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:
Breath of Dragons
A Pandoran Novel, #3
Barbara Kloss
2017 Silver Medal
470 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Breath of Dragons (A Pandoran Novel, #3) by Barbara Kloss is a high stakes young adult fantasy full of action and adventure. After the death of a prince, Alex and Daria go off in search of Pandora's legendary box. The box supposedly holds a power so strong that Daria believes it can overthrow Lord Eris. But Daria doesn't know where the box is and time is not on her side. Lord Eris has amassed an army that cannot be defeated without reinforcements from the other regions. But for those reinforcements, the other lords want Daria's hand in marriage. And another magic stirs in the region, the magic of dragons which hasn't been seen for years and is very unpredictable. Can Daria find the box in time to stop the evil lord? Or will she have to give up on love and marry in order to save her kingdom.
This is a beautifully written book full of love and action and adventure. The writing is strong and readers will love the pacing and details of the story. The characters are interesting and very realistic. Readers will identify with Daria's struggle and understand why she works so hard to bring peace to her region. There are all the typical fantasy elements: evil lords, forced marriage proposals, and even wildly unpredictable dragons. There are other elements in this story too. Strong characters, sweet sensitive sides, and great pacing.
Recommend this book:
Time Zero
Carolyn Cohagan
2017 Gold Medal
432 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Walls separate Manhattan from the rest of the world and strict religious laws govern its inhabitants, the women in particular, in Time Zero by Carolyn Cohagan. Mina is fifteen years old and it’s the day of her offering, a ceremony to arrange her marriage. If that wasn’t bad enough, her beloved grandmother is in hospital after a fall. This presents an urgent situation, for Nana has secretly been teaching Mina to read. To protect them both from the Teachers, Mina must retrieve the Primer. She does this, but finds herself in a dangerous situation when she attempts to prevent a public stoning. A boy called Juda rescues her, and their fledgling romance ends before it can begin when Mina becomes engaged to Juda’s boss, Damon Asher. Mina soon discovers that the rich and powerful Ashers aren’t as pious as they appear, and a sequence of disastrous events leads her to realise that salvation may lie with the leaf Nana left in the Primer.
Mina is an inspiring heroine. She’s bold and gutsy within the restraints placed on her by society, and positively daring when it comes to her early interactions with Juda. Fascinating dynamics govern the relationships Mina has with her family, as well as her interactions with her future mother-in-law. My one complaint is that I don’t understand how such an extreme, patriarchal religion could hail a woman as a prophet. That said, I feel it could’ve worked if the author had developed the idea more. However, Time Zero surpassed my expectations. Carolyn Cohagan intertwines an important narrative about misogyny with a web of intrigue that culminates in jaw-dropping plot twists.
Recommend this book:
Lost Girl
Chanda Hahn
2017 Gold Medal
334 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Lost Girl is the first book in the series The Neverwood Chronicles by Chanda Hahn. Readers are introduced to Wendy, a teenage girl who was adopted after she had been found after almost drowning. Wendy has no memories of what had happened before that moment. But shadows seem to follow her more often, and it seems important to remember who she really is, especially when Peter and his strange companions become part of her life. Peter's best friend Tink(erbell) doesn't like Wendy much, but when things become more serious, she agrees that Wendy should be allowed to meet the Lost Boys and enter their hidden base called Neverwood. Wendy learns that there is more to her past than she could ever have dreamed of.
I have to admit that I did not read the plot teaser of Lost Girl. I simply saw the name Chanda Hahn, remembered that I've read a few other books by her, and my decision to read this one was made. Even though I am not a fan of Peter Pan and the whole shebang around him, the book did not disappoint me, because it takes the Neverland story in a totally new direction. I enjoyed that a lot more than the original idea (I don't know why, but I just do not like Peter Pan). In this novel, the story focuses on Wendy anyway, and I found her to be an interesting character you'd want to be friends with. The book had a good plot that kept me reading chapter after chapter - as is usually the case with a book by Chanda Hahn. She just has a very appealing writing style that draws you into the world. I didn't regret the decision to pick up the book without knowing what it was about, and in the future, I definitely also won't think twice when one of this author's books comes along my way!
Recommend this book:
Gaia's Secret
A Pandoran Novel, #1
Barbara Kloss
2016 Bronze Medal
396 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Gaia's Secret by Barbara Kloss is an exciting fantasy novel about a girl named Daria whose dad goes missing. To find her dad, she travels through a portal and finds herself in Gaia. Gaia is a land where magic exists. Everything Daria knew on Earth was a lie and in bits and pieces she learns the truth: how she wasn't from Earth, how she can do magic, and how she is powerful. As she travels with the Del Contes to reunite with her dad, she begins to regain her friendship with Alex, whom she had not seen for 3 years and had started to dislike. Scary, death-defying things happen. Will Daria be reunited with her dad?
I loved Gaia's Secret and I can't wait to read the next book in the series! Gaia's Secret was well written, descriptive and very exciting. I would definitely recommend it to everyone. I think that Barbara Kloss put a lot of time into developing Gaia and did a great job developing the characters. Gaia's Secret had a lot of funny parts that I enjoyed. After I got halfway through the book, I couldn't put it down. I loved this book. It had lots of suspense and I just had to know what would happen next. It was definitely a page-turner and had lots of scary and exciting moments. There was plot twist after plot twist, each one more shocking than the one before. You should definitely read Gaia's Secret.
Recommend this book:
The Sirens of Falkeld
Julie Tuovi
2016 Finalist
352 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
The Sirens of Falkeld by Julie Tuovi is set in war torn Scotland. We follow Kade Finley nine years after his father dies. His Gaffer is sick and to save him Kade needs a mermaid's magic. Captured while on the restricted beach, Kade must help the Admiral Gilbert Owen before he can continue his quest to save his Gaffer. In this tale, mermaids are not beautiful, peaceful creatures, but soul-sucking, evil beings. Never trust a maighdean mhara.
The Sirens of Falkeld by Julie Tuovi was not what I was expecting, but in a good way. I thought I was getting a mermaid story and things were going to be lovely and peaceful, but I was proven wrong. Kade's back story is very interesting. The story gives us a rich history of the area and the legends the locals believe in. When going anywhere, we are given a full, detailed description, helping us feel we are there. The chapters rotate between Kade and Cora, but not in a confusing manner. I normally do not root for the bad guys, but by the end of this I was siding with the mermaids and the ending had me on the edge of my seat. I fell in love with all the characters and with the story. The story gripped me from page one and, even after it is done, I cannot stop thinking about it. The story drags you into a world of magic, legend, and death, and you will not be able to put down this beautifully written tale.
Recommend this book:
The Summer Solstice Enchanted
The Summer Solstice Series Book 1
K.K. Allen
2016 Honorable Mention
238 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
The Summer Solstice Enchanted by K.K. Allen is a young adult fantasy about a young woman's secret. When Katrina is fifteen, her mother dies and she is taken to Apollo Beach. There, she discovers the legends about her ancient Greek ancestors. The Summer Solstice is Kat's 16th birthday, and all of the questions she had about her past and future come crashing together. She begins to have disturbing visions and dreams and, when they start coming true, Kat worries about those around her. That includes her neighbor, Alec Stone, who is the one rock she can lean on during this trying time. There are witches and myths and dark prophecies swirling around Kat, and enchantments that she isn't sure if she hopes will or will not come true. She just wants to know the truth about her life and her mother's death, and keep everyone else in her family safe.
The Summer Solstice had a lot of history and back story about witches and their source of magic. After Kat turned 16, the action within the story amped up. There was good character development which I enjoyed. I also was intrigued by the blooming romance. K.K. Allen gave readers a surprise ending that ended on a cliffhanger and left readers wanting more. This was a great supernatural story that was heavy on history with a lot of action happening in the second half of the story.
Recommend this book:
Creatura
The Creatura Series, Book 1
Nely Cab
2016 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Creatura is the first book in The Creatura Series written by Nely Cab. Seventeen-year-old Isis Martin has forgotten what a good night's sleep is. For three months, the constant nightmares of a man trying to kill her had forced Isis awake, leaving her too afraid to go back to sleep. After passing out at school due to sleep deprivation, Isis awakens in the nurse’s office. To her horror, the man Isis had seen so often in her dreams walks into the nurse’s office and takes her from school. David Chios is no killer, however, and has come into Isis’ life in order to ascertain the reason that Isis keeps travelling to his realm at night when she sleeps, regardless of his fruitless attempts to deter her. David worries about Isis’ well-being and safety, as there are many in his world that would rejoice in harming her. Fate has its own plans, however, as Isis and David are drawn to each other by an unknown force. With loved ones trying to forcibly prevent their romance from blossoming and Isis’ mother, Claire, suddenly acting like a love-sick teenager, Isis does her best to keep a level head, knowing that a union between her and David can never be. Little does Isis realize that David carries a deep burden; he knows that Isis is not who she believes herself to be and, should the secret of her true identity be discovered, Isis would never be safe again.
I wish I could be honest and say that I am speechless, but that would result in an overly-short book review, so I will simply say how incredible this reading journey was. Firstly, I loved seeing the Goddess’ name used as that of a cherished beauty again, just as it was originally intended. Nely Cab has presented the reader with the story of a girl who, at first, is plagued by a PTSD-like sleeping disorder, but that theory is turned on its head when the man from her dreams appears in real life. The back story of each character, including what they are and why they are there, is delivered in great detail, giving them depth and a real presence in the tale. Creatura delves into different worlds, different beings, different times and the resultant offspring of different species which are good or evil. The romantic aspect of the story set my heart aflame, regardless that their love was forbidden. Isis’ former boyfriend is mentioned in passing now and again, but returns as a vital character in the scheme of things. I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed Creatura and how delighted I am that it is the first in a series of books, which I will be sure to add to my personal collection. I recommend Creatura to readers who enjoy humor, mystery, tragedy, action, thrill and romance combined in an incredible paranormal adventure.
Recommend this book:
The Monster Realm
Nara Duffie
2016 Bronze Medal
272 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
In The Monster Realm, Nara Duffie takes readers on an exciting and sometimes hair-raising adventure. Lillian has always been drawn to the Greek myths, but she never suspected that they might play a role in her sister's disappearance two years earlier. When she feels compelled to revisit the location of her sister's last known whereabouts, she meets an enigmatic boy named Jack, who leads her into the hidden land of Lanodeka. This is a world where the myths of old are still alive, but perhaps not quite content with their present obscurity. Accompanied by her two good friends, Maisy and Katy, she soon finds herself dodging deadly mythical beasts and bloodthirsty elves. Will she finally find the answers to all her questions? Will she ever find her way home?
Do not expect to encounter the noble, handsome elves of Tolkien or the pretty, innocent mermaids of Disney in Nara Duffie's The Monster Realm. The otherworldly beings that populate Lanodeka are a different brand. Yet, although they are deadlier, they are also full of surprises, turning familiar tropes on their heads. The odd physics and geography of this world likewise take a little getting used to, although this is adequately explained within the narrative. The characterization, however, is solid, balanced and consistent. We learn that impulsive Maisy, who often rushes headlong in the wrong direction, is also a collector of spicy Shakespearean curses while Katy, the most timid of the trio, is revealed to possess a rather unusual talent. Similarly, when Lillian explores her memories of her sister Bluebell for clues, confusingly painful memories are dove-tailed with heart-warming ones. I loved the styling and the illustrations of this e-book. The story is fast-paced, fun and, fortunately, there is a sequel.
Recommend this book:
Ancient Guardians
The Reckoning
S.L. Morgan
2016 Silver Medal
670 Pages
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
Ancient Guardians: The Reckoning starts at the end of a rescue mission with Levi awakening, having lost all memory of the last nine years of his life. Believe it or not, Levi did a great deal of growing during those years and is a completely different person ... almost. There is the task of trying to get Levi's memory back, still guarding the Key, and Earth to save, and people still unaware that aliens exist. Although the world leaders do, they have decided they don't believe the threat is enough to inform the people.
Take a science fiction book, where the world is technologically advanced in medicine and science, and knowledge of other dimensions and realms, and travel between them. Then add in the romance and pageantry of the Victorian and Regency eras, mix them together with intrigue, mystery, and action and you have the land of Pendiams and the Ancient Guardians series. Ancient Guardians: The Reckoning in the fourth book in this series by author S.L. Morgan. The wonderful thing is that you really could pick up this book and read it, enjoy it, never having read the others in the series. Author S.L. Morgan weaves an amazing story that brings together fantasy, science fiction, intrigue, mystery, espionage, and so much more.
Recommend this book:
The Chosen Knights
Mary Ting
2016 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Young Adult - Fantasy - General
The Chosen Knights is the second book in the Angel Knights series written by Mary Ting. In fourteenth century France, a member of the Knights Templar, Jacques de Molay, rushes to the church when he sees the flames. Hoping to rescue Father Simon from the blaze, he is instead accosted by evil as Cyrus, the master of all demons, appears and demands to know the whereabouts of the treasure before cursing all future generations of the Knights Templar. Fast forward to current day, and seventeen-year-old twins, Lucia and Zach – demon-hunting angels (Venators) from the Crossroads – are about to start their schooling year on Earth. Sent as undercover students to Hilo High School in Hawaii, the twins are to investigate a spate of mysterious disappearances, each occurring on Friday the thirteenth, while trying to blend in with the locals. Danger also lurks during every Blue Moon. Their socially awkward next door neighbors, Jack Molay and his family, seem to have many of the answers they are looking for, with Jack’s lineage shocking the Venators. Thrown into a world of jealousy, vindictiveness, and bullying, the twins are puzzled as to why humans behave so abysmally to one another. Trying to determine good from evil on Earth is a lot more difficult than Lucia and Zach could have ever imagined, but they must in order to break the deadly curse.
Mary Ting has captured ‘newcomers to Earth’ so beautifully, both in the teenage twins and their guardian, Uncle Davin. With so many supernaturals on the scene, it truly is a mind-twister trying to differentiate between a bully and a demon, as their traits are so similar. The Chosen Knights was addictive as I was unable to stop reading from first page until last. The different players are clearly set out in the initial chapters, making it easy to follow the story which is fast-paced and incorporates just the right amount of drama, action and comedy. I very much enjoyed this incredible tale of the Knights Templar and appreciate the research that Mary Ting has obviously put into writing such an epic. I will be seeking out more of Mary’s titles in the future. I recommend this book to those who enjoy their fantasy laced with history, action, drama, romance and love in this hilarious, yet suspenseful, supernatural cocktail which will leave you begging for more.