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:
August 2017 TBR Tackler Shelf:
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- Rise of Empire by Michael J. Sullivan
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- Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
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- The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
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- Knight’s Shadow by Sebastien De Castille
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- Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews
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- The Churn by James S.A. Corey
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- Demon Spirit by R.A. Salvatore
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- Naamah’s Blessing by Jacqueline Carey
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- Buried Heart by Kate Elliott
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- The Butcher of A.S. by James S.A. Corey
This month my focus is on progressing and finishing series that I’m really enjoying. All of these titles are from the “high priority” section of my Incomplete Series list, so I know I am in for a lot of good reading. The one I am most excited to get into is the conclusion to Jemisin’s Fifth Season trilogy… It should be good!
Tackler Carry-Overs
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- First Lord’s Fury by Jim Butcher
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- The Fall of the Dagger by Glenda Larke
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- A Crown Imperiled by Raymon E. Feist
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- In the Labyrinth of Drakes by Marie Brennan
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- Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
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- Jhereg by Steven Brust
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- Bride of Death by T.A. Pratt
Niki’s Incomplete Series Challenge [Via Fantasy Buddy Reads]
June 2017 Titles Tackled:
Niki’s July 2017 Progress Update:
Series Finished: 0
Series Brought UTD: 4
Firebrand – A.J. Hartley
Obsidian and Stars – Julie Eshbaugh
The Operator & Waylaid – Kim Harrison
Midnight Jewel – Richelle Mead
Series Progressed: 4
A Kingdom Besieged – Raymond E. Feist
Gunmetal Magic Ilona Andrews
The Rose Society – Marie Lu
Drive – James S.A. Corey
New Series Started: 2
Traitor’s Blade – Sebastien de Castille [started in March, just finished]
Old Man’s War – John Scalzi
Abandoned: 0
The Young Elites – Marie Lu
The Darkest Minds – Alexandra Bracken
Daughter of Smoke & Bone – Laini Taylor
YTD Totals:
Finished Series: 8
Up To Date Series: 16
Series Progressed: 32
New Series Started: 16
Abandoned: 4
Here’s my full Incomplete Series list, in case anyone is curious.
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. :)
The Obsessive Bookseller 
There are some good books on your list. Rise of Empire is a great sequel, because you can see how Sullivan improved in writing quality between the first two stories in Theft of Swords and the two stories included here.
The Ghost Brigades was also a great read, because it is different from Old Man’s War and shows that Scalzi doesn’t just milk something that worked the first time.
I personally like the third Greatcoats book best, but for a majority of the people I talk to Knight’s Shadow is their favourite out of the quartet. Definitely a good read.
I’m also looking forward to The Stone Sky after having read the first two books within the last 4-5 weeks and really enjoying them.
And how do you like Kate Elliott’s series? I’ve only read Cold Magic and Cold Fire in her other YA marketed series and found them okay, but not great, but I really enjoyed her adult work The Black Wolves.
The Vlad Taltos series is another series I really want to get to, same goes for Kushiel’s Dart.
I also really enjoyed The Lascar’s Dagger and hope to continue with the series this year.
And finally I’m 60ish % through Feist’s Magician and I think I really want to tackle the whole series now.
Happy reading in August! :)
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I’m part way through Rise of Empire now and your right – everything about it is more enjoyable, especially the writing. I’m really looking forward to finishing the first book in this set this weekend.
Then I’ll be reading Ghost Brigade haha. I’ve heard it’s a bit different, which is good because I don’t want to get bored with the same old stuff, for sure.
I’m glad I have two good Greatcoat novels to look forward too. It’s one that’s not available on audio, so it’ll take me a while to get through.
This YA of Elliott it the only thing I’ve read from her so far, and it’s enjoyable, but nothing I’d recommend strongly. I need to pick up her adult series eventually.
Vlad is unique and fun. Kushiel’s is one of my favs. I think you’d find merit out of both. :)
I’m just finishing the final Lascar book and it’s really, really good!! I’m excited to see you get into the series – the second and third are stronger than the first, imo.
Feist!! I’ll respond in that comment. :)
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Great choices, I’ve only read the Rise of Empire and it was a great continuation following Theft of Swords.
My august tbr is https://rodareads.wordpress.com/2017/08/02/august-to-be-read/ if you’re interested. Love your system of tracking it x
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Thank you! I’m very excited to continue on in that series after everyone raves about how good it gets haha. Thanks for your link! I’ll see what you’ve got going on this month. :)
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I’ve got Knight’s Shadow on my August TBR too. I have it on ebook and library book so I have no excuse NOT to get to it this month lol
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Haha that’s what I said about the first one, and then I proceeded to renew it for 5 months until I finished it. I’m hoping this one won’t take me that long – I was riveted to the second half of the first one, so that bodes well.
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