Mount TBR Challenge 2023 discussion

So it's my second year trying this challenge. I'm taking it slower this year. I've now conquered Mt Wychproof and currently have my sights set on Pike's Peak, although at present my TBR pile has grown this year, oops, so need to try to read more.

6/6 Mt Wychproof reached 15/04/2023
12/12 Pike's Peak reached 12/08/2023

Books bought in 2023: 14
*Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes: The Official Biography
*JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 1—Phantom Blood, Vol. 1
*First Founding
*Brutal Kunnin'
*Conquest Unbound: Stories from the Mortal Realms
*Archmage and other stories (can't find on Goodreads currently).
*Skarsnik
*Black Library Celebration 2023
*The Macharian Crusade: Angel of Fire
*Blood Noir
*The People vs. Alex Cross
*Witch Wraith
*The Elfstones of Shannara
*The Realmgate Wars: War Storm

7) The Enemy by Charlie Higson
****

I didn't know what to expect from Charlie Higson as an author as I'd only known him from his work on TV shows like The Fast Show. What he delivers here is a tense zombie adjacent horror mixed with lashings of the Lord of the Flies as children try to survive both the diseased remnants of the adult population of London and each other. He keeps you on the edge of your seats from start to finish and never lets you feel that any of the characters are truly safe.

8) Batman - The Animated Series: The Dragon and the Bat by Geary Gravel
***

An enjoyable but very literal novelisation of two episodes of the 90's animated show combined into one story here. It doesn't really add anything that wasn't shown on screen but it is an interesting tale because it takes Batman and Bruce Wayne out of the traditional locales of Gotham city for a second half climax set in Japan.

9) Black & Blue by James Patterson with Candice Fox
****

I've found the idea of the Bookshots series better than the execution, it's been really hit and miss. I'm pleased then to have enjoyed this one a lot. The main character is one of James Patterson's best new detectives since Michael Bennett and the story keeps you drawn in from start to finish. A strong introduction to a new series.

10) Tales from the Cobra Wars: A G.I. Joe Anthology Edited by Max Brooks
***

A mix of novellas and short stories tackling a variety of real world concerns in the setting of GI Joe. Individual ratings are:
Snake Eyes by Chuck Dixon ***
Flint and Steel by Jonathan Maberry ****
Speed Trap by Duane Swierczynski ****
Unfriendly Fire by Jonathan McGoran ***
Just A Game by Matt Forbeck ****
Message In A Bottle by John Skipp & Cody Goodfellow ***
Exorcist by Max Brooks ***

11) Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Sunnydale High Yearbook by Christopher Golden & Nancy Holder
**

I did not enjoy this anywhere near as much as when I originally read this. This in universe yearbook felt really lightweight and inconsequential with several sections feeling like just lists of minor character names.

12) Never Never by James Patterson & Candice Fox
***

The first full novel in the Harriet Blue series follows straight on from the Black & Blue and sees Harriet Blue sent to a remote mine in the Outback to investigate a missing persons case. She's a very flawed lead who is both tough but damaged and the book benefits for it.