The Challenge Factory discussion

Challenge Duration: January 29, 2025 through February 16, 2026

This challenge will run during the Chinese dates of the Year of the Snake. Books must be started by February 16, 2026 to count.
There are seven prompts, each with five possible tasks. None of the tasks will be spell outs. Books should be at least 140 pages. Choose your level of participation:


Levels:
Snake Scale - a defensive body part that protects the snake. I'll try 1-2 tasks per level (please specify which).
Snake Forked Tongue - allows snakes to detect the "scent" of their prey, as well as navigate and find mates. Sign me up for 3-4 tasks per level (please specify which).
Snake Fangs - some snakes' weapon: most venomous snakes have grooved or hollow fangs for delivering venom. I'll go for all 5 tasks per level.

2025 The Year of the Snake
Duration - January 29, 2025 through February 16, 2026



Long ago in China the Jade Emperor decided there should be a way of measuring time. On his birthday he told the animals that there was to be a swimming race. The first twelve animals across the fast flowing river would be the winners and they would each have a year of the zodiac named after them. After the first five animals (rat, ox,tiger, rabbit and dragon) finished the race the Emperor heard was the sound of the horse’s hooves. He thought the horse would be the next animal to arrive but a sneaky snake wriggled out from around one of the horse’s hooves. The horse was so surprised that he jumped backwards giving the snake a chance to take the sixth place in the race.

Set 1 Tasks:
1. Read a book where the MC celebrates a birthday.
2. Read a book with a sneaky character.
3. Read a book whose author's initials can be found in the word SNAKE.
4. Read a book where a character participates in a race or other kind of competition.
5. Read a book that is the 6th in a series.

Thank you Erica! :)

Set 1 Tasks: (COMPLETED)
1. Read a book where the MC celebrates a birthday.
Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver, Read 5/3/25

2. Read a book with a sneaky character.
Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver, Read 4/12/25

3. Read a book whose author's initials can be found in the word SNAKE.
The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass, Read 3/10/25

4. Read a book where a character participates in a race or other kind of competition.
Fearless by Lauren Roberts, Read 4/22/25

5. Read a book that is the 6th in a series.
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells, Read 4/1/25

Task: Read a book where the MC celebrates a birthday.
Book: Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver


Sloane (MC), Lachlan and Rowan (MC) all celebrate birthdays during the book.

Task: Read a book with a sneaky character.
Book: Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver


In the way the main antagonist is found to have infiltrated Lachlan and Lark's lives.

Task: Read a book whose author's initials can be found in the word SNAKE.
Book: The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass

(Might be a stretch)

Task:Read a book where a character participates in a race or other kind of competition.
Book: Fearless by Lauren Roberts


Paedyn is in a competition. Again.

Task: Read a book that is the 6th in a series.
Book: Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells


More. Murderbot. Needed.

The Snake is the sixth animal in the zodiac, and is synonymous with wisdom, elegance, and intuition. People born in Snake years (e.g., 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025) are often perceived as intelligent, resourceful, and graceful. They thrive on analyzing situations and making calculated moves, embodying a quiet but potent strength. Some famous people born in Snake years are Mahatma Gandhi, Pablo Picasso, Mao Zedong, John F. Kennedy, Anne Frank, Bob Dylan, Xi Jinping, J.K. Rowling and Taylor Swift.

Set 2 Tasks:
1. Read a book published in a Snake year.
2. Read a book with a MC who is intelligent and resourceful.
3. Read a book with a very strong character, either in body or mind.
4. Read a book whose title begins with a letter in the word WISDOM.
5. Read a book whose author's first and last initials match one of the famous Snakes listed above (in either order, so MG or GM for Mahatma Gandhi).

Set 2 Tasks:
1. Read a book published in a Snake year.
Apartment across the Hall by Jack Dane Read 6/11/25

2. Read a book with a MC who is intelligent and resourceful.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Read 5/6/2025)

3. Read a book with a very strong character, either in body or mind.
Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner (Read 5/15/2025)

4. Read a book whose title begins with a letter in the word WISDOM.
Ward D by Freida McFadden (Read 5/16/2025)

5. Read a book whose author's first and last initials match one of the famous Snakes listed above (in either order, so MG or GM for Mahatma Gandhi).

Task: Read a book published in a Snake year.
Book: The Apartment Across the hall by Jack Dane


Written in 2025

Task: Read a book with a MC who is intelligent and resourceful.
Book: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus


Main character's defining characteristic is she's a chemist and *very* smart.

Task: Read a book with a very strong character, either in body or mind.
Book: Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner


All the main characters embodies a form of strength in both mind and body.

Task: Read a book whose title begins with a letter in the word WISDOM.
Book(s):
Ward D by Freida McFadden
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
The Store by James Patterson
D
O
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Snakes are deep thinkers who tend to approach life with a calm and measured demeanor. They possess a natural charm and magnetism, making them both intriguing and attractive to others. With a keen sense of intuition, Snake individuals are adept at understanding people and situations, often seeing beneath the surface to uncover hidden truths.

Snakes are also known for their resourcefulness and ability to navigate complex situations. They prefer to observe and analyze before making decisions, which allows them to move through life with a sense of purpose and direction. However, this introspective nature can sometimes make them appear secretive or distant to others, as they often keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves.

Set 3 Tasks:
1. Read a book with a magnetic character.
2. Read a book whose title or series name begins with a letter in the word CHARM.
3. Read a book with a MC who analyzes a situation carefully before acting.
4. Read a book where a character keeps a secret.
5. Read a book that has the surface of a lake or other body of water on it.

Set 3 Tasks:
1. Read a book with a magnetic character.
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell (Read 5/22/25)

2. Read a book whose title or series name begins with a letter in the word CHARM.
The Crash by Freida McFadden (Read 5/23/25)

3. Read a book with a MC who analyzes a situation carefully before acting.
Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea (read 5/27/25)

4. Read a book where a character keeps a secret.
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver (read 5/28/25)

5. Read a book that has the surface of a lake or other body of water on it.

Stillhouse lake by Rachel Caine

Task: Read a book with a magnetic character.
Book: None of This is True by Lisa Jewell


One of the MC (Alix) owns a famous podcast and has a very magnetic personality.

Task: Read a book whose title or series name begins with a letter in the word CHARM.
The Crash by Freida McFadden
Horns by Joe Hill
A
R
M

Read a book with a MC who analyzes a situation carefully before acting.
Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea



The MC works essentially as a private detective - she does thorough analysis of the situation before getting the information she needs.

Read a book where a character keeps a secret.
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver



MC keeps secret that she's a murderer.

The Element of Wood in 2025

Each Chinese Zodiac year is influenced by one of the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. 2025 is governed by Wood, which softens the Snake’s typically reserved nature, infusing it with creativity, compassion, and a thirst for growth.

What Wood Brings to the Snake:

Flexibility and Adaptability: Wood adds an element of growth and expansion, encouraging adaptability in challenges.

Creative Problem-Solving: This year is ideal for innovation, whether in personal projects, professional goals, or relationships.

Focus on Harmony: Wood Snake years emphasize fostering better relationships and improving communication skills.

Strategic Growth: Success will favor those who plan meticulously and act wisely.

Deepening Connections: Introspection and emotional intelligence will help navigate relationships, promoting empathy and understanding.

Set 4 Tasks:
1. Read a book where a character does something with wood.
2. Read a book from an expansive series (more than 15 books).
3. Read a book where the MC improves their communication skills.
4. Read a book whose author's initials can be found in the word METICULOUS.
5. Read a book with a deeply empathetic and understanding character.

Set 4 Tasks: COMPLETED
1. Read a book where a character does something with wood.
Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

2. Read a book from an expansive series (more than 15 books). Rules of Prey by John Sandford 5/21/2025

3. Read a book where the MC improves their communication skills.
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker (Read 5/30/25)

4. Read a book whose author's initials can be found in the word METICULOUS.

5. Read a book with a deeply empathetic and understanding character.
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover (Read 5/30/25)

Task: Read a book where a character does something with wood.
Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws

One of the characters is a woodworker.


Task: Read a book from an expansive series (more than 15 books). Rules of Prey by John Sandford


30+ book series

Task: Read a book where the MC improves their communication skills.
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker (Read 5/30/25)
MC is more open/communicative by the end of the book.


Task:Read a book with a deeply empathetic and understanding character.
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover (Read 5/30/25)

One word: Atlas.

Themes of the Year of the Wood Snake

2025 is a year of reflection, recalibration, and renewal, offering a mix of calm energy and intellectual challenges. The Snake’s intuitive wisdom, paired with the nurturing Wood element, creates a time to refine your long-term goals and strengthen personal and professional relationships. It is a year for letting go of what no longer serves you and embracing meaningful change.

Set 5 Tasks:
1. Read a book where the MC makes a long-term goal.
2. Read a book whose cover is calming (your interpretation).
3. Read a book where a character nurtures someone or something.
4. Read a book where the MC makes a meaningful change.
5. Read a book with two of the numbers from 2025 in the page count or publication date.

Set 5 Tasks:
1. Read a book where the MC makes a long-term goal.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (Read 6/17/25)
2. Read a book whose cover is calming (your interpretation).
3. Read a book where a character nurtures someone or something.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Read 6/17/25)
4. Read a book where the MC makes a meaningful change.
Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune (Read 6/16/25)
5. Read a book with two of the numbers from 2025 in the page count or publication date.
Anywhere You Go by Bridget Morrissey (6/13/25)

1. Read a book where the MC makes a long-term goal.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (Read 6/17/25)


Haymitch's origin and his promise to ruin the games.

. Read a book where a character nurtures someone or something.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Read 6/17/25)


Katniss nurtures both Rue (however short that was) and Peeta.

4. Read a book where the MC makes a meaningful change.
Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune (Read 6/16/25)


Wallace changes his entire outlook throughout the book.

5. Read a book with two of the numbers from 2025 in the page count or publication date.
Anywhere You Go by Bridget Morrissey (6/13/25)



Written April 22nd, 2025

There are many proverbs and idioms related to the snake in the Chinese language. Yan Yan Wang, a lecturer in modern Chinese at the ANU School of Culture, History and Language says 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) which literally means, ‘to draw a snake and add legs’, is one of the most famous.

“It is believed this idiom originated from an ancient Chinese story about a man who tried to improve a drawing of a snake by adding some legs, but this only ruined the artwork,” Wang says.

“The moral of the story? Don’t overdo something or make unnecessary additions that can lead to negative consequences!”

Set 6 Tasks:
1. Read a book where the MC goes too far and ruins something as a result.
2. Read a book where a character draws.
3. Read a book with an image of a snake on the cover.
4. Read a book that contains some kind of moral.
5. Read a book that has a proverb or an idiom in it (idiom examples: it's raining cats and dogs, to be under the weather, piece of cake, spill the beans, bite the bullet, etc....).

Set 6 Tasks:

1. Read a book where the MC goes too far and ruins something as a result. Us Dark few by Alexis Patton

2. Read a book where a character draws.
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy (Read 6/25/2025)

3. Read a book with an image of a snake on the cover.

4. Read a book that contains some kind of moral.
Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren (Read 6/29/2025)

5. Read a book that has a proverb or an idiom in it (idiom examples: it's raining cats and dogs, to be under the weather, piece of cake, spill the beans, bite the bullet, etc....).

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler (Read 6/10/2025)

1. Read a book where the MC goes too far and ruins something as a result. Us Dark Few by Alexis Patton


MC ends up in jail because she has something she isn't supposed to.

2. Read a book where a character draws.
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy (Read 6/25/2025)


One of the MCs enjoys drawing.

4. Read a book that contains some kind of moral.
Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren (Read 6/29/2025)


Disney princess morals at the end.

5. Read a book that has a proverb or an idiom in it (idiom examples: it's raining cats and dogs, to be under the weather, piece of cake, spill the beans, bite the bullet, etc....).

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler (Read 6/10/2025)


The entire book has numerous idioms.

2025 is the year of the Wood Snake. The Wood Snake is a charming, intelligent and creative sign, but also secretive, cunning and sometimes ruthless. Mythology recognises the Snake as a creature of healing, which influences the physical body to shift to a more spiritual outlook.
The Year of the Wood Snake is a time for calculated growth, deep connections, and introspection. By aligning with its energy, Snakes can make 2025 a transformative and prosperous year. Whether seeking success, stability, or self-discovery, the wisdom of the Wood Snake will guide it.

Set 7 Tasks:
1. Read a book where a character makes a calculation (does not need to be mathematical).
2. Read a book whose author's initials can be found in the word INTROSPECTION.
3. Read a book where the MC makes a deep connection with someone else.
4. Read a book where a character goes through a transformation.
5. Read a book where the MC is seeking success in an endeavor.

Set 7 Tasks:
1. Read a book where a character makes a calculation (does not need to be mathematical). The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (Read 7.21)
2. Read a book whose author's initials can be found in the word INTROSPECTION. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (7.11)
3. Read a book where the MC makes a deep connection with someone else. The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth (Read 7.26)
4. Read a book where a character goes through a transformation. 1% Lifesteal by Robert Blaise (Read 7.26)
5. Read a book where the MC is seeking success in an endeavor. Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutano (Read 8.1)

Congratulations!! You completed the Year of the Snake!