Have you read something that you really enjoyed and want to give others a reason to try it out because it fits a square? Want to solicit help finding things to read that fit squares? This is a great place to do that.
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Questions, Complaints, Whines, General Commentary, Shitposting…
I’ve just seen the Storygraph challenge - that makes it easier to keep track, thanks! However I noticed that the announcement and card link are the ones from 2024 so you’re aware :)
Thanks! I knew I was missing some update somewhere. Should be fixed now.
Just like last year, we’ve pre-seeded the Storygraph challenge with ~500 (mostly fiction) books from various genres, if you’re looking for ideas (no account required to browse!).
ETA: The returning categories have different book suggestions from last year, so for even more ideas for those squares, check last year’s Storygraph, too.
Why don’t I own more books?!
Because you haven’t fully embraced your book-dragonhood? Build that hoard! :)
1B Author from a Different Continent: The author(s) resides on a different continent than you do. HARD MODE: The work required translation to be published in your native language.
Marshland by Otohiko Kaga
Suggestion: Dante Alighieri - The Divine Comedy
My card: Kobo Abe - The Woman in the Dunes
1C Featured Creature: A sentient non-humanoid is the primary PoV, or a non-humanoid creature holds such a prominent role that the work would be completely different without them. Examples: Call of the Wild by Jack London or Old Yeller by Fred Gipson. HARD MODE: Not a sci-fi/fantasy creature.
Suggestion: Richard Adams - Watership Down; Richard Adams - The Plague Dogs; Kenneth Grahame - The Wind in the Willows
My card: Richard Adams - Shardik
Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton was a fun take on an apocalypse book, from the perspective of the animals that are left behind. So my plan is to slot the sequel Feral Creatures in here.
4E Gamble, Game, or Contest: Features an organized gamble, game, or contest (life-and-death or otherwise). HARD MODE: Take a gamble on a style or genre of work you don’t typically read, as well.
Suggestion: Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games; Clive Barker - The Damnation Game
My card: Agatha Christie - The Sittaford Mystery
5A Steppin’ Up!: Challenges can come at you quickly, especially for those least prepared. Whether it’s a major leadership position or suddenly being gifted a baby dragon, life is about to get a whole lot harder and more complicated. HARD MODE: The primary PoV does not assume the throne of a monarchy/empire.
Suggestion: Christopher Paolini - Eragon
My card: Alexandra Bracken - Brightly Woven
5D Cozy Read: Cozies generally feature a smaller cast of characters in a smaller location, emphasize community, highlight successes and inspirational moments, and have a more optimistic and upbeat tone. Above all, they have to have a satisfyingly happy ending. They offer comfort to their readers and a safe escape from the realities of daily life. HARD MODE: There is no hard mode, hard mode defeats the purpose of the cozy task.
Suggestions: Becky Chambers (I think all of her books qualify) - Monk & Robot; Diana Wynne Jones - Howl’s Moving Castle
My card: Heather Fawcett - Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
3D LGBTQIA+ Lead: A main character identifies as LGBTQIA+. HARD MODE: Includes a significant romantic relationship between characters that identify as LGBTQIA+.
Suggestion: any LGBTQIA+ romance, such as TJ Klune - Under the Whispering Door (or pretty much any other book by this author)
My card: TJ Klune - Wolfsong
2E Banned Book: Read a work from the ALA’s (American Library Association’s) list of the top 100 banned books in the US 2010-2019. If you are a non-American and there is a similar list for your region, that is also a valid source for comparable information. Additionally, you can use the content from the Wikipedia post on banned books. HARD MODE: One of the top 50 (or equivalent).
2A Independent Author: Read a work self-published by the author. Any work later published though a conventional publishing house doesn’t count unless you are reading it before the switch, and its rerelease date is after April 30th, 2026. HARD MODE: Not published via Amazon Kindle Direct.
My card: Michelle West - Wild Road (est. releasing this month to Patreon backers)
5E Jerk with a Heart of Gold: A significant figure may be rude, gruff, or even insufferable; however, beneath all that, a surprising kindness shows in the right moments. Maybe they are bad at the whole feelings thing, are doing it to hide a deep pain or maintain a position of responsibility, or maybe it’s just all a façade, but their actions ultimately reveal a core of genuine caring. HARD MODE: Not A Man Called Ove/Otto.
Any books in the Slough House series by Mick Herron (the jerk being Jackson Lamb).
Suggestion: Margaret Owen - Little Thieves
My card (I struggled to find something for this square that wasn’t romance, then gave up. I plan to try a couple of books, then the other recommendation here if I make it to this square and don’t have any luck…): Marina Dyachenko, Sergey Dyachenko - Vita Nostra; Grace Draven - Entreat Me
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Scholomance series by Naomi Novik and I have the last one yet to read. The main character definitely qualifies for this.
It’s in the budding wizard goes to wizard school type genre, but is in a world where those budding wizards are exceptionally vulnerable to evil magical creatures that would like to consume them, and as such, the school is incredibly harsh and many don’t make it out Prior to the events of the trilogy.
2D Short and Sweet: Read a individual piece of work under 170 pages or 40,000 words. HARD MODE: Read a collection of this type of short work.
1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England, Comprising All the Parts You Can Remember, Including 103 Good Things, 5 Bad Kings and 2 Genuine Dates – Sellar, Yeatman, and Reynolds.
Worth all of its 116 pages. (Also valid for 1A, but I have other plans for that square.)
Suggestion: any anthology, especially any edited by Ellen Datlow (books span multiple genres)
My card: Ellen Datlow, ed. - Mad Hatters and March Hares
2C Orange Crush: The title, a prominent element of the cover, or the narrative involves some form of orange (color, word, or fruit). HARD MODE: The work you chose uses multiple types of orange features.
The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz
I looked at this book before, what did you think of it? My brother in law makes wine, and I’ve considered doing it, but I’m more interested in fermentation for foods.
I’m not an expert but I think it’s a very good book for fermentation. It has a lot of information and knowledge.
I would not have considered fermenting acorns. Time to run out and buy a new book…
I’m glad I could help!
Suggestion: Samantha Shannon - The Priory of the Orange Tree; Anthony Burgess - A Clockwork Orange
My card: Jostein Gaarder - The Orange Girl
1D Minority Author: The author is a member of a generally underrepresented or marginalized demographic where you live, such as LGBTQIA+ or BIPOC. HARD MODE: Belongs to more than one minority group.
Suggestion: anything by Samuel R. Delany
My card: Samuel R. Delany - Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand
2B Set in War: The work takes place with an active war in the foreground or background. The characters do not need to be directly involved in combat, but the war’s presence must be a primary driver of the narrative. HARD MODE: There are more than 2 factions in the war.
Suggestion: Joe Haldeman - The Forever War
My card: Poul Anderson - The High Crusade
5C Late to the Party: Apparently this is a really popular work, you just haven’t gotten around to it yet. Read a book that you have seen recommended over and over. HARD MODE: Not Harry Potter.
My card: Robert Jordan - The Eye of the World
East of Eden by John Steinbeck