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If you think real world societies are bad (you'd be right)... get a load of *these.*

From the provocative and challenging to the emotional and quiet, Japanese literary fiction tends to be nuanced, introspective, and minimalistic. These books contain layered cultural commentary and may lean on psychological, surreal, or fantastical elements to convey their message.

Come learn about the most common animals on our planet: insects, spiders, earthworms - all the critters and bugs who share our world! For this nonfiction quest, all you need is an open mind and a love for all things mini.

For those ready to dive deeper into the genre, these books offer a range of authors and topics. Brand new to this genre? Check out Volume I for the most popular texts.

Limited Time Quest (Jan-Jun 2026): 7 stunning debuts from Simon & Schuster's flagship imprint to start the year. Read along with us as we tackle one each month. Check the pinned post in the forum to learn more about the selections.

An introduction to the Romantasy genre, these books are part of the cultural zeitgeist or the 'canon' that many would recognize. Look for more niche titles in later Starter Pack volumes.

Gather in these hallowed halls

A collection of the pilot books for popular series, for those of us who love to follow a character's journey for as long as an author will let us! Some of the below series have heavily debated starting points and book read orders--in those cases the pilot was selected based on what seems to be the most popular approach.

Fictional books that feel like a warm hug, featuring magic and whimsy and perfectly happy endings. These are lower on stakes and higher on good vibes!

From stick handling to body checks, these adult hockey romances are hot enough to melt the ice.

Books that focus on the unique complexity of queer & trans lives & relationships. Tragic stories that center queer & trans realities.

An introduction to the Romance genre, these books are part of the cultural zeitgeist or the 'canon' that many would recognize. Look for more niche titles in later Starter Pack volumes.

Dramatic battles, tense political intrigue, unique world building...and is that maybe some romance I'm sensing? These books are not Romantasy but focus primarily on the SFF elements. Romance is a subplot and may not appear until later in the series, but when it does, you won't be disappointed.

A true knight never turns down a Quest. Explore Medieval Europe with these genre-spanning books and earn your grail. Some titles are set in the transitional time from the Medieval to Early Modern period.

Do you suffer from frequent wanderlust, longing to explore cultures & history across time? Here is your ticket: tour the world with fantasy inspired by various world myths. For series, only the first book is featured.

Outcasts, rebels, and misfits unite in magical worlds. Here, strangers become chosen family, facing every challenge together and proving that home is found, not given.

This isn't Disney's little mermaid! A collection of horror, dark fiction, and gothic romances featuring mermaids.

Books that focus on the unique complexity of queer & trans lives & relationships. Tragic stories that center queer & trans realities.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Whether you love to hate or hate to love 'em, these literary bad girls are anything but well-behaved. *Disclaimer: we do not literally support the illegal and oft cruel behavior of these protagonists (usually); we support the authors bold enough to write them (always).

Books that have been adapted into TV series.

They look human...but are they? A collection of manga involving monsters who appear to be human. Only the first volume in a series is included.

Creepy crawling vines, sentient mushrooms, or a killer forest; no matter what shape they take, plants and fungi play a main part in these horror novels.

A selection of classic crime and mystery novels covering a variety of eras and authors. For especially prolific and well-known authors, only their canon works are included.

From psychedelic fever dreams to things that go bump in the night: all things queer and scary.