Donna’s Comments (group member since Dec 02, 2018)

Donna’s comments from the Hooked on Books group.

Copied over from the intro thread...

DELVE INTO 12
*I’m going to try and catch up and hit my 12 book goal by Dec. 31st*

SEPTEMBER:

Completed: 09/10/25




On page 121 of 378

OCTOBER:





NOVEMBER:





DECEMBER:

danielle wrote: "Donna wrote: "danielle wrote: "Question - I was eyeing the books listed in the current series BR. Do those books count for tier 2 or tier 3 BRs?"

That is led by Ashley so that is tier 3. Formal bu..."

I only changed the tier 2, but tier 3 works just fine for me. Please let me know if you continue to experience issues.

danielle wrote: "Question - I was eyeing the books listed in the current series BR. Do those books count for tier 2 or tier 3 BRs?"

That is led by Ashley so that is tier 3. Formal buddy reads are Tier 3. Informal are tier 1 & 2.

Sammy wrote: "Question about BR points... The image in the rules says tier 2 is 8 points, but the SS formula has it set to 5. Which one is it supposed to be?"

Sammy,

Please bear with me. I have it on my to-do list to update that formula. Someone further up in the Q&A notified me of this. Your scores will be updated accordingly. I am in the middle of finishing up my move (I am literally packing the last room - the kitchen). I move on Monday. I will squeeze in this formula update shortly. I have it written down. I haven't forgotten.

Kat wrote: "For technology fails can I use this? As it mentions an online experiment going awry although by sounds of it may only be In book once RISK!

And doll in the title [book:All in a Doc..."

Kat, I don't see a reason why either of those books wouldn't work for your tasks.

Book 45📘The Crystal Singer



Her name was Killashandra Ree; and after ten grueling years of musical training she was young, beautiful—and still without prospects.



Then she heard of the mysterious Heptite Guild on the planet Ballybran, where the fabled Black Crystal was found.



For those qualified, the Guild was said to provide careers, security, and the chance for wealth beyond imagining. The problem was, few people who landed on Ballybran ever left.



To Killashandra the risks were acceptable . . .



Complete one of the following tasks:

📘Read a book with a black cover

📘Read a book with 10 intact in the page count (example: 109, 210, 810, etc)

📘Read an Anne McCaffrey book

Jack

Jack is a demonic entity bound to a toy box. He uses the jack in the box as a vessel to claim souls. The cursed toy is both his prison and his method of hunting. Anyone who winds up the toy and releases him becomes his next target.
Jack's curse has a set of rules. He must claim six victims before he can return to his box. The person who opens the box is the final victim. He uses brutal violence and psychological manipulation to claim victims.
Jack is purely malevolent. He delights in the fear and suffering of his victims. He is patient and will slowly pursue his prey, appearing in & out of the box. He is cold & calculating each move, toying with victims and instilling them with fear before finally killing them.

Complete these tasks
Arm 1: Read a chain of 3 books where a character goes hunting
Arm 2: Read a chain of 3 books with a 6 in the page count
Leg 1: Read a chain of 3 books with a character under a curse in the story
Leg 2: Read a chain of 3 books with a toy on the cover

I added more lines to your spreadsheet and hid all the lines from before you started playing solo.

Ribcage

Ribcage is a supernatural killer clown. He targets his victims by sending them a balloon marked with the dates of their impending death dates & times. He appears emaciated and skeletal with a gaunt face and hollow eyes.
He haunts his victims day & night including in their dreams. He can project his voice. He can appear and disappear at will which adds a psychological layer to his terror.

Complete the following tasks
Arm1: Read a chain of 3 books with a balloon on the cover
Arm 2: Read a chain of 3 books tagged Psychological
Leg 1: Read a chain of 3 books with all the letters of SKELETAL in the title/series
Leg 2: Read a chain of 3 books with the author's initials in DREAMS

Beth wrote: "Beth wrote: "Is this the right get thread to request a BR thread? Our team agreed on a book we’d like to read together to fulfill one of our chains."

Bump"

Sorry, we missed you, Beth. No, we have a BR request thread.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Kat wrote: "So each toy you get. I started a book during the first toys time. Can I use the book I’m currently reading for the second toy? I don’t know if it means started and finished challenge as in from 1st..."

If you started it after the challenge started, you can use it.

Jessica wrote: "For SPELLOUT are these all good to use?

Title
Series Name
AFN
ALN
Publisher

Am I missing anything else?"

We do not allow the publisher here. Unless otherwise specified, it is only Title, Author initials (first & last only), and series name.

If you contribute more to the conversation after they join, you may change the tier. Otherwise, no. It should be a real discussion between all parties. Talk about your favorite parts of the book, laugh, and have fun.

Jessica wrote: "Can BRs be retroactive? Two of us on my team just read the same book, but we also already checked in for new toy/object."

If you request a BR thread and discuss the book (and meet the requirements), I will give you the points.

Beth wrote: "1. For a chain, can all three team members read the same book? (I’m guessing no but figured it’s worth asking.)

2. For the rule about using a formal Buddy read for a thread, can we use a past FBR?..."

1. Yes, you may even request a Buddy Read thread and get those extra points
2. Let's stick with the current ones for now
3. Belle's Rule is one book per player per toy/object. You can choose which task to apply it to.

danielle wrote: "Donna wrote: "danielle wrote: "I'm new to HOB, I have a question about buddy reads. Is tier 1 a formal one, and tier 2 one of the IBRs?"


"
This was helpful! But I see in our SS, a tier 2 only giv..."

Really? I will take a look. It may be a typo. If it is, then I will adjust all the spreadsheets accordingly. Thanks for letting me know.

C wrote: "As I understand it, Char, we choose a task, but then there's a surprise rule (see the first message). Dunno what that rule will be until we get there I think..."

What are you talking about? You should each read 1 book per chain. Nobody should be reading a whole chain by themselves.

#3 are all Main Page Genres or MPGs. There is NO wildcard option there. I have no idea what any of you are talking about. You are overthinking the tasks.

Each of these requires 3 books to be read. One by each of you. It's that simple. Char had it right. 3 books to create a chain.

Updated to here

24. Magical Necklaces

In F. Paul Wilson’s 1984 novel The Tomb, the pair of cursed but magical necklaces is an ancient artifact linked to the powerful and malevolent force of the Sumar Empire.

These necklaces are imbued with supernatural energies that grant protection and power to their wearers, but at a steep cost. While they bestow abilities such as enhanced strength, resilience, or other mystical benefits, they also carry a dark curse, binding the wearer’s fate to the will of the empire’s lingering evil forces.

Wearing the necklaces ties the characters into an ancient struggle between good and evil, blending allure and danger. The necklaces symbolize a double-edged legacy: magical gifts that are inseparable from their sinister consequences, highlighting the novel’s themes of ancient curses and the perils of tampering with forbidden powers.

Complete the following tasks:


🔗2. Read a chain of 3 books where two characters are magically linked or bonded
Soulmates, enemies, cursed partners, unwilling allies — if there’s magic forcing connection, it belongs here.

🌒3. Read a chain of 3 books under MPG: Fantasy, Paranormal, or Dark Fantasy
Whether it’s ancient evil, hidden worlds, or cursed artifacts — we’re diving into the magical side of the Main Page.

⚔️4. Read a chain 3 books where good and evil are blurred or both sides are corrupted
If you're rooting for the villain, questioning the hero, or side-eyeing everyone, the necklace approves.