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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2B: 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.
Sacred and Terrible Air, by Robert Kurvitz. It details the story of four girls who got disappeared, and their classmates who never gave up hope of finding them.
Its a book from Estonia!
2A: Revisiting an Old Friend: Reread a work that holds a special place in your heart. HARD MODE: Reread it in a modified format (updated reissue, manga or graphic novel adaptation, illustrated or annotated edition, different language or translation, listen to the audiobook, etc.).
Dracula Daily starts tomorrow for a fun way to revisit Dracula
3B: We’re Putting the Band (Back) Together: A group assembles for a common purpose. HARD MODE: The group had previously drifted apart, but is now reunited.
Questions, Complaints, Whines, General Commentary, Shitposting
As always, this year’s Storygraph challenge is pre-seeded with over 400 example books from a variety of (99% fiction) genres and subjects! Each square on there has at least 10 works that qualify only for regular mode, plus 10 more that also qualify for hard mode.
Where are the suggestions? I’ve followed several links and just see the square descriptions.
Clicking on the name of a square on the Storygraph challenge page** should bring you to a page that shows every book that’s been added to that square (by me or other participants). For instance, here’s the A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words page. They do take a second to load all the way, especially when there’s a lot of books in the list. Does that help?
** clarifying edit
Hmm, maybe my app is misbehaving? When I click on the links in the top post it just sends me back here, but when I clicked the link you shared in the comment it sent me to storygraph where I could see all of the recommendations.
I can find the rest of them now by browsing from there, so that does work for me. Ty for helping me find them. I just finished my latest series so I’m floundering for what’s next!!
Hmm I think the post links may be messed up; I’ll poke Jaymes.
Glad to help–I hope you find something fun to read next!
Ty, so I browsed those lists and found out there’s a new Sanderson, and Wells this year, so I’ve got those two on my list. And I picked up the Twisted Ones from Kingfisher. My first for this author, and more real than I’m used to, but I think this’ll be good.
For the Punctuated! prompt… does ‘&’ count as a punctuation mark? From what I can work out, perhaps not?
Sorry for the delay in responding, I’ve had a busy time with work recently.
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there are no bingo police, if you think you can make a well reasoned argument why an interpretation is correct, go for it.
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I would say the ampersand is a ligature not punctuation, but see 1.
Thanks! Yeah I reckon you’re right - and I wouldn’t mind the challenge of finding something that fits :)
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4B: Rooted & Rising: The natural world is prominent in some aspect of the work, such as setting, theme, or narrative catalyst. HARD MODE: Nature is key to a major figure’s resilience or ability to survive. Example: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.
4A: Minority Author: The author belongs to a demographic that is underrepresented or marginalized in publishing where you live (e.g. LGBTQIA+, BIPOC). HARD MODE: Belongs to more than one marginalized group.
4D: The Ink Is Still Fresh: New for 2026/2027 (no reprints or new editions). First translations into your language of choice are allowed. HARD MODE: Not a sequel.
2E: Independent Author: Self-published by the author at the time of reading. This includes works that have been picked up by a conventional publishing house, but are not yet rereleased, as well as those that are no longer conventionally published. HARD MODE: Not published via Amazon Kindle Direct.
5B: The Late, Great…: The author is deceased. HARD MODE: They passed away before January 1, 2000.
3D: What’s in a Name?: The title contains the name (or pseudonym) of a figure or collective whose story is central to the work. Examples: Jane Eyre, Dracula, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower. HARD MODE: The title is only the name, nothing else. (Multi-name titles with ‘and’, like Romeo and Juliet, as well as basic honorifics like ‘Mr.’/‘Mrs.’, still qualify.)
Dracula Daily starts tomorrow and would qualify for this.
The legend of William Oh: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/92144/the-legend-of-william-oh
Although the first book is only on Amazon.
1D: Award Winner: Has won a notable literary award with broad recognition. HARD MODE: Has won two or more distinct awards (e.g., a Hugo and a Locus, or a National Book Critics Circle Award and the Heartland Prize).
5A: Get Off My Lawn: A major figure is middle-aged or older. HARD MODE: They’re considered a senior citizen or elderly.
2D: Great Big Title: The title takes up a lot of real estate on the cover (or cover-analogue). HARD MODE: It’s also six (6) words or longer (articles, conjunctions, and names do count, but subtitles don’t).
5D: Kintsugi: A major figure attempts to navigate a significant personal or systemic struggle, trauma, or loss. HARD MODE: Centered on a healing journey.
4E: Putting the Pieces Together: The premise involves an individual or team solving a puzzle, uncovering a secret, unraveling an ancient mystery, or investigating a crime. HARD MODE: The “detective” is an everyday civilian or an amateur in the field of the investigation, like a cop looking for a lost city on vacation, or an archaeologist trying to solve a murder.
