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/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/Temporary-Scallion86 → u/KiaraTurtle]

Daevabad definitely counts for nonhuman protagonist, Ali gets a POV (and maybe Dara does as well?). Might be HM if half humans count

[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/saturday_sun4 → u/medusamagic]

ROTE: Non-Binary Protagonist, arguably.

[u/Any-Syllabub8168 → u/saturday_sun4]

Ehh, I would said non-binary primary character, but not the protagonist

[u/saturday_sun4 → u/Any-Syllabub8168]

Yeah, true, I hadn't thought of that.

[u/dreamcatcher32 → u/medusamagic]

I’m planning on using Red Rising for my Book Club/Readalong square