As a Halloween present, I give to you the 2014 Paranormal Challenge. Feel free to start organizing books but only titles finished after 1/1/14 should be included. All books can be from any of these genres (unless specified to be certain ones per category): (UF, YA, mystery, paranormal romance, erotica, graphic novels & mangas are OK too).

Here is our Reading Challenge for 2014. Challenge starts Jan 1, 2014.

• Read one in a category bronze medal for that category
• Read two in a category silver medal for that category
• Read three in a category gold medal for that category
• Read four in a category for diamond status for that category
• Read five in a category for platinum status for that category

Complete 15 of 20 of the categories to become a champion. Some categories are carry overs from last year

1. Can't Wait for those New Releases - Read 1-5  new 2014 releases of any paranormal book.
2. Flesh & Blood - Read 1-5 paranormal books that feature either Zombies or Vampires.
3. Third Time's the Charm - Read 1-5 books that are part of a Trilogy, are book 3 in a series, or have the Number 3 in the title.
4. That Old Black Magic - Read 1-5 paranormal books that has a main character that uses magic in some form IE witches, warlocks etc.
5. Once Upon a Time - Read a paranormal book that has fae, elves, goblins or fairy characters or is a fairy tale retelling or other novel reimagining with paranormal elements (IE Cinder, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, Fables graphic novels, etc).
6. Interspecies Love - Read 1-5 paranormal books that has a couple that are different species (human + vamp, shifter + vamp and so on).
7. Days of Yesteryear - Read 1-5 books that were either published or take place before 2004. Steampunk and paranormal alternate history or historicals OK too!
8. Beefcake - Read 1-5 Books that has a male author, a male lead character or Fabio-esque 6 pack god gracing the cover.
9. The Kids are Alright - Read 1-5 Books that are Young Adult or have predominant characters that are a child/teen.
10. Monster Mash - Read 1-5 books that have a monster in the title (vampire, zombie, werwolf, etc).
11. Hungry Like the Wolf - Read 1-5 books that have a werewolf main character.
12. Not in Kansas Anymore - Read 1-5 that take place in real cities that are now different (EX: Chicagoland Vampire Series, St Louis from the Anita Blake books).
13. You're the One that I Haunt - Read 1-5 books that have ghosts, haunted buildings, or psychics & mediums in them. Non-fiction involving those topics is OK too for this category only.
14. You’re Number One - Read 1-5 first books in a series or that contain the #1 in the title.
15. Pleased to Meet You, Hope You Guessed My Name - Read 1-5 books by authors you haven't read before or that share your name (first, middle or last).
16. Paranormal Law & Order- Read 1-5 first books where the main character is in some form of law enforcement or crime detection (cops, crime scene, detectives, private investigators, etc).
17. DIY - Have a great idea that didn't make the list? Create your own category here.

Bonus categories

1. Read 10 books from your TBR Pile
2. Read 5 books to post to FIFO or directly to a friend
3. Read 5 books with a 50 WL or Higher

If you have any questions about if a book fits, feel free to either message me or post here to the topic and we can all help each other out!

Icons, but feel free to create your own if you don't like any of these...

Feel free to use any of these. If no one likes them, I can work on some more next week.

Great categories, looking forward to filling in the lists :)

Great categories Melissa!!    Also if u have time could you make a vamp/wolf/angel icon? Any of those listed would be awesome, the ones u made are scary girl hahaha!!! Again only if U want to, not necessary at all. :)

3 new icons for everyone to choose from, including a yummy male specimen for those that like to read the steamy steamy

Eeeekkk!! Thanks!

Hahaha. Thank you for the one JUST for me!!! (ok ok I'll share)

I have to admit I was a little afraid of the scary ones.

Sorry Jamie! I tend to lean more toward the creepy end of the ooky spooky. Just worked up 3 more that are a bit more tame involving angels and fairies.

Melissa - this looks great!  Thanks for doing it.

Melissa sound good I am up for the challenge this year.  I usually read Para Rom/Vamp/etc so I will look forward to reading somethings that I usually wouldn't pick up.  I joined the mystery challenge last year since that is my alternate reading.  So this coming year will do both and see where that takes me.  Thanks for the great catagories.

Well I pulled quite a few out of my TBR pile to fit the next year challenge and I am amazed how many books I had.  Thanks for giving me a way to organize my TBR pile.  About the only catagory open is filled with my wishlist books coming out next year.  Thanks. 

YAY! So glad the categories are going to work well for you Susan. I am right there with you, this challenge has really helped me make a dent in my TBR in the last few years I've been doing it. Left to my own devices, I tend to stare at the stacks and get overwhelmed having no idea what to tackle next so having the categories definitely helps.

I know what you mean, it's easier for me to read what comes in the door than sit down and decide which of the many sitting in the TBR pile I want to read.  Sometimes I pick a book I know I won't like, so I can try it and get rid of it.  That doesn't always work as I have found some real keeper jewels in those off beat reads.  I really don't have a system to pull them out of the TBR.  The challenge will help get them to the front, then there is  is enough diversity that I can still pick and choose when to read them.  Now I just have to keep my hands off them until Jan.  I still have a pile to keep me entertained until then.

Now I just have to keep my hands off them until Jan.

That's why I haven't tried to fill in the list. It's way too early for me to start since I'll probably read another 20-25 books before Jan 1st.

YAY! More people are adding lists!

Susan, you may need to shift The Grimrose Path (Trickster, Bk 2)Author: Rob Thurman to another section from Beefcake as Rob Thurman is a chick. Maybe the "Not in Kansas Anymore" section as it looks like it takes place in Vegas. Everything else looks great (except I had to add some of your yummies to my WL and reminder list, while this is great for purging my books, I end up adding more based on what others read).Your DIY is definitely on the radar for the 2015 challenge as I've already got notes for categories and one being kind of an X-Files theme.

Thanks for doing this! I really need to work on Mt. TBR.

Can a book count for 2 categories? For example, I have a book with Monster in the title, and a new to me author.

Les,

It's really up to you if you want to use a book for more than 1 category. I tend not to, but I know some others do use the same book more than once.

Thanks Melissa I will move Rob Thurman I haven't read any of hers before and just assumed.

Melanie I filled the list and still have tons to read between now and the new year...I guess I am a hoarder.  If I get them all read I sure will cut into my TBR pile and I am trying to cut down on just grabbing books, but hey Library sales and book store tent sales and I am in trouble again. 

No worries Susan! I thought the same thing until my friend that sells books had her do a signing at her booth during DragonCon one year.

Susan I think there are many of us in the same boat. When I started reading a few years ago, I spent hundreds (ok, ok, probably more) at Half Price Books and then at library sales. Now I pick and choose a little more carefully but I still have more than I can read in a lifetime.

For those that might need some help for the Interspecies Love category, this little piece of awesome is cheap right now. Eve Langlais is probably one of my favorite authors (as you can tell by looking at my reading lists).

Furry United Coalition Bundle by Eve Langlais is just $0.99 through December 14th. This collects the first 3 of the FUC books, Bunny & the Bear, Swan & the Bear and The Croc & the Fox.

These are steamy erotica paranormals with a wicked sense of humor.

Just checking in. Put my list up. So glad more books added to list. I finished challege in May this year. Can't wait to start!

Thanks Melissa!

Thanks Melissa I had Bunny & the Bear on my reminder list + 1.25 left of a kindle gift card so that worked out pretty good.  Though I'm probably going to use my remaining Elder Races for those slots too!  Does that count as 1 books or 3?

I've read the first 2 in that bundle but even at .99 for one it's a great deal. I love her books. The bunny book cracked me up.