The Children of Chaos by @trudieskies.bsky.social is such a fun read that you won't even feel its chunky 700 pages. A worthy sequel to a SPFBO finalist!

Link to full review: beforewegoblog.com/review-the-c...

The Bladed Faith by Daniel Dalglish is an uneven series opener with just enough tantalizing morsels to encourage me to pick up book 2. However, it would be great for action fans!

Link to review: beforewegoblog.com/review-the-b...

My latest review is for the Trials of Empire by Richard Swan. This will go down as one of the best fantasy finales of all time. Period.

You still have ~2 weeks to catch up on the previous two books before this one drops.

Link to full review: beforewegoblog.com/review-trial...

Him by Geoff Ryman is a multiversal retelling that reimagines the story of Jesus as a trans man.

The character arcs are brilliant, but I ultimately felt the book had too little to say.

My full review: beforewegoblog.com/review-him-b...

If you are looking for something that scratch the Brandon Sanderson itch now that the year of Sanderson is over?

Let me point you to Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard, a book that is sure to be the next big thing in fantasy.

Here is a link to my full review:

beforewegoblog.com/review-elegy...

It's starting to feel like winter where I am, so a perfect weekend for a cozy fantasy romance!

Had Me at Halo is The Good Place + a Hallmark movie (with a little spice) + Olivia Atwater's Small Miracles.

I had a really good time with this one!

Full review: beforewegoblog.com/review-had-m...

Last but not least, the semifinalists assigned to Team FanFiAddict!

Shattered Spirits by Cal Black
The Re-Emergence by Alan K Dell
Cora Christensen by Tanner Howsden
Roxy Buckles and the Flight of the Sparrow by Nicole Little
A Mirage in the Memory by Simon Tull

The semifinalists assigned to Team Before We Go Blog

Dark Heart of Ilmoure by Cara N Delaney
The Book of a Thousand and One Defenses by Gareth Lewis Audition by Rachel Neumeier
Ruins of Smoke by Joao F Silva
Rat City by Laury Silvers

The semifinalists assigned to Team Behind the Musings:

The Stars Within by Alex Arch
Hot Button Issue by Catrina Bell
Dragonmeat by Angela Boord
A Wolf in Thief's Clothing by Lily Anne Crow
Dust and Lightning by Rebecca Crundun

The semifinalists assigned to Team Booktube

A Sorrow Named Joy by Sarah Chorn
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe
The Demon's Dagger by Douglas Lumsden
The Collector's Lost Things by Jessica A McMinn
Bad Grains by Susanne Schmidt

The semifinalists assigned to Team Jamreads

Blackcap by Benjamin Aeveryn
Your Blood and Bones by J Patricia Anderson
From the Ashes by BSH Garcia
We're All Monsters Here by Amy Marsden
The Choice of Weapons by Alex Valdiers

Round Two of #SFINCS is officially underway!

Each of our semi-finalists has been re-allocated to another judging team.

Judges have until January 30 to advance two of their allocated five novellas to the final round!

Keep an eye here as we start to announce the Round 2 groups!

The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship is gearing up and officially begins September 15!

Today we look at the novellas assigned to Team Behind the Musings, lead by judges @suebavey.bsky.social and @behindthepages.bsky.social!