Hooked on Books discussion

“Stay focused. Stay ready.”

👥 Team Roster
Elizabeth
KC
Michelle

Team SS
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...


📜 Rules
⭐Teams may only have one active creature at a time + one bonus if assigned (bonuses are optional)
⭐All creature requirements must be fully completed before turn-in
⭐All turn-ins must be posted in The Nightbound Conclave
⭐A Conclave Dial result is required to receive your next assignment
⭐Follow all instructions issued by the Conclave
⭐Standard Rules Apply

🔗 Chain Rules (Read This Carefully)
To capture most creatures, your team will complete chains.
Each chain requires 3 books total
Each team member contributes 1 book per chain
👉 You may split the work as needed:
One member may complete 2 books in a chain
BUT no single player may complete all 3 books in a chain


🔗 Important Links
❓ Q&A: The Conclave Inquiry Desk
📜 Scoreboard: The Conclave Ledger (competitive only)
🌑 Check-In / Turn-In: The Nightbound Conclave
🗂️ Collectibles
🗒️ Feedback

👁️ Thread Use
This thread is for:
⭐Planning your reads
⭐Coordinating with your team
⭐General discussion
“What happens here… is still seen.”

⚠️ Advisory
Something may… interfere.

🔮 The Conclave’s Favor (Fallback Hunt)

When a hunt proves too elusive, the Conclave may offer… an alternative path.

During the challenge, each player may call upon the Conclave for guidance.

Instead of completing a difficult or overly specific task, you may:

👉 Roll 2d6 or 1d12 https://rolladie.net/#!numbers=1&...
👉 Complete the assigned task below instead
👉 Your book will still count as a full chain link

🎯 The Conclave’s Boon Table
🎲 1. Color of the Veil
Read a book where one color makes up at least 50% of the cover

🎲 2. Marked by the Beast
Read a book with an animal or creature on the cover

🎲 3. Hunter’s Tool
Read a book with a weapon or tool on the cover
(blade, staff, gun, bow, etc.)

🎲 4. Whispered Name
Read a book with a specific word in the title
👉 Roll 1d6:
1–2: Blood
3–4: Shadow
5–6: Fire

🎲 5. Echoes in the Text
Read a book where the assigned word appears at least twice in the title, synopsis, or text.
👉 Roll 1d6:
1–2: Dark
3–4: Death
5–6: Power

🎲 6. Domain of the Hunt
Read a book set primarily in:
👉 Roll 1d6:
1–2: Forest
3–4: City
5–6: Water (ocean, river, or lake)

🎲 7. The Unnatural
Read a book featuring a supernatural or non-human element

🎲 8. Marked Soul
Read a book with a main character who is cursed, transformed, or hunted

🎲 9. Cycle of Conflict
Read a book that includes one of these themes:
Revenge
Survival
Sacrifice

🎲 10. Cover of Omen
Read a book with:
A face, OR
A single prominent object on the cover

🎲 11. Hidden Thread
Read a book with:
A map, symbol, sigil, emblem, crest, or other meaningful marking connected to the story.

🎲 12. The Hunter’s Choice
Read a book that clearly fits the supernatural, horror, or fantasy realm
(Must be justifiable—no unrelated reads)

⚖️ Rules & Restrictions
⭐ Each Hunter receives 1 Conclave Boon during the challenge.
🔗 One Boon may replace one eligible task and counts as one completed chain link.
📣 The Boon must be declared before finishing the book.
🎲 Once rolled, the assigned Boon task must be completed — no rerolls.
📖 One qualifying book completes one Boon task.
📖 HOB Standard Rules Apply
🚫 Boons cannot replace Tasks #11, #14, #19, or #23.


🌒 Veilbound Advantage (backup players)
Veilbound Reserves may carry a maximum of 3 Veil Sigils with them when called into the main hunt. Sigils are earned while playing in the Veilbound Reserves and are available only to those players.

🔮 Each Veil Sigil may be exchanged for 1 additional Conclave Boon use.
✨ Once exchanged, that Sigil is spent.
🎲 Additional Boons use the same Boon Table and rules as the player's original Boon.
🚫 The same task restrictions apply.

Hey team! Checking in. 🤞 this challenge is kind to us!

Hello team! Excited to dive in!

Just waiting on Michelle

Sorry everyone...I'm here.

I'm either the first one or the last one to check in. I work nights and had to work this past weekend.

Anyhoo...Hi everyone! Are we competitive or non? I signed up and told Donna I didn't care where she threw me.

No worries! 🤣 sorry i sound like I'm impatient I swear I'm not. We're playing competitive.

Speaking of competitive play, It looks like competitive teams can't bank books?

I will be completely honest, I am completely lost looking at the sheet, but I have been lost before and usually get the swing of a challenge fairly quickly, but I may need some patience in figuring out book choices while I gather my bearings.

I haven't looked much tbh. I'm trying to finish out August and after that I will definitely see what's what.

Have either of you played before?

No, but I have played other HOB challenges before, so rating my preparedness as -meh- though I hope to compensate with enthusiasm!

I played last roundup! I think a good chunk of the sheet is extras. I spun for a 22 so i will check us in so we can get started tomorrow. Typically its chains of books - how those are connected we won't really know till we find out what we get with our spin and then there's bonus tasks with some of the spins I believe and we can either do them or not. We have to have at least two people reading for every chain so either 2-1 or 1-1-1 and then we go non-competitive once December starts i believe so basically 2 months and we decide if we want to continue after. Ive been casually playing last year's still!

22. 🐎 Centaur

“It does not lose the path… it chooses it.”

The Conclave has confirmed the presence of a Pathbound entity—one that moves with purpose and understands the weight of direction.
It does not wander.
It does not hesitate.
It travels.
Paths stretch where choices are made.
Journeys unfold where steps are taken.
And every direction leads… somewhere.
It does not force a path.
It does not block the way.
It only reminds you that movement always has consequence.
Some rush forward without thought.
Some hesitate and never begin.
Some believe any path will do.

And they learn… that direction matters.


🔗 Containment Protocol
🦴 Limbs Identified: 4
🔗 Chains Required: 4
📚 Total Books Needed: 12

“You are not outrunning it. You are choosing where to go.”


⚠️ Conclave Note
Centaurs are known to:
⭐move with purpose and intention
⭐represent journeys and transitions
⭐guide or challenge the direction others take
If you notice:
⭐crossroads or major decisions
⭐movement from one place to another
⭐or the sense that a choice will shape what comes next…
👉 The path has already begun.

To capture the centaur:
📖Read a chain of 3 books featuring a journey, quest, or travel from one place to another
📖Read a chain of 3 books where learning or training changes a character.
📖Read a chain of 3 books whose titles begin with three different compass-direction initials: N, E, S, or W. (Each team member must use a different letter.)
📖Read a chain of 3 books from which each reader learns at least one real-world fact, skill, concept, or piece of information they didn't know before. (Each team member identifies what they learned.)

Elizabeth wrote: "I played last roundup! I think a good chunk of the sheet is extras. I spun for a 22 so i will check us in so we can get started tomorrow. Typically its chains of books - how those are connected we ..."

Me too. I finally finished the clown one from the year before last week.

For this task: Read a chain of 3 books whose titles begin with three different compass-direction initials: N, E, S, or W

Anyone have a preference? I can take W unless someone else would like it. I can do any one of the letters so if y'all want to choose first go ahead.

Michelle wrote: "For this task: Read a chain of 3 books whose titles begin with three different compass-direction initials: N, E, S, or W

Anyone have a preference? I can take W unless someone else would like it. I..."

I am flexible so can read for any but I have a mild preference for either S/E (South or East?) but have books on my shortlist for any! I have on my shortlist Everyone Knows You Go Home or The Empire of Tea (if articles don't count) and a couple others for east, or I have a few shorter books on my tbr that come to mind for South e.g. Small Things Like These or Solitária...

Bonus 5: 🪙 Goblin

“It doesn’t take much… just enough to be a problem.”

The Conclave has identified a minor anomaly—small, persistent, and far more troublesome than it appears.

It does not confront.
It does not overwhelm.

👉 It interferes.

To resolve this anomaly:
Complete the following:

📖Read a book featuring trickery, mischief, or deception
📖Read a book with a number in the title.
📖Read a book involving theft, secrets, or something being taken

At the moment i really only have an E (Electric Idol).
Right now i don't have anything for the first chain but definitely for the other 3.

I will plan on taking S then! For the other chains RE CENTAUR
Off the top of my head for option one, I was planning to read The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet within the week anyway (it is my only commitment for another challenge at present). Could also make The Stardust Grail work if I need a second or the timing doesn't work.

For option two, still thinking, this feels the hardest to mentally wrap my head around but I feel like I could presume that either The Firm The Historian or An Academic Affair could apply?

For the last bunch of non-fictions including St. Marks Is Dead: The Many Lives of America's Hippest Street, The Empire of Tea(again) Zabar's: A Family Story, with Recipes and In On the Joke: The Original Queens of Standup Comedy which I assume should all be fine to learn SOMETHING.

I do not mind if we want to shuffle priorities, so I am game to take on multiple reads for any chain(s).
--------

RE: GOBLIN I am confused if we are supposed to resolve that first?

📖Read a book featuring trickery, mischief, or deception
I could do Circe or Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland.
📖Read a book with a number in the title.
I could do Station Eleven or Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History
📖Read a book involving theft, secrets, or something being taken
I could do The Gods Will Sing Our Song or Underbelly?

I'm not sure exactly on the premise but I checked with AI and it's going by more emotional learning for the books I checked. I don't read a lot of stuff with actual physical training!

I will do W.

Elizabeth wrote: "I'm not sure exactly on the premise but I checked with AI and it's going by more emotional learning for the books I checked. I don't read a lot of stuff with actual physical training!"

Hmm I get where you were thinking, I think was thinking more professional or school settings, but I don't think it requires formal learning or training. i presume most romantasy or sports non-fictions or sports romances could fall into the physical training element. I naturally think of mentor type situations, but I was thinking of Circe for trickery/mischief/deception, and now I wonder if the précis mentioning "she hones her occult craft" would count as self-directed learning and or training.

In regards to The Goblin, since it is a bonus, the tasks are optional. If we don't want to do it, we don't have to. We don't have to resolve those tasks first if we do it. As long as you can justify what you are using for the task, its normally accepted. If you want confirmation just ask in the Q & A.

I'm game for taking on the Goblin if that's what everyone wants.

I'm good with doing the goblin!

Thanks! I will not lobby for the goblin but I am game if you both are. I would prefer to defer to your preferences. I didn't mean to shift the conversation that way, I just was not sure how to read interference when the post said "👉 It interferes." (I wasn't sure if this was like throwing a wrench into the works or pressing pause.)

Ahhh i see what you mean. I'm not sure. I know in the past it was optional and you could complete whenever. Why don't you pick the task you prefer KC since you're going along with us. 🤣

so it isn't hesitation as much as it is me abdicating responsibility for the decision haha🤔😂😳As I said, I am flexible if either of you want to take a crack at it, but I suppose I can take the number option (middle) and will give Crazy 08 a try!

Well, well... everyone's here. 👀

And you've already managed to find yourselves a Centaur AND a Goblin.

Two creatures already? Someone's feeling ambitious. 😈

Keep hunting, Hollowbound. Let's see how long that luck holds.

Omg 🤣 creepy!!

Finished my first 2 books. Gonna start Electric Idol today. Michelle do you have a task preference for the goblin?

Sorry just seeking a point of clarity, Does the order matter for the chain? Would it matter if I read a navigation versus journey book versus finishing a goblin book next?

Nevermind, I will start with The Stardust Grailfor a South book beginning with S

That's good or I would've been huffing LOL

Just need to read a goblin book now. I feel a little bit out of control with my reading already this month 🤣 it's good though since I'll be busy the next couple weekends.

I support you reading in bursts when you are willing/able!!

Elizabeth wrote: "Finished my first 2 books. Gonna start Electric Idol today. Michelle do you have a task preference for the goblin?"

Nope, You y'all can pick first. I'll take what's left.

🔤 TW-3: Word Hook

👉 Your current (or next) read must include the word CREEPY in the title.

You called me creepy. I took it as a suggestion. 😈

Happy reading!

Oof this one is tough, I am on my way out the door so can’t give it a deep dive at the moment but I can volunteer to find one. I checked nothing on my tbr and anything I have on hand that gets close Like The Monster Movies of Universal by James L Neibaur or any steven King doesn’t have creepy in the title. Open to suggestions or I can try to find something later today

😈 I never said it was going to be easy, KC.

Twitch wrote: "🔤 TW-3: Word Hook

👉 Your current (or next) read must include the word CREEPY in the title.

You called me creepy. I took it as a suggestion. 😈

Happy reading!"

Is this for everyone?

K.C. wrote: "Oof this one is tough, I am on my way out the door so can’t give it a deep dive at the moment but I can volunteer to find one. I checked nothing on my tbr and anything I have on hand that gets clos..."

If this is for just one person, I can do it. Creepy is my vibe.

In regards to our little Goblin friend, has everyone decided which task they want to do?

For the goblin I said counting but the book I picked also works for wisdom. since I have books on my tbr that could work for any three if someone else prefers that task!

Michelle wrote: "Twitch wrote: "🔤 TW-3: Word Hook

👉 Your current (or next) read must include the word CREEPY in the title.

You called me creepy. I took it as a suggestion. 😈

Happy reading!"

Is this for everyone?"

yes

I'll have to do some looking. Im in between books rn so hopefully i can find something!

I think I am going with Caring is creepy by David Zimmerman since that is available now for me on Libby(and Kindle Unlimited choices were slim pickings, though a few collections of short stories and The Creepy Cruise piqued my interest). This was an interesting. Wrench to throw in a holiday weekend because I don't think I will make it to the library or bookstore in next few days…

Is someone doing this one for Goblin?

Read a book featuring trickery, mischief, or deception

I haven't started a goblin book yet - did you want that one or did you want me to do it? I have to finish my creepy book first.

It seems like we have everything done except the goblin books and one navigation book at this point, or am i missing something? I have the sequel A Closed and Common Orbit to my navigation book, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet on deck I can read next or pivot if there is a more helpful direction. I should finish Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History for my goblin book tomorrowish.

So i actually had something i finished on Saturday that worked for the trickery task and I've got like a half hour in my creepy book.