Mount TBR Challenge 2025 discussion

Thought I'd set up my thread with some tentative TBR titles for 2025. I love creating book lists 😁

1. The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks - have had the Night Angel series since 2023

2. Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks

3. Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks

4. The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle - I've had the book since 2021, I believe, and have been reading approximately 1 Sherlock book per year since then. Once I finish this one I will need to track down Valley of Fear and then will be able to read His Last Bow (which I've also owned since 2021).

5. Gauntlgrym by R.A. Salvatore - I believe I've owned this since 2022. It's book 23 in the series, so the "delay" is just because I'm slowly reading through the remaining books in the series over time.

6. A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe - Owned since 2021 or 2022.

7. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins - Owned since 2023

8. The Primarchs - Owned since 2022

9. Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie - owned since 2023 (?)

10. Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein - I believe I purchased this in late 2023

11. A Mind to Murder by P.D. James - late 2023

12. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury - Purchased in 2024

Additional books not on my original list (edit):
- Tombland by C.J. Sansom - purchased some time in 2024.

- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - I believe I purchased it in 2023 and had intended to read it over the last few Xmas holidays but finally got to it now.

- Destroyer of Cities by Christian Cameron - I'm being a bit looser with what I track as part of the Mount TBR challenge this year, but just tracking my "original" list of older TBRs separately from a somewhat "newer" list. This one I purchase in late 2024.

- Force of Kings by Christian Cameron - Another one not from the "original list of older TBRs" but still purchased in late 2024.

- The Revenge of the Rose by Michael Moorcock - Purchased in 2024 or 2023, and started the series last year.

- The Bane of the Black Sword by Michael Moorcock - Purchased in 2023 or 2024 and read the first 5 books on the series last year. Finishing it up this year.

- Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock - Purchased 2023 or 2024, started series last year.

- Come with Me by Ronald Malfi - Purchased in late 2024

Not on the original list, but adding it since it meets the requirements.

I finished Tombland by C.J. Sansom in January 2025. Final book in the series and it was a great finale - 5/5 stars. I purchased it used at some point in 2024, I believe, but now can't remember from where.

Another not on the original list but one that I've been meaning to get to the last couple years: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. Rated it 4/5 stars - even though I knew "who submit" from the start, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and setting. Need some more cosy books set on trains during the early 20th or late 19th centuries!

Another not on the OG TBR list, but still purchased before 2025. I finished book 5 of the Tyrant series, Destroyer of Cities by Christian Cameron. Another extremely epic entry in this series! This time it centres on the Siege of Rhodes 305-304 BC. Great for any lovers of ancient historical fiction! 4.25/5 stars

Continuing the trend of reading more recent 2024 TBR books, I finished Force of Kings by Christian Cameron. It's book 6 and the final book of the historical fiction Tyrant series. I rated it 4.25/5 stars. Great book and series!

I'm now reading Starship Troopers so finally starting to dip into that "OG list".

Finished a first from the original list: Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. I really enjoyed this one. Reminded of the vibes back when I read A Clockwork Orange and Forever War. Also gave a lot to contemplate as I read. Rated 4-4.25/5 stars

Another book off the original list: The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks. This was the first book of the Night Angel trilogy. I rated it 3.5/5 stars. It was a very fast-paced and entertaining read, although the plot was very jerky through most of the book and prose wasn't very good. It was the type of book that required me to lean back and accept certain aspects to get the most of it, and it ultimately turned out to be a fun ride!

Tonight I finished the second book in the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks, Shadow's Edge. I rated it 3.5/5 stars. Similar to book 1, the plot pacing was very fast with not a ton of plot/character development or depth. But the same fast pace also sucked me in very easily, making it entertaining. Cool magic and worldbuilding too.

That is 7 books bought pre-2025 completed so far this year.

Finished my 8th book that was bought pre-2025:

Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks. I rated it 3/5 stars. For the most part, it had the same quick plot speed as the previous 2 books in the series. It did well at keeping my attention for most of the book. I wasn't a big fan of the ending, though, and thought the themes it ended on were a bit weird. Good series if you want high action, but, yeah, not so great ending.

9th book completed that was purchase pre-2025.

The Revenge of the Rose by Michael Moorcock. I read the first 5 books last year, took a break and now continuing. I thought this was another great book in the series and rated it 4.25/5 stars. It was a more pensive, philosophical entry in the series with lots of awesome world building.

10th book completed that was purchased pre-2025.

The Bane of the Black Sword by Michael Moorcock. This was some great sword & sorcery, which I am rating somewhere between 4.25-4.5/5 stars. Very awesome book!

11th book completed that was purchased pre-2025

Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock. Truly epic conclusion to the main/60s-80s thread of the Elric saga. I rated it 5/5 stars.

12th book completed that was purchased pre-2025

Come with Me by Richard Malfi. It's a mystery/ghost story/horror novel about a grieving husband trying to unravel a mystery left behind by his wife after her death. Really great book, rated it 4.5-4.75/5 stars.

Since this is the 12th TBR book, I guess I will be moving up the mountain!