Join us in congratulating the authors whose books, stories, and audio have advanced to the FINAL round of judging in the 2025 Realm Awards.
Each year, our army of judges reads, and reads, and reads some more to discover the cream of the speculative fiction crop. It’s hard work, but they also get to enjoy many, many amazing stories in the process. Below, you’ll find the top contenders in each Realm Award submission category.
The number of finalists per category varies based on category size and tie scores. You will see anywhere from three to six finalists named. Where categories drew smaller numbers of entries, we have combined things. Where we had enough excellent projects to subdivide a category (and thus give more awards) we did so.
Entries below are listed in alphabetical order except for cases where tied entries needed to be listed together. Congratulations to all the authors who have created these outstanding stories!
AUDIO CATEGORIES
Audio Drama
1232, Narrated by Callie Sioux, published by RumbleStump Entertainment
Jake Muller Adventures: Blood, Darby Kern, published by Armor of God Productions
When Worlds Collide, HeartMatters Inc.
Short to Mid-Length Audio
Letting Off Steam, narrated by Rena Gail, published by H.L.Burke
The Prophecy’s Chosen Heir, narrated and published by Trista Shaye
Sing to Me of Rain, narrated by Lila-May Murdoch, published by E.B. Dawson
Novel-Length Audio
Innocents of Marbella, narrated by R.C. Mogo, published by Romans One Sixteen Publishing
Mortal Queens, Narrated by Ellen Quay, published by Oasis Audio
Tied with:
Saints and Monsters, Narrated by Jane Maree, published by Ellen McGinty
Zodak – The Last Shielder, narrated by Dallin Bradford, published by Foxhall Press
SHORT FICTION CATEGORIES
Flash Fiction
The Cupid Killer, Lincoln Reed, published by Havok Publishing
Sparks , Hannah Hershberger, published by Havok Publishing
Tree Of Memories, Deborah Bainbridge, published by Havok Publishing
Short Story
Krakensong, Olivia Gratehouse, Independently Published
Limbo of Sun and Shadow, Laura VanArendonk Baugh, published by Tyche Books Ltd.
Questing Hall, Helena George, published by The Order of the Pen Press
Play Date, Jenelle Schmidt, published by H.L. Burke in The DOSA files Anthology
Rethink, H.L. Burke, Published in The DOSA Files Anthology
Novelette/Novella
The Graveyard of Lost Dreams, Kyla Carter, published by The Author Conservatory
Klandor Encounter, B. Ward Powers and Marti Ward, published by SupRes Inc
A Noble Companion, Rachel Kovaciny, published by Bellator de Lux Publishing
Through a Glass, Darkly, Jason Karpf, published by Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.
The Ways of a Wolf, Lindsi McIntyre, published by Ye Olde Dragon Books
SPECIALTY CATEGORIES
Debut Novel
CORE Deception, Jeremiah Friedli, published by Storm & Stealth LLC
Exhumed – The Exe Books 1, C.B. Arche, published by Ishkabibble Books
Protector, Megan Schaulis, published by WhiteCrown (imprint of WhiteFire Publishing Group)
The Reaping, Matt Aynes, published by Dancing Robot Press
What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball, Elisabeth Aimee Brown, published by Metaphorical Cello Press
Cover Design
Interstice Undone: Kirk DouPonce, DogEared Design
Nameless: The Destiny Trilogy Part One, Kristen Hildebrand and Emilie Haney
Red Rex, Brian Mellema
NOVELS BY AUDIENCE
Young Adult
Dreamteller, Kelsey Shade, Independently Published
Ignite, Kara Swanson, published by Enclave Escape
Immortal Abyss, Katherine Briggs, published by Enclave Publishing
Lion Warrior, James Hannibal, published by Enclave Escape
The Springborn, Carrie Anne Noble, published by Oliver Heber Books
Tied with
Where Darkness Cannot Follow, A. M. Daylin, published by Mooncrest Publishing
Early Reader to Middle Grade
Between Flowers and Bones, Carolyn Leiloglou, published by WaterBrook
Hannah Hattington Goes on an Adventure, Gracie York, Independently Published
Iggy and Oz: The Great Ice Cream Truck Heist, J.J. Johnson, published by Lost Ink Press
Lewis: The Scarred, Lauren H Brandenburg, published by Kingdom Publishing Press
Wingless, Catherine Witzaney, published by Chicken Scratch Books
Tied with
Mossycoat, Dawn Ford, published by ScrivKids
NOVELS BY GENRE
Science Fiction
The Chaos Grid, Lyndsey Lewellen, published by Enclave Escape
Guardian, Cathy McCrumb, published by Enclave Publishing
Lady of Basilikas, Ronie Kendig, published by Enclave Publishing
Sorry, Humans (Especially Greg), Faralee Pozo, published by Splinter Press
Water’s Break , Sophia Hansen, published by Enclave Escape
Horror/Supernatural/ Paranormal
The Castle Rose, Tabitha Caplinger , published by Blue Ink Press
Haunted: Into the Abyss, Stephanie Dooley, Independently Published
Innocents of Marbella, R.C. Mogo, published by Romans One Sixteen Publishing
Rift, Steven James, published by Sky Turtle Press
Torch, Sofia Simpson, published by Starlight Books
Tied with
The Magic of Redemption, Jessica Sly, published by Mountain Brook Fire
Fantasy
Empire of Ruin, Merrie Destefano, published by Ruby Slippers Press
Mortal Queens, Victoria McCombs, published by Enclave Escape
Regency & Regicide, J. J. Fischer, Independently Published
To Weave the Wind, Sharon Rose, published by Eternarose Publishing
What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball, Elisabeth Aimee Brown, published by Metaphorical Cello Press
Finalists will receive a commemorative pin at the Realm Awards Ceremony in Grand Rapids on July, 18, 2025. The winner of each genre, audience, audio, or specialty Realm Award will receive a beautiful, handmade piece of glass art by renowned artist Leah Nietz.
The top five novels in the final round of the awards will advance to be considered for our highest honor, Book of the Year.
We hope you’ll join us at the banquet or via livestream to hear the news first.
What about the comics categories?
Judging and tabulating are still wrapping up in our comics contest, so stay tuned for exciting news on the top comic books, comic strips, and graphic novels submitted for a Realm Award for the very first year.
