#owlsreadathon2018

ANCIENT RUNES. a book with a symbol on the cover: legend, by marie lu. 

legend is one of those ya dystopian books that seem like a must-read. i already started reading it once and hated it, but i’ve read more from marie lu ever since, and i feel like giving it a second chance. it’s basically about these two people on opposing sides of society who have a lot of reasons to hate each other, but end up forced to spend time together and uncover a secret about their society that might shake everything. or at least, i think that’s what it’s about.

ARITHMANCY. read a book with a number on the cover or in the title: batgirl and the birds of prey, volume 1: who is oracle, by julie benson.

the first batgirl volume in the rebirth has been out for a little while now, but since i just got into dc comics and am trying to read the batfam comics in order (within rebirth), i’m just getting to this. i don’t currently have a copy of it, but i’m hoping to receive one for my birthday (march 29, just saying), and worst case scenario i’ll be borrowing it from the library. also, i wish i could tell you what it’s about, but i prefer going into trade paperbacks without knowing anything, so yes. 

ASTRONOMY. read a science fiction novel: obsidio, by amie kaufman and jay kristoff.

another book i’m hoping to receive for my birthday! and one of my most anticipated books of the year, without a doubt. this is the third book in the illuminae files series, which is a science fiction ya series told in mixed media format. each book follows a different duo, but follows the events of an attack on a planet, and i feel like saying anything else would be saying too much.

CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES. read a book that involves magical creatures or features a magical creature on the cover: harry potter and the philosopher’s stone, by jk rowling.

i’m constantly listening to the harry potter series on repeat on audiobook, so i know for a fact that i’ll be getting to this book in april, since it’s the one i’m reading next. in case you didn’t know, harry potter follows an eleven year old boy who learns he’s a wizard and then gets to go to a magical school called hogwarts. there’s more to it, but that’s the basic summary.

CHARMS. read a fantasy book: children of blood and bone, by tomi adeyemi. 

this is my most anticipated book of the year, and i absolutely can’t wait to read it. it’s a ya fantasy book set in a west-african inspired world where magic has been taken away, and we follow a girl who takes on the task of bringing magic back. i really hope i’m getting this book for my birthday, because wow. i’m so excited.

DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS. book about/featuring secret societies/clubs: the young elites, by marie lu.

this is going to be a re-read, because i’m planning on reading the second book in this series for another readathon, and i don’t remember much of the first one except for the main character’s name. basically, this is about a villain’s origin story, and i liked it okay the first time i read it. i only gave it three stars, but i was more difficult with my ratings back then, so i’m happy to give it a second chance.

DIVINATION. read a book featuring prophecies: the mark of athena, by rick riordan. 

thanks to sage for pointing out that any book by rick riordan would work for this challenge! i already started this book and am close to being halfway in, but for some reason i haven’t picked it up in a long time. it was really good, though, so i’m excited to pick it up again. it’s the third book in the heroes of olympus series, which is the follow up series to percy jackson and the olympians, which has to do with demigods fighting bad guys.

HERBOLOGY. read a book with a nature related word in the title: of fire and stars, by audrey coulthourst. 

this is another book i’ve already started, but that i’ll probably need to start from the beginning because i don’t remember much. i wasn’t in love with what i had read so far, but i loved the premise, so i’m excited to try reading it again. it’s a ya fantasy book in which two princesses fall in love, and if that doesn’t sound amazing, i don’t know what does.

HISTORY OF MAGIC. read a historical fiction: the book thief, by markus zusak.

i read the first few chapters of this book a few years ago, and i remember being blown away by how amazing it was. i wasn’t as much into reading back then, though, so i probably stopped because i was distracted by something else. anyway, this is a ya historical fiction set during world war ii and it’s narrated by death and just, it’s supposedly amazing, and from what i’ve read so far, i have to agree. again, though, i’ll be starting from the beginning.

MUGGLE STUDIES. read a muggle non-fiction book: histoire de la comtesse d’aulnoy, by fernande gontier.

i got this book for christmas, and i’m still only 1/6th of the way through, and i’ve decided that april is the month where i finish it. it’s a historical nonfiction story about marie-catherine d’aulnoy, a famous french fairy tale writer from the same time as charles perrault who was forgotten by history, i wonder why, and who led a pretty wild life. so far it’s amazing, and i can’t wait to finish it so i can read her fairy tales.

POTIONS. read a book about/with alchemy: le parfum, by patrick süskind.

i started this book about eight years ago but never continued it, and i honestly don’t remember anything about it. it’s the story of a murderer in france and it has to do with alchemy and perfumes, which is why i think it’s perfect for this challenge. on top of that, it means that i’ll be reading two books in french this month, which is good for my yearly reading goals.

TRANSFIGURATION. read a book that deals with transfiguration/shapeshifting or similar theme or a book with a cat on the cover: bruja born, by zoraida córdova.