Here we are everyone! NEWTs List, and it has been a long time in the running, let me tell you. As a note about this extensive list, I think I may be adding a “I might read this too list” later on in the month depending on my reading speed for these. Also, I’m cheating. That’s right. I’m going to say it. I’m cheating for this bookathon. I’ll explain in a moment…
For those of you wondering just what NEWTs are. NEWTs are a 7th year test that Hogwarts (Harry Potter) students take to be able to get into chosen careers. They also happen to be the subject of a wonderful bookathon. You can go here for information on the bookathon. Here for the prompt list. And here for the careers. Essentially how this works, is you pick a career you want, and in each career you will have to score a letter on the category to have “passed.” You score by reading a book that matches the prompt for the letter. So if I need to get an O in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Then I need to read the O prompt. HOWEVER, you can not read just the O to get an O. You must read the two lower as well. (Aka, to get an O, you have to read E and A. For E you must also read A. It’s a staircase and you can’t miss steps).
My goals you can check out here. But to paraphrase, I am aiming for Auror, (And maybe Hogwarts Professor all at once). I am adding two other classes to this list that are not required. Also, I’m going for all Os. Meaning.
Total count: 21 books to read.
So how am I cheating, you may be asking? In theory I would have read one book in order to get to the next (A to get to E to get to O), however I am reading series from my TBR, meaning in some places a sequel could be listed lower (A or E) to the book before (E or O). As such I’m just going to aim to read all the books, and if I don’t get through all the levels then I’ll only count myself for the next highest grade below what I have completed. (AKA if I read O and A, but not E. I’ll only count it as passing with an A).
Are you ready for the book list? I hope you are!
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Requirements
O: Cornish pixie! Swat it away with a book by an English Author or set in England
E: Gilderoy’s Memory Charm – first book your remembered right now from your TBR
A: Read a book that’s black under the dust jacket
Books Chosen for the Exams
O: Shadowblack by Sebastien De Castell*
E: The Shadowed Sun by N.K. Jemisin **
A: The Last Namsara by Kristen Cicarelli
* Note that I bought all five books of this series and this is book two. Yes, I am aiming to read all 5 books this month, it’s a goal. No one ever said I was smart. However, most of you will know I can’t let series just sit if I have all the books.
** Okay, okay. So this wasn’t the very first book on my list that I thought of. It actually was The Last Namsara, but it was the only book in my TBR (not for July) that had a black cover, so I swapped it with the next one I thought of. And! Since technically I was supposed to pick A before E, it works.
Potions
Requirements
O: Book that starts with a Prologue
E: House ingredient: read a book with a cover in your house color
A: Polyjuice potion: read your friend’s favorite book
Books Chosen for the Exams
O: A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire*
E: Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire
A: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
* It has a part from Wicked, reprinted inside, as a prologue/preface for the book. It counts. And I just don’t want to start anymore series.
Charms
Requirements
O: Spongify (softening charm) – read a paperback book
E: Read a comic/graphic novel/manga (or book under 150pgs)
A: Read a book that you think has a gorgeous cover
Books Chosen for the Exams
O: Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire *
E: Peach Fuzz by Lindsay Cibos and Jared Hodges
A: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne **
* Note how it’s the second book in the series and an O. This is what I mean by I am going to be cheating.
** Gorgeous cover, well trust me on this. If the spine is any indication of how beautiful the main hard cover book is.
Herbology
Requirements
O: A book with a flower on the cover
E: Read a book between 350-390pgs
A: Mandrake! Quick put headphones on! Listen to an audiobook (or a green book)
Books Chosen for the Exams
O: Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
E: Spindle by E.K. Johnston
A: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid *
* Wish me luck with an audiobook. I’m going to need it. Also this is not pictured because it’s an audiobook.
Transfiguration
Requirements
O: McGonagall does not mess around. Read a book over 500pgs
E: Read a book that’s not first in the series
A: Read a book with LGBTQA+ representation
Books Chosen for the Exams
O: The Keepers by Rick Friar
E: Peach Fuzz 2 by Lindsay Cibos and Jared Hodges
A: Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd *
* At the time of me posting this, I still have not gotten the copy I ordered. Worse comes to worse, I’ll borrow it from my best friend. He’s been wanting me to reread it for a while anyway.
Astronomy
Requirements
O: Read a Sci-fi book (or book with stars on the cover)
E: Word “Night” in book title or series name
A: Moon on the cover or anywhere in the title
Books Chosen for the Exams
O: Tribulation by Rick Friar
E: A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston
A: The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin
Divination
Requirements
O: Read the last book you bought/took from your library
E: Read a short story or a collection of short stories
A: Read a white book
Books Chosen for the Exams
O: Spellslinger by Sebastien De Castell *
E: Unfinished Tales by J.R.R. Tolkien
A: Wicked by Gregory Maguire **
* This is the book everyone can read that can cover for any topic. So, it’s not the most recent bought, or library pull.
** Try two, lets go. I once got about half way through the book before I accidentally DNFed it. Time to get through it again! Also, my poor book is badly water damaged (I got it second hand), so it’s not completely white.
So now that you know which books I’m reading. Lets talk reading order. My goal is: shorter books first, as well as rereads. I’ll be reading Evelyn Hugo while sewing, so that takes it out for most things. (Probably, maybe, also while I’m driving places too.) So the order is going to be Peach Fuzz novels and Lord of the Flies first (Vast Fields would be here, but I haven’t gotten it yet). Next, gonna do those stand alones. (20,000 Leagues, Boy, Snow, Bird, Unfinished Tales, The Last Namsara) Then I’ll do the duologies for N.K. Jemisin and E.K. Johnston. After that, gonna hit up the Sebastien De Castell novels, mostly because based on length I don’t think they’ll take me long.
Here we come to the difficult place. I’ll read the four Gregory Maguire and then the two Rick Friar. The Keepers is going to drive me nuts because there is no third book. Also do you see the size of those things? It’s going to take me a while to read them. Like an actual while. Not like me finishing A Feast For Crows while either. This is an actual while. HA. Bring it.
What happens if I don’t complete? Nothing but the bitter disappointment in myself.
If I complete it? Well, the Golden Trio Challenge will essentially be completed. The Fantasy and Sci-fi book challenge, I’m not sure yet. Defining YA as Fantasy or Sci-fi is a little rough in some cases. In any other case, September will be Series Complete September. I’m going to finish my reread lists, and my other series to complete in that month that are all on my TBR or TBrR.
Book box post coming soon. As soon as I get the box that is. Something happened in shipment and my box was lost so Fairyloot is resending the ones they lost. No, that book will not be added to August. This is already a horror show of a month (UNLESS it really calls to me). Otherwise, I have nothing else to say…
OH, JK. I do. Book reviews. What can you expect a review of? Honestly, everything is subject to one, almost certainly, but the rereads. Yes. I may do one for 20,000 Leagues and Unfinished Tales. Knowing me, that chance is real low tho. Just saying.
Until next time,
MM
Marlena Marie 
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