The Olympic Games Read-a-thon TBR

April was the O.W.L.s, which I think is fair to say is everybody’s favourite read-a-thon. I actually came out passing eleven exams, which I’m pretty smug about. You can see my wrap-up here (there’s a puppy photo too).

In June I’m going to be doing two read-a-thons, because I clearly just don’t have enough pressure in my life.

The first is the Olympic Games Read-a-thon, hosted by Ishi Time, and you can find the details here. Essentially, it’s the Olympics, but all the Cabins from Percy Jackson are competing – so you pick your Greek mythological parent and follow the appropriate prompts.

I was originally drawn towards Hades, but I did the quiz on Rick Riordan’s website and it tells me I’m from Athena. This actually makes a lot of sense and I have been firmly told by loved ones that it is apt, so there we are.

Here are the ‘mandatory’ prompts and my proposed TBR (which will definitely change):

Athena favours those who seek knowledge beyond all. Read a book
that is out of your comfort zone.

American Royals by Katharine McGee

This is out of my comfort zone because I can count the amount of contemporary YA novels I’ve read on one hand, and the amount I’ve liked on the prongs of a fork! I’ve heard stunning things about American Royals, though, so fingers crossed.

Read a book that features a school.

The Fever by Megan Abbott

My mind went totally blank on this one for a while, but luckily I bought The Fever during my last giant book haul. Another YA contemporary but, to be fair, most of them are going to contain schools and at least this one is very topical!

Read the longest book on your TBR.

Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7) by Sarah J. Maas

I was going to write about how I supposed I should be grateful that I didn’t have any Wheel of Time books currently on my TBR, but apparently this one is 980 bloody pages anyway! I do like this series, but I always have to be coerced into reading the next installment… like now, I guess!

Athena is a favourite among gods and mortals alike. Read a book by
your favourite author.

From A High Tower (Elemental Masters #10) by Mercedes Lackey

I love Mercedes Lackey, and this series is my favourite of her books. They’re fairytale retellings, but with an added pinch of elemental magic. I’ve found that the last few have lost their charm a little, but From A High Tower is the tale of Rapunzel and I’m hoping I love it just as much as I did the earlier books.

After he betrayed her trust, Athena branded Daedalus with a mark
that looked like a partridge. Read a book with a bird on the cover.

The Sparrow by Maria Doria Russell

Oh god, not this again! This was also a prompt for the O.W.L.s, which sent me into a panicked tailspin until I realised that A Throne of Swans had a teeny tiny bird in the background. This time I’ve gone for The Sparrow, which I believe is a bunch of Jesuit priests being sent off to make first contact with aliens. Because, why not?

In addition to the games listed above, each Cabin also has additional advanced challenges, and the Athena prompts are as follows:

Sword and Shield: a book featuring a character you would not get along with.

My Lady Jane: The Not Entirely True Story by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows and Brodi Ashton

Ha. Well. I’m fairly renowned for hating pretty much every book character ever. But how are you supposed to know who you wouldn’t get along with until you’ve read the book? I’ve gone with My Lady Jane because, from what I know of Lady Jane Grey’s family, I would definitely have hated them all.

Capture the Flag: one of your most anticipated books

The Toll (Arc of a Scythe #3) by Neal Shusterman

I keep putting this on TBRs and I keep not reading it! I think it’s because I loved Scythe and Thunderhead so much that I’m just desperate for the conclusion to be just as wonderful, and I’m afraid it won’t stand up. Still I do need to hurry up and get this read though, so fingers crossed for June.

Monster Fighting: a book featuring magical creatures

Steel Crow Saga by Paul Krueger

I could actually also use this for ‘most anticipated’ and also ‘animal with a beak…’ so one way or another I had better read it in June! It features magical animal battle companions though, a la Pokemon, so it will do nicely for this prompt too.

Pegasus Riding: a book published within the last five years

A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3) by V.E. Schwab

Well this is an easy prompt, at least! To be honest, I’m not really all that in to this series, but I just want to get it read so I can try again with the Vicious series. Admittedly this choice is the one most likely to change!

So there we have it – my full TBR. No physical photo, as two are yet to arrive and one is an e-book, but I’ll take it when my new Waterstones order arrives. Wish me luck!

Are you taking part in the Olympic Games read-a-thon? If not, what will you be reading in June?