150 Award Genres
Children
- Children - Action
- Children - Adventure
- Children - Animals
- Children - Audiobook
- Children - Christian
- Children - Coming of Age
- Children - Concept
- Children - Educational
- Children - Fable
- Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Children - General
- Children - Grade 4th-6th
- Children - Grade K-3rd
- Children - Mystery
- Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Children - Non-Fiction
- Children - Picture Book
- Children - Preschool
- Children - Preteen
- Children - Religious Theme
- Children - Social Issues
Christian
- Christian - Amish
- Christian - Biblical Counseling
- Christian - Devotion/Study
- Christian - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Christian - Fiction
- Christian - General
- Christian - Historical Fiction
- Christian - Living
- Christian - Non-Fiction
- Christian - Romance - Contemporary
- Christian - Romance - General
- Christian - Romance - Historical
- Christian - Thriller
Fiction
- Fiction - Action
- Fiction - Adventure
- Fiction - Animals
- Fiction - Anthology
- Fiction - Audiobook
- Fiction - Chick Lit
- Fiction - Crime
- Fiction - Cultural
- Fiction - Drama
- Fiction - Dystopia
- Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
- Fiction - Fantasy - General
- Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
- Fiction - General
- Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
- Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
- Fiction - Historical - Personage
- Fiction - Holiday
- Fiction - Horror
- Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Fiction - Inspirational
- Fiction - Intrigue
- Fiction - LGBTQ
- Fiction - Literary
- Fiction - Magic/Wizardry
- Fiction - Military
- Fiction - Mystery - General
- Fiction - Mystery - Historical
- Fiction - Mystery - Legal
- Fiction - Mystery - Murder
- Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
- Fiction - Mythology
- Fiction - New Adult
- Fiction - Paranormal
- Fiction - Realistic
- Fiction - Religious Theme
- Fiction - Science Fiction
- Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Fiction - Social Issues
- Fiction - Southern
- Fiction - Sports
- Fiction - Supernatural
- Fiction - Suspense
- Fiction - Tall Tale
- Fiction - Thriller - Conspiracy
- Fiction - Thriller - Environmental
- Fiction - Thriller - Espionage
- Fiction - Thriller - General
- Fiction - Thriller - Legal
- Fiction - Thriller - Medical
- Fiction - Thriller - Political
- Fiction - Thriller - Psychological
- Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist
- Fiction - Time Travel
- Fiction - Urban
- Fiction - Visionary
- Fiction - Western
- Fiction - Womens
Non-Fiction
- Non-Fiction - Adventure
- Non-Fiction - Animals
- Non-Fiction - Anthology
- Non-Fiction - Art/Photography
- Non-Fiction - Audiobook
- Non-Fiction - Autobiography
- Non-Fiction - Biography
- Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
- Non-Fiction - Cooking/Food
- Non-Fiction - Cultural
- Non-Fiction - Drama
- Non-Fiction - Education
- Non-Fiction - Environment
- Non-Fiction - Genealogy
- Non-Fiction - General
- Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
- Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
- Non-Fiction - Health - Fitness
- Non-Fiction - Health - Medical
- Non-Fiction - Historical
- Non-Fiction - Hobby
- Non-Fiction - Home/Crafts
- Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Non-Fiction - Inspirational
- Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
- Non-Fiction - Marketing
- Non-Fiction - Memoir
- Non-Fiction - Military
- Non-Fiction - Motivational
- Non-Fiction - Music/Entertainment
- Non-Fiction - New Age
- Non-Fiction - Occupational
- Non-Fiction - Parenting
- Non-Fiction - Relationships
- Non-Fiction - Religion/Philosophy
- Non-Fiction - Retirement
- Non-Fiction - Self Help
- Non-Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Non-Fiction - Social Issues
- Non-Fiction - Spiritual/Supernatural
- Non-Fiction - Sports
- Non-Fiction - Travel
- Non-Fiction - True Crime
- Non-Fiction - Womens
- Non-Fiction - Writing/Publishing
Poetry
Romance
Young Adult
- Young Adult - Action
- Young Adult - Adventure
- Young Adult - Coming of Age
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
- Young Adult - Fantasy - General
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
- Young Adult - General
- Young Adult - Horror
- Young Adult - Mystery
- Young Adult - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Young Adult - Non-Fiction
- Young Adult - Paranormal
- Young Adult - Religious Theme
- Young Adult - Romance
- Young Adult - Sci-Fi
- Young Adult - Social Issues
- Young Adult - Thriller
Illustration Award
Recommend this book:
Oblivion Awaits
Infinita Book 1
Christopher Hopper
2022 Bronze Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Christopher Hopper launches his science fiction series Infinita with book one, Oblivian Awaits, recorded as an audiobook narrated by Rebecca Woods and Daniel Wisniewski. Earth is a heartbeat away from being uninhabitable. Extinction events snowball. Humanity is not standing on one leg; it is standing on a single broken toe. Two settings are employed by Hopper; space and what is left of Earth. In space, there is a station called Astraea scouting for signs of alien life to help the surviving humans under the leadership of Dr. Evelyn “Evie” Park. Tragedy strikes and Evie is blamed. On Earth, we meet Jericho Fox whose career as a celebrated pilot takes a nosedive and crashes into a temporary new career of shuttling earthly minerals. Evie's failure gets Jericho re-enlisted and as events are pieced together, the so-called accident starts to look like anything but.
Intrigue is the first word that pops out when describing Oblivion Awaits by Christopher Hopper. It is intelligent science fiction that pulled me in and kept me there from start to finish. I liked what Hopper names 'Politicasts' and the ride-or-die mentality that more closely resembles prison gangs than political affiliations. These are Solum Terram, Viatoribus, and NUESSA and they effectively partition people into whether or not they want to remain on Earth and try to go into intense rehab mode, or leave the planet in search of an alternative, with or without alien assistance. The intensity that Hopper attributes to how people respond in these factions sets a high bar for character development that Hopper meets with flying colors. Evie, Jericho, Kit, and the murky narrator named Jack are excellent.
Hopper builds the world and characters and Rebecca Woods and Daniel Wisniewski do his work justice with a smooth and clean reading in the audio version, free of hiccups and voiced to a standard worthy of the story. I tend to prefer science fiction in a physical format because it can be hard to follow and sometimes requires going back to revisit technical elements that a lay reader needs a refresher on. This is not the case with the audio version at all and is the first time I didn't have to do that. We listened to the audiobook in the car, on a lengthy road trip, and all of us were enraptured by the book and how Woods and Wisniewski voiced it. Oblivion Awaits is a journey I would happily take on again.
Recommend this book:
Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw
A Young Adult Fantasy Adventure
D.A. Mucci, Tim Campbell, St. Barts Publishing
2022 Silver Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw is a work of fiction in the fantasy, adventure, and action subgenres. It is intended for young adult and adult reading audiences, was penned by author D. A. Mucci, and is presented in audiobook format by narrator Tim Campbell. The title character, the reluctant and witty Iggy, finds himself embroiled in the fight of his life, despite having tried to run away from combat repeatedly his entire life to date. In the gorgeous and windswept Kingdom of Skye, a dark prophecy is returning, and Iggy is about to end up cast in the role of hero, whether he likes it or not.
Author D. A. Mucci has crafted a superb tale with plenty of twists and turns, and all the bloodthirsty, magical and mysterious elements one would expect from high-quality fantasy fiction. But much more than this, it was the expression of individuality in the central character of Iggy that really captivated me, and the clever little twists that really go against type and create something truly original in the genre. The Scottish setting was also gorgeously depicted and added a magical atmosphere to the whole tale.
In terms of its audiobook narration, I really enjoyed the variety of voices that narrator Tim Campbell was able to achieve in creating different attitudes, regions, and emotions amongst a wide array of characters. I felt there was a great balance in bringing characters to life with humor and vivaciousness without overdoing it, or making them so comical that the book would no longer appeal to adult readers. The audio editing and quality were also superb, making for a smooth listening experience all-round. Overall, I’d certainly recommend Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw to fantasy fans of all ages who are seeking a thrilling and detail-packed tale of sword and sorcery with twists and turns to keep them entertained from cover to cover. And I would highly recommend getting the audiobook version to make the story truly come to life.
Recommend this book:
His Ragged Company
A Testimony of Elias Faust - Book 1 (Testimonies of Elias Faust)
Rance D. Denton
2022 Gold Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
His Ragged Company: A Testimony of Elias Faust - Book 1 by Rance D. Denton is an audiobook that would appeal most to a mixed audience of young adults and adults who enjoy western-style fiction with a dash of magic and who do not mind some violent content. Elias Faust is the town marshal of Blackpeak, Texas, and he has a habit of dealing with town problems by throwing lead until the problem goes away. However, merely throwing lead won’t be nearly enough to deal with Magnate Gregdon and his undead syndicate who are determined to tear the town apart to claim what lies underneath it. Will town marshal Elias Faust be able to save Blackpeak or will Magnate Gregdon and his reanimated corpses triumph?
Move over Cowboys vs Aliens and make room for town marshal Elias Faust in His Ragged Company by Rance D. Denton. The closest I have ever come to finding media similar to this was the Cowboys vs Aliens movie. I have to say I was far more impressed with this western magic mix than I ever was with that movie. This book quite simply excelled with its seamless blending of two very different genres. I especially enjoyed how Elias Faust felt like a real wild west character and I could not get enough of him. I really hope the author decides to write more books in the genre mix!
The narrator of this audiobook is John Pirhalla. Mr. Pirhalla is an accomplished voice actor who has many acting credits to his name including Surgecaller: Oathbound and Knighthood, The Chaos Rises: An Elemental Warrior Series, and The Master Executioner. Mr. Pirhalla’s acting expertise shone brightly in this audiobook because he did not merely read this book out loud for the audience, but instead performed it. He did a most spectacular job of drawing his listeners into the story with only his voice.
Recommend this book:
The Ninth Session
Deborah Serani
2021 Finalist
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
The Ninth Session by Deborah Serani is a fiction audiobook that would appeal most to audiobook lovers who enjoy psychological mysteries and thrillers. Dr. Alicia Reese is a psychologist whose professional and personal life is forever changed when she takes on a patient by the name of Lucas Ferro with a serious anxiety condition. Each session with Lucas Ferro brings Dr. Alicia Reese closer and closer to the truth of Lucas Ferro and the danger of him. Will Lucas Ferro be Dr. Alicia Reese’s last patient?
The Ninth Session by Deborah Serani is a well-written book that quickly pulled me into the story and held me captivated within the first ten minutes of listening. As a psychology graduate student, I really appreciated the author’s attention to detail and the level of accuracy she had in her portrayal of psychology and Dr. Alicia Reese as a psychologist. It was easy to become enraptured with the story as the author wove together elements of danger, suspense, and mystery into Dr. Alicia Reese’s experiences with her new patient.
The Ninth Session was both written and narrated by Deborah Serani. This audiobook is Serani’s first foray into narration, but I would not have known this was her first performance from the quality of her narration. While the narration was well done for all of the characters, I personally found that Serani’s narration was perfect for Dr. Alicia Reese’s character. I just felt like she really got into the character and her narration made me feel particularly connected with Alicia.
Recommend this book:
Shared Madness
Rick Moskovitz
2021 Honorable Mention
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Shared Madness by Rick Moskovitz is a gripping story filled with suspense and mystery, following Zack Tripler, a psychiatrist in Boston who has just admitted Youssef al Saud to the hospital. Brought in from the woods where he has been hiding with his laptop, Youssef claims to hear voices and has also discovered coded messages on his laptop. He believes there is a terrorist plot and that the bad guys are out to get him. Tripler doesn’t believe him until Youssef dies under mysterious circumstances. The psychiatrist gets closer to his patient’s widow, Jamilah, but he is torn between compassion for and suspicion of her. When he begins to have the same symptoms as his patient, he knows it is only a matter of time before he breaks psychologically. Can he solve the mystery and how involved is the widow?
Rick Moskovitz has created a well-plotted story that pulled me in from the very beginning. The dialogues are skillfully written and I enjoyed the way the anxiety of Youssef is captured in the story, thanks to the brilliant dialogue. The biggest twist is when the psychiatrist begins to have symptoms of psychosis. The pacing is good, the prose excellent, and the character arcs are impeccably achieved. This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with memorable characters and strong plot points. It is a page-turning story that had me racing from chapter to chapter.
I listened to Shared Madness in its entirety with few coffee breaks. This is because of two reasons: I loved the clear and powerful voice of Joe Smith and his ability to communicate the drama and the points of view. I also loved the plot and how the narrator captured the pacing through the professional audio recording. I can say confidently that any listener will have the same experience they would have if they read the physical book — a thoroughly satisfying one.
Recommend this book:
The Roach
Rhett C. Bruno
2021 Bronze Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
The Roach by Rhett C Bruno is an excellent example of noir fiction. Set in the 1980s in Iron City, The Roach, or Reese Roberts, is a vigilante who prowled the streets and took out the criminals in the city. After making a rescue, he is shot and paralyzed. This is where we meet him, on the river’s edge in his wheelchair, contemplating suicide. A cry for help diverts him from it, and from this point on, the story develops into an adrenaline-pumping grunge thriller. Sustaining immense injuries while saving a little girl, Reese wakes after a month in a coma to find that someone had stolen his identity and was killed in the city. Reese, in his wheelchair, solicits the aid of a young man he tried to help and embarks on the search for the one scumbag reporter that may have answers. Reese makes the comic book heroes look like little girls playing dolls as he races through the city in his wheelchair to catch up with the imposter who is out to harm the two people that matter most to Reese.
Rhett C Bruno has written a page-turner; it is impossible to put it down once you start the story. The descriptions of Reese wheeling around and even fighting from his chair are impressive, and one can vividly imagine the hardened crime-fighter who will not let paralysis get him down. Child abuse is a very relevant and clear theme throughout the story; the primordial ooze formed Reese and motivated him in his actions. I like the book because Reese did not try to justify his actions; in his heart, he knew that killing was wrong, but he had something inside that drove him to kill in his cause to save innocents.
RC Bray must be one of the best narrators around. He has the voice that “sounds like he hugged a handle of whiskey, ate a box of cigarettes, then decided to try narrating,” according to Rhett C. Bruno. This is precisely what I imagined Reese to sound like. RC Bray uses his voice successfully in portraying a damaged and vulnerable man out to do what he thinks needs to be done. You can conjure up an image of the poorly shaven, beat-up but strong man in the wheelchair, confronting the ghosts from his past. The narrator makes the book even more believable than it already is. RC Bray has received multiple rewards and has done more than 200 audiobooks in varying genres.
Recommend this book:
McDowell
William H. Coles
2021 Silver Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
McDowell by William H. Coles is the story of an arrogant surgeon who has a rude awakening about what it truly means to be humble. McDowell is a surgeon by profession, but people know him more for his almost uncaring behavior, yet he is highly respected by his fellows. However, all the wealth and the reputation he built comes crashing down when his grandson kills people and becomes brain dead after a horrific suicide attempt. But the real change in McDowell’s life comes when he is jailed for apparently mercy killing his grandson. And with that begins his journey in which he starts from the bottom and learns what it truly means to be human.
I am officially a fan of William H. Coles's narrating style. He enunciates each word carefully while putting a lot of emotion into his voice so that he embraces his characters. I love the portrayal of McDowell and how his life changes. This novel is something special. We have a very common yet very enraging man in McDowell who thinks the world is beneath him, but fate serves him a slice of humble pie that leaves him breathless with pain. His development is something that a reader will not expect. It is almost spiritual and very satisfying. In true William H. Coles fashion, the narrative just glides and makes the reader a part of the story. The dialogues are crisp, they reveal so much about the characters and the descriptions are vivid. This is a must-read novel!
Recommend this book:
The Voice, the Revolution and the Key
The Epic Order of the Seven, Book 5
Jenny L. Cote
2021 Gold Medal
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
The Voice, the Revolution and the Key by Jenny L. Cote is a Christian action and speculative fiction children's book and the fifth in Cote's The Epic Order of the Seven series. This review is of the audiobook as narrated by Denny Brownlee. The Order of Seven is a group of animals tasked with missions that defy time, space, and mortality, each one individual in their skillset and backstory. Liz is a sleek black cat with an incredible intellect and dripping with the sophistication one would expect from her native France, whereas the orange Irish cat who loves her, Al, has qualities not quite so visible to those who do not know him. Kate and Max are terriers from Scotland, and Nigel is a British mouse with highly polished deportment and is an academic to boot. Gillamon and Claire round out the group with spiritual guidance, presenting themselves how and when they are most needed.
The Voice, the Revolution and the Key is my first introduction to The Epic Order of Seven, and I feel like I've missed out on something by only discovering the work of Jenny L. Cote now. I am a British reader with the unique pleasure of having an American wife. We live in London and—I kid you not—within a mile of where Benjamin Franklin lived for 17 years. This book is really pleasant to listen to and creative to the extent where, as a grown man, I was able to quickly get on board with time-traveling animals who have seen it all, including their experiences during the time of Noah. Yes, that Noah. This is a Christian-themed series and the religious incantations are frequent and direct, as are conversations like the one Gillamon and Claire have as they reminisce over St. Andrew and his martyrdom as a true follower of Christ. These tie in with the foundation of American history as it is told through the experiences of The Order, and for me, meeting the Founding Fathers as children was an absolute treat! The assignments of each in The Order are critical in their roles of shaping them into the adults that will ultimately fulfill their destiny. Cote casts the net deep and wide here, and this is where the necessity of a novel that flirts with 800 pages has to be. The measured pacing of a book this size promises character development and equal billing to each protagonist, and Cote delivers.
As for the audio narrator Denny Brownlee, the projection of words and the clarity of speech are of a very high standard. There is an enthusiasm in his voice that is almost palpable. I have no doubt whatsoever that children listening will be as entertained by the reading as they are by the story itself. The voice of each character is projected as strong, distinct, and energetic, even if to the adult British ear the accents are more parody than precision. The benefit of audio is that it can be listened to while one is stuck in traffic or pretending to exercise on a treadmill, and I look forward to going back in time myself to “read” the first four books in the series.
Recommend this book:
The Reflections of Queen Snow White
David Meredith
2020 Finalist
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
The Reflections of Queen Snow White by David Meredith is a look into the life of Snow White after her Happily Ever After. With Prince Charming dead, Snow White has lost the love of her life and she finds no solace in anything. Now ruling the kingdom as the Queen, even the wedding of her daughter isn’t enough to make her feel happy. Lost and depressed, Snow White comes across the mirror on the wall that was a sort of companion to her wretched stepmother. Is it possible that the mirror once at the center of her misery is capable of bringing her solace when she feels at her worst? However, the mirror proves to be exactly what she needs to feel like herself and remember what it is like to be the fairest of them all.
Narrator Robin Waters did a wonderful job of bringing Snow White to life, sharing her emotions, and making her human. The way Robin expresses and enunciates each word brings life to the story, makes the reader get lost in it, and become a part of it. Robin allows the reader to feel each part of the story as if it was a movie playing right in front of their eyes and that is amazing. The prose is wonderful and makes this story more interesting. The author weaves magic and somehow makes Snow White a relatable character. Snow White is deceptively human, much like an ordinary woman and not the little girl who got her Happily Ever After. She is now smarter, jaded, and in need of anyone to help her get a hold on life. The mirror on the wall and the “reflections” it gives Snow White make the story interesting and very intriguing, to be honest. It is genius and very creative. David Meredith nails it!
Recommend this book:
Challenges of the Gods
Sometimes, Heaven is Overrated
C. Hofsetz
2020 Finalist
Audio Book
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Fiction - Audiobook
Challenges of the Gods is a work of fiction in the fantasy and alternate universe sub-genres, penned by author Christian Hofsetz and narrated in its audiobook format by Alfred Tam. The central action of the novel is focused on Mike, who finds himself randomly chosen for a daunting task: to destroy an entire parallel version of Earth. Mike has plenty of his own personal issues going on after he is betrayed terribly by his fiancée, and waking up in another world does little to assuage his confusion. But if Mike finds that he is not up to or is resistant to the task, then the gods themselves will take matters into their own hands.
Author Christian Hofsetz has created a compelling interpersonal drama that works on the character level, then extends into a worldwide catastrophe adventure as it develops and builds to its excellent climax. Slow-burning at first, the plot is well crafted to reveal the fantasy elements alongside the grounded realism of the protagonist, making it all feel extremely real and high-stakes, which makes for a fantastic adventure throughout. In terms of audiobook quality, narrator Alfred Tam lends a lot of characterful touches to the work which really enhance the unique personalities not just of Mike, but of the people he meets along the way in his mission. Tam’s female voices were well achieved with plenty of inflection, and his males were all very distinct from the narrative itself. The editing quality was also crisp and clear for easy listening. Overall, I would certainly recommend Challenges of the Gods in its audio format for readers who want a slow-burning and engrossing parallel universe adventure. This is a tale not to be missed.