The Chosen

It’s hard to believe that the first Black Dagger Brotherhood book was released more than a decade ago and that we’re now fifteen books into the series. With many long-running series like this, the stories can sometimes become old and stale, oftentimes feeling repetitive, or they may simply lose their momentum, which in turn, loses my attention. Not so with this series. If anything, I think the books have been getting better and better. Out of the most recent five books of the series, all have rated keeper status for me, compared with only two of the first five. But hey, really they’re all keepers, because I love the series so much, I just can’t get enough of it. Unlike some readers, I’m not even remotely tired of the Brothers show more yet. They still enthrall me, thrill me, and make me fall in love with them all over again with each subsequent book. And as usual, I’m left begging for more and can’t wait for the next one.

The Chosen took a slightly different track than previous books of the series and than what I was expecting. By that, I mean that Xcor and Layla, despite being the main hero/heroine pairing in this story, didn’t have quite as much page time as the couples from previous books. Maybe about a third of the way into reading it, I realized that this is most likely because their story has been developing as a sub-plot in the last several volumes, since they first met in book #10, Lover Reborn. That meant that there was less to tell. Since they were already in love and had been for some time, it was just a matter of them consummating the relationship and overcoming the hurdles to reach their HEA. These weren’t small things by any means, but since they already had the getting-to-know-you stuff out of the way, their part simply didn’t take up as much page time as it might have otherwise. I did thoroughly enjoy it, though. These two captured my attention and imagination from their first meeting and I’d been rooting for them to get together ever since. Although their journey to the HEA has been fraught with many pitfalls and Xcor needing to overcome his own selfishness and hardened warrior instincts, I was happy with how everything turned out. The ending was absolutely perfect and I look forward to seeing more of this couple as the series story-arc progresses.

Xcor is a badass, plain and simple. He entered the series with his Band of Bastards fully intending to dethrone Wrath and take that seat for himself and even went so far as to attempt an assassination. Then he met the Chosen, Layla, and his entire focus began to change. Like so many of the males in this series, he was brought to his knees by his love for one special female. He never felt like he was good enough for someone like her, which eventually led him to push her away. Then he was captured by the Brotherhood and spent the entire previous book in a coma, only being kept alive so they could torture him for information and then execute him for treason. Well, of course, none of that could happen or he wouldn’t get that happy ending with Layla that he’d been dreaming of, but never expecting to get. I was really happy with how things went in the book for Xcor. We learn his heartbreaking backstory, beginning with being rejected at birth by his father for having a cleft lip, and things didn’t get any better from there. He suffered through a pretty wretched childhood, learning to be independent from a very young age. Then after his transition, he chanced to meet the Bloodletter and was tricked into joining his war camp, and we all know from Vishous’ story just how horrifying that experience was. But it also turned him into a hard, unforgiving warrior, who had never known genuine love and had no softness or emotion left in him until Layla came along. He doesn’t fully understand why she loves him unconditionally and half expects her to leave him at some point if she learns too much of his past. But at the same time, he soaks up her affection like a starving man, and in reality he has been emotionally starved. I like that upon meeting Layla he started to gradually soften toward Wrath and the Brotherhood, and by the time we get to his first scenes in this book, he no longer holds any animosity for them. However, it’s still a long road to him gaining the Brotherhood’s trust and respect, and I really liked how this part of the story played out. I also love how an intense, stalwart warrior like Xcor who’s never been given to displays of affection turns into a gentle pussycat and an incredibly tender lover in Layla’s arms. It all made me totally fall for him.

Layla has been a part of the series for a very long time. I can’t even recall when she first appeared on the scene, but she has always been one of the main Chosen who were freed by Phury from service to the Scribe Virgin but who still provide for the blood needs of the Brotherhood and their allies. Somewhere along the line, she became best friends with Qhuinn, so when she went into her needing in Lover Reborn, she asked him to service her. The young were finally born in the previous book, The Beast, which was a joyous occasion for all. However, the joy quickly turns to sorrow when Layla finally reveals to Qhuinn that she’d been meeting with Xcor off and on for the entire time she was pregnant. Needless to say, things do not go well for her after that, and even her reunion with Xcor is marked with anxiety over either his impending demise or exile. But she tries to make the best of the time they have left. I’ve loved Layla from the beginning. She’s grown and changed in unexpected ways throughout the series. She’s a wonderful mother, always trying to put her young first, and we get another little taste from her of why the female of the species can be more dangerous than the males.;-) I adored her for the way she loves Xcor unconditionally and for the way she stood up for him to those who would do him harm. She’s an all-around awesome female and I’m so glad that she finally gets the happy ending she deserves.

Since Xcor’s and Layla’s scenes don’t take up as much page time, we get lots of other POVs. This is pretty much par for the course in these books, but I think there were more than usual, as I counted no less than ten other characters’ perspectives. Since Qhuinn’s and Blay’s lives are inextricably linked with Layla’s due to them sharing parenting duties, I’ll start with them. Qhuinn kind of disappointed me with his off-the-rails behavior, but then again, he disappointed nearly everyone else in the story, too, and it’s not without consequences. The toughest one to read about, though, is the rift in his relationship with Blay that’s caused by his angry, irrational outburst. Blay, unsurprisingly, tries to be the calm voice of reason throughout, but even a peacemaker like him can have a breaking point. I felt like he was completely justified in his reaction to Qhuinn’s words and actions. I would have been upset too. Even though Qhuinn’s anger persists throughout a large part of the story, I have to give him credit for things that he does later on and was happy with how it all turned out in the end.

Trez and iAm are also a part of this story, though their sub-plot runs parallel to the things happening within the Brotherhood and doesn’t intersect this time. Trez is still deeply in mourning for Selena, which made me a little sad. iAm is there helping to support his brother in his hour of grief, while each of them continue running their respective businesses. I thought maybe I had an idea of where things were going for Trez, but I was wrong. Instead, I was surprised by the addition of a new female character named Therese, who applies for a job at iAm’s restaurant. It appears that a major revelation in her life either made her run away from her family or she doesn’t have a family anymore. I can’t say much more about her without giving away a major spoiler. All I can say is that a deep, instant attraction sparks between her and Trez, and I look forward to learning more about her.

In addition, three of the Brothers get their own POVs. First is Wrath (yeah, I know he’s technically the king, but I still think of him as a Brother :-)), who continues to prove himself as the benevolent ruler of the vampire race. I was very impressed with his ability to forgive and his wisdom (with a little “encouragement” from Beth) in mediating some difficult circumstances. Then there’s Tohr, who opens the story depressed, because it’s Wellsie’s birthday. That, the household recently losing Selena, and Tohr witnessing Trez’s grief over his mate’s death have stirred up old memories of his own devastating loss. All of this causes him to make some unwise choices that put a little tarnish on his previously pristine veneer for me, but eventually he comes to see reason. Last, but certainly not least, was Vishous. He’s been getting several of his own scenes throughout the past couple of books. In this one, he’s protecting his king and continuing his role as all-around geek extraordinaire. However, his contemplations over his mating with Jane from the previous book continue, with him now feeling rather neglected by his shellan, who is always busy playing chief medic to the Brotherhood and their families. This makes him begin to consider the unthinkable. Based on the Warden’s answers at her recent in-person Q & A, it looks like things may get worse for this couple before they get better. They certainly wouldn’t be the first couple in this series to have to work through difficulties, and with a long-running series like this, I know I can’t expect all the previous couples to get along perfectly without any problems (after all real life couples certainly don’t), so as long as Vishous doesn’t do something stupid, I think I’ll be OK with that.

Former Bastard, Throe, has now gone full-on evil and is poised to become the newest arch-enemy of the Brotherhood, as he’s now the one seeking the throne. He gets into some really freaky stuff in this story that I’m sure will have repercussions throughout the next few books. Then the final character who has a couple of his own POV scenes is Zypher, who has kind of become the defacto leader of the Band of Bastards in Xcor’s absence. They go searching in a last-ditch effort to find their real leader, while making plans to return to the Old Country if they can’t locate him.

While they didn’t get their own POVs, there are a few supporting characters with key roles, chief among them Lassiter. After bringing Tohr back to the land of the living many moons ago, the fallen angel was mostly just mooching off the Brothers, annoying the crap out of them, and being the comic relief, but now he's finally getting some great material. I’ve loved all the wonderful little things he’s done throughout the last couple of books and that continues here. He shows that under all the flamboyancy and flippancy there beats a vulnerable heart. There are some surprising developments with regards to Lassiter as he takes on a fuller role in the series. Jo Early, the human woman who is trying to prove the existence of vampires is barely seen, but she’s still out there doing her thing and causing trouble for Vishous to clean up. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of her. And finally, while not actually seen, Assail is heard in the background as he continues his detoxing process and it isn’t pretty. But it looks like he’s finally going to get his HEA with Sola in the next book of the series, The Thief, most likely releasing next spring (2018).

Overall, The Chosen was an excellent story and I loved every minute I spent reading it. Each time a new Black Dagger Brotherhood book comes out, I feel privileged to spend a little more time in their world. It feels so real, and I can’t get enough of these guys and their gals. There have been a few things happening in the series that have given me the feeling that things are moving toward the ultimate goal of eliminating the Omega once and for all, which makes me question whether the Warden is slowly wrapping up the series. However, in her Q & A, she gave me hope that I’ll still get to spend plenty more time with the Brothers, when she said that as long as they keep talking to her and as long as we, the fans, keep reading, she’ll keep writing them. You better believe I will do exactly that, and with the Black Dagger Legacy, we now get two books in the Brotherhood’s world each year. I can’t wait for Blood Fury coming at the very beginning of next year (2018), and for The Thief to follow shortly thereafter. show less

Well, I have been looking forward to this book for literally YEARS (ever since the star-crossed romance between Layla and Xcor started), and I'm left kind of feeling disappointed. Sadness.

That isn't to say that there weren't some good parts, because there definitely were some good parts in this book. I really liked Layla discovering her inner strength and growing so much as a person (vampire?). And, let's be honest, I'm an absolute sucker for Xcor/Layla in any and all forms, even though it felt like their romance took a bit of a back seat to other parts of the story for too damned long. And I got teary over them more than once (shut up, it's okay to get teary for doomed fictional romances!).

But the rest of the book was almost show more completely a solid NO for me.

Qhuinn is an absolute fucking ASSHOLE in this book, and I am completely done with him as a character. I've always thought that he was kind of a jerk before, but that was tempered by my feelings of "well, he's been through a lot in his life, so I can kind of understand where he's coming from" - until now. Because in this book, he gets so pissed that Layla was a "traitor" because of her romance (and quite limited one at that) with Xcor that he literally pulls his gun in a room with her and their two children in it and shoots up the place. You've read that correctly. And then he conveniently "doesn't remember" much about the incident. Blay, meanwhile, is more upset that Qhuinn said he wasn't the kids' father than, oh I don't know, the fact that he shot up the room. No one ever really calls Qhuinn out on his ridiculously reckless behavior for this, either.

Qhuinn is SO FUCKING UPSET that he presumes Layla had sex with Xcor while she was pregnant (which she didn't) because her hanging around Xcor put the children in danger. Except that didn't, either. But you know what DID put the children in danger? THEIR FATHER GOING OFF THE DEEP END AND SHOOTING UP A ROOM IN WHICH THEY WERE IN THE ENTIRE TIME. THAT definitely put them in danger. And Qhuinn NEVER gets this, and once again, he's never called on the carpet for that, either. Oh, and Qhuinn is so fucking gung-ho of getting Layla stripped of all maternal rights because she's a traitor for loving Xcor, but Qhuinn disobeys a DIRECT ORDER from the king to not kill Xcor (he and Tohr attempt to execute him but, thankfully, fail). Ummm....that just reeks of being a traitor. But, once again, it's okay, and no one even DISCUSSES stripping Qhuinn's paternal rights even though HE is a traitor (which, granted, Wrath doesn't know) and HE is obviously a psychopath.

Fuck that shit.

Also, I am getting really damned sick of the misogyny in this series. Some of Ward's books are so good (Z's book will always be one of my favorites) that I can look over the hatred of women, particularly strong women, in this series...sometimes. But not this time. Even though Layla becomes stronger, she's still a pawn in this monarchy. Qhuinn could technically get all of her maternal rights stripped by an edict from the king (which Wrath refuses to do, but still, it COULD have happened). And he DID manage to relinquish all paternal rights to the kids and transfer them to Blay WITHOUT LAYLA EVEN KNOWING!! She wasn't even involved in the process! What the fuck!

And before anyone thinks that Qhuinn is just being a good daddy in spite of shooting up his kids' room, he spends about half of the book ignoring his daughter Lyric because she looks too much like Layla. Yep. That actually happens. Fuck Qhuinn and anyone who tries to defend his actions.

In fact, it was perfectly obvious that Qhuinn would have been completely content to write Layla completely out of his life and the lives of their children if it wasn't for Blay. Because Blay said if you want to get back together with him (they were estranged for most of the book), Qhuinn would have to make things okay with Layla - and that is the ONLY reason why Qhuinn started treating Layla like she wasn't shit on the bottom of his shoe.

Also, the ending is just ridiculous - and Layla's relationship with Xcor can only progress now because Qhuinn has given his "blessing" or "permission" for it to happen. Otherwise, Xcor would have been banished to the Old World, many thousands of miles away, and Layla would have been heartbroken (as would have Xcor). But Qhuinn suddenly gives his okay and then things can proceed? Fuck this shit. Again. And Qhuinn was apparently trying so hard to get into Blay's good graces yet again that he and Xcor are now best buddies or something AND co-parents to boot. What the fuck ever. No no no. And there is NO GOOD REASON why the Bastards have to move into the mansion too. But that is what happens. For, uhh, yeah, okay, I don't know the answer. Nothing makes sense anymore.

Trez and Selena Part II? NO. DO NOT WANT. MAKE IT GO AWAY.

At this point, I am just wondering if I am soured on the series. I have the Xcor/Layla book that I wanted, and now I find myself pretty apathetic. The only one I'm even remotely interested in from this point forward is Assail, because that dude is having a rough time. Plus I have kind of grown attached to him. And Z/Bella and Xcor/Layla. Everyone else can go fuck themselves at this point. show less

This is the kind of book that makes you forget to eat, sleep or do anything other than curl up and read. Did you know that you can pee and read at the same time? All things are possible with a book like this.

I have been waiting for Layla and Xcor’s story since they first met each other. It really is a tragic story and with J.R. Ward, you never know if it will end happily or rip your heart out like what happened with Trez and Selena where Selena died or like Assail and Sola where she moved away.
In previous books, Layla met Xcor when one of his fighters took her to feed him her blood. Yes, they are vampires who get nourishment off the opposite sex. Layla believed the fighter was part of the Black Dagger Brotherhood because he was in show more their compound once and the brothers had her feed him. She was clueless at first. She immediately connected with Xcor despite his cleft palette or hare lip as they called it and when she found out that she had done wrong, she did confess it to the Brotherhood but she still felt a connection to him. Later, Xcor coerced her to see him but was always a gentleman with her and she became enamored with him. He broke it off between them though.

Layla is a Chosen which means she was born and raised in what the race of vampires calls Sanctuary which is a sort of heaven. She served the mother of the race and was trained to be an ehros, in the art of sex to please the Prime Male and reproduce along with many other Chosen, but the Prime Male chose to mate one female and freed all of the Chosen. Layla was left with no job and had an empty spot in her life so when her time of needing came, the fertile time of a female of their race where they either have to have sex or be heavily drugged to withstand the pain of the needing, she and one of the males of the Brotherhood agreed to have sex and have a child.

The entire time she was meeting Xcor in secret, she was pregnant and he accepted it.
Xcor had been captured by the Black Dagger Brotherhood but was badly injured when they took him down so they kept him alive by machines in order to interrogate him. He woke up and knew that he was going to be executed and knew that he would never give up his men so he would probably be tortured.

I really give a lot of details about the story without giving out spoilers but I can say, I was hating Quinn in this book. He acted like a straight-up hateful dickwad in this book. I was also a little worried about Vishous and his state of mind.

The series also may have a new enemy to deal with soon. I think that will be interesting although I hope it isn’t a repeat of when Lash was the enemy. We’ll see.

Gosh, I wish I could say more because there was a lot of exciting new developments and things that happened. I guess you will just have to read the book.

www.paranormalromanceslut.com show less

The Chosen is the fifteenth installment of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. While the author does an admirable job of trying to stir up the series, after fifteen books it is impossible to not feel like the same plot is getting re-threaded for the umpteenth time.

SPOILERS
The Good
- Layla and Xcore finally get the relationship wrap up they deserve. These two characters have been through a lot and it is nice to see them come to terms with not just their forbidden romance, but with their own personal baggage as well.
- It's always nice to see Blay stand up for himself and to see his parents make an appearance.
- Something possibly interesting seems to be cooking up between Throe and the Omega.
- Tohr's plot line in this book is rocky for show more the most part, but by the end he seems to be on a bit better of footing.
- Cormina sighting! There is an actual Cormina sighting in this book. And she even rates a line or two!

The Not So Good
- The entire book deals with the fallout of Layla admitting to Quinn her relationship with Xcore and Quinn's totally unreasonable reaction to that revelation. He forces Layla to be kicked out of the mansion, refuses to acknowledge her rights to their children, insults Blay, points a gun at directly at Layla, shoots a gun in the nursery while the twins are there, tries to kill Xcore twice and semi-rejects his daughter Lyric due to the her resemblance to her mother. No. Just no. Quinn's reaction was straight across the board unbelievable to who his character has been up to this point and was a real disservice to all the growth his character has gone through. What Quinn did was engage in extreme domestic violence, which never was addressed other than by a few of the shellens giving him a couple of lectures and some stern looks. Please! Plus by going against Wrath's express orders in trying to kill Xcore, he is as much of a traitor as he claims Layla is. Actually more so, as Layla never actually swore an oath to follow the orders of Wrath, unlike Quinn and Tohr who did.
- So Lassiter is replacing the Scribe Virgin. Ugh.
- I guess the next book will deal with the fallout of Vicious either having cheated on Jane or at least his contemplation of cheating on her. Why? V and Jane have had two stand alone novels that have dealt with their relationship troubles. The last novel they starred in was a nice wrap up on V's emotional coldness, terrible upbringing and finally coming to terms with the good things in his life. But here we are in this book, inexplicably watching him slow march the most important relationship of his life to the dumpster. With no explanation. It's been clearly stated that bonded brothers are devoted to their mates and V has time and again been shown to be as devoted as any of them. Do we really need to revisit this relationship again? Instead how about a focus on some of the forgotten Brother's like Phury, Butch, John Matthew, Zadist or even Rhevenge? But no, we are going to get frogged marched to V and Jane Round III. The saga no one wants.
- The Bastards and the Brothers end by joining forces and are all living in the mansion together, happily ever after. I get its a mansion, but how many rooms can it realistically have? Too many characters! Unbelievable ending to this feud in the the worst way possible.
- Theresa, who happens to look just like Tres's recently deceased wife, happens to show up and get a job as a waitress in his brothers restaurant. The tiresome plot of that eventual novel is self-evident. According to this book Selena died just a few months ago. Tres does not need a lookalike hookup at this point. Double Ugh.

It wasn't a completely terrible novel, but the repetition is definitely starting wear thin and the whole series has just become overstuffed with too many characters. I actually hoped that the author would use the climatic battle at the end of the book to knock off a few characters, but of course, every single Bastard and Brother manages to come out not only alive but best buddies. Triple Ugh. show less

Ward's style will always allow me to feel cool and tough by association. The Chosen continues our omnipotent place at the warriors' table, but this book (as with the last few) doesn't leave me with the desperation I felt with the first few of the series. Some of our sure-thing favorite Brothers spend this entire book in the dog house. Chemistry between Xcor and Layla feels awkward at first. Sweet like an old married couple instead of ravenous like soul-mated vampires. The Warden has again expanded both my Scripps vocab and material for rap trivia, like a hood rat Von Trapp. That's my kind of literary diversity and I will be in line for her next text book.

The Chosen
Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 15

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continuation of an awesome series


The Characters:

Layla: Former Chosen, new Mahaman
Xcor: Reformed Bastard
Qhuinn: Brother, Protector, Asshole first class.
Blay: A good male trying to make sense of a very complicated family

This book also focuses on V, Trez and Terese

The Story:

I have to start with throughout 92% of this book I wanted to punch Qhuinn right in his nose. He’s never been the easiest male but the way he treated not only Layla but baby Lyric was inexcusable. With that being said, so freaking much went on with this book. SPOILER Assail has lost his mind, literally, Jane and V are who knows where (relationship wise), Lassiter has taken over for show more the Scribe Virgin *insert shocked face emoji here*, Tor was kicked out of the brotherhood (and accepted back in), the Brothers and the Bastards not only make peace but cohabitate! End Spoiler I just can’t with making a summary that makes any sense or does the book any bit of justice. I can’t wait for the next book.

The Random Thoughts:



4.5 Stars show less

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Jessica's Book Thoughts
I read books from a mix of genres. My favorites are dark fantasy, paranormal anything, Sci fi, horror, and fantasy. I have a thing for reading encyclopedias, I know it's sort of weird. When I find something interesting (meaning really gross, funny, unbelievable) I post about it. I have 3 kids; Myles 6, Kenzie 11, & Jill 13 (really my youngest sister who one day just moved in with me). I have been married to my husband, Bub, for 11 years, but we have been together for 16 years. Wow, I just realize we have been together half of my life. I am 32. I am an LPN at an MRDD community. The community has a small library where I volunteer about 8 hours a show more week.
Booklikes-opoly
10:51 pm 17 April 2017
Roll: 3,1=4



Wallet: $22
BOOKLIKES-OPOLY
14

Monday With a Mad Genius- Booklikes-opoly
10:29 pm 17 April 2017
Monday with a Mad Genius - Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca
This is a book I read with my son. It also happens to fit well for my Booklikes-oply book. We started it two nights ago and finished it tonight.

In this Jack and Annie are on a Merlin Mission. They are on a quest to "find happiness." This time they travel back and end up meeting Leonardo da Vinci. I live how Pope spins a great tale for kids while a accurately depicting the time period and history of thd content involving the subject matter.

My kid really likes this series, we have a large collection of these, just missing the few most recent books. I love that he likes these, I do to and don't get too bored while reading. I am so glad he has surpassed the "see spot run" level.

Just under 150 pages

$20 + $2= $22
CHILDRENS BOOK MYLES BOOKLIKES-OPOLY MAGIC TREEHOUSE
19
question, and discussions giving me prob...
7:43 pm 16 April 2017
Book where the author's name has all letters of tesla, or main character is in STEM. Does the STEM main character mean the first letter is s, t, e, or m? I can't open discussions for some reason.
BOOKLIKES-OPOLY
13 4
It's Easter Sunday!
9:33 am 16 April 2017


Ha!
16
I am going to pick my book tomorrow...
12:01 am 16 April 2017
So, I finally got some down time, it didn't last. I thought we moved to great neighborhood. I had just finished coloring eggs. I heard screaming for help. I found my neighbor lady hiding under my husband's vehicle and her husband looking for her while screaming he was going to kill her. Ugh... I called the cops, spent an hour in the e.r. with neighbor lady. I will pick my Monopoly book tomorrow. I think this counts as unforseen circumstances. I already rolled and posted, just no book picked.
BOOKLIKES-OPOLY
20 10
Wanna plan a game? It's BookLikes-opoly created by Moonlight Reader & Obsidian Blue
2:47 pm 15 April 2017
Reblogged from Yodamom Finds her Force:


We feel honored that BookLikes became an arena for book bloggers' reading game. YAY! So, who wants to play? On behalf of the BookLikes team and BookLikes bloggers Moonlight Reader and Obsidian Blue, the creators of the game, we'd like to invite you to join BookLikes-opoly! Game play will start on April 15th and end on July 31st, 2017.

The following information are copied from Moonlight Reader's blog posts and are published on BookLikes Blog with the blogger's consent. Please visit Moonlight Reader blog to read the original posts, you can also find all game posts by inserting BookLikes-opoly tag into the search box or simply click here.
---

A game, posts, all information and rules below were created by Moonlight Reader. In case of any game questions, please visit Moonlight Reader blog or Booklikes Bookish Bingo Club where you'll find other players as well as tips and tricks concerning the BookLikes-opoly game.

Booklikes-opoly:
General information

I will be posting the complete rules of the game over the next few posts. In order to ensure that the rules/space tasks are available, I will also be putting up a Game Play and Rules Thread in the Bingo Group, I will create a game page on my wordpress blog and my booklikes blog, and I will be posting them on the BL Expats group on GR, for those of you who are over there as well as over here.

In addition, I relinquish all copyright to any part of the game and make them freely available to everyone to use them as is helpful in playing the game. Download the images to your computer and post them to your personal blog, upload them to your imgur account so you can post them on GR in your personal threads, print them and use them to wallpaper your bathroom!

General information

Do not get overwhelmed. The game is quite simple, and is based on a monopoly board, but when I reveal it, it may sound very complicated. Part of my purpose in creating the game is to generate a fun way to do some TBR busting! You should not have to buy new books to gain dollars for your bank! If you want to buy new books, however, I am never going to stop you!

I will do a "fake" game play tutorial post at the end of this process, which should clarify things substantially! It really will make sense once you see how it works and it will be fun!

Feel free to play the game in the background. There are some spaces that involve a community activity that should be fun, so keep an eye out for friends who need help!





Basic Rules & FAQ

* Players keep track of their own game board and bank! Feel free to set up a discussion in the Bingo group to track, if you feel that will be helpful.

* Every player leaves the Start space with $20.00.

* Dice rolls are based on the honor system. You can either roll virtual dice or you can roll real dice at home. You will either roll two 6-sided dice or one 12-sided die. Up to you! Link to electronic dice.

* Virtual dollars are awarded based on the page length of the qualifying book, as follows:

0 to 100 pages: $1.00
101 to 200 pages: $2.00
201 to 400 pages: $3.00
401 to 800 pages: $5.00
over 801 pages: $10.00

*Players are eligible to roll only on odd-numbered dates.

*Like in monopoly, you can play through a space without reading a book to fill the task, the only rule is that you have to wait until the next roll date to move (so, the next odd numbered day, which is going to be either one or two days) However, if you choose to read for a space, you can't move until you finish the book and bank your payout.

*The one exception to the "you must finish the book before you move on rule" is that audiobook listeners may have one audiobook in progress while they continue moving around the board. You don't bank your payout until you finish listening.

*If you HATE your book, here's what you do! DNF's are absolutely allowed. You can count the # of pages read to get your payout - so if you read 120 pages before DNF'ing, you get $2.00 for your bank. The only caveat is that you have to read 10% of the book to get any payout.

*Game play will start on April 15th and end on July 31st, 2017.

*I will set up a Q&A thread in the Bingo group. Please post questions in that thread!

*Where a task refers to genre tags, this is based on GR genre tags. If you don't have a GR account, and can't get into a book page to determine if it has the required genre tags, you can post the question in Q&A. In addition, the genre tag does not need to be one of the book page tags - it can be on the first page of the "top shelves" if the book has a lot of shelvings.

*On the final day of game play, players need to submit the value of their bank accounts to be considered for prize money.

Read the original blog post: Booklikes-opoly: General information->


Game Play - Reading tasks

The Lands!
















Mystery Squares



Trains, Plains & Automobiles!


Read the original blog post: Game Play - Reading tasks->


Booklikes-opoly:
Additional tasks

There are some remaining spaces that I'll explain in this post!

Unique Spaces:



Go to jail: Go to jail. Serve a sentence of 300 pages (or pay the equivalent bail of $3.00), unless there are enough pages in the prison library to spring you.



Jail visitor: Donate 100 pages (or $1.00) to the prison library before leaving the space. Post your donation on the group "Prison library" thread!



Free parking: roll the dice. Odd number sends you to the waterworks, even number sends you to the electric company, doubles sends you to the luxury tax.



Read a book with water on the cover, or where someone turns on the waterworks (i.e., cries) because of an emotional event.




Read a book where a main character is in STEM, or where the author's first and last name contain all of the letters in "Tesla".


Read a book where someone gets married, with jewelry on the cover, or where any character is a millionaire/billionaire!




Roll the electronic dice, and perform the task that corresponds to your roll!

Let a BL friend choose your book! Post a list of 4 books - first one to comment chooses your next read.
Give $5.00 to another player. If you don't have $5.00, roll again!
Let a BL friend choose your next ride! Post your plight, and see where the first person sends you!
You are in time out for two days. Wait for your chance to roll again.
Collect $10.00 for yourself and one other player!
It's your lucky day! Read any book for your next turn regardless of the task instructions!
Double your dollars on your next read!
Read in the wild! Take your book with you and find a place to read that isn't your living room for an hour!
Post a picture or a story about a favorite vacation spot!
Go to jail. Serve a sentence of 300 pages (or pay the equivalent bail of $3.00), unless there are enough pages in the prison library to spring you!
Read for two! The rewards for your next book are doubled - and half of the money goes to another player of your choice!
Wheel decide - spin the wheel to pick your next "land" and choose any property in the land for your next book!

Read the original blog post: Booklikes-opoly: Additional tasks->


Game Play Tutorial
A Brief Game Play Tutorial

I thought it would be helpful to do a few rounds of play, to help explain how it will work!
Game Play:

Roll 1:
4/15/17: Rolled 7, so game piece moves to space #7, which is Toad's Wild Ride in Fantasyland. The task for that space is: read a book with anthropomorphized/talking animals or read a "classic" fantasy published before 2000. I decide to read: Redwall, by Brian Jacques to fulfill this task. My version has 333 pages, so I get $3.00 for the task, which increases my bank to $23.00. I finish it in one day.

Roll 2:
I can't roll on 4/16/17, because it is not a roll day. On 4/17/17, I roll a 5, which puts me in space 11 - related to the opening year of Disneyland. My task is to read a book that takes place between 1945 and 1965, or that was written by an author born before 1955. I decide to read The Gunslinger by Stephen King, who was born in 1947. This book is 231 pages long, so I make $3.00 for finishing this book, which increases my bank to $26.00.

Roll 3:
I am on vacation, so I don't roll again until the 4/21/17. I roll 10, and end up on the BL square. I roll my virtual dice, and roll a 5! I collect an extra $10.00 for myself, and for one other player. I pick someone to get the extra $10.00, and go on my way! My bank is now $36.00.

Roll 3:
I roll again on the 23rd. I roll a 6, and I land on Adventureland 26, which tells me to read a book tagged adventure or thriller. I'm not feeling adventure or thriller, so I decide to pass on this one. My bank remains at $36.00

Roll 4:
I roll again 4/25/17 and I roll a 3, which puts me on the boardwalk at Paradise Pier 28. The category for this one is "read a book set during Victoria's reign or tagged steampunk on GR." I decide to read Wilkie Collins The Moonstone. My edition has 510 pages, so I get a whopping $5.00 for this one. My bank is now $41.00.

And so on . . .

Bank: $41.00

Read the original blog post: Booklikes-opoly: Additional tasks->


Have fun and let us know how much you love it! Cause we're sure you will!
BOOKLIKERS BOOKLIKES BLOGGERS GAME PLAY BOOKLIKES-OPOLY
9 1
First... reroll... ugh
2:46 pm 15 April 2017

I rolled a five. I don't know what I originally rolled, I think it was a nine, but the son thought the auto dice were great and pushed the roller over and over... He needs school back, spring break, I think, has brought out his insane side.

Now I need to find a book. Again... lol.
BOOKLIKES-OPOLY
18 3

The Chosen
10:50 am 15 April 2017
The Chosen: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood - J.R. Ward
I was really beginning to wonder how Ward was going to keep this series going, there was a serious lack of characters to continue to write about, not a problem anymore.

In this we finally get Layla and Xcor's story. There was a lot for them to overcome for them. Layla has twins with another male, Quinn. Quinn very much dislikes Xcor, like hates him. Things explode when it is finally found out that Layla has been meeting with an enemy, and has fallen for him. Their story was sweet.

This is so much more than just their story though. So much happens. We visit old characters. A big focus was V and Janes relationship. They got some rocky roads ahead. It's like they can't figure each other or their relationship out. Throe is up to more shady shit, literally. Lassiter has got a new job, and man is it doozy. I think he will rock it though. I want him to have a book. He needs a mate. This is definitely not a book that could be skipped. Like I said, so much happens.

Also, I like the UK cover so much better. show less