Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion
2025 Read Harder Challenge
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Task 16: Read a genre-blending book.
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I learned about the sci-fi/mystery hybrid The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal over on a different reading challenge.


I'll especially be keeping my eyes out for horror blends, and historical horror in particular since I really love that stuff and have been wanting to do more, but I'm also interested in seeing any unexpected genre blend suggestions. Some of the ones I'm considering right now are The Hunger by Alma Katsu, The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson, The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker, A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal, The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas, A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlà Clark, The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard, and The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher.

This book I started but never finished. So trying to get all my DNF books actually finished using the Book Riot Challenge this year.

In addition to some of the great suggestions already made, I recommend:
Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies by Misha Popp (Cozy Mystery/Fantasy)
The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian (Cozy Mystery/Fantasy)
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older (Sci-fi/Mystery)
Brilliance by Marcus Sakey (SFF/Thriller)
I'm thinking my current bookclub pick fits this one so I'll be reading The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton.


I just finished Starter Villain last night.
I ready it because I love his writing, and it didn't disappoint. Wondering if it would fit somewhere in Read Harder and that's the only challenge that might work.



A mystery/historical fiction/crime/literary fiction with humor book

Books mentioned in this topic
Consulting Detectives (other topics)The Dark Horse (other topics)
Space Murder (other topics)
Stag Dance (other topics)
America Fantastica (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Tim O'Brien (other topics)Tananarive Due (other topics)
Misha Popp (other topics)
Gigi Pandian (other topics)
Malka Ann Older (other topics)
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Task 16: Read a genre-blending book.