Raine's 2017 Book Challange

Hello fellow readers. Raine here, I started a thread last year but it didn't go so well do to just life in general. Well I am restarting it this year. The plan is to reread all the books on my shelves along with ones I haven't touched before. If they are series I will read all the books even if I don't own them. So let's get started!

Books Read in 2017

Below is a list off all the books I have read, while I will also post reviews as well!

January:
1. Clan of the Cave Bear - Jean M. Auel
2. The Valley of Horses - Jean M. Auel
3. Harry Potter and the Philosphers stone - J.K. Rowling
4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling
5. Harry Potter and the Prisinor of Azkaban - J.K Rowling
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling
7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling
8. The Diamond Throne - David Eddings
9. The Ruby Knight - David Eddings
10. The Sapphire Rose - David Eddings
11. Daughter of the blood - Anne Bishop
12. Heir to the Shadows - Anne Bishop

February:
13. Written in Red - Anne Bishop
14. A Murder of Crows - Anne Bishop
15. Visions in Silver - Anne Bishop
16. Moon Called - Patrica Briggs
17. Blood Bound - Patricia Briggs
18. Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs
19. Bone Crossed - Patricia Briggs
20. Silver Borne - Patricia Briggs
21. River Marked - Patricia Briggs

March:

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

1. Clan of the Cave Bear - Jean M. Auel
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5 Stars
(Recommended by Sister)

Summary:
Through Jean Auel’s magnificent storytelling, we are taken back to the dawn of mankind nd swept up in the wonderful world of a very special heroine, Ayla. Her enthralling story is one we can all share. A natural disaster had left young Ayla alone, wandering, fending for herself in an unfamiliar land. One day she is discovered by the Clan of the Cave Bear, men and woman far different from her own people. The tall blond, blue eyes Ayla is a mysterious stranger to the Clan and at first they mistrust her and cast her out. But as she grows to know them and learn the ways of the clan, she is welcomes. And as she leads them in the struggles for survival, the clan comes to worship Ayla. For in her blood flows the future of humanity.

Thoughts:
I was caught up in the story from the first page all the way to the last. Although not a page turn in the terms of thrill or excitement, the story definitely caught hold of me. I loved the exploration of a society so far in the past, it feels very life like within the writing.

Hey! Welcome to the group. I'm looking forward to following your reading in 2017!

Hi Raine, happy reading in 2017!
I loved The clan of the Cave Bear and have read it several times :-)

Welcome to the group Raine.

I am part of the group.
I love being part of the group.
I love the friendships bestowed upon my by dint of my membership of this wonderful fellowship.
I love that race and creed and gender and age and sexuality and nationality make absolutely no difference to our being a valued member of the group.

Thank you for also being part of the group.

Welcome back! One reason we start a new group every year is to be able to start afresh. I'm glad you're joining us again!

Happy New Year! (dropping a star)

Hi, Raine, and welcome!

Welcome back, Raine! Your first book of the year was a favorite of mine when I read it and the series still holds a special place for me 20 years later. (It was, perhaps, not entirely appropriate for a 14 year old, but it certainly got my attention!)

2. The Valley of Horses - Jean M. Auel
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5 Stars
(Part of a series)

Summary:
A timeless epic of the dawn of civilization. In The Valley of Horses, Ayla, the unforgettable heroine of The Clan of the Cave Bear, sets out on her own odyssey of discovery away from the nurturing adoptive family and friends of the Clan. She is in search of others like herself and in search of love. Sharing a hidden valley with a herd of steppe horses, Ayla finds a unique friendship with animals as vulnerable as herself and ingeniously discovers the complex skills needed to survive -- skills no Clan member was ever able to master. But none of her experiences prepares her for the emotional turmoil she feels when she rescues a young man -- the first of the Others she has seen -- from almost certain death. Torn between her desire for human companionship and her fear of the unknown Others, she struggles against her deep attraction to the handsome Jondalar. It is Jondalar who teaches her the meaning of true friendship and love.

Thoughts:
Not as caught up as I was in the first book. Still the series hold through and I enjoyed this book just as much as the first. I admittedly read the cover description before starting the book which proved to be a problem for me as I was constantly expecting Jondalar's brother to die so it didn't hold as much weight for me. The very last section of the book was the best and I look forward to continuing the series to see what happens when they come to meet other people.

I need to reread these books someday soon ;)

3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
(When is it not time to reread)

Summary:
Orphaned as a baby, Harry Potter has spent 11 awful years living with his mean aunt, uncle, and cousin Dudley. But everything changes for Harry when an owl delivers a mysterious letter inviting him to attend a school for wizards. At this special school, Harry finds friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, as well as a great destiny that's been waiting for him.

Thoughts:
Even after years it's still a great read. Of course it's written for a younger audience so the writing style isn't amazing but it's better then some young adult books I've read. The characters are as always great although I am really looking forward to them more fleshed out later on in the series.

4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rating: 3 Stars
(When is it not time to reread)

Summary:
When the Chamber of Secrets is opened again at the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, second-year student Harry Potter finds himself in danger from a dark power that has once more been released on the school.

Thoughts:
Not my favorite book in the series. It still has the great characters but for some reason it seems slower, I'm less drawn in. I but the book down quite a bit when reading it.

5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars
(When is it not time to reread)

Summary:
During his third year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter must confront the devious and dangerous wizard responsible for his parents' deaths.

Thoughts:
Okay now we are getting into one of my favorite books of the series. It just gets better with the humor, the adventure and the characters are getting into a level that's less childish and more teenage.

6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars
(When is it not time to reread)

Summary:
Fourteen-year-old Harry Potter joins the Weasleys at the Quidditch World Cup, then enters his fourth year at Hogwarts Academy where he is mysteriously entered in an unusual contest that challenges his wizarding skills, friendships and character, amid signs that an old enemy is growing stronger.

Thoughts:
There is a lot more magic, more drama, everything that makes the world so amazing. There is finally mentions of a world outside of United Kingdom, and the introductions of other schools.

7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars
(When is it not time to reread)

Summary:
Harry Potter, now a fifth-year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, struggles with a threatening teacher, a problematic house elf, the dread of upcoming final exams, and haunting dreams that hint toward his mysterious past.

Thoughts:
Okay first of all my favorite book in the series. One of the best villains in the entire series is in this book, you get and explanation of the relationship between Harry and Voldemort (Talking about the scar). Not to mention the Dumbledore's Army. The only thing that was at all less liked was the parts between Harry and Cho, although it generally lead to some humor bits later on.

Sorry about the time between uploads. I was in the process of getting a job after several months of searching.

Does that mean you found one? If so, congratulations!

Yup, congrats!

The fifth Harry Potter book was also my favorite :) Congrats on the job!! I'm excited for you.

8. The Diamond Throne - David Eddings
Genre: High Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars
(One of the oldest series I've read)

Summary:
Sparhawk, Pandion Knight, and Queen's Champion have returned to Elenia after ten years of exile, only to find young Queen Ehlanda trapped in a block of ensorcelled crystal. As Sparhawk sets out to find a cure for Ehlana, he discovers that only he can defeat the evil plots that threaten her rule.

Thoughts: Gosh do I love this series. The writing is decent and the plots pretty good. But every time I read this book I just get huge nostalgia feeling, and it usually distracts me from anything.

9. The Ruby Knight - David Eddings
Genre: High Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars
(One of the oldest series I've read)

Summary: Ehlanda, Queen of Elenia, has been poisoned. A deep enchantment sustains her life, but it will end soon. Then Sparhawk, Knight of the Queen's Champion, learns where to get to cure for the poison. He and his companions set forth on a dangerous quest to find the antidote before the queen should perish and the peace ends.

Thoughts: It just gets better. There is a certain kind of humor the knights have in the book which is even more prominent when they finally get together in the heroic journey.

Gosh, I love Eddings. A re-read of his stuff sounds lovely - I may have to try to squeeze one in, soon...

I re-read the Belgariad a few years back, but haven't gotten to the others yet. Eddings' stuff held up pretty well!

I love the Belgariad and all the related books (all 12 or so of them) but I recall initially being disappointed by this series and didn't like the rest of his stuff at all--so strange. I haven't read this one for ages--purged the hardbacks from my personal library so don't have them on hand.

I was actually the other way around. I really like this series but have some issues with the Belgariad series.

10. The Sapphire Rose - David Eddings
Genre: High Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars
(One of the oldest series I've read)

Summary: Third of the series Elenium is fantasy on a truly epic scale, in which the Pandion Knight Sparhawk must finally use the power of the jewel. Aided by the goddess Aphrael, Sparhawk and his band of companions have recovered the magical jewel Bhelliom-the Sapphire Rose- from the cave of the troll-dwarf Ghwerig. Now they have the power to wake and cure Ehlana, the young Queen of Elenia. But while they were seeking Bhelliom, great forces of evil moved into the power vacuum left behind. The unholy triple alliance between Otha, degenerate sorcerer-king of the Zemochs, the renegade Pandion Knight Martel, and Annias, traitorous Primate of Cimmura, threatens to overrun all of Eosia. In returning to Cimmura to wake Ehlana, Sparhawk risks delivering the Sapphire Rose into the hands of his enemies, who will use it to give the evil god Azash dominion over the whole world. To stop them they may have to unleash the full power of the jewel, but no one can predict whether the world itself will survive such an event. The story is the gripping, brilliant conclusion to the series, a panoramic tale of a conflict between good and evil that envelops an entire continent.

Thoughts: Generally the same. Good humor, love the characters. I admit I am biased as the books add a sense of nostalgia for me.

11. Daughter of the Blood - Anne Bishop
Genre: High Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars

Summary: Three men, sworn enemies, vie for sway over the girl witch--a blue-eyed innocent--who is to rule over the Dark Kingdom, commencing a ruthless game of politics, magic, and betrayal, in which the weapons are love and hate.

Thoughts: okay this is as close to the romance genre as I have ever gotten. I love the world, even though there are just a slight few problems. And I adore the characters.

>30 RaineKoshou: Eventually I will get to that one. I will... :)

12. Heir to the shadows - Anne Bishop
Genre: High Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars

Summary: Jaenelle struggles to heal from the amnesia that shields her from terrifying memories of her childhood, until her memories return, her magical powers mature, and she can fulfill her destiny as heir to the magical Darkness.

Thoughts: I really liked the teenage Jaenelle, probably more then her as an adult. So as such I think this is my favorite book in the series. Although it helps that my favorite character is by far Saetan.

13. Written in Red - Anne Bishop
Genre: High Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars

Summary: Enter a world inhabited by the Others, unearthly entities--vampires and shape-shifters among them--who rule the Earth and whose prey are humans. As a blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut--a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg's Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard--a business district operated by the Others. Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she's keeping a secret, and second, she doesn't smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she's wanted by the government, he'll have to decide if she's worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

Thoughts: It's a tough debate on which series I like more. But I think the Other's has less focus on sex desire and I think I enjoy the characters a bit more.

14. Murder of Cros - Anne Bishop
Genre: High Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars

Summary: After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more. The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murders of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard--Lakeside's shape-shifting leader--wonders whether their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or of a future threat. As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet--and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

Thoughts: The plot is very thick, which is entirely enjoyable. I can see a lot coming from this as there is a good deal of progression in each book but it never fully wraps up all of the issues.

15. Visions in Silver - Anne Bishop
Genre: High Fantasy
Rating: 5 Stars

Summary: The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Thoughts: So we get to explore more of the differences between Meg and others. Also we get a deal more interaction between humans and others. I rather like the changes that are happening to Simon, and intrigued on how he will deal with them. He is definitely growing on me!

16. Moon Called - Patricia Briggs
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars

Summary: Mercy Thompson's life is not exactly normal. Her next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a VW bus for a vampire. But then, Mercy isn't exactly normal herself.

Thoughts: This is just a good read. Love Mercy's personality and it's a fast easy read, which can be relaxing. It's a not a have to read right this moment book but it still stays with you.

All great books :)