Hooked on Books discussion

🧙‍♂️ The Warlock's Spells ✨
3 Month Individual Challenge (with an option to continue open-ended afterwards)
📅 Duration: June 3, 2026 - September 2, 2026
📋 Sign-ups: Open Through December 31, 2026

Embark on a mystical journey in The Warlock’s Spells challenge! Explore magic, alchemy, and transformation as you cast reading rites, uncover enchanted secrets, and grow your grimoire of favorite tales. Complete enchanting tasks across three mystical sections and earn your title among the warlocks. The three parts include:

🧩 Spell Outs: spell out using thematic words
🎡 Spell Wheel: spin the wheel for a reading task
🔠 The Hunt: find themed words in text

Cast your spell on the pages, track your progress, and share discoveries with your fellow warlocks as you unlock the secrets of these magical tales.

🏆 Badge Hunters, Take Note:

Each Warlock Rank includes multiple badges to earn as you progress, beginning with an initiation badge, followed by badges for each part, and a final badge upon completing the rank.

Those who choose to ascend may continue earning additional badges as they advance.

Whether you complete a single rank or pursue Grand Archwarlock, rewards are earned at every stage. ✨

Challenge Rules
📘 Standard Rules Apply (including new Spell Out rules)
📘 You don't need to complete one section at a time. You can work on all three at once or choose your own order.
📘 Any finished book can only be applied to a single task across the entire challenge.
📘 I will create an individual thread for you after you sign up. You will declare the rank you wish to pursue there and receive details aligned with your chosen path.
📘 You can track your individual completed books as you wish, but you should have ONE summary post for each part within this challenge. (For example, a word in the spell out would either have the books/author and justification listed in one post, or links to each individual post for completed books.)
📘 Once you complete each part for your level, you will post a link to that summary post in the Hall of Records (Check-Ins) to claim your badge for that part of the challenge. No matter what level you select, you will post 3 times in the Hall of Records, once for each part, to claim your badges.
📘 Upon completing all three parts of your chosen level, you may upgrade to the next rank through ascension. The rites required to advance will be detailed in your individual thread.
📘 Books may be started before the challenge begins, but must be finished on or after June 3 to count toward the challenge. If you join after the start date, books must be finished on or after your start date.


If you have any questions about this challenge, please post them in the The Warlock's Study (Q&A).

Levels (Warlock Ranks):
Below are the ranges required to complete each level. The level you choose applies to all three parts of this challenge. Which rank of warlock do you dare to pursue?

📌 Each rank includes badges earned across all three parts, plus a final badge upon completion.
📌 There are ranges since the spell out words vary in length.
📌 Note: Once you complete a level, you will have the opportunity to upgrade to the next rank. The exact steps needed to upgrade will be detailed in your individual thread.

🧍 Mortal - 18-22 books
🕯️ Apprentice Warlock - 24-27 books
🔮 Warlock - 30-34 books
👁️ Archwarlock - 36-45 books
🖤 Grand Archwarlock - 60-76 books



🧩 Part 1: Spell Out

📌 There are 3 lists: A (ARCANA), B (BOTANICA), and C (CODEX). Each holds words of power for you to spell out.
📌 Standard Spell Out rules
📌 One book per letter allowed
📌 Each Warlock level requires a different number of words from lists A, B, and C, as specified below.
📌 You have an option to pick words for your level ~OR~ you can spin and let chance select for you! (Each list has its own wheel)
📌 If you opt to spin for word selection, there are NO skips!
📌 NO repeat words allowed. So, if you are spinning, ignore any repeats. You can select "remove" before spinning again.


⚗️ (A) - ARCANA: Hidden or secret knowledge of magic, mysteries, and mystical forces
📌 (optional) wheel: https://wheelofnames.com/6vf-zwn
Level requirements:
🧍 Mortal - 2 words
🕯️ Apprentice Warlock - 1 word
🔮 Warlock - 2 words
👁️ Archwarlock - 1 word
🖤 Grand Archwarlock - 2 words
📌 Choose/spin your target number of words for your chosen level from the list of words below

⚗️ ARCANA Word List:

🔹 WAND
🔹 MAGIC
🔹 RUNE
🔹 AMULET
🔹 SPELL
🔹 POTION
🔹 AZOTH
🔹 SIGIL
🔹 ELIXIR
🔹 GOBLET


🌿 BOTANICA: A collection or study of magical plants, herbs, and their uses in potions, remedies, and rituals
📌 (optional) wheel: https://wheelofnames.com/x2n-kvw
Level requirements:
🧍 Mortal - 0 words
🕯️ Apprentice Warlock - 1 word
🔮 Warlock - 1 word
👁️ Archwarlock - 1 word
🖤 Grand Archwarlock - 2 words
📌 Choose/spin your target number of words for your chosen level from the list of words below

🌿 BOTANICA Word List

🔹 ALCHEMY
🔹 CONJURE
🔹 SORCERY
🔹 ALEMBIC
🔹 ELDRITCH
🔹 TALISMAN
🔹 CAULDRON
🔹 PHILTERS
🔹 THAUMATA
🔹 GRIMOIRE


📜 CODEX: An ancient book or manuscript that records spells, rules, histories, or arcane instructions
📌 (optional) wheel: https://wheelofnames.com/mvn-tt8
Level requirements:
🧍 Mortal - 0 words
🕯️ Apprentice Warlock - 0 words
🔮 Warlock - 0 words
👁️ Archwarlock - 1 word
🖤 Grand Archwarlock - 2 words
📌 Choose/spin your target number of words for your chosen level from the list of words below

📜 CODEX Word List

🔹 HORADRIC
🔹 MANDRAKE
🔹 NECROMANCY
🔹 THAUMATURGY
🔹 ASTRALIZE
🔹 WIZARDRY
🔹 SUPERNATURAL
🔹 HEXES AND CHARMS



🎡 Part 2: Spell Wheel

📌 Spell Wheel ➜ https://wheelofnames.com/d59-wfz
📌 Open the Spell Wheel and let fate assign your next task. Each spin reveals a new thread of magic to pursue.
📌 There are 50 possible tasks on the wheel.
📌 Each task finishes the phrase Read a book that...
📌 You are allowed to skip FIVE tasks. ✨(A Warlock’s word is binding magic. Record your feats in good faith. Our coven operates on honor.) ✨

Level requirements:
🧍 Mortal - 7 tasks from the Spell Wheel
🕯️ Apprentice Warlock - 10 tasks from the Spell Wheel
🔮 Warlock - 10 tasks from the Spell Wheel
👁️ Archwarlock - 12 tasks from the Spell Wheel
🖤 Grand Archwarlock - 15 tasks from the Spell Wheel
📌 Spin for your target number of tasks for your chosen level. Spin as you wish. Draw your tasks one by one, or unleash them all at once.

📌 Note: The wheel reloads with all task options, but you can click "remove" if it lands on one you have already done or skipped. It only removes it while you have the wheel open - next time you open the wheel, it will reload all the tasks again.
📌 However, you CAN repeat a task if you land on it again and want to repeat it. It does count as a separate task as long as you are reading a different book for the task.



🔠 Part 3: The Hunt (Seek these words hidden in your reads)

📌 You can choose which words you will do for this part (No wheel exists for Part 3)
📌 The number of words you need to find depends on your selected level:
🧍 Mortal - 3 words
🕯️ Apprentice Warlock - 3 words
🔮 Warlock - 4 words
👁️ Archwarlock - 5 words
🖤 Grand Archwarlock - 7 words

📌 Provide the location and a partial sentence showing how it is used
📌 One word per book
📌 Basic variations of the word are allowed (plurals, conjugation of a verb, etc)
📌 Context does not matter, it only needs to be present in the text
📌 Choose your target number of words for your chosen level from the list of words below

🔎 spell
🔎 charm
🔎 magic
🔎 broom
🔎 wand
🔎 myth
🔎 curse
🔎 ghost
🔎 folklore
🔎 legend

✨ Your grimoire awaits. What magic will you uncover?

(view spoiler)[Progress Tracker


Starting Level: Warlock
Current Level: Warlock

🧩 Spell Outs: ⬜
🎡 Spell Wheel: ⬜
🔠 The Hunt: ⬜

⬜ = In Progress
✔ = Complete
(hide spoiler)]

🧙‍♂️ The Warlock’s Spells Challenge ✨

Not all begin as Mortals.

Some reach for power immediately.

Five levels.
Five paths to power.
Five ranks.
Multiple badges to claim at every stage — and more through ascension.

Marks of power await at every stage.

Those who begin higher may ascend faster…
but will leave earlier badges behind.

So choose carefully...

Where does your power begin?

I'm going to start at Warlock.

🔮 Warlock

Your power is yours to command.

You have chosen the Warlock path, where magic is no longer something distant, but something you will learn to shape and wield with intention.

Initiation Badge:

You have chosen the Warlock path. Claim your initiation badge below to mark the beginning of your journey.



✦ ✦ ✦

Level Requirements:

To complete the Warlock level, you will need to complete the following:

🧩 Spell Out
Choose or spin 2 words from ARCANA.
Choose or spin 1 word from BOTANICA.
Complete one book per letter.

🎡 Spell Wheel
Complete 10 tasks.
You may skip up to 5 spins and re-spin.

🔠 The Hunt
Find 4 words from the list in your reads.
One word per book.

✦ ✦ ✦

Tracking Your Books:

Each book you complete should be posted in your thread as you go. Suggested format:

Book/Author:
Date Read:
Part #: (1, 2, or 3)
Task:
How it fits:

📌 Each book can only be used once across the entire challenge.

Summary Posts:

In addition to your individual book posts, you will create one summary post for each Part of the challenge.

Each summary post should include all books completed for that Part. You may either list all books directly in the post or link to your individual book posts.

You will create three summary posts total:
Part 1: Spell Out
Part 2: Spell Wheel
Part 3: The Hunt

✦ ✦ ✦

Hall of Records

Once you complete a Part, post a link to your summary post in the Hall of Records (Check-Ins) to claim your badge.

You will post three times total, once for each Part.

Part 1: Spell Out (ARCANA)

M: Murder in Constantinople by A.E. Goldin✅7/12/26
A: American Project: The Rise and Fall of a Modern Ghetto by Sudhir Alladi Venkatesh✅6/30/26
G: The Game of Oaths by S.C. Bandreddi✅6/27/26
I:
C: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie✅6/10/26

S: The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke✅6/8/26
I:
G:Caraval by Stephanie Garber✅6/26/26
I:
L: The Lost Voices of Pompeii: Life and Death on Pompeii's Final Day by Jess Venner✅7/21/26

(BOTANICA)
A: Heartwood by Amity Gaige✅7/6/26
L:
E: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline✅7/29/26
M:
B: But for Fortune: A Novel by Erin Miller Reid✅6/29/26
I:
C: Diamond in the Ruff: A Wiggle Butt Manor Mystery by Cindy Goyette✅7/20/26

Part 2: Spell Wheel
(10 tasks)

1.) features time travel through magical means

Part 3: The Hunt
(4 words)

SPELL: "She had even cast a little SPELL she'd learned, summoning him." location 486
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia✅6/30/26

CHARM: "...a telling incident or charming anecdote only to learn"... location 90 Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming✅7/29/26

CURSE: "Gaia's curse would be permanent." location 2075 The Omen Girl by Yueh Yang✅7/22/26