The 52 Book Club's 2025 Challenge - hosted by the52bookclub

Non-human antagonist
An antagonist is the opposing force in a story. It may be a character, group, force, idea, etc. It is an opposer working against the protagonist's (leading character's) goals. This is what creates the main conflict in the story. Traditionally, we think of an antagonist as "the bad guy" or the villain of the story.

A non-human antagonist doesn't necessarily need to be a physical character. It could also be nature, technology, disease, the protagonist's own emotions, a hostile environment, society, etc. 
All books added
The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri

The Book of Fire

Christy Lefteri

342 pages • digital • 2023

fiction contemporary emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Grief is the Thing with Feathers / On Grief and Grieving / Mindset / The Art of Happiness 10th Anniversary Edition by Max Porter

Grief is the Thing with Feathers / On Grief and Grieving / Mindset / The Art of Happiness 10th Anniversary Edition

Max Porter

96 pages • paperback

fiction magical realism
The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith

The Library of the Unwritten

Hell's Library #1

A.J. Hackwith

448 pages • paperback • 2019

fiction fantasy lgbtqia+ adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Home Tears by Tijan

Home Tears

Tijan

308 pages • paperback • 2016

fiction contemporary romance emotional medium-paced
Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling

Across the Desert

Dusti Bowling

320 pages • hardcover • 2021

fiction middle grade adventurous medium-paced
Columbus Day by Craig Alanson

Columbus Day

Expeditionary Force #1

Craig Alanson

303 pages • paperback • 2016

fiction science fiction adventurous funny fast-paced
Polybius by Collin Armstrong

Polybius

Collin Armstrong

352 pages • hardcover • 2025

fiction horror mystery science fiction thriller dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Whistle by Linwood Barclay

Whistle

Linwood Barclay

464 pages • paperback • 2025

fiction horror mystery thriller dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Cloud Cuckoo Land

Anthony Doerr

626 pages • hardcover • 2021

fiction historical literary science fiction adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland

A Taste of Gold and Iron

The Mahisti Dynasty #1

Alexandra Rowland

503 pages • hardcover • 2022

fiction fantasy lgbtqia+ romance adventurous emotional medium-paced