Lumos!
Hello all! For the month of April, I will be participating in the O.W.L.s Magical Readathon, from April 1-30! I’ve been looking for a readathon to join in with, since that’s one of my goals for 2019, and this one looks right up my alley!
The readathon is hosted by Book Roast on Youtube, and you can get all the details in this video. Essentially, the goal is to read books based on certain prompts to earn O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels, the standardized tests in the Harry Potter universe). The prompts are all here.
Another component of the readathon is choosing a wizarding career based on the O.W.L.s you earn, which are listed out here. This booklet is so amazing and in depth, I’m a little in awe!
Picking my magical career was difficult, since there were so many cool options and I kind of want to do them all. Finally, I decided that I wanted to become a librarian. In the words of a certain Draco Malfoy, I’ll have the greatest wizard career…
The career description says that I’d get to hunt down old missing tomes, so it’s kind of like a book treasure hunter??? Indiana Jones for books???? Yes please! I’d also get to work in the Department of Mysteries and hopefully take over the Hogwarts Library from Madame Pince, who is terrible! I can’t wait!
To pursue this career, I have to pass five O.W.L.s: Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and Transfiguration.
My TBR
Ancient Runes 📜 retelling
Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal
This retelling of Pride & Prejudice is set in modern-day Pakistan! The character are Alys Binat and Mr. Darsee – basically, this is recipe for success and I can’t wait to read it.
Arithmancy 💯 work written by more than one author
The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars by Michael Dante DiMartino, illustrated by Irene Koh
Maybe this is cheating a liiiittle bit, since it’s not technically written by two authors, but is written and illustrated by different people. But still, the illustrations are part of the story, so I’m counting it! These comics are set right after the end of The Legend of Korra.
Defense Against the Dark Arts ⚫️ Reducto: a title that starts with “R”
Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins
Once again, this is maybe stretching the rules a bit, since the second word starts with R. But I didn’t have anything else for this category and I really want to read this ARC before it comes out in May! This follows an American girl who goes to a boarding school in Scotland and ends up being roommates with the princess. NICE.
History of Magic 📚 published at least 10 years ago
Sabriel by Garth Nix
This was, in fact, published over twenty years ago, so I’m gonna say that makes up for my stretches in the last two prompts. 😉 This is a classic fantasy book and honestly I don’t know that much about it, but I’m excited to find out!
Transfiguration 🚩 sprayed edges or red cover
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Since I don’t have any books with sprayed edges that I want to read, I’m going with the red cover prompt. This is a book that I’ve been wanting to read for a while, since Maggie Stiefvater is one of my favorite authors, so hopefully April will be the month to do it!
In order to earn an Outstanding on my O.W.L.s, however, I need to complete nine exams (prompts). Because I am a Ravenclaw and an overachiever, I’m adding on four more prompts for myself to complete!
Charms ✨ age line: read an adult book
Circe by Madeline Miller
I guess this could also count for the retelling category, since this is a retelling of Circe’s story from The Odyssey. I was on hold for this book at the library for literal months, but I finally have it now!
Muggle Studies 💻 contemporary
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
It seems like everyone except for me has already read this book, so I’m excited to jump on the bandwagon! This book follows Bri, who wants to be a rap legend, and I’ve heard so many amazing things about it.
Potions 🍵 next ingredient: a sequel
Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
I’ll finally be continuing with the Mistborn Alloy Era series! I read The Alloy of Law almost a year and a half ago, so it’s about time. Why does this cover have to be so ugly though??
Herbology 🌿 plant on the cover
Bloom by Kevin Panetta
Look, there’s a little leafy dude on that cover! This is a graphic novel about baking and bands and first love, and it sounds so adorable.
Are you participating in this readathon? What books do you hope to read in April?
x Margaret
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Weird Zeal 
This gradation sounds so fun and I wish I had the time to take part. I hope you have fun and enjoy all of these 😀💜💜
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Thanks so much! It does look fun, and that’s too bad you won’t be able to join in… There’s always next year! 😀
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You’re welcome and hopefully 😀💜💜
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This sounds so fun! What a cool readathon. Great tbr, I can’t wait to see your thoughts on all of these books.
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Thanks so much! I’m excited to find out my thoughts on them too 😉
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This sounds like so much fun! I hope you love The Scorpio Races—it’s probably one of my top three favorite Stiefvater books!
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Ooh that’s great to hear! I’m super excited for that one, since she’s one of my fave authors and I’m a little ashamed that I still haven’t read it!
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Omg I always wanted to take OWLs instead of my own exams, sigh. 😂 THIS IS SUCH A COOL READATHON!! I love your choices for the prompts! I’ve been meaning to read Circe, I’ve heard so many good things! Also, I’ve never heard of Unmarriageable before but it totally sounds like it’ll be right up my (Diagon? 😂) alley, I hope you enjoy it. 😊 On the Come Up is so good!! I can’t wait for you to read it. 💕
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Thanks!! I would so much rather take the OWLs than my own exams 😂 I’ve heard so much about Circe too – hopefully it’ll live up to all the hype! And I just heard about Unmarriageable recently and can’t wait 😄
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So excited to see that you’re participating in the Readathon as well 💕 I had such a hard time chossing a career, librarian sounded super cool, especially the part about hunting down lost tomes 😍 In the end I settled on being a Magizoologist though! Good luck with your TBR 😊
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Thanks so much! Magizoologist does sound like a really cool job, especially since you’d probably get to work with Newt Scamander 😱 But magical librarian seems just perfect for me 😄 Good luck with your reading as well!!
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Yes please, Indiana Jones for books is exactly what I would like to be when I get a job! 😂
This is such a great readathon, and I would love to partipate, but lately I’ve only been able to read about one book per month! 😦
But I’m glad you’re doing it, and I can’t wait to see what you think about these books! (Also, I have not read On The Come Up OR The Hate U Give, so you’re not alone! 🙈)
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Indiana Jones for books basically sounds like the ideal job description 😂 Thanks so much! Based on what I’ve heard about On the Come Up, it’s just as good as THUG – which you should definitely read!!
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I’m a Ravenclaw too 🙂 I’m also participating in this readathon and really looking forward to it! I hope you enjoy all the books you read 🙂
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Yay good luck with your reading as well, fellow Ravenclaw! 😀
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Thank you! 🙂
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Good Luck on your O.W.L.S !!!! This sounds awesome 🙂 And I am a Ravenclaw too ❤
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Thanks!! Hooray fellow Ravenclaw! 😄💙
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You have so many exciting books on your TBR! Unmarriageable and Her Royal Highness sound like such fun and lovely reads. I look forward to hearing what you think of them 😊
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Thank you!! I’m looking forward to reading them! 😄
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Fab picks! I didn’t know Legend of Korra had a graphic novel (I knew about the ATLA ones), so I’m definitely checking that out for myself. I also have yet to continue with the Alloy era (lmao yes, the US covers are hideous imo), so it’s kinda funny we stopped at the same point in the series. 😛 Oh, and I hope you enjoy Circe! Madeline Miller has very pretty prose, so I think that’s something you can look forward to. 😉
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I’ve heard that the Legend of Korra comics are great so I’m excited to read them! And yep lol it’s been so long since I read the first book in the alloy era series 😅 oops! I also can’t wait to read Circe!! Thanks so much! ☺️
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Haha same, I might have to re-read the first book in the Alloy series! (And perhaps even the Mistborn for those Easter eggs…oof, I wish I hadn’t put these books off for so long lol.)
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