The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
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thesfincs.bsky.social
The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
@thesfincs.bsky.social
310 followers 71 following 61 posts
A competition for indie novellas that is judged by volunteers. Affectionately called BabyBo. https://www.sfincscompetition.com/
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thesfincs.bsky.social
The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship @thesfincs.bsky.social · Dec 22
It's time! Here are the 25 novellas that are now semi-finalists in SFINCS3! #booksky💙📚📚
www.sfincscompetition.com/post/sfincs3...
SFINCS3 Semi-Finalists!
So without further ado, here are the 25 books that are moving forward in SFINCS3!
www.sfincscompetition.com
thesfincs.bsky.social
The current list of SFINCS3 reviews has been updated! We had some more round one reviews written and a bunch from round two! #sfincs #booksky💙📚🪐
#writingcommunity
www.sfincscompetition.com/sfincs3
SFINCS3 | The Speculative Fict
Results from the third year of The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”). SFINCS3.
www.sfincscompetition.com
January 25, 2026 at 3:43 PM
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suebavey.bsky.social
My first semifinalist review for the SFINCS3 contest is Sunbathers by Lindz McLeod an erotic horror novella:

pagechewing.com/sfincs3-semi...
#booksky #sfincs #horror #novella
Book cover shows three women sunbathing with blood smears on the bodies and faces
January 5, 2026 at 12:09 AM
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stevewestenra.bsky.social
Belated #SFINCS Round 1 review for The Devil Owns Primetime by Sirius .: beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

Devil wasn't one of my initial books, but I picked it up on recommendation from a teammate. I'm so glad I did (it had been on my TBR before the contest, but this gave me the nudge)! #SFINCS3
SFINCS Review: The Devil Owns Primetime – Sirius .
"The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the
beforewegoblog.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:51 PM
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stevewestenra.bsky.social
New (Round 1) #SFINCS review!
stevewestenra.bsky.social Steve Hugh Westenra @stevewestenra.bsky.social · 22d
Belated #SFINCS Round 1 review for The Devil Owns Primetime by Sirius .: beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

Devil wasn't one of my initial books, but I picked it up on recommendation from a teammate. I'm so glad I did (it had been on my TBR before the contest, but this gave me the nudge)! #SFINCS3
SFINCS Review: The Devil Owns Primetime – Sirius .
"The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the
beforewegoblog.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:52 PM
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blog.readindiefantasy.com
Ahoy folks, it's SFINCS O'clock, and this is Nils with a new review.

These are my thoughts on Sunbathers, by @lindzmcleod.bsky.social

This is a bleak but worthwhile read, and while it hit me hard, I'm glad I read it.

www.readindiefantasy.com/book-review-...

#BookSky #SFINCS
Banner image for our review of Sunbathers. Includes the cover of the book on top of a background of a very bright sun.
January 6, 2026 at 8:56 AM
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kiraofthewind.com
Check out some fantasy novellas! I'm a judge in the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championships (SFINCS, pronounced 'sphinx') this year and I've read some bite-sized stories you can sink your teeth into! Today, I'm showcasing this awesome sapphic fantasy, Red Lacquered Sky!
Image for Red Lacquered Sky by L.H. Yun featuring cute graphics including red lanterns and Chinese dolls. At each corner is a girl and text. The text reads: -World where women are born with quantifiable 'luck' -sapphic, red symbolizes luck -dark, tragic, but hopeful -outcast female MC with no luck meets high-luck lady trapped in a toxic marriage -gorgeous prose, stunning visuals, beautiful sapphic sex scenes
January 6, 2026 at 5:13 PM
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stevewestenra.bsky.social
My review for Cate Baumer's atmospheric, moody Sapphic vampire fantasy, The Butcher's Lot, is up on Before We Go Blog!

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

#SFINCS #SFINCS3
SFINCS Review: The Butcher’s Lot – Cate Baumer
"The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the
beforewegoblog.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:40 PM
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stevewestenra.bsky.social
My last "technically Round One" review! This time for Jessica A. McMinn's darkly fun fantasy mystery, Parasitic Omens!

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

Parasitic Omens is one of our semi-finalists & has already racked up a ton of Round Two reviews! 🔥

#SFINCS #SFINCS3
SFINCS Review: Parasitic Omens – Jessica A. McMinn
"The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the
beforewegoblog.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:03 PM
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stevewestenra.bsky.social
New #SFINCS3 review!

#SFINCS
stevewestenra.bsky.social Steve Hugh Westenra @stevewestenra.bsky.social · 20d
My last "technically Round One" review! This time for Jessica A. McMinn's darkly fun fantasy mystery, Parasitic Omens!

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

Parasitic Omens is one of our semi-finalists & has already racked up a ton of Round Two reviews! 🔥

#SFINCS #SFINCS3
SFINCS Review: Parasitic Omens – Jessica A. McMinn
"The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the
beforewegoblog.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:04 PM
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bengalley.bsky.social
Still can’t believe this little wyrm is in the semi finals of #SFINCS!
January 8, 2026 at 4:32 PM
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stevewestenra.bsky.social
And here's the first of my Round Two semi-finalist reviews! A warning that this one includes marked spoilers & non-detailed discussion of sexual assault:

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

#SFINCS #SFINCS3
SFINCS Review: The Knight of the Moon – Gregory Kontaxis
"The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the
beforewegoblog.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:54 PM
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stevewestenra.bsky.social
New #SFINCS review!

#SFINCS3
January 8, 2026 at 4:55 PM
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stevewestenra.bsky.social
My latest #SFINCS review, this time for Jennifer R. Donohue's Gothic maritime fantasy, The Drowned Heir!

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

#SFINCS3
SFINCS Review: The Drowned Heir – Jennifer Donahue
"The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the
beforewegoblog.com
January 9, 2026 at 8:59 PM
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stevewestenra.bsky.social
New #SFINCS review!

I'm caught up on my contest reviews now, which means I can continue reading (next up, Selkie Moon!)
January 9, 2026 at 9:00 PM
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helynalc.bsky.social
We continue with #SFINCS Round 2 where my first read was Selkie Moon by Kelly Jarvis.

On a stormy island in Orkney, a young girl has to grapple with the turbulent dynamics of her family life and her own possible fantastical origins... #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2026/01/10/s...
January 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
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kiraofthewind.com
I'm a judge in the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championships (SFINCS, pronounced 'sphinx') this year and I want to tell you about some novellas! Check out this sci-fi with gorgeous flora/fauna worldbuilding and that questions the role of religion/faith in a science-dominated future
Image for A Goddess Trapped in Glass by Jake Theriault featuring a tree, butterflies, flowers, and a spaceship At each corner is a girl and text. The text reads: -Amazingly vibrant world with interesting plants and animals -MC questioning the role of belief/religion in a futuristic sci-fi world -MC is a woman on an expedition to a vibrant planet to reconnect with her brother who converted to a new religion -Gorgeous scenery description -fascinating look at what faith means to people in a world dominated by science
January 10, 2026 at 4:27 PM
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suebavey.bsky.social
Here’s my review of #SFINCS semifinalist The Butcher’s Lot by @catebaumer.bsky.social

pagechewing.com/sfincs3-semi...
Cover of The Butcher’s Lot by Cate Baumer
January 11, 2026 at 6:11 PM
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bengalley.bsky.social
Another review is up for Weaver & The Wyrm as part of the #SFINCS contest.

“Farden was a fascinating character that reminds me of Asher from “The Echo’s Saga” and Geralt from “The Witcher”…both a couple of my favorites.“

grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/t...
The Weaver & The Wyrm by Ben Galley
Reviewed by Jeremy Schwab ★★★★ “The Weaver & The Wyrm” by Ben Galley, another Novella from a new (to me) author, another peek into an established world and series, again, new (to me), and anoth…
grimoireinkreviews.wordpress.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:24 PM
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stevewestenra.bsky.social
Here's my third #SFINCS3 semi-finalist review! Kelly Jarvis's fantasy retelling of the selkie legend is impeccably written and will make your heart ache with its relatable portrayal of mother-child relationships: beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

#SFINCS
SFINCS Review: Selkie Moon – Kelly Jarvis
"The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the
beforewegoblog.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:51 PM
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stevewestenra.bsky.social
New #SFINCS review!

#SFINCS3
stevewestenra.bsky.social Steve Hugh Westenra @stevewestenra.bsky.social · 14d
Here's my third #SFINCS3 semi-finalist review! Kelly Jarvis's fantasy retelling of the selkie legend is impeccably written and will make your heart ache with its relatable portrayal of mother-child relationships: beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

#SFINCS
SFINCS Review: Selkie Moon – Kelly Jarvis
"The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the
beforewegoblog.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:51 PM
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authorizedmusings.bsky.social
🌊⛵👻

from now until February 7, to celebrate my #SFINCS semi-finalist status, The Drowned Heir ebook is $2.99 (or cheaper!)

🌊⛵👻
authorizedmusings.bsky.social Jen Donohue @authorizedmusings.bsky.social · 11d
The Drowned Heir is about family*

*fulfilling family/social obligations when you're the 3rd child and your uncle with no heir has just died so they need you to be your uncle now

authorizedmusings.blogspot.com/p/the-drowne...

jenniferrdonohue.itch.io/the-drowned-...
Hardcover copy of The Drowned Heir in focus against a soft library shelves background the cover art is a pale woman wearing a tricorn hat with a brimstone tattoo on her left shoulder, her head turned to the left, writhing tentacles in the darkness behind her. art by Yorgos Cotronis, and I bought the art in a premade cover pack on his website https://cotronis.com/ and put the text on it myself.
January 16, 2026 at 4:40 PM
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fantasybooknerd.bsky.social
Sue reviews SFINCS Semifinalist FROM THESE DARK ABODES by Lyndsey Manusos.
January 17, 2026 at 8:10 PM
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blog.readindiefantasy.com
Today we’re excited to host a cover reveal, or cover re-reveal, for SFINCs finalist The Re-Emergence by @alankdell.bsky.social, as this is a brand new cover in honour of its fifth anniversary: www.readindiefantasy.com/cover-reveal...
A banner image for the cover reveal of The Re-Emergence by Alan K. Dell. Thr background shows a giant hand holding an open book in a forest with a blurry version of the cover.
January 19, 2026 at 10:34 AM
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jamreads.com
It's my pleasure to help reveal the new cover of The Re-Emergence, a SFINCS 1 finalist, written by @alankdell.bsky.social.

Full info + cover:
jamreads.com/reveals/cove...
Cover Reveal: The Re-Emergence, by Alan K. Dell
We help reveal the new cover of The Re-Emergence, a SFINCS1 finalist, written by Alan K. Dell
v2.jamreads.com
January 19, 2026 at 6:11 PM
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behindthepages.bsky.social
I'm a bit behind on posting reviews from round one of SFINCS. 🙃 So without further ado let's get them posted! Starting off is my review of The First Day! @thesfincs.bsky.social #booksky💙📚🪐
www.behindthepages.org/post/the-fir...
The First Day by Keelan Powell SFINCs3 Book Review
The First Day is told through multiple POVs to highlight how various people have been impacted by the event. From firsthand encounters of watching loved ones turn into immobile see-through figures, to...
www.behindthepages.org
January 4, 2026 at 3:46 PM