We’re back again with another semifinalist and a few more cuts! This is our second to last semi-finalist and second to last post with cuts!
Here are the cuts:
Blind Chaos: Budding Rhythm by Crimcat
What the judges had to say:
Isabelle: Blind Chaos: Budding Rhythm by CrimCat is a LitRPG book with a big focus on world building and character development. It feels a little like a mix between slice-of-life fiction and adventure fantasy. Though I did not finish this one myself, I think it could be a book for readers that like a detailed journey and coming-of-age story. Though the writing felt a little disjointed with the oft-used interjections and was a bit slow to keep my attention, the detailed descriptions of the world and deep dive into the technical aspects of the subgenre really allows you to get to know the main character and her surroundings well and could be fun for the readers that gravitate towards LitRPG for that reason.
Michael: Budding Rhythm is a fun, lighthearted LitRPG that embraces a slice-of-life approach, following the chaotic and charming Ranthia—a reincarnated former paladin—as she explores a game-like fantasy world. The novel’s biggest strengths lie in its lively protagonist, engaging System mechanics, and accessible worldbuilding, which balances depth with readability. However, the story’s episodic structure can feel meandering, with lower stakes and some conveniently resolved conflicts, and the prose occasionally stumbles with heavy internal narration and stylistic tics. Despite these flaws, its energy, humor, and focus on simply enjoying the journey make it an entertaining read for fans of character-driven, low-pressure adventures.
Bolted to the Bone by Bart Carroll
What the judges had to say:
Dave: Bolted to the Bone has incredibly strong world-building and one of the cooler settings I’ve experienced in indie fantasy/sci fi. It got off to a strong start, and I found myself really intrigued.
As the book went on, I struggled with the pacing as well as the narrator intrusions. Things seemed to stall, and I was struggling with motivation to continue, though I will say the book picks back up again.
Let’s be clear: this is an incredibly well done book that will work for a lot of readers. Unfortunately some parts didn’t quite hit for me.
I’d recommend this to anyone who loves crazy-cool worldbuilding!
Will: Bolted to the Bone has a premise that is unique in the world of sci-fi and fantasy and it really intrigued me in the early stages of the book. Set what appears to be a standard “fantasy world,” it becomes clear that there is a sci-fi background to it all that evokes feelings of The Truman Show in an interesting and fun way. As I got deeper into the book, it almost felt like the chapters were disconnected from one another, showing one vignette after another. A couple of the main characters really worked, but often it felt like some were interchangeable without much in the form of backstories. I think Bart Carroll has something good on his hands and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
The Forgotten Dawn by Laura A. Blake
What the judges had to say:
Dave: Courtly intrigue, trials, romantic tension, oh my! The Forgotten Dawn is a compulsively readable romantic fantasy that really hits the beats romance readers expect while also hitting all the epic fantasy moments as well.
We follow Brida, a human who has lied to gain entrance to the Fae Trials (so she can save her dad). There’s romance, definitely, but the friendships are where this book shines. I could read an entire book of Kaidan and Lil bantering–and I’m hearing they’re both POV characters in book two, which I’m excited for! The relationships between characters are well-rounded, complex, and full of heart–Blake writes friendship incredibly well.
The worldbuilding is incredibly cool and so well done. The four courts all have different types of magic and Azmeer, the central city of the Fae is so cool. Like, I want to visit! I felt like Blake did a fantastic job putting the world’s history, lore, religion, societies, and cities together. Some of my favorite scenes were just Brida and company exploring Azmeer, spending time together, and chatting. It was a great bit of character work in between the bigger conflicts.
In terms of the pacing, things take a bit to get going, but once Brida gets to the Fae realm, things start moving and the book gets really good.
Overall, this is a really strong debut novel and the beginning of what I think will be a fantastic trilogy. I can’t wait for more!
Isabelle: The Forgotten Dawn by Laura A. Blake is a blend of fantasy and romance that has a lot of interesting aspects that are sure to appeal to a lot of readers. Though the romantic story line wasn’t quite convincing enough for me, the world building was ambitious and the focus on different kinds of relationships appealing. The trials didn’t always feel as dangerous as expected, but the plot really took off towards the end and promises a lot of excitement for the next book. While this book wasn’t really for me in the end, I think it has a lot of things many readers would enjoy.
Hearts of Bark and Scale:
What the judges had to say:
Arun: Hearts of Bark is a bit too dark, slow and emotive for my tastes. Writing is not bad, but the relationship though done well, just doesn’t hit the top spots.
Isabelle: Hearts of Bark and Scale by Nicole Leland is a short book that heavily focuses on character development and their emotions. The author created the perfect setting for the MCs to get to know each other and have their emotions go haywire in ways that forces them to confront their biggest fears. Though I personally would’ve liked a bit more action and excitement to keep me engaged with the story, this would be a great fit for those that just want to slow down a bit with sweet characters and a well-earned happy ending.
The Ruined by Thomas Perkins
What the judges said:
Graham: The Ruined felt like it was a tale of “what can the main character do thats funny whilst seeming strong” and sometimes that can work but in this case it felt pretentious and on-the-nose. I did not enjoy this one.
Matt: The Ruined follows an unlikely partnership between a hard nosed warrior and an idealistic thinker as they navigate deadly rituals, rivals, and political troubles in a hierarchy that treats loyalty as and mercy as a negative traits. The story focuses on an odd parring that displays friction as well as chemistry between our two main characters.
At times the pacing felt a bit clunky but this was overall an enjoyable read, especially for those who enjoy morally grey characters.
And our semi-finalist…
Grave Covenant by Tobias Youngblood
What the judges had to say:
Matt: Grave Covenant is a gritty and intense unfolding mystery that uncovers insectile shapeshifters with dark plans. It focuses on Ridley, a grieving boxer searching for his fiancee. The story grows and becomes more intense as the plot develops. It took some time for me to become invested in this story but was very enjoyable in the second half.
Dave: Grave Covenant is an urban/contemporary fantasy that zooms along, keeping you on the edge of your seat, almost like a thriller! I really enjoyed my time with this book!
I don’t want to go into spoilers, but the plot gets crazy in the best way possible. The pacing is immaculate here. I was fully in “one more chapter” mode as the book went on, and Youngblood impressed me with how compulsively readable he made this book.
In terms of what didn’t quite work for me, I did feel like there was a lot of stilted dialogue, but dialogue is my favorite part of books, so I might just be hyperfocused on it. It didn’t really slow down the pacing, even if some of the parts felt clunky for me.
The world building was really cool for the most part, but calling the two locations The Outskirts and The Big City part kinda annoyed me. There are references to Earth-specific mythology and the world seems very much like Earth, yet the city had no name. I loved the insect shapeshifters, and we get some talk of dragons, succubi, and other supernatural creatures.
I’m interested to see where the story goes from here, and I’ll definitely continue the series! If you’re a fan of urban fantasy and action packed fantasy thrillers, this is the book for you!
Congrats to Tobias! We’ll be back next week with one last semi-finalist!
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