Hello everyone,
This year is the real comeback of the magical readathon created by Book Roast (her channel.) So we already had two mini ones to present the world and everything, but here we are with the real deal during April.
The concept
She decided to stop with the Harry Potter version of it and create her own world but with the same mechanics as the HP one, which means that you have two sessions per year, the first in April and the second in August. Both sessions are equal to a “year” of study at Orilium.
Like before, you choose a calling; it’s like a job you want to do. Each calling has a certain number of courses that correspond to a prompt, so a book you need to read. You find the prompt on the Syllabus sheet. In this readathon, you can’t double up the books. One prompt = one book. If you read all the books of your calling, you are accepted for the second part of this readathon in August.
For example, if you want to be an Illusionist Rogue, you need to complete three courses: Shapeshifting, Art of Illusion and Psionics & Divination. You need to complete a prompt for each of them without doubling up the book you choose.
- Shapeshifting: Creature with claws on the cover (ex: Only a Monster by Vanessa Len -> a griffin)
- Art of Illusion: Book with a trope you like (The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley -> secluded place)
- Psionics & Divination: Book set in the future (Skyward Volume 2 by Joe Henderson -> no gravity)
If you read these three books in one month, you pass your tests, and the readathon will continue in August with the second round: Autumn Equinox.
Announncement video: here
The books
I struggle a little with my TBR for this readathon, especially with two prompts.
First, I chose the calling of the Story Weaver. I needed to read four books to achieve this first session at Orilium.
- Inscription: Intimidating read
- Art of Illusion: Book with trope you like
- Psionics & Divination: Book set in the future
- Lore: Mythology inspired
- Apollo by Carly Spade (review): I read this book for Lore and the prompt Mythology inspired, but I could have used it as a book with trope you like.
- Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix (review): This one is a replacement for Crownbreaker by Sebastien de Castell (review) as I DNFed it. And as it was less than the middle of the book, I didn’t find it fair to say complete with this DNF. I read it for the Inscription class where I needed to read an intimidating book, and I’m not used to horror books.
- Skyward II: Here There Be Dragonflies by Joe Henderson (review): This was my first pick when I did my TBR for this readathon. I needed to read a book set in the future for Psionics & Divination.
- Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li (review): This is for Art of Illusion, and the prompt is to read a book with a trope you like. I struggle a little with this prompt as I don’t know which tropes are in the books I buy; some of them are obvious, and some no. For example, in Apollo by Carly Spade, there is the bickering trope that I like, but I knew about it only when I read it. So I choose Portrait of a Thief as you have the trope of a group of thieves and the one of the found family. However, I finished by DNFing the book at 74%. As I had the feeling to have finished the book (even if I didn’t), I count this prompt as complete.
My experience
I spent a great time doing it, even if I struggled to create my TBR for it, and then I needed to change it as I DNFed a book.
I know that I took one of the simplest callings as I only have four books to read to complete it, but I also thought of the second period in August where I will need to read six books which can be a lot if I’m not in a good reading mood that month.
I cannot wait to do a new readathon, especially the second part of this one; I like doing those readathons as you surpass yourself. And you, have you already participate in one readathon? Or do you want to do it? Which one?
If you have any experience with this kind of readathon, don’t hesitate to share it in the comment.
Bye, bye
Liz.
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