Wrap-up post: What an Animal Reading Challenge VII 2014

When I signed up for the What an Animal Challenge, hosted by Socrates´ Book Reviews, I didn´t want to get too ambitious. There were three levels - up to 6 books, between 7 and 12, and more than 13. I figured I´d play it safe and go for level 2 - 7-12 books. As it turns out, I could easily have gone for level 3, as I´d completed my first 12 books by the 30th of May. I will obviously go for level 3 next year, when I intend to take part again (sign-up post to come).

The books had to follow these requirements:
a. there is an animal in the title of the book
b. there is an animal on the cover of the book
c. an animal plays a major part in the book
d. a main character is (or turns into) an animal (define that however you´d like).

1. The Twistrose Key by Tone Almhjell (animals play a major part)
2. The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason (title and cover of the book)
3. Haiene (The Sharks) by Jens Bjørneboe (title and cover)
4. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (title, cover, major part of the book)
5. Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop (title, main characters who turn into animals)
6. Hero by Alethea Kontis (shapeshifting creature plays a major part)
7. Turn Coat by Jim Butcher (characters turn into an animal)
8. Saga, vol 3 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (talking cat is an important character)
9. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor (half the characters are beast creatures)
10. The Kraken King by Meljean Brook (title and some of the covers)
11. Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen (cover of UK edition, animal plays a major part)
12. The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley (title, story about the bird plays a major part in the book)
13. A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson (title)
14. Vixen in Velvet by Loretta Chase (title)
15. Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis (cover)
16. It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (cover, animal plays major part in the book)
17. Spider´s Bite by Jennifer Estep (title)
18. Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews (cover, main characters who turn into animals)
19. Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie (animal plays major part of the plot)
20. Across the Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund (animal plays a major part in the plot)
21. Hounded by Kevin Hearne (title, animal plays a major part of the plot)
22. The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire (main character turns into an animal)
23. The Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison (main characters turn into animals)
24. Wicked as They Come by Delilah S. Dawson (animals play a major part)
25. Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster (character turns into an animal)
26. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (animal plays a major part)
27. Jackaby by William Ritter (character turns into an animal)
28. Horns by Joe Hill (animals play a major part, protagonist sort of turns into an animal)
29. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (cover, animal plays a major part)
30. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (cover, animals play a major part)
31. An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon (animal plays a major part)