This reading challenge is simple enough: pick an indie book that has a number in the title. And as per usual, I have a list with some great fantasy/sci-fi book suggestions.
As always, if you want to know more about the challenge, check it out here. You can also find the previous challenges with book suggestions on that page. For instance, check out the diverse protagonist challenge with some great LGBTQ suggestions!
How to participate
Participate in the reading challenge any way you want to. It’d be great if you left a comment to let me know your thoughts on the book you read, but you can also follow along silently if you prefer.
A Number’s Game – Books with a number in the title
Quite an arbitrary challenge, but it challenges to pick a book in a different kind of way. You don’t just have to look at the description of the story and if it appeals to you, but you also have to look at the title. In this case, the book needs to have a number in the title. This might lead to you picking a different kind of book than you would otherwise.
The Eleventh Age – Luthien T. Kennedy
Genre: Epic Adventure Fantasy
She never believed in magic until the spells putting her under her father’s protection came undone. Suddenly she remembers elves, wizards, and fairies; the stench of a battle this lingering in her nostrils sixteen years later. Her whole life, Elli Foote had lived a lie. But now she has to run, or Roviello Tofal will kill her, for what was born into this world with her. This is the Eleventh Age, where everything must change for Hope Lives.
The 19th Bladesman – S. J. Hartland
Genre: Epic Adventure Fantasy
A swordsman bonded to the ancient Gods dies young. And kills. But Kaell wants more—more of Val Arques’ attention and approval, the man who trained him to survive in the war against the inhuman followers of an invincible lord.
Val Arques is a formidable bladesman who’s entrusted with Kaell’s life and the truth that will destroy him. He’s banished to a grim outpost and cannot afford to care about Kaell since love means loss. And he has a shameful secret.
But when a vengeful God escapes his ancient prison, Kaell is drawn into his web of deception, and even Val can’t protect him from the dark prophecy that awaits him. You can’t flee fate unless you want to do the unthinkable.
A-S2: A Clockmaker’s Journey – R. A. Cabral
Genre: Magical Realism
It’s Christmas Eve 1700, and British clockmaker Clarence suffers an accidental drowning in the River Avon. In the Spirit World, he’s given the option of guardian-angel-in-training (GAIT) or become a cloud overlooking the English Channel. He picks the GAIT but leaves after two underwhelming missions and ventures to Marseille’s coast with his partner Sharah. They join up with the Vulkhans, a band of angels in human form led by Phosphorus (“The Shining One”). He encourages Clarence to pursue his passion and gives him the resources to create the world’s finest clocks. But the clocks quickly become integral to Vulkhan’s plans for creating a One World Order, where the clocks are marketed under the brand ‘Lucifer Lux.’ Clarence escapes the fallen angels and returns to the Spirit World for his first assignment back at GAIT to assist Bedford Falls’ suicidal resident George Bailey.
In Lost Dreams the Four Were Bound – Bradley R. Blankenship
Genre: Dark Fantasy
A tribe of elvish Hyunisti talvuo has been in isolation for over three hundred years, deep within the giant trees and briar trials of the Lorinian Witchwood. Within their village, four outsiders’ burdens lead to a chain of catastrophes that they watch from afar. The chains weigh on them, each a strand of past friendship, starcrossed love, resentment, and tragedy. In the meantime, the rites of spring herald are coming in four days, and suspense in the village is high. But beneath it all, an abominable evil stirs with the promise of freedom luring the villagers. It threatens to devour all it touches.
The Wise One (The Scottish Scrolls Book 1) – K. T. Anglehart
Genre: YA Fairytales & Folklore
A vivid dream of burning at the stake awakens the dormant abilities of Mckenna. It thrusts her into a world where faeries are real, spirits hold a grudge, and a High Priestess who’s obsessed with a 16th-century prophecy tracks her every move. Now, Seán and Andre, her dads, have to tell her the truth about her birth mother—a mystic. And she, Mckenna, is a Wise One. With a small company, Mckenna travels to Ireland to find her mother and get her answers.
Challenge discussion questions
Those were my suggestions for a book with a number in the title. Let me know in the comments which book you picked and what your thoughts were!
Here some example questions you could use to share your experience:
What book did you read for this challenge?
Why did you choose this one?
What are your thoughts on the book you read? Did you like the characters? What about the story and the setting?
Would you recommend the book?
Do you think you would read other books by this author?
