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:
Overworld
Dragon Mage Saga Book 1
Rohan M. Vider

2021 Gold Medal
437 Pages
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Fiction - Magic/Wizardry

Overworld is the first novel in the Dragon Mage Saga by Rohan M. Vider. Earth is invaded, and life as we know it is about to be destroyed. When the aliens invade Earth, Jamie thinks the end is near. They open portals to the Overworld where gifted people like Jamie are taken, but not before Jamie is tested through challenging trials. While survival is on the top of his list, his main focus is on ensuring that his loved ones survive this invasion and safely reach the Overworld. However, the trials are complex, and the Overworld is brutal. Jamie will have to make sacrifices that he may not be willing to make. Will he succeed? Or will he lose it all?
Magical realism is intense in this story, and perhaps Rohan M. Vider is the first contemporary author to nail it, in my opinion. I am amazed by how detailed and realistic the story is. The world-building is strong, and so is the background building. Jamie is a strong protagonist who has the will and the drive to only look at the future. He keeps the past in his heart, and he does whatever it takes to reach his goals. Honestly, this novel was so much better than any other “end of the world” or “alien invasion” stories. The pace is perfect, the characters are interesting, and the story is beautifully crafted. There are no loopholes in the plot. Jamie is a real character with real emotions and flaws, and I honestly got an adrenaline rush while reading the fast-paced action. It is beyond entertaining. I felt like I was part of the story.
Recommend this book:
Endangered Spells
S. R. Mallery, Witches Coven

2021 Silver Medal
176 Pages
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Fiction - Magic/Wizardry

Endangered Spells by S.R. Mallery is a well-written story that begins with Gillian Goode driving in her car, thinking about the argument with her sister Carly the night before. Her car is nearly run off the road by a familiar-looking car. She recognizes who owns the vehicle and realizes that it is her old friend Rebecca Newel from high school. After a brief search for where the car went, she drove to the police station to report it. Two detectives take the case. Gillian returns to her home in Connecticut where her family of witches migrated after leaving their coven in New Orleans behind. Even though Gillian is a witch, she does not actively practice her spells as much as her sister and mother. Once the investigation gets underway, a date with the handsome detective Nate Meeks materializes.
S.R. Mallery does an excellent job in paying attention to the details of the spell casting as well as her sister's snide remarks regarding Gillian's talking pet cockatoo, Joselyn. There is rivalry within their coven, and Gillian seems to lack any real dedication to her gifts. The author's writing style is impeccable, and I got a big kick out of her numbered notations with the definitions of words and phrases, just in case readers' vocabulary might not include them. I was tickled by the definitions and explanations. All in all, I found Endangered Spells a well-crafted, tastefully written story with a surprise ending that left me wanting more. S.R. Mallery gave it the wow factor. Encore!
Recommend this book:
Magic Unfurled
Book One of the Interdimensional Magic Series
M.L. Ryan

2021 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Magic/Wizardry

Magic Unfurled by M.L. Ryan is a fascinating and entertaining urban fantasy novel. This is a world of the Haves and the Have Nots--those with magic powers who rule with an iron fist, and those with very few magic powers that are ruled by those warlords. This story centers around one of the Have Nots, named Kya, but that isn't the only disadvantage. The other is, she's a woman, but this is where the story gets even more interesting. From the time she was eleven years old, she's had to fend for herself, stealing food just to survive. Since women are on the lowest rung of the ladder in the land, she passes as a boy, and it works for her. When Kya is taken by a gang of warlords to their camp, she discovers that she has magic powers she didn't realize she had. And in this world, magic is power.
This book is full of drama, clever humor, and interesting characters, especially Kya. The award-winning M.L. Ryan has crafted a world and a plot that you'll love to lose yourself in, with charismatic Kya leading the way. The character of Kya is strong enough to lead you through chapters and storylines that enchant and impress. There is a good balance of action, drama, and humor, and the first-person POV makes the reader's relationship with Kya even more personal. I like that the story gets into the meat of things on the first few pages, and before you know it, you're deep into the plot. The author's worldbuilding skills are amazing, and the attention to detail adds so much texture and volume. I appreciate that Ryan doesn't talk down to her readers, and has an inviting, earnest style. There are some sex scenes that add energy to the story as well. By all means, grab Magic Unfurled by M.L. Ryan the first chance you get.
Recommend this book:
The Search for the King's Staff
A Song of Hope
Sophia Davidson

2021 Honorable Mention
294 Pages
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Fiction - Magic/Wizardry

A Song of Hope by Sophia Davidson is the first book in the Search for the King’s Staff series. As a child, Cierra was gifted with a key and the knowledge that she has been chosen as the Keeper of the Key, which means one day it will be up to her to search for the King’s Staff. That day arrives just before her coming of age ceremony which finds her life veering in a new direction as she embarks on the path to discovering her destiny. As darkness seeps through the Spirit Realm and grows closer to claiming everything she knows, Cierra is the only one that can find the staff and destroy the darkness. With the help of her cousin James, her tutor Windsong, temperamental dragons, and a mysterious stranger, Cierra sets off through a dangerous wilderness and must discover the strength of her power if she’s to save them all.
Sophia Davidson weaves serious themes throughout though the tone remains light-hearted thanks to the genuine personality of Cierra and the way she sees the world. The writing is lovely with descriptions that paint vivid images, beautiful and action-filled, which transport you along with Cierra’s emotional journey. The beginning finds Cierra preparing for her coming-of-age ceremony, which is a lovely way of introducing her journey into self-discovery, the depth of her powers, and becoming a hero. The adventure is full of action-packed moments, bandits, dragons, dangerous assassins, and unexpected allies which make for an exciting read for all ages. The other characters in Cierra’s life play key roles in her journey with James and Windsong as her two greatest influences and who aid her along the way. Windsong is her tutor and mentor, serving as a father figure to them and who keeps them in line while providing a source of wisdom and understanding. James is her cousin but acts like a brother to her, with bickering and fighting while also supporting and building each other up. James is a great source of camaraderie and family as he stands by her and helps throughout her journey every step of the way. Davidson knocks it out of the park with The Search for the King’s Staff which is a lovely debut about self-discovery, darkness, and finding the light.
Recommend this book:
Eyes Last Seen Dying
Colin J Adams

2021 Finalist
508 Pages
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Fiction - Magic/Wizardry

Eyes Last Seen Dying by Colin J. Adams is a book for anyone who enjoys action and clashes with swords and magic. The author creates beautiful, cinematic action in excellent prose and with unusual storytelling skills. The protagonist is Lena, a girl with spectacular skills with the sword, who is tricked by her own sensei into stealing one of the six stones holding back the dangerous Nithrain, a dark power capable of untold destruction. Now Lena is a hunted young woman and she must fight to stay alive and redeem herself. Surviving in Ithander is not easy, even for a woman with incredible skill with the sword. Follow this protagonist on a journey in a land where magic is commonplace and where legendary fighters abound. Can she protect herself and do the right thing before she is cut down?
Colin J. Adams’ Eyes Last Seen Dying just made him one of my favorite storytellers in the fantasy genre. He has crafted an extremely bewitching tale with fascinating characters and a setting filled with more than magic. This is one of those books that I read and felt like I just woke up from an enchanting dream. The action is aplenty; the characters well-developed, and the conflict built to move the story forward through every page. This book contains the complexity that anyone will adore in a plot; it is what fantasy is for — transporting the reader to a world that is strange yet exciting. The sweeping and picturesque imagery the author conjures left me fascinated, and there is a level of emotional and mythical sophistication within this epic fantasy that sets it apart. Eyes Last Seen Dying is just gorgeous and enjoyable.
Recommend this book:
The Last Seer King
Book two of the Shadow Sword series
S.J. Hartland

2020 Gold Medal
611 Pages
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Fiction - Magic/Wizardry

The Last Seer King is book two in the Shadow Sword series by S.J. Hartland, a well-plotted and wonderfully written epic fantasy with characters and worlds that transport readers. In a realm that is fast heading towards annihilation, heroes and brave warriors fight to restore the realm to its former glory. There is only one way for Roaran to beat the tyrant and it’s very painful, but will he tread the path he swore he never would and find redemption in doing what is right? Once a dangerous man and a slaver, Dannon is heeding a new call, one that compels him to change his old ways and embrace a new path. Val Arques is a powerful warrior, but he is in chains and all he yearns for is to find Kaell, but he only has one small opportunity to escape. Can he succeed?
A tale filled with action, dark magic, and powerful heroes fighting deadly enemies, The Last Seer King is replete with suspense and told in a style that is atmospheric, in prose that is delightful, and with characters that are real and compelling. What grabbed my attention as I opened the book was the author’s prose. It is filled with vivid descriptions and strong imagery. For instance, the description of Kaell caught up between the twilight zone of death and wakefulness is appealing to the senses: “But familiar sensations poured into him. Groping hands that pulled him towards wakefulness. The aroma of candlewax. The sight of dawn’s pink flush beyond a window. Cloth rubbing his skin. Even the weight of his head on a downy pillow.” The beauty of the language is one of the elements that set this narrative apart, both highly descriptive and insightful with poetic lines like “the silence sank into him, a beast of a thing that pawed his neck with unease as the clanging, pealing iron and the screams of men ebbed away.”
S.J. Hartland has a strong gift for plot and the shifts in points of view create suspense that gets the reader racing through the pages, always looking forward to what happens to the characters. The subplots are used to reinforce the suspense and sustain the reader’s interest in the story. This is a series I’d love to watch on screen. It is delightful and utterly gripping, with strong plot points and elaborately developed characters.
Recommend this book:
Through the Redwood Hollow
Kenna Paige

2020 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Magic/Wizardry

Through the Redwood Hollow by Kenna Paige is the first book in The Zylandia Series. It all starts with a normal camping trip for two little girls and their family when an earthquake changes everything. Suddenly, cousins Molly and Jill find themselves in a different world. One where they meet pixies and giant triplets and where everyone seems to think they're here to save a pixie queen because a prophecy predicted their arrival. The two cousins turn to new allies as they embark on an adventure to save a queen and to find their way back home. As they make their way through this other world, they make new allies who quickly step up to help them.
Molly and Jill have a deep bond between them but the two are very different girls with a few years between their ages. This age difference creates a clash between them as Jill feels that, being older, she shouldn't be hanging around a little kid. Jill has an air of maturity about her in the sense that she thinks of herself as more grown up, enjoys reading about old cultures, and looks down on Molly for crying like a little kid. As they band together to try to find a way home, they face various dangers and obstacles which help them create a stronger bond. The other world they find themselves in is a place of wonder and magic with a variety of magical beings and prophecy. The adventure is fun as the girls have the role of savior placed upon their shoulders and they're faced with unusual things which start off with three giant triplet kids who think they're talking dolls.
Kenna Paige keeps the story light and with a tone that's reminiscent of a child's imagination. The names add to this sense of fun and fit perfectly into this unique world with unusual rhymes and sounds, including the triplets Lolly, Nolly, and Bolly, and the various beings Quizzlebin, Herzdon, and Philbellee. The story also includes an evil sorcerer for them to face and conquer their fears. The prophecy places a destiny upon them as the fate of the queen and others becomes their responsibility. Through the Redwood Hollow is a delightful read and a magical adventure about friendship, family, prophecy, and the journey home.
Recommend this book:
Apollo's Raven
Curse of Clansmen and Kings Volume 1
Linnea Tanner

2020 Bronze Medal
392 Pages
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Fiction - Magic/Wizardry

Apollo’s Raven is a work of mythological and historical fantasy fiction written for adults by author Linnea Tanner. Written as the opening novel to the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series, this sweeping narrative takes us back to the first century AD, at a time when Celts battle Romans in the fight to rule Britannia. Forbidden love and political power plays abound as Catrin, the daughter of a Celtic king, finds love in the arms of the enemy, but also discovers that she may be key to a Druid crusade that could destroy her own father if it comes to pass. So begins an epic tale with plenty of excitement, romance, and mystique.
I adored this book from start to finish for its non-stop atmosphere of authenticity that draws you deep into the world of early Britain and the constant battles for supremacy at the time. As a person of Celtic heritage myself, I was delighted to see the accuracy portrayed in the tribes, but also the more modern twist on dialogue and depiction that makes the book accessible, faster-paced and easier to absorb as a modern reader. History truly comes alive under the pen of author Linnea Tanner, but there’s also plenty of room left for characters to breathe and develop under watchful narration. The plot is stellar: well-thought-out and executed with a great sense of beat and pacing as each moment of both the romance arc and the curse is portrayed. Overall, Apollo’s Raven is an un-put-down-able fantasy adventure from start to finish.
Recommend this book:
Plague of Witches
John Patrick Kennedy

2020 Honorable Mention
368 Pages
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Fiction - Magic/Wizardry

While a young woman searches for the answer to her mother's disappearance, a sinister entity locked away for twenty years is released and is wreaking havoc in the supernatural novel, Plague of Witches by John Patrick Kennedy. On her twenty-first birthday, Kana discovers she is a witch and is offered admission to an exclusive university. One of the reasons she wishes to attend that particular college is to find out what happened to her mother, Akemi. Twenty years before, while working on a project at the school, Akemi vanished without a trace. Believing the answers to Akemi's disappearance rest in the experiments she was conducting, Kana studies her mother's notes and restarts the project. Meanwhile, something is on a grisly murdering spree, and the student witches at the university seem to be the main target. Has reopening the science lab awakened a dormant entity? Does this being have anything to do with Akemi's disappearance?
Plague of Witches by John Patrick Kennedy is the first book in an exciting new series about witches and their supernatural skills. If you are looking for something more than a cozy witch mystery, then you have found it! Filled with action, horror, and passion, this is an exhilarating book complete with evil villains, murder, and a macabre plot. It is a thrilling tale of deceit, betrayal, mystery, and murder. From beginning to end, it is non-stop excitement. Although it is an intense and exciting story, the conclusion is a little baffling. Stopping on a cliff-hanger, the ending is quite abrupt, making it necessary to read the sequel. Despite that, it is a riveting novel that will enthrall readers who enjoy a series brimming with suspense and action-packed supernatural mystery and mayhem. With explicit sex scenes, graphic violence, and foul language, it is more suitable for mature readers.
Recommend this book:
Phoenix
Queen’s Avatar
T. S. Alexander
2020 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Magic/Wizardry

Phoenix is a work of fiction in the science-fiction genre that is aimed at all ages of reader and was penned by author T. S. Alexander. The first book in the Queen’s Avatar series, this story marks the beginning of a saga of the interstellar conflict between humans and the alien civilizations which they stumble across whilst first exploring the stars. As the science that brought humanity into the cosmos comes into conflict with the magic-like abilities of the aliens, mankind is drawn into the midst of an ancient conflict with the exploration ship Endeavour struggling to survive in the middle. What results is a highly engaging tale with both technical and sensational merits.
It is rare to find works of science fiction that have enough of the hard-boiled sci-fi concepts to satisfy fans but also manage to hold up lots of cinematic moments and blockbuster tensions, and I feel that author T. S. Alexander strikes a great balance of the two here. Combining a close human story about learning to trust one another with an epic bigger-picture threat of interstellar battle, the narrative delivers much of its exposition through intelligent dialogue exchanges rather than dumping too much information on us from the start. This journey of discovery mirrors the experience of the Endeavour’s crew as they learn about Aldeea and its many dark and fascinating secrets, which are revealed well in the plot construction. Overall, I would definitely recommend Phoenix to both super keen and casual science fiction fans for its many layers of accomplished prose.
