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Challenges
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The 2025 Hero Challenge: Dresden Files vs. Wild Cards
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Energy Cell/Shards of Honor
Jumping Jack Flash/Call Me JJ/Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen/1 of 3
(book starts with J)
Sewer Jack/Louisiana/Bayou Magic/1 of 3
(set in Louisiana)
Sewer Jack/Subway/Tunnel 29: The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall/3 of 3
* * * Sewer Jack Recruited * * *
The Sleeper/Addict/Stranger Still: Book 2 of I Am Legion: a no-holds-barred horror-thriller that will leave you breathless/3 of 3
(drugs important to story)
* * * The Sleeper Recruited * * *
Wild CardsShagnasty/Skinwalker/Ghost Way/1of3
Main character is an American Indian (and also a shapeshifter who can heal herself, should I just binge this series?)
Shagnasty/Eruption/Maybe a nuke?/2of3
Nuclear waste from weapons production has been stored at the base of an active volcano and get out
Carnifex/Blood Bowl/Football Hero/1of3
Main character becomes a great blood bowl player, which is important in the story and on the cover
Wild CardThe Reef/ Carnifax/ Football Hero/ 3 of 3
*MC is a (former) professional athlete
Carnifax recruited
The Incandescent/ Jumpin Jack Flash/ Womanizer/ 2 of 3
*a major character is a womanizer
Villain's Vignettes: Volume 1/ Jumpin Jack Flash/ Flight/ 3 of 3
*several meta-characters can fly
Jumpin Jack Flash recruited!
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I have made it home and get a roughly month long break until the greatness that is DragonCon.
Team Dresden got 8 points, with Hayley recruiting Summer Bonus Lily. The team also got 1 Energy Cell.
Team Wild Cards scored 22 points. Audrey braved the sewers to find Sewer Jack and then checked in on the napping Sleeper.
Melanie sparred with Carnifex and then hit a concert with Jumpin' Jack Flash. The team also got 1 Energy Cell.
Go forth and read my friends.
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Fear the Fallout / Shagnasty / Maybe a Nuke / 2 of 3
*there’s a nuclear explosion, something nuclear on the cover
DresdenMoonlight and Storm / Shagnasty / Shapeshifter / 1 of 3.
There are characters who shapeshift into giant black panthers in this story, which is set in the Australian highlands.
I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of
Doom / Shagnasty / Maybe a Nuke? / 2 of 3.
A delightful story about a young woman and the guy she hires to drive her and a mysterious box to Washington, D.C. The box has a nuclear warning symbol on it and for this reason, the police, FBI, and the public in general believes the box to contain a dirty bomb and try to stop them.
The Blessing Way / Shagnasty / Ghost Way / 3 of 3.
MC is a member of the Navajo tribe and a policeman on the reservation. Shapeshifting is hinted at as part of the story, (view spoiler).
Shagnasty defeated!!
Wild CardsShagnasty/Ghost & Gambler/Shapeshifter/3of3
Several major characters are shifters (into an auklet, a unicorn and a basilisk)
Shagnasty defeated
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Follow the River / Shagnasty / Ghost Way / 3 of 3
*at least one major character is an American Indian, where Indians are important to the story
** Shagnasty Defeated **
DresdenA Contracted Spouse for the Prizefighter / Barry Tilley / Slim / 1 of 3.
FMC is tall, slender, not very curvy, and wants to be a male impersonator in live theater.
Cross / Barry Tilley / Investigator / 2 of 3.
MC is an investigator.
Trusting Miss Trentham / Barry Tilley / Don't Lie To Me / 3 of 3.
MC has a special ability to tell when someone is lying.
Barry Tilley recruited!!!
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Very few things in the Wild Cards Universe really unnerved me, but this one always did.
Next up:
The Jumpers Aug 1- Aug 31
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1. Loophole- Read a book where a major character is a lawyer, where lawyers are important to the story in some way, or with a lawyer or courthouse or courtroom on the cover.
2. STD- Read a book where a character has a sexually transmitted disease, where any kind of sexually transmitted disease is important to the story, or with any kind of couple on the cover.
3. Possession- Read a book where a character is possessed, where someone has the ability to possess someone, or with either someone possessed on the cover or “possess” or “possession” in the title.
Wild CardsCarl's Doomsday Scenario/Bagabond/Talk to the animals/2 of 3
One of the MCs is a cat/cat and velociraptor on the cover.
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This was a very uneven week.
Team Dresden got 17 points, with Pamela and Shawnie teaming up to defeat Shagnasty, and Pamela also getting Bonus Hero Agent Tilly. The team got no Energy Cells.
The Wild Cards got 5 points, mostly from Milou defeating Shagnasty. The team got 1 Energy Cell.
Still a few days left to beat Shagnasty before switching over to The Jumpers.
Go forth and read, and enjoy the summer if you get the chance.
Wild CardsI Who Have Never Known Men / Bagabond / Homeless / 2 of 3
The MC is living without a home for almost all of the book.
DresdenNattevandrerne (The Night Walkers) / Toot Toot / Summoned / 2 of 3
- There is a summoning ritual (It goes horribly wrong, but doesn't summonings often do that?)
Circe / Toot Toot / Za-Lord’s Guard / 3 of 3
- someone (Circe's son, and the whole island) is under protection.
*** Toot Toot recruited ***
The Fury of the Gods / Michael Carpenter / Knight / 2 of 3
- someone(s) sworn to a god/ gods in the story
Fantasia ZOO / Lily / Petrified / 2 of 3
- Someone is turned to stone by a basilisk
Byen og dens usikre mur (The City and Its Uncertain Walls) / Shagnasty / Shapeshifter / 1 of 3
- Someone can change forms
Atomfrygt - 1962 (Atomic fear) / Shagnasty / Maybe a Nuke? / 2 of 3
- nuclear weapons are part of the story
Solens øje (Sun's eye) / Shagnasty / Ghost Way / 3 of 3
- Indians are important to the story
*** Shagnasty defeated ***
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Liberty's Daughter / July Bonus/ Investigator / 2 of 3
*investigating is important to the story
DresdenOnyx Storm / Molly Carpenter / The Dark Side / 2 of 3
Character does a bad thing for a good reason and falls to the dark side
Shadows of Self / Harry Dresden / Duster / 3 of 3
Someone in a long coat on the cover
*Harry Dresden recruited*
Wild CardMongrels/ Shagnasty/ Ghost Way/ 2 of 3
*MC is Native American
I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom/ Shagnasty/ Maybe a Nuke?/ 3 of 3
*a potential nuclear threat is a huge part of the plot
Shagnasty defeated!
PS: Pamela, I stole your book idea because I couldn't find one I liked that filled the nuke prompt. It was quite interesting, so thank you for finding it.
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Time to switch villains.
But, also, I'm dropping the next set of stuff for the challenge. These are good from now until the end of the year.
LOCATION BONUS
WILD CARDS
Aces High
1. Empire State Building- Read a book with a skyscraper as a major part of the story, with at least one major scene set in a skyscraper, or a very tall building on the cover.
2. Restaurant- Read a book set in a restaurant, with at least one major scene in a restaurant, or with some kind of restaurant on the cover.
3. Fatman- Read a book where a major character is notably overweight, where someone’s weight is important to the story, or with someone overweight or exceptionally large on the cover.
Bowery Wild Card Museum
1. Museum- Read a book where a museum is a major part of the story, with at least one major scene set in a museum, or with a museum on the cover or “museum” in the title.
2. Local Business- Read a book where a small local business is a big part of the story, where a local business is the site of at least one major scene, or with “business” in the title or a small business on the cover.
3. Historical Scenes- Read a book where history is important to the story, where someone teaches history, or with “history” in the title or a historical event on the cover.
Jokertown
1. Slums- Read a book set in a poor neighborhood or town, where an area that people are forced to live is important to the story, or with some kind of place where poor people live on the cover.
2. New York City- Read a book set in New York City, with at least on major scene in New York City, or with something from or in New York City on the cover.
3. Jokertown Clinic- Read a book set in a hospital or clinic, with at least one major scene in a hospital or clinic, or with some kind of medical facility on the cover.
Dresden Files
Harry’s Apartment
1. Basement- Read a book where a basement or cellar is important to the story, with at least one important scene in a basement or cellar, or with some kind of underground setting on the cover.
2. Bookshelves- Read a book where books are important to the story, with at least one major scene set in a library, or with books or bookshelves on the cover.
3. Trap Door- Read a book where a trap door is used, where a hidden door leads to something important, or with some kind of trap door or hatch on the cover.
The Carpenter Home
1. Tree House- Read a book where someone has a treehouse, where a treehouse is important to the story, or with a treehouse or someone climbing a tree on the cover.
2. Carpenter. No, Really- Read a book where a carpenter is important to the story, where someone has a job that matches their name in some way, or with a carpenter or someone building something on the cover.
3. Big Family- Read a book where someone comes from a large family, where a big family is important to the story, or with a big family on the cover.
Sanit Mary of the Angels
1. Church- Read a book where a church or temple or anything along those lines is important to the story, where someone’s religion is important to the story, or with a church/temple/mosque etc. on the cover.
2. Holy Ground- Read a book where a place is sacred to a person or group, where someplace has a special quality that protects people, or with some kind of protection being offered on the cover.
3. Bell Towers- Read a book where bells are important to the story, where something important happens in a tower, or with a tower or a bell on the cover, or “tower” or “bell” in the title.
Wild Cards choose Jean-Claude as our first Portal Hero
DresdenLily/Petrified/A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping1 of 3
Someone gets turned to stone briefly.
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So it is written, so it is done
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Another somewhat uneven week.
Team Dresden got 20 points. Johanne got in a defeat of Shagnasty and went for pizza with Toot Toot. Hayley talked magic with Harry Dresden himself. The team also got 3 Energy Cells.
The Wild Cards put up 7 points, with Melanie getting in the last defeat of Shagnasty. The team also got 1 Energy Cell, and picked Jean-Claude for their Portal Hero.
Wild CardsFake Dating the Dragon/Bowery Wild Card Museum/Local Business/1 of 3
Small independent bookshop is important to the story.
Dresden***Susan Rodriquez Recruited**
Susan Rodriquez/Reporter/The Haunting of Room 904/3 of 3
A major character is a reporter.
Wild CardsCarnifex/Lumina/That all you got?/3of3
Main character and the rest of the Julhuan can magically heal others
Carnifex completed
The Jumpers/Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun/Loophole/1of3
Finlay is sleeping with a lawyer
The Jumpers/Ruthless Vows/STD/2of3
Couple on the cover
The Jumpers/The Mask of Aribella/Possession/3of3
(view spoiler)
The Jumpers defeated
Wild CardsHigh Performance: Lessons from the Best on Becoming Your Best/Carnifex/Football Hero/2 of 3
Sports and high performance sporting people figure quite strongly in this book.
Wild Cards Resurrection/Carnifex/Cocky/3 of 3
Several very cocky/overconfident characters.
***Carnifex recruited***
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Carnifex/Football Hero/Extreme Danger/1 of 3
(sports part of story, sports on cover)
Carnifex/Cocky/A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court/2 of 3
(several overly confident characters)
Jumping Jack Flash/Flight/Seraphina/2 of 3
(some characters can fly)
Bagabond/Homeless/Growing Home/3 of 3
("home" in title)
* * * Bagabond Recruited * * *
Captain Trips/Just Say Yes/I Am Not Thirteen/3 of 3
(several major characters use drugs)
* * * Captain Trips Recruited * * *
The Great and Powerful Turtle/Telekinetic/The Bad Place/3 of 3
(character has telekinesis)
* * * The Great and Powerful Turtle Recruited * * *
Peregrine/Wingspan/The Spellshop/3 of 3
(some characters can fly)
* * * Peregrine Recruited * * *
Dresden FilesFalse Witness / The Jumpers / Loophole /1 of 3.
MC is a lawyer.
The Crux / The Jumpers / STD / 2 of 3. MC is a young woman whose fiancé does not share with her, the result of his wilder days.
Mine to Possess / The Jumpers / Possession / 3 of 3.
"Possess" is in the title.
The Jumpers defeated!!!
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Apparently, 4 hours was enough sleep for the night.
This was another really uneven week.
Dresden Folks got 10 points, with Christina visiting the newsroom with Susan Rodriguez and Pamela defeating the Jumpers. The team also got 1 Energy Cell.
The Wild Cards turned in some impressive numbers for grand total of 35 points. Milou got in the first defeat of the Jumpers, she and Vinca went to the dojo with Carnifex, and then Audrey went on quite a tour, recruiting Bagabond, Captain Trips, the Great and Powerful Turtle, and Peregrine. The team got no Energy Cells.
Enjoy summer folks. Go forth and read.
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I already did this and Goodreads ate it.
In a very uneven week:
Team Dresden got 10 points and 1 Energy Cell, with Christina going to the newsroom with Susan Rodriguez and Pamela defeating the Jumpers. The team also got 1 Energy Cell.
The Wild Cards impressively came in at 35 points. Milou got the first defeat of the Jumpers, then she and Vinca went to the dojo with Carnifex. Then Audrey went on quite the impressive tour, recruiting Bagabond, Captain Trips, the Great and Powerful Turtle, and Peregrine. The team got no Energy Cells.
Enjoy summer, folks. Go forth and read.
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*books are important to the story
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*a character is possessed and someone has the ability to possess someone
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Carnifex/That You All Got?/Miracles in the ER: Extraordinary Stories from a Doctor's Journal/3 of 3
(injured person on cover)
* * * Carnifex Recruited * * *
I forgot to post yesterday.
DresdenThe Sunlit Man / energy cell
The Wolf King / Will Borden / Werewolf / 2 of 3
Most of the werewolves are important to the story, most of the characters are werewolves and a wolf on the cover
A Court of Thorns and Roses / The Carpenter Home / Big Family / 1 of 3
A major character comes from a big family, he has 7 brothers
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*power of some kind is transferred from one character to another, someone can take someone else’s powers
Wild CardsThe Rest is Death/Black Shadow/So cold and dark/2 of 3
One of the characters gets hypothermia.
DresdenTyrant's Throne / Donald Morgan / Lawful Good / 2 of 3
Laws are important to all the greatcoats
Dragons & Jetpacks
Books mentioned in this topic
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Dungeon Crawler Carl/Carnifex/That all you got?/1 of 3
Carl can heal faster than normal.