Sinister Toys & Haunted Objects Roundup Signups

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Team Challenge (competitive & non-competitive)
Runs September 2025 - November 2025 (with an option to continue non-competitively afterward)

This year, it isn't clowns that are on the loose. Nope! This year, someone unleashed sinister toys and haunted objects throughout Goodreads! We need your help to wrangle them up. Some are worth more points or have different requirements. I wouldn't suggest peeking at other threads in this challenge. You may be sorely disappointed when you read a book, thinking you know the task, and your team gets a different task than the other team. I warned you! (I have evil plans in my head LOL!)

Your team will consult with the Toy Chest of Dread to determine which toy/object you will be assigned. It will give you a number 1-24. These tasks are NOT optional.

This year, I’ve also unleashed the Toymaker’s Whim—a haunted wheel that stirs to life when no one is watching. It governs the Carnival Claw of Fate, where all bonus tasks are locked away.

The Toymaker’s Whim decides the odds: whether a bonus task will appear or not. When one does, your team must choose—accept it or pass it. But choose wisely. FYI... bonus tasks are NOT done in chains (you're welcome).

Once a decision is made, it cannot be undone.
If you choose to complete the bonus, you must finish it before moving forward.
If you pass, the chance is gone forever.

Sign up below in teams of 3, OR let me know if you want me to assign you to a team. Also, let me know if you want a competitive or non-competitive (these teams will play a self-paced game) team. *Please note that your team cannot move on to the next toy/object if you haven't finished your books. This is a team challenge. My recommendation for a competitive team is that you can read a minimum of 1 book per week.*

I am aware that some of you are a bit squeamish. This is not a clown challenge, BUT there may be some creepy toys. You have the option to choose the no-picture version. You may also ask to have a picture removed at any time if it bothers you. I am not cruel and will not expose you to a picture that haunts you. At least, I don't think I am... nah, I wouldn't do that.

Rules
⛓️Each toy/object has specific chains that need to be completed.
Examples:
1. Create a chain of 3 using titles consecutively (ABC)
-All the Light We Cannot See
-Becoming Mrs. Lewis
-Catching Fire
2. Create a chain of 3 with "dog" in the titles
-Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
-The Dog Stars
-Hot Dog Girl
⛓️One person should NOT complete a whole chain by themselves. This is a team challenge. However, if a toy/object has multiple chains and a slower reader can only/want to only read for 1 or 2 chains (they must read at least one), then the other two faster readers on the team can complete the other chains between the two of them.
⛓️You may choose which toy/object from the list to capture first, but you MUST complete it BEFORE starting a new one.
⛓️You may use or drop articles: A, An, The
⛓️If you somehow manage to incorporate a Formal Buddy Read book into a chain, you will earn 2 bonus points. See the buddy read folder for the current book. They are also listed in the spreadsheet dropdown list (when your team has a thread & spreadsheet assigned to them).
⛓️Standard Rules Apply
⛓️At the end of the official challenge (last day of November), your team may choose to continue on at your own pace. There will be no points accumulated after November, but you can finish any toys/objects that you didn't get to during the challenge. Non-competitive teams can choose to stop any time they want or continue until they catch all the toys/objects.

Please include competitive, noncompetitive or noncompetitive individual in your signups!

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Competitive Teams (next sign up will go to team Creepshow Cabbage Patch)

C: The Marionette Mob
Anastasia
Richard
Shan A

C: Raggedy Wraiths
Sammy
Judith
Lexi

C: The Puzzle Box Posse
Lisa
Kirsten
Jackie

C: Jack-in-the-Doom
Beth
Char
C

C: The Dollhouse Dead
Jenny
Teddie
Angie

C: Wind-Up Woe
Vickie
Trisha
Claire

C: Teddy Terrors
Amanda
Jessica S
MrsGeo

C: The Cursed Jacks
Danielle
Dede
Jessica

C: Haunted Hobby Horses
Carrie ghosted
Jayme
Risa
Christene

C: Creepshow Cabbage Patch
Princesspint ghosted
Christene (moved to Haunted Hobby Horses)
[Empty spot]


Non-Competitive Teams
NC: The Fraidy Cats
Alyana
Kari
Michelle Empty Nest

NC: The Trinket Takers
Trio
Janeylou
Caipi

NC: The Toy Chest Terrors
Teresa
Benedicte
Alaina

NC: The Poltergeist Playthings
Kat
RachelG
Michelle (msg 32)

NC: Chattering Clown Teeth
Michalina
Natalia
Daria


Non-Competitive Individual Players
Esther
Bubbles

[❡MaRisa]

In!

[Claire]

I’m in.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Please include how you want to play in your signup. I will allow competitive, noncompetitive and non competitive individual signups. You can also ask for no pictures if you are squeamish (or to ask for any pictures to be removed at any time).

[Shan ~A~]

I'm in competitive

[Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer]

I'm ready to join team challenges again now that my health issues have calmed down. In for competitive!

[❡MaRisa]

I'd like to join a competitive team.

[RachelG.]

I would like to join a non-competitive team, please.

[Anastasia]

Shan ~A~ wrote: "I'm in competitive"
Hi Shan, can I join you?

[Shan ~A~]

Anastasia wrote: "Shan ~A~ wrote: "I'm in competitive"
Hi Shan, can I join you?"

You know it! I should have asked if you were joining before signing up.

[Anastasia]

Shan ~A~ wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "Shan ~A~ wrote: "I'm in competitive"
Hi Shan, can I join you?"

You know it! I should have asked if you were joining before signing up."
Just need one more to make up a team. Does anyone want to join me and Shan to make up a competitive team?

[Kat]

I’m in non competitive

[Princesspint]

I'm in, competitive please

[Carrie]

I would like to sign up for competitive team please.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I'll sign up for competitive.

[Alyana]

Michelle's Empty Nest wrote: "I'm ready to join team challenges again now that my health issues have calmed down. In for competitive!"

Hi Michelle, can I join you?

[christene_littlelibrary]

Sign up for competitive team

[Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer]

Alyana wrote: "Michelle's Empty Nest wrote: "I'm ready to join team challenges again now that my health issues have calmed down. In for competitive!"

Hi Michelle, can I join you?"


Absolutely!! 😊

[Richard]

Anastasia wrote: "Does anyone want to join me and Shan to make up a competitive team?"

Can I join you 2?

[Anastasia]

Richard wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "Does anyone want to join me and Shan to make up a competitive team?"

Can I join you 2?"
Of course you can! Yay, we have our old team together again

[Richard]

Anastasia wrote: "Yay, we have our old team together again"

☺️

[Alyana]

Michelle's Empty Nest wrote: "Alyana wrote: "Michelle's Empty Nest wrote: "I'm ready to join team challenges again now that my health issues have calmed down. In for competitive!"

Hi Michelle, can I join you?"


Absolutely!! 😊"

Yay! 😊

[Sammy]

Judith, Lexi and I would like to sign up as a competitive team please.

[Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer]

Alyana and I are going to switch to NC and Kari will be joining us. Thanks!

[Kari]

Signing up NC with Alyana and Michelle. Thank you!

[Beth]

Signing up for a competitive team with C and Char. I think they still need to pop over and sign up.

[Char]

Signing up with Beth and C!

[Shan ~A~]

Richard wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "Does anyone want to join me and Shan to make up a competitive team?"

Can I join you 2?"

I'm doing a happy dance right now!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

I'm in for a very non-competitive, relaxed team.

[C]

Signing up with Char and Beth! (Messages 27 and 28)

[Michelle]

I would like to join a team and I can go wherever I'm needed.. Competitive or non competitive is fine with me.

[Trio]

signing up for non-competitive with Janeylou and Caipi - they'll be along shortly to sign up as well

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Just a reminder: when you play my challenges, I ask that if your profile is set to private that you friend me so that I am able to message you during the challenge. This is important for many reasons. Sometimes it affects game play but usually it is because I have to step in when your teammates cannot reach you.

Lisa is also moderating this challenge, so please friend her as well
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Now let's have fun!!!

[Jenny]

Competitive team for Angie, Teddie and Jenny please!

They will sign up soon.

[Teddie]

I'll be hiding behind Jenny and Angie for this one

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Whatever for? It’s just some toys and miscellaneous objects.

[Teddie]

With a devilish puppetmaster :)

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Devilish? Me? Surely you can’t be talking about me.

[Angie ☯]

Jenny wrote: "Competitive team for Angie, Teddie and Jenny please!

They will sign up soon."

Late to the party! I'm in - with these guys!

[Vicki]

I'm in with Claire and Trisha. When Trisha signs up, she'll let you know whether we have decided on competitive or non-competitive.

[Trisha]

I'm in with Claire and Vicki!

and we'd like to try competitive!

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Please make sure all team members sign up here and set up notifications. This will ensure that signups and team setup goes smoother as well as future announcements.

[Benedicte, Bookmark First, Ask Later]

Teresa, could I join your relaxed non-competitive team? 😉

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Benedicte wrote: "Teresa, could I join your relaxed non-competitive team? 😉"

Sure!

[Janeylou]

Im in with Trio ( #33) & Caipi please

Can only manage non- competive please, not finished Clowns yet 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️😄😄

[Alaina]

I'm in! I'd like to join a non-competitive team please!

[Amanda]

I'll be in with Jessica S. when she pops around and we might have one more. I'm pretty sure we'll go competitive

[Kirsten]

I would like to play competitive (at least to start) with my awesome former teammates Jackie and MN Lisa.

[Jackie]

I’m in with Kirsten and MN Lisa please. Competitive.