Every year, I approach my reading challenge with equal parts ambition and realism. Some books are carefully planned; others show up unexpectedly and end up checking off multiple prompts at once. This year was no exception. As I look back at my 2025 reading challenge so far, I’m pleasantly surprised by how much ground I covered—and how flexible this challenge allowed me to be.
Here’s a breakdown of where I landed.
🏛️ Ancient Worlds, Retellings, and Folklore
One book managed to do a lot of heavy lifting here:
- Set in ancient times
- Retelling
- Set in a different country/continent (or world)
- Includes folklore and legends
A beautifully written retelling that immerses you in myth while still feeling deeply human. This one checked multiple boxes effortlessly.
🤖 Robots & AI
- Includes robots or AI
A futuristic, fast-paced read that brought speculative tech and human potential together in an engaging way.
🏴☠️ Pirates—and Then Some
This entry deserves special recognition for its range:
- Involves pirates
- Set in ancient times
- Retelling
- Set in a different country/continent (or world)
- Includes folklore and legends
- Set in more than one time period
👉 The Pirate Queen Trilogy, Books 1–3 by Jennifer Rose McMahon
Swashbuckling, layered, and surprisingly expansive, this trilogy covered more prompts than I initially expected.
🦠 Plague or Virus
- Plague or virus
👉 The Defectors by Tarah Benner
Timely and unsettling, this read explored societal fracture through the lens of illness and survival.
📘 Non-Fiction (An Experience, Not Just an Interest)
- Non-fiction about an interest (or, in this case, an experience)
Not an easy read emotionally, but an important and compassionate one.
👻 Ghostly Reads
- Includes a ghost
👉 Arcane Souls World: Grave Talker (Complete Series) by Annie Anderson
A paranormal series that delivered atmosphere, heart, and just enough humor.
📖 A Classic (and a Banned Book)
- A classic novel / A banned book
👉 The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
https://ceflores.com/2025/10/09/the-great-gatsby-by-f-scott-fitzgerald/
❄️ Polar Settings
- Set in the Arctic/Antarctic
A reflective, metaphor-rich read that leaned into emotional landscapes as much as physical ones.
Still Open Prompts
These are the categories I still have room to explore:
- An animal protagonist
- Set in a favorite season
- About Black history
- Book on my shelf (carry over from 2024)
- Hardcover book (carry over from 2024)
And that’s okay. A reading challenge isn’t about perfection—it’s about direction.
Final Thoughts
So, how did I do?
Honestly? Pretty well. I stretched across genres, formats, and emotional registers. I revisited classics, took risks on new voices, and allowed some books to pull double (or triple) duty. There’s still room to grow, but that’s part of the fun.
📚 Want to take a look at my previous reading challenge roundups?
C.E. Flores 