Tuesday 26 May 2020

SPFBO 6 Cover Contest

Each year I run a cover contest for the SPFBO entrants. Each blog chooses its 3 favourite covers from their pool of 30 entrants. The 30 favourites collected from the 10 blogs are then voted on in separate ballots by the bloggers and by the public.

The public vote is of course a bit of fun and subject to all the issues of brigading and cheating that online polls often are - though our anti-cheat software is more effective than the raw poll results might lead you to believe.

We did this in 201920182017 & 2016 too.



The judges' cover champions!

Gold Medal!
9 votes

Cover by Damonza


Silver Medal
7 votes
 

Artist: Jenny Zemanck



Bronze Medal
6 votes

Artist: Amir Zand

3 votes:
2 votes:

1 vote:




Winners of the public poll:



1st


Cover by Damonza


2nd
 

Artist: Pen Astridge


3rd

ArtistJenny Zemanck




Fantasy-Faction




Fantasy Book Critic




Lynn's Book Blog




Booknest




Kitty G




Weatherwax Report




The Fantasy Hive




Rockstarlit Book Asylum




The Critiquing Chemist




The Fantasy Inn



Note, the poll linked below has anti-cheat software that generates reports which will be taken into consideration at the end of polling.



Vote for as many covers as you like - more than one would be good.













Saturday 23 May 2020

SPFBO 6 - Phase 1

This page is for phase 1 of SPFBO 6  -  read more about the contest here.

Check out the cover contest here.

Phase 1



The traditional wordle made from all the titles:

And the traditional gender breakdown based only on assumption given the name:




These are the provisional assignments:
And here are most of them on a Goodreads list thanks to Hiu Gregg.

From the list I discovered that:
34 entries ~10% have 100+ ratings on Goodreads.
 100 of the entries have 25+ ratings.
 6 of the books were published 10 or more years ago - the oldest is 20 years old!
 4 of the books have more than 1,000 pages. The longest is 1,939 pages!
 3 of the books have over a 1,000 ratings, the most ratings is 5,834.


Updates:

PHASE ONE IS COMPLETE
The Fantasy Inn announce the final finalist!
Finalist announcement from Fantasy-Faction!
Finalist announcement from The Fantasy Hive!
The Fantasy Hive review Code of the Communer.
Finalist announcement from The Critiquing Chemist!
Fantasy-Faction review Where Shadows Lie.
The Fantasy Inn make their 3rd round of cuts.
Shadow of a Dead God is reviewed on Fantasy-Faction.
Finalist announcement on Lynn's Book Blog!
Forged in Shadow is reviewed on The Fantasy Hive.
Fantasy-Faction review Shields in Shadow.
The Fantasy Hive review God of Small Affairs.
Kitty G announces her finalist!
Cuts and semi-finalists from Lynn's Book Blog.
The Rockstarlit Book Asylum announce their finalist!
Fantasy-Faction review Tales of the Thief-City.
Voice of War is reviewed on Lynn's Book Blog.
Tuyo is reviewed on Lynn's Book Blog.
Booknest announce The Lost War as their finalist!
Kitty G cuts 6 titles she liked.
The Child of Silence is reviewed on Lynn's Book Blog.
Trial of Thorns is reviewed on Lynn's Book Blog.
Fantasy-Faction declare their semi-finalists.
The Fantasy Inn reviews Legacy of Bones.
The Rockstarlit Book Asylum reviews The Knights of Dragonwatch.
Kitty G swings her axe.
Lynn's Book Blog reviews Knightmare Arcanist.
Final cuts from The Critiquing Chemist.
Six cuts from Kitty G.
Cuts and semi-finalists on Lynn's Book Blog.
A last semi-finalist is chosen on The Critiquing Chemist.
Lynn's Book Blog reviews Flight of the Darkstar Dragon.
Incursion is reviewed on Lynn's Book Blog.
Magister's Bane is reviewed on The Critiquing Chemist.
Another five bite the dust on Fantasy-Faction.
The Critiquing Chemist reviews Bloodless Assassin.
The Critiquing Chemist reviews Fires That Forge.
The Rockstarlit Book Asylum reviews The Hunter's Gambit.
The Usurper is reviewed on Lynn's Books.
The Fae and the Fallen is reviewed on The Critiquing Chemist.
Lynn's Books reviews The Hammer Of The Gods.
Lynn's Books reviews Calico Thunder Rides Again.
More eliminations from The Critiquing Chemist.
Five fall from Fantasy-Faction.
The Rockstarlit Book Asylum reviews semi-finalist Black Stone Heart.
Booknest reviews The Brightest Shadow.
Dragon's Reach is reviewed on Booknest.
Fantasy Book Critic choose their finalist!
The Fantasy Inn make their first round of cuts.
The Stone of Knowing is reviewed on Booknest.
Auring's Wrath is reviewed on Booknest.
Meadow City is reviewed on Booknest.
Fantasy Book Critic choose another semi-finalist.
Star Compass is reviewed on Booknest.
Booknest reviews The Delving.
Booknest reviews The Dragon Mage.
Booknest reviews The Power of Conviction.
Heart and Soul Fist is reviewed on Booknest.
Booknest reviews Dire.
Booknest reviews The Phoenix Embryo.
Booknest reviews Sorrowfish.
Covenant of Blood is reviewed on Booknest.
The Lost War is reviewed on Booknest.
The Jealousy Of Jalice is reviewed on Booknest.
Booknest reviews A Storm Of Silver And Ash.
Booknest reviews Architect.
Chasing Sunrise is reviewed on Booknest.
Wayfarer is reviewed on Booknest.
Semi-finalist reviewed on the Rockstarlit Book Asylum.
Booknest reviews Until All Curses Are Lifted.
Booknest review Kingdom Of Aces.
A last semi-finalist is picked on The Fantasy Hive.
The Dragon's Banker is reviewed on The Rockstarlit Book Asylum.
The Weatherwax Report picks their finalist!
More cuts from Lynn's Books.
The Fantasy Hive close in on their finalist.
Another semi-finalist from The Critiquing Chemist.
The Weatherwax Report's last semi-finalist.
The Fantasy Hive choose another semi-finalist.
Death of the Tree Path is reviewed on The Fantasy Inn.
The Weatherwax Report reports cuts.
The Rockstarlit Book Asylum reviews Black Stone Heart.
More cuts on The Fantasy Hive.
Another semi-finalist selected on The Critiquing Chemist.
Dravincia is reviewed on The Critiquing Chemist.
Rockstarlit Book Asylum choose their last semi-finalist.
The Owl At The End Of The World is reviewed on The Critiquing Chemist.
The Fantasy Hive stings three more.
The Critiquing Chemist reviews Priestess of Ishana.
Three bonds broken by The Critiquing Chemist.
Five Fall on Fantasy-Faction.
Cuts and a semi-finalist from the Rockstarlit Book Asylum.
The Fantasy Hive hives off more titles.
The Fantasy Inn post an update page.
Wyrd Gods is reviewed on The Critiquing Chemist.
The Fantasy Hive choose a semi-finalist.
The First Rule Of Adventuring is reviewed on The Critiquing Chemist.
The Fantasy Hive dole out stings and honey.
The Combat Codes is reviewed on Fantasy Book Critic.
The Critiquing Chemists perform another reduction.
Lynn's Books wields the knife.
The Fantasy Hive announce a semi-finalist.
Cuts and a semi-finalist announced on Rockstarlit Book Asylum.
Three-fall on The Fantasy Hive.
The Weatherwax Report selects another semi-finalist.
The Fantasy Inn review The Nothing Mage.
Another trio sink on the Weatherwax Report.
Squire Derel is reviewed on Critiquing Chemist.
Rockstarlit Book Asylum cut some titles.
Five fall from Fantasy-Faction.
Fantasy Inn review Radio.
Wax off. (3 more cuts).
Critiquing Chemist reviews Child of Destiny.
The Calvanni gets a review on Critiquing Chemist.
Another reduction from the Chemists.
The Weatherwax Report reviews Of Fractured Lands And Sundered Dreams.
More cuts on Lynn's Books.
Kitty G cuts more titles ... on film.
Semifinalists announced on Fantasy Book Critic.
Susurrus gets a review on Critiquing Chemist.
Necropolis gets a review from Critiquing Chemist.
Critiquing Chemist review Godless Lands.
More cuts from the Critiquing Chemist.
The Rockstarlit Book Asylum start cutting.
Birth of the Dawn Hawk is reviewed on the Weatherwax Report.
Kitty G swings her axe on Youtube.
The Weatherwax Report cuts and cuts.
Fantasy Book Critic interview their semi-finalist Alexander Darwin.
The Critiquing Chemist unveils a semi-finalist.
Booknest review The Chaos Circus.
The Weatherwax Report announce a semi-finalist.
This Cursed Flame is reviewed on The Critiquing Chemist.
A second semi-finalist is announced on Fantasy Book Critic.
The Critiquing Chemist review Crown of the Sundered Empire.
Limbo is reviewed on The Critiquing Chemist.
Fantasy Book Critic interview E.G Radcliff.
The Critiquing Chemist swing their axe again.
Booknest review A Brush With Vampires.
Lynn swings her axe - five books fall.
Bear Cavalry reviewed on Booknest.
Fantasy Book Critic pick a semi-finalist and cull some titles.
The Critiquing Chemist critiques Wynter's Edge.
The Fantasy Inn reviews A Dream Of Fire.
The Ninth Knight is reviewed on Booknest.
The Moonflower is reviewed on The Fantasy Inn.
First cuts on The Critiquing Chemist.
Booknest review Bull And The Goblin Raid.
More cuts on the Weatherwax Report.
Weatherwax Report reports on A King's Bargain.
Them Weatherwaxers review The Souls' Abyss.
Fade is reviewed on The Weatherwax Report.
The Wrack is reviewed on The Weatherwax report.
The Weatherwax Report swings the axe.
The Weatherwax Report liked Last Memoria.
Booknest review Blackbirds Sing.
Three titles cut by the Weatherwax Report.
The Weatherwax Report reviews Eye of Obscurance.


10 of 300 still in the running!
red = cut
greenish = semifinalist (also marked with + )
bold green = finalist
a blank line = removed as not self-published

Fantasy-Faction

1 Patrick Samphire Shadow of a Dead God +
1 Clara Coulson A Knight of Cold Graves
1 Gareth Lewis Tales of the Thief-City +
1 David Combs Ascension
1 A.D. Green Rivers Run Red

1 Joan Lightning Falling Shadows
1 Russell Meek The Madness of Hallen
1 Myn Aunsoo Confundo et Transfiguro
1 Stephen Murray The Longest Shadow
1 Todd Maternowski Exmortus
1 Michele Amitrani Lord of Time
1 Chris Behrsin Dragonseer
1 A.B. Endacott The Ruthless Land
1 J. M. Hemmings Path of the Tiger
1 Allegra Pescatore Where Shadows Lie +
1 Ono Ekeh The Clay Queen
1 Brian D. Anderson Dragonvein
1 Skyla Dawn Cameron Solomon's Seal
1 Sladen C. Mire Kurmaru
1 Willem Neill Embered Soul
1 Benjamin Medrano Ancient Ruins
1 Matthew Sylvester Hell Hound
1 Andy Peloquin Shields in Shadow +
1 Lesli Evans Keepers of Arden
1 Vincent B. Moneymaker Dragons, Knights & Dinosaurs
1 Miri C. Golden Land of Perpetual Night
1 Elana A. Mugdan Dragon Speaker
1 Emilie Knight Era of Undying
1 Toby Frost Blood Under Water

Fantasy Book Critic

2 Brandon M. Lindsay Shoreseeker
2 David Samuels I, Exile
2 Cully Mack A Voice That Thunders
2 R.D. Henderson Death of the Invisible Financier
2 Florien St John A Locket of No Particular Significance
2 Ryan Howse The Alchemy Dirge
2 Bharat Krishnan Oasis
2 Jason J. Nugent The Blood Stone
2 E.G. Radcliff The Hidden King +
2 Darian Smith Currents of Change
2 Astrid V.J. Aspiring, Part 1 of the Siblings' Tale
2 Jenny Schwartz Stray Magic
2 Joseph Daniel Graveyard Gods
2 D. T. Kane Bladesorrow
2 Skye Horn Wings of Fate
2 Deborah Makarios The Wound of Words +
2 J.A. Clement The Dragons Teeth
2 Alexander Darwin The Combat Codes +
2 Joel Spriggs Another Dead Intern
2 Miranda Honfleur & Nicolette Andrews Feast of the Mother
2 Travis M. Riddle Spit and Song +
2 K.A. Ashcomb Worth of Luck
2 Claire Boston The Assassin's Gift
2 Christopher Keene Cycle of Blades
2 Danielle Mathieson Pederson Lasera 
2 Dominic Adler Timberwolf +
2 Kristen S. Walker The Reluctant Witch: Year One 
2 Geetha Krishnan Pradyutita +
2 Todd Herzman A Dark Inheritance +
2 Jonatan HÃ¥kansson Bloodline: Rise

Lynn's Book Blog

3
Steve Thomas Mid-Lich Crisis
3 Benedict Patrick The Flight of the Darkstar Dragon +
3 Martin Owton EXILE
3 Jon Monson Rise of the Forgotten Sun
3 Lola Ford Heartscale
3 Crystal Crawford The Edge of Nothing
3 Anthony Stevens Shifter Shadows
3 Stacey Trombley Trial of Thorns
3 Tony Johnson The Story of Evil
3 Jordan J. Scavone Night Warrior
3 Stephanie Barr The Curse of the Jenri
3 Patrick LeClerc Spitting Image
3 Andrew Marc Rowe The Hammer Of The Gods: So You Want To Be A Star
3 Marina Ermakova Chains Carried on Wings
3 ML Spencer Chains of Blood
3 Ashley Capes The Five Furies of Heaven
3 Joseph O. Doran The Child of Silence
3 Shami Stovall Knightmare Arcanist
3 Rachel Neumeier TUYO +
3 Jon Herrera Emma and the Minotaur
3 Evan Witmer Long Stories: early immortals and the birth of death

3 Mark Hood Jacob's War
3 T. A. Hernandez Calico Thunder Rides Again +
3 M. Warren Askins Beyond the Spire of Navarene
3 Aaron Hodges Warbringer
3 G.E. Hathaway Burn
3 Mitchell Hogan Incursion
3 James Alderdice The Usurper
3 Zack Argyle Voice of War +

Booknest

4 Justin Lee Anderson The Lost War +
4 Allan N. Packer The Stone of Knowing
4 R. Dugan The Chaos Circus +
4 Stephen James Wright The Ninth Knight
4 Tim Frankovich Until All Curses Are Lifted
4 Sarah Lin The Brightest Shadow
4 Anthea Sharp Star Compass
4 Olivia Atwater Half a Soul
4 Justin DePaoli Auring's Wrath
4 John Bailey Dire
4 Chris Ing Heart and Soul Fist
4 RT Mulder Architect
4 Betsy Flak A Brush with Vampires
4 Marion Blackwood A Storm of Silver and Ash
4 Emily Mah Chasing Sunrise
4 JA Andrews Dragon's Reach +
4 Catrin Russell The Power of Conviction
4 Aiki Flinthart Blackbirds Sing +
4 Anne C. Miles Sorrowfish
4 K.M. Weiland Wayfarer +
4 Clayton Snyder The Obsidian Psalm +
4 Jesse Nolan Bailey The Jealousy of Jalice
4 D.G. Valdron The Bear Cavalry
4 H.R. van Adel Covenant of Blood
4 Liz Delton Meadowcity
4 Tameri Etherton Dragon Mage
4 Aaron Bunce The Delving
4 Matt Heppe Bull and the Goblin Raid
4 Steven Smith Kingdom of Aces
4 Jeanne Marcella The Phoenix Embryo

Kitty G

5 Ryan Kirk The Gate Beyond Oblivion +
5 Jesse Teller Legends of the Exiles
5 Jay Veloso Batista Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse
5 G. Campbell Dames and Demons
5 Lori L. MacLaughlin Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble
5 Matt Larkin Darkness Forged +
5 John D. Pepe The Lone Wolf
5 Rachel Medhurst Shrouded Kingdom
5 Melissa Wright Frey
5 Ryan D Meier Shadows of Creation +
5 Natalya Capello Song of Shadow
5 Mandy and G.D. Burkhead The Black Lily
5 L.E. Price Bounty Hunter
5 Jodi Trask Telluria
5 N.A.K Baldron Sorcerer's Quest
5 Taylor Aston White Witch's Sorrow
5 Dorian Graves Bones and Bourbon
5 Keith Blenman The Girl Drank Poison
5 Tiger Hebert Dragon's Fire
5 Douglas Bain The Woeful Wager
5 Margaret Mason The Wall
5 Shan R.K House Of Legions
5 Sam Puma The Serpent and the Crown
5 Glenn Birmingham Dragon Source
5 Antoine Bandele By Sea & Sky
5 Anela Deen Night Latch 
5 Rohan M. Vider Free Agent
5 Jesikah Sundin Æroreh
5 Paul Freeman Blood Of Kings: The Shadow Mage
5 C.D. Alexander On Winter's Eve

Weatherwax Report

6 Phil Williams Aftan Whispers
6 Allen Stroud The Sword of Wisimir
6 E. G. Bateman Fade
6 J.M. Bergen Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows
6 Fiona Jeeves Burning Embers
6 Christopher C. Fuchs Lords of Deception 
6 Nerine Dorman Inkarna
6 J.R. Ford Storm's Breath
6 Jeffrey L. Kohanek Eye of Obscurance +
6 J.D.L. Rosell A King's Bargain +
6 Elle Cardy Wielder's Prize
6 Deborah Grace White Heir of the Curse
6 Rogan Feltmate Night of the Bloody Tines
6 Steve Curry Austin Wyrd
6 Kristen Gupton The Phoenix Prince
6 Morten W. Simonsen Fire Within
6 E.G. Stone The One Who Could Not Fly
6 Jed Herne Across the Broken Stars
6 E. D. Lazure Of fractured lands and sundered dreams
6 Jamie Edmundson Og-Grim-Dog: The Three-Headed Ogre
6 Gordon Greenhill Flight of the SkyCricket
6 Rachel Emma Shaw Last Memoria +
6 SC Gowland The Souls' Abyss +
6 H.C. Harrington Daughter of Havenglade
6 TJ Muir Stolen Luck
6 Z. Apollo & M.J. Northwood Birth Of The Dawnhawk
6 John Bierce The Wrack
6 Peter Thomson The Servant's Story
6 Jason James King The Lure of Fools
6 Gabriel Neon Red

The Fantasy Hive

7 J E Thompson A New Beginning
7 Meg MacDonald Oath Sworn
7 Megan Haskell Forged in Shadow +
7 Jake Kerr Tommy Black and the Staff of Light
7 Erik A. Otto A Tale of Infidels
7 Selina R. Gonzalez Prince of Shadow and Ash
7 Sharon Van Orman Lazarus Code
7 M. J. Padgett Eiagan's Winter
7 Marc Vun Kannon Unbinding The Stone
7 Caren Hahn Burden of Power
7 Suzannah Rowntree A Wind from the Wilderness +
7 Robert Zangari A Prince's Errand
7 Angela J. Ford Pawn
7 Marco Marek Hyperearth
7 Marc Secchia The Pygmy Dragon +
7 Samuel Gately The Headlock of Destiny
7 Simon Kewin Hedge Witch
7 Timandra Whitecastle Queens of the Wyrd +
7 Dustin Porta Whalemoon
7 Derek Prior Last of the Exalted
7 Kate Ramsey Finding Fairy Tales
7 Madolyn Rogers The Copper Assassin
7 Kai Greenwood Code of the Communer +
7 Antonio Roberts Vestige
7 R.J. Batla Fire Eyes Awakened
7 Stas Borodin Magic, Sorcery and Witchcraft
7 Olga Werby God of Small Affairs +
7 Alexzander Christion By the Hand of Dragons: AlinGuard
7 J.J. Coffelt Nightfall
7 E.B. Brooks Emissary

Rockstarlit Book Asylum

8 Clare Sager Beneath Black Sails +
8 T K P Sternberg The Singing Gold
8 Dave Dobson Flames Over Frosthelm
8 Rainbow Maccabre Political Nightmare
8 Ginger Li Half-Blood Mage
8 Michelle Connor Where Ravens Soar
8 D.H. Willison Harpyness is Only Skin Deep
8 Stuart Kurth Two Blades

8 D.K. Holmberg The Edge of Darkness
8 S.L Rowland Sentenced to Troll
8 Ela Bambust Demon Queen
8 Nicholas McIntire The Hunter's Gambit +
8 Scott Warren The Dragon's Banker +
8 Eric T Knight The Knights of Dragonwatch + 
8 Gracen Bridges Earthcore: Aftershocks
8 Michael R. Fletcher Black Stone Heart +
8 Chris R. Underwood Shadow of the Lantern Bearer
8 Edward Nile Ironshield
8 Amanda Fleet Aegyir Rises
8 Jennifer R. Povey Firewing
8 Jonathan Pembroke Rumble in Woodhollow
8 C M Debell Silver Mage
8 Bekah Berge The Whisperings in the Shadows
8 S. Kaeth Between Starfalls
8 Eric Sparks Truth Unearthed
8 Brett Humphrey Awakening
8 Sean Harris Inescapable 
8 E.L. Aldryc My Friend, The Gifted
8 Lily Lashley Epilogue

The Critiquing Chemist

9 Sarah Chorn Of Honey and Wildfires +
9 Vichet Ou The First Rule of Adventuring
9 Susana Imaginário Wyrd Gods
9 RJ Hanson Fires that Forge
9 Edie James The Steel Road
9 JC Kang Crown of the Sundered Empire
9 Thiago d'Evecque Limbo
9 Andy Giesler The Nothing Within +
9 Rachel Ford Squire Derel
9 Luke Daher First Steps
9 Judith Starkston Priestess of Ishana
9 Xina Marie Uhl Necropolis
9 Opal Edgar Tosho is Dead
9 M.K.Adams Child of Destiny
9 Jason Franks Shadowmancy
9 Celine Jeanjean The Bloodless Assassin
9 B. Morris Allen Susurrus
9 Lucas Pederson Wynter's Edge
9 Raymond St. Elmo The Origin of Birds in The Footprints of Writing +
9 Blake Severson The Dimensional Wars, Dravincia
9 Nicole Zoltack Bloodlust
9 Robert H. Fleming The Fall of Erlon +
9 Brittni Chenelle The Fae & The Fallen
9 Sean Crow Godless Lands
9 Yvette Bostic Magister's Bane +
9 Selina J. Eckert This Cursed Flame
9 Barbara G.Tarn Magical Friends
9 Chris McMahon The Calvanni
9 A.G. Marshall Princess of Shadows
9StaÅ› RollaThe Owl at The End of The World

The Fantasy Inn

10 Kim May The Moonflower
10 Aldrea Alien To Target the Heart
10 David Hambling War of the God Queen
10 Richard Switzer Patch and Max: a grimdark
10 J. Rushing Radio +
10 Phillip Murrell Augury Answered
10 Jennifer Silverwood Silver Hollow
10 J. Anthony Oaks The Emerald Brotherhood
10 Gerhard Gehrke Midnight Monster Club
10 David Viergutz The Demonic Compendium
10 Mike Truk The Five Trials
10 J.R. Rasmussen A Dream of Fire +
10 Brandon Jones The Broken Man
10 JL Rothstein Atonement
10 Kirk Dougal Legacy of Bones
10 Blake Michael Nelson The Demon in the Metal
10 J.P. Valentine The Nothing Mage
10 Billie Kowalewski Enlightened
10 Timothy S Currey Death of the Tree Path
10 Jason A. Holt Fighter Fred and the Dungeon of Doom
10 Stephen J. Ethier The Void Revealed
10 Lori Holmes The Forbidden
10 G.M. White The Swordsman's Lament
10 David Folker Relentless
10 Kevin Wright The Last Benediction in Steel
10 Mark Johnson The Renegade Within
10 Shaun Paul Stevens Nether Light +
10 J.T. Williams Of Shadows and Blood
10 Moud Adel The Forbidden Warriors
10 Paul J Bennett Ashes




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