… But this challenge is a fun one, because it involves reading!

That’s right. As if my recent headlong dive into my TBR for The Great Series Read Project wasn’t enough, I’ve gone and gotten tempted into taking up another bookish challenge aimed at whittling down my stacks of unread books…

Your/my/our beloved @runalongwomble has been at it again, by bringing us The Book Tempter’s TBR Challenge in an effort to help many a bookish nerd get through quarantine in a safe and responsible way, ie. by staying on our couches (or other favourite reading spots INDOORS, PEOPLE) and being productive, which is what reading books counts as when you’re an introvert. Fact.

The idea behind the challenge itself is fairly straightforward: The Rt. Hon. Womble has provided categories, and you go through your TBR and choose a book that fits each one. You read those books, you tick them off/review them/yell about them on Twitter, and hey presto! Challenge complete.

Side note: I actually joined in on this and came up with my list just before all this hell broke loose, and then I forgot I hadn’t posted my list here. Oops. But what is time these days anyway, right? It’s all gone sideways. Who’s really keeping track?

Anyway! I present (belatedly) my final challenge selections, in their categories, for your perusal. And should you decide to also join the challenge, do let me – and Sir Runalong of Womble – know about it!

Book 1: THE CHUNKY BOI

Guns of the Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Book 2: THE NEWBIE

The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles

Book 3: THE OLDTIMER

The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe

Book 4: THE COLLECTOR

Once Upon a Time (she said) by Jane Yolen

Book 5: DO NOT TRANSCEND GENRE

Fires of the Faithful by Naomi Kritzer

Books 6, 7 & 8: THREE’S COMPANY

Obsidian and Blood by Aliette de Bodard

Book 9: FACE REALITY

The Five by Hallie Rubenhold

Book 10: BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Book 11: RANDOMMMMMM

An Almond For a Parrot by Wray Delaney

Book 12: TREAT YOURSELF

The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab

And that’s my list! I’ll be aiming to start reading them ASAP, most likely at some point this weekend. Look out for a scattering of tweets/reviews charting my progress with the hashtag #booktempterchallenge!