Nightmares and Dreamscapes discussion

Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction Book Challenge

Duration will be from April 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026.

Levels:

Spooky (Easy) - 5 books
Magical (Medium) - 10 books
Space Cadet (Hard) - 15 books

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Challenge Rules:

There are 5 prompts under each genre of Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction.

There are three tier levels of Spooky (easy), Magical (medium), and Space Cadet (hard). You can read however many books you want and you can read whatever tier level you want or if you want to be challenged you can read all three tier levels! :)

This book challenge will run for one year - from April 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026. So you have plenty of time to read whatever books you want. Also you can use however many books you want for the different prompts. If you want to read more than one book for a prompt you can. If you only want to read one book for each prompt you can. You do not have to use all the prompts under each genre unless you want to - it is totally up to you on what prompts to use and how many books you want to read. :)

For each genre of Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction you must read a book that matches the prompt.

You do not have to create a bookshelf like other groups want you to do - just grab a spot for yourself below and list out what you want for whatever tier level you might want to tackle.

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Horror prompts:

*Read a book that contains some sort of haunting
*Read a book that contains some sort of monster on land
*Read a book that contains some sort of ocean monster
*Read a book that takes place in a graveyard or cemetery
*Read a book that takes place sometime around Halloween




Fantasy prompts:

*Read a book that contains dragons
*Read a book that contains a castle
*Read a book that is magical or has some kind of magic or sorcery
*Read a book that takes place near the sea/ocean
*Read a book that contains a kingdom or has a king or queen




Science Fiction prompts:

*Read a book that takes place on another planet
*Read a book that contains some sort of spaceship
*Read a book that contains some sort of apocalyptic event
*Read a book that aliens are the main focal part of the story
*Read a book that contains some sort of mutant creature or critter from outer space


======================================

Have fun and happy reading everyone!

My spot here. I am going with the Magical tier level - 10 books. :)

9/10

Horror prompts:

*Read a book that contains some sort of haunting:
BEHIND THESE WALLS - read 4/4/2025

*Read a book that contains some sort of monster on land: The Devil's Woods - read 8/19/2025

*Read a book that contains some sort of ocean monster

*Read a book that takes place in a graveyard or cemetery:
TOMBSTONES - read 4/11/2025

*Read a book that takes place sometime around Halloween:
The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark - read 5/18/2025

Fantasy prompts:

*Read a book that contains dragons:
Fatemarked - read 4/27/2025

*Read a book that is magical or has some kind of magic or sorcery: Magician - read 8/26/2025

*Read a book that takes place near the sea/ocean:
I Have a Secret - read 7/10/2025

Science Fiction prompts:

*Read a book that contains some sort of apocalyptic event
All the Fiends of Hell - read 6/24/2025

*Read a book that contains some sort of mutant creature or critter from outer space: Blackout - read 10/28/2025

I'm intrigued and always up for a good challenge! This will be my spot to track books read.

Begin: April 1, 2025
End: April 1, 2026

0/15

Horror prompts:

*Read a book that contains some sort of haunting
*Read a book that contains some sort of monster on land
*Read a book that contains some sort of ocean monster
*Read a book that takes place in a graveyard or cemetery
*Read a book that takes place sometime around Halloween


Fantasy prompts:

*Read a book that contains dragons
*Read a book that contains a castle
*Read a book that is magical or has some kind of magic or sorcery
*Read a book that takes place near the sea/ocean
*Read a book that contains a kingdom or has a king or queen


Science Fiction prompts:

*Read a book that takes place on another planet
*Read a book that contains some sort of spaceship
*Read a book that contains some sort of apocalyptic event
*Read a book that aliens are the main focal part of the story
*Read a book that contains some sort of mutant creature or critter from outer space

Ohhhh this looks fun! I’m game! I may barely read 2 with all my running around I do but I still want to participate lol

Sounds like fun!
I signed on for 15 but realism is setting in. I'm in for 10. 😅

😱🏰🚀Nightmares and Dreamscapes Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction Challenge 2025 to 2026 😱🏰🚀

🗓️ April 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026.

Levels:

Spooky (Easy) - 5 books
Magical (Medium) - 10 books
Space Cadet (Hard) - 15 books

5/10

Horror prompts:

✔️Read a book that contains some sort of haunting: 6/28/25✔️

✔️Read a book that contains monster on land: 4/14/25 ✔️

*Read a book that contains some sort of ocean monster
*Read a book that takes place in a graveyard or cemetery
*Read a book that takes place sometime around Halloween


Fantasy prompts:

*Read a book that contains dragons
*Read a book that contains a castle
✔️Read a book that is magical or has sorcery: 2/4/ 25 ✔️

✔️Read a book that takes place near the sea/ocean: 2/22/25 ✔️

*Read a book that contains a kingdom or has a king or queen


Science Fiction prompts:

*Read a book that takes place on another planet
*Read a book that contains some sort of spaceship
✔️Read a book that contains apocalyptic event 7/30/25 ✔️

*Read a book that aliens are the main focal part of the story
*Read a book that contains some sort of mutant creature or critter from outer space

I'm in - I'm going to try for being a Space Cadet

Horror Books


Fantasy


Science Fiction
- literally just finished this the other day lol

I like this challenge and I'll sign up soon.
I just want to clarify.
If the Space Cadet level is 15 books - - does that mean 15 books per genre/prompt, or 15 total books? For example 15 = 10 horror, 3 science fiction, 2 fantasy.
I think I can do 15 total books, but not 15 books per genre/prompt.

Space Cadet = 15
All 3 Tiers
All the Prompts!

SF:

Horror:

Fantasy:

Since I am not much of a Fantasy reader. will do both Science Fiction.


Science Fiction prompts:

*Read a book that takes place on another planet
*Read a book that contains some sort of spaceship
*Read a book that contains some sort of apocalyptic event
*Read a book that aliens are the main focal part of the story
*Read a book that contains some sort of mutant creature or critter from outer space

Horror prompts:

*Read a book that contains some sort of haunting
*Read a book that contains some sort of monster on land
*Read a book that contains some sort of ocean monster
*Read a book that takes place in a graveyard or cemetery
*Read a book that takes place sometime around Halloween

Always wanted to be a space cadet: updated 1 August
Will probably hit Horror and Sci-Fi targets fairly easily (my go-to genres). But I struggle to find good Fantasy reads.j

Having said that, I'm up for a challenge and maybe I can steal ideas from you all... So here we go.
Total 4/15Cibola Burn
*********************************************************************
Science Fiction: 3/5
*takes place on another planet


*contains some sort of spaceship

Revenger

*aliens are the main focal part of the story

Roadkill

*contains some sort of mutant creature or critter from outer space

Horror: 1/5
*contains some sort of haunting

*contains some sort of monster on land

My Bones and My Flute: A Ghost Story in the Old-Fashioned Manner

*contains some sort of ocean monster
*takes place in a graveyard or cemetery
*takes place sometime around Halloween

Fantasy: 4/5
*Read a book that contains dragons

Assassin's Quest

*Read a book that contains a castle

*magical or has some kind of magic or sorcery

The Alloy of Law

*takes place near the sea/ocean

Assassin's Apprentice / Royal Assassin

*contains a kingdom or has a king or queen

Royal Assassin

Michael wrote: "I like this challenge and I'll sign up soon.
I just want to clarify.
If the Space Cadet level is 15 books - - does that mean 15 books per genre/prompt, or 15 total books? For example 15 = 10 horror..."

Hi Michael,

It is 15 books total. Not 15 books per genre. Each genre is five prompts so if you wanted to do Space Cadet (Hard) then it would be 15 prompts for the year and it would cover all three genres.

Thank you for the question. Hope I was able to clarify it. :)

Thank you all for joining the challenge - I look forward to seeing what you all pick to read for the year! :)

My spot, this looks sooo so fun!

Kasia wrote: "My spot, this looks sooo so fun!"

Yay Kas!!! :)

Marie wrote: "Kasia wrote: "My spot, this looks sooo so fun!"

Yay Kas!!! :)"

I need a book worthy goal this year, this might be it :)

I'm in!

Begin: April 1, 2025
End: April 1, 2026

0/15

Horror prompts:

*Read a book that contains some sort of haunting
*Read a book that contains some sort of monster on land
*Read a book that contains some sort of ocean monster
[IN PROGRESS] Read a book that takes place in a graveyard or cemetery: graves and resting places for the dead figure in this book.


*Read a book that takes place sometime around Halloween


Fantasy prompts:

[DONE] Read a book that contains dragons


*Read a book that contains a castle
[DONE] Read a book that is magical or has some kind of magic or sorcery: Harry Dresden: Wizard.


*Read a book that takes place near the sea/ocean
*Read a book that contains a kingdom or has a king or queen


Science Fiction prompts:

*Read a book that takes place on another planet
*Read a book that contains some sort of spaceship
*Read a book that contains some sort of apocalyptic event
[DONE] Read a book that aliens are the main focal part of the story: Alien first contact story.


*Read a book that contains some sort of mutant creature or critter from outer space

Progress: 3 of 15.

Graeme wrote: "I'm in!

Begin: April 1, 2025
End: April 1, 2026

0/15

Horror prompts:

*Read a book that contains some sort of haunting
*Read a book that contains some sort of monster on land
*Read a book that c..."

Awesome! Welcome to the challenge G! :)

Marie wrote: "Michael wrote: "I like this challenge and I'll sign up soon.
I just want to clarify.
If the Space Cadet level is 15 books - - does that mean 15 books per genre/prompt, or 15 total books? For exampl..."

Yep. That clears it up for me. Thanks, Marie!

Alright! I'm in, and this will be my spot.
Going for the SPACE CADET level - 15 total books
6/15 so far

Horror prompts:
*Read a book that contains some sort of haunting - -
WE USED TO LIVE HERE by Marcus Kliewer (April 09)
*Read a book that contains some sort of monster on land
*Read a book that contains some sort of ocean monster
THEY BLOOM AT NIGHT by Trang Thanh Tran (August 03)
JAWS by Peter Benchley (August 22)
*Read a book that takes place in a graveyard or cemetery
*Read a book that takes place sometime around Halloween

Fantasy prompts:

*Read a book that contains dragons
*Read a book that contains a castle
*Read a book that is magical or has some kind of magic or sorcery
STORM FRONT by Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files, Book One) June 19
*Read a book that takes place near the sea/ocean
BEAR, PIRATE, VIKING, QUEEN graphic novel by Sean Lewis and Jonathan Marks Barravecchia (August 23)
*Read a book that has a kingdom or a king/queen

Science Fiction prompts:

*Read a book that takes place on another planet
*Read a book that contains some sort of spaceship
*Read a book that contains some sort of apocalyptic event
THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS by M.R. Carey (July 10)
*Read a book where aliens are the main focal point of the story
*Read a book that contains some sort of mutant creature or critter from outer space
ALIEN, VOL. 1: THAW graphic novel by Declan Shalvey and Andrea Broccardo (June 07,2025)

Michael wrote: "Marie wrote: "Michael wrote: "I like this challenge and I'll sign up soon.
I just want to clarify.
If the Space Cadet level is 15 books - - does that mean 15 books per genre/prompt, or 15 total boo...

Yep. That clears it up for me. Thanks, Marie!"

You are welcome, Michael. :) Happy to help. :)

I’m going for Magical level
1 down…. Fantasy … Kingdom of Claw

I am going to try for Space Cadet! Here’s my spot.

0/15

Horror Prompts:

-read a book that contains some sort of haunting
-read a book that contains some sort of monster on land
-read a book that contains some sort of ocean monster
-read a book that takes place in a graveyard or cemetery
-read a book that takes place sometime around Halloween

Fantasy Prompts:

-read a book that contains dragons
-read a book that contains a castle
-read a book that is magical or has some sort of magic or sorcery
-read a book that takes place near the sea
-read a book that has a kingdom or a king / queen

Science Fiction Prompts:

-read a book that takes place on another planet
-read a book that contains some sort of spaceship
-read a book that contains some sort of apocalyptic event
-read a book where aliens are the main focal part of the story
-read a book that contains some sort of mutant creature or creature from outer space

Progress made. Read The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Reading White Night by Butcher.

I made a start too, with my first fantasy read. The Alloy of Law. Needed a fast paced fun read and this was just right.

Completed book #2, White Night by Butcher.

Looking for my 3rd book now.

Whoo-hoo!!! You all are doing great! :)

Graeme wrote: "Progress made. Read The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Reading White Night by Butcher."

Oh how was that?

4 starred both books.

3BP was intriguing, but I found the characters on the whole, unlikeable.

White Night is the 4th Dresden book I've read (and out of order (1,2,3 & 9...) this time as I was given a paperback by a friend). It mostly held my interest until the finale where it got bogged down in a plethora of close shaves.

Begin: May 7, 2025
End:

0/15

Horror prompts:

*Read a book that contains some sort of haunting
*Read a book that contains some sort of monster on land
*Read a book that contains some sort of ocean monster
*Read a book that takes place in a graveyard or cemetery
*Read a book that takes place sometime around Halloween


Fantasy prompts:

*Read a book that contains dragons
*Read a book that contains a castle
*Read a book that is magical or has some kind of magic or sorcery
*Read a book that takes place near the sea/ocean
*Read a book that contains a kingdom or has a king or queen


Science Fiction prompts:

*Read a book that takes place on another planet
*Read a book that contains some sort of spaceship
*Read a book that contains some sort of apocalyptic event
*Read a book that aliens are the main focal part of the story
*Read a book that contains some sort of mutant creature or critter from outer space

Finished The Hobbit, up to 3 of 15. I think I'll do a horror book next.

Starting Necroscope.

Everyone is doing awesome! :)

Graeme wrote: "Starting Necroscope."

I haven't read that book yet. First time reading it G or is it a reread?

I got 4 chapters in, and then life intervened and I never finished it. I plan a restart.

Graeme wrote: "I got 4 chapters in, and then life intervened and I never finished it. I plan a restart."

I have had that happen before to me many times - I get side tracked and forget to go back to reading something that I started - then I feel I have to start all over again.

I will be curious to see your review of it though when you finish it as I know the book is considered legendary in the vampire horror genre but I just haven't seemed to get around to reading it yet.

Pun coming up (LOL): "The book is little long in the tooth too"! lol

Near 400 pages long! That will require some dedicated time to reading it as well. :)

Annerlee wrote: "Always wanted to be a space cadet: updated 1 August..."

Have managed 4 out of 15. Three SciFi books. I read My Bones and My Flute: A Ghost Story in the Old-Fashioned Manner for horror. Took me a while, but I actually really enjoyed it. It really was written in thr old fashioned manner and was a sauntering slow burn. Am happy I stuck with it though. The evocative descriptions of the Guianan jungle setting were sooo effective.
I should really get more focussed and search out some fantasy, however I’m about to start Cibola Burn ... because I have it on audiobook and I really want to!

Going to do some snooping in search of good book ideas… How’s everyone progressing?

Annerlee wrote: "Going to do some snooping in search of good book ideas… How’s everyone progressing?"

Slowly but surely!

Looks like everyone is doing great with this challenge! Keep up the good work everyone! :)

I re-read some Robin Hobb. Assassin trilogy = three prompts. And the books were even better the second time around.

Just an updated reminder.

Remember everyone that you have till April of next year to finish this challenge so you still have about four months so no need to rush to get books read before the end of the year. :)


You all are doing great! :) Keep up the good work! :)

From April 1 2025 to April 1 2026
Total books read: 7/15

Horror
4/5


(view spoiler)[*Read a book that contains some sort of haunting
How to Sell a Haunted House, 1/29/25, 3 stars
*Read a book that contains some sort of monster on land
Beneath Perfection: The Official Tremors Novelization, 11/19/25, 5 stars
*Read a book that contains some sort of ocean monster
The Conqueror Worms, 8/12, 5 stars
*Read a book that takes place in a graveyard or cemetery
At Grave's End, 7/10/25, 5 stars
*Read a book that takes place sometime around Halloween
(hide spoiler)]

Fantasy
2/5

(view spoiler)[
*Read a book that contains dragons
*Read a book that contains a castle
*Read a book that is magical or has some kind of magic or sorcery
Destined for an Early Grave, 7/13, 5 stars
*Read a book that takes place near the sea/ocean
The Next Wave, 7/10/25, 4 stars
*Read a book that contains a kingdom or has a king or queen
(hide spoiler)]

Science Fiction
1/5
,
(view spoiler)[
*Read a book that takes place on another planet
*Read a book that contains some sort of spaceship
*Read a book that contains some sort of apocalyptic event
*Read a book that aliens are the main focal part of the story
Invaders 2: An Alien Invasion Thriller, 12/5/25, 5 stars
*Read a book that contains some sort of mutant creature or critter from outer space
(hide spoiler)]

Unapologetic_Bookaholic wrote: "From April 1 2025 to April 1 2026
Total books read: 5/15

Horror
4/5
[bookcover:The Conq..."

Welcome to the book challenge UB! :)

Hey Marie! Thanks! Looking forward to hunting for more fantasy and sci-fi.