I made it*!
My original goal was to finish all 25 books on the Book Bingo card, every one of them on hardmode. With two exceptions, I made it (see below). You can click any book to read my review:
2021 Book Bingo
 Hard Mode ✓ Five SFF Short Stories Any short story as long as there are five of them. Hard Mode: Read an entire SFF anthology or collection. |  by R.F. Kuang Hard Mode ✓ Set in Asia Any book set in Asia or an analogous fantasy setting that is based on a real-world Asian setting. Hard Mode: Written by an Asian author. |  Hard Mode ✓ A Selection from the r/Fantasy A to Z Genre Guide Any book listed in our A to Z Genre Guide. Hard Mode: A book by a BIPOC author. |  by T.J. Klune Hard Mode ✓ Found Family Or as TV Tropes calls it - Family of Choice. Often not biologically related, these relationships in a group typically form through bonds of shared experiences and become as important (in some cases more) as family members. Hard Mode: Featuring an LGBTQ+ character as a member of the found family. |  Hard Mode ✓ First Person POV Defined as: a literary style in which the narrative is told from the perspective of a narrator speaking directly about themselves. Link for examples. Hard Mode: There is more than one perspective, but each perspective is written in First Person. |
 Book Club OR Readalong Book Any past or active r/Fantasy book clubs count as well as past or active r/Fantasy readalongs. See our full list of book clubs here. Hard Mode: Must read a current selection of either a book club or readalong and participate in the discussion. |  by Mary Norton Hard Mode ✓ New to You Author This would be an author whose work you’ve yet to read, meaning no novel, no novella, no short fiction, etc. Hard Mode: Not only have you never read their work before but you’ve not heard much about this author or their work before deciding to try a book by them. |  Hard Mode ✓ Gothic Fantasy Gothic Fantasy is similar to Gothic Fiction but it includes fantasy elements or settings. Gothic Fiction is “a style of writing that is characterized by elements of fear, horror, death, and gloom, as well as romantic elements, such as nature, individuality, and very high emotion. These emotions can include fear and suspense.” (Source) Here is a good ‘introductory post’ on Gothic Fantasy for further reading from Book Riot. Hard Mode: NOT one of the ten titles listed in the Book Riot article. |  by Warren Ellis Hard Mode ✓ Backlist Book For our purposes we’re considering ‘backlist’ an author’s older titles that are not their latest published book or part of a currently running series (no further sequels announced when you read it). The author must also be a currently publishing author. Hard Mode: Published before the year 2000. |  Hard Mode ✓ Revenge-Seeking Character Book has a character whose main motivation in the story is revenge. Hard Mode: Revenge is central to the plot of the entire book. |
 by Mur Lafferty Hard Mode ✓ Mystery Plot The main plot of the book centers around solving a mystery. Hard Mode: Not a primary world Urban Fantasy (secondary world urban fantasy is okay!) |  Hard Mode ✓ Comfort Read This is one of those ‘personal to you’ squares. Any book that brings you comfort while reading it. You can use a reread on this square and it WON’T count for your ‘1 reread’. Hard Mode: Don’t use a reread, find a brand new comfort read! |  Hard Mode ✓ Published in 2021 A book published for the first time in 2021 (no reprints or new editions). Hard Mode: It’s also a debut novel–as in it’s the author’s first published novel. |  by Jamie Delano Hard Mode ✓ Cat Squasher: 500+ Pages Time to go tome hunting–find a book that is over 500 pages in length. Hard Mode: Lion Squasher - a book that is over 800 pages. |  Hard Mode ✓ SFF-Related Nonfiction Back by popular demand! Any nonfiction book that is related to SFF. Could be a book about the history of something in SFF, writing SFF, essays from a SFF writer, etc. Hard Mode: Published within the last five years. |
 by Kaela Rivera Hard Mode ✓ Latinx or Latin American Author Author is from Latin America or of Latinx/Hispanic heritage. Hard Mode: Book has fewer than 1000 Goodreads ratings. |  by R.S. Craig Hard Mode ✓ Self-Published Only self-published novels will count for this square. If the novel has been picked up by a publisher as long as you read it when it was self-pubbed it will still count. Hard Mode: Self-pubbed and has fewer than 50 ratings on Goodreads. |  Hard Mode ✓ Forest Setting This setting must be used be for a good portion of the book. Hard Mode: The entire book takes place in this setting. |  by Tamsyn Muir Hard Mode ✓ Genre Mashup A book that utilizes major elements from two or more genres. Examples: a romance set in a fantasy world, a book that combines science fiction and fantasy, etc. Hard Mode: Three or more genres are combined. |  by Matt Haig Hard Mode ✓ Has Chapter Titles A book where each chapter has a title (other than numbers or just a character’s name). Hard Mode: Chapter title is more than a single word FOR EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER |
 Hard Mode ✓ Title: _____ of _____ The title of the book must feature the format X of Y. Example: The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier. Hard Mode: _____ of ______ and ________. Format of title must be X of Y and Z. |  by Andy Weir Hard Mode ✓ First Contact From Wikipedia: Science Fiction about the first meeting between humans and extraterrestrial life, or of any sentient species’ first encounter with another one, given they are from different planets or natural satellites. Hard Mode: War does not break out as a result of contact. |  Trans or Nonbinary Character A book featuring a trans or nonbinary character that isn’t an alien or a robot. Hard Mode: This character is a main protagonist. |  Hard Mode ✓ Debut Author An author’s debut novel or novella. Hard Mode: The author has participated in an AMA. AMA List linked here. |  by Libba Bray Hard Mode ✓ Witches A book featuring witches. Note - characters practicing what is traditionally in their culture referred to as witchcraft would also count. For example brujos or brujas would count for this square. Hard Mode: A witch is a main protagonist. |
Full categories
Five SFF Short Stories
Any short story as long as there are five of them.
Hard Mode: Read an entire SFF anthology or collection.
Set in Asia
Any book set in Asia or an analogous fantasy setting that is based on a real-world Asian setting.
Hard Mode: Written by an Asian author.
A Selection from the r/Fantasy A to Z Genre Guide
Any book listed in our A to Z Genre Guide.
Hard Mode: A book by a BIPOC author.
Found Family
Or as TV Tropes calls it - Family of Choice. Often not biologically related, these relationships in a group typically form through bonds of shared experiences and become as important (in some cases more) as family members.
Hard Mode: Featuring an LGBTQ+ character as a member of the found family.
First Person POV
Defined as: a literary style in which the narrative is told from the perspective of a narrator speaking directly about themselves. Link for examples.
Hard Mode: There is more than one perspective, but each perspective is written in First Person.
Book Club OR Readalong Book
Any past or active r/Fantasy book clubs count as well as past or active r/Fantasy readalongs. See our full list of book clubs here.
Hard Mode: Must read a current selection of either a book club or readalong and participate in the discussion.
New to You Author
This would be an author whose work you’ve yet to read, meaning no novel, no novella, no short fiction, etc.
Hard Mode: Not only have you never read their work before but you’ve not heard much about this author or their work before deciding to try a book by them.
Gothic Fantasy
Gothic Fantasy is similar to Gothic Fiction but it includes fantasy elements or settings. Gothic Fiction is “a style of writing that is characterized by elements of fear, horror, death, and gloom, as well as romantic elements, such as nature, individuality, and very high emotion. These emotions can include fear and suspense.” (Source) Here is a good ‘introductory post’ on Gothic Fantasy for further reading from Book Riot.
Hard Mode: NOT one of the ten titles listed in the Book Riot article.
Backlist Book
For our purposes we’re considering ‘backlist’ an author’s older titles that are not their latest published book or part of a currently running series (no further sequels announced when you read it). The author must also be a currently publishing author.
Hard Mode: Published before the year 2000.
Revenge-Seeking Character
Book has a character whose main motivation in the story is revenge.
Hard Mode: Revenge is central to the plot of the entire book.
Mystery Plot
The main plot of the book centers around solving a mystery.
Hard Mode: Not a primary world Urban Fantasy (secondary world urban fantasy is okay!)
Comfort Read
This is one of those ‘personal to you’ squares. Any book that brings you comfort while reading it. You can use a reread on this square and it WON’T count for your ‘1 reread’.
Hard Mode: Don’t use a reread, find a brand new comfort read!
Published in 2021
A book published for the first time in 2021 (no reprints or new editions).
Hard Mode: It’s also a debut novel–as in it’s the author’s first published novel.
Cat Squasher: 500+ Pages
Time to go tome hunting–find a book that is over 500 pages in length.
Hard Mode: Lion Squasher - a book that is over 800 pages.
SFF-Related Nonfiction
Back by popular demand! Any nonfiction book that is related to SFF. Could be a book about the history of something in SFF, writing SFF, essays from a SFF writer, etc.
Hard Mode: Published within the last five years.
Latinx or Latin American Author
Author is from Latin America or of Latinx/Hispanic heritage.
Hard Mode: Book has fewer than 1000 Goodreads ratings.
Self-Published
Only self-published novels will count for this square. If the novel has been picked up by a publisher as long as you read it when it was self-pubbed it will still count.
Hard Mode: Self-pubbed and has fewer than 50 ratings on Goodreads.
Forest Setting
This setting must be used be for a good portion of the book.
Hard Mode: The entire book takes place in this setting.
Genre Mashup
A book that utilizes major elements from two or more genres. Examples: a romance set in a fantasy world, a book that combines science fiction and fantasy, etc.
Hard Mode: Three or more genres are combined.
Has Chapter Titles
A book where each chapter has a title (other than numbers or just a character’s name).
Hard Mode: Chapter title is more than a single word FOR EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER
Title: _____ of _____
The title of the book must feature the format X of Y. Example: The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier.
Hard Mode: _____ of ______ and ________. Format of title must be X of Y and Z.
First Contact
From Wikipedia: Science Fiction about the first meeting between humans and extraterrestrial life, or of any sentient species’ first encounter with another one, given they are from different planets or natural satellites.
Hard Mode: War does not break out as a result of contact.
Trans or Nonbinary Character
A book featuring a trans or nonbinary character that isn’t an alien or a robot.
Hard Mode: This character is a main protagonist.
Debut Author
An author’s debut novel or novella.
Hard Mode: The author has participated in an AMA. AMA List linked here.
Witches
A book featuring witches. Note - characters practicing what is traditionally in their culture referred to as witchcraft would also count. For example brujos or brujas would count for this square.
Hard Mode: A witch is a main protagonist.
The two exceptions:
- Per the rules, you can replace one square. I never quite did the book club thing, so I replaced ‘r/Fantasy Book Club (Hard: with participation)’ with a previous square: ‘Sequel: Not the First Book in the Series (2017)’.
- Black Sun meets ‘Trans or Nonbinary’, but I misread the recommendation thread before I started: xe is not a protagonist. It’s still a wonderful book and I’m glad to have read it, but I didn’t have time to read another book for this square. I’ll try to catch one next time around.
Also:
- I used graphic novels for three squares. Normally, they’d count as novellas, but in each case I read the entire (or almost entire in Hellblazer’s case) series, which was 10+ books in each case. I think that certainly brings it up and over the page / time requirements for a novel.
- I ended up reading four books in two days to finish off. Maybe I’ll make sure to finish a bit earlier next year… (maybe)
I don’t think there was a single book on the list that I hated; instead, here are some that I particularly loved and can wholeheartedly recommend you read!
- The House in the Cerulean Sea - A delightful found family / coming of age story that really tugs on your emotions
- Mexican Gothic - Slow burn collision of worlds between Mexican young woman and English gentleman turns super creepy
- Six Wakes - Closed room murder mystery IN SPACE–and the best part: with cloning, they all very well COULD HAVE DONE IT
- Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls - A quick read with Coyote myths, Latin American beasties, and a young girl that’s very well going to save the day
- Annihilation - Slice of life meets cosmic horror; exploring a weird tear without* going mad–much better than the sequels
- Gideon the Ninth - ‘Lesbian Necromancers in Space’–but really, it’s an excellent blending of necromancy and spaceships with some excellent super snarky humor
- An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors - a wonderfully weird steampunk world full of airships, crazy magic, and delightful characters
- Project Hail Mary - scientific/engineering problem solving mixed with humor as Andy Weird does best
- Black Sun - dark and beautiful pre-colonial Middle America based worldbuilding with a lot of interesting dichotomies
- The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - a slice of life deep in space chock full of fascinating alien feeling aliens and relationships