20 Books of Summer 2021 Challenge

I’m a little late signing up to this reading challenge, but I only just spotted some of my friends talking about it! This is a three-month challenge hosted by Cathy at 746 Books, running from June 1st to September 1st. The aim of the game is to read 20 books across the summer, and while I’ll definitely manage that, I think this would be a great way to tackle my review copy list, which is stacking up. I’ll be aiming to read and review these 20 books – read on for my TBR!

Some of these are terribly overdue, so please don’t judge me! There’s a lot of chunky fantasy here, and while that’s my favourite genre, I’ve been in a bit of a fantasy slump for several months. Also, just to note, all these books were sent to me free of charge by the publishers or authors.

The Ikessar Falcon and The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng by KS Villoso

I really enjoyed the first book in the Chronicles of the Bitch Queen trilogy (review here), and I’ve only been putting them off because I want to be able to pay full attention to them. I’m about 50 pages into The Ikessar Falcon, and looking forward to seeing where the story goes.

Master of One by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett

This was a November 2020 release and I’ve been meaning to read it for so long. Everything about this YA sounds like great fun, with fae, heists, and queer rep.

Vampires Never Get Old edited by Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C Parker

Finished! My review is here.

Short stories are always a good bet to break up a lot of fantasy tomes, and this anthology is so star-studded! This is going in my #SweepUpYourSmols TBR too, so hopefully it’ll be one of the first books finished from this list.

Machine by Elizabeth Bear

This companion novel to the phenomenal Ancestral Night (review here) is almost certain to be a book I love – I’ve just been even less in the mood for sci-fi than fantasy! I’m sure I just need to start, though, and I’m sure to be drawn in.

Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore

I was so excited to read this, but I’ve been putting it off because I wanted to reread the whole Graceling series first to make sure I got all the references. I’m still in two minds as to whether to do that, so we’ll see.

Divine Heretic by Jaime Lee Moyer

Moyer’s Brightfall was one of my favourite books of 2018 (review here), and after her nuanced portrayal of an older Maid Marian, I’m excited to see her take on Joan of Arc.

Scandalous Alchemy by Katy Moran

This is the newest review copy on my list, and one I’m desperate to crack into. Katy’s one of my favourite people to talk to on Twitter, and this will be a delicious historical read, set in an alternate Regency where Napoleon won the war.

The Exile Waiting by Vonda N McIntyre

Vonda N McIntyre’s Dreamsnake was an absolutely formative book for me, true speculative fiction with a powerful kick. Although I’m really interested to read The Exile Waiting, I know it’s going to need full engagement with its important themes, so it’s kept dropping down my TBR. This is the summer I’ll crack it!

The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid

Finished! My review is here.

This one is cheating a little bit, as I’ve already read this and my review will be going up on Tuesday, but that is technically still inside the bounds of the challenge as I finished it on the 5th! You can click back to read my thoughts, so I won’t go into them here!

An Escape in Time by Sally Nicholls

Finished! My review is here.

I’m much better at keeping on top of my reviews of kids’ books, so this is the only middle grade book on this reading list. I’ve loved the previous two books in this series (reviews here and here) and I’m looking forward to this Regency adventure!

A Marriage Made in Secret by Jenni Fletcher

Finished! My review is here.

The same goes for romance as middle grade – they’re just easier to slot into a busy month, so they get read and reviewed quicker! If you’ve been here a while, you’ll know how much I love Jenni’s romances, so you can guess how much I’m looking forward to her latest medieval story.

The Mask of Mirrors by MA Carrick

This is another tome that’s slipped down the list purely because of its size! It might be my pick for #ConquerAChonker this weekend – the political intrigue and decadent setting sound so much up my street!

The Unbroken by CL Clark

Finished! My review is here.

I’m slow off the mark with this one, which all my friends have been raving about. I got about 100 pages in before going into my fantasy slump, and what I read was intriguing, so this might be one I try to pick up early in the challenge.

Wendy, Darling by AC Wise

Finished! My review is here.

Peter Pan retellings seem to be a perennial favourite of the genre, and I like the sound of this take on the story, which focuses on a grown up Wendy trying to save her daughter from the dangers of Neverland she knows so well. Plus, this is out next week, so it’ll be good to get to it soon.

A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause

Finished! My review is here.

I’m pretty sure this is the oldest review copy on my list, which was out in August 2019. It’s high time I got to it – I love YA fantasy centred on competitions and beautiful dresses!

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

Finished! My review is here.

I’m a big fan of Tasha’s, and really looking forward to her new epic fantasy. This is bound to be gorgeously descriptive and full of fierce women.

Hollow Empire by Sam Hawke

The first book in this series, City of Lies, was brilliant (review here), and I was over the moon to get a review copy of this. I got halfway through before slumping, and I think I might have to start it again to do it justice, but I was having a whale of a time. It’s great political fantasy.

Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

This is a book I don’t actually know too much about, but several of my friends have enjoyed it, so I might just go in without looking up any more details! It’s a fairly recent release, so it would be good not to let it get much more overdue.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow

Alix’s first book, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, blew me away (review here) and I’ve honestly been putting this book off out of nervousness that this will either miss the mark or hit me even more strongly! That’s silly, though, so I’m finally going to give myself the push to start it.

And that’s it! My twenty books for this summer. What should I get to first? Let me know! And I’d love to know if you’re taking part in #20BooksofSummer2021!