May 1 2017
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Tackling the TBR [23]: May 2017

tackling the TBR

It’s once again time for my favorite feature: Tackling the TBR! There’s nothing I love more than picking out which books to read next, and this slightly organized method of reading has really amped my enjoyment to the next level. Bring on the mantras!

Read the best books first.
&
Life is too short to read books you’re not enjoying.

However you put together your TBR for the next month, the goal is to reduce the amount of obligation in reading and increase the fun.

Here’s a look at how the system works:

1. Identify the titles that take top priority in your TBR.
2. Combine them all in your own Tackling the TBR post.
3. Throughout the month pick from that pile as the mood strikes you.

Here’s what mine looks like:

May 2017 TBR Tackler Shelf:

The Green Rider is a Buddy Read with Goodreads group, which should be fun (come join us!). Other than that, I’m SO EXCITED FOR THE LEGION OF FLAME!!!! That get’s top priority, closely followed by Shana Abe’s Fiercest Joy, as it’s the final book in a YA dragon-ish trilogy that has finally been published!

Tackler Carry-Overs:

Okay, it’s a good thing I have a catch-up month scheduled for June… Ima need it. :)

Niki’s Incomplete Series Challenge [Via Fantasy Buddy Reads]

April 2017 Titles Tackled:

Assassin’s Fate by Robin Hobb
Naamah’s Kiss by Jacqueline Carey
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews
Magic Mourns by Ilona Andrews
Captain’s Furey by Jim Butcher
The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett
A Questionable Client by Ilona Andrews
Foreigner by C. J. Cherryh

Series Finished: 1
Assassin’s Fate – Robin Hobb

Series Brought UTD: 0

Series Progressed: 5
Magic Slays – Ilona Andrews
A Questionable Client – Ilona Andrews
Magic Mourns – Ilona Andrews
Captain’s Fury – Jim Butcher
The Desert Spear – Peter V. Brett

New Series Started: 2
Naamah’s Kiss – Jacqueline Carey
Foreigner – C.J. Cherryh

Abandoned: 1
Foreigner – C.J. Cherryh

YTD Totals:
Finished Series: 2
Up To Date Series: 8
Series Progressed: 10
New Series Started: 1
Abandoned: 2    

I’ve decided my goal going forward is to progress and finish as many series as I can from my top priority list (as written out in my Incomplete Series Challenge on Goodreads). I’m certain I will still start new series (I can’t help myself), but if I can get through at least half of my high priorities, I’ll be a happy camper. :)

What books are you Tackling this month? Even if you don’t specifically use my system, feel free to share your versions of how you manage your TBR pile (and the links to your posts if applicable) in the comments. :)

by Niki Hawkes

15 comments on “Tackling the TBR [23]: May 2017”

  1. How did you find the Fool’s Assassin series in whole? I was browsing around my local bookstore yesterday and found the first book (Fool’s Assassin) for $5.00 so I picked it up on a whim. I’ve never read anything by Robin Hobb before, although I’ve heard wonderful things about her work.

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    • I was lucky enough to get approved by the publisher for an early copy over at Netgalley. I almost lost my shit when that happened, I was so excited. Hobb’s books are officially my no. 1 recommends – I loved them THAT much. I would recommend reading in the following order, though.

      Farseer
      Liveship
      Tawny Man
      Rain Wilds
      Fool’s Assassin

      If you start with Fool’s Assassin, it will spoil all the other series before it, and there are waaaay to many cool things in those books to ruin. :)

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  2. Best of luck with Green Rider. I loved the first 2 books in the series. Then it turned from a fantasy series to a rather ya romance oriented thing. And they got longer and the wait between books got longer as well. I’m not actually sure where the series currently stands…

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  3. Oh you finished the Hobb! I will start it in 2 days, when it will finally be available on my Kindle. Cannot wait, but am also scared at the same time. I am not ready for it to be the last one!

    Green Rider.. I considered reading it, when I had my ‘horse crazy period’, how I like to call it (watching Heartland and reading lots of Bonnie Bryant books :D ) It’s over now, but maybe I will still try it.

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    • I did!! And I’m sad I didn’t take longer to read it haha. Although I did manage to stretch it out to 3 months. O_o. I can’t wait for you to read it!!

      Haha I’ll let you know if the horse plays a big enough role to have been worth reading for that. I’ve heard mixed reviews, but mostly good things. It has been on my shelf FOREVER.

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  4. Scheduling in a catch-up month was a really good idea lol. I have a few ARCs to read this month or I would join your group in reading Green Rider! I’ve had in on my shelf for…years. Literally. Way to long 😅 But the good news is, I’m currently reading Shadow’s Edge from my 2017 tbr; and I only have Allomancer Jak left from Arcanum Unbounded (another from my 2017 tbr shelf). Your “Tackling the TBR posts” are such a good reminder for me, thank you for doing them!

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    • Right?! Haha I really need one. It seems like even with my best effort I only read 7/10 per month, and I don’t want my carryover to be 20 books long by the end of the year. I think it will be fun! Feeling more like an indulgent month, if that makes sense haha.
      Hey! I’ve had green rider for years too! It’s such a nice book for collecting dust lol.

      I’d love to hear your thoughts on the ending of shadows edge – I’ll keep an eye out for a review! :) and Allomancer jak is the only short I didn’t read – I didn’t care for them in the novels. Weren’t the rest of them amazing, though? I especially loved the mistborn secret history. So much insight!

      Thank you for appreciating my post – I’m happy to hear you’re making your way through your own titles. :)

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      • I know what you mean! It’s so nice to have nothing scheduled in stone, like with ARCs, and to pick from a bunch of stuff you just plain want to read. Leaves room for mood and such :D

        I’ll definitely be finishing Shadow’s Edge quickly and reviewing it ASAP- the trilogy just seems to fly, for me. I can’t put them down! Except to read posts by my blogging buddies of course 🤓

        I LOVED the secret history soo much!! I couldn’t believe it when so many narrators died in the trilogy and this story healed a little hole in my heart lol I enjoyed the little newspaper clips in the Alloy Era novels, so I couldn’t skip Jak entirely, but it’s definitely not as appealing as the stories set in new worlds or about characters I already know and love. But I can’t wait to review the collection!! It’s so amazing!

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      • Exactly! I figure anything I don’t get around too will get taken from the list and I’ll start fresh in July. Im so excited about the idea that i think I’ll plan one every 6 months or so just to break things up. :)
        I’ll be on the lookout! I devoured it too. Thankfully it was one of those trilogies that got released practically all at once, so I didn’t have to wait.
        It was so cool to see how he ended up where he ended up and the end of that one book, if you catch my drift haha. And you just made me realize why I didn’t enjoy Jak as much – I experienced these on audio, so I didn’t get the newspaper immersion haha. Makes so much sense now!

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      • Such a great plan! I’m benefiting from your organizational skills lol. It’s cathartic just to read about!

        Oh my goodness, yeah, the newspapers are so cute in the physical editions! I listened to one of the audiobooks too and really enjoyed it, so the whole story is amazing either way, but the newspapers are confusing via audio lol

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