Reading & Blogging Challenges. Planning an Epic Reading Year

The end of the year is fast approaching (can you believe in a week we will be all living in a new year?!) which means it's time to start organizing a new reading year. I've decided to join a few reading challenges to motivate me not only to read more, but also to discover new genres. Hopefully, these challenges will be helpful in decreasing my ever growing book pile. Furthermore, I will also take part in two blogging challenges to write more discussion posts (something that has been lacking around here).

BEAT THE BACKLIST hosted by @ Novel Knight 

This is one of the challenges I signed up to take part this year and then I never updated it. Not once. I did read some of the backlist books that I picked on the sign up post, but it was as if I didn't join it at all (I apologize to all of my team members). However, I'll give it a try again and this time I'll try not to forget all about it. This year, I'm hoping to read ten backlist titles. It isn't a big number and I think I'll be reading more than ten, but let's keep things stress free. I'm also joining the Hogwarts House Mini Challenge. Team Gryffindor!

These are some of the titles I've picked, but I might change the year as this year goes by (I might add a few other books to the list):

• A Place Called Perfect by Helena Duggan;
• A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna;
• Creatures of Will & Temper by Molly Tanzer;
• Goblins of Bellwater by Molly Ringle;
• Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young;
• State of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury;
• The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White;
• The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill;
• The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James;
• The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw.

DANCING WITH FANTASY AND SCI-FI hosted by Annemieke @ A Dance With Books

I'm a fantasy reader. Every year, the genre I read the most is fantasy and all its sub-genres. However, next year not only do I want to be a Fire Breathing Dragon, but I also want to be an Alien. 👽 Lately, I've been trying to read more science fiction and I think this challenge is perfect to help me reach my goal of discovering new futuristic worlds and travel through space. Especially because there's a bingo card and I love those (I only need to fill a complete row to feel successful). Also, Annemieke is so sweet that she shared lots of recommendations for each prompt.

DYSTOPIA READING CHALLENGE hosted by Brittani @Hope, Faith & Books

The reason why I'm joining this challenge it's because I miss reading a good dystopia. Yes, it's also because I love dystopias (I can never get tired of these strange and twisted societies), it gives me a reason to read one more time The Hunger Games, but it has been awhile since I read a dystopian novel that stole my heart. I  just can't wait to see what everyone else is reading and then read it. 😜 I'm aiming for the Rebel badge, in which I've to read and review 6 to 10 dystopian books.

HARRY POTTER BOARD GAME READING CHALLENGE hosted by Naura @ The Perks of Being Noura

This challenge is so freaking amazing! Pardon my language... This is an actual Harry Potter board game with reading prompts and you must use a dice. I haven't play a board game in years, but I can't wait to put my gaming and reading skills into practice.

RETELLING READING CHALLENGE hosted by Tracy @Cornerfolds

Can you guess how excited I'm about this challenge? Even though my favourite retellings are based on fairy-tales, I love reading any kind of retelling, from classics retold to the reimagining of folk tales.

There are five different levels that participants can aim for. I picked the Elemental Witch which means I'll attempt to read 11 to 15 retellings. Also, there's a bingo card and I'm hoping to get Bingo at least once.

BLOG ALL ABOUT IT hosted by @ The Herd Presents

As I mentioned, I need to share more discussions posts. For this challenge, there's a word each month and any time throughout it you can blog about that word. It may be a review, a recipe, share photos, or stories. The sky is the limit! I already have a post for the February prompt planned. Yep, that post about romance tropes that I've been planning for ages now.

BOOK BLOG DISCUSSION CHALLENGE hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight

I pledge to myself to share more discussion posts. 😊

I heard a lot about this challenge in the past months and I decided to join it in the coming year. This challenges promotes discussions about whatever you want as long as it’s related to books and/or book blogging. There are five levels and I'm hoping to reach the first one, Discussion Dabbler.

You can use the hashtag #LetsDiscuss2019 to share your progress and connect with other participants on Twitter (this is a a great form to give some visibility to discussion posts. I think the main reason why I don't write many of these it's because the engagement is always poor).

Which challenges will you be joining in 2019?