The Challenge Factory discussion

Team 1 - One More Chapter

Captain: D.L.
Susan A
Denise
Raquel

(view spoiler)[
Used 02/19 (hide spoiler)]

Bonus Points:
Earned: 5
Used: 5

Helpful Links:

Dice Roll: https://www.random.org/dice/ (1 die on Thursdays & Sundays, US Central Time)
R14 SSS Post Your Spot
R14 SSS Discussion Thread

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

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

1. Cover Item: Umbrella/Parasol
2. Title 'S'
3. Fantasy
4. MC is older than 60
5. Author 'Y'
6. Cover Item: Furniture
7. School/College/University
8. Africa
9. Cover: Orange
10. Published between 1950 and 1999
11. Two Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) Deadly Silence, The Hunger Games
12. Published 2001-2010
13. Author 'F'
14. Mystery/Thriller
15. Set in space
16. MC is in their 20's
17. Cover Item: Weapon MC
18. Cover Item: One person
19. Young Adult/New Adult
20. Title 'O'
21. LGBTQ+
22. Cover: Black
23. Author 'V'
24. Title 'R'
25. Less than 100 ratings
26. North America
27. Author 'J'
28. Cover Item: Sun/Moon
29. Originally published in a language other than English
30. Title 'M'
31. Published 2016-2019
32. Author 'L'
33. Re-read
34. Cover: Pink
35. Author 'K'
36. Cover Item: Hat/Helmet/Other Headwear
37. GR average rating >4.0
38. Set in a Fictional Location/Universe
39. Asia
40. Published 2022
41. 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
42. Cover: Red
43. Europe
44. Non-Fiction
45. Cover Item: Animal
46. Set anytime between 1837-1901
47. Award Winner (must state which/when)
48. Author 'B'
49. Book with a funeral in it
50. Cover Item: Jewelry
51. Set on an island
52. Author 'C'
53. Set sometime before 1600 AD
54. South America
55. Debut Novel or Debut Author
56. Cover: Yellow/Gold
57. Set in a place you've visited
58. Cover Item: Hands/Arms/Feet/Legs (no other body parts visible)
59. Author 'E'
60. MC travels by train
61. Cover Item: Water
62. Title 'D'
63. Published 2021
64. Published the year you were born
65. Author 'T'
66. Published 2020
67. Seasonal Theme (i.e Christmas, Halloween etc)
68. Three Word Title (excludes articles like A, An, The) Behind Closed Doors or Etched in Bone
69. Title 'B'
70. Favorite Author
71. MC travels by airplane
72. Cover Item: Book
73. Set anytime between 1600-1837
74. Cover Item: Lamp/Candle
75. Title 'L'
76. Cover: Purple
77. Set in the future
78. MC has at least one child
79. Book to Movie/TV (must state how book qualifies: listopia, imdb, precis)
80. Title 'P'
81. Author 'G'
82. Several authors
83. One Word Title (excluding articles like A, An, The) The Witness or Divergent
84. Author uses a pseudonym
85. Cover Item: Food/Drink
86. Author 'Z'
87. Title 'I'
88. Cover: Green
89. Book that a teammate rated 5 stars
90. Oceania
91. Author uses their middle name/initial (e.g. Robert J. Sawyer, Rita Mae Brown)
92. Title has a subtitle
93. Cover: Blue
94. Science Fiction
95. Cover Item: Two or more people
96. Number in the Title (Third Grave Dead Ahead or Every Fifteen Minutes)
97. MC has a pet
98. Author 'G'
99. Cover Item: Mode of Transportation
100. Romance
101. Published 2011-2015
102. Cover: White
103. Cover Item: Dress
104. Title'W'
105. Book with a wedding in it
106. New to You Author
107. Cover Item: Building
108. Cover: Brown
109. Author 'N'
110. Title 'H'
111. Published before 1950

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 Wednesday/Saturday, 11:59pm. You do have all of Thursday/Sunday 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 period of time, 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 time period 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 for every roll, 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.

Hi team! I've got lots of series I'm working on finishing. I'm looking forward to this challenge!

Hi team! Tiny teams this time around, so we'll have our work cut out for us trying to get bonus points... looking forward to the challenge! :)
I very much hope one of you two would like to be captain, though I can do it if there are no volunteers.

Hello, team! I'm excited to be playing another round of this fun challenge. I have many series that need finishing. I can be captain if no one else wants the job. :)

Thanks D.L. I am able to help out when needed.

My timezone is EST. I am not always awake at 12:00 central time for rolling the dice

Excellent! Thanks for taking on the job, D.L.. :)
We've had a couple more sign ups, so Raquel should be joining us once she sees my reply to her sign up post.

I live in Finland, so I'm in a very different time zone and probably also won't be up at midnight central time.

Anyone got ideas for a team name?

YW. :)

Team names hmm lol All I've got is-

One More Chapter
Look Out for Number One
One in a Million

I like One More Chapter

Hey, Team. I'll be awake to roll tonight. I just want to verify what time we can roll exactly. 12 a.m. Central time? Is that right?

I've sent a friend request to Raquel. :)

I'm also in favour of One More Chapter!

Yep, 12am Central time.

Let's hope we'll hear from her soon!

Hi, Team! I rolled a two. (That's a low number - sorry!) This means you can read:

#2 in a series
- or - alternate: Title 'S'

Please help me out by making a separate selection post (even if you ultimately change the book) & (when you finish your book) completion post. Thank you! I am excited to begin this journey!

Selection Post

Week 1: Roll 1
Spot: 2

Book: After the Silence by Rula Sinara
How It Fits: #2 in the From Kenya, With Love series

Before I pick my book, is anyone aiming for either of these bonus points?

✸ One point can be earned for never picking a book from the alternate list. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90.
✸ One point can be earned for always picking a book from the alternate list. This point is awarded when your team rolls past 90.

I'd kind of like to try for the alternates only one if someone else thinks they can cover the no alternates bonus.

Denise, I never will use alternates because I have sooo many series books I can use lol

Would that help?

Excellent! I usually go all series books too, so I'm gonna switch it up and go alternates only this round. :)

Denise wrote: "Excellent! I usually go all series books too, so I'm gonna switch it up and go alternates only this round. :)"

That sounds good. I will be trying all series books.

I’ll make a selection post when I can get to my computer

Selection Post

Week 1: Roll: 1
Spot: 2

Book/author: Elusive Relations by Nicky James
How it Fits: Valor and Doyle Mysteries #2

[b*ook:Elusive Relations|61148637]

D.L. -- Do you want a broken link in the selection and/or completion posts? If so, do you want it in the book link or the cover link?

If it is easier for you to have the format of selection /completion posts in a particular way, please let me know and I'll edit this.

Selection Post

Spot: 2

Book: Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
Qualification: Alternate: Title S
Pages: 329

Susan A wrote: "D.L. -- Do you want a broken link in the selection and/or completion posts? If so, do you want it in the book link or the cover link?

If it is easier for you to have the format of selection /compl..."

Whatever is easiest for you, works for me. I am flexible :)

I messaged Raquel. Hope to hear from her soon :)

Hi Team.. I'm here! I'm new to this challenge and little confused. But I'm a quick reader and do alot of audio.

Where do I start?!?

Also, I'm CST!

Raquel wrote: "Hi Team.. I'm here! I'm new to this challenge and little confused. But I'm a quick reader and do alot of audio.

Where do I start?!?

Also, I'm CST!"

Hi, there!! I'd be happy to try to explain. For this first round, we rolled a 2, which means we each need to read (or listen, if you're doing an audio) to a book of our choice that is the second book in any series or any book that has a title that starts with the letter "S". Each book needs to be at least 140 pages long.

You would need to finish it & post a completion post w/the below format by this Sunday at 11:30p.m. CST at the very latest, though ideally, we'd like to have it by Saturday.

The posting format:

Completion Post

Week: # / Roll: #
Spot:

Book/author:
How it Fits:
Date Read:
Rating:

Review: (must be at least 3 sentences)


Hope that answers your questions. If you have anymore, ask away :)

Do I need to post what I choose first? Or I can just post once I'm done with all my info?

Raquel wrote: "Do I need to post what I choose first? Or I can just post once I'm done with all my info?"

The rules say you don't have to, but our captain has asked that we do post a selection post. If you change your mind about your selection, you can edit your selection post.

Look at post 16 above for a selection post example.


I have one thing to add to D.L.'s post above .... our tasks are based on the spot we land on, not on the dice roll. So this first roll we rolled a 2, and landed on spot 2 -- so we read #2 in a series or the alternate task for spot 2 (alt tasks are listed in post 4). If, for example, our next roll is a 6, we'd land on spot 8 and read a #8 or the alt task for spot 8.

Completion Post

Week: 1 Roll: 1
Spot: 2

Book/author: Elusive Relations
How it Fits: #2 Valor and Doyle mysteries
Date: 1/26/23
Rating: 4

Review
Over all, I liked this. It contains one of the funniest scenes I've ever read (the interview with the high roommate who spoke entirely in slang) The mystery was good enough and I like the two MCs. I'm a bit mystified as to why the author decided to create an over the top immature and rather high-school rivals scenario for the Missing Persons and Homicide units. Also, the situation with Quaid's ex is so bad, I'm in danger of losing respect for him. Despite those issues, I'm looking forward to the next one in this series.

Susan A wrote: "Raquel wrote: "Do I need to post what I choose first? Or I can just post once I'm done with all my info?"

The rules say you don't have to, but our captain has asked that we do post a selection pos..."

Got It! Thanks ladies!

Selection Post

Week 1: Roll 1
Spot: 2

]

Book: Timid by Devney Perry
How It Fits: #2 from Lark Cove Series

I have one thing to add to D.L.'s post above .... our tasks are based on the spot we land on, not on the dice roll. So this first roll we rolled a 2, and landed on spot 2 -- so we read #2 in a series or the alternate task for spot 2 (alt tasks are listed in post 4). If, for example, our next roll is a 6, we'd land on spot 8 and read a #8 or the alt task for spot 8

Perfectly explained :)

Week 1, Roll 1
Tracking Thread

Previous Spot: n/a
Roll: 2
New Spot: 2

D.L. - completion post
Denise - completion post
Raquel - completion post
Susan A - completion post

Getting back to the team name question, we've got several votes in favour of One More Chapter. Shall we go with that then?

Week 1: Roll 1
Spot: 2

Book: Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
Qualification: Alternate: Title S
Pages: 329
Finished: 28 Jan 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Review:
Has it really already been a decade since I last read this? An all-time favourite I never get tired of revisiting. First published in 1987 (precisely two days after I was born - we're of an age and very much made for one another, this delightful novel and I), long before queer fantasy novels became as ubiquitous as they are now (not that I'm complaining about this development in the slightest, mind you), it's very much a classic of its genre. And really... swordfighting, courtly intrigue and political machinations, betrayals and backstabbing, set in a gorgeously crafted city, with memorable characters at its heart... what's not to love? I have no doubt I'll be reading this many more times in future.

Denise wrote: "Getting back to the team name question, we've got several votes in favour of One More Chapter. Shall we go with that then?"

Fine by me :)

Completion Post

Week: 1 Roll: 1
Spot: 2


Book: After the Silence
Author: Rula Sinara
How it Fits: #2 in the From Kenya, With Love series
Date: 1/28/23
Rating: 3 stars

Review: This book was written with a lot of heart and emotion, but I can't exactly say that I wholly loved it. The idea of a quasi-magical (I kid, she has no actual magical powers) nanny who solves the grieving family and friends' every problem just seemed a little too Disney to me. Plus, it all felt very rushed. How am I supposed to believe that the two people share real love when the man's dead wife wasn't even cold in the ground for 7 months before he's ready to move on with someone else? The descriptions were beautiful, but again, I didn't love it.

Completion Post

Week: 1 Roll: 1
Spot: 2



Book: Timid
Author: Devney Perry
How it Fits: #2 in Lark Cove Series
Date: 1/28/2023
Rating: 3 stars

Review:
Good read but could have been more! Enjoyed reading Jackson and Willa's story, but it was lacking something that I can't quite pinpoint. I'm barely on book two of this series but I am sensing there is a specific pattern going forward. Regardless, I look forward to reading about all the characters we met in book one.

Great job, Team!! We'll be ready to roll at midnight CST :)

YAYYYYYYY Team! I rolled us a six! This puts us on Spot 8. This means you can read:

#8 in a series
- or - alternate: Africa


Reminder: completion reports are due Thursday, but ideally, I would like to have them posted by Wednesday evening. TY!

Happy reading!! :)

Selection Post

Week 1: Roll 2
Spot: 8

Book: Ho-Ho-Homicide by Kaitlyn Dunnett
How It Fits: #8 in the Liss MacCrimmon Mysteries series

A book set in Africa?

Raquel wrote: "A book set in Africa?"

Yes, if the alternate option is a region or continent, it means set somewhere there.

I have a bunch of #7s on my TBR and only 1 #8 that I'm not interested in right now. I'm going to read one of the 7s so I can get to the 8 in that series.

Selection Post

Week 1: Roll: 2
Spot: 8

Book/author: Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen
How it Fits: Rizzoli & Isles #8

[b*ook:Ice Cold|7202831]

Raquel wrote: "A book set in Africa?"

Yep. That's a hard one but remember you don't have to do the alternate if you don't want to. You can just read the series number which is #8 this time. Though that's sort of a challenging option too.

Susan A wrote: "I have a bunch of #7s on my TBR and only 1 #8 that I'm not interested in right now. I'm going to read one of the 7s so I can get to the 8 in that series."

I really had to scrounge around to find an 8 lol I thought I had more of them than I did. I really need to get prepared for when we hit the 80's haha

Selection Post

Spot: 8

Book: King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild
Qualification: Alternate: Africa
Pages: 442

Selection Post

Spot: 8

Book: Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Qualification: Alternate: Africa
Pages: 271