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Posts tagged #SPFBOX

Landbringer by Karen Lucia

Landbringer by Karen Lucia

Day 72 of my #SPFBOX opening reads (Covers with Cassidy)

I wanted to read more of a voice-driven dystopian steampunk. A gang of miscreant youth raid a passenger airship in a world above the mist covering the surface of the planet in Karen Lucia's Landbringer.

@karenlucia.bsky.social

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Cover of Moon Bitten

Cover of Moon Bitten

Cover of Evil's Unlikely Assassin

Cover of Evil's Unlikely Assassin

Day 71 of my #SPFBOX opening reads (Covers with Cassidy)

A statement against AI Narration.
I also wanted to read more of two urban fantasies with women MCs, one featuring werewolves in a *the monsters are real* revelation opening, the other starring an evil-hunting vampire with celestial handlers

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Cover of A Rose Among Thorns by Ash Fitzsimmons

Cover of A Rose Among Thorns by Ash Fitzsimmons

Cover of Fires of Caprica by Mandy O'Dell

Cover of Fires of Caprica by Mandy O'Dell

Day 70 of my #SPFBOX opening reads
(Covers with Cassidy)
Two openings with young woman MCs made me want to read more to discover just where the story would go. One was a fun, fae-ish contemporary fantasy, the other a gothic, plague-ridden Venice-like city medical drama.

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Day 69 of my #SPFBOX opening reads (Covers with Cassidy)

A medieval fae-world knight transported to the 19th century mortal realm MM romance caught my attention, and an opening with a girl locked in an asylum with her living shadow, Dread, absolutely blew me away! #booksky

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Day 68 of my #SPFBOX opening reads (Captured In Words) πŸ“šπŸ’™

Rejoice! An author returned my inquiry with a copy of her Dinosaur opening, and I wanted to read more of it. Another terrific fantasy opening of a failed assassin caught my eye.

(This concludes the Captured In Words group!)

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Day 67 of my #SPFBOX opening reads (Captured In Words)

I wanted to see more of 2 books: a lovecraft university story & an about two forlorn soldiers forced to march on an elven wood, reminding me more than a little of The Lord of the Rings, but in a very different light.
@areaernovels.bsky.social

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Day 66 of my #SPFBOX opening reads (Captured In Words)

Four or five openings today, but only one of which I felt compelled to read more of and recommend to your attention: a fun UF of a young woman who can see faeries but just wants to be a journalist and afford a living!

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Tom Mock's SPFBOX Opening Reads Newsletter Get weekly emails of my read of the openings of each of SPFBOX's 300 entries.

With #SPFBOXI underway, I'm still working through all 300 openings of #SPFBOX - behind for life reasons, but still enjoying the openings.

I plan to try to get caught up to the current blog-off in the next two months, because I really enjoy being a part of it!

Follow along!
subscribepage.io/wuOG1f

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Day 65 of my #SPFBOX opening reads (Captured In Words)

I wanted to read more form the SPFBOX champion and a quaint fieldmouse story. A third opening from a romantic fantasy didn’t quite do enough to hook me.

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SPFBOX Opening Reads Day 64 (Captured In Words) Dawn of the Black Sun | My Name Is Not Alice | Copper Cold Steel | I wanted to see more of two more fantasy openings: an action anime fantasy, and a contemporary YA Alice in Wonderland riff. A 3rd …

Day 64 of my #SPFBOX opening reads (Captured In Words)

I wanted to see more of two more fantasy openings: an action anime fantasy, and a contemporary YA Alice in Wonderland riff. A 3rd European Fantasy was too locked into its MC's head and didn't keep my interest.

tommock.com/2025/11/25/s...

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I got a new cover made for #SPFBOX semifinalist The Glorious and Epic Tale of Lady Isovar. The artist is Laurent Reis. I couldn't be happier - I think it better expresses the silliness of the story.

The book is a humorous fantasy with an over-the-top lady knight and her long-suffering squire.

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146)
@angelikarust.bsky.social Angelika Rust, My Name Is Not Alice

A slow, ordinary beginning - a teen drama - teasing a fantastical turn.
#SPFBOX #OpeningReads

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Day 63 of my #SPFBOX opening reads (Captured In Words)

I wanted to see more of two unique stories: a stranded moon amnesia colony and a contemporary fantasy where merfolk are a corporate waterpark attraction.

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By Blood, By Salt by J.L. Odom

By Blood, By Salt by J.L. Odom

Here's our next review for #SPFBOX !

...a fantasy about people and the situations politics and bigotry put them in. I found it a highly compelling read.

fantasy-faction.com/2025/spfbo-1...

πŸ’™πŸ“šπŸͺ #FantasyFaction #SPFBO #SFFbookRecommenfation

@marklawrenceauthor.bsky.social one for the scoreboard!

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Day 62 of my #SPFBOX opening reads (Captured In Words)
A pirate quest with a young female MC hooked me fast and kept me turning the pages. A second opening left me wondering what was happening.
#booksky

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Day 61 of my #SPFBOX opening reads
(Captured In Words)
I wanted to read more of a thief fantasy today that really took off after a much less engaging prologue. A second opening, though it introduced some interesting story ideas, didn't quite keep my interest.
tommock.com/2025/08/12/s...

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Murder at Spindle Manor by Morgan Stang

Murder at Spindle Manor by Morgan Stang

And here's the latest SPFBO review!

A very well-written story with plenty of atmosphere, and the relationships – both new and old – being particularly well done.

fantasy-faction.com/2025/spfbo-1...

πŸ’™πŸ“šπŸͺ #FantasyFaction #SFFbookRecommenfation #SPFBO #SPFBOx

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"Months passed before Tiller Koya discovered the first draft of her dead grandmother's will." β€”Hiyodori, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage

#FirstLineFriday

"Months passed before Tiller Koya discovered the first draft of her dead grandmother's will." β€”Hiyodori, The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage #FirstLineFriday

This first line seems so simple but is accomplishing so much. #FirstLineFriday #Hiyodori #fantasy #romantasy #SPFBOX

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Day 60 of my #SPFBOX opening reads (Before We Go Blog)

I’m back with the last 3 books left on my list from BWGB. All 3 were interesting and active, but they didn’t quite hold my interest, even tho one has been super popular. I go on and on about why linked below.

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The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids by Michael McClung

The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids by Michael McClung

And here we are, our first review for #SPFBO champions league has just gone live!

For the first review, we went for the first ever winner... Can it still hold up? See our judges thoughts here:

fantasy-faction.com/2025/spfbo-1...

πŸ’™πŸ“šπŸͺ #FantasyFaction #SPFBO10 #SPFBOX

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Happy Independence Day!

Between BBQs and fireworks, catch Episode 35 of Author Adjacent!

Fantasy author & #SPFBOX winner JL Odom and I to discuss crafting complex characters and why they captivate us.

Full episode linked below πŸ‘‡

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Episode 34 is now live!

In this episode, I sit down with fantasy author and #SPFBOX winner JL Odom to discuss navigating the challenges of going from writer to published author.

Full episode linked below πŸ‘‡

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I had a great time in #SPFBOX and will be entering The Ruined for the next time around! It's being moved to start in January now, right?

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I'm in the presence of a champion!

My copy of #SPFBOX champion By Blood By Salt, by J.L Odom, has arrived.

It's a book with very few readers that beat 299 other fantasy novels to win the 10th #SPFBO - give it a shot, let's make a difference!

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With #SPFBOX. At an end, huge congratulations to @jlodom.bsky.social and @adrianmgibson.bsky.social for the tied win. Ultimately winner of the tie break - Of Blood and Salt.

My big takeaways are a group of new friends, and the fact that apparently I should really be comping my book to Sanderson.

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In case you missed it: The new #SPFBO champion!
#SPFBOX

It has the fewest Goodreads ratings of any champion in our 10 years. Just over 100...

So it's a true discovery.

Let's do what this contest was designed to do and go change its fortunes. Buy a copy. Do now, before you forget!

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SPFBOX finalists - SPFBO 10 300 contestants are being narrowed to 10 finalists for the 10th time! Finalists for SPFBO 10 TheΒ  Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off Β finalis...

Here are the results from #SPFBOX

SPFBO takes 300 books, distributes them among 10 blogs, we each nominate a finalist, and then we read each other's finalists to pick a winner!

mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/2024/09/spfb...

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From epic quests to heartfelt character arcs, #SPFBOX celebrates the diversity and creativity of indie fantasy.

The camaraderie, support, and passion for storytelling make it a true gem, fostering connections that inspire and uplift everyone involved.

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Now that the competition is complete, let's give a huge shoutout to #SPFBOX for creating such a vibrant, wholesome space where fantasy writers and readers unite over their shared love for books!

Giving talented authors a platform to shine and readers a chance to discover new worlds.

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