Saturday, 11 May 2024

SPFBOX phase 1


This is the allocation of SPFBO 10 books to blogs.

Visit the homepage for all the background.

There may be some further swapping & replacement, but the list is largely settled.



First, some demographics (from the all the entries, not just the randomly selected 300)


The traditional word-cloud made from all the titles of all this year's submissions:


Here are some factoids about this year's entries:
(taken from this list very helpfully compiled by Lukasz Przywoski.)

6 have 1,000+ ratings on Goodreads (2 last year)
50 have 100+ ratings on Goodreads (30 last year)
80 have 50+ ratings on Goodreads (56 last year)

Here are the high-rollers:





Here are the 6 oldest books in this year's contest. Gabriel's Journey has been a long one ... 21 years, collecting 6 ratings along the way.



And here are the chonkers - we have 6 books with 700+ pages





Updates


Captured in Words announces our final finalist!

Lynn's Books & The Critiquing Chemist select finalist nine!

Philip Chase chooses the eighth finalist!

Kitty G picks the seventh finalist!

Curious Cocktails is Kitty G's last semi-finalist.

Kitty G reviews semi-finalist Season of Kings.

Fantasy-Factions choose the sixth finalist!

Eliminations and semi-finalists from Lynn's Books & The Critiquing Chemist.

The Forest At The Heart Of Her Mage is reviewed by Fantasy-Faction.

The First Scars is reviewed by Fantasy-Faction.

Queen's Book Asylum choose the fifth finalist!

Beyond The Burning Sea is reviewed on Fantasy-Faction.

The Lynn's Books & Critiquing Chemist team bring us more eliminations.

Bringer Of The Scourge is reviewed on Queen's Book Asylum.

Fantasy-Faction reviews Thone In The Dark.

A final batch of cuts from Fantasy-Faction.

Lynn's Books and The Critiquing Chemist deliver some eliminations.

Four books get reviews on Captured In Words.

Wolf Of Withervale is reviewed on Queen's Book Asylum.

The Weatherwax Report reports our fourth finalist!

The Critiquing Chemist delivers some cuts for team Lynn's Books.

Five more cuts on Fantasy-Faction.

Before We Go Blog selects our third finalist!

Queen's Book Asylum reviews The Stranger Of Ul-Darak.

Five more cuts from Fantasy-Faction.

Queen's Book Asylum reviews Temper The Dark.

Cuts and semi-finalists from The Weatherwax Report.

Covers With Cassidy delivers the second finalist!

The Saga Of Bjorn Unfrid is reviewed on The Weatherwax Report.

The Weatherwax Report makes three cuts (like Zorro?).

Five cuts from Fantasy-Faction.

The Weatherwax Report reviews The Autumn Apprentice.

Cascade Of Sparks is reviewed by The Weatherwax Report.

The Weatherwax Report cast a weather eye over Liberation,

Black Dot White is reviewed by The Weatherwax Report.

The Weatherwax Reports reports on Iridesce.

Dreams Of A Dragon Girl is reviewed by Kitty G.

Semi-finalist A Circle Of Stars is reviewed on Queen's Book Asylum.

Kitty G reviews Tower Of Dogs.

A Breaking Of Realms is reviewed b Kitty G.

Kitty G finds a semi-finalist.

Touched By Magic is reviewed on Lynn's Books.

Kitty G reviews Red Flags.

A new semi-finalist from team Philip Chase.

Kitty G reviews A Cursed Son.

Blood Runs True is reviewed by Kitty G.

Kitty G reviews The Hunter.

The First Assignment is reviewed on Lynn's Books.

Lynn's Books reviews River of Crows.

Soul Stealer is reviewed by Philip Chase's team.

Lynn's Books reviews Fortitude's Prize.

Isaree Of The Wild Isles is reviewed on The Weatherwax Report.

The Weatherwax Report reviews The Awakening & makes some cuts.

Kitty G reviews Death And The Taxman.

More reviews and a semi-finalist from team Covers With Cassidy.

Covers With Cassidy's team review more books.

Three more reviews from Queen's Book Asylum.

Kitty G reviews Flight Of The Scions.

Splitting Dawn is reviewed on The Weatherwax Report.

The Fantasy Book Critic selects our first finalist!

The Weatherwax Report reviews Blood Of The Hunted.

Five more cuts from Lynn's Books.

Before We Go Blog reviews Undine's Blessing.

Another semi-finalist from Queen's Book Asylum.

The First Five Fall From Fantasy-Faction.

Before We Go Blog display their semi-finalists.

Five cuts from The Weatherwax Report.

The Weatherwax report reports on Callus & Crow.

A semi-finalist from The Weatherwax Report.

Lynn's Books opens with five cuts.

The Bones Of Prophecy is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

Before We Go Blog reviews Oathbreakers Anonymous.

A semi-finalist from Queen's Book Asylum.

Before We Go Blog has a review for Elemental.

A semi-finalist from Before We Go Blog.

Team Philip Chase delivers another semi-finalist.

Lurid Lantern is reviewed on The Weatherwax Report.

Before We Go Blog reviews Fruits Of The Gods.

Child Of Vanris is reviewed by Philip Chase's team.

Order Of The Shadow Dragon is reviewed by Philip Chase's team.

The Weatherwax Report reviews Rumour Of Thorns.

Before We Go Blog select another semi-finalist.

Wolves Running is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

Before We Go Blog selects a semi-finalist.

Another semi-finalist is found by Covers With Cassidy's team.

Before We Go Blog reviews Demon Gates.

Fragments Of Skyonae is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

Philip Chase's Team review The Flight Of An Orphan Thief.

The Vermilion Ribbon is reviewed by Philip Chase's team.

The Desert Heiress is reviewed by Philip Chase's team.

Philip Chase's team reviews The Wind At Oak Hollow.

Philip Chase's team reviews Smoker On The Porch.

Two more cuts from Queen's Book Asylum.

Before We Go Blog reviews A Night Of Burnt Men.

Dark Seeds is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

Fantasy Book Critic's final hunt for a semi-finalist.

A semi-finalist is chosen by the Fantasy Book Critic team.

Seeds of Inheritance is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

Before We Go Blog reviews The Way of the Wizard.

The Dryad's Crown is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

Before We Go Blog reviews Beyond Misty Mountain.

Breaker of Fates is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

Worldbreaker is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

Queen's Book Asylum brings us another semi-finalist.

The Warrior's Path is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

Before We Go Blog reviews The Dreams Thief.

Five cuts and a semi-finalist from Fantasy Book Critic.

Before We Go Blog reviews Gates of Hope.

When Shadows Fall is reviewed by Philip Chase's team,

Tears of an Indifferent God is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

From Covers With Cassidy, three more reviews.

Child of Vanris is reviewed by Philip Chase's team.

Philip Chase's team reviews Order of the Shadow Dragon.

Four cuts and a semi-finalist from team Weatherwax Report.

Queen's Book Asylum announce a semi-finalist.

Hear My Call is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

Before We Go Blog reviews Princess of the Broken.

Trollgrave is reviewed by team Philip Chase.

The Weatherwax Report reports on However Many Must Die.

Three more reviews from Covers With Cassidy's team.

Two more cuts from Queen's Book Asylum.

Covers With Cassidy's team review Ten more books & pick a semi-finalist.

 Two more cuts from Queen's Book Asylum.

Before We Go Blog reviews Splintered Magic.

The Human Society For Creatures And Cryptids is a semi-finalist for Kitty G.

Philip Chase's team review The Sunset Sovereign.

Qing's Quest is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

The Covers With Cassidy team review 4 books.

Rites of Passage is reviewed on Before We Go Blog.

Before We Go Blog kicks off with a review of Legacy's Price.

A semi-finalist is announced on Queen's Book Asylum.

KittyG reviews A Heart of Bones.

Surviving Westcliff is reviewed by Philip Chase's team.

Two more cuts on Queen's Book Asylum.

Fantasy Book Critic select the first semi-finalist for SPFBOX.

Wings So Soft is reviewed by Kitty G.

Queen's Book Asylum brings us more cuts.

What The Echoes Say is Kitty G's 2nd review for SPFBOX.

First blood is VERY swiftly followed by six cuts on Fantasy Book Critic.

First blood to Queen's Book Asylum. Two cuts.

The Weatherwax Report reviews Treachery of Ravens.

Crimson Spellscape is reviewed on The Weatherwax Report.

Jay on Captured In Words introduces his 30 books - his SPFBO debut.

The Weatherwax Report reviews The Children of Never.

Born of Scourge is reviewed by Kitty G.

Esme continues to stage the SPFBO as a one-woman show. A review of City of Rain on The Weatherwax Report.

Fogbound is reviewed on The Weatherwax Report.

The Weatherwax Report reviews The Light Must Hold.



10 of 300 books still in the running.

We have 42 semi-finalists.

We have 10 finalists.

Check out the finalists' scoreboard.

Red is cut

+++ (& bolding) indicates semi-finalist

Green for the finalists.



Hiyodori                           The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage +++

T.B. Schmid & R.Wade Hodges Beyond the Burning Sea +++

Ivor K. Hill                                 The First Scars +++

A. K. Caggiano                         Throne in the Dark +++

Kay Malady                                 If The Walls Fall

Shelby Elizabeth                         Lady of Dragons

Justin Doyle                                 Embargo on Hope

Louise Holland                         Spark of the Divine

Dianna Gunn                                 Moonshadow's Guardian

C.S Doraga                                     Defy

Julia Vee                                         Stakes and Bones

Miriam Yvette                                 Seeds of the Fallen

Stephen Harrington                         The Youngling

M.J. Lindemann                         The Will of the World

Adam Gaffen                                 The Book of One

Patrick Dugan                                 The Ashen Orb Bounty

Astrid V.J                                 The Apprentice Storyteller

Sam Paisley                                 The Winds of Change

A.M. Colwell                                 The White Mask Society

Y. R. Liu                                         Hallowed

Stefanie Chu                                 Knights of the Alliance

Samantha Shaye                         The Fall of Ahilon

Rachel Ford                                 Bone Traders

Natalie Northwood                         After Silence

Paolo Danese                                 Path of the Guardian

Armanis Ar-feinial                         The Plagued Elf

Jason P. Crawford                         Dragon Princess

Erin Grunke                                 King's Imitation

Bri Eberhart                                 Strangers in Our Heads

Kit Campbell                                 Hidden Worlds


Fantasy Book Critic

Adrian M. Gibson           Mushroom Blues

Ciara Hartford                         The House of Starling +++

Nerine Dorman & Toby Bennett The Serpent's Quest +++

Lauretta Hignett                         Susan, You're The Chosen One

Claire Trella Hill                         Black and Deep Desires

Shannon Knight                         Wish Givers

Dr. S.K. Burkman                         Wings and Wounds

Kat Kinney                                 Light My Pyre

R. Litfin                                         The Lost Noble

Isa Medina                                 Good Bad Witch

Jan Foster                                 Destiny Awaiting

Cara N. Delaney                         Tomb of Heart and Shadow

S.J. Stiles                                 The Song of Thyssia

Ian Haramaki                                 Mercy

Tar Atore                                         Soultaming the Serpent

Nia Quinn                                 Sigils & Sushi

Ella Walker Henderson                 Of Wind and Lightning

Jaq D Hawkins                         To Dance With Dragons

Karen Lucia                                 Landbringer

Christopher Clouser                 The Unspoken Truths of Casemiro

Alex Shipper                                 Woe to the Stargazers

William I. Zard                         Metamancer

John Champaign                         Dimensional Traveler

K.C. Smith                                 The Cursed Soul

DC Guevara                                 A Vermilion Curse

M. Verant                                 Miss Bennet's Dragon

R.R Echevarria                         Searlight

Freddie A. Clark                         Umbra: Tales of a Shadow

E.V. Belknap                                 The tenfold tenants

Sean O'Boyle                                 The Ballad of Sprikit The Bard (And Company)


Lynn's Books + The Critiquing Chemist

Rachel Aaron                   By a Silver Thread +++

Yves Donlon                                 Smile and be a Villain +++

R.M. Schultz                                 Through Blood and Dragons +++

Thalib Razi                                 The Enchanter's Counsel +++

Celine Jeanjean                         Touched by Magic +++

Arista Holmes                                 Changeling

Brian Gardner                                 Ohlegan's Treasure: Search for the Runes

Ceril N Domace                         Fortitude's Prize

Sithia Queen                                 Tabby Swain

S. K. Kelley                                 Sidetracked

Delaney Green                         Jem, a Girl of London

Michelle Manus                         A Song to Wake a Thousand Sorrows

A. Trae McMaken                         The Crippled King

Simon Shugar                                 The Wind Walker

E.K. Frances                                 The Hybrid

Steve Hugh Westenra                 The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle

Wil Chan                                         Under an Azure Sky

Emily Huffman                         Rise of the Forgehearts

Anna J Worthy                         Facing Shadows

Ben Schenkman                         My Boss is the Devil

Katy Morgan                                 Dark Empathy

J.E. Lynn                                         The Fate of

Billy Kramer                                 The First Assignment

T.J. Klapprodt                                 Messengers of Ilbeor

A.E. Engle                                 Darkness of the Northern Sky

David Musk                                 The Lost Redeemer

C. R. Collins                                 Woodspell

Jana Sun                                         Visions of Snapdragon

N.P. Thompson                         River of Crows

Shannon Holly                         The Door to Trilesk


The Weatherwax Report

J.A. Andrews                   Runelight +++

Dave Dobson                                 The Glorious and Epic Tale of Lady Isovar +++

Phil Williams                                 However Many Must Die +++

R. M. Krogman                         Liberation +++

Alexandra Runes                         The Autumn Apprentice +++

Noor Al-Shanti                         Isaree of the Wild Isles

Devin Thorpe                                 Blood Lust

Christian Warren Freed                 The Children of Never

Steven D Nickell                         The Treachery of Ravens

Victoria Clapton                         Lurid Lantern

Mitchell Hill                                 The Awakening

K.D. Tabith                                 Checkmate

Jina S. Bazzar                                 Crimson Spellscape

DB Rook                                         Callus & Crow

Mary Stephenson Su                 Cascade of Sparks

Katherine D. Graham                 Splitting Dawn

JPS Marinho                                 Black Dot White

Cordia Pearson                         Iridesce

Camilla Vavruch                         The Lost Wings

Kriss Gallom                                 The Light Must Hold

Marc R. Micciola                         Blood of The Hunted

Yuxiao Chen                                 Legend of Elberkhan

Danielle Paquette-Harvey        Cursed King

N.J. Alexander                         Fogbound

William Lejeune                         City of Rain

Claudia Klein                                 The Heir

Elizabeth Schechter                 Counsel of the Wicked

John L. Simons Jr.                         The Saga of Bjorn Unfrid

E.M. Zolotor                                 Severed Legacy

Sandell Wall                                 Rumor of Thorns


Before We Go Blog

J E Hannaford           Gates of Hope +++

Aimee Kuzenski                         Seeds of Inheritance +++

Andrew D Meredith                 Quaint Creatures: Magical & Mundane +++

Josh Wright                                 Here There Be Monsters +++

Tessa Hastjarjanto                 Undine's Blessing +++

Astor Y Teller                         Them Old Bones +++

Robert Day                                 Demon Gates

Dom Sabasti                             Dark Seeds

Michael Michel                         Way of the Wizard

Raleigh Markovski Falcone         Fragments of Skyonae

Isom Ashe                                 Tears of an Indifferent God

William C. Tracy                         Fruits of the Gods

Henrik Saetre                                 Qing's Quest

Scott Warren                                 Oathbreakers Anonymous

Stephen Howard                         Beyond Misty Mountain

Eric R. Asher                                 Steamborn

Yvette Bostic                                 Hear My Call

Jasmine K Swinburne                 Princess of the Broken

J. Rokusson                                 The Bones of Prophecy

Karim Soliman                         The Warrior's Path

T. L. Rolston                                 Legacy's Price

David Hopkins                         The Dryad's Crown

Tam Chronin                                 Elemental

M. D. Presley                                 Rites of Passage

Deborah Jarvis                         Wolves Running

Becca Lee Gardner                         Worldbreaker

Jilleen Dolbeare                         Splintered Magic

Emmanuel Akeyo                         A Night of the Burntmen

Bella Dunn                                 The Dreams Thief

Vaela Denarr & Micah Iannandrea Breaker of Fates


Queen's Book Asylum

Joaquin Baldwin           Wolf of Withervale +++

Craig Montgomery                       A Circle of Stars +++

M. Daniel McDowell                 Bringer of the Scourge +++

L Ryan Storms                         Temper the Dark +++

S. C. Eston                                 The Stranger of Ul Darak +++

Marilyn Peake                                 They Left Magic in Their Wake

Hayley Reese Chow                 The Gatekeeper of Pericael

Kyrie Wang                                 The Thief's Keeper

K.C. Woodruff                         Dawn of the Darkest Day

Cate Baumer                                 The Faithful Dark

Alexa Grave                                 Dead As Dreams

J.R. Manga                                 Mother of the Fallen

Jack Long                                 Dango

Jordan Loyal Short                         City in the Dragon's Eye

M Zakharuk                                 Imago

M. Anthony Harris                         Echoes of Memory

Joan Marie Verba                         Secrets of the Sorcerers

G.J. Terral                                 Bloodwoven

T J Mayhew                                 The Call of the Valkyries

Scarlett Strange                         Chosen

Sharlene Healy                         Of Shadows and Death

E. G. Tudor                                 Where Fate Whispers

Kaden Love                                 Elegy of a Fragmented Vineyard

Caitee Cooper                                 Silverskin

Cooper Ward                                 Glory to the Waxing Sun

Stephanie Combs & Valerie Rivers The Stars Would Curse Us

Noel Traver                                 Trial of the Berserker

Amanda Adam                         Merewif: the Mermaid Witch

Janna Ruth                                 Ghosts of the Catacombs

Rachanee Lumayno                 Heir of Amber and Fire


Philip Chase

Dewey Conway & Bill Adams The Tenacious Tale of Tanna the Tendersword +++

Laura Huie                                 The Sunset Sovereign: A Dragon's Memoir +++

Alex S. Bradshaw                         Trollgrave +++

Hannah Steenbock                 South Breaks +++

El McInerney                         Soulstealer +++

Thomas Perkins                         Surviving Westcliff

Karen McCompostine                 The Handwarmers of Immortality

Dom Watson                                 Smoker on the Porch

Melissa Widmaier                         The Wind at Oak Hollow

Jer Patch                                         The Warhog Paladins

Hayley Price                                 The Vermilion Ribbon

S. M. Radjy                                 Flight of an Orphan Thief

Jay Roland                                 Shadow of the Soul Blade

Antano Sparreboom                 City of the Seventh Moon

Timothy J R Rains                         The Torn Veil

Denis James                                 Tobias

C.V. Vobh                                 The Yawning Gap

D.G. Roberts                                 Embers of Dusk

Isaac Hill                                         The Dragon Legion

Lindy Enns                                 When Shadows Fall

Ladz                                         The Fealty of Monsters

BP McCoppin                                 Record of The Paladins: Book Of Oliver

M.A. Brown                                 The Songs That Beckon

Shoshana Rain                         The Desert Heiress

Alex Bree                                 The High Seer

Steven McKinnon                         Order of the Shadow Dragon

Nikki McCormack                         Child of Vanris

Shanna Swendson                         Tea and Empathy

Chelsey Ann Tompkins                 A Conduit of Light

F. Malbeck                                 Five Lords of Dusk


CoversWithCassidy

K.R. Gangi                   The Oathsworn Legacy

Damien Larkin                         Lizardskin and Sharpened Steel +++

Karyne Norton                         Blood of the Stars +++

S.F. Henne                                 The Last Lunar Witch +++

Ash Fitzsimmons                         A Rose Among Thorns +++

Nikola Stefan                                 A Strange Bunch

Alex Evans                                 A Witch's Guide to Business

Suzannah Rowntree                 Tall & Dark

Aaron Renfroe                         Father of Constructs

Calanthe Colt                                 Goddess Found

Flossindune                                 Courier Quest

Gregory Amato                         Burden to Bear

Sebastian Nothwell                         Oak King Holly King

J. L. Doty                                 Dread Child

Jeff Walker                                 The Burning Fire Rises

J.A. Garza                                 The Blood of Houses

Sam Weiss                                 The Afterlife Experiment

Ian V. Conrey                                 Haelend's Ballad

Samuel Gately                         Rematch of the Titans

W. B. Biggs                                 Stone-Cold Alibi

John A. Douglas                         The Black Crown

Marina Finlayson                     Magic on the Cards

Mandy O'Dell                                 Fires of Caprica

Seth Hobbs                                 Millennium of the Ocean Serpent

C. S. Churton                                 Moon Bitten

lan March & Christopher Warman A Contract in Sol Forne

B.L. Brown                                 Ritual Income

M. V. Prindle                                 The Outer Darkness

Jenn Windrow                                 Evil's Unlikely Assassin

Shanti Leonard                         Od and Ed


Kitty G Books

Stephanie Gillis               The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids +++

JE Payne                    A Bastard's Birthright +++

Kyle Johnson                                 Blood Runs True +++

S.L. Rowland                                 Cursed Cocktails +++

A.J. Rettger                                 Season of Kings +++

K. Aagard                                 The Hunter +++

Dani Finn                                 Wings so Soft

Lisa Kuznak                                 The Highwayman Kennedy Thornwick

Lily C. Strauss                         A Heart of Bones

B.C. Rico                                 What The Echoes Say

David Hankins                         Death and the Taxman

Bonnie Jacoby                         Dreams of a Dragon Girl

D. Moonfire                                 Flight of the Scions

Day Leitao                                 A Cursed Son

Paul Sating                                 Thornbane the Lost

Elyse Thomson                         Poisoned Empire

S. Jean                                         Born of Scourge

Michael Procopio                         Red Flags

R.W. Hert                                 Demon's Vow

CL Jarvis Dark                                City Rising

Nicolin Odel                                 The Shepherds of the Sunstone

H. H. Miller                                 Tower of Dogs

J. R. Rainville                                 Sneakthief

Jenn Lessmann                         Unmagical

Melissa Stone                                 Whisper for Eternity

Ashley Capes                                 A Drifting Sun

Jasmine Young                         A Breaking of Realms

Diana Priyanka Chowdhury         Infinite: Rise of a Rebel

A.J. Ponder                                 Into FaerLand

Walt S. Williams                         Thorns


Captured in Words

J L Odom                   By Blood, By Salt +++

Z.S. Diamanti                          Stone & Sky +++

Blake & Raven Penn                 Dragon Thief +++

Tom Elliot                                 The Grand Game +++

Jonathan Weiss                         Molten Flux +++

Timo Burnham                         Dawn of the Black Sun

Anthony Halligan                         The Best of Us Is the Last of Us

Angelika Rust                                 My Name is not Alice

B. N. Reele                                 A Curse Within The Waves

Sori Aryl Copper                            Cold Steel

Thomas J. Prestopnik                 Gabriel's Journey

R.C. Ballad                                 A Song for Octaven

Karryn Nagel                                 Guarding Gus

Bojan Bilos                                 Forged By Pain

Signe Hart                                 The Kiss of the Sky

Viljami L                                         Gluttony

C. Litka                                         Sailing to Redoubt

Susana Imagin rio                         Oubli 

Rebecca Enzor                         Speak The Ocean

Nicole Brona                                 Obsidian Murders

Autumn Kaufer                         Kingdom of Forgotten Curses

Deborah Makarios                         Amiant Soul

Barbara Cottrell                         Darkness Below

Melinda O'Donnell                         The Eightfold Lairs of Xillenthia

Demetria Meltinos                         Creatures of the Malignant Thicket

Katrine Buch Mortensen         The Spark

Vanessa Ricci-Thode                 The Young Necromancer's Guide to Ghosts

Raina Nightingale                         Kindred of the Sea

Jeffery A. Smith                         Cthoma's Fated

J.L. Anderson                                 Dual Fires