Reading Challenge
If you’re looking for a bit more structure for your Sirens reading, or you simply love a challenge, you’re in the right place. Each year, our staff reads a wide selection of fantasy works written by women, some within our theme and some more broadly. This year, we invite you to take our challenge!

To take the challenge, simply read 25 books, in accordance with the rules below, by October 1, 2017. Once you’ve finished, send an email to (help at sirensconference.org) with Reading List Challenge as the subject line, and let us know that you’ve finished the challenge and the books that you read to do so. We’ll give all timely finishers a special button at Sirens, suitable for gloating. Game on.

If you’re looking for a little support, we invite you to visit the Sirens Goodreads group, where, in 2017, Sirens communications director Faye Bi will read and discuss books on her way to—maybe—finishing the challenge.

To purchase these books, please consider using the links below, which will take you to the website of the Tattered Cover, Denver’s renowned independent bookstore. If you use those links and then purchase books or other items, Sirens will receive a referral fee from the Tattered Cover.


Sirens 2017 Reading Challenge

In each required category, you must read—or have previously read—each work listed. In each category of selections, you must select books by authors who are new to you. If you cannot reach the required number of selections without selecting authors you have already read, you may select works you haven’t read by authors you have read before. If you cannot reach the required number of selections without selecting books you’ve read, bravo, and please read as many new-to-you books as you can to complete the challenge.


Guests of Honor: Required

Zoraida Córdova

N. K. Jemisin

Victoria Schwab



Required Theme

Charlie Jane Anders

Franny Billingsley

Zen Cho

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Marika McCoola & Emily Carroll

Anna-Marie McLemore

Jewell Parker Rhodes



Additional Theme Books: Select Five

Leigh Bardugo

Emily Croy Barker

Kelly Barnhill

Erin Bow

Jessica Cluess

Susan Dennard

Laure Eve

Emily Foster

Laura Anne Gilman

Andrea Hairston

Alice Hoffman

Emma Jane Holloway

Nalo Hopkinson

Jessica Khoury

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Erin Morgenstern

Nnedi Okorafor

Evelyn Skye

Caroline Stevermer & Patricia Wrede

Tiphanie Yanique



Middle Grade/Young Adult: Select Five

Kathi Appelt & Alison McGhee

Kendare Blake

Leah Bobet

Traci Chee

Cinda Williams Chima

Julia Ember

Frances Hardinge

E. K. Johnston

C. B. Lee

Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda



Adult: Select Five

Mishell Baker

Lila Bowen

Lisa M. Bradley
The Haunted Girl

Jordanna Max Brodsky

Jayde Brooks

Ana Castillo

Marilyn Chin

Genevieve Cogman

Kelly DeConnick & Emma Ríos

Sarah Beth Durst