My #UnsolvedAThon TBR!

Hi all!

So you know that my Buzzfeed Unsolved readathon is fast approaching! If not, here’s my original announcement post which explains the reading challenge, and here’s some book recommendations for each reading prompt!

Now its time to share my official TBR! But first, I have to announce which path I’m taking, Shane or Ryan’s. And it’s …

While Shane is amazing, I am definitely a Boogara at heart! I believe in ghosts and ghouls and demons and whatnot. Sorry, Shaniacs!

The Search for the Mysterious Mothman: Read a book about a mythical creature or a monster

For this prompt, I’ve chosen Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner!

The book is about an island that sends out warriors each year to kill the mermaids that plague their lives, and for the first time, women warriors are being sent out as no male warriors have ever been able to destroy the mermaids. Meela is sent out with a group of women and she does the unspeakable: she falls in love with a mermaid.

Apparently the book features a f/f romance, and its friends to enemies to friends lovers — literally, my favourite trope ever. My bi heart is screaming!

 

The Chilling Mystery of the Black Dahlia: Read a very well-known/famous book

For this prompt, I’ve chosen Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones!

In the magical land of Ingary, a young woman named Sophie Hatter attracts the attention of the Witch of the Waste, who puts a curse on her. Sophie travels to the one place she might get help: the moving castle. But the castle belongs to the wizard Howl, and it’s said that the only thing that satisfies him is the hearts of young women.

I’ve been wanting to read Howl’s Moving Castle for a very long time, and now I finally have an excuse! So many mutuals love this book and I’m very excited to see what all the fuss is about.

 

The Murders that Haunt the Lizzie Borden House: Read a book with an anti-hero/villain as the main character

For this prompt, I’ve chosen The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang!

Rin, a war orphan from a poor province, is accepted into the Empire’s most elite military school and no one is more surprised than her. But being a dark-skinned peasant girl makes her a target — but Rin discovers that she possess an unearthly power: shamanism. Exploring her new power with a mentor, Rin learns that the gods she always believed were dead are very much alive and she must master control over her powers. For a country across the sea is readying itself for a new Poppy War, and Rin might be the only one to save her country.

This is one of the most popular books of last year and so many friends read and loved this book, so I’m super keen to get into it! I think its about time that I read The Poppy War — it’s a book I’ve been meaning to read for ages (since its publication) so I’m very excited for it!

 

The Grisly Murders of Jack the Ripper: Read a book about a serial killer or a murderer

For this prompt, I’ve chosen My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite!

When Korede’s dinner is interrupted by a call from her sister, Ayoola, she immediately gets the bleach and rubber gloves and prepares herself for burying a body. This is the third boyfriend Ayoola has killed in “self-defence”, as she says. Korede should probably call the police to protect the men of Nigeria, but she loves her sister too much and family comes first. That is, until Ayoola starts dating the doctor where Korede works, the doctor Korede is in love with.

This was a hard prompt to choose a book! I was tossing up between My Sister, the Serial Killer and Kill Game by Cordelia Kingsbridge. I ended up choosing My Sister because 1. it looks freaking awesome, and 2. Kill Game is the first in a five-book series and knowing me I’ll want to binge the whole series and I can’t do that when I need to solve #UnsolvedAThon.

 

Roswell’s Bizarre UFO Crash: Read a book involving aliens or outer space

For this prompt, I’ve chosen The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers!

Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the Wayfarer, and doesn’t expect much: but it offers her a chance to explore the galaxy and get some distance from her past. Rosemary has never met anyone like the ship’s diverse crew, from the reptilian pilot, to the chatty engineers to their noble captain. Life aboard the ship is chaotic and fun, but then the crew receives a once in a lifetime opportunity for a very dangerous job, and Rosemary realises she has to rely on these oddballs.

Omg, I’ve had The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet on so many TBRs for so many readathons, I’ve lost count. I just need to hurry up and read this book already, it’s driving me up the wall! I’ve heard so many good things, its about time I buckle down and read it.

 

The Enigmatic Death of the Isdal Woman: Read a book involving spies

For this prompt, I’ve chosen Traitor’s Moon by Lynn Flewelling!

Wounded heroes of a battle that almost caused the apocalypse, Seregil and Alec have spent the past two years in self-imposed exile, far from their homeland, Skala. But as the war rages on, Queen Idralain summons them back home to help her daughter on a mission to the faerie land of Aurënen — the land where Seregil was exiled from in youth. Here, Seregil must face the demons of his past while Alec uncovers his hidden heritage.

This is the third book in the Nightrunner series, about Seregil and Alec as they work as spires for the crown of Skala and an undercover guild of wizards. I’m very slowly reading the series and I adore it, but the books are very dense and they take me a while to read which is why so much time passes between each read.

 

The Haunting of Hannah Williams: Read a book involving ghosts or spirits

For this prompt, I’ve chosen The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon!

The year is 2059 and Paige Mahoney works in the criminal underworld of Scion London. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds, as Paige is a dreamwalker. One night, Paige is attacked and kidnapped, transported to Oxford — a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful and otherworldly race. There, Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephiate with mysterious motives. He becomes her master, trainer and enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom, she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison.

I recently read The Priory of the Orange Tree and loved it, so I really want to read Samantha Shannon’s debut! Also this book was on a list of books with ghosts in it, so here’s hoping it actually does have ghosts 🤞🏼. I read somewhere that Paige keeps a moody dutch ghost around to paint for her criminal gang — so that’s the ghost haha.

 

The Historic Disappearance of Louis Le Prince: Read an unknown book or a book that has less than 500 ratings on Goodreads

For this prompt, I’ve chosen Darkling by Brooklyn Ray!

Ryder is a witch with two secrets: one about his blood and the other about his heart. Keeping the secrets have been easy, until a tarot reading with his best friend, Liam, one of his secrets, starts a chain of events that can’t be undone. Dark magic runs through Ryder’s veins and the cards have prophesied that a magical catastrophe is coming.

Darkling has been on my TBR for ages and I know so many friends who love this book! It’s an m/m romance with a trans main character, which is awesome! Very keen for this one.

 

The Haunted Town of Tombstone: Read a book about an outlaw/a group of outlaws

For this prompt, I’ve chosen The Soldier’s Scoundrel by Cat Sebastian!

Jack Turner was born into a life of crime in London’s slums, and will do anything to keep his siblings safe. Now he uses his skills to help those who need the help of a scoundrel. His distrust of the nobility runs deep and his services don’t extend to Oliver Rivington, high-born solider. After war, Oliver craves the safety of a gentleman’s predictable life, and that doesn’t include a scoundrel like Jack. But Jack tempts Oliver like no man before …

I have yet to read a Cat Sebastian novel and I feel like such a failure. I’ve heard that her historical romance novels are amazing, so I’m so excited to read this one!

 

The Odd Vanishing of Amelia Earhart: Read a book with a female main character

For this prompt, I’ve chosen A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole!

Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for romance or the emails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure, lol. As a former foster child, she’s learned she can only depend on herself. So imagine Naledi’s surprise when those emails prove true! Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, and he’s being pressured to marry — so he tracks down his missing betrothed. But when Naledi mistakes a prince for a pauper, Thabiso sees this as a chance to experience life as a normal man.

This is another book that’s been on my TBR for a long time and its just about time I read this damn book! It seriously looks amazing.

Are you joining #UnsolvedAThon? If so, which path are you taking: Shane or Ryan’s? What books are you planning on reading? Let me know!