Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

It's tiiiiiime! Sign up here to join the 2025 Team Reading Challenge!

Please comment if you want to join Year 8 of the competition!

Format your comment with the following:

Name:
Year 7 Team:
Year 7 Individual Points:
Favourite read of 2024:

If you participated in any previous years of the competition, feel free also to mention your points from those years if you think it will help us get a better idea of the average number of points you will have. You can also note if you expect to read more or less than the previous year.

OR if you are new to the competition:

Name:
2024 number of books read:
2024 number of buddy reads read with the group:
Favorite read of 2024:

Please be aware you need at least 100 comments in the group to sign up for the challenge. This is to ensure that you won't suddenly disappear from the challenge. If you are not at 100 comments yet, you can always join the challenge late.

If you start spam commenting in order to make it to 100 comments, this will be taken into consideration, and we will hold out on adding you to the competition.

Please only put the sign-up comment in the thread. We want to avoid clutter so it is easy to compile a list. Any chatter comments will be deleted without notice. If you have any questions or suggestions about the competition, please visit the Year 8 rules thread here.

As always, a friendly reminder:

This competition is just for fun! It's a way to track books and motivate us to read. There's no pressure to read as many books or get as many points as the year before. Providing points from prior years just gives me an idea of how to sort the teams. :)

Name: Jenna
Year 7 Team: Jaghut Guardians
Year 7 Individual Points: 626 (I probably won't read this much next year)
Year 6 Individual Points: 409
Favourite read of 2024: I finally finished all the Realm of the Elderings books by Robin Hobb, so probably the Fitz and the Fool series :)

Name: Chris H
Year 7 Team: Jaghut Guardians
Year 7 Individual Points: 197
Favourite read of 2024: Empire of the Vampire - Jay Kristoff

Name: Soo
2024 Books Read: Currently 221, Goal 247 🤭
2024 Favs:
- Dragon Heist
- Constituent Service: A Third District Story
- Cheating Men Must Die Vol 1 (Manhua)
- The Drops of God, Vol. 1 (Manga)

Name: Erin
Year 7 Team: Silver Swords
Year 7 Individual Points: 754.9
Favourite read of 2024: ooh hard question. Choosing a fantasy since this is a fantasy group and go with Swordcatcher by Cassandra Clare

Name: Tammie
Year 7 Team: Silver Swords
Year 7 Individual Points: 707
Year 6 Individual Points: 734.3
Year 5 Individual Points: 639.3
I actually want to slow down a bit in 2025 and not be in such a hurry to get through the books I read, so I may not read as many books.
Favourite read of 2024: Esrahaddon, Winter Lost, Drumindor

Name: Iain
Year 7 Team: Horns of Hammerad
(2024) Year 7 Individual Points: 2601.4
(2023) Year 6 Individual Points: 2321.4
(2022) Year 5 Individual Points: 1293.4
(2021) Year 4 Individual Points: 1219.9
(2020) Year 3 Individual Points: 2293.0
(2019) Year 2 Individual Points: 1970.3
(2018) Year 1 Individual Points: 2003.8

So basically, expect 2000-2600 points, unless severe burnout happens all of a sudden...

Favorite Reads of 2024:
Bury Your Gays (Horror)
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (LitRPG)
Pariah (Established IP: Warhammer 40k)
I Ran Away to Evil (Cozy/Romance)
Precursor (Science Fiction)
Labyrinth's Heart (Fantasy)
The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal (Time Travel)
The Nothing Man (Mystery)
Heretical Fishing: A Cozy Guide to Annoying the Cults, Outsmarting the Fish, and Alienating Oneself (Cultivation)

Name: RachelG.

2024 number of books read: 603 so far
2024 number of buddy reads read with the group: 110
Favorite read of 2024: Discworld series and the books by Kim M. Watt

Name: Diana
2024 team: Horns of Hammerad
Points: 893.6
Fav book: Swordheart by T Kingfisher

Name: Ann-Marie
Year 7 Team: Jaghut Guardians
Year 7 Individual Points: 1494
Favorite read of 2024: I got peer-pressured into reading Storrmlight Archives which I ended up very much enjoying much to my chagrin, I have been recommending the Green Bone Saga to anyone who might be even a little interested that I come in contact with and I absolutely love, love, LOVE Dungeon Crawler Carl.

Name: Narilka
Year 7 Team: Tome Raiders
Year 7 Individual Points: 349.5
Favourite read of 2024: For new-to-me reads, it's easily the Dungeon Crawler Carl series on audio. It has to be the best listening experience I had so far along with a truly touching and bonkers story. February can't come fast enough for book 7's audio release :D

Name: Saar the Book Owl
Year 7 Team: Horns of Hammerad
Year 7 Individual Points: 176,7
Favourite read of 2024: Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries

Hopefully next year I can follow through with my buddy read plans! 😂

Name: Mei
Year 7 Team: Jaghut Guardians
Year 7 Individual Points: 721.4
Favourite read of 2024: I'll highlight some of my debut reads 🥰Sorcery and Small Magics, Shoestring Theory, Lord of the Empty Isles

I probably will be reading less next year but hopefully not toooo much less😆

Name: Monika
Year 7 Team: Tome Raiders
Year 7 Individual Points: 1016.6
2024 Number of books read: 194 (so far)
2024 number of BR read with group: 50 (so far if I didn't mistaken)
Favourite read of 2024: Hmmm hard question.. I enjoyed John Gwynne's Series The Faithful and the Fallen, House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland was brill, The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu gave me a change of mind about Sci Fi books :)

Name: Marie C
Year 7 Team: Horns of Hammerad
Year 7 Individual Points: 604.9 (started only in April)
Favourite read of 2024: Words of Radiance

I am currently in a massive reading slump partially because of my current life circumstances (nothing bad) which will extend into next year so I might end up reading less. But I might also have more time to read so it could go either way...

Name: Siobhan
Year 7 Team: Horns of Hammerad
Year 7 Individual Points: 290.6
Favourite read of 2024: Killing Time or Can't Spell Treason Without Tea or Weyward!

Name: Hailee
Year 7 Team: Horns of Hammerad
Year 7 Individual Points: 281.5
Favourite read of 2024:
Fourth Wing
His Forsaken Bride
Master of the Void
House of Bane and Blood

Name: Virginie
Year 7 Team: Jaghut Guardians
Year 7 Individual Points: 152.9 (started in March)
Favourite read of 2024:
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System
Ogres
Dungeon Crawler Carl

Name: Paula
Year 7 Team: Horns of Hammerard
Year 7 Individual Points: 875.5
Favourite read of 2024: Babel , Someone You Can Build a Nest In , Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands , The Fireborne Blade , The Spellshop

Name: Julian
Year 7 team: Horns of Hammerad
Year 7 points: 280.4
Favorite read: The Wandering Inn (always)

Had some burnout this year but hoping to bounce back next year!

Name: Brian
year 7 : Horns of Hammered
Favorite Read: The Dragon on Winter

Year 7 points: 593

Forgot to do this but I think Iain signed me up anyway?

Name: Nirkatze
Year 7 Team: Tome Raiders
Year 7 Individual Points: 3741 I think
Favorite Read: Um.... lots. Dungeon Crawler Carl, Wandering Inn, Scholomance, Smallhope & Pennyroyal, Stormlight Archive, Bury Your Gays, Green Bone Saga, more...

Anticipate 2025 will be similar, but I tend to crash from August-November so might not have my spreadsheet filled in (thank you guys!)

Name: Emily
Year 7 Team: Jaghut Guardians
Year 7 Individual Points: 1649
Year 6: 1377
Year 5: 1084
I definitely won't be any where close to this year's points because I'll have a newborn in February. I really have no idea how much I'll be able to read, but I'd still like to participate :)

Favorite reads of 2024: New Stormlight, Dungeon Crawler Carl, Vorkosigan (especially A Civil Campaign), Saint of Steel (okay well all the Kingfishers, really :D), The Tamir Triad... Lots of good ones this year!

Name - Manju
Year 7 - Didn't participate
Year 6 individual points - 576

Favorite reads of 2024 -
The Great Alone
The Women
The Running Grave
The Song of Achilles

How did I miss this thread!?!


Name: Nyssa
Year 7 Team: Silver Swords This was my first year.
Year 7 Individual Points: At the end of the competition ~ 653.8; right now ~ 742.1
Favourite read of 2024: The following series as a whole ~

~ The Vorkosigan Saga
~Alex Verus
~Kate Daniels
~The Night Runners
~InCryptid
~Mistborn

And it looks like The Stormight Archive will be joining the list.

As for my expectations in 2025:
This is the third year I have completed over 100 books/stories, and I hope to continue doing so.
However, I do not expect to participate in many buddy reads. My main goal is to complete previously started series, particularly those on my physical bookshelf.

Wow, I think I am a bit late, I have been in the challenge since the beginning.
870.4 Points, always searching for that elusive 1,000 number. Some day, maybe when I retire, LOL.
Shogun
Lonesome Dove
Disquiet Gods - Ruocchio
Dungeon Crawler Carl series
Kushiel Trilogy
Dune Prelude Trilogy

Being I have read so much Fantasy and Sci-fi over the years, many BR's I have already covered. I see we are going to read the Warhammer series, always have had an interest in those, lokking forward to them.

LAST CHANCE FOR SIGN UPS DECEMBER 27. I will be making the teams on the evening of the 28th (KST), so make sure you sign up now! I will also add a post on the 28th in my time zone, letting everyone know that entries are closed for the Jan 1 start date.

If you sign up after that time, you will be added within a few weeks with anyone else who was late to put their name on the list. :)

Phew! Almost missed this notification! Thanks for the reminder Jenna!

Name: Katie
Year 7 Team: Tome Raiders
Year 7 Individual Points: 167.2
Favourite reads of 2024: The Hate You Give, Tomorrow Tomorrow and Tomorrow, The Maid, I'm Glad My Mom Died

Oh hell. I screwed this up so bad last year but I want to be where the cool kids are. I’ll try harder, promise!

Name: Felina
Year 7 Team: Silver Swords
Year 7 Individual Points: 156.6 when I stopped tracking in March. 😬
Favorite Reads: Verus, The Expanse, Green Bone Saga

-----------------------------------------------------------------

All those who signed up before this point have been added to the competition starting on January 1st.

You may still sign up late, but you might not be added to the competition right away.

I would like to join pleas and use the same sheet setup i had for 2024 :)

Name: Angela Jr
Year 7 Team: Silver Swords
Year 7 Individual Points: 780

Choko's gonna sign up... I've been talking to her through GR email almost as often as she comments lately...

Name: Choko
Year 7 Team: Jaghut Guardians
Year 7 Points: 1808.8
Favorite Reads of 2024: All her BRs with me ;)

Timelord Iain wrote: "Choko's gonna sign up... I've been talking to her through GR email almost as often as she comments lately...

Name: Choko
Year 7 Team: Jaghut Guardians
Year 7 Points: 1808.8
Favorite Reads of 2024:..."

Hahahahaha! Exactly!!!

But yes, end of year work stuff and life stuff and I have not read anything these days at all...

However, I plan to read about 150-200 books this year, definitely not as many as last year.

I adore all sci-fi and sci-fantasy we have been reading and I love this community!!! Thank you for giving me a chance to participate!!!

Added Angela Jr. and Choko back to the spreadsheet... top section will be broken until you end up on teams, but you can track your books ahead of time, at least... you're the last 2 tabs for now...

Thank you, Iain!❤️

Timelord Iain wrote: "Added Angela Jr. and Choko back to the spreadsheet... top section will be broken until you end up on teams, but you can track your books ahead of time, at least... you're the last 2 tabs for now..."

Thanks :)

Apparently, I've gone from creating the first-ever sheet for this competition to forgetting to sign up for it. But now I've remembered! (So Iain, if you would be so kind as to add me to some team needing just a smidge of points).

For the challenge last year, I read 47 books and got 222 points. I'll probably be at the same level. I'm not sure how many buddy reads I'm going to do, as my multiple shelves downstairs of "TBR" are too overflowing, and part of my birthday gift earlier this month is a "free little library" to put in my front yard, so a hint has been taken! So, I may have to concentrate on that instead (as well as concentrate on new books (Abercrombie!) . I'm here for everything Castell later this month, as well as continuing with the Tad Williams series.

I'm still doing my stubborn slow reread of Stormlight and am about 65% Oathbringer with the rest of that to go, so I'll probably be slow to add points while I'm in "tome" mode.

2023 272 points
2022 196
2021 262
2020 260
2019 321 - Love to get back to this level.

Favorite read of 2024: First time reads - tyranny of faith and Trials of empire, Empire of the Damned, Malevolent Seven, Tyrant's Throne, Monk and Robot.

Jenna will add to teams at some point... I'm mostly adding tabs to spreadsheet so you can track while you wait... also because the rules say you can add books from the day you sign up, and so far, everyone signed up by day 1...

Yay! Glad to have a few more signups. :)

I'll wait a couple more days to see if there are any others who want to join at the last minute, but if there's no one else within the next week, I'll add everyone then.

Rob wrote: "Apparently, I've gone from creating the first-ever sheet for this competition to forgetting to sign up for it. But now I've remembered! (So Iain, if you would be so kind as to add me to some team n..."

I finally remembered to import your sheet into 2025 with Choko & Angela Jr.

For some reason, some of your top row stuff was hard coded... switched it to the INDIRECT formulas all the other sheets use, so it'll dynamically grab the right data...

Didn't touch your filters that seem to be highlighting the first 57 rows for some reason...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey! Long time no see!
A very late arrival, but I'd love to join again this year!

Year 7 Team: Jaghut Guardians
Year 7 Points: 122 (for only half the competition)
Year 6 Points: 263
Favorite Reads of 2024: Bisclavret, Whybourne & Griffin, Game Changers

Mel wrote: "Hey! Long time no see!
A very late arrival, but I'd love to join again this year!

Year 7 Team: Jaghut Guardians
Year 7 Points: 122 (for only half the competition)
Year 6 Points: 263
Favorite Reads..."

Hell... I can probably tell ya you're going to end up on Lawless Rogues, the team with no captain (since the symbolic captains haven't participated in a few years now and we just removed them this year)...

I just can't edit the team thread comments, since Jenna made all the threads...

But I can add you to the rest of the spreadsheet stuff tomorrow...

Hey Mel, welcome back! I will indeed add you to the Lawless Rogues. As Iain mentioned in the other thread, you can count points from anything you've read since the date you signed up. :)

All sorted up on the spreadsheet... we can be 100% sure, once you read some books and I/we see the data pass between tabs...

I want to join too.. but, i don't qualify yet. *makes puppy eyes*
Next year, for sure.
*goes away and starts commenting like crazy* :D

LOL Just join a few BRs and you'll hit the threshold in like a week.

Nirkatze knows how to milk the numbers, maintaining series lists with BR links in every thread ;)

Trying to catch up to me with my 34,000 comments... just needs 14,500 more...

🤣🤣🤣 I don't have even a 10th part of yours or Nirkatze numbers Iain 😁. And if to believe some I'm talking too much 🤣🤣🤣