Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off #11: The First Five Fall
Jennie Ivins
Our judges whittle down our group of 30 books by letting go of five at a time. We don’t read the books in any particular order, and so we don’t…
Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO)
The 11th Annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO 11) – Introductions & Book List
It’s that time of year again Factioneers! Time for the 11th Annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off to begin! We at Fantasy-Faction have been judging the contest since its inception way back…
SPFBO 10 Champions’ League: Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike – Review
Julia Kitvaria Sarene
Absurd quests, unexpected twists, and a steady undercurrent of satire kept the pacing brisk and the tone light, without slipping into pure farce.
SPFBO 10 Champions’ League: Reign & Ruin by J. D. Evans – Review
... blends romance, magic, and courtly intrigue into a story driven as much by emotion as by politics. Set in a richly imagined, Middle Eastern inspired world, it follows characters…
SPFBO 10 Champions’ League: The Sword of Kaigen by M. L. Wang – Review
"It’s one of those rare books that transforms as you read it, and then transforms you in turn."
SPFBO 10 Champions’ League: The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson – Review
A wonderful mix of mystery, adventure and heart. It captures the spirit of old-school fantasy while keeping a modern warmth that makes it easy to love.
SPFBO 10 Champions’ League: Where Loyalties Lie by Rob J. Hayes – Review
It is sharp without being flowery and keeps the focus where it belongs, on the characters and their choices.
SPFBO 10 Champions’ League: The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French
French deserves credit for doing something original with grimdark genre and creating a setting quite different to what you will usually have read.
SPFBO 10 Champions’ League: By Blood, by Salt by J. L. Odom – Review
A beautiful book, beautifully written.
SPFBO 10 Champions’ League: Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater – Review
Do not read this book at 3am whilst suffering from insomnia and then discover there is NO chocolate in the house, in any form!!
SPFBO 10 Champions’ League: Murder at Spindle Manor by Morgan Stang – Review
A very well-written story with plenty of atmosphere, and the relationships—both new and old—being particularly well done.
SPFBO 10 Champions’ League: The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble’s Braids by Michael McClung – Review
...a clever, gritty little gem. A witty, tightly written fantasy adventure with a phenomenal lead, great humor, surprising emotional depth, and just enough chaos to keep things unpredictable.