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:
Razormouth
A Novel of Blood in the Sea
Howard Butcher
2022 Silver Medal
482 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Razormouth by Howard Butcher is 'A Novel of Blood in the Sea.' It’s 1984 and Seabrook and Aja are living in the Bimini Islands, renting a house overlooking a beautiful lagoon as they carry out their marine biology work. Suspecting they are onto a new species of predator, they double down their efforts but, just as they are almost done, they are interrupted by a scarred, earless man with gunshot wounds. Soon, a Colombian cartel has them in their sights, searching for the man and $50 million in missing dollars. When Aja is abducted, it’s up to Seabrook to try to save her. They have their undying love and their vast knowledge of the ocean on their side but can Aja escape the clutches of one of the most bloodthirsty cartels in history? Across land and sea, Aja and Seabrook are embroiled in the fight of their lives.
Razormouth by Howard Butcher is a fascinating, terrifying tale of predators – human and animal. It starts off slowly, setting the scene and building the tension, readying the reader for the suspense and terror that follows. A unique tale, it would do well as a movie but I suspect much of the story would be lost. The author has a way with words, with descriptive prose drawing you right into the story and making you feel you are there. Heart-pounding, nail-biting scenes follow in fast succession, with a great mix of different characters, some of them pretty scary. The new sea creature they discover, dubbed the Razormouth, puts me in mind of several horror films and the descriptions of that and the other sea creatures are detailed, making them as much characters of the story as the human characters. The ending is surprising, one you won't see coming in this thrilling tale that will keep you reading all the way through.
Recommend this book:
Pool Man
Dan McDowell
2022 Gold Medal
187 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Pool Man is a psychological thriller/horror novel written by Dan McDowell. It's the year 1991. Greg Preakle, a one-armed pool man working at The Oak Hollow Hotel, has his life turned upside down after finding a dead body floating in the hotel pool. Jobless and broke, Greg's desperation leads him to participate in an outlandish and bloody cable quiz show called Twisted Hacks. This leads to a bizarre chain of events that Greg could never have anticipated. He joins the West Riverton High School as a janitor working for the slug-obsessed Principal John Fatts. But everything is not as it seems. Why is the basement off-limits? What's the deal with the creepy Dr. Carl Hicks? As Greg slowly acclimates himself to the oddities of the school, dead bodies start piling up whenever Greg is in the vicinity.
If surreal psychological thriller/horror is your jam, you'll have a blast with Pool Man. Filled with suspense, intrigue, and nail-biting thrills, Dan McDowell's uniquely twisted tale hooks you in from the get-go and refuses to let go until the end. The narrative switches timelines every now and then, creating an atmosphere filled with tension and dread that will have readers on the edge of their seats. I found the plot completely unpredictable. After the midway point, you find yourself trying to guess what's going to happen next, only to have the rug pulled out from under you. The eccentric characters keep you engaged with their idiosyncratic personas and odd behaviors. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.
Recommend this book:
Soul Seeker
Gehenna
Kaylin McFarren
2021 Finalist
393 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Kaylin McFarren presents Soul Seeker, an urban paranormal romance adventure that delves into the cross-political world of humans, souls, angels, and demons. Crighton Daemonium is a highly-skilled soul collector working for the big boss himself, Lucifer. Crighton torments his human target, Benjamin Poe, as well as his family, but Poe exhausts all means to fight back and protect his son. But demons are cunningly deceptive, and Poe is tricked into committing a murder that merits his execution. Crighton continues to go about his business collecting souls until he meets the angel Ariel that will put his true nature to the test. And then there is the Sovereign Sector, a privately held organization of rogue scientists whose intelligence and skillsets include advanced technology that allows them to battle angels and demons in the spirit realm—and Crichton finds himself at their mercy.
Soul Seeker takes you to a different world—an imagined, detailed spiritual world of opposing forces that have been made popular by different Abrahamic faiths. McFarren throws in the element of super science to add to the excitement. Moreover, she picks up from where the apocryphal story of the angelic rebellion left off. It is fascinating how McFarren writes about demons as creatures whose desires are no different from mortals. Here you will see Crichton’s character put to the test as he walks with humans and falls in love with an angel. McFarren never fails to keep you turning pages as she makes it difficult for characters to achieve what they want. This is a story that deeply explores actions ruled by emotions. Soul Seeker exceeds expectations when it comes to paranormal fiction.
Recommend this book:
The Covenant of Wickersham Hollow
An Occult Horor Thriller
Thomas A. Bradley
2021 Honorable Mention
354 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
The Covenant of Wickersham Hollow by Thomas A. Bradley is an occult horror thriller. Annabel and Brian have lived their whole lives in the town, and they really should have known the history behind the old Wickersham place before they decided to buy it. Behind its façade hides a horrific secret dating back to 1697. On All Hallows Eve, a deal was struck. A deal was forged in the fires of hell, and now it waits, hiding in the shadows. Waiting for the next soul to arrive. Waiting for Annabel. What happened to the seven teenagers who thought it would be fun to spend the night there all those years ago? Will Annabel be the one to finally cleanse the house or just another victim?
The Covenant of Wickersham Hollow is a spooky, spine-tingling read that will stay with readers for a long time. The story flicks between timelines, giving us a history of the house and other events that have occurred there while guiding us through the present time. This is done particularly well by author Thomas A. Bradley, as you fall seamlessly between past and present, the story pulling you deeper in until you are fully immersed in the evil. The action doesn’t let up, the story is well-paced, and the characters are real people, easy to like and relate to, developed as the story unfolds before you. The plot contains lots of twists and turns and plenty of scares and thrills to keep you turning the pages. If you are looking for something different in this genre, or you just want a way to escape the real world for a while, this is the book for you.
Recommend this book:
Mandala Mandela
R.J. Myles
2021 Silver Medal
312 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Mandala Mandela by R.J. Myles is a novel that combines crime and horror to deliver a wonderful reading experience. The setting is the town of Starvation, Oregon. In this novel, six teenagers — Crantz, Glenda, Linda, Bobby, Judy, and Luther — meet and set out on an adventure to Pricket’s Barn, a barn that had something unique for each of the teenagers. When the local farmer, Fred Schroder, discovers a body in the barn, he is alarmed. But then there is something more shocking: all six teenagers have been murdered. But by who? While Joseph’s guilt is accepted, Fred faces second-degree murder. The town hurries to get back to normal. But in the second part of the story, Richard John Myles returns home for his uncle’s funeral after twenty years away. But who is John Myles and what is his connection to the murder of the six teenagers?
R.J. Myles’ Mandala Mandela is a suspenseful novel with a wonderful plot. The plot is twisty and it is hard to guess what happens next. The story begins with a wonderful description of the town of Starvation, Oregon, with the morning shining down. The “contented big-bellied farmers” love the town and never shy away from telling curious passersby how the town received its name. As the story progresses, the reader gets a strong image of this little town that has a life of its own. The characters are well-developed and real. I loved how the author writes mystery into the story, making the reader wonder if the right person is held responsible for the crime. Mandala Mandela is written in wonderful prose — descriptive and laden with strong imagery — and it features a crime that rocks the tranquil life of a small rural community. It is gripping and entertaining.
Recommend this book:
The Brother's Curse
The Brother's Curse Saga Book 1
Christine M. Germain
2021 Gold Medal
403 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
For the legion of shapeshifting demons to resurrect, an amethyst necklace must be retrieved and liberated. To retrieve this artifact, the wearer must die! This is the story of The Cursed Brothers, a thrilling horror novel written by Christine M. Germain. Crystal had just returned to Lakeview Falls, a year after her parents’ brutal murder. Her birthday was fast approaching, and she received the amethyst necklace posthumously from her late mom. She also developed romantic feelings towards her new next-door neighbor, Jason. Unfortunately, her friends started disappearing one after the other. The culprit was the necklace, and two immortal demons were after it. Only Crystal can fight this battle. She will choose her destiny, whether to live or die. What will it be?
Whoosh! The Brother’s Curse by Christine M. Germain offered a lot and lived up to its genre. Christine is such a fantastic storyteller that I felt the energies emanating from the novel. The plot was unlike anything I’ve ever read, very detailed and otherworldly realistic. I loved the sprinkle of humor that tempered the tension and fear. Character development was top-notch, and I loved their unpredictability. John and Trey were my authentic heroes in the book. They were the ones who truly loved; walking their talk all the way. I loved the writing style and the way words flowed effortlessly–almost poetically. The book cover was also very attractive and informative, telling me what to expect. This is the first book, and I can’t wait to read other works by Christine.
Recommend this book:
A Thousand Miles to Nowhere
An Apocalypse Thriller
David Curfiss
2020 Finalist
292 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
A Thousand Miles to Nowhere: An Apocalypse Thriller is a work of fiction set in the dark supernatural genre, and was penned by author David Curfiss. Playing with the usual tropes of the zombie genre to create something truly unique and more intense, Curfiss’s dark tale begins in a world where a deadly virus has already been plaguing the planet for fifteen years. Protagonist Matt Tanner is a survivor at heart, but when a stranger arrives with a letter and a fresh batch of the infection, Matt must make a choice about his immediate future. There’s a chance of a reunion with a brother he never expected to see again ... if he’s willing to face all hell to take it.
Author David Curfiss writes with a great sense of pacing in this slow-burning yet constantly creepy horror novel. There’s a sense of danger lurking around every corner as you turn each page, and Curfiss has a knack for balancing moments of sudden, shocking action against quietly tense scenes of emotional grief, the loss of friends and survivor’s guilt. Protagonist Matt Tanner is an ideal vehicle for these themes, highly relatable in his everyman style and his approach to leadership and survival. There’s real heart and grief in the close narrative, but also high contrast in the well-described action scenes and the visceral presentation of Curfiss’s unique brand of wasted-away zombies. Overall, A Thousand Miles to Nowhere: An Apocalypse Thriller is a highly recommended read for horror fans looking for a high-quality zombie thriller.
Recommend this book:
Those Who Hunger
An Amish Vampire Thriller
Owen Banner
2020 Honorable Mention
530 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
“The murder of Abel, his brother, was Cain’s curse. He had shed blood, and blood would forever call to him.” In Those Who Hunger (An Amish Vampire Thriller) by Owen Banner, a simple community in rural Pennsylvania tightly guards their ancient secret against outsiders as they live their lives strictly by their beliefs. Yet, the murder of a teenager attracts too much attention, particularly from two FBI detectives, Jacobo Barrabas and Keith Linguard, who are on the hunt for a serial killer. Sixteen-year-old Hadassah Zook knows what happened but she's not telling, especially when her family has their own issue to deal with. Then, two more murders occur, bringing more attention and causing turmoil in the Amish community. Who's to blame?
Owen Banner gives readers an intriguing and different take on vampirism by interlacing the popular theme with the reclusive nature of the Amish people. The story exudes underlying Amish country charm while propelling the mystery and shocking moments through its well-paced plot. The prose and dialogue excellently deliver a certain amount of fear before revealing surprising twists. I savored every chapter, suspenseful moment, and the core enigma of the blood-craving curse including the challenging bond between family members and community. Loyalty between characters is greatly tested by an ancient bane, desire, and guilt as Esther's, Haddie's, and Peter's character developments are riddled with unexpected challenges. A complex, spine-chilling tale from the Big Valley, Those Who Hunger is a satisfying read about the dark, twisted side of a quaint community.
Recommend this book:
Claw
Katie Berry
2020 Bronze Medal
549 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Katie Berry, the author of Claw, transports the reader into the heart of the Kootenays where the gold rush of 1895 took place. Deep in the heart of the Cascade Mountains of Western Canada during the gold rush days, no one was safe in the town of Lawless. The name of the town, Lawless, speaks for itself for back in 1895 gold was prevalent as was theft and violence. That was then but now in Lawless, although the gold rush is over, times for the area are difficult with the change in the climate. Christine Moon is the new British Columbia Conservation Officer brought in quickly after the mysterious disappearance of her predecessor. Christine along with Austin and Trip, the local road and games authorities, band together to stop a ravenous predator that seems to be at the heart of multiple deaths, disappearances, and violent attacks. As Christine, Austin, and Trip track the ancient creature, they uncover a devious plot of corruption at the highest level in Lawless.
Claw by Katie Berry is definitely a thrilling page-turner. Her use of very graphic description and imagery, while telling the story of carnage, corruption and everyday life in the small mountain town of Lawless, British Columbia, truly draws the reader into the book. Not only is Lawless shrouded by the deadly ice fog at night, but uncovering what is plaguing the town and devouring the inhabitants is left up to our heroine, Christine Moon, the new Conservation Authority Officer, and her newfound friends, Austin, Trip, and Alex. With the knowledge and experience of the only survivor, Jerry Benson, the group sets out to locate and destroy the predator by any means. What they uncover while searching for the carnivorous beast is a story of corruption and murder that can bring the town of Lawless to its knees. Who will survive to tell the tale? I applaud Katie Berry for her work. She is an incredible story-teller and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Recommend this book:
Unleashed
A Science Fiction Horror Adventure (NecroVerse Book 1)
Aaron Bunce
2020 Bronze Medal
285 Pages
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Fiction - Horror
Unleashed: A Science Fiction Horror Adventure is a work of fiction in the futuristic, thriller, and paranormal sub-genres, and was penned by author Aaron Bunce. Written as the opening work to the NecroVerse series, this high octane and highly appealing work focuses on a seedy backwater of the universe where something bad is just waiting to be awakened. The work is written for adult audiences and does contain the use of explicit language, some scenes of a sexual nature, graphic horror, violence, and horror. We find ourselves following the exploits of Jacoby, whose work on an asteroid mining platform turns into a fight for survival that threatens to engulf the whole of mankind.
Author Aaron Bunce has crafted an engaging work of dark science fiction that makes it feel as though you’re reading through an intense world where destruction is only a heartbeat away. I enjoyed the fact that the work is visual, with powerful descriptive moments that don’t hold back on giving you the scene in its every gruesome detail. This really enhances the horror elements of the story well and keeps you reading to soak up the next disaster to be uncovered. The character work gets better and better the more that we get to know our two central narrators, and what first appears as a classic group of science fiction characters develops into deeper people whom we can root for and relate to. Overall, I would recommend Unleashed to fans of horror and science fiction who like high octane action, fast-paced plots, and visual, visceral reading experiences.