2021 Book Bingo

I’ve seen the /r/Fantasy Book Bingo cards before a number of times, but this is the first year that I think I’m actually going to try it. I’ve gotten away from my previous reading lists, but this sounds like a great way to find new things / read a few that are out of my comfort zone. I do read a crazy amount, so I should be able to find time for 25 specific books–but then again, there are a few rules that might make this more interesting:

Rules:

  • Must be speculative fiction (SF, fantasy, horror with speculative elements)
  • Limit the number of novellas (fewer than 40k words or defined by the author as such) or combine them
  • A book of short stories counts
  • Graphic novels/manga should be treated as novellas
  • Web novels count (if they’re long enough)
  • Audiobooks count

Luckily, there’s a rather active recommendations thread. Compare that against my to reads (still 600+ strong) or just whatever jumps out and I should be good to go!

This post will automatically update as I add more books. My current plan is to put each book in each category that it would work for, but when a book only fits in one category, I’ll remove the other books from that category or otherwise mark it. Click any cover to read my review! Onward!

Note: While I’m reading them, I’m mostly going to assign books to multiple squares. As I fill in more of the sheet, I’ll clean that up.

2021 Book Bingo

Attack on Titan, Vol. 1

(Hard Mode)


5 SFF Short Stories (Hard: An entire anthology or collection)

The Poppy War

(Hard Mode)


Set in Asia (Hard: by an Asian author)

The Changeling

(Hard Mode)


r/Fantasy A to Z Genre Guide (Hard: by a BIPOC author)

The House in the Cerulean Sea

(Hard Mode)


Found Family (Hard: featuring an LGBTQ+ character)

The Scorpio Races

(Hard Mode)


First person POV (Hard: Multiple)

The Wyrmling Horde

r/Fantasy Book Club (Hard: with participation)

Replaced with: Sequel: Not the First Book in the Series (2017)

The Borrowers Afield

(Hard Mode)


New to you author (Hard: haven’t heard much about)

Mexican Gothic

(Hard Mode)


Gothic Fantasy (Hard: not in the Book Riot article)

Transmetropolitan, Vol. 1: Back on the Street

(Hard Mode)


Backlist book (Hard: published before 2000)

Red Sister

(Hard Mode)


Revenge-seeking character (Hard: revenge as the major book plot)

Six Wakes

(Hard Mode)


Mystery plot (Hard: not primary world urban fantasy)

Wild Sign

(Hard Mode)


Comfort read (Hard: that isn’t a reread)

Tales of Nezura: Book 1: The Zevolra

(Hard Mode)


Debut novel (Hard: published in 2021)

Hellblazer, Vol. 1: Original Sins

(Hard Mode)


Cat squasher (500+ pages; Hard: 800+ pages)

Daemon Voices

(Hard Mode)


SFF-related nonfiction (Hard: published in the last 5 years)

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls

(Hard Mode)


Latinx or Latin American author (Hard: with fewer than 1000 Goodreads ratings)

Black Rain and Paper Cranes

(Hard Mode)


Self published (Hard: with fewer than 50 Goodreads ratings)

Annihilation

(Hard Mode)


Forest setting (Hard: for the entire book)

Gideon the Ninth

(Hard Mode)


Genre mashup (Hard: of three or more genres)

The Midnight Library

(Hard Mode)


Has chapter titles of more than one word (Hard: for every chapter)

An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors

(Hard Mode)


___ of ___ (Hard: and ___)

Project Hail Mary

(Hard Mode)


First contact (Hard: that doesn’t lead to war)

Black Sun

Trans or Nonbinary (Hard: protagonist)

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

(Hard Mode)


Debut author (Hard: with an AMA)

A Great and Terrible Beauty

(Hard Mode)


Witches (Hard: as the main protagonist)