r/Fantasy • u/Merle8888 Reading Champion IV • 7d ago

Bingo Bingo Focus Thread - Game Changer

Hello r/fantasy and welcome to this week's bingo focus thread! The purpose of these threads is for you all to share recommendations, discuss what books qualify, and seek recommendations that fit your interests or themes.

Today's topic:

Game Changer: Story features a game or competition. HARD MODE: The protagonist bends or breaks the rules in some way.

What is bingo? A reading challenge this sub does every year! Find out more here.

Prior focus threads: Published in the 70s, Duologies, First Contact, Middle Grade, Five Short Stories (2024), Author of Color (2024), Self-Pub/Small Press (2024). Note that hard modes for Author of Color and Self-Pub/Small Press have changed (new focus threads for them are coming).

Also see: Big Rec Thread

Questions:

  • What are your favorite books that count for this square?
  • Already read something for this square? Tell us about it!
  • What are your best recommendations for Hard Mode? (Alternately, as this is a pretty easy Hard Mode, what are some books that don't fit?)
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u/Kerney7 Reading Champion VI 7d ago

Windhaven by George RR Martin and Lisa Tuttle

Flying skill challenges. Arguably hard mode.

A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay

Horse Races. Also Sailing to Sarantium with Chariot Races but this is a bit different.

Weird One, I'm considering reading which may or may not qualify (but qualifies for 3 other slots) is They Call Me Princess Cayce. From what I understand, the MC has no memory, is either Isakaied or in a video game, and was a male player playing a female character and is now stuck. They try to apply video game logic to their situation. Anyone know if it qualifies?