diff --git a/functions.php b/functions.php
index 897c90c8..d8fd5c86 100644
--- a/functions.php
+++ b/functions.php
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ if ( ! defined( 'FICTIONEER_CHAPTER_FOLDING_THRESHOLD' ) ) {
 
 // Integer: Expiration time for shortcode Transients (0 for infinite, -1 to disable)
 if ( ! defined( 'FICTIONEER_SHORTCODE_TRANSIENT_EXPIRATION' ) ) {
-  define( 'FICTIONEER_SHORTCODE_TRANSIENT_EXPIRATION', 300 );
+  define( 'FICTIONEER_SHORTCODE_TRANSIENT_EXPIRATION', -1 );
 }
 
 // Integer: Timeout between refreshes of story comment counts (0 for always)
diff --git a/includes/functions/_query_helpers.php b/includes/functions/_query_helpers.php
index b2a47270..f8e4687e 100644
--- a/includes/functions/_query_helpers.php
+++ b/includes/functions/_query_helpers.php
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ if ( ! function_exists( 'fictioneer_get_card_list' ) ) {
     $the_card_args = array_merge( $the_card_args, $card_args );
 
     // Query (but not if 'post__in' is set and empty)
-    if ( ! ( isset( $query_args['post__in'] ) && empty( $the_query_args['post__in'] ) ) ) {
+    if ( empty( $the_query_args['post__in'] ?? 0 ) ) {
       $query = new WP_Query( $the_query_args );
 
       // Prime author cache
diff --git a/includes/functions/_shortcodes.php b/includes/functions/_shortcodes.php
index 8d4ff191..d75e8a60 100644
--- a/includes/functions/_shortcodes.php
+++ b/includes/functions/_shortcodes.php
@@ -934,7 +934,9 @@ function fictioneer_shortcode_chapter_list( $attr ) {
   $empty = fictioneer_minify_html( ob_get_clean() );
 
   // Abort if...
-  if ( empty( $attr['story_id'] ) && empty( $attr['chapter_ids'] ) ) return $empty;
+  if ( empty( $attr['story_id'] ) && empty( $attr['chapter_ids'] ) ) {
+    return $empty;
+  }
 
   // Setup
   $count = max( -1, intval( $attr['count'] ?? -1 ) );
@@ -965,23 +967,30 @@ function fictioneer_shortcode_chapter_list( $attr ) {
   }
 
   // Extra classes
-  if ( $hide_icons ) $classes[] = '_no-icons';
-  if ( ! empty( $attr['class'] ) ) $classes[] = esc_attr( wp_strip_all_tags( $attr['class'] ) );
+  if ( $hide_icons ) {
+    $classes[] = '_no-icons';
+  }
 
-  // Apply offset
-  if ( ! $group ) $chapters = array_slice( $chapters, $offset );
+  if ( ! empty( $attr['class'] ) ) {
+    $classes[] = esc_attr( wp_strip_all_tags( $attr['class'] ) );
+  }
 
-  // Apply count
-  if ( ! $group ) $chapters = $count > 0 ? array_slice( $chapters, 0, $count ) : $chapters;
+  // Apply offset and count
+  if ( ! $group ) {
+    $chapters = array_slice( $chapters, $offset );
+    $chapters = $count > 0 ? array_slice( $chapters, 0, $count ) : $chapters;
+  }
 
   // Check array for items
-  if ( empty( $chapters ) ) return $empty;
+  if ( empty( $chapters ) ) {
+    return $empty;
+  }
 
   // Query chapters
   $query_args = array(
     'post_type' => 'fcn_chapter',
     'post_status' => 'publish',
-    'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $chapters ),
+    'post__in' => $chapters, // Cannot be empty!
     'ignore_sticky_posts' => true,
     'orderby' => 'post__in', // Preserve order from meta box
     'posts_per_page' => -1, // Get all chapters (this can be hundreds)
@@ -1005,7 +1014,9 @@ function fictioneer_shortcode_chapter_list( $attr ) {
   $chapter_query = fictioneer_shortcode_query( $query_args );
 
   // Check query for items
-  if ( ! $chapter_query->have_posts() ) return $empty;
+  if ( ! $chapter_query->have_posts() ) {
+    return $empty;
+  }
 
   // Buffer
   ob_start();
diff --git a/includes/functions/hooks/_post_hooks.php b/includes/functions/hooks/_post_hooks.php
index 17c9f726..7cd5945e 100644
--- a/includes/functions/hooks/_post_hooks.php
+++ b/includes/functions/hooks/_post_hooks.php
@@ -43,13 +43,17 @@ function fictioneer_post_featured_list( $post_id ) {
   global $post;
 
   // Abort if...
-  if ( post_password_required() ) return;
+  if ( post_password_required() ) {
+    return;
+  }
 
   // Setup
   $featured = fictioneer_get_field( 'fictioneer_post_featured', $post_id );
 
   // Abort if...
-  if ( empty( $featured ) ) return;
+  if ( empty( $featured ) ) {
+    return;
+  }
 
   // Query
   $query_args = array(
@@ -64,7 +68,9 @@ function fictioneer_post_featured_list( $post_id ) {
   $featured_query = new WP_Query( $query_args );
 
   // Abort if...
-  if ( empty( $featured_query->posts ) ) return;
+  if ( empty( $featured_query->posts ) ) {
+    return;
+  }
 
   // Prime author cache
   if ( function_exists( 'update_post_author_caches' ) ) {
diff --git a/includes/functions/users/_checkmarks.php b/includes/functions/users/_checkmarks.php
index 7b511453..1c9210df 100644
--- a/includes/functions/users/_checkmarks.php
+++ b/includes/functions/users/_checkmarks.php
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ function fictioneer_ajax_get_finished_list() {
   $list_items = fictioneer_get_card_list(
     'story',
     array(
-      'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $post_ids ),
+      'post__in' => $post_ids,
       'paged' => $page,
       'order' => $order
     ),
diff --git a/includes/functions/users/_follows.php b/includes/functions/users/_follows.php
index 84f454be..c7fd831d 100644
--- a/includes/functions/users/_follows.php
+++ b/includes/functions/users/_follows.php
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ function fictioneer_ajax_get_follows_list() {
   $list_items = fictioneer_get_card_list(
     'story',
     array(
-      'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $post_ids ),
+      'post__in' => $post_ids,
       'paged' => $page,
       'order' => $order
     ),
diff --git a/includes/functions/users/_reminders.php b/includes/functions/users/_reminders.php
index 94750f28..080edeb8 100644
--- a/includes/functions/users/_reminders.php
+++ b/includes/functions/users/_reminders.php
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ function fictioneer_ajax_get_reminders_list() {
   $list_items = fictioneer_get_card_list(
     'story',
     array(
-      'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $post_ids ),
+      'post__in' => $post_ids,
       'paged' => $page,
       'order' => $order
     ),
diff --git a/partials/_latest-chapters-compact.php b/partials/_latest-chapters-compact.php
index 1ba05e82..125c1263 100644
--- a/partials/_latest-chapters-compact.php
+++ b/partials/_latest-chapters-compact.php
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 $query_args = array(
   'post_type' => 'fcn_chapter',
   'post_status' => 'publish',
-  'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $args['post_ids'] ),
+  'post__in' => $args['post_ids'], // May be empty!
   'order' => $args['order'] ?? 'desc',
   'orderby' => $args['orderby'] ?? 'date',
   'posts_per_page' => $args['count'],
diff --git a/partials/_latest-chapters.php b/partials/_latest-chapters.php
index c5b85fd2..a8c72ee1 100644
--- a/partials/_latest-chapters.php
+++ b/partials/_latest-chapters.php
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 $query_args = array(
   'post_type' => 'fcn_chapter',
   'post_status' => 'publish',
-  'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $args['post_ids'] ),
+  'post__in' => $args['post_ids'], // May be empty!
   'orderby' => $args['orderby'] ?? 'date',
   'order' => $args['order'] ?? 'desc',
   'posts_per_page' => $args['count'],
diff --git a/partials/_latest-posts.php b/partials/_latest-posts.php
index 4de3f7a0..eb35d345 100644
--- a/partials/_latest-posts.php
+++ b/partials/_latest-posts.php
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 $query_args = array(
   'post_type' => 'post',
   'post_status' => 'publish',
-  'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $args['post_ids'] ),
+  'post__in' => $args['post_ids'], // May be empty!
   'has_password' => false,
   'orderby' => 'date',
   'order' => 'DESC',
diff --git a/partials/_latest-recommendations-compact.php b/partials/_latest-recommendations-compact.php
index ba1e53a1..293c2fbe 100644
--- a/partials/_latest-recommendations-compact.php
+++ b/partials/_latest-recommendations-compact.php
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ $show_taxonomies = ! get_option( 'fictioneer_hide_taxonomies_on_recommendation_c
 $query_args = array (
   'post_type' => 'fcn_recommendation',
   'post_status' => 'publish',
-  'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $args['post_ids'] ),
+  'post__in' => $args['post_ids'], // May be empty!
   'orderby' => $args['orderby'] ?? 'date',
   'order' => $args['order'] ?? 'desc',
   'posts_per_page' => $args['count'],
diff --git a/partials/_latest-recommendations.php b/partials/_latest-recommendations.php
index ba5be67f..c7d86d8c 100644
--- a/partials/_latest-recommendations.php
+++ b/partials/_latest-recommendations.php
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ $show_taxonomies = ! get_option( 'fictioneer_hide_taxonomies_on_recommendation_c
 $query_args = array (
   'post_type' => 'fcn_recommendation',
   'post_status' => 'publish',
-  'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $args['post_ids'] ),
+  'post__in' => $args['post_ids'], // May be empty!
   'orderby' => $args['orderby'] ?? 'date',
   'order' => $args['order'] ?? 'desc',
   'posts_per_page' => $args['count'],
diff --git a/partials/_latest-stories-compact.php b/partials/_latest-stories-compact.php
index 96d244da..d840f2cd 100644
--- a/partials/_latest-stories-compact.php
+++ b/partials/_latest-stories-compact.php
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ $show_taxonomies = ! get_option( 'fictioneer_hide_taxonomies_on_story_cards' );
 $query_args = array(
   'post_type' => 'fcn_story',
   'post_status' => 'publish',
-  'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $args['post_ids'] ),
+  'post__in' => $args['post_ids'], // May be empty!
   'orderby' => $args['orderby'],
   'order' => $args['order'] ?? 'desc',
   'posts_per_page' => $args['count'],
diff --git a/partials/_latest-stories.php b/partials/_latest-stories.php
index 1c2bd518..dd8f5e11 100644
--- a/partials/_latest-stories.php
+++ b/partials/_latest-stories.php
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 $query_args = array(
   'post_type' => 'fcn_story',
   'post_status' => 'publish',
-  'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $args['post_ids'] ),
+  'post__in' => $args['post_ids'], // May be empty!
   'orderby' => $args['orderby'],
   'order' => $args['order'] ?? 'desc',
   'posts_per_page' => $args['count'],
diff --git a/partials/_latest-updates-compact.php b/partials/_latest-updates-compact.php
index ae23839b..85fd834b 100644
--- a/partials/_latest-updates-compact.php
+++ b/partials/_latest-updates-compact.php
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ $card_counter = 0;
 $query_args = array(
   'post_type' => 'fcn_story',
   'post_status' => 'publish',
-  'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $args['post_ids'] ),
+  'post__in' => $args['post_ids'], // May be empty!
   'meta_key' => 'fictioneer_chapters_added',
   'orderby' => 'meta_value',
   'order' => $args['order'] ?? 'desc',
diff --git a/partials/_latest-updates.php b/partials/_latest-updates.php
index ac216bc0..5e55a0c1 100644
--- a/partials/_latest-updates.php
+++ b/partials/_latest-updates.php
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ $card_counter = 0;
 $query_args = array(
   'post_type' => 'fcn_story',
   'post_status' => 'publish',
-  'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $args['post_ids'] ),
+  'post__in' => $args['post_ids'], // May be empty!
   'meta_key' => 'fictioneer_chapters_added',
   'orderby' => 'meta_value',
   'order' => $args['order'] ?? 'desc',
diff --git a/partials/_showcase.php b/partials/_showcase.php
index 731c5029..8c5fbde1 100644
--- a/partials/_showcase.php
+++ b/partials/_showcase.php
@@ -11,17 +11,17 @@
  * @subpackage Fictioneer
  * @since 4.0
  *
- * @internal $args['type']          Post type if the showcase.
- * @internal $args['count']         Maximum number of items. Default 8.
- * @internal $args['order']         Order direction. Default 'DESC'.
- * @internal $args['orderby']       Order argument. Default 'date'.
- * @internal $args['author']        Author provided by the shortcode.
- * @internal $args['post_ids']      Array of post IDs. Default empty.
- * @internal $args['excluded_cats'] Array of category IDs to exclude. Default empty.
- * @internal $args['excluded_tags'] Array of tag IDs to exclude. Default empty.
- * @internal $args['taxonomies']    Array of taxonomy arrays. Default empty.
- * @internal $args['relation']      Relationship between taxonomies.
- * @internal $args['classes']       Additional classes.
+ * @internal $args['type']           Post type if the showcase.
+ * @internal $args['count']          Maximum number of items. Default 8.
+ * @internal $args['order']          Order direction. Default 'DESC'.
+ * @internal $args['orderby']        Order argument. Default 'date'.
+ * @internal $args['author']         Author provided by the shortcode.
+ * @internal $args['post_ids']       Array of post IDs. Default empty.
+ * @internal $args['excluded_cats']  Array of category IDs to exclude. Default empty.
+ * @internal $args['excluded_tags']  Array of tag IDs to exclude. Default empty.
+ * @internal $args['taxonomies']     Array of taxonomy arrays. Default empty.
+ * @internal $args['relation']       Relationship between taxonomies.
+ * @internal $args['classes']        Additional classes.
  */
 ?>
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 $query_args = array (
   'post_type' => $args['type'],
   'post_status' => 'publish',
-  'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $args['post_ids'] ),
+  'post__in' => $args['post_ids'], // May be empty!
   'order' => $args['order'] ?? 'DESC',
   'orderby' => $args['orderby'] ?? 'date',
   'posts_per_page' => $args['count'] ?? 8,
diff --git a/singular-bookshelf.php b/singular-bookshelf.php
index 61612846..106cd022 100644
--- a/singular-bookshelf.php
+++ b/singular-bookshelf.php
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ $tabs[ $current_tab ]['classes'][] = '_current';
               $list_items = fictioneer_get_card_list(
                 'story',
                 array(
-                  'post__in' => fictioneer_post__in( $tabs[ $current_tab ]['post_ids'] ),
+                  'post__in' => $tabs[ $current_tab ]['post_ids'],
                   'paged' => $current_page,
                   'order' => $order
                 ),