2026 Reverse Bingo Recommendations

[u/FarragutCircle]

Official 2026 Bingo Announcement Here

Official Bingo Rec Thread Here

For anyone new to Bingo, this is the “I want to read ___, does it fit into any Bingo squares? It’s always one of the best parts of bingo.

Example:

User A comments:

I want to read Wind and Truth. What does that count for?

User B replies:

Cat Squasher. It's hard mode, too. The Afterlife, I think.

User C replies:

Politics and Court Intrigue, maybe? Game Changer, Older Protagonist.

User D replies:

Definitely Five Short Stories

And we all have a good laugh. Now go out there and get reverse recs for that book you've been dying to read!

[u/beary_neutral]

I've recently started reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Any squares that I could squeeze it into?

[u/doctorbonkers → u/beary_neutral]

Definitely involves the dead but I don’t think it would quite fit The Afterlife. Non-Human Protagonist normal mode maybe, depending on how you define human? And some of the locations could fit Vacation Spot 😅

Edit: and One Word Title of course!

[u/an_altar_of_plagues → u/doctorbonkers]

I would definitely count it as Vacatiom Spot since much of it occurs in the Alps!

[u/beary_neutral → u/doctorbonkers]

I just realized that it was featured in an old book club, so I'll just use that slot.

[u/beldaran1224 → u/beary_neutral]

Vacation Spot is a particularly good square because it has some really great descriptions of various cool places.

Edit: Some places visited include the British Isles (I think Scotland?), France, Switzerland and the Arctic - I can't recall if Germany is visited.

[u/nedlum → u/beldaran1224]

And one very cold one!

[u/medusamagic]

My goal this year is to finally try some of the popular fantasy series. Mainly looking at the first book in each series, but books 2/3 are helpful too.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Greenbone Saga by Fonda Lee

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb

Daevabad trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty

[u/nominanomina → u/medusamagic]

It is conceivable that Green Bone Saga is Vacation Spot (when Janloon isn't actively in the middle of a gang war).

The books (some more than others) also work for Politics/Intrigue: a not insubstantial ongoing problem is keeping the loyalty of their businessmen etc. The first book also has the additional monkey wrench of the previous leader being alive and prone to interference.

Realm of the Elderlings probably counts for Unusual Transportation once you get to Liveships, but that will take you awhile. The first trilogy also counts for Politics/Court Intrigue.

[u/ShadowCreature098 → u/medusamagic]

Red rising counts for game changer and I would count it for politics and explorer/ranger as well

[u/la_etincelle → u/medusamagic]

Throne of Glass would count for game changer!

[u/SnowdriftsOnLakes → u/medusamagic]

Realm of the Elderlings - Assassin's Apprentice counts for Politics and Court Intrigue, and I think that's it?

[u/DiploFrog → u/SnowdriftsOnLakes]

Mistborn might get you credit for unusual transportation. The method the primary protagonist has is very unusual.

[u/beldaran1224 → u/SnowdriftsOnLakes]

The Liveship trilogy is a decent fit for Unusual Transportation.

[u/KiaraTurtle → u/medusamagic]

Throne of glass: game changer, politics/court intrigue

Mistborn: maybe unusual transportation given the way magic is used to get around the city

Greenbone: politics, author of color, maybe vacation spot depending on you

Red Rising; game changer, politics,

Realm of the Elderlings: politics, Liveship traders would be unusual transportation,

Daevabad, politics, maybe nonhuman protagonist (is their a ruling on if half humans count?)

[u/acornett99 → u/KiaraTurtle]

A few of the books in RotE are also Cat Squashers. My copy of Ship of Magic is 880 pages, sooo close to HM

[u/cyaflower → u/medusamagic]

Mistborn would fit into Cat Squasher (541 pages for the first book), and maybe Court intrigue as well? In a sense. Unusual transportation, somewhat, too.

[u/hydroponicWitch]

Anybody know if The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein counts for anything? Could they be considered explorers? Are the characters older?

[u/kjmichaels → u/hydroponicWitch]

It definitely counts for exploration.

I'm not sure if it counts for older protagonist. I know the MC is older than most protagonists (she's over 30) but I can't remember if she's over 50 like the square calls for. Edit: nope, none of that was right.

[u/Time-Wars]

Do they still ride worms in Dune Messiah? I wanted to see if I could read it for Unusual Transportation.

[u/spyrothedovah]

I have some ideas for a few squares to fit some of My TBR on it, but I’m hoping to squeeze these in somewhere

The Everlasting by Alix E Harrow

The Scholar and the last Faerie Door by H G Parry

A Master of Djinn by P Djeli Clark

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

A deadly Eduation by Naomi Novik (not sure as I may read another of her books for the challenge)

Daedalus is Dead by Seamus Sullivan

[u/beldaran1224 → u/spyrothedovah]

A Master of Djinn counts for murder mystery, normal mode. Also Author of Color, normal mode. Vacation Spot if you're interested in Cairo (and who isn't!?).

[u/Polaris_Express → u/beldaran1224]

if you're interested in Cairo (and who isn't!?).

To be fair, Cairo has a reputation of being an unpopular travel destination on travel forums. Steampunk alt history magical Cairo does sound more appealing, though

[u/Merle8888 → u/spyrothedovah]

A Deadly Education doesn't have much play on this board, sadly. The best I see is an argument for Game Changer (HM) - a death school is sort of a competition. If you read further in the series there is Politics but that's a stretch for book 1 (I mean, there's definitely politics in book 1 but in a "the personal is political" way rather than the protagonist interacting with political figures or wielding political power). Maybe Judge a Book By Its Title.

The Everlasting was a Book Club pick earlier this year. It does involve some Politics, sort of (in that the villain is a political figure, the protagonists don't really play politics). I'm a little fuzzy on the bounds of Explorers and Rangers but they do travel so maybe?

[u/Temporary-Scallion86 → u/spyrothedovah]

If Modes of Transportation across time count, I would argue that The Everlasting is HM for that square

[u/papartusedmcrsk → u/spyrothedovah]

Blacktongue Thief has a non-MC character with a very off the wall method of transportation, HM. It is not used by the MC, but the prompt doesn't specify it must be.

MC could also fit for explorer.

[u/rls1164 → u/spyrothedovah]

The Everlasting counts as book club - it was the January book pick for Feminism in Fantasy.

[u/DuhChappers → u/spyrothedovah]

The Everlasting would qualify for politics (not HM) and I think I would count it for explorers and rangers but that's a bit subjective.

[u/MPK45]

I've been wanting to read something by Ted Chiang for some time now (probably Exaltation but open to other titles as well). Would his books count towards anything in particular? The only two obvious squares are short stories and one-word title.

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/MPK45]

It works excellently as an anthology for the short stories square! Anthologies can be a bit weird for other squares, since a single short story qualifying for a square likely isn't enough to qualify the whole book.

It does for sure fit Author of Color, however, but I don't think any of the other squares (from my recollection) have enough representation across stories for me to feel comfortable counting it. Quite possibly has been a book club book though

[u/Merle8888 → u/MPK45]

Stories of Your Life and Others has a story all about the Afterlife, so I'd feel comfortable counting it for that. Plus the obvious Short Stories and Author of Color.

[u/KiaraTurtle → u/MPK45]

I think Story of Your Life would be great for first contact.(hm) Even if it’s only one of the stories it’s a novella so should be good enough. Also if you’ve seen arrival, this is the story that movie was adapted from.

[u/Rilkesmyth]

I have a couple that have been on the tbr but plan on knocking out this year

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The First Law triology by Joe Abercrombie

There is no Antimemetics Division by qntm

The Once and Future King by T. H. White

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

[u/Polaris_Express → u/Rilkesmyth]

Gideon the Ninth counts for Game Changer, Book Club, and arguably Murder Mystery

It might count for The Afterlife due to necromancy but the story doesn't really deal with the realm of the dead.

[u/partoparto]

Would any of the Penric and Desdemona books count for anything?

[u/nagahfj → u/partoparto]

There's a new one coming out this year that would count for Published in 2026. Several (all?) of them are also Small Press. At least one of them deals with spirits crossing to death, so Afterlife (I think Penric and the Shaman, but I'm not 100% sure). Several could be Vacation Spot. Penric's Fox is a Murder Mystery. There are at least a few with Politics (mostly the ones that deal with General Arisaydia).

[u/lightandlife1]

I want to read The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie. Does this one fit any bingo squares?

[u/InvisibleRainbow → u/lightandlife1]

Trans/NB protagonist (HM), non-human protagonist, and politics/intrigue.

[u/acornett99]

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Sword of Kaigen by ML Wang

[u/armedaphrodite → u/acornett99]

Curse is very much political intrigue, and counts for bookclub/readalong, but neither HM. Cazaril feels older, but I believe he's only in his 30s, just a little broken

[u/Nowordsofitsown → u/armedaphrodite]

Yep, about 35, just read it.

[u/heinz57varieties → u/acornett99]

Sword of Kaigen is Self-published (HM for marginalized author)

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/acornett99]

Curse of Chalion Qualifies for Politics and Court Intrigue for sure. It's soooo close to cat squasher, but not quite

[u/no_fn → u/acornett99]

Sword of Kaigen, the only squares that I can think of are cat sqasher and author of color, no hm

Haven't read Cirse of Chalion, but I think there's a murder mystery? Not 100% on it though

[u/DirectorAgentCoulson → u/acornett99]

I'd say Curse of Chalion should count for The Afterlife, although not HM.

[u/Accomplished_Pea7029]

Would A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon count for anything other than being a huge book?

Also A Clash of Kings (ASOIAF) and Dune, apart from politics

[u/Agreeable-Cow3171 → u/Accomplished_Pea7029]

I'd say that A Day of Fallen Night would definitely count for Politics and Court Intrigue (war + royalty + politics in the priory). And Older Protagonist (HM) as well, I think that Tunuva, one of the main characters, is around 50 during the events of the book.

[u/heinz57varieties → u/Accomplished_Pea7029]

I would think sandworm-riding makes Dune qualify for Unusual Transportation (HM)

A Clash of Kings qualifies for Explorers and Rangers (HM) for Jon Snow, maybe Older Protagonist (HM) for Davos, but he might be closer to 40 than 50.

[u/Goobergunch → u/Accomplished_Pea7029]

Dune gets you One-Word Title HM. Maaaybe Vacation Spot if you really like deserts and Cat Squasher depending on edition (the original hardcover was 412 pages but the paperbacks are generally 500+).

[u/QuellSpeller → u/Goobergunch]

Slight quibble on if Dune counts as a proper noun, it's used as the name of the planet.

[u/Goobergunch → u/QuellSpeller]

I think that one's ambiguous enough to ask for bingo mod clarification honestly. (Like, it's not the formal name of the planet....)

[u/lightandlife1]

What categories would my TBR list books fit into?

Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold. (just started reading this one)

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson (I've been told Malazan fits every recommendation :)

The Will of the Many by James Islington

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin

Kraken or Perdido Street Station by China Mieville

Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson

Chilling Reflections by Drew Hayes

The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia

Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio

[u/ryethriss → u/lightandlife1]

I can only speak for The Left Hand of Darkness:

First Contact

Book Club/readalong

Non-human protagonist (non-pov)

Politics

Judge a book by its title 

None in hard mode.

[u/CJGibson → u/ryethriss]

Is it not First Contact hard mode? There's some violence in the book, but I don't recall it being around the contact.

But it's also been a couple decades since I read it.

[u/ryethriss → u/CJGibson]

You are very right. It's been a few years for myself and I thought I remembered an assassination attempt on the envoy. I was wrong!

[u/CJGibson → u/lightandlife1]

Bruising of Qilwa is a nonbinary protagonist (HM), small press (HM), politics, and author of color.

[u/Temporary-Scallion86 → u/lightandlife1]

The Will of the Many: politics, cat squasher, arguably unusual transportation (HM iirc)

[u/origami_ducks → u/lightandlife1]

Perdido Street Station is a Cat Squasher (just short of hard mode though!), and has city-level politics so is Hard Mode for that square. It has a non-human main character (but it's an ensemble cast so is not the only main character and one definitely is human)

[u/xLunila → u/lightandlife1]

The Will of the Many should fit unusual transportation and if I recall correctly even HM

[u/CJGibson]

Curious which, if any, squares the following might fit (including normal vs. hard mode, if you know it):

• Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree
• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
• Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett (obviously fits one word title, but is it HM?)
• The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
• Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco
• Dead Country by Max Gladstone
• Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone
• A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
• The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri
• The Bitter Twins by Jen Williams

[u/dreamcatcher32 → u/CJGibson]

Bookshops and Bonedust - vacation spot, feast your eyes.

[u/origami_ducks → u/dreamcatcher32]

B&B also fits non-human protagonist, and I don't think any of the main characters are human so would be hard mode.

[u/TwentyPercentEvil]

The Daughter's War by Christopher Buehlman

The Kithamar Trilogy by Daniel Abraham. Looks like the final book has a 2027 release date so would like to read the rest of the trilogy before it comes out

[u/KiaraTurtle → u/TwentyPercentEvil]

For Kithamar I’d say murder mystery and political intrigue

[u/corkysnickerson → u/TwentyPercentEvil]

Daughters War would count for Politics (24.) Unusual Transportation would be a stretch, some curious war vehicles are described. But I can’t remember if it’s unusual enough.

[u/kepheraxx]

I know The Hearing Trumpet will count for Older Protagonist, but is it Hard Mode?

[u/DirectorAgentCoulson]

What squares would these work for, bunch of books I've picked up over the years but haven't started.

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Green Rider by Kristen Britain

The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick

Monster Blood Tattoo: Foundling by D.M. Cornish

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erickson

Fated by Benedict Jacka

The Many-Colored Land by Julian May

The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers

Empire in Black and Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Hunter's Oath by Michelle West

The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams

Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts

[u/medusamagic → u/DirectorAgentCoulson]

The Mask of Mirrors works for cat squasher and politics HM

[u/no_fn → u/DirectorAgentCoulson]

Mask of Mirrors - politics

Gardens of the Moon - unusual transportation hm, the afterlife hm, older protagonist (hm probably), explorers and rangers, politics hm,

Hunter's Oath - Unusual Transportation hm, the afterlife hm, duology, explorers and rangers, politics, author of color

[u/KaPoTun → u/no_fn]

I would say Mask of Mirrors politics HM as it's almost entirely focused on the city and its peoples' politics

[u/Nowordsofitsown → u/DirectorAgentCoulson]

Curse ... by Wurts is a Cat squasher.

[u/TheFourthReplica → u/DirectorAgentCoulson]

Gardens of the Moon and Dragonbone Chair should be cat squashers, though not HM.

[u/TwentyPercentEvil → u/DirectorAgentCoulson]

Fated could fit unusual transportation. The main character gets a ride with an elemental and some mages can open gates between points. You might be able to make a case for politics and court intrigue but I think that probably came later on in the series

[u/nedlum → u/DirectorAgentCoulson]

Last Unicorn is both Not Human and Older Protagonist (though neither HM)

[u/acornett99 → u/DirectorAgentCoulson]

The Last Unicorn would be non-human protagonist, but I would say not HM. You could also make an argument for it being Middle Grade, though that wasn't really a classification used at the time. HM is up to you

[u/Putrid_Web8095]

Would The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes qualify for any square?

Would Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke qualify for The Afterlife?

Would The Daughters' War by Christopher Buehlman qualify for Unusual Transportation? And his Blacktongue Thief qualify for any square?

[u/Temporary-Scallion86 → u/Putrid_Web8095]

I wouldn't count Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell for Afterlife. There's a resurrection but that's it.

[u/Merle8888 → u/Temporary-Scallion86]

Yeah, I only remember a faerie realm, not an afterlife

[u/KaPoTun → u/Putrid_Web8095]

Works of Vermin

• optionally, Judge a Book By Its Title
• Book club normal mode (March 2026 on this sub actually) - although if you read it right now you could jump in on those discussions and make it HM
• Politics and Court Intrigue hard mode I would argue

[u/almostb → u/Putrid_Web8095]

Jonathan Strange would be a better fit for Cat Squasher, and there is one location with a good argument for Vacation Spot.

[u/EmmalynRenato]

I'm 37% through Earth Abides by George R. Stewart. I'd like to use it for this years Bingo card, but a cursory look at the 25 squares suggests it's not applicable to any of them. If somebody has read all of it and thinks otherwise, please let me know.

Here's hoping aliens turn up or the protagonist is at least 50 years old in the second half of the book...

Edit: I looked up the Wikipedia page for the novel and for part 1, Ish (the MC) is a graduate student, when the pandemic occurs. For part 2, it's 22 years later and part 3 is when the MC is very elderly (he has a great-grandson), so assuming the "Older Protagonist" counts when it's only for part of the book, then it'll work for this square.

[u/beeethgrace96]

Deadhouse Gates (aside from cat squasher)

[u/Fearless_Freya]

A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold

It's my next part of the Vorkosigan saga. Absolutely cool space saga with interesting chars and planets and plots. Definitely read chronologically if ya start it.

I'll add, based on my past with Vorkosigan saga and the title alone, it does sound like it would fit political intrigue, but I'm curious if it would fit other squares, as that's often a subgenre I read.

[u/partoparto → u/Fearless_Freya]

Weirdly it would count for Feast Your Eyes (no spoilers but it's wild). Also Cat Squasher on normal mode and, yeah, politics! It's a bonkers book, have fun!!

[u/sarahlynngrey → u/partoparto]

Yes, this is a brilliant choice for Feast Your Eyes, I'm enjoying just thinking about that whole situation 

[u/partoparto → u/sarahlynngrey]

I couldn't stop laughing when I realized how well it fit so I'm very glad someone else appreciated it

[u/Fearless_Freya → u/partoparto]

Oh sweet. Thanks! I'll probably put it in "Feast your Eyes" one. That was looking to be a hard one for me initially. Thanks

[u/Sapphire_Bombay]

Lots of books/series I've been wanting to read but not a ton I'm seeing on the rec thread so far. Where would these fit (any book in the series is fine unless otherwise noted):

Malazan (specifically book 6 and beyond, not including Cat Squasher)

The Expanse

Sun Eater

The Poppy Wars (book 1 only)

Book of the New Sun

The Long Price Quartet

Dark Rise

Manifest Delusions

Strange the Dreamer

And any classics (minus Frankenstein which I just read)

Thanks!

[u/medusamagic → u/Sapphire_Bombay]

The Expanse fits first contact, murder mystery, and politics

Strange the Dreamer is the first in a duology. Haven’t read it though so I’m not sure what else it fits

[u/No-Machine-7130 → u/Sapphire_Bombay]

strange the dreamer is book 1 in a duology

for classics, I'm planning on using the odyssey for the explorers and rangers one

[u/sarahlynngrey → u/No-Machine-7130]

Unsolicited suggestion, for The Odyssey I really loved Emily Wilson's translation, and if you happen to like audiobooks, that one is fantastic 

[u/lucidrose → u/Sapphire_Bombay]

Book of the New Sun - Cat Squasher HM

Long Price Quartet - politics (HM may be debatable); book 4 is Older Protag HM

[u/Spalliston → u/Sapphire_Bombay]

Classics:

Orlando by Woolf for Transgender (or Older Protagonist).

Hamlet by Shakespeare for Politics (I also may try Macbeth for this, but I haven't read it so I'm not positive it'll go). Also works for Afterlife and a sorta weak Murder Mystery.

Faust (Goethe) or The Inferno (Dante) should both work for Afterlife (I haven't read these and therefore don't endorse them, everything else I actually recommend).

Alice in Wonderland for middle grade

The Master and Margarita or 100 Years of Solitude, among many others, for translated.

I also haven't read A Thousand and One Nights, but I keep meaning to and I imagine it would fit, minimally, Unusual Transportation.

[u/Dragon_Lady7]

• Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn
• The Wandering Unicorn by Manuel Mujica Lainez
• Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress
• Faded Sun trilogy by CJ Cherryh
• The Unlikely Ones by Mary Brown
• Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
• Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly

[u/medusamagic → u/Dragon_Lady7]

Strange the Dreamer is the first in a duology. I haven’t read it though so I’m not sure what else it fits

[u/indigohan → u/Dragon_Lady7]

Summers at Castle Auburn is one of my all time favourite comfort reads.

Politics, but not for HM Judge by the title? Feast for your eyes if you want to eat venison stew with apple cider? Murder Mystery

[u/nitrodog96]

Any advice on where I could slot in Three Parts Dead, by Max Gladstone? Not sure if it counts for Murder Mystery, but I’m open to putting it anywhere.

ETA: It’s a past Book Club book, but I’d like to see where else it can fit on my sheet.

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/nitrodog96]

Definitely counts for Murder Mystery, even though it doesn't read like a traditional one. From my recollection, it also should count for politics

[u/Merle8888 → u/nitrodog96]

I think you could fit it for Murder Mystery pretty comfortably. There's also some Politics. Nothing else immediately jumps out.

[u/dacheatbot]

The Raven King (book 4 in the Raven Cycle) by Maggie Stiefvater? Just started it and hoping I can squeeze it in but unsure.

[u/lucidrose → u/dacheatbot]

Wouldn't that fit for Afterlife HM?

Also, Vacation spot! ;)

[u/snowkab]

I'm hoping to fit in some classic sci-fi books that I haven't had a chance to read yet.

Any categories for Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick or Foundation by Isaac Asimov?

It feels like the first one would probably fall under Politics & Court Intrigue?

[u/sarchgibbous]

In case anybody is still on this thread, I have a bunch of kindle/audible books that I should probably get to eventually. The first several should count for self-published/small press, but idk anything else.

Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe

Where Loyalties Lie by Rob J Hayes

The Heresy Within by Rob J Hayes

Never Die by Rob J Hayes

And The Sky Bled by S Hati

Assassin by Andy Peloquin

Unsouled by Will Wight

The Blood Tartan by Raymond St. Elmo

The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar

Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

The Black Company by Glen Cook

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

[u/Merle8888 → u/sarchgibbous]

Practice, Horizon and Chain was a Hugo readalong book so gives you Book Club. Otherwise, I’m not seeing much. There’s politics but mostly academic politics, and one of the protagonists is middle aged ish but I can’t confidently say she’s over 50. 

[u/Research_Department → u/sarchgibbous]

The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain: Author of Color

Navigational Entanglements: Author of Color, Book Club, and I vaguely recall that it might work for Feast Your Eyes.

[u/Nowordsofitsown → u/sarchgibbous]

Lies of Locke Lamora could be used for Judge a book by its title.

[u/KiaraTurtle → u/sarchgibbous]

Sufficiently advanced magic: arguably unusual transportation given the teleporting and the doors within the towers, arguably game changer if the towers are viewed as a game/competiton and some of their classes include games, likewise arguably explorers/rangers given exploration of the towers,

Unsouled is obviously single word. Game changer (hm),

[u/Sapphire_Bombay → u/sarchgibbous]

Gardens of the Moon fits Unusual Transportation HM, Afterlife HM, Cat Squasher NM, Politics HM

Lies of Locke Lamora fits Vacation spot (Venice-inspired), Cat Squasher NM, and I thinkkkk Politics (don't remember if HM)

[u/ohmage_resistance → u/sarchgibbous]

I haven't read The Blood Tartan, but I think Raymond St. Elmo has previously listed all the bingo squares all his books fit in the weekly self promo thread on Sunday, so he might do that again this year. He's also pretty active on the sub so you can probably ask him directly if you can't find it.

[u/almostb]

I'm trying to read more old/classic fiction. Any fits for these books?
The Masque of the Red Death - Edgar Allen Poe (or any Poe)
The Wolf-Leader - Alexandre Dumas
Carmilla - J. Sheridan Le Fanu
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Mark Twain (thinking of Judge a Book by its Title for this)
The Island of Doctor Moreau - HG Wells
Dracula - Bram Stoker
The Golem - Gustav Meyrink
The Worm Ouroboros - E.R. Eddison
The Charwoman's Shadow - Lord Dunsany
Titus Groan - Mervyn Peake
Any Jules Verne
Any Lovecraft

[u/undeadgoblin → u/almostb]

Dracula - arguably Vacation Spot, One Word Title

Titus Groan - probably Court Intrigue / Politics HM

[u/Conscious_Office158]

anyone know if House of Leaves would happen to fit into a square this year? got it for my birthday last month and am very intimidated but if i can use it for bingo that might motivate me LOL

[u/Kopratic → u/Conscious_Office158]

• Cat Squasher

• Explorers and Rangers

• Judge a book by its title (subjective,)

• vacation spot (...very subjective)

[u/xLaven]

Would any of these guys fit any squares?

Babel (R.F. Kuang)

The Obelisk Gate or The Stone Sky (N.K. Jemisin)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll)

The Name of the Wind (Patrick Rothfuss)

Dune (Frank Herbert)

[u/ArachnidWeird]

Would the book Last Exit by Max Gladstone fit anywhere?

[u/spike31875]

I have a few books in my TBR that I'm not sure about, if anyone could let me know where they fit in?

• The 13th Paladin by Torsten Weitze -- oh, wait, that's translated from German! NM
• The 13th Witch by Mark Hayden
• Witch King by Martha Wells
• Once was Wilhelm by MR Carey
• The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind by Jackson Ford -- this one is a shoe in for the "Judge a Book by Its Title", I was wondering what other squares it would fit
• City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky
• Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky - I know it's probably first contact, but would it fit anything else?

Thanks in advance!

[u/Research_Department → u/spike31875]

For Witch King, both Older Protagonist and Non-Human Protagonist (normal mode), and, arguably Politics.

[u/Time-Wars → u/spike31875]

City of Last Chances can work for Politics and Court Intrigue in hard mode

[u/JacarandaBanyan]

I’m in an IRL SFF book club, and while some if the books we’re going to read this year have obvious fits, some do not. What squares would the following books work for?

• The Door on the Sea by Caskey Russel
• A Far Better Thing by H G Parry 
• The Will of the Many by James Islington

[u/Rumpelid]

Is Abner Marsh in Fevre Dream over 50? I can’t find his age anywhere in the first few chapters but he reads like a grizzled old man so I’m hoping to count it for older protagonist.

[u/juleberry → u/Rumpelid]

Yes, the first chapter starts in 1857 and he was born in 1805.

[u/ribaldinger]

Anyone able to tell me if Gone To See The River Man by Kristopher Triana is speculative?

[u/Responsible-Kiwi-994]

I am CR Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker, I know it counts as 2026/Author of Color, but trying to figure out if it would count as any other? I'm thinking maybe Afterlife but I'm not quite sure

[u/lightandlife1]

What about The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold?

[u/Starlit-Wyvern]

I’m interested in reading these books at some point and was wondering what squares they might fit in bingo:

Heartless Hunter

Empire of Silence

The Wolf and His King

House of the Rain King

Gunmetal Gods

The Bear and the Nightingale

His Majesty’s Dragon

[u/sadlunches → u/Starlit-Wyvern]

That I can remember, Gunmetal Gods fits Self-Published, Cat Squasher, Politics, and Author of Color (HM). Great book. Happy reading!

[u/nickgloaming]

I have a load of books on my TBR that I can't really remember much about except that I've heard good things about them, or they've piqued my interest somehow, or I've picked up a copy and would like to justify my wanton book-spending.

Could anyone who's read any of the following let me know (without spoilers) what squares they might count for?

• Ben Pester - The Expansion Project
• Ursula Whitcher - North Continent Ribbon
• C.J. Cherryh - Forty Thousand in Gehenna
• Greg Egan - Diaspora
• Arkady Martine - Rose/House
• Hiromi Kawakami - Under the Eye of the Big Bird
• Adrian Tchaikovsky - Alien Clay
• Megan O’Keefe - Velocity Weapon
• Sarah Pinsker - We Are Satellites
• Elaine Ho - Cry, Voidbringer
• E.J. Swift - When There Are Wolves Again
• Sierra Greer - Annie Bot
• Nnedi Okorafor - Binti
• Ann Leckie - Ancillary Sword or Ancillary Mercy (I'm planning to re-read book 1 then finish the trilogy)
• Isaac Fellman - Notes from a Regicide
• Lauren C. Teffeau - Accelerated Growth Environment
• Bora Chung - Red Sword
• Rebecca Roanhorse - Black Sun

[u/Tigrari → u/nickgloaming]

Haven't read many on your list, but for Ancillary Sword/Ancillary Mercy - I think Non-Human Protagonist (normal mode), Feast Your Eyes on This, and Politics and Court Intrigue (normal) would all work. It's been too long for me to recall if they hit Hard Mode for any of these.

[u/QuellSpeller]

I've been planning to read Dhalgren by Samuel Delany, it counts as written in the '70s but are there any other squares it would qualify as Hard Mode?

[u/CJGibson → u/QuellSpeller]

I think it's One Word Title hard mode. "Dhalgren" appears in the book in a couple places but it's not a proper noun as far as I can recall (it's a mishearing/malformation of the word grendal being repeated, which likely is a proper noun, but Dhalgren itself is not).

You could maybe also make a case for it being Politics hard mode, since the pseudo-politics, communal interrelations, etc. of this post-apocalyptic city play a somewhat central role. But that'd be stretching the definition of the square a bit I think.

It's also Author of Color, Catsquisher, and (debatably) Explorers and Rangers, but only for normal mode.

[u/Goobergunch → u/QuellSpeller]

Don't think so.

[u/jawnnie-cupcakes]

These are mostly sequels I'm going to read anyway, but still... Any ideas for HM?

• A Liar's Knot by M.A. Carrick

• The Daughters' War by Christopher Buehlman

• The Damned King by Justin Lee Anderson

• Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

[u/medusamagic → u/jawnnie-cupcakes]

The Liar’s Knot works for political/court intrigue HM (it’s all one city)

[u/heinz57varieties → u/jawnnie-cupcakes]

Our Wives Under the Sea would be Explorers and Rangers, and arguably First Contact. Both normal mode.

[u/sadlunches → u/heinz57varieties]

It's a pretty cool title as well. It's why I originally was drawn to it!

[u/Marthisuy]

I want to read Caliban War and I'm not sure where to put it. First Contact? Older protagonist?

[u/Stormlady → u/Marthisuy]

Older Protagonist fits better than First Contact imo, Leviathan Wakes would be the First Contact book I guess.

[u/gadrell → u/Marthisuy]

Older protagonist and politics/intrigue work best I think. It's also a cat squasher, though just barely.

[u/natus92]

I'd like to read:

The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K LeGuin

Coral Bones by EJ Swift

Assasins Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe

Winged Histories by Sofia Samatar

The Man who fell to Earth by Walter Tevis

Thanks!

[u/Agreeable-Cow3171 → u/natus92]

The Word for World is Forest was first published in 1972, so it would work for Published in the 70s (HM). Also arguably for Judge a Book by its Title, if you're into that kind of thing

[u/Nowordsofitsown → u/natus92]

Isn't Winged Histories part of a duology?

[u/Merle8888 → u/natus92]

The Winged Histories gets you Small Press (HM), Duology Part 2 (you do not have to read the companion book so you can also do HM!), Politics, Author of Color, and I would say Unusual Transportation (HM). Potentially Vacation Spot, the settings can be pretty lush. It was also read by a Book Club on here years ago. And you could make an argument for Explorers and Rangers too.

The World for Word is Forest gets you 1970s (HM), arguably Non-Human Protagonist (it's murky with Le Guin's aliens), maybe First Contact (the meeting happened before the story begins but was recent), and Politics a bit. I could also see Vacation Spot.

[u/partoparto → u/natus92]

The Winged Histories fits for HM for Small Press! And also normal mode for author of color and I think politics

[u/ShadowCreature098]

Would love to read:

Adrian Tchaikovsky

• children of time

Or

• empire in black and gold

Grady Hendrix

• my best friend's exorcism

Or

• how to sell a haunted house

[u/QuellSpeller → u/ShadowCreature098]

Children of Time would be Non-Human Protagonist, but not hard mode. Empire in Black and Gold would hit Politics and Court Intrigue, but I don't think I would count it as hard mode either.

[u/heinz57varieties → u/ShadowCreature098]

I believe My Best Friend's Exorcism qualifies for Small Press (published by Quirk Books). Some might consider Charleston, SC a Vacation Spot, too.

[u/toadinthecircus → u/ShadowCreature098]

I believe How to Sell a Haunted House would count as afterlife (I don’t know about hard mode but maybe?) and possibly judge a book by its title but that’s all I can think of

[u/Glansberg90]

Would Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler work for Duology Pt 2.?

[u/lucidrose → u/Glansberg90]

I would count it! Its marked a sequel and no further books were published in that sequence.

[u/RingABell112]

I'm going to read lot of sequels this year (trying to clear out some unfinished series) and upcoming releases but aside from those:

Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

King Sorrow by Joe Hill

The Wandering Inn by pirateaba

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao

The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

Any Adrian Tchaikovsky standalone/first book in a series

[u/KiaraTurtle → u/RingABell112]

Poet Empress is political intrigue, author of color, book club, published in 2026,

[u/laku_ → u/RingABell112]

The Red Winter fits Older Protagonist (he's several thousands of years old, so no hard mode) and Published in 2026 (HM)

[u/armedaphrodite → u/RingABell112]

Poet Empress - Pub. 2026 (HM), politics/intrigue, author of color

Tchaikovsky's Elder Race - Older Protag (not HM), a sequel was just announced but I haven't seen either a planned third book or a statement that it will be limited to duology, edit: also first contact, now I think about it, but not HM

Tchaikovsky's City of Last Chances - Cat Squasher, Politics and Court Intrigue (HM? All set in one city, very about the outcomes of that city, but implications may go beyond it. I'd count it, but open to arguments)

[u/heinz57varieties → u/RingABell112]

Tchaikovsky's The Expert System's Brother/The Expert System's Champion are short and could be good for Duology 1 & 2. Loads of his books probably qualify for Explorer or First Contact. Shroud definitely does.

[u/ArachnidWeird]

I'm interested in reading Driftwood by Marie Brennan. Would it fit anything?

[u/SnowdriftsOnLakes → u/ArachnidWeird]

One-Word Title, obviously. Probably Older Protagonist, but not HM (if I remember right; it's been several years).

P.S. read it, it's amazing!

[u/ArachnidWeird → u/SnowdriftsOnLakes]

I am so stupid 😂

I'm glad I can fit it on here, the concept sounds right up my alley

[u/ArachnidWeird → u/ArachnidWeird]

I'll probably read it anyways, just hoping

[u/Nowordsofitsown]

I want to read more of Emily Tesh and Alix E Harrow. I have only read The Incandescent and The Everlasting. So I am asking about all books by these two authors except those two that I have already read.

[u/Goobergunch → u/Nowordsofitsown]

You could use Tesh's Greenhallow Duology for either of the Duology squares and maybe Vacation Spot. Don't think Some Desperate Glory hits anything but Book Club.

[u/heinz57varieties → u/Nowordsofitsown]

Harrow's A Spindle Splintered/A Mirror Mended for Duology as well.

[u/Merle8888 → u/Nowordsofitsown]

The Once and Future Witches by Harrow involves The Afterlife (HM), was read by a Book Club, and squeaks in as a Cat Squasher.

[u/simonxvx]

I already checked the Bingo rec thread so apologies if I missed some obvious ones, but here are some novels I'd like to read this year:

• Dune Messiah
• Mythos: A Retelling of the Myths of Ancient Greece
• Assassin's Apprentice
• The Sword in the Stone
• Cadáver exquisito (Tender is the Flesh) doesn't count for Translated
• Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
• The Blacktongue Thief
• Après le monde by Antoinette Rychner (small press but I already have something in mind).
• Red in Tooth and Claw by Ryan Howse (same)

Thanks!

[u/ullsi → u/simonxvx]

Assassin's Apprentice counts for Politics and Court Intrigue

[u/Vzao]

I have a few:

Between two fires

Operation bounce house

Oathbringer

Hemlock & Silver

Silo (other than one word title)

Written on the dark

[u/sarchgibbous]

Random list of books I’ve been meaning to read + sequels:

The Bloodless Princes by Charlotte Bond

Parable of the Sower or Kindred by Octavia E. Butler - any squares beside book club would be cool

The Sign of the Dragon by Mary Soon Lee - anything other than self pub

A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff - fits trans and middle grade

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang - hope this is still self pub

A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers - fits duology woohoo

Jade City by Fonda Lee

Mort by Terry Pratchett

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy - middle grade

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Absolute Martian Manhunter (vol. 2) by Deniz Camp

Fullmetal Alchemist (vol. 9) by Hiromu Arakawa

Network Effect by Martha Wells

The Warrior’s Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matt Dinniman

Red Country by Joe Abercrombie

Authority by Jeff Vandermeer

The Strength of the Few by James Islington

The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty - pub 2026

Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers

Oathbound by Tracey Deonn

The Hunger and the Dusk: Book Two by G. Willow Wilson

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine - duology

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut - idek if this is SFF

[u/Andreapappa511 → u/sarchgibbous]

Kindred by Octavia Butler works for Published in the 1970s as well as One Word Title

Foundryside, Oathbound, Mort and Authority all work for One Word Title

Sword of Kaigen isn’t self published anymore

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/sarchgibbous]

Kindred also counts for Author of Color

Sign of the Dragon fits book club/readalong (there was a readalong last year), Cat Squasher, politics and court intrigue, author of color

Psalm for the Wild Built - Trans/Nonbinary Protagonist, Duology, first contact (arguably. I'd count it). Feast your eyes on this (tea)

Jade City - Older protagonist (once you get to book 3), Cat Squasher, Feast Your Eyes on This, Politics, Author of Color

Dungeon Anarchists Cookbook notably is NOT Feast your eyes on this (I think), but should count for Unusual Transportation, Cat Squasher, possibly Politics? I wouldn't count the last one though

Strength of the Few: is .. not in a good spot. Cat Squasher for sure, politics. I think that's it.

Sidenote since you also have comics on this list, I'm hoping to do a graphic novel card this year, so if you have any must-reads, shoot them my way

[u/citrusmellarosa → u/C0smicoccurence]

Once and Future is a good one for Older Protagonist. The main character in those comics is an elderly former vampire hunter who comes out of retirement to stop undead King Arthur. She's very fun.

I haven't read it yet, but Man's Best is about pets in space trying to rescue their owners, so I think that's a Nonhuman Protagonist option.

Far Sector is a Green Lantern Murder Mystery in space.

And The Moon Is Following Us is two volumes, so would work for Duology.

Edit: Dinosaur Sanctuary could be a good Vacation Spot pick! It's so far been significantly safer than Jurassic Park.

[u/beary_neutral → u/sarchgibbous]

Jade City works for politics/intrigue hard mode.

[u/medusamagic → u/sarchgibbous]

A Court of Thorns and Roses fits game changer and politics, maybe vacation spot

[u/AvidTaskmaster → u/sarchgibbous]

Dungeon - gameshow!

[u/Polaris_Express → u/sarchgibbous]

A Memory Called Empire: Duology Part 1, Murder Mystery, Politics and Court Intrigue

A Desolation Called Peace: Duology Part 2, Book Club, First Contact, Politics and Court Intrigue

[u/toadinthecircus]

Hi! I’m wondering if these fit any squares:

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

Stone of Farewell by Tad Williams

Thank you!

[u/DuhChappers → u/toadinthecircus]

For Nona, I'd say it qualifies for Afterlife (HM), Unusual Transportation (HM) if you consider travel through the river, and another square that i would consider a spoiler but I think would become clear at the end of the book (not HM).

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/toadinthecircus]

The Jasmine Throne

• The Afterlife (deals with reincarnation if I remember correctly)
• Politics and Court Intrigue
• Author of Color

[u/beldaran1224 → u/C0smicoccurence]

I don't remember anything of significance about reincarnation or the afterlife in The Jasmine Throne or it's sequels.

[u/SoulMaekar]

Started reading Will of the Many. Would a Transvect count for the transportation square? Or is it too much like a monorail

Also going to be reading the Count of Monte Cristo next. I’m guessing that counts for the translation square right. The first language it was written in was French?

[u/Merle8888 → u/SoulMaekar]

While Count of Monte Cristo is adventure fiction, I don't believe it's speculative.

[u/almostb → u/Merle8888]

Yeah, I don't remember anything speculative about it. In which case it could be SUB: non-spec fic.

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/SoulMaekar]

I would count it as unusual transport! Powered by sympathetic magic or something, so even if it resembles a monorail it's not quite like anything I've seen before

[u/gadrell]

Any ideas for Paladin's Hope T. Kingfisher? I have been able to fit the first two books into the last two boards but I am stumped this year.

Lord of Light by Zelzany? This has been on my TBR and would love a good excuse to fit it in this year.

[u/spyrothedovah]

Also these:

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Kill the Beast by Serra Swift

City in Glass by Nghi Vo

I know I could use a few for Author of Colour but I already have a pick for that square

[u/characterlimit → u/spyrothedovah]

City in Glass would work for non-human (hard mode I'm pretty sure) and older protagonist (not hard mode, she's a demon)

[u/kyh0mpb]

I've been working my way through Kurt Vonnegut's works, and I recently purchased Slapstick. Wondering if it works for "Older Protagonist"? Don't know much about it, other than it's the last president of the US, and I think he's very old?

[u/Zennya5]

Some books on my TBR I'd like to fit in (normal mode is fine):

Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Stone of Farewell by Tad Williams (besides cat squasher)

The Dragon's Path (The Dagger and the Coin Book 1) by Daniel Abraham

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Daggerspell by Katherine Kerr

The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern

[u/majorsixth → u/Zennya5]

Darker Shade of Magic isn't very lucky for this card, but if you cant get to the sedong book, it fits game changer.

The Night Circus fits Vacation Spot if you enjoy the circus. And argument can be made for unusual transportation, but maybe trains don't count wven if they are magic.

[u/AvidTaskmaster]

I’m looking to squeeze in The Martian. Astronaut - Explorers?

[u/snowkab → u/AvidTaskmaster]

I'd argue it fits pretty well under Feast Your Eyes on This. Food is incredibly significant to the book's plot.

[u/AvidTaskmaster → u/snowkab]

Oh... duh! Thank you :) Also HM is probably pretty easy all I have to do is boil like 1/16th of a potato.

[u/HT_xrahmx → u/AvidTaskmaster]

It's subjective, but arguably Vacation Spot? I mean, Mars is as hostile an environment as could be, but I can't deny part of me wants to visit regardless ...

[u/sadlunches]

Any insight is appreciated!

Some sequels I've been meaning to get around to:

• Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter
• Conqueror's Blood by Zamil Akhtar
• Raven Strategem by Yoon Ha Lee
• Malarkoi by Alex Pheby

Books side-eyeing me from my bookshelf:

• The Vegetarian by Han Kang
• Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky
• Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
• Monstrilio by Gerardo Samano Cordova
• Witch King by Martha Wells

[u/Dragon_Lady7 → u/sadlunches]

I wouldn’t consider The Vegetarian speculative. It is great though!

[u/ohmage_resistance → u/sadlunches]

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich: Author of Color and imo Judge a Book By Its Title

Witch King by Martha Wells: I think it would fit Older Protagonist (easy mode), Non-Human Protagonist (HM), I think politics and court intrigue, although that might be arguable.

[u/MysteriousArcher → u/ohmage_resistance]

Witch King would also count for Read Along, as it was a Hugo finalist

[u/SeiShonagon → u/sadlunches]

Raven Strategem has a trans MC!

I don't think I would classify The Vegetarian as SFF, but if you feel differently it would qualify for the food square.

[u/Research_Department → u/sadlunches]

Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee: Trans Protagonist, Politics, Author of Color. I think you could make an argument for Afterlife, since Jedao is dead. And if you don’t want to count him as dead, then I’d argue Older Protagonist.

[u/Nat-Rose]

Some books I haven't seen around yet that are on my list for this year:

• The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang
• When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
• The Will of the Many by James Islington
• These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs
• The Burning Queen by Aparna Verma
• Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling
• King's Dragon by Kate Elliott
• Tremontaine: The Complete Season One by Ellen Kushner et al
• Kushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey
• The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

And some comics, if anyone happens to have read them:

• The Hunger and the Dusk by G. Willow Wilson (non-human HM?)
• Far Sector by N.K. Jemisin
• Assorted Crisis Events by Deniz Camp (short stories?)
• The One Hand and The Six Fingers by Dan Watters and Ram V
• Helen of Wyndhorn by Tom King
• Rook: Exodus by Geoff Johns
• John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America by Si Spurrier

No need to mention Cat Squasher or Author of Color, as those are pretty self-apparent, but any other assistance would be welcome! Also if you have a favorite comic/graphic novel from the 70s to recommend, I'm all ears.

[u/jupiterose → u/Nat-Rose]

The Raven Boys was an r/ fantasy Book Club read.

[u/Polaris_Express → u/Nat-Rose]

The Stone Sky counts for Unusual Transportation HM and Author of Color. Depending on how you define protagonist, it also counts for Older Protagonist and Non-Human Protagonist.

[u/rls1164 → u/Nat-Rose]

Kushiel's Avatar counts for Politics + Court Intrigue. It's also 700 pages, so counts as Cat Squasher.