lucky303

  Read FBC's First SPFBO9 Update Read FBC's Second SPFBO9 Update Read FBC's Third SPFBO9 Update After sitting out for a couple of years, I’m thrilled to be back judging SPFBO for the third time. Thanks to the amazing and talented team at Fantasy Book Critic for bringing me on board so I can sing the praises of this contest that has become more varied and competitive each year. I’m pleased to share that my initial batch of six was quite strong – there were several books that were fighting to be my semi-finalist, and the decision wasn’t an easy choice. Below I have reviewed all six books in the order I read them. I’ll then share my pick as to which semi-finalist will move forward. Let’s jump in! Rada  by Tracy M. Jones Rada was the first book I read out of my batch of six, and it set a high bar for all remaining entries. The story is a political fantasy focused on two recently allied countries a short time after their war ended. The neighboring nations lived in a time of...

  Here's a video post on Chels' mini-batch of six books and a semi-finalist update. Enjoy! Chels books were: A Donkey, A Stablehand & An Empire  by D. Heyman Crucible of Lies  by Mitchell Hogan Curse of the Fallen  by H.C. Newell Red Mage by H.D. Woolf That Which The Deep Heart Knows  by R.J. Wheldrake Volcano City  by Grace Bridges

  The time for another culling has come! And wow, was it a fun but difficult process for me! When I got my batch of 6 books, I only glanced at the synopses (which got me very excited) and then immediately decided to just go in as blind as possible from there. I naturally tend to gravitate towards the darker and more character-driven fantasy (and bonus points if there’s emotional destruction!), but I am honestly willing to try out anything because of my extremely eclectic reading tastes. I thought it would be perfect that I can enjoy such a wide variety of fantasy stories, but then I started reading these books and I realised that maybe that wasn’t such a good thing after all. I mean, how was I ever supposed to choose only one favourite when all of them are honestly so good? Now, at first I really wanted to try to keep these reviews as concise as possible, but I quickly realised that I am incapable of keeping my excitement in check, so you will get my usual loooong reviews here. Thi...