Merlin Readathon August 2021 – Experience and thoughts

Merlin Readathon I chose to participate this August was my first try at a reading challenge with the time limit shorter than a whole month. This reading challenge was set to last first two weeks if August – from 1. to 15. Generally I prefer whole month reading challenges because it gives me enough time to organize and take my time reading. I don’t do reading sprints or short reading challenges ( those that happen on the weekends and last for 48 hours or shorter).

As reading challenges go, this one was simple in the number of books I needed to read and had a twist on choosing a path trough the prompts that were set by the creators. When choosing the prompts participants were offered to join in a bit of roleplay and make choices as a character in the series setting would. See the offered choices below.

I choose my path and the books that fit the prompts AND I even went easy on myself by letting myself choose the last book as a partial read. You can check out my original post and my explanation on choosing the books HERE.

Let’s continue to the books I decided to read for this reading challenge and see how it all went!

Apprentice – Read an underhyped book

Book – Lord Mord by Miloš Urban ★★★

First book I have read was chosen as an underhyped book and I must admit that beside some historical details and intriguing place the story is set in. Most of the book was filled with probably historically accurate but still annoyingly misogynistic characters and character choices. This book left a bad aftertaste.

Magician – Read a book with snake on the cover

Book – Smoke Bitten (Mercy Thompson book 12) by Patricia Briggs ★★★★★

Second book I picked for this readathon was something I hoped to really enjoy – latest book in one of my favorite urban fantasy book series. I was not sure about the snake on the cover and after reading the book I am still not sure how much the prompt fits. The fantastical creature was sometimes serpent-like and I guess it could fit after all. But I did enjoy the book and loved reading it!

This is where I made a mistake and took a wrong book to read next. Instead of the book I should have been reading I picked up Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow #3) by Rainbow Rowell. It is a book I had on my reading list for August for another reading challenge and I got my books mixed up…

I should have been reading:

Conjurer – Read a book that has been translated

Book – First Girl Child (The Chronicles of Saylok) by Amy Harmon

I managed to read this book but I got so upset that I mixed the books and their reading order and did not finish it by the 15th of August. This is why I try to avoid reading challenges with a particular reading order – I feel too pressured and cant concentrate on the actual reading.

Last book I was going easy on myself with by deciding to read at least a part of was:

Sorcerer – Read a book that intimidates you

Book – The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

And I ended up not making any progress on this one at all! Seriously I have not even touched this book at all…The Count of Monte Cristo is continuing to haunt me for I have been ” reading” it officially a year now!

My thoughts on my experience in Merlin Readathon August 2021

Strictly speaking my score on this reading challenge is not a failure and I have read my Novice level book as well as Apprentice level book. This was a different experience and I have learned something about myself. Even though things did not go as planned I am glad I have tried this type of a reading challenge. I might give similar reading challenges in the future another go but for now I will stick with reading challenges that give me more leisure with time.