It’s time for a mid-year challenge check in! This is my first check-in of the year, and I’ll share my final challenge results in December or January. How have I done so far? Keep reading to find out:
1. 2026 Goodreads goal:
I’m hoping to hit 50 books by the end of June, and I still have about a week, so we’ll see how close I can get. This number is as of today. I’m pretty happy with my progress, especially since some of the books I’ve read this year have been simply amazing!
2. Bookforager’s Picture Prompt Bingo:
I am behind with this challenge, but to be honest, I sort of forgot about it, lol. For now, I’ve filled in five spaces, but I’m pretty sure I can finish this by the end of the year.
Here is my status so far:
1. A teacup and saucer
2. A set of weighing scales
3. A moth – Bodies of Work by Clay McLeod Chapman (butterflies play a part in the story – close enough!)
4. A hand holding playing cards
5. A hot air balloon
6. An acorn – Nightshade & Oak by Molly O’Neill (I mean, it’s in the title!)
7. A human eye – The Sixth Nik by Daniel Kraus (the main character’s eye is a focal point in the story and has deep meaning)
8. A cooking pot hanging over a campfire
9. A griffin
10. A large old key – The Children by Melissa Albert (keys play an important part in the story)
11. A hand holding a threaded needle – Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer (the main character is kidnapped by a cult and has to darn clothes)
12. An octopus –
13. A plant being repotted
14. A skull and crossbones
15. A decorative water fountain
16. A pinch-clip purse
Check out Mayri’s post here for more information if you’d like to join in!
3. Alphabet Reading Challenge:
This challenge is going very well considering I’m only halfway through the year! But of course, I have the “hard” letters left: P, Q, U, X, Y and Z. Hopefully I can fill those in in the next 6 months.
4. 2026 Speccy Fiction Challenge:
I’ve pretty much aced this challenge already! I only have one more prompt to fill – Cozy Fantasy (which I’m shocked I haven’t read yet).
Published in 2026 – The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer
A speculative novella (less than 250pgs) – We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune
A translated speculative novel – Teddy Bears Never Die by Cho Yeeun
The first book in a speculative fiction duology/trilogy/series – The Geomagician by Jennifer Mandula
Romantic speculative fiction – A Widow’s Charm by Caitlyn Paxson
Speculative fiction that features a creature (animal/monster) – Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
A cozy fantasy novel
Dark Fantasy – The Children by Melissa Albert
A fantasy based on myth, legend or folklore – A Forest, Darkly by A.G. Slatter
A scifi that takes place on a spaceship or space station – Detour by Jeff Rake & Rob Hart
Dystopian – The Verdant Cage by Jess Lourey
A scifi featuring conscious technology – Nobody’s Baby by Olivia Waite
Check out Shelleyrae’s post here if you’d like to join too:-D
5. This Challenge Killed the Bookworm:
I also forgot about this challenge, so it’s early days still, lol. But I do like the prompts, and I’m certain I can fill most of them in by the end of the year. Here’s my progress:
Scaled creatures –
Dark Academia –
Faeries are Bad –
Faeries are Good –
Artificial Stupidity Intelligence –
Set Far Far Away –
A Book by T. Kingfisher – Wolf Worm
Pretty Cover – The Geomagician by Jennifer Mandula
Creepy Cover –
Space Travel – Detour by Jeff Rake & Rob Hart
Cozy Fantasy –
Such a Fungi
There’s probably a deity involved somehow –
A Fun Book –
“Weather” –
Witchcraft
Retail Therapy –
Working in Stem –
The End of the World – We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune
Bookish – The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer
Bargain –
It’s a Mystery – A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James
Paranormal Romance –
Beware of the Woods – A Forest, Darkly by A.G. Slatter
Water Works –
Check out the kick-off post here if you’d like to participate too:-D
Read my Purchased Books/Past Due ARCs:
Soooo…yeah. I have only read two purchased books this year so far. But I do have plans to read a few more, so I haven’t given up on this challenge yet!
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