SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Plot/Idea: The Dryburgh Chronicles is a time traveling adventure story with astutely written characters and a briskly paced plot. The story is fresh, vibrant, and sprinkled with a propulsive kinetic energy that is both endearing and absorbing.
Prose: Halliday 's writing style is inventive, intelligent and charming, and displays an impressive knowledge of time and place.
Originality: The landscape of the Scottish borders is the ideal setting for the mystery adventure to unravel, the lush grass, rolling hills and downright miserable weather providing the perfect backdrop for Darling and Falkirk to embark on their captivating journey through time.
Character/Execution: Halliday's central characters, Lilian Darling and her research partner Edgar Falkirk, are a pair of sharp-witted academics who become embroiled in a thrilling journey back through time. The characters' interactions are dynamic, and embolden their unique personalities.
Blurb: A bold and delightful fantasy page-turner.
Plot/Idea: A dense and inventive sci-fi novel based on real-world events, this story is told in a parallel plot structure during multiple time periods—primarily 1944 and 2003—that unfold in a very satisfying arc. Umhoefer delivers memorable characters, and an exciting turn, that will leave readers eager for a potential sequel.
Prose: The prose is tight and clean, with a strong voice and long text passages that read well, rarely feeling overwritten. The book is rooted in real locations, drawing on elements from Indigenous cultures in a respectful way.
Originality: It's clear that Umhoefer has done his research, grounding this stunning novel in science that lends a degree of believability to its fantasy elements. That, in combination with a carefully developed plot, transforms this into a fully-formed novel that stands above many of its contemporaries.
Character/Execution: Umhoefer fashions the characters to effectively fit the theme and setting, without the plot devices showing through the seams. This treatment plays to the strengths of the science-grounded narrative, with the characters feeling as if they are caught up in a larger mechanism, rather than just reader-avatars along for the ride.
Plot/Idea: The Lost King, the second book in the Wings of Valenia series, is a bold and dynamic fantasy thriller with well written characters and a compelling plot. Themes of family, betrayal, magic, and tragedy abound in a breathtaking adventure full of unexpected twists and turns.
Prose: Creith's text deftly creates tension and suspense through simple, involving and descriptive storytelling. Delicately observed characters, coupled with detailed, creative and imaginative worldbuilding combine to produce a deeply impressive and highly enjoyable reading experience.
Originality: The Lost King is a stirring fantasy epic which features incredible worldbuilding and a glut of interesting characters. Steeped in the land of ancient fairytales and myths, Creith's sensitively written characters are both intriguing and memorable.
Character/Execution: Creith's protagonist, Princess Kiar, is the focal point of the story, bravely confronting the perils of the dark magic contained within the bog. In addition there are several beautiful, gentle, yet powerful creatures and shapeshifters that round off and impressive array of supporting characters.
Plot/Idea: Vendetta is a fast paced fantasy romance thriller set at sea with plenty of twists to keep the reader guessing. Steeped in fantasy lore, Noelle's fresh and consistently gripping take on nautical drama has an adventurous spirit that is difficult to ignore.
Prose: Noelle's text is a startling mix of revenge thriller and enduring love story with a great use of poetic language that catapults it to another level. It is a tense, involving and fantastical read that truly comes alive in the stormy sea sections.
Originality: Vendetta is a compelling story packed with romance, revenge, love, magic and adventure. An entertaining read for young adults and a worthy addition to Noelle's Mermaid Chronicles series.
Character/Execution: Vendetta is an enchanting fantasy romance which centers on the cattle between mermaids and shapeshifting sharks. The characters are well-constructed and the stretches of sharp and dynamic dialogue are often a joy to read.
Blurb: A tense and thrilling nautical drama.
Plot/Idea: Hecate's Labyrinth is a high-octane fantasy mystery which traverses history and mythology. The plot is adrenaline-fueled, fantastical, and enormous fun.
Prose: Lightsey's text is passionately written and moves at an electrifying pace. The foul-mouthed characters of Hecate's Labyrinth enliven the text in an often invigorating read which confidently blends folklore and mysticism.
Originality: On the surface, Hecate's Labyrinth is a fairly typical fantasy tale, but is written with such vim and conviction, that it is very hard to ignore. A must for lovers of fantasy fiction, Hecate's Labyrinth is full of interesting and enlightening ideas.
Character/Execution: Lightsey's central relationship between Dmitri and Helena is intriguing and the supporting characters are impressively woven into the story. His dialogue is regularly sharp, witty, and of course, delightfully full of expletives.
Blurb: A rip-roaring fantasy adventure.
Plot/Idea: Borys’s elaborate plot spins through realms of magic, adventure, and quests for self-awareness, as Eli Stone discovers he has otherworldly powers—powers that come with a dark history and dangerous undertones. Throughout his journey, Eli is continually shocked by the people he meets, his connection to their hidden world, and his past that seems to seep into every moment of his present.
Prose: Borys writes clear, efficient prose while delivering striking worldbuilding. The setting is convincing, with a clearly defined magic system that operates under its own rules and makes perfect sense within the context of the story.
Originality: The Wizard Within thrums with magic, danger, and flashy worldbuilding. Nearly every character in the story possesses unique abilities to help them navigate Borys’s supernatural world, but the book still manages to stay grounded in contemporary times.
Character/Execution: Borys’s cast is immense and satisfyingly diverse, with several characters to track along with their unique magic abilities. The standout of course is Eli, a troubled young man with a heartbreaking past, who will appeal to readers as he grows into his own and learns the limits of his powers—and how they play into who he really is. Thorne, the counterpart to Eli in many ways, dances in and out of the narrative smoothly, their magnetic draw to each other well-wrought in Borys’s capable hands.
Plot/Idea: Hill unites dark magic, mythical creatures, and a hero crusade in this well-developed fantasy. Moments of intense action are well-crafted and keep the story’s pace brisk, as the Order of the Brothers of the Holy Sword fight to overcome their past, while trying desperately to survive against new forces that are far more dangerous than any they’ve ever faced. When central characters fall in battle, Hill renders their deaths as tragic as they are memorable.
Prose: Hill’s prose holds a poetic beauty in places that subtly builds the story’s setting while advancing the action at the same time, and the story’s structure holds throughout, despite the complexity of the plot.
Originality: Striking a nice balance between the magic, religious, and political systems in the story, Hill delivers skilled worldbuilding that makes From a Broken Grail stand out. That, coupled with the story’s arresting characters, transforms the storyline into an exceptional read.
Character/Execution: Hill fine tunes his characters, with special attention to their internal battles and backstories. Godfrey, in particular, is carefully wrought, with inner conflict that is both vivid and, in places, heartbreaking.
Plot/Idea: Dreaming Under an Electric Moon, a clever cyberpunk adventure set in a futuristic America that is no longer unified, weaves a gripping thriller with fast-paced, inventive escapes into real and virtual settings. The likable cast of characters is pitted against a dangerous and malevolent hacker, and Powers builds stunning tension into the plot.
Prose: Powers does a good job of organically incorporating world-building into the plot, though some of the exposition embedded in dialogue can come off a bit stilted. The writing is consistent, with some strong descriptive prose and dialogue that reads naturally and supports characterization.
Originality: Dreaming Under an Electric Moon is heavy with ideas but successfully brings them all together. The world-building is spirited, with inventive concepts that Powers subtly draws out for readers.
Character/Execution: Though it deals with some weighty concepts, Dreaming Under an Electric Moon has a light, adventuresome tone that is reinforced through solid characterization. The primary characters are a plucky group, rich with camaraderie and rapport, while the antagonist Moloch is portrayed as a super villain of sorts, one that is menacing and over-the-top without being cheesy.
Plot/Idea: Pallbearer Bridge is a tense and involving suspense thriller with well-developed characters, expert pacing, and a gripping plot focused on the fates of Dale Grubbin High School alumni. Csortos has a penchant for building tension, mystery, and dread in a dark and brooding narrative.
Prose: Csortos's bold use of language creates a morbid, absorbing, and evocative atmosphere throughout Pallbearer Bridge. He makes brilliant use of description, creating an eerie and compelling backdrop for the story to unfold.
Originality: Pallbearer Bridge contains undoubted shades of classic horror, while providing its own distinctive blend of supernatural elements and character-driven storytelling.
Character/Execution: Pallbearer Bridge benefits from excellently crafted characters and confidently written and believable dialogue. Csortos's involving writing style gives the reader a real sense of character motivation and the many strands of the story are weaved together expertly.
Plot/Idea: Evergreen Dread is a riveting supernatural thriller that pits Agent Alex Kelso against a reptilian monster, mysterious cults and an impending apocalypse. The storyline is vibrant and well paced, maintaining a consistent forward momentum that is sure to have readers enthralled throughout.
Prose: Marrow's quality prose is apparent from the off, and littered with well choreographed twists, jumps and scares. He brilliantly evokes horror, terror, and the supernatural with sharp and dynamic language that keeps the reader on their toes.
Originality: Evergreen Dread is a consistently engaging novel full of tense and dramatic cliffhanger chapter endings. Marrow displays an undoubted love of terror literature and more than a little affinity with the novels of Stephen King.
Character/Execution: Evergreen Dread is packed with well realized characters, particularly the alluring protagonist, Agent Alex Kelso. Marrow's dynamic dialogue has a propulsive energy which drives characters into intriguing situations and keeps readers glued to the fascinating proceedings.
Blurb: An eye-opening supernatural page-turner.
Plot/Idea: What a Wonderful World, a speculative fiction novel, melds ecology and environmental science with questions of spirituality and faith for an idea-rich narrative that also entertains.
Prose: What a Wonderful World reads cleanly and has effective pacing; the author has a clear handle on storytelling. This said, the prose can sometimes have a dry quality, as if mirroring the scientific-minded content over the more spiritual aspects of the storyline. Dialogue is compelling, and character interactions meaningfully carrying the story forward.
Originality: Bailey's narrative is sparklingly original. While the work ultimately leans into more spiritual (Christian) explanations, the author doesn't discredit the value of scientific inquiry, raising intriguing questions in the process.
Character/Execution: Bailey crafts a host of characters–an ecologist, a reporter, and a Biblical scholar–who offer different perspectives on the circumstances. Each player carries significance and ultimately approaches the curious and sudden disappearance of avian species, flowers, and other things of beauty, with intelligence and natural curiosity.
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Plot/Idea: The author has crafted a rich tapestry of speculative fiction that surrounds contestants in a highly unique beauty pageant. The work seamlessly shifts from character to character and from past to present. The story is complex and nuanced, with abundant detail and narrative texture.
Prose: Karma delivers an engrossing story with an ethereal style. While it may take a beat for readers to become acclimated to the storytelling, the narrative is ultimately lush, layered, and lyrical.
Originality: Karma offers a striking premise, as the stories of the characters and their distinctive tattoos, intermingle.
Character/Execution: The author does a fine job with characterization, providing each of them proper focus and detailed histories. Readers won't soon forget the vibrant and eclectic world they inhabit.
Plot/Idea: Below is a convincing literary horror novel in which protagonist Min ends up traversing an unnervingly realistic zombie-infested underground world. The story is well constructed, opening in the bustling, overcrowded slums of Manila, and effectively realizing the punishing effects of a disturbingly horrific worldwide pandemic.
Prose: Cabiling's text is tense and involving, benefitting from an excellent level of description that brilliantly evokes an atmosphere of frenzied panic and terror. The claustrophobic ambience on both the streets of Manila and life in the sewers is expertly wrought.
Originality: Below carries an enduring sense of terror that quickly spirals out of control. Cabiling's meticulous attention to detail elevates it above the average, run-of-the-mill zombie tale, resulting in a noteworthy and profoundly affecting horror novel.
Character/Execution: Min's dreams of becoming a doctor quickly dissipate as his friends start dropping like flies all around him. His descent into drug abuse and life in the sewers is powerfully realized by Cabiling, and the characters' sharp dialogue is incisive and enthralling.
Blurb: A grpping zombie apocalypse thriller.
Plot/Idea: Always Carry Your Scythe is a dark and comedic fantasy adventure which sees Trixie D'Vita pitting her wits against a trans-dimensional vortex while trying to save her best friend. A fast-paced, involving and unpretentious storyline is finely crafted by Paisley in a gratifying addition to the genre.
Prose: Paisley's text benefits from stark, unique and imaginative storytelling that is consistently compelling. Her bold worldbuilding and meticulous attention to plot and character development helps give the storyline weight and pizazz.
Originality: Always Carry Your Scythe is a witty and entertaining supernatural fantasy novel that is positively bursting with ideas. Paisley's innocent and sharply observed dialogue blends perfectly with her playful and boisterous storytelling throughout.
Character/Execution: Paisley's protagonist, Trixie D'Vita, is an inventive and engaging protagonist that is easy to root for. In an imaginative world inhabited by multi-colored demons and werewolf drag queens, Always Carry Your Scythe is a vibrant page-turner with a wild sense of creativity.
Blurb: A fun and thought-provoking fantasy romp.
Plot/Idea: A lighthearted space adventure full of swagger, Hidden Planet tells the story of a small crew from Earth, complete with a two foot sentient spider, marooned on a mysterious planet in a distant galaxy. Full of clever ideas, humor, and action, the novel features a complete plot arc as the crew uncovers the secrets of the planet in order to try and make their way home, and at the same time serves as a launch point for an exciting fictional universe full of promise.
Prose: Hidden Planet is well-paced, and the writing is enjoyable. A consistent and engaging voice conveys plenty of action and humor, and economical prose serves as effective worldbuilding without long expositional passages.
Originality: This book does an excellent job of adding creative twists to genre tropes, resulting in an absorbing and entertaining read. Readers in search of an escapist adventure will not be let down.
Character/Execution: The primary crew as well as supporting characters are multidimensional and likable. Dialogue relays personalities and enhances the relationships that help drive the plot, and the protagonists' unique talents add to the narrative's appeal.
Plot/Idea: The Burying Point is a finely crafted supernatural crime thriller which cleverly weaves the Salem Witch trials and satanic cults into its excellently orchestrated plot. There are plenty of twists and turns in Cavignano's well paced, intriguing, and consistently captivating novel.
Prose: Cavignano's text is an intelligently conceived horror-thriller that captures a murderous atmosphere with forensic attention to detail. Often bloody and gory, Cavignano masterfully builds tension while expertly encapsulating the essence of the intriguing Boston cityscape.
Originality: The Burying Point is a top notch crime thriller with razor sharp prose and a bristling atmosphere. Its frequently engaging plot and well rounded characters, particularly top detective Ray Hanley, are refreshing and offer great promise for future entries in this crime series.
Character/Execution: Ray Hanley is the captivating protagonist of The Burying Point and he's pushed to his limits with a case involving dark magic and witchcraft. The dynamic that develops between Ray and his rookie partner Elena Martinez is fascinating, with Cavignano displaying a knack for developing real emotional depth in his characterization.
Blurb: An absorbing supernatural crime thriller.
