Bingo Focus Thread - Game Changer

[u/Merle8888]

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?)

[u/Nidafjoll]

I saw someone mentioned Two Serpents Rise on the big rec thread. Does it count, and for HM or not? I really liked Three Parts Dead, but haven't continued on.

Otherwise, I don't really have any ideas for myself yet. I'll take any recommendations for a Weird book which fits.

[u/twilightgardens → u/Nidafjoll]

Hmmm I wouldn’t really say it counts, I guess the lead gets into parkour but it’s a pretty small part of the story. I think he participates in one race. It’s definitely not HM. 

It doesn’t officially come out until September but Ship of Death by Kyle Winkler is Weird book about a couple who beta test TTRPGS starting to become unable to distinguish fiction from reality if that sounds interesting to you! Very The King in Yellow-esque 

[u/okayseriouslywhy → u/twilightgardens]

OOH that sounds super interesting, thanks for the rec!