LibraryThing 2023 Roundup Hunt

The year is drawing to a close, and we're hosting a special 2023 Roundup Hunt!

This hunt is meant to highlight developments in the bookish world and on the LibraryThing site over the course of this past year.

We’ve scattered a skyful of fireworks around the site. You’ll solve the clues below to find the fireworks and gather them all together.

  • Decipher the clues below and visit the corresponding LibraryThing pages to find a firework. Each clue points to a specific page right here on LibraryThing. Remember, they are not necessarily work pages!
  • If there's a firework on a page, you’ll see a banner at the top of the page.
  • You have three weeks to find all the fireworks (until 11:59pm EDT, Monday January 8th).
  • Come brag about your skyful of fireworks (and get hints) on Talk.

Win prizes:

  • Any member who finds at least two fireworks will be awarded a firework badge. Badge: ().
  • Members who find all 12 fireworks will be entered into a drawing for one of five LibraryThing (or TinyCat) prizes. We‘ll announce winners at the end of the hunt.


P.S. Thanks to conceptDawg for the Kingfisher illustration! The Belted Kingfisher is the 2023 Bird of the Year.

ConceptDawg has made all of our treasure hunt graphics in the last couple of years. We like them, and hope you do, too!

Sign in or sign up to participate.

Firework 1

Far to the north, from the land of the midnight sun,
Comes an author and playwright who this year has won,
The highest prize in all the literary world—

A medal, diploma, and monetary award. (Abigail)

Firework 2

Our number this year has grown by three,

Newcome sysadmin and developers they be,

Come find the LT staff as we now exist,

See who we are—our comprehensive list. (Abigail)

Firework 3

Dragon fantasy once more takes flight,

In this first of a series, a reader’s delight,

A bestselling book with a sequel in frame,

Both published this year to massive acclaim. (Abigail)

Firework 4

We have a game that’s fun to play,

You write what pictures have to say,

This year we held a contest, too,

To see how well you all could do! (Lucy)

Firework 5

This author has long been under threat,

Of harm, or even death, and yet—

He has not let it keep him silent,

Nor ever cowed, though his foes are violent.


Last year he was the victim of attack,

This year he told the world he’s back,

That in face of madness, he would not retreat—

And the world laid prizes at his feet. (Abigail)

Firework 6

Which books have won and which have not,

You now can see, all in one spot—

Mark your favorites with a star,

See which the recent winners are. (Lucy)

Firework 7

This prequel was published in 2020,

A bestselling book, with readers aplenty,

This year the story unfolds on the screen,

A villain’s genesis there to be seen. (Abigail)

Firework 8

What book to choose, how to decide?

Come and use this handy guide,

Newly redesigned this year,

A page to make your next read clear. (Abigail)

Firework 9

This lady is an actor and a crooner,

Her fans would have loved her memoir sooner,

But this year it’s finally been released—

A massive tome, a celebratory feast! (Abigail)

Firework 10

Every December the theme is the same,

A list of top titles, and each can name,

Our favorite books from the year that’s passed,

Come add yours, and have a year-end blast! (Abigail)

Firework 11

I’m thinking of a book, but the title? I haven’t a clue—

All I can remember is the cover: It’s blue.

Added to the site this year, this tool will help you to find

This blue mystery book, and whatever else comes to mind.


Come find the thread where this feature was announced,

A cutting edge technology that is by some denounced.

To find your target you must then decide,

Which link it is that should be your guide. (Lauren)

Firework 12

In June this author passed away,

Sad news in SOTT we did relay,

His work employed a minimalist technique,

Depicting a world both beautiful and bleak. (Abigail)