2020 Reading Challenge Wrap Up

At the start of the year, I set up my own reading challenge. It’s not something I would normally do, but I felt that I was developing a naughty habit of reading the first book in a series, enjoying it, but then being distracted by all the new books and not continuing with that series. To address this, I decided that I was going to read three fantasy series – one of which I’d already started – by the end of the year. Little did I know at the time what 2020 would have in store…

So, how did I get on? Well, I finished one of the three series. And I know that that doesn’t sound like great progress but here’s the thing. I found that I don’t like to read books of the same series too close together. For one thing, I find that it makes them harder to review, and while I’ve enjoyed immersing myself in these worlds, I like to explore other places in between.

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The Memoirs of Lady Trent by Marie Brennan

This is the series that I’d already started prior to setting the challenge. Unsurprisingly, this is also the one series of the three that I’ve finished, including the sixth book which is set in the same universe, but is separate to the other novels in the series. I absolutely loved this series, which sees Isabella Camherst striving to become a dragon naturalist in a Victorian-esque world that doesn’t see such a role for women. It has dragons and adventure and a fantastic protagonist.

1. A Natural History of Dragons
2. The Tropic of Serpents
3. The Voyage of the Basilisk
4. In the Labyrinth of Drakes
5. Within the Sanctuary of Wings
6. Turning Darkness into Light

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The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

I’m in love with series, and genuinely believe that it gets better with each successive volume. Books and Librarians, Dragons and Fae, Cogman has created a fantastic world with characters that really get under your skin. Our heroine, Irene, is an excellent character and I have loved seeing her develop over the course of the series. Now, when I posted this challenge in January, there were only six books in the series, but a seventh instalment has just been released. Either way, I didn’t quite make the challenge, having read five of the seven novels so far. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into books six and seven.

1. The Invisible Library
2. The Masked City
3. The Burning Page
4. The Lost Plot
5. The Mortal Word
6. The Secret Chapter
7. The Dark Archive

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Temeraire by Naomi Novik

I’ve struggled a little with this series, having read five of the nine novels. While I really enjoyed it to begin with, I found that the fourth instalment didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I decided to continue with the fifth instalment as the fourth did end in spectacular style and I wanted to know what happened next, and I will continue with at least one more…

1. Temeraire
2. The Throne of Jade
3. Black Powder War
4. Empire of Ivory
5. Victory of Eagles – my review will be up in the new year
6. Tongues of Serpents
7. Crucible of Gold
8. Blood of Tyrants
9. League of Dragons

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So, not quite what I set out to achieve, but at least I got past the first book! 😀