So here we are, the first cuts for SPFBO 10!
As always, let me preface this with the fact that all reading is subjective. So, what we didn’t like might be someone else’s favourite book, and if what you read here sounds like something you’d enjoy, please check them out!
Thank you very much to all the authors who entered, we know it is tough to get judged like this, and we definitely appreciate the courage to put your work forward to a contest!
If you have no idea what we’re talking about, you can read more about the contest here.
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Dragon Princess by Jason P. Crawford
Summary
To the commonfolk of Aetheria, the monarchy is the stuff of legends, descendants of the Uniter. To the lesser nobles, they stand as bastions of courage and political skill, deftly balancing the concerns of the people and the country. High Princess Amalia strives to live up to both expectations, forging herself into a queen that her nation will one day be proud of.
A hard task for any young woman, but for one blinded at birth, nearly impossible.
Approaching her seventeenth year, and finding her worth under scrutiny from all corners, Amalia learns a devastating truth—dragons, the fabled foes of her ancestors, have returned. To defend her people and her kingdom, every last one must be destroyed. But her convictions are shaken when she discovers they are not the unthinking beasts of her nation’s collective nightmares, but intelligent creatures much like herself.
Amalia must uncover the secrets hidden in the shadows if she is to avert a war that could end in the deaths of her family and her people. But some truths may be better left buried.
Julia
This quickly grabbed my attention by having a blind main character. I especially liked how she managed to be independent, and get around by counting steps, and having a service dog to help. This way her blindness felt a lot more realistic, than in some other books, where it’s more of a gimmick. Not perfect, but better written than other examples I’ve come across.
My one niggle is a few scenes, when she can see through someone else’s eyes. I’ve never been a fan of circumnavigating disabilities by magic. However, if someone who has been blind since birth suddenly sees, I don’t think they could immediately understand what and who everything/everyone is.
Another MAJOR plus for the book is, having a girl main character and yet no romance! These are incredibly hard to find, and we need more books like this!
The story in itself felt a bit too easy and predictable; I’d say it would fit with a middle grade age well. It’s a bit dark for that age group at times, but that’s where I’d put the writing complexity.
However, for adults of my taste, it’s just too much on the light side to be fully satisfying.
All in all, this was a quick and fun read!
Patrick
There’s a certain amount of charm to this, and the writing is smooth and easy to read, although the tone is inconsistent. I think it’s supposed to be YA, but in common with several other YAs in this batch, the writing feels more middle grade. The story isn’t really doing much we haven’t seen many times before, and it doesn’t stand out in any way. I was less convinced than Julia about how well the blindness was handled. To me, it felt too easily ignored. In fact, I found quite a bit about the book unbelievable. If you’re looking for a simple, straightforward fantasy aimed at younger readers, give this a try.
Calvin
I loved that this book featured a blind main character [MC]! In fact, I think the portrayal of the MC is one of the strongest points of this book. We have a young girl who refuses to be defined by her blindness. The author also—largely—avoids getting around her blindness through fantastical methods. This is part of the character and I loved that about it! This is a fairly light and quick read, so it does lack some depth that could have perhaps elevated it to the next level. Even so, it was an enjoyable book.
Defy by C. S. Doraga
Summary
The Eridian Empire is rife with discontent and animosity. Now, Imperial Princess Redrinna has a choice: stay trapped in a life that terrifies her or betray the trust of her parents—the two people she loves more than anything.
Sheltered from most of the Empire’s turmoil, Redrinna has spent her entire life preparing for her eighteenth birthday—the day she will inherit the throne of a country she has never seen with her own eyes. Her parents believe she is capable of greatness, but she believes she is doomed to fail. Then, her entire world is turned upside down by a betrayal she never thought possible, a betrayal that leaves her nearly dead.
With the help of a creature long thought extinct—a dragon—Redrinna uses the situation to run, determined to finally be free. But earning her freedom isn’t that simple. Somone knows she survived. To win her freedom for good, she may have to find a strength she’s never had, in order to fight an evil long forgotten but responsible for the Empire’s dark creation, and eager to do worse. And if Redrinna can’t, then the little she has left—her friend, her homeland, and her freedom—might be lost forever.
Patrick
The writing in Defy is generally decent if basic, but there’s not much else to recommend it, unfortunately. It may be aimed at a younger audience, but if so, it misses the mark. Again, another quite readable book but with little that stands out and so doesn’t make semi-finalist for me.
Julia
I finished it, as it was so short and easy. Definitely felt more like a middle grade book then even YA. The absolute biggest plus for me was there not being any romance, despite having a 17-year-old female MC. Those books are rare finds, and I wish we had more of them! A girl finding herself, instead of pining for a boy or getting rescued every two chapters.
The plot had a few nice twists, but overall was really predictable. It also felt a bit disjointed here and there, instead having a smooth flow. A few points didn’t seem to make much sense to me, aside from driving the plot on. I think to work better for me it would have to get some more depth.
The voice was a bit too much coloured by teenage angst and coming of age for my personal taste. I love some YA, like Tamira Pierce for example, and it might just be this specific MC in this story, but at times it got a bit much.
What I really loved again though, was the dragon, and the friendships, that grew along the way. I’m always a sucker for a good animal companion, and this definitely scratched my itch!
Kerry
Defy is the type of book I would have lapped up when I was a young teen. It is well written and has a compelling voice that engages the reader; more-so if you’re just getting into epic fantasy. So, if you like an easier read epic fantasy then this will be a good reading experience.
It is this style of book that got me as a young reader into epic fantasies that were full of betrayal, trust issues, denial, true friendship and of course, DRAGONS.
Whilst this is definitely not my usual reading fare, especially reading about teenagers, I liked Red’s growth in this book. I tend to DNF [did not finish] or discontinue a series after book one because the young MC tends to be too petulant and whiny. Sure, Red does complain, makes mistakes, but she learns from these and realises learning and growth doesn’t just take a week to happen. I liked her spirit and determination and her willingness to listen and help others. Her friendship and encouragement of the young boy Tak in teaching him to read and write was lovely and I absolutely adored the bond between Red and Xandrin.
Calvin
This one wasn’t for me. The voice was fine, and I felt like there was a fun story lurking within the pages. However, I also felt like the story unfolded in a fairly predictable manner that never hooked me. The lack of a compelling hook is really what did this one in for me. Others might have a very different experience.
Hidden Worlds by Kit Campbell
Summary
Margery has always felt like she’s had no one to share the stories in her head with. That changes when she stumbles across the Spork Room, a magical writing community that might be accessible through her closet one day and the school bathroom the next. The Spork Room has many useful writing tools, but the crowning one is the Door, through which all stories come to life.
There’s only one rule: don’t go through the Door without telling someone.
When Margery breaks the rule, she and her pirate main character release an unspeakable evil, unbalancing the Door and making escape from it impossible. Now, aided by a jack-of-all-trades character named Someone, Margery and her pirate must set everything right by defeating this evil, or be trapped inside the Door forever.
Patrick
This is another one aimed at younger readers, but unfortunately again doesn’t quite hit the target. The idea behind the story—the secret, magical place for writers—is probably the strongest part of the story, but the execution doesn’t match it. The main character is in high school (so, 14+ years-old) and some of the references are teen, but the style of writing and the ideas are very much on the lower end of middle grade (9-10 year-old). Read as a middle grade, it’s light and likeable, but compared to other middle grade or YA fantasy out there, it doesn’t stand up.
Ola
The book felt a bit immature even for middle grade. Though not my genre, I read plenty of middle grade that I loved. The concept was great but the execution and stakes here were not that high, mainly since I couldn’t connect with the main character.
Kerry
I’d just be repeating what Ola and Patrick have written. Loved the idea of “plot bunnies”, as well a small chuckle when “somebody needs to go in after them” a person/somebody turns up in Margery’s story.
Julia
This is a very cute fantasy that will probably appeal mostly to people with some interest in writing.
A teen girl who gets mocked for her stories finds a secret hideout for all the writerly folk put there. There are a lot of little jokes and nudges about tropes or inconsistencies, which are quirky and fun.
Some of the banter and dialogue just felt a bit too easy and shallow for me to really love this, but it was super easy and entertaining, which is what it is meant to be. If you’re looking for something deep and thoughtful, this is definitely not it. If you’re looking for a light breeze that you can devour in one go, this can be a great choice!
Calvin
There were a few moments in this one that elicited a chuckle, but it felt rather juvenile, and I wasn’t compelled to read beyond the opening chapters.
Adawia
I pretty much agree with everyone else on the team. It’s a cute, fun, sometimes clever story, but I think the premise would have worked better if it were written for and aimed at an adult audience. It could still be a YA novel, but if, for example, Margery was employed rather than being a student and the language was kicked up a notch to suit, I would probably properly enjoy this story.
The Apprentice Storyteller by Astrid V. J.
Summary
Viola Alerion, a renowned storyteller in the Haldrian Empire, wants to be left in peace. For years, she’s been hounded by her past, never to find a moment’s rest. Then she meets a boy who wants to become her apprentice. He refuses to take no for an answer, and she reluctantly yields, even though she knows taking him with her could endanger his life. As their journey progresses, Viola begins to understand she’s not the only teacher in the equation. The nameless boy also has something to teach, but Viola makes for a reluctant student.
Can she give way to possibility and embrace a future in alignment with what she’s always wanted? Can she find the courage to embrace the principles that will transform her life? Can she overcome her circumstances and face her past? Or will she keep on running with nowhere to hide?
And what of the boy who guards untold secrets and exhibits mysterious powers that defy belief?
Julia
This is the most preachy and annoying book I’ve ever read.
To be more professional: This is not necessarily a bad book, but it is *not at all* my cup of tea. It feels much less like a fantasy book in the second half, but like trying to read a self-help/empowerment book.
What makes it worse, is a lot of what feels super preachy to me, is coming from a 13-year-old boy, if I read it right, talking to a 40-year-old woman.
The prose is fine, and I liked the start. The world building felt underdeveloped and the plot more like an afterthought. I do think this is intentional, but not for me.
However, I am decidedly not the target audience for this type of book, in the author’s own words: “The transformational message is rock solid.”
Patrick
I felt there might be a story in here, but it was buried under what felt like an avalanche of pretentious and over-crafted prose. Too many sentences like, “They reach their perfunctory haven as the white-hot disk peaks at its zenith.” I’m not saying that books have to be entirely simple and utilitarian in language, but elegant prose should add to a story, not make it impenetrable, IMO [in my opinion].
Kerry
The ‘higher power’ and preachy message one needs to transcend, to transform/become one with this ‘higher’ power was too close to cult-like messages for me. I am definitely the wrong reader for this book.
Calvin
It has been a long time since I’ve read a book that is quite so transparently moralizing. Combine this with prose that is decidedly purple, and it was not for me. I could see this appealing to a certain audience, but I’m not it, unfortunately.
The Plagued Elf by Armanis Ar-Feinial
Summary
In a race against time, Quarala battles against the unknown, desperately striving to save the life of Anaergienne, Malitu’s hunter.
Armed with her vast knowledge and unwavering determination, she must unravel the mysteries of a disease that has eluded even the most skilled healers.
Will she succeed in her quest to find a cure and restore him?
Patrick
I usually try to find something positive to say about a book, but I found this one close to unreadable. The writing was simply just too poor. I put it down fairly quickly and won’t be picking it back up again.
Kerry
Way too much exposition and it read like the author, instead of using simple words, decided to get overly descriptive ones from a thesaurus. To be honest, I don’t really need two paragraphs to explain how someone sat on a log in front of a fire.
Julia
I couldn’t get on with the writing style. Aside from seriously over describing everything, there’s bits like, “he strode toward it with long strides,” all the time. Here’s another example from page two:
“Stretching upward to the tree, plucked the apple. He returned it to Bero and held it out. The brown-haired creature stretched forth its snout, and swept the apple from his hands, a sharp reaction, the elf removed his hand out of the way.”
It might be an artistic choice, but sadly it didn’t work for me at all, so I couldn’t really get into the story.
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We would like to thank all the authors for letting us read their work! We congratulate you on having the courage to enter the contest and wish you all much success in the future!
Our judges this year are Adawia Asad, Agatha Lopez, Calvin, Kerry Smith, Lana, Max Freeman, Ola, Patrick Samphire, and Julia Kitvaria Sarene (me). If you’d like to learn more about us, including our likes and dislikes, you can read about them here. And again, you can learn more about the contest here.
Any queries should be directed to the editor, Jennie Ivins, via DM (Facebook/Twitter).
Title image by Kristina Shvedenko.
Jennie Ivins