The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship

SFINCS3 | The Speculative Fict Results from the third year of The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”). SFINCS3.

The site is once again up to date! Including a list of who is in the finals. 👀👀 #booksky💙📚 #writerscommunity
www.sfincscompetition.com/sfincs3

SFINCS3 Round 2 Review – Yuval Kordov: Sisters of Mercy I read this novella for the indie novella competition, SFINCS. The following review is my own personal opinion as a judge and does not reflect the views of the team as a whole. Find out more about …

My last read in Round 2 of #SFINCS was Sisters of Mercy by Yuval Kordov. #TheWIPs

Children-turned-war machines prowl the wastes on their mission to hunt the Adversary and protect the Last City in this dark sci-fi tale. #SFINCS3 #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2026/01/26/s...

SFINCS3 Review: A Second Life Worth Living by Karen Lucia “The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”) is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. W...

My review for #SFINCS semi-finalist A Second Life Worth Living by Karen Lucia...

This one packs a powerful punch, especially for the moment we're living in.

💙🪐📚 #BookSky #indiebooks

www.angelaboord.com/post/sfincs3...

SFINCS Review: A Second Life Worth Living – Karen Lucia "The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the

My penultimate semi-finalist review for #SFINCS3 is up, this time for Karen Lucia's very timely, A Second Life Worth Living, which centres a man who's returned to life after being abducted and executed by the State. Book is by a Minnesotan author!

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

#SFINCS

New #SFINCS review!

Got a few #SFINCS reviews today on A Second Life Worth Living!

SFINCS3 Review: The Drowned Heir by Jennifer Donohue “The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”) is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. W...

My last #SFINCS review for the semi-final round!

The Drowned Heir has a great premise and a lot of appeal for readers in search of moody, gothic vibes .

💙🪐📚 #BookSky #indiebooks

www.angelaboord.com/post/sfincs3...

It was an incredibly close finish, but Team WIPs has its #SFINCS3 finalists!

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-3-fin...

Congrats to the finalists, semi-finalists, & everyone who entered! And thank you to @helynalc.bsky.social , @jamreads.com , and @angelaboord.bsky.social for all your hard work!

#SFINCS

Hardcover copy of The Drowned Heir in focus against a soft library shelves background the cover art is a pale woman wearing a tricorn hat with a brimstone tattoo on her left shoulder, her head turned to the left, writhing tentacles in the darkness behind her. art by Yorgos Cotronis, and I bought the art in a premade cover pack on his website https://cotronis.com/ and put the text on it myself.

🌊⛵👻

The Drowned Heir is a #SFINCS finalist!

take advantage of the $2.99 sale!

🌊⛵👻

blurbs, reviews, and buy links!

authorizedmusings.blogspot.com/p/the-drowne...

also on itch!

jenniferrdonohue.itch.io/the-drowned-...

Sunbathers by Lindz McLeod SFINCs3 Book Review Sunbathers is for readers looking for a story that makes them uncomfortable. A story that takes the concept of erotic horror and aligns it in a chilling way to how human beings behave.

Me running out of time to post on Blue Sky before work. 🙃 So here we are at my lunch break with a post! #booksky💙📚🪐 #SFINCS
www.behindthepages.org/post/sunbath...

Banner image for our SFINCS finalist announcement. It's originally the banner from the semi-finalist announcement, but most of it has been painted over in black, and the word FINALISTS has been sprayed over.

Oh, hey! It's SFINCS o'clock, and we have some finalists to announce.

Two finalists, to be exact. Two excellent books well worthy of your time and attention - especially if you're on the prowl for something a little dark and gothic...

www.readindiefantasy.com/sfincs-team-...

#SFINCS #BookSky

From These Dark Abodes by Lyndsie Manusos SFINCs3 Book Review ​With From These Dark Abodes Lyndsie Manusos has captured a physical manifestation of stepping out of our lives and the responsibilities we carry. But in the end, escaping responsibilities is just a b...

From These Dark Abodes is a finalist for SFINCS3! Here's my review of it! Do you like Gothic Horror? You have to read this one. #booksky💙📚
www.behindthepages.org/post/from-th...

Here are the judge's reviews of Watcher - co-authored with @matgost.bsky.social - and semi-finalist in @thesfincs.bsky.social.
I'm blown away. To have so much written about work you love is very special. Thank u Helyna and Steve 🧡
helynalclove.com/2025/10/12/s...
beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

SFINCS3 | The Speculative Fict Results from the third year of The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”). SFINCS3.

The current list of SFINCS3 reviews has been updated! We had some more round one reviews written and a bunch from round two! #sfincs #booksky💙📚🪐
#writingcommunity
www.sfincscompetition.com/sfincs3

Book cover shows three women sunbathing with blood smears on the bodies and faces

My first semifinalist review for the SFINCS3 contest is Sunbathers by Lindz McLeod an erotic horror novella:

pagechewing.com/sfincs3-semi...
#booksky #sfincs #horror #novella

SFINCS Review: The Devil Owns Primetime – Sirius . "The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the

Belated #SFINCS Round 1 review for The Devil Owns Primetime by Sirius .: beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

Devil wasn't one of my initial books, but I picked it up on recommendation from a teammate. I'm so glad I did (it had been on my TBR before the contest, but this gave me the nudge)! #SFINCS3

New (Round 1) #SFINCS review!

Banner image for our review of Sunbathers. Includes the cover of the book on top of a background of a very bright sun.

Ahoy folks, it's SFINCS O'clock, and this is Nils with a new review.

These are my thoughts on Sunbathers, by @lindzmcleod.bsky.social

This is a bleak but worthwhile read, and while it hit me hard, I'm glad I read it.

www.readindiefantasy.com/book-review-...

#BookSky #SFINCS

Image for Red Lacquered Sky by L.H. Yun featuring cute graphics including red lanterns and Chinese dolls. At each corner is a girl and text. The text reads: -World where women are born with quantifiable 'luck' -sapphic, red symbolizes luck -dark, tragic, but hopeful -outcast female MC with no luck meets high-luck lady trapped in a toxic marriage -gorgeous prose, stunning visuals, beautiful sapphic sex scenes

Check out some fantasy novellas! I'm a judge in the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championships (SFINCS, pronounced 'sphinx') this year and I've read some bite-sized stories you can sink your teeth into! Today, I'm showcasing this awesome sapphic fantasy, Red Lacquered Sky!

SFINCS Review: The Butcher’s Lot – Cate Baumer "The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the

My review for Cate Baumer's atmospheric, moody Sapphic vampire fantasy, The Butcher's Lot, is up on Before We Go Blog!

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

#SFINCS #SFINCS3

SFINCS Review: Parasitic Omens – Jessica A. McMinn "The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the

My last "technically Round One" review! This time for Jessica A. McMinn's darkly fun fantasy mystery, Parasitic Omens!

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

Parasitic Omens is one of our semi-finalists & has already racked up a ton of Round Two reviews! 🔥

#SFINCS #SFINCS3

New #SFINCS3 review!

#SFINCS

Still can’t believe this little wyrm is in the semi finals of #SFINCS!

SFINCS Review: The Knight of the Moon – Gregory Kontaxis "The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the

And here's the first of my Round Two semi-finalist reviews! A warning that this one includes marked spoilers & non-detailed discussion of sexual assault:

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

#SFINCS #SFINCS3

New #SFINCS review!

#SFINCS3

SFINCS Review: The Drowned Heir – Jennifer Donahue "The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”)a is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the

My latest #SFINCS review, this time for Jennifer R. Donohue's Gothic maritime fantasy, The Drowned Heir!

beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

#SFINCS3

New #SFINCS review!

I'm caught up on my contest reviews now, which means I can continue reading (next up, Selkie Moon!)

We continue with #SFINCS Round 2 where my first read was Selkie Moon by Kelly Jarvis.

On a stormy island in Orkney, a young girl has to grapple with the turbulent dynamics of her family life and her own possible fantastical origins... #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2026/01/10/s...

Image for A Goddess Trapped in Glass by Jake Theriault featuring a tree, butterflies, flowers, and a spaceship At each corner is a girl and text. The text reads: -Amazingly vibrant world with interesting plants and animals -MC questioning the role of belief/religion in a futuristic sci-fi world -MC is a woman on an expedition to a vibrant planet to reconnect with her brother who converted to a new religion -Gorgeous scenery description -fascinating look at what faith means to people in a world dominated by science

I'm a judge in the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championships (SFINCS, pronounced 'sphinx') this year and I want to tell you about some novellas! Check out this sci-fi with gorgeous flora/fauna worldbuilding and that questions the role of religion/faith in a science-dominated future

Cover of The Butcher’s Lot by Cate Baumer

Here’s my review of #SFINCS semifinalist The Butcher’s Lot by @catebaumer.bsky.social

pagechewing.com/sfincs3-semi...