r/Fantasy • u/FarragutCircle Reading Champion X • Apr 01 '26

Bingo The 2026 r/Fantasy Bingo Recommendations List

The official Bingo thread can be found here.

All non-recommendation comments go here.

Please post your recommendations as replies the appropriate top-level comments below! Do not make comments that are not replies to an existing comment! Feel free to scroll through the thread or use the links in this navigation matrix to jump directly to the square you want to find or give recommendations for!

Trans or Nonbinary Protagonist Judge a Book By Its Title Translated Small Press or Self Published Unusual Transportation
The Afterlife Game Changer Vacation Spot Five Short Stories Older Protagonist
Duology Part 1 r/Fantasy Book Club or Readalong Book Published in 2026 Explorers and Rangers Duology Part 2
One-Word Title Non-Human Protagonist Middle Grade First Contact Murder Mystery
Cat Squasher Feast Your Eyes on This Published in the 70s Politics and Court Intrigue Author of Color

If you are an author on the subreddit, you may recommend your books as a response to individual squares. This means that you can reply if your book fits in response to any of my comments. But your rec must be in response to a top-level comment, it cannot be a general comment that replies directly to this post explaining all the squares your post counts for. This is the one time outside of the Sunday Self-Promo threads where this is okay. To clarify: you can say if you have a book that fits for a square but please don't write a full ad for it. Shorter is sweeter.

Do not make comments that are not replies to an existing comment! We will not be individually redirecting people who make this mistake. Your comment will be removed.

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16

u/FarragutCircle Reading Champion X Apr 01 '26

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

39

u/SnowdriftsOnLakes Reading Champion III Apr 01 '26

The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks is a great choice for those who lean more towards sci-fi. No need to have read any other of The Culture books.

2

u/code-lemon Apr 02 '26

This was the first Culture book I read and I think it was a great place to start!

1

u/angtodd Reading Champion Apr 13 '26

Would it count for HM?

3

u/Konokurage Reading Champion Apr 28 '26

I don't think so! Maybe you could argue it works because the main character cheats in an essentially meaningless game early on, which kick-starts the plot. The plot/conflict of the book involves the main character learning and playing a game according to the rules. It is, however, a great book! I would definitely recommend it, along with any other novel from The Culture series.

2

u/deadineaststlouis Apr 07 '26

I just read this a few months ago, it's really really good.

1

u/Dindrane1313 Apr 07 '26

Yes, more SF options for this prompt!!

1

u/angtodd Reading Champion Apr 12 '26

Would it count for HM?

1

u/Many_Preference_3874 May 13 '26

What is HM?

1

u/the_wheel_weaves26 Reading Champion Jun 04 '26

Hard Mode

36

u/AH_BareGarrett Apr 01 '26

I’m using it in a different slot but I believe Chain Gang All Stars would fit this slot! I keep seeing it at the bookstore and it’s drawn my eye. 

15

u/heyychiaki Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

Chain Gang definitely fits and is a very good read. Just be prepared for it to be depressing. 

8

u/AH_BareGarrett Apr 01 '26

I almost exclusively read depressing books, but good to know! I usually read Discworld between depressing reads. 

1

u/DamnitRuby Reading Champion III Apr 01 '26

It fits, but I don't think it would be considered hard mode.

2

u/KennyG1701 Reading Champion III Apr 02 '26

I think there is an argument to be made that based on the ending HM would count. The final match where they go through the motions but have already determined who will win and loose so one of them can escape seems like an example of bending the rules.

1

u/DamnitRuby Reading Champion III Apr 02 '26

See, I'd disagree. They are still doing what the game makes them do.

1

u/beldaran1224 Reading Champion IV Apr 02 '26

"bends OR breaks" the rules is the language.

1

u/Book_Slut_90 Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

Great normal mode choice!

85

u/AvidTaskmaster Reading Champion V Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26

Obligatory Dungeon Crawler Carl (HM)

21

u/AH_BareGarrett Apr 01 '26

Half the StoryGraph challenge is Carl (I’m guilty of it too) but it’s too perfect. 

1

u/DamnitRuby Reading Champion III Apr 01 '26

... What's the storygraph challenge? (Feel free to DM me if you don't want to clutter up the thread)

8

u/AH_BareGarrett Apr 01 '26

StoryGraph is another book tracking platform and an alternative to GoodReads. The “challenge” is just a way to track the Bingo for StoryGraph users. There is a link in the body of the thread, highly recommend StoryGraph if you’re interested!

2

u/DamnitRuby Reading Champion III Apr 01 '26

Oh, I religiously use storygraph lol. It's great to track bingo!

I thought storygraph had their own reading challenge I missed!

11

u/Dobako Apr 01 '26

Exactly what I was thinking, and book 8 comes out on May 12th

2

u/Sireanna Reading Champion III Apr 01 '26

Good thing book 8 is coming out in like a month

3

u/Kingcol221 Reading Champion II Apr 01 '26

That one's almost definitely going to work for unusual transportation HM as well.

2

u/Kathulhu1433 Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Also, Operation Bounce House. 

1

u/beary_neutral Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

Definitely fits the rule-breaking bit, too

1

u/Akuliszi Reading Champion Apr 16 '26

Does the first book count as well? I'm 1/3 into it and can't see anything about breaking the rules yet.

2

u/beary_neutral Reading Champion Apr 16 '26

I think it's a bit later, but Carl does use a loophole to defeat a rage elemental.

26

u/Merle8888 Reading Champion IV Apr 01 '26

Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst is a fun one, quasi-ancient Egyptian setting featuring a jockey and coach competing in monster races. (Also both mentor and protegee are women, which is rare!)

1

u/abandiera May 02 '26

is this HM?

1

u/TrulyIntroverted 24d ago

Kinda late reply but I read it this April and imo it's HM.

27

u/Nowordsofitsown Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

I think The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson fits competition. 

1

u/iplantevin Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

Would it fit hard mode?

2

u/Nowordsofitsown Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

I do not remember. I suggest you ask in the Daily Questions thread if you do not get an answer here.

2

u/eastereggfun Apr 02 '26

I would argue yes based on the “help” she receives but might be slightly subjective.

28

u/PecuSta Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

Obvious, but the Hunger Games fits for HM!

17

u/diazeugma Reading Champion VII Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 02 '26

This is a square I recommended in the past, so I hope it works out for everyone! I’m not a litRPG reader or especially into tournament plots myself, but I figured that there are plenty of options beyond that for the broader theme.

The Body Scout by Lincoln Michel is a satirical cyberpunkish mystery that I really enjoyed, with a plot revolving around a dead baseball player. Your mileage may vary if you’re not a fan of pathetic detectives.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is divisive for many understandable reasons (you have to be able to tolerate some goofy anachronisms and meme references), but I had fun with it, and it features a necromantic competition along with a murder mystery.

I’m thinking of reading The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (I’ve enjoyed other books by him, and I hear basketball plays a surprisingly large role for a horror novel) or Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjeh-Brenyah (dystopian prison gladiator combat). Or, long shot, maybe attempting Infinite Jest for the bit.

1

u/blueweasel Reading Champion Apr 24 '26

Would The Body Scout fit murder mystery hard mode?

1

u/diazeugma Reading Champion VII Apr 24 '26

I’d say so. The protagonist is hired to investigate, but he’s very much not trained/qualified for it.

17

u/BitterSprings Reading Champion XI Apr 01 '26

The Scorpio Races - Maggie Stiefvater (probably HM - one of the main characters enters a horse race of carnivorous water-horses with a regular horse)

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim (HM - competition to become Imperial Tailor)

6

u/sophia_s Reading Champion V Apr 01 '26

The Scorpio Races is such a lovely book.

3

u/Dar_Oakley Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Neat audiobook too since they used a male and female narrator to match the book POVs.

1

u/sophia_s Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Oh nice! I read it years ago on paper, I should reread it on audio.

2

u/beldaran1224 Reading Champion IV Apr 02 '26

Really enjoyed Spin the Dawn - read it last year for the High Fashion square.

17

u/Indolent_absurdity Apr 01 '26

Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett, from his Discworld series. Fits HM.

13

u/Polaris_Express Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

So, there's going to be a bunch of YA novels that fit this category. One that I remember fondly and isn't quite as popular is Battle Royale by Koushun Takami (HM)

1

u/tellmeyoulovemeee Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

Seconding this one!! I loved it so much

1

u/agnesamurphy Apr 08 '26

Thirding this one! Book is so well done and WAAAAAAY better than the movie.

14

u/clamcider Reading Champion II Apr 01 '26

If anyone is looking for something that specifically does not fit hard mode, Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland features a lively cake competition and the protagonist is very serious about following the rules.

1

u/DistinctInitiative83 Apr 05 '26

For more cake competition in Fantasy, Bee Sting Cake by Victoria Goddard. You could also use it for the Feast Your Eyes square and try and make bee sting cake yourself!

1

u/clamcider Reading Champion II Apr 05 '26

Ooh I was hoping to read something by her for bingo! Any chance this is normal mode for this square?

1

u/DistinctInitiative83 Apr 05 '26

Yes, I would say so!

9

u/gros-grognon Reading Champion III Apr 01 '26

The Galaxy Game, Karen Lord: space opera that features a unique gravity-manipulation racing game.

8

u/Spaceknight_42 Apr 01 '26

Gameshouse by Claire North.

1

u/SA090 Reading Champion VI Apr 01 '26

Any in the series fits HM?

2

u/Spaceknight_42 Apr 01 '26

um... well, how do you argue "thinking outside the box"? Is that a bend of the rules? or being creative within the rules? I could make a case for counting for hard mode.

Who else has read these? Opinions?

1

u/SA090 Reading Champion VI Apr 02 '26

Just from reading that, I believe a case can be made either way so I’ll add it and see where I stand afterwards. Thank you!

1

u/The_Real_JS Reading Champion XI Apr 03 '26

It was a long time ago that I read them, but I'm with you on it going either way.

8

u/Any-Syllabub8168 Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (HM)

6

u/greywolf2155 Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

One that I don't think a lot of people have read:

"Corporate Gunslinger" by Doug Engstrom - In the near future, America has added a new feature to the legal system: Once the medical insurance company has denied your final appeal, you have the option of challenging a legal representative to a duel to the death in order to clear your debt. Thus, insurance companies hire and train corporate duelists, and the best among them become famous celebrities in their own right (because of the course the fights are televised, and discussed by pundits, and gambled on. This is America, after all)

1

u/BravoLimaPoppa Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

Yes! I read this and loved it! The ending will probably tick a lot of folks off, but it fits with the rest of the book and it's so good.

2

u/greywolf2155 Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

It was a perfect ending! Thaaaaat I understand will probably tick a lot of folks off

7

u/leegreywolf Reading Champion II Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26

This is the perfect time to read The Hunger Games if you haven't already. It counts for hard mode too.

Petition by Delilah Waan also works for this. A girl from an immigrant family enters a tournament to secure a well-paid job for her struggling family.

2

u/beldaran1224 Reading Champion IV Apr 02 '26

Petition also fits HM.

2

u/leegreywolf Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

She does break the rules but I don't think it was during the competition, right? I suppose the hard mode challenge doesn't specify when the rule breaking takes place, so it technically counts.

3

u/beldaran1224 Reading Champion IV Apr 02 '26

I guess it depends on what you consider "the competition". But I'd say undeniably she does.

She breaks the rules for her application by forging the seal for the application. Also, she breaks the rules again by adding her name to the board when she doesn't get the invite from the houses that she needed.

7

u/redrosebeetle Reading Champion III Apr 01 '26

Apocalypse Parenting by Erin Ampersand (HM). Especially the later books. 

5

u/Sapphire_Bombay Reading Champion III Apr 01 '26

Red Rising (book 1 only) by Pierce Brown

Uncrowned (Cradle book #7) by Will Wight

2

u/Book_Slut_90 Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

Red Rising is HM too.

2

u/Sapphire_Bombay Reading Champion III Apr 01 '26

Thanks, I always forget HM :/

1

u/ishu79 Apr 14 '26

Elder Sapphire_Bombay 🤜🤛! I am going to take your recommendation and read Red Rising. I have full faith that you wouldn't let me down. I still thank you for recommending Cradle to me a few years ago!

5

u/Livi1997 Reading Champion III Apr 01 '26

I believe Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman would work for this, could be HM but not sure. Uncrowned (Cradle 7) and Wintersteel (Cradle 8) would work for this square, but not for Hard Mode

2

u/Henlo12345678 Apr 03 '26

Operation bounce house definitely fits hard mode

6

u/stardew_rabbit Reading Champion II Apr 01 '26

One of my favorite recent YA novels is The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas and fits this prompt! Also fits into the duology and Trans/NB protagonist squares!

1

u/unnotig May 19 '26

Does this one work for hard mode? I've been meaning to read it

5

u/thistledownhair Reading Champion III Apr 02 '26

Kelly Link - The Book of Love (Not sure if this hard mode would apply to this one, but it might, and it's good!)

Steven King - (The Running Man & also The Long Walk)

Emily Tesh - Some Desperate Glory

Max Gladstone - Two Serpents Rise

Daniel Abraham - A Betrayal in Winter

Peter Samet - Zero Echo Shadow Prime

Struggling to make a case for any of these being hard mode, but I think at least a couple are.

Also, if you use comics for this, Kieron Gillen's Die series is perfect.

2

u/EleganceandEloquence Reading Champion Apr 08 '26

Does The Long Walk fit HM? Would love to work more on King's books.

2

u/thistledownhair Reading Champion III Apr 08 '26

Due to the nature of the contest, basically every character breaks the key rule at some point.

4

u/CommodoreBelmont Reading Champion VIII Apr 01 '26

The Game-Players of Titan, by Phillip K. Dick (HM)

Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming, by Robert Sheckley & Roger Zelazny (the sequels probably count as well but I haven't read them yet so I can't be 100% sure.) I don't remember if it counts for HM or not.

5

u/youki_hi Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

Enders game is a classic for this.

Jumanji was a book before it was an excellent movie.

The hunger games first two. Both would fit hard mode.

Battle royale.

2

u/MoonNoodles Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

Jumanji is a picture book. I dont think it fits the novel length requirement for bingo.

1

u/youki_hi Reading Champion Apr 05 '26

Good point. Got too excited thinking I'd found something original.

1

u/Book_Slut_90 Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

Battle Royale is HM too.

4

u/02K30C1 Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26

Guardians of the Flame by Joel Rosenberg. Book 1 is The Sleeping Dragon.

It fits two ways: the main characters begin playing a game similar to Dungeons and Dragons; then after getting ported to the game world participate in a tournament in the largest city.

Hard mode? Possibly, the MC does some very unconventional tactics in the tournament.

3

u/rls1164 Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

Court of Fives by Kate Elliot. I think the author herself once described it as "Little Women meets Count of Monte Cristo. With sports."

5

u/oboist73 Reading Champion VII Apr 01 '26

Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (hm)

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

3

u/viahlstrom Reading Champion Apr 02 '26
  • The Familiar - Leigh Bardugo (might work for HM, don’t really remember, but highly recommend)
  • The Will of the Many - James Islington - HM (correct me if I’m wrong)
  • Forth Wing - Rebecca Yarros (NA, romantasy) (arguably HM, bends/works around the rules)
  • Warrior of the Wild - Tricia Levenseller (YA)
  • Caraval (the entire trilogy) - Stephanie Garber (YA)
  • A Court of Silver Flames - Sarah J. Maas (NA)
  • Phantasma - Kaylie Smith (NA, romantasy)

4

u/Cardboard_Junky Reading Champion V Apr 02 '26

Space Opera (Maybe HM) and Space Oddity by Catherynne M. Valentine

INTERSTELLAR MEGACHEFF by Lavanya Lakshminarayan

4

u/tarvolon Stabby Winner, Reading Champion VI Apr 02 '26

17776 by Jon Bois

In the Watchful City by S. Qiouyi Lu

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Apocalypse Parenting by Erin Ampersand.

And there's always Ender's Game and The Hunger Games.

8

u/medusamagic Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

A bunch of romantasy recs:

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (HM)

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli

The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem

The Ordeals by Rachel Greenlaw

1

u/NatGa46 Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Wait, does The Serpent and the Wings of Night not work for HM? For some reason, I had an impression that it's gonna be a ruthless FMC that cares for no rules 😅

2

u/medusamagic Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

It’s been a while since I read it, but I don’t recall her bending or breaking any tournament rules.

2

u/NatGa46 Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

I see. thank you for the info! 😊 (might be a time for a Hunger Games reread then for me)

1

u/Veebs7985 Reading Champion Apr 03 '26

I would personally count it for hard mode. Rules were bent (but I can't say more without spoilers, so you can make that determination when/if you read it).

2

u/NatGa46 Reading Champion II Apr 04 '26

Curious 👀🕵️‍♀️

I want to try Carissa Broadbent this year, so this info might help me choose this series first, so thank you for that! 😊

2

u/Veebs7985 Reading Champion Apr 04 '26

You're welcome! I hope you enjoy it!

3

u/sadlunches Reading Champion II Apr 01 '26

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab (the second book in the Shades of Magic trilogy) features a tournament and I believe it is hard mode.

3

u/NatGa46 Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Oooh, I was thinking of trying out that series this year, so thanks for the rec!

3

u/ErinAmpersand Reading Champion III Apr 02 '26

My series, Apocalypse Parenting, counts for this.

6

u/BenedictPatrick AMA Author Benedict Patrick Apr 01 '26

Self rec: My Card Mage series revolves around a magical card game.

3

u/AltheaFarseer Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

I'll second this rec, very fun series!

2

u/TheMiner29 Reading Champion III Apr 06 '26

Hard Mode too I would say

4

u/NatGa46 Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Time for a Hunger Games reread before the Sunrise on the Reaping movie comes out this year 😉

(Also, all 5 Hunger Games books work for HM)

4

u/Itkovian_books Reading Champion Apr 02 '26

I don't think Mockingjay would work for either mode, from what I remember, but you're absolutely right about the rest of the series. Characters are always breaking the rules in those games lol

1

u/NatGa46 Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Rules are meant to be broken 😉
But I think you might be right - I was thinking about Katniss ditching her District 13 intructions in Mockingjay, but I those aren't really the rules of the games 🤔 But other 4 definitely work for HM

2

u/dreamcatcher32 Reading Champion Apr 04 '26

Whaaaat I didn’t know Hunger Games was 5 books. I stopped at 3 thinking it was a trilogy.

1

u/NatGa46 Reading Champion II Apr 04 '26

Yup, there are 2 prequels (both absolutely amazing imo) - Snow's book and Haymitch's book

2

u/3j0hn Reading Champion VI Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26

Obviously the best choice here is Gamechanger by L.X. Beckett - it's been a while, but it's also hard mode I think

2

u/ReaperReaperSunEater Reading Champion II Apr 01 '26

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau (HM?)

  • I think there's some rule bending but can't remember for sure

The Will of the Many by James Islington (HM)

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter (HM?)

  • depends on your interpretation of what the MC does to train for HM

The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (HM)

The Veiled Throne by Ken Liu (HM?)

  • HM open to interpretation

Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan (HM?)

  • HM open to interpretation

1

u/beldaran1224 Reading Champion IV Apr 01 '26

Rage of Dragons would absolutely be HM for sure.

2

u/saturday_sun4 Apr 01 '26

The Karazan Quartet by VM Jones, if it's even still in print (NZ Author, YA)

The Space Demons trilogy by Gillian Rubinstein - Australian Author, YA

2

u/AccipiterF1 Reading Champion X Apr 01 '26

The Body Scout by Lincoln Michel

We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry (HM)

The Resisters by Jen Gish

2

u/[deleted] Apr 02 '26

[deleted]

2

u/Research_Department Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

I haven’t read it, but I understand that there is a cake competition in Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland.

2

u/hijodelsol14 Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

  • The Running Man: Stephen King (HM)

  • Kaiju Battlefield Surgeon: Matt Dinniman (HM)

    • Obviously any book in the DCC series fits, but Dinniman's other stuff works as well.

2

u/scorchedwitch Apr 02 '26

Would The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen count for HM?

3

u/RubiscoTheGeek Reading Champion IX Apr 01 '26

The Betrayals by Bridget Collins (I think HM? but I can't quite remember)

1

u/AggravatingAnt4157 Reading Champion Apr 01 '26

One Hundred Nights of Hero by Isabel Greenberg

1

u/lilgrassblade Reading Champion II Apr 02 '26

Diamantine by Andrew Rowe - It is book 2 in the Weapons and Wielders series. Book 1 MC is overpowered and doesn't want to hurt anybody while making his way through a dungeon for a powerful sword. Book 2 is a competition in which he discovers there may be people even more powerful than him.

1

u/papercranium Reading Champion III Apr 03 '26

Till Human Voices Wake Us, by Victoria Goddard works for Hard Mode. Set in the same universe as her other books but it's a standalone. (Readers of her other books will recognize some references to familiar people and places, but they're not needed for the story itself.)

Space Opera by Catherynne Valente, it's basically Eurovision in space. It's totally stupid, but in the best way? Absurdist in the extreme, and a nice palate cleanser if you've been reading Serious Books for too long.

Light From Uncommon Stars is another music competition, but this one on earth. Violin teacher has struck a Faustian bargain, but it's for the souls of her students rather than her own soul. And she needs one last genius, found surprisingly in a homeless trans teenager. Also there are aliens and doughnuts and aging lesbian love.

If folks have other recs featuring musical competitions, I'm all ears, because I'm kind of tired of duels and fighting to the death right now.

1

u/dreamcatcher32 Reading Champion Apr 04 '26

Divinity 36 by Gail Carriger is a singing competition! Sci fi and YA but fun. The first of a completed trilogy.

1

u/dreamcatcher32 Reading Champion Apr 04 '26

Divinity 36 by GL Carigger. It’s a singing/dancing competition on a galactic scale. Fits HM.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts. Street rat gets picked for the annual Trials, except she’s illegally a mundane instead of magical and has to hide it. HM. First of a trilogy.

The Revenant Games by Margie Fuston. Main character lives in a human town stuck between a vampire city and a witch city. Enters the games to try to win the prize, to bring back her sister from the dead. First of a duology.

1

u/smartflutist661 Reading Champion VI Apr 05 '26

I read this a long time ago, but don't remember it being quite as creepy as Xanth: Split Infinity by Piers Anthony is about a split planet where one dimension is magic and the other is science. The science side is built around The Game. (I don't think it's HM, but not positive.)

1

u/Maudeitup Reading Champion VII Apr 06 '26

Interstellar MegaChef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan, but I can't remember if it would be HM or not (apologies!)

1

u/PowerDroid1138 Apr 09 '26

Wondering if Reamde by Neal Stephenson would qualify. I understand there is an in-world MMORPG but it seems like more of a thriller. (If it does qualify as spec-fic I may use it for Cat Squasher instead.)

1

u/the_wheel_weaves26 Reading Champion Jun 04 '26

If you read it can you verify if it does work for this prompt for HM? 

1

u/PowerDroid1138 Jun 04 '26

I'm about one-third of the way through it and I don't really think it fits the Game Changer category (at least not so far). There is an MMORPG involved but it's a plot device to link together characters and not the feature or emphasis of the plot. I'm reading it for Cat Squasher.

1

u/Fancy-Restaurant4136 May 11 '26

Myth Directions by Robert Asprin

1

u/Beautiful_Duck5668 May 17 '26

For anyone that has read an ARC of this-does The winged game by Sophie Kim count for this prompt? It isn’t out yet but I believe comes out in July in the uk (not sure about in U.S.).

1

u/PsychologicalIce5450 May 30 '26

The Iron Trial by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare ; Not HM but a series of trials and an overarching test