READING CHALLENGE | Totally Spiesathon

With everything that is going on in the world, I think it is important to think back to the things that used to make us happy. As a little girl, my sister and I would binge watch all the Totally Spies episodes our mom recorded for us and together, we would fangirl about our favourite characters for hours. So, when I saw this readathon, I just knew I had to participate as it is sure to bring back many happy memories in a time where everything seems dark and unsure.

My lovely friend and fellow book blogger, Noura from The Perks of Being Noura, will be hosting this readathon with other people from the bookish community. This readathon will take place from the 1st until the 31st of July. There are three teams: Team Sam, Team Clover and Team Alex. First you need to decide on a team you want to join as you will gain points for it. After that you will need to throw a dice to see on which prompts you land on. There are also two rounds for those who want to read more books. Everything is explained in full detail in Noura’s blog post here and on her Twitter here.

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T E A M  S A M

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MY TOTALLY SPIESATHON TBR

R O U N D  O N E

3RD CHALLENGE — CLOVER: read a book with a sassy main character.

❀ House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

Bound by blood.

Tempted by desire.

Unleashed by destiny.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love. 

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5TH CHALLENGE — FREE CHOICE! choose whichever prompt you like from the list:
10TH CHALLENGE — ‘DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?’ read a fantasy book by an author of color.

❀ Daughter of Nri by Reni K.  Amayo

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

A gruesome war results in the old gods’ departure from earth. The only remnants of their existence lie in two girls. Twins, separated at birth. Goddesses who grow up believing that they are human. Daughters Of Nri explores their epic journey of self-discovery as they embark on a path back to one another.

Strong-willed Naala grows up seeking adventure in her quiet and small village. While the more reserved Sinai resides in the cold and political palace of Nri. Though miles apart, both girls share an indestructible bond: they share the same blood, the same face, and possess the same unspoken magic, thought to have vanished with the lost gods.

The twin girls were separated at birth, a price paid to ensure their survival from Eze Ochichiri, the man who rules the Kingdom of Nri. Both girls are tested in ways that awaken a mystical, formidable power deep within themselves. Eventually, their paths both lead back to the mighty Eze.

But can they defeat the man who brought the gods themselves to their knees?

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9TH CHALLENGE — advance to #12 on the board:
12TH CHALLENGE — ‘TOTALLY SWITCHED’ here’s a surprise! see that book you were planning on reading? leave that for a minute and have someone from your team choose your read for this prompt.

❀ The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

Perfect for fans of The Hate U Give, this unforgettable coming-of-age debut novel explores issues of race, class, and violence through the eyes of a wealthy black teenager whose family gets caught in the vortex of the 1992 Rodney King Riots.

Los Angeles, 1992

Ashley Bennett and her friends are living the charmed life. It’s the end of senior year and they’re spending more time at the beach than in the classroom. They can already feel the sunny days and endless possibilities of summer.

Everything changes one afternoon in April, when four LAPD officers are acquitted after beating a black man named Rodney King half to death. Suddenly, Ashley’s not just one of the girls. She’s one of the black kids.

As violent protests engulf LA and the city burns, Ashley tries to continue on as if life were normal. Even as her self-destructive sister gets dangerously involved in the riots. Even as the model black family façade her wealthy and prominent parents have built starts to crumble. Even as her best friends help spread a rumor that could completely derail the future of her classmate and fellow black kid, LaShawn Johnson.

With her world splintering around her, Ashley, along with the rest of LA, is left to question who is the us? And who is the them?

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R O U N D  T W O

2ND CHALLENGE — TIME TO BE A SPY: read a book in secret without telling anyone which one it is until you’re done with it.

…this is honestly going to kill me because I cannot wait to share it with you all.

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6TH CHALLENGE — read a contemporary at a given time (either during the day or night. must be completed in the time you chose).

❀ Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance – and Papi’s secrets – the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered. And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.

Papi’s death uncovers all the painful truths he kept hidden, and the love he divided across an ocean. And now, Camino and Yahaira are both left to grapple with what this new sister means to them, and what it will now take to keep their dreams alive.

In a dual narrative novel in verse that brims with both grief and love, award-winning and bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.

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9TH CHALLENGE — read a new release by an asian author.

❀ Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

Sirscha Ashwyn comes from nothing, but she’s intent on becoming something. After years of training to become the queen’s next royal spy, her plans are derailed when shamans attack and kill her best friend Saengo.

And then Sirscha, somehow, restores Saengo to life.

Unveiled as the first soulguide in living memory, Sirscha is summoned to the domain of the Spider King. For centuries, he has used his influence over the Dead Wood—an ancient forest possessed by souls—to enforce peace between the kingdoms. Now, with the trees growing wild and untamed, only a soulguide can restrain them. As war looms, Sirscha must master her newly awakened abilities before the trees shatter the brittle peace, or worse, claim Saengo, the friend she would die for.

Danger lurks within the roots of Forest of Souls, an epic, unrelenting tale of destiny and sisterhood, perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and Susan Dennard.

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15TH CHALLENGE — book of choice!

❀ The Princess will Save You by Sarah Henning

G O O D R E A D S  |  S Y N O P S I S

A PRINCESS

A STABLE BOY

A QUEST

When her father dies, Princess Amarande is given an ultimatum: Marry the leader of one of the four neighboring kingdoms, or lose her crown—and possibly her life. And to force her hand, her beloved, the stable boy Luca, is kidnapped.

But Amarande was raised to be a warrior, not a sacrifice.

And nothing will stop her from saving her true love and rescuing her kingdom.

The acclaimed author of Sea Witch turns the classic damsel-in-distress tale on its head with this story of adventure, identity, and love.

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Also, I just wanted to give my little sister a quick shoutout. She helped me choose these books for my TBR and also played the game (rolled the dice) with me for this readathon. She is honestly the best little bookish assistant ever and I am so happy to work together with her on things for White Rose Stories. x

Keep reading and never stop telling stories.

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