Category: readathon

Magical Readathon: Orilium Spring Equinox 2025
monthly tbr · readathon

Magical Readathon: Orilium Spring Equinox 2025

kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Hello, reader!

Classes are starting once again in the magical academy that is Orilium! This is one of my favorite readathons of the year and also one of the only ones I ever complete. I always get so excited going into the Orilium Spring Equinox and this year is extra special. Why? Because there are dragons!

But what is the Magical Readathon? It is the brain child of the marvelous G @ Book Roast, who created the world of Aeldia, where Orilium dwells, and every aspect therein. It’s an incredibly creative readathon where you build a character, choose a guild, and guide your character through classes to achieve their calling. I am notoriously bad at giving all the details in a coherent way, so you should definitely watch G’s announcement video for the scoop:

My Character

✨✨✨ Name: Korrin Musgrave ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Guild: The Order of the Crescent Moon ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Current Guild Reputation Points: 655 gp✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Conduit: Quarterstaff ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Legacy: Wolf familiar (Venandi) ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Background: Wildling ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Province: Irtheria ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Heritage: Earthling (earth element) ✨✨✨

If you want to learn more about these various choices, you can check out the Brief History of Aeldia on the Google drive. It’s awesome what G has dreamed up!

Continue reading “Magical Readathon: Orilium Spring Equinox 2025” →
Trope-ical Readathon TBR: March 2025
monthly tbr · readathon

Trope-ical Readathon TBR: March 2025

kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Hello, reader!

March is right around the corner and that means it’s time for another round of the Trope-ical Readathon! This is one of two readathons I participate in every year and, every year, I make a ridiculously ambitious TBR. Will I finish all the books I list here? Absolutely not. (Are you kidding, there are 16 total prompts and I read, like, six books in a good month…) Will I give it a good try? You bet!

Before I tell you what I’m planning on reading this round, why don’t I tell you more about the actual readathon. The Trope-ical Readathon is a month-long, team-based readathon created and run by Jenny @ JenJenReviews and their partner, @BookRob. It centers around reading books that feature specific “tropes”. Think stuff like “found family” and the ever contested “love triangle”. There are thirteen general prompts geared towards thirteen different tropes, so there’s bound to be at least a couple you love! For all the info and to join a team, just check out the Trope-ical Readathon website.

All that said, let me share all the prompts and what I’m hoping to read for each one!

Team Fantasy Challenges

Team Book (Old)

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

I’ve owned this book for what feels like ages. I received it in an Illumicrate box and my copy is beautiful, but I’ve just never picked it up. Now seems the perfect time to fulfill a prompt and reduce my owned TBR. This romantasy is inspired by Persian mythology and sounds like it could be a fun ride. A long-lost heir, a crown prince, and a forbidden romance? Give it to me, please!

Team Challenge #1:
“There Be Dragons” Trope

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

This book has been on so many TBRs that it’s kind of embarrassing. Perhaps sticking on yet another one will get me to finally read it. It follows a scientist who studies, you guessed it, dragons! This is her backstory and it sounds like something that I will adore once I pick it up. Wish me luck, y’all, because the track record is not great, haha.

Team Challenge #2:
“The Woods” Trope

In the Woods by Tana French

My best friend suggested this thriller series to me ages ago, so I went out and bought the first book. Imagine how shocked she’ll be now when I finally read it, haha. This is the first novel in the Dublin Murder Squad, which does sound like something I would love. It follows a detective who survived a horrific experience in the woods and, years later, comes across a case that feels like a copycat. I think this is gonna pull me in!

Continue reading “Trope-ical Readathon TBR: March 2025” →
Magical Readathon: Orilium Autumn Equinox 2024 TBR
monthly tbr · readathon

Magical Readathon: Orilium Autumn Equinox 2024 TBR

kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Hello, reader!

Not only is it now the best month ever (September may or may not be my birth month, haha) but it’s time for the Autumn Equinox at Orilium Academy! I’m excited to participate in yet another round of this super fun readathon that is filled with imagination. My character is well on her way to completing another year of study to become a Beast Master, but she has one more term to get through to become an Adept.

But what is the Magical Readathon? It is the brain child of the marvelous G @ Book Roast, who created the world of Aeldia, where Orilium dwells, and every aspect therein. It’s an incredibly creative readathon where you build a character, choose and guild, and guide your character through classes to achieve their calling. I am notoriously bad at giving all the details in a coherent way, so you should definitely watch G’s announcement video for the scoop:

My Character

Before I jump into my TBR for this round, I wanted to re-introduce you all to the character I created for this readathon! She’s living her best life at this magical academy so far.

✨✨✨Name: Korrin Musgrave✨✨✨
✨✨✨Guild: The Order of the Crescent Moon✨✨✨
✨✨✨Current Guild Standing: Exalted (440 gp)✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Conduit: Quarterstaff ✨✨✨
✨✨✨Legacy: Wolf familiar (Venandi)✨✨✨
✨✨✨Background: Wildling✨✨✨
✨✨✨Province: Irtheria✨✨✨
✨✨✨Heritage: Earthling (earth element)✨✨✨

Don’t know what any of that means? You can check out the Brief History of Aeldia on the Google drive. The drive also has the syllabus for this round and lots of other incredibly imaginative information all from the mind of G!

Continue reading “Magical Readathon: Orilium Autumn Equinox 2024 TBR” →
Trope-ical Readathon TBR: August 2024
monthly tbr · readathon

Trope-ical Readathon TBR: August 2024

kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another round of the Trope-ical Readathon! I noticed that I never did a TBR on the blog for the last round, which was in March. That’s because the last round is what helped me dig myself out of a reading slump that I’m still kind of battling. My reading has ben sloooow this year, but readathons are always a great way to find my motivation. Hopefully, this go around will help me kick my slump all together!

Before I tell you what I’m planning on reading this round, why don’t I tell you more about the actual readathon. The Trope-ical Readathon is a month-long, team-based readathon created and run by Jenny @ JenJenReviews and her partner, @BookRob. It centers around reading books that feature specific “tropes”. Think stuff like “found family” and the ever contested “love triangle”. There are thirteen general prompts geared towards thirteen different tropes, so there’s bound to be at least a couple you love! For all the info and to join a team, just check out the Trope-ical Readathon website.

All that said, let me share all the prompts and what I’m hoping to read for each one!

Team Fantasy Challenges

Team Book (New)

Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi

This African loose retelling of the legend of Persephone sounds like something I would absolutely love! It promises high stakes, political intrigue, and a woman claiming her power. Also, I’m in awe of the cover. It’s absolutely stunning! This book is a recent release but I’ve already heard amazing things about it. I can’t wait to give it a read in August.

Team Challenge #1: “Talking Animal” Trope

Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend

I’ve been meaning to continue my read of the Nevermoor series and, yet, I still haven’t picked up the second book. It’s been lost of the shuffle of all the new books I buy or check out from the library, heh. But this challenge gives me the perfect excuse to get back into the series! I’m excited to go back to the Wonderous Society and see how our girl Morrigan is getting on.

Team Challenge #2: “Unlikely Allies” Trope

Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland

I’ve wanted to read this book since I picked it up from Book of the Month Club. It features deadly people thrown together to complete a job who are, more than likely, ready to turn on each other in a heartbeat. If that’s not the definition of “unlikely allies”, I don’t know what is! I’m excited to see how they work together and what the end results will be. I’m guessing murder.

Continue reading “Trope-ical Readathon TBR: August 2024” →
Magical Readathon: Orilium Spring Equinox 2024 TBR
monthly tbr · readathon

Magical Readathon: Orilium Spring Equinox 2024 TBR

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s time once again to go back to Orilium in one of my favorite readathons of the year! Having just completed my other favorite readathon last month (shout out to Trope-ical Readathon!), I feel myself being solidly back on my reading grind and it feels gooood. So I’m going into the Orilium Spring Equinox feeling refreshed and with high hopes!

But what is the Magical Readathon? It is the brain child of the marvelous G @ Book Roast, who created the world of Aeldia, where Orilium dwells, and every aspect therein. It’s an incredibly creative readathon where you build a character, choose a guild, and guide your character through classes to achieve their calling. I am notoriously bad at giving all the details in a coherent way, so you should definitely watch G’s announcement video for the scoop:

My Character

✨✨✨ Name: Korrin Musgrave ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Guild: The Order of the Crescent Moon ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Current Guild Standing: Exalted (390 gp)✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Conduit: Quarterstaff ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Legacy: Wolf familiar (Venandi) ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Background: Wildling ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Province: Irtheria ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Heritage: Earthling (earth element) ✨✨✨

If you want to learn more about these various choices, you can check out the Brief History of Aeldia on the Google drive. It’s awesome what G has dreamed up!

Continue reading “Magical Readathon: Orilium Spring Equinox 2024 TBR” →
Magical Readathon: Orilium Autumn Equinox TBR 2023
monthly tbr · readathon

Magical Readathon: Orilium Autumn Equinox TBR 2023

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

August is right around the corner, which means it’s time for another round of the Magical Readathon! That’s right, it’s time to head back to Orilium and sink back into the fantasy of this wonderful readathon. It also means I have two TBRs for August which, if you know me, is ambitious. That’s why a lot of the books on this TBR will look verrrrry familiar if you saw my Trope-ical Readathon post 😂 I’m a slow reader… ya gotta give me a break!

But what is the Magical Readathon? It is the brain child of the marvelous G @ Book Roast, who created the world of Aeldia, where Orilium dwells, and every aspect therein. It’s an incredibly creative readathon where you build a character, choose and guild, and guide your character through classes to achieve their calling. I am notoriously bad at giving all the details in a coherent way, so you should definitely watch G’s announcement video for the scoop:

My Character

Before I jump into my TBR for this round, I wanted to re-introduce you all to the character I created for this readathon! She’s living her best life at this magical academy so far.

✨✨✨Name: Korrin Musgrave✨✨✨
✨✨✨Guild: The Order of the Crescent Moon✨✨✨
✨✨✨Current Guild Standing: Exalted (340 gp)✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Conduit: Quarterstaff ✨✨✨
✨✨✨Legacy: Wolf familiar (Venandi)✨✨✨
✨✨✨Background: Wildling✨✨✨
✨✨✨Province: Irtheria✨✨✨
✨✨✨Heritage: Earthling (earth element)✨✨✨

Don’t know what any of that means? You can check out the Brief History of Aeldia on the Google drive. The drive also has the syllabus for this round and lots of other incredibly imaginative information all from the mind of G!

Continue reading “Magical Readathon: Orilium Autumn Equinox TBR 2023” →
Trope-ical Readathon TBR: August 2023
readathon

Trope-ical Readathon TBR: August 2023

kerrimcbooknerd8 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another round of the Trope-ical Readathon! I have been in a very weird reading mood lately. Like a partial slump, I suppose? I’ve still been enjoying the books I’m reading except for a couple that are making me want to not read anything at all 😂 I finished one of them, so my reading mood is improving, and I’m powering through the last one today. Hopefully that means I’ll go into August feeling ready to tackle this TBR!

Before I tell you what I’m planning on reading this round, why don’t I tell you more about the actual readathon. The Trope-ical Readathon is a month-long, team-based readathon created and run by Jenny @ JenJenReviews and her partner, @BookRob. It centers around reading books that feature specific “tropes”. Think stuff like “found family” and the ever contested “love triangle”. There are thirteen general prompts geared towards thirteen different tropes, so there’s bound to be at least a couple you love! For all the info and to join a team, just check out the Trope-ical Readathon website.

All that said, let me share all the prompts and what I’m hoping to read for each one!

Team Mystery/Horror/Thriller Challenges

Team Book (Old)

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

I’ve wanted to read this book for so long, so it made choosing my team this round pretty easy. Not that you can’t read all of the team books, but I’m a slow reader, y’all. This book promises a creepy house, which is my favorite when it comes to horror stories. It also promises a bit of social commentary which is another thing that I love in a horror book. Add in that this cover is giving everything and I cannot wait to read it! Here’s hoping I love it as much as I think I will.

Team Challenge #1: “Isolated Setting” Trope

The Blackhouse by Carole Johnstone

I’m also trying to catch up some Netgalley ARCs in August and this is one of the ones I’m most excited to read. I loved Mirrorland, another book by this author, so I was excited when I received the ARC for The Blackhouse. And then I just never picked it up, heh. I’m easily distracted, y’all. This is set on an isolated Scottish island and the title might suggest that I’m getting another creepy house in the mix. Here’s hoping!

Team Challenge #2: “Cult” Trope

The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead

This challenge was the hardest to pick a book to read! I, apparently, don’t have a lot of “cult” books on my TBR. Poking through Goodreads, I finally stumbled across this thriller. I’ve never read anything by Ashley Winstead, but I have heard good things. It focuses on a woman who is determined to destroy a powerful cult and I’m sure it’s going to be filled with tons of twists and turns. Not gonna lie, the cover kind of drew me in, as well.

Continue reading “Trope-ical Readathon TBR: August 2023” →
Trope-ical Readathon TBR: March 2023
monthly tbr · readathon

Trope-ical Readathon TBR: March 2023

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another round of the Trope-ical Readathon! I’ve been participating in this readathon for the last couple of years and it’s one of my favorites. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the only readathons I make a point to do every year! It’s a lot of fun and I always have my best reading months when I join in.

Before I tell you what I’m planning on reading this round, why don’t I tell you more about the actual readathon. The Trope-ical Readathon is a month-long, team-based readathon created and run by Jenny @ JenJenReviews and her partner, @BookRob. It centers around reading books that feature specific “tropes”. Think stuff like “found family” and the ever contested “love triangle”. There are thirteen general prompts geared towards thirteen different tropes, so there’s bound to be at least a couple you love!

There are also team-based challenges for each of the individual teams. You can click here to learn more about the teams and their challenges, but I’m going to focus on the team I picked for this round. I’m usually a Team Mystery/Horror/Thriller woman, but this March, I’ve decided to make a pivot. I’m joining up with Team Fantasy and it feels like coming home, haha.

All that said, let me share all the prompts and what I’m hoping to read for each one!

Team Fantasy Challenges

Team Book (New)

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

I’m not gonna lie. This book is what cinched my team choice this year. I’m not a fast reader, so I always try to pick the team with a team book I’m interested in. I know you can read any and all of the team books, but that’s never gonna happen with me when there are already so many other prompts! After reading (and loving!) The Gilded Wolves, I’ve been wanting to pick up something else from this author. I’m excited to give it a read!

Team Challenge #1: Gods/Mythology Trope

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner

I was having a tough time coming up with a book for this prompt. Not that I don’t have a ton of books that would work for mythology (I have so many retellings, y’all), but none of them were piquing my interest. Then I remembered that I had recently received this book in an Illuimcrate box! It was kismet. I figured a book about a woman that kills gods for a living has to work, haha. Also it’s kind of gorgeous and I kind of can’t wait to read it.

Team Challenge #2: Gaslamp Fantasy

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

This was a tough prompt for which to find a book because I wasn’t 100% what counts as ‘gaslamp’. So I searched the genre on Goodreads and picked the first book I found listed that I owned 😂 Well… not the first book. That was Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell and there was no way I was reading that chonky boi this month. Besides, I’ve been wanting to give this book a read for a long time. It sounds like it would be right up my alley!

Continue reading “Trope-ical Readathon TBR: March 2023” →
Magical Readathon: Orilium Autumn Equinox TBR
readathon

Magical Readathon: Orilium Autumn Equinox TBR

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

That’s right. In the month of August, you get not one, but two TBRs from me! Readathons are great TBR-creating motivators 😂

It’s time to continue my character’s journey at the magical academy called Orilium in one of my favorite readathons: the Magical Readathon! I’ve been on-board with this Orilium journey since the beginning and managed to complete all the prompts for the Spring Equinox. Now it’s time to dive further into my studies with this latest round.

But what is the Magical Readathon? It is the brain child of the marvelous G @ Book Roast, who created the world of Aeldia, where Orilium dwells, and every aspect therein. It’s an incredibly creative readathon where you build a character, choose and guild, and guide your character through classes to achieve their calling. I am notoriously bad at giving all the details in a coherent way, so you should definitely watch G’s announcement video for the scoop:

My Character

Before I jump into my TBR for this round, I wanted to re-introduce you all to the character I created for this readathon! She’s living her best life at this magical academy so far.

✨✨✨Name: Korrin Musgrave✨✨✨
✨✨✨Guild: The Order of the Crescent Moon✨✨✨
✨✨✨Current Guild Standing: Assistant (110 gp)✨✨✨
✨✨✨Legacy: Wolf familiar (Venandi)✨✨✨
✨✨✨Background: Wildling✨✨✨
✨✨✨Province: Irtheria✨✨✨
✨✨✨Heritage: Earthling (earth element)✨✨✨

Don’t know what any of that means? You can check out the Brief History of Aeldia on the Google drive. The drive also has the syllabus for this round and lots of other incredibly imaginative information all from the mind of G!

Continue reading “Magical Readathon: Orilium Autumn Equinox TBR” →
Trope-ical Readathon TBR: August 2022
readathon

Trope-ical Readathon TBR: August 2022

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another round of one of my favorite readathons: the Trope-ical Readathon! This readathon is one of the only times I ever make a monthly TBR, haha. My mood-reader brain takes forever to try an build one that I a) won’t get bored with halfway through the month and b) is actually do-able. We’ll see next month whether or not I have achieved this goal.

What is the Trope-ical Readathon, you ask? Well, it’s a month-long, team-based readathon created and run by Jenny @ JenJenReviews and her partner, @BookRob, that centers around reading books that feature specific “tropes”. Think stuff like “found family” and the ever contested “love triangle”. There are thirteen general prompts geared towards thirteen different tropes, so there’s bound to be at least a couple you love!

As for my team this round, after turning traitor in the March round, I’ve decided to go back to my one, true team: Team Mystery/Horror/Thriller! As a fantasy lover, it never makes sense to me that I gravitate to this team, but here we are 😂

I’m sure you might have more questions about this awesome readathon as I’m crap at explaining things, so if you want all the relevant information straight from the source, head over to the Trope-ical Readathon Information page.

For now, though, let me share with you what books I’ve picked to read this round!

Team Mystery/Horror/Thriller Challenges

Team Book (Old)

Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

This is a book that has floated around my TBR for quite some time. A dark, mermaid tale? Sounds intriguing, but not entirely up my alley. When I saw it was the older team book for this round, though, I figured it was time to give it a go! I know I love Seanan McGuire’s (Mira Grant is a pseudonym) writing, so I’m hoping that I enjoy this one.

Team Challenge #1: Mysterious Invite

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban

I couldn’t think of any books on my TBR that included this trope, so thank goodness for the recommendations page for the readathon! I recently finished a different thriller by this author and had a good time with it. The main character did kind of make me want to strangle her, but still a good read. Here’s hoping I like this one just as much or more!

Team Challenge #2: Undead

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

Once again, the recommendations page comes through! I don’t tend to read a lot of books featuring the undead. It’s not where I lean when it comes to horror. But I’ve been eager to read a book by Octavia E. Butler and this seems like the perfect time! I know next to nothing about this book, so fingers crossed that I have a good time with it. Then I’ll be even more hyped to read more from this author!

Continue reading “Trope-ical Readathon TBR: August 2022” →