Nila Kartika Wati
As the calendar turns to the first of May, the literary community turns its eyes toward the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO). Now in its 11th iteration, this prestigious competition continues to serve as a vital barometer for the health and vibrancy of independent fantasy publishing. With 300 initial entries vying for the crown, the path to the semi-finals is grueling, requiring authors to subject their labor-of-love projects to the rigorous scrutiny of a diverse panel of expert judges.
Today, we mark the departure of the second round of contestants. As the dust settles on this latest assessment, we provide a deep dive into the selection process, the specific titles that have bowed out, and what this means for the broader landscape of the 11th annual SPFBO.
The Philosophy of the Blog-Off: Subjectivity as a Compass
It is essential to preface any discussion of these results with a reminder that resonates throughout the halls of the fantasy community: all reading is subjective. The SPFBO is not an objective metric of literary quality; it is a collaborative exploration of taste.
The judges—a panel of 14 dedicated readers, critics, and enthusiasts—do not consume these novels in a strict, linear hierarchy. They do not rank them from "worst to best" in a traditional sense. Instead, the process is one of gradual refinement. By reviewing books in batches of five, the team slowly isolates the titles that resonate most profoundly with their collective sensibilities, eventually narrowing the field down to the coveted semi-finalists.
The books highlighted today represent stories that, while perhaps not capturing the specific "hook" required to proceed, possess merit that may appeal to a different set of readers. As such, we encourage the audience to treat these "falls" not as failures, but as recommendations for those whose personal tastes might align more closely with these specific sub-genres and narrative styles.
Chronology: The Road to the Semi-Finals
The 11th annual SPFBO began earlier this year with a massive influx of 300 hopeful entries, ranging from high-fantasy epics to intimate, character-driven magical realism. The process is designed to be transparent, with the official list of contestants maintained by Mark Lawrence on the competition’s primary portal.
Following the initial introductions and the setting of the stage, the current phase involves a systematic cull. The judges are currently mid-sprint, moving through the list in waves. As of May 1st, we have concluded the assessment of the second group of five. This is a critical juncture in the contest; it provides a snapshot of the trends currently dominating the indie scene, particularly regarding the prevalence of "romantasy," portal fantasy, and high-stakes epic worldbuilding.
Supporting Data: An In-Depth Look at the Departing Titles
The following five books have been eliminated from competition. While they will not progress to the semi-finals, each offers unique elements that may warrant a spot on a reader’s TBR (To Be Read) pile.
1. Moon Witch (Moon Witch, #1) by Grace Zhu
Moon Witch presents a classic portal fantasy premise: an abandoned manor serves as the gateway to a realm of witches. When Evangeline and her friend Alice are separated upon arrival, the story shifts into a conflict of identity and desire. While the judges noted the author’s evident promise and a well-crafted setting, the consensus was that the prose lacked the necessary punch to sustain the narrative tension. For readers who enjoy the "fish out of water" trope, however, this remains a title worth investigating.
2. Oath of Betrayal (The Broken Bonds, #1) by Olena Nikitin
This title is a prime example of the growing "romantasy" movement. Featuring a protagonist in her 30s and a complex, polyamorous central dynamic, Oath of Betrayal is unafraid to push boundaries. However, the panel struggled with technical hurdles: specifically, the use of multiple first-person perspectives and a dense, lore-heavy exposition. Additionally, the critique regarding gendered terminology suggests a disconnect in the book’s world-building tone that proved distracting for this specific panel.
3. Song of the Wolf by T. C. Smith
Song of the Wolf stands out for its exceptional world-building, which was cited as a major strength. Set within the elven kingdom of Kies Tor, the novel deals with the weight of leadership and political conspiracy. Ultimately, the book struggled with character consistency. When characters make choices that feel at odds with their established personalities, reader immersion suffers—a challenge that prevented this otherwise strong entry from moving forward.
4. Tethered to Darkness by Matt Falcon
In a landscape currently obsessed with dragons, Tethered to Darkness aims for epic scope. The story follows Shen Auger as he navigates a world of "relentless sands" and god-like figures. The judges were unanimous in their lack of "buy-in"—a phenomenon where a book is competent enough to finish but fails to inspire the reader to return to the pages with anticipation. It serves as a reminder that in a crowded market, technical competence must be paired with an irresistible narrative "pull."
5. The Fire Within by John B. Cheek
Perhaps the most "promising" of the fallen, The Fire Within captured at least one judge’s attention so thoroughly they finished it in a single sitting. Its premise—an inter-species conflict at a vital mountain pass—is solid. However, the recurring issue was one of polish. The editorial layer was perceived as rough, suggesting that with a rigorous second round of developmental and line editing, the work could have been a true contender.
Official Responses and Reflections
The editorial team behind the SPFBO, led by Jennie Ivins, emphasizes that the goal is not to discourage, but to foster growth. Each author who enters displays immense courage; subjecting one’s private creativity to public, professional, and often harsh criticism is a daunting task.
"We know it is tough to get judged like this," says the editorial team. "We definitely appreciate the courage to put your work forward to a contest." The feedback provided by the judges is intended to be constructive, highlighting the difference between a book that is "bad" and a book that is simply "not a fit" for the current panel’s specific criteria.
Implications for the Indie Fantasy Landscape
The current round of eliminations offers three key takeaways for the independent publishing industry:
- The Rise of Romantasy: The presence of titles like Oath of Betrayal highlights the massive shift toward romance-forward fantasy. While the genre is popular, the competition shows that readers are increasingly demanding high-quality prose and sophisticated, non-sexist world-building to accompany the spice.
- The "Polish" Gap: Many indie authors are capable of dreaming up incredible worlds (as seen in Song of the Wolf and The Fire Within), but they often fall short at the final hurdle of professional editing. The barrier between "good" and "winning" often comes down to the quality of the edit.
- The "Hook" Factor: In a sea of 300 books, the middle-of-the-road approach is often fatal. As noted with Tethered to Darkness, a book can be perfectly readable and still fail to move forward if it lacks the "it factor"—that intangible element that keeps a reader awake until 3:00 AM.
Conclusion and Future Steps
With 20 books now removed from the initial pool, the competition enters its next phase. There are still 20 books remaining in this specific bracket, and 300 in total across the wider SPFBO spectrum. The journey for these authors is long, but for those who did not make the cut, the feedback loop provided by the SPFBO judges remains an invaluable resource for refining their craft.
We look forward to tracking the progress of the remaining contestants. For readers, this is the perfect time to explore the list and discover the next "diamond in the rough."
About the SPFBO:
The Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off is an annual competition dedicated to highlighting the best in indie fantasy. Managed by author Mark Lawrence and supported by a team of dedicated bloggers and reviewers, the competition provides a platform for authors to find their audience. For further queries, please reach out to editor Jennie Ivins via Bluesky or Threads.
Rifan Muazin
Lina Hope
