SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Plot/Idea: Earthweeds takes its time revealing its greatest twists and surprises, keeping readers on their toes while developing the one-of-a-kind dystopia that has taken hold of Earth. This is definitely not your average apocalyptic novel.
Prose: With ominous and atmospheric prose, Earthweeds creeps, scares and excites–but also never sacrifices key character moments.
Originality: Earthweeds spins the apocalyptic dystopian genre on its head, foregoing zombies for man-eating lizards, intelligent, sentient spiders, and a couple of super-humans to boot. Sam’s origin story is a particular highlight.
Character/Execution: Earthweeds cleverly subverts the trope of the typical, dystopian despot antagonist with a third-act reveal. However, a lack of relationship development between the main ragtag team at the Lodge leaves the readers wanting more, especially during the novel’s lowest moments.
Plot/Idea: A short, tightly plotted political thriller, A Brief History of Olivarra relates the history of a fictional European nation through the lens of a man who uncovers some documents lost in Nazi invasion, and uncovers a personal connection to the country's royal lineage at the same time.
Prose: The writing is strong and economical. The framing device of Michael’s story serves the plot well, and narrative movement between the 70s and the 40s is well-crafted. Descriptive and figurative language is excellent and makes for a very enjoyable read with some adventuresome elements.
Originality: The premise is unique and clever. The author seamlessly weaves a fictional country into contemporary history.
Character/Execution: The protagonist Michael is skillfully developed and his personality is clearly and thoughtfully depicted through actions and dialogue alike. Supporting characters are also provided sufficient development to service the plot and enhance Michael’s characterization while feeling organic to the setting and narrative.
Plot/Idea: Staked is a well written and enlightening vampire novel that emphasizes the power of love and perseverance. The engaging story moves at a brisk pace, with well structured flashback sequences revealing an engrossing backstory.
Prose: Kim Catanzarite's text is sharp and acutely observed, the evocative atmosphere positively dripping from the pages like drops of fresh blood. The exploration of Gregorie's senses as he hungers for his next taste is exquisitely conveyed by an author who clearly possesses a deep understanding of the horror genre.
Originality: Staked is a consistently engaging take on the vampire genre. Catanzarite's poetic language is gripping and illuminating, serving up a veritable feast for the senses, while the interaction between characters is often witty and entertaining.
Character/Execution: Protagonist Gregorie Babin's journey is magnificently rendered by Catanzarite. The supporting cast of characters are likable and well rounded, with the author's obvious love for vampire lore shining through.
Blurb: A fresh and powerful take on the vampire story.
Plot/Idea: The Upright Tower is a tense, quick-moving thriller focused on a police officer and a female stranger who find themselves thrown together in a small, seemingly deserted Louisiana town. Eubanks will keep readers on their toes through unexpected developments and a lurking sense of dread.
Prose: Eubanks writes cleanly and fluidly with a fine blend of light description, dialogue, and exposition. The author effectively establishes the circumstances while maintaining mystery and uncertainty.
Originality: The Upright Tower captures readers through the sense of mystery that pervades the storytelling. Initially about an officer spending time at a fellow-officer's remote vacation home following the capture of a killer, the work soon changes course with the arrival of a stranger.
Character/Execution: Alex is an appealing central character who emerges clearly on the page. Jessie, initially shadowy, comes into focus along with the story's mysteries.
Plot/Idea: The Dark Forever is a mysterious sci-fi novel set in the near future with various characters forced to reevaluate their life choices. Gorsky excellently coordinates the team's expedition to The Hive planet, enabling a tense and gripping atmosphere to permeate as the plot unfolds.
Prose: Gorsky's text is clearly written in an accessible and straightforward manner, The Dark Forever's simplicity and sharp attention to detail work in its favor, allowing the tense and thrilling story to unravel naturally.
Originality: The Dark Forever is a fairly conventional sci-fi thriller, but strong writing and an intriguing exploration of concepts in physics make the reading experience consistently engaging. The characters in the crew, who are from various ethnic backgrounds, are expertly observed and presented.
Character/Execution: Lucy Howard is The Dark Forever's enigmatic protagonist, spearheading an eclectic range of characters. The characters are all well rounded with interesting and detailed backstories that enhance the overall arc of the plot.
Blurb: A tense and well orchestrated sci-fi thriller.
Plot/Idea: Promised Land is an enthralling story of self discovery which highlights racial bullying and the ongoing struggles of minorities in the US. Full of religious imagery, Vilio's intriguing tale is an endearing and soul-stirring exploration of 21st century Black America.
Prose: Katib bin Vilio's text is powerfully written and contains several tense scenes of drama that are articulately realized. The characters' believable dialogue and naturalistic interactions help elevate the author's candid representation of modern Black America to another level.
Originality: Vilio's Promised Land effectively highlights the proliferation of racist attitudes and difficulties facing minority groups in America. Pertinent themes, such as the heavy handed nature of policing, result in an arresting novel that deserves to be noticed.
Character/Execution: Abeni, Ida, and Soweto are a tenderly drawn triumvirate of characters forging their way in an unfair world. The interactions between the central characters are truthful and authentic, making the representation of racial discrimination all the more affecting and meaningful.
Plot/Idea: The Diary of a Sugarbaby is a dark satirical work of sci-fi that imagines a future in which queer Americans have been erased and heteronormativity is the law. As intriguing as the social commentary is throughout the novel, the writing sometimes defers to a repeat of these discussions rather than focusing on dynamic storytelling.
Prose: Gagliastro writes in clear-headed, hard-hitting prose, the narrator describing the experience of being a 'sugarbaby' in unflinching candor. Though the work is explicit in its approach, there is an element of dry and sarcastic wit that carries this story forward and breaks up the horror.
Originality: Right from the start, this story sets itself apart from other dystopian novels with the way that it approaches gender inequality and the dangers of clinging to an outdated, violent sociopolitical system. Gagliastro managed to take many modern fears and roll them together with more positive ideals, creating a complex web of realistic frankness, pessimistic anticipation, and optimistic determination.
Character/Execution: Gagliastro leads with the chilling circumstances and a world in which individuality and authentic expression is oppressed. As a result, the characters aren't given the full opportunity to emerge. Still, readers will feel the full impact of the chilling dystopian landscape and the impact it has on common humanity.
Plot/Idea: The Others is a clever, meaty paranormal fantasy that imagines a San Francisco populated by otherworldly beings. Pacing is quick and steady, while the worldbuilding is sound and consistent.
Prose: Davis is a skilled writer who establishes the paranormal circumstances with ease and moves the story forward with a winning blend of dialogue, description, and action.
Originality: The Others navigates numerous paranormal tropes and doesn't carve out a new niche. But the work offers some fresh lore, an intriguing exploration of the political machinations of a hidden realm, and a vividly realized San Francisco setting.
Character/Execution: The author does a stellar job with characterization from the major players such as Olivia and William to the lesser characters woven throughout the story. Each is distinct, consistent, and memorable.
Plot/Idea: Nephilim hatches an inventive concept as a PhD student invents a machine with components that merge with human brain waves and is scouted by a secret society. Overall, Nephilim's intriguing setup develops well and nicely hooks readers. However, the antagonist's motivation remains somewhat unclear, causing the conflict to fall a touch short.
Prose: Overall, the writing carries a propulsive staccato rhythm, with dialogue effectively balanced against tense descriptions.
Originality: Nephilim is anchored in authentic science while playing off humanity's desire for betterment and fulfillment; the work offers unique flavor, along with psychological intrigue and philosophical questioning throughout.
Character/Execution: The main characters are distinctive, with memorable identities and histories that serve a unique purpose in the progression of the plot. However, the female characters are not always paid the attention they deserve and would benefit from greater depth.
Plot/Idea: McPherson delivers a wild ride of supernatural lore and gore, as vampire Hunter Reeves discovers a new, dangerous power lurking in his veins—he’s a cambion, the offspring of a human and a demon, with eerie telepathic abilities. The novel is brisk and packed with dark fantasy elements, with a sprinkling of sci fi throughout.
Prose: Vigorous prose mixed with dialogue that leans toward the fanciful in places lends West of Nowhere an otherworldly feel. McPherson’s style awakens old world vampire stories and entwines them with mystery/thriller overtones, making the resultant narrative decidedly unique.
Originality: Bloodbound: West of Nowhere weaves a wealth of supernatural fantasy components together, interlacing them with themes of belonging and regret into one intense, fast-moving story.
Character/Execution: McPherson’s characters are deeply developed, with gripping backstories that paint them as troubled, multilayered protagonists. The romance between Hunter and Kai Taylor—a fellow vampire and leader in The Order—is gentle but passionate, and Kai’s dark history makes him an arresting lead. Thrown into the mix is Gibson, a puzzling cambion who possesses a magnetic draw for Hunter and adds an unexpected energy to the plot.
