A machine stirs in an abandoned facility, with a voice to guide it through turmoil. And what's more, forgotten memories begin to surface. Care for more info?

A gothic fantasy that any adult reader will enjoy from start to finish. It is filled with rich, indulgent, and unique magic – all set on turn-worthy pages.

Zee and Jessup continue training their powers to fight that mysterious foe from the first novel. Will they survive their training or will sabotage kill them?

The Beast and a girl are an unlikely pair in this thrilling intro to the magical world of the Empire. Will they be able to break the magic in time for them to be saved?

This is a solid debut novel from an author that shows a lot of promise... a book that will stick in their mind, full of love, betrayal, and even blood.

Stevens explores the human condition all while disguising it as a Cyberpunk heist. An unexpected fun ride filled with snark, twists, and memorable characters.

Quicksilver is rebellion, epic fighting scenes, touch-her-and-die vibes – it’s trope-filled but all the best mix to bring an adult romantasy worth reading.

If you’re looking for a chill sci-fi with an RPG feel, enjoyable characters, a fun twist, plenty of action and an unraveling plot, try this book on for size.

L.L. MacRae has created a deep, captivating, classic-modern fantasy world with The Iron Crown, and I’m eager to ride alongside these dragon spirits once more.

Come for the horny plants stay for the sensual atmospheric prose. Swallowed was a beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyable scifi romance horror.

This is going to be one of my favorite YA books of the year! I absolutely tore through this and cannot wait to see where this dystopian world goes in the next installment.

The Mercy of Gods comes across as a foundational novel that plants the seeds for bigger things to come in future books, but ultimately has left me wanting more.

The stars are silent, but a deadly secret stirs. A scientist’s discovery sets off a chain of events that could doom or forever change humanity’s fate.

A clean adventure fantasy filled with magic and a soft romance for a young audience looking for Tolkien-type lore and a Snow White and the Huntsman-esque retelling.

ShadowBane by Cal Logan delivers a brutal, unforgettable grimdark saga of ambition, bloodlust, and compromise set in a feudal landscape inspired by Asian culture.

An absolutely action packed story from the very first page. Great for adult readers who love a bit of a twist on the classic science fiction rebellion novel.

Please note that many of these books are being cut not because they’re bad and some very narrowly missed the bar for a quarter- or semifinalist placement.

If you have been hungover after reading Red Rising or desperate for something that feels like Divergent with a more adult feel: This book is absolutely for you.

Please note that, even though these books did not work for us, it doesn’t mean that they won’t work for you, and our views do not mean that they are bad reads.

I learned so much about the Greek Goddess reading this, and I LOVED that. Feminine rage? Check. Fighting Gods? Check. Do you have a favorite Greek God/Goddess?