It’s been ages since I’ve participated in a readathon, and part of me has missed the excitement of an organised group-effort and creating a themed-TBR based off a set amount of prompts. During the past year I just haven’t gotten excited over any of the Readathons that were announced, so I didn’t quite seek them out I guess. Well… that’s about to change, as I’ve never been more excited for a readathon than I am for this one. My favourite Readathon of all time has got to be The Magical Readathon hosted by Bookroast for years now. It used to be themed around Harry Potter and the Hogwarts Curriculum, yet due to the controversy and hurtful statements by J.K. Rowling, the amazing G has completely revamped her Readathon to make it her own. I can only say: she absolutely outdid herself and it’s better than ever. I highly recommend you visit G’s video on Youtube where she explains in depth what this Readathon is all about, and how you can participated. Please be sure to leave a like and/or comment to show your appreciation for all the work she’s put in.
Below I’ll be listing my plans for this readathon, including the main 7 prompts for the Novice Path, and the additional 3 character-creation prompts. The former will form my September TBR, where I’ll try to incorporate the latter 3 into my reading for the rest of 2021.
The Novice Path
The Novice Path Entrance: read a book with a map.
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
A 7 book TBR for a month is usually not too ambitious for me. Except maybe when you decide to include an almost 800-page-high fantasy behemoth for some reason…
Look: I scavenged my shelves for books with maps that I hadn’t yet read and only came out with two. The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton (which includes an interior-map of the ship it takes place on), and this one. As I’ve put The Well of Ascension on my yearly TBR as well, but have been putting it off because I’m so intimidated by the size, I thought I might as well just get it over with now. Don’t get me wrong: I’m almost certain I will love it, as I’ve loved all of Sandersons work. It’s just the size that’s daunting to me.
Thank you G for the incentive; I hope this is the push I needed to finally get this one done.
Ashtorn Tree: read a book that keeps tempting you. Mrs. Death Misses Death by Salena Godden
I bought this book pretty much on a whim after being intrigued by the description, and it being told from the perspective of Death personified. It’s been sitting on my shelf since about May now, and every couple of weeks one of my most trusted reviewers (Jen Campbel, Kayla from Books and Lala, etc.) announces that the read and loved it. When I say this prompt, it was the first thing that came to mind. September is the time!
Mrs. Death Misses Death chronicles the conversations between a young disillusioned writer and the personification of Death in the form of a middle-class black woman. As the two reflect on their respective losses, their friendship grows into a surprising affirmation of hope, resilience and love.
The Mist of Solitude: read a standalone
A Million Things by Emily Spurr
I could have gone with almost any book off my TBR for this prompt, as I primarily read standalone novels. I chose A Million Things by Emily Spurr, mainly because it showed up as a new release in the audiobook-section of my library and I’ve had my eye on it since release earlier this year.
A Million Things is a contemporary family drama that follows ten-year old Rae during 55-days of taking care of herself and her dog after her mother leaves without warning.
With themes of abandonment and mental health, this promises to be simultaneously hard hitting and heart-warming at the same time.
Ruin of the Skye: read a book featuring ghosts or haunted houses.
Creatures of Passage by Morowa Yejide
It’s no secret that I adore ghost stories or haunted house novels; it’s one of my favourite tropes, especially when the ghosts aren’t necessarily a source of scares, but are used to explore loss and grief.
At the top of my TBR are currently two novels that feature ghosts; the first one being Creatures of Passage by Morowa Yejide. The second one will make an appearance later on this TBR,
Creatures of Passage is a lyrical magical realism novel about a female taxi driver who ferries passengers through the mists of a forgotten corner of Washington in a cab with a ghost in the trunk. Through her conversations with her passengers, we learn more about the people (living and dead) that shaped her life.
I’m not going to lie: you had me at “magical realism featuring grief” and “ghost in a taxi-trunk”… I can’t wait to get into this one to see what it’s all about.
Obsidian Falls: read a thriller or a mystery novel The Family Plot by Megan Collins
The Family Plot follows a young woman who returns to their isolated family estate after the death of her parents, where she slowly uncovers the secrets her family has kept hidden there for years.
The full description is quite a bit longer and can be found on Goodreads, but I personally like to start thrillers as blind as possible, in order to avoid (minor) spoilers. A family-centred mystery is always a good hook for me so I’ll happily let myself be surprised.
Tower of Rumination: read a 5-star prediction
(Me)Moth by Amber McBride
5-star predictions are always risky, but this is the closest I can get. As I mentioned: ghost stories dealing with grief are among my favourite things, and mainly for that reason Amber McBride’s debut novel in verse quickly became one of most anticipated novels of the 2021. As my pre-order just arrived a few days ago, this was the perfect opportunity to secure it a place in my reading plans.
(Me) Moth follows two teens; Moth, a girl grieving the sudden and recent loss of both her parents, and Sani, a boy in search of solid ground in his battle with depression. Together, the embark on a roadtrip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for their respective roots.
Oh, it’s also published by Feiwel and Friends and stunning, so I’m now even more excited!
Orilium Academy Arc: read book with a school setting All’s Well by Mona Awad
Speaking of my most anticipated releases of 2021; I have another one on this TBR. All’s Well is a Shakespearean, dark academia thriller featuring a protagonist suffering from chronic pain. Miranda Fitch is a theatre professor down on her luck, hell-bent on staging a production of Shakespeare’s most “unlucky” titular play. After a fall from the stage ended Miranda’s own acting career prematurely and doomed her to a life of daily pain, she sees her directorial influence over this college play at her last chance at agency. Others soon find her views delusional and cunning however, and there are hints at possible supernatural forces at play in the background as well. I honestly don’t know too much about this novel and I want to keep it that way. Having seen some review, and based off Mona Awad previous work Bunny, I’m preparing for a wild and weird ride.
Character Creation
For details on the character creation prompts, I again redirect you to Bookroast’s extensive video and the available documents. Personally, I combined the prompts that most spoke to me with the background descriptions I found most interesting to select these books. I will eagerly await G’s further plans for the Readathon in April to decide what I actually want my character to be.
Province: Dark Meadow.
Read a dark academia novel.
The Betrayals - Bridget Collins
I had to scour my shelves a bit for this prompt, as I have too many dark academia novels on my to-read list. Then I came across The Betrayals by Bridget Collins on my library-wishlist and decided it would be a perfect match. I know very little about this novel, other than that it centres a character who participated in an arcane contest set in an exclusive academy tucked away in the mountains. Say no more: I’m here for the arcane academy- vibes.
Background: Wildling.
Read a book largely set in a forest The River has Teeth by Erica Waters
Considering I’ll most likely read these three books in the second half of September or the month of October, I couldn’t resist putting a horror novel in there. Specifically a new YA-horror release that just hit shelves. We follow a teenage girl in search of her sister who’s gone missing on the edge of the local nature reserve known as The Bend. Teaming up with the daughter from a legacy of witches who’s channelled the dark powers that are rumoured to live within The Bend, the two set of on a journey laced with secrets, dark magic and monsters both human and not.
Heritage: Earthling.
Read a book with elemental magic or an element in the title.
The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin
When I read elemental magic, this was the first book that came to mind, even though I’m not sure if weather magic technically counts as “elemental”.
To me this book felt perfectly fitting for the prompt, so I’m running with it.
The Nature of Witches follows a clan of witches who’ve maintained the climate for centuries, their power from the sun peaking within the season of their birth. But now control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes erratic as a result of pollution and human influences. All hope lies with Clara, an Everwitch, whose rare magic is tied to every season, instead of just one.
Cli-fi meets Practical Magic? Sign me up!
If you would like to follow my reading progress throughout the month of September, feel free to give me a follow on Goodreads, where I usually keep track of my reading and post occasional thoughts along the way. In case you participate in this readathon yourself, I’d love to know what your TBR looks like. Happy reading!
