjoy the whole thing. This book -- along with the one just before -- are probably my least favorite of the series, but still the characters are all there making their smart remarks, the action is fast paced and entertaining and it moves the bigger story arc along. A good comfort read for a week I wasn't feeling my best.

Just waiting on Shelley and we are good for our Fast Pass. :) (Technically and Reed, but I don't think she will be making any appearance).

Got our name change request in as well.

Completion Post
Week: 1
Spot: #7



Book: Redemption in Cottonwood Springs
Author: Dianne Harman
Pages: 248
Date Finished: 1/27/22
How it fits: 7th in Cottonwood Springs Cozy Mystery Series
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Review: Mike Loomis is an ex-drug dealer who has gotten out of prison early. Unfortunately for him, several of his former associates don't know or trust why? Everyone knows the only way to cut your time is to roll on someone else. Or is it? After Mike disappears, the sheriff tries to find him before it's too late.

Although this is the 7th in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed it even though this is the first one I've read in the series. I probably would have enjoyed it more, if I had the foundation laid by the previous 6.

Nice everyone! I'll roll now.

Week 2: Roll 9 -- Spot: 16

Options:
Standalone
#1 in series
#6 in series
#16 in series
Alternate: 16. Asia.

Heli -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Misericordia -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
**2 for 1 bonus point earned
Loriidae -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
**Longer than 500 pages bonus point earned
Jen K -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Stacey -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Shelley -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

☘Misericordia☘ will hopefully be joining you soon to replace Reed.

Denise wrote: "☘Misericordia☘ will hopefully be joining you soon to replace Reed."

Excellent

Spot 16 I am aiming to read Haunted Blade which has been hanging around on my shelf as the last book in the series since October 2020. It also has 568 pages, hence why it has been sitting on my shelf. So going for the bonus point as well

Nice roll and welcome ☘Misericordia☘!

I'm going to try for the start and finish a series bonus point and read My Brilliant Friend which is Book 1 of the Neapolitan Novels.

Hiii, everybody! I'm in! :)