We are happy to announce, that we are back for this special edition, the SPFBO Champions’ League, because we want to see who will conquer all! And we’ll start with introducing Team Queen’s Book Asylum. Please rejoice.
Right, now that we have the pleasantries out of the way, let’s get down to business. For the SPFBO Champions League, once again, we have a slightly changed lineup for the team – we like to be consistently inconsistent! Our process will be pretty much the same as any regular final phase, and this year again, we’ll have an SPFBO Champions League hub page. This is where you can check out the books and keep track of our progress throughout the this special edition.
So, as you know, this is a bit of a special year as we’ll attempt to look at the 10 winners from the past 10 years to decide who is going to be the ultimate winner.
The Champions’ League will last from June 1st to December 20th, although we are going to aim to have all of our reviews out by early December. Our general process will be pretty much the same as in any normal final phase, so you can expect our reviews every two/three weeks starting sometime in June.
So what will our process look like?
- As usual, our judges will be able to opt out of reading any of the champions beforehand, but we’ll aim to have at least 3 reviews/scores for each.
- There aren’t going to be any public scores, but we’ll still use them to determine the order between the champions.
- Our scoring system is on a 1-10 scale, we can give .5 scores. How a judge actually decides to score their books is completely up to them, as we all look at books differently.
- We will have a DNF rule, but a stricter one since this is the Champions’ League after all: everyone will be required to read at least 50% of any of the champions they didn’t opt out of reading, and write a review. They can DNF after the 25% as well, but they still will be required to write a review.
- As per the rules, judges are allowed to recycle their old reviews if they already read a book, but we will note if they are old or new, just in case.
As usual, you’ll be able to follow our progress on the SPFBO Champions’ League page or on social media if you follow the #TeamAsylum, #SPFBO, #SPFBOreviews, #SPFBOCL hashtags. Or you can follow the slightly creepy noises our pet demon makes when excited about new people, but let me warn you that it might not result in the desired outcome. It likes to make detours along our corridors and get people lost in the process. But hey, we love that you are so adventurous, keep up the spirit!
Now, we are a friendly bunch – contrary to the rumors 😛 – and don’t mind interacting with people on BlueSky or in the SPFBO Facebook group, and we are more than happy to help you if you have any questions. But please don’t step over the boundaries. We believe in civilized conversation and problem-solving. The aim of this competition is to forge friendships and connections, not to cause drama. We aren’t what you’d call harsh reviewers – I think 😬 *sideeyes her own reviews* -, but we’ll be a touch more critical since this is, after all, a competition. What I can promise you, is that we are going to be true to ourselves, we are going to be honest about our opinions, and we will never be hurtful intentionally. We are not here to tear you down, and it’s not our style anyway. Besides, we are reading previous champions this year, which means they have already proved their worth!
I had a lot of fun with the questionnaire last year, and since we have some new people among us, I decided to do it again! The aim is to give you a bit more sense about us as people and reviewers, but also to have fun, so these are a mix of serious and not-so-serious questions. Most of them might seem familiar if you read our intro last week, but I tried to bring in some new stuff as well.
That said, let me introduce you to Team Queen’s Book Asylum: Arina, Drew, Filip, Rari, Tru, and Timy, and let’s get the (fur)ball rolling!
Arina
I’m a software developer by trade and a fierce reader by passion. Long ensnared by the worlds of SFF, I love consuming it in any type of media, from books to movies to games. Sister to a cat I adore to bully (back) and four dogs I simply adore, my other passions include cooking, solving puzzles, and playing escape rooms with my family.
Follow Arina on social media:
What are your preferred pronouns?
she/her
What made you fall in love with reading?
I suppose I’ve always really loved exploring and meeting something new. I love travelling, talking to people, and watching how people interact. Writing is pretty much that; in a way, it’s an analytical exercise of the mind. It’s stepping inside another person’s world, mind, feelings, and getting to know them. Getting to know other perspectives and imaginations. I love that feeling of wonder you get after reading another person’s ideas, ideas you could never imagine on your own. I love the fantastic feel of SFF.
How long have you been reviewing?
About 4/5 years, I believe!
What made you want to be part of SPFBO? If this is your first year, what are your expectations, what are you looking forward to the most? If you’ve been a judge before, would your approach be different this year, and if so, how?
I started reading self-published books without even realizing it (shoutout to the M/M romance lists on Goodreads) so it’s been a fixture in my life for a while. I started reading them more consciously a few years ago, when I joined book Twitter at the height of its game and met a wonderful community of readers and authors sharing their stories.
I fell in love with the boundless imagination in self-published SFF; more untethered from marketing expectations, it allows authors to tell authentic stories to their fullest and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some very cool gems such as Dom Watson’s The Boy Who Walked Too Far, Michael S. Jackson’s Ringlander: The Path and the Way, Rob J. Hayes’ Along the Razor’s Edge, S. R. Algernon’s Warming Season, among many others.
I joined SPFBO because I wanted to further my journey into the self-published scene, sharing that journey with like-minded (and clashing!) people and simply championing great stories. I’m looking forward to doing that again this year.
I only joined SPFBO in its 8th edition, skipped the 9th edition due to time constraints, and just finished the 10th alongside this great team. This year, we have the added bonus of only (re?)judging books that have already been crowned champions in previous editions of the contest, so it’ll be fun reading through those deemed the best of the best in SPFBO!
Where do you do your reading/reviewing? Any particular food/drinks/music you like to have
Anywhere, any place I have the time. I treasure my 30m reading time at work, sitting on an armchair in a sunny corner we have in the office. I can’t read while listening to music (hard to focus) and like to keep my hands free for turning pages, but I do enjoy the occasional warmth of a cup of tea with my books.
What book outside of your usual go-to genres were you surprised to enjoy? Bonus points for SPFBO titles!
George Orwell’s Animal Farm. I don’t usually enjoy fables but I loved this one.
What other medium do you enjoy when it comes to SFF? Any recommendations?
I love watching tv series and movies, as I’m a very visual person. Love the way you can just get lost in another world for a few hours. I’ve recently watched the new season of Love, Death + Robots, which was a masterpiece (Ryan Gosling voice) as always. If you haven’t watched the show, go do it!
You are being held against your will in an extremely sinister and hellish institution (not the Asylum, gods forbid 😏), the MC of the last book/movie/series you read/watched attempts to rescue you. Who is it, and how does it go?
Alefret and Qhudur from Premee Mohamed’s The Siege of Burning Grass. I am– fucked?
Finish the sentence!
The best thing about the Asylum is… The Hall of Lost Souls. You wouldn’t believe the things you see there and the trinkets the hellspawn leave behind! I like to collect them.
My biggest bookish pet peeve is… Continuously worldbuilding mostly through uninterrupted dialogue. It just breaks the ambience for me.
My favorite trope is… The “city built on the bones of a long-fallen leviathan”. The “something went wrong during cryogenic sleep”. The “snarky duo find a dangerous ancient relic and one of them suffers a pained fate while the other battles to save them”. The “siblings/best friends on opposite sides of a conflict”.
If I could pick any book to live in, that would be… I would not be this insane. None of the books I read are places one should long to live in.
I wish there were more fiction books about/with/featuring… Male-female platonic friendships.
A book/series I wish were made into a movie/series is… Dom Watson’s The Boy Who Walked Too Far. So much lore, setting and world to pick up and make an insanely good movie (series)!
I read indie books because… Authors get to have more creative freedom and once they are unbound like that you realize damn, there are fantastic authors out there who just happen to not have been picked up by a publisher!
My dream fictional job would be… Spellmaker but through coding.
Pick one (a short explanation on your choice is welcome – and usually more fun -, although not required):
Blurb vs cover: Blurb because a good story always takes precedence. But a good cover can make all the difference!
Plot-driven vs character-driven: Plot-driven. You can’t have one without the other but if you don’t have a story, you have nothing.
High stakes vs low stakes: “Common” people facing high stakes.
Journey vs destination: Journey always, otherwise you might lose your reader before ever reaching your destination.
Panda vs dragon: Dragon and I don’t care how many times you shackle me in the dungeon for saying it! (In fact, I’m starting to think I’m doing it on purpose)
Sword vs sorcery: Sorcery, I am 100% a mage.
Gods vs monsters: Monsters, of any shape and form. I like the philosophical discussions they bring to the table.
Talking animals vs sentient objects: Sentient objects anytime, especially if they’re snarky. Don’t really enjoy the talking animals trope, with some very few exceptions.
Royalty vs common people: Common people and royalty facing one another
Modern setting vs historical setting: Historical, although by historical I mean anything inspired by it. I’m not a big fan of the modern setting when it comes to fantasy.
Sea/ocean vs desert: Desert, anytime, any day!
Western vs Eastern: Eastern, although Western but underexplored settings are a pleasure to read.
Romance vs thriller: Thriller. I take my romance in very small bites and only if it hurts.
Courtly intrigue vs war battles: Courtly intrigue, easily! Honestly, war battles are pretty underwhelming for me.
Chosen one vs villain: The chosen one becomes the villain. Let’s give this trope some wings!!
What would be your choice of an alternative showdown for the Champions?
Best sword-wielding pose.
Drew
I’m Drew. Allegedly.
But what would I know?
Follow Drew on social media:
What are your preferred pronouns?
He/Him
What made you fall in love with reading?
I don’t remember the exact year, but I’d have been in Primary four or five, and the class was reading the Dragon of Ogg by Rumer Godden. We each got a sentence to read aloud to the rest of the class, and I got a single word.
How long have you been reviewing?
On and off, approximately nine years.
What made you want to be part of SPFBO? If this is your first year, what are your expectations, what are you looking forward to the most? If you’ve been a judge before, would your approach be different this year, and if so, how?
The simple truth is that I was asked, and since it’s often said that the best way to help an author is with a review, I said yes. This will technically be my fifth competition, having been part of the now-defunct Booknest site’s review team for 5, 6 and 7 and being a temporary consultant at Her Royal Magisterialness’ Asylum for the most recent. As for a differing approach, I’m not expecting one, but you never can tell.
Where do you do your reading/reviewing? Any particular food/drinks/music you like to have?
I listen to audiobooks frequently, usually on my way to and from work as well as during any downtime I have. For physical or ebooks, reading tends to happen either in bed or in my armchair. Reviewing usually takes place in that same armchair, often with a mug of black coffee close at hand.
What other medium do you enjoy when it comes to SFF? Any recommendations?
I mentioned audiobooks above and, for years, ever since listening to the BBC radio adaptations of The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, I’ve also enjoyed audio dramas. I particularly like several of the Big Finish continuations of Doctor Who, recorded with many of the surviving actors, although I will admit it’s been a while.
You are being held against your will in an extremely sinister and hellish institution (not the Asylum, gods forbid 😏), the MC of the last book/movie/series you read/watched attempts to rescue you. Who is it, and how does it go?
This might be considered cheating, but it’s been well established that you don’t get one without the other, so it’s the eponymous Hap and Leonard of Joe R. Lansdale’s series of novels to the rescue. I’d give them decent odds.
Finish the sentence!
The best thing about the Asylum is… the kindness and helpfulness of the staff.
My biggest bookish pet peeve is… obvious Chekhov’s.
If I could pick any book to live in, that would be… probably one of the Discworld books.
A book/series I wish were made into a movie/series is… one that I’ve often thought would be fun is Kim Newman’s Anno Dracula series, although Penny Dreadful already did something similar.
I read indie books because… I want to be an encouragement to those brave enough to put their writing out there.
My dream fictional job would be… a xenobiologist could be fun.
Pick one (a short explanation on your choice is welcome – and usually more fun -, although not required):
Blurb vs cover: Art is important; without it to catch the eye, I might not even get to the blurb.
Plot-driven vs character-driven: It might be a great plot but if I don’t care about the people involved…
High stakes vs low stakes: Even the low stakes can be high for the right character.
Journey vs destination: There’s always that much more room for digressions on the journey.
Panda vs dragon: I’ve always loved dragons (blame The Hobbit). Sorry, your Highnessness.
Sword vs sorcery: Depends on the medium. Swords on film, sorcery on the page.
Gods vs monsters: Although sometimes they’re the same thing. The angels of one era often become the demons of the next.
Talking animals vs sentient objects: Unless the objects are written by Michael Marshall Smith. IYKYN.
Royalty vs common people: No comment.
Modern setting vs historical setting: I think there’s room for both.
Sea/ocean vs desert: Yes, I know I live in a desert.
Romance vs thriller: While I understand the appeal, romance never seems to work for me all that much.
Courtly intrigue vs war battles: Again, there’s room for both.
Chosen one vs villain: They always seem to be having more fun.
What would be your choice of an alternative showdown for the Champions?
Since we’re ending in December, how about a snowball fight?
Filip
I’m an English Literature graduate and a writer working in the games industry. I love books. Love talking about them, writing about them, obsessing over them. That newspaper headline that states “Man gets buried alive by books at home, read more on p. 39”? That’ll be me any day now.
Follow Filip on social media:
What are your preferred pronouns?
he/him
What made you fall in love with reading?
Reading helped me connect with others. I was a lonely kid; reading was an antidote to all that. My parents divorced when I was a wee bairn and my dad would purchase lots and lots of books for me. It was a bonding activity, too, in that way.
How long have you been reviewing?
Depressingly long.
What made you want to be part of SPFBO? If this is your first year, what are your expectations, what are you looking forward to the most? If you’ve been a judge before, would your approach be different this year, and if so, how?
I’ve been a judge for two other blogs over a few SPFBO editions, first for booknest.eu (sadly deceased) and later for the Fantasy Hive (which is thriving and has also returned for this edition!).
Where do you do your reading/reviewing? Any particular food/drinks/music you like to have?
I do a lot of my reading at home. Audiobooks are a constant companion outside, while music is always a background to my reading and writing sessions.
What book outside of your usual go-to genres were you surprised to enjoy? Bonus points for SPFBO titles!
I recently read a pair of contemporary fiction novels by Halle Butler, Jilian and Banal Nightmares. Absolute feel-bad books, but outrageously funny too.
What other medium do you enjoy when it comes to SFF? Any recommendations?
I love audio drama podcasts – there are lots of great franchise ones, like Batman: The Audio Adventures and so many wonderful originals like The Magnus Archives.
You are being held against your will in an extremely sinister and hellish institution (not the Asylum, gods forbid 😏), the MC of the last book/movie/series you read/watched attempts to rescue you. Who is it, and how does it go?
Legion from FX’s phenomenal series Legion. Welp. That’ll be a doozy.
Finish the sentence!
The best thing about the Asylum is… the sheer unadulterated enthusiasm of Timy and the rest of the staff.
My biggest bookish pet peeve is… narrative contrivances which artificially push the plot forward. Really pulls me out of a story like few other things. Oh, also–bad, sloppy editing. If I see two different versions of the same paragraph in your finished, published novel, I’ll be very cross, count on it! I’m looking at you, Necrobane.
My favorite trope is… different every few months. Right now I’m in love with stories that are all about the journey after “Journey’s end”: works like Gareth Hanrahan’s excellent Lands of the Firstborn trilogy or the much-lauded anime Frieren.
I wish there were more fiction books about/with/featuring… no, actually, there are too many books, I’m good. I wish there were less books. Would make this whole reviewing gig easier. /s
A book/series I wish were made into a movie/series is… any epic fantasy comes to mind, if we can get it animated. I would adore getting something like Kieron Gillen’s Die or Wic/Div on the screen.
I read indie books because… they can surprise you in the best possible ways.
My dream fictional job would be… cabbage cart salesman.
Pick one (a short explanation on your choice is welcome – and usually more fun -, although not required):
Blurb vs cover: I don’t even read blurbs when I see a cover that appeals enough. Have I suffered from that?…Maybe.
Plot-driven vs character-driven: Character work is so much more important than plot; it’s characters that I return to, whether via reread or as I follow lengthy book series that have been going on for decades – like Steven Brust’s Jaghut, or a recent favourite indie series of mine by Douglas Lumsden, Alexander Southerland P.I. Impeccable character work there – and I believe the first one, A Troll Walks into a Bar, was an SPFBO contender a few years ago.
High stakes vs low stakes: Low stakes novels (cozy SFF-style works) are great in-between reads that have…more meat on the bone, shall we say?
Journey vs destination: The journey is where it’s at, though the last few miles are often my favourite.
Panda vs dragon: Sorry, Timy.
Sword vs sorcery: Love me a good magickin’.
Gods vs monsters: Gods are such fun, and the best ones are monstrous.
Royalty vs common people: The proletariat is where it’s at.
Modern setting vs historical setting: I’m good with either, it’s all about the portrayal.
Sea/ocean vs desert: Something-something desert power something something my Arrakis my Dune.
Romance vs thriller: I love romance as a function of other stories, but I’m not interested in romance for its own sake, unless we’re talking super literary sensibilities…and even then.
Courtly intrigue vs war battles:
Chosen one vs villain: I love baddies, what can I tell you?
What would be your choice of an alternative showdown for the Champions?
Dance-off.
Rari
A writer and reader of fantasy and science fiction, I love getting immersed in new worlds and words. One of these days, I’ll get on top of my completely feral TBR, but at the moment, I seem destined to come to an end under a pile of unread books.
Follow Rari on social media:
What are your preferred pronouns?
She and They
What made you fall in love with reading?
I’m not sure love is the word, it’s like I need it to survive, to not have books would be like to not to have air to breathe for me.
How long have you been reviewing?
I mean, I’m not a professional reviewer, but I’ve been reading and reviewing for nearly 20 years now.
What made you want to be part of SPFBO? If this is your first year, what are your expectations, what are you looking forward to the most? If you’ve been a judge before, would your approach be different this year, and if so, how?
This is my first time being on a judging team in SPFBO. I’ve been a participant and a semi finalist in the past, and I’ve always wanted to be involved in this competition, and this looked like a good chance.
Where do you do your reading/reviewing? Any particular food/drinks/music you like to have?
Bed, couch, car, hospital waiting room, chair, dining table, I’m sure you get the picture. Coffee or iced tea would be great, also any fruit juices. Water is also nice.
What book outside of your usual go-to genres were you surprised to enjoy? Bonus points for SPFBO titles!
My go-to genre is fantasy and Sci Fi, but I also enjoy historical fiction, and nearly everything queer.
What other medium do you enjoy when it comes to SFF? Any recommendations?
I am a sucker for period Chinese dramas, even if they aren’t fantasy. Also modern K Dramas which deal with corruption. No romances. I have no patience for romance.
I have a LIST
Niravana in Fire
Joy of Life season 1 and 2
Lost You Forever season 1 and 2
Love and Redemption
The Mysterious Lotus Casebook
The Goblin
The Devil Judge
Beyond Evil
You are being held against your will in an extremely sinister and hellish institution (not the Asylum, gods forbid 😏), the MC of the last book/movie/series you read/watched attempts to rescue you. Who is it, and how does it go?
The last movie I watched was… The Substance. I’m pretty much fucked because the MC couldn’t even save themself.
Finish the sentence!
The best thing about the Asylum is… I’m still learning, so pass
My biggest bookish pet peeve is… contrived plots where logical actions are ignored because the plot needs to get there
My favorite trope is… the mentor who has no idea what they’re doing, but have to help anyway. Also accidental child/ spouse acquisition, like man, I’m so done but now I have this person to take care of, so I have to change.
If I could pick any book to live in, that would be… Are you okay? Why would anyone want to live in any of the fucked up world I read about?
I wish there were more fiction books about/with/featuring… more queer books that aren’t romances and explorations of queerness, more books with completely queernormative worlds, and where misogyny doesn’t exist in any form.
A book/series I wish were made into a movie/series is… Tainted Dominon and The Cruel Gods both
I read indie books because… I love how diverse the books are and the wide variety of themes and the imaginations. Like, I tried reading a trade book and couldn’t even finish it because it was like a million others, but you find such a wide variety of things in indie books, which are like things I wouldn’t ever have imagined and that makes me love it more.
My dream fictional job would be… someone paying me money to write and read (I don’t think it can get any more fictional than that)
Pick one (a short explanation on your choice is welcome – and usually more fun -, although not required):
Blurb vs cover: Blurb. I’m not a visual person and while I can go “Oh pretty” at a cover, it’s the blurb that can catch my attention
Plot-driven vs character-driven: Character all the way. If I’m not invested in the characters, I’m not going to be able to get very far.
High stakes vs low stakes: Both, depending on how well it’s done.
Journey vs destination: Again, both, depending on how well it’s done.
Panda vs dragon: Dragon
Sword vs sorcery: Sorcery
Gods vs monsters: Monsters. Gods usually suck
Talking animals vs sentient objects: Both
Royalty vs common people: Both
Modern setting vs historical setting: Both
Sea/ocean vs desert: Ocean.
Western vs Eastern: Eastern
Romance vs thriller: Thriller
Courtly intrigue vs war battles: Court intrigue, to be sure!
Chosen one vs villain: Neither? Just give me a cast of morally grey people
What would be your choice of an alternative showdown for the Champions?
Sumo Wrestling
Timy
Timy, also known as Queen Terrible Timy hails from a magical land called Hungary, born and raised in its capital city, Budapest. Books have been her refuge and best friends ever since she can remember along with music and her favorite stuffed panda(s). She might or might not be obsessed with said animals. Timy is the owner and editor of Queen’s Book Asylum. In her free time (hah!) she likes to create things, collect panda stuff, go to concerts, travel, and take the literary world one book at a time.
Follow Timy on social media:
What are your preferred pronouns?
She/Her
What made you fall in love with reading?
I honestly don’t remember. I was about 3 when I learned to read properly, but I think I’ve been fascinated by stories since I was a baby. There couldn’t be a nap time or bed time without my mom reading to me first. But even then I kept correcting her when she made a mistake. I guess I just got impatient and wanted to take matters into my own hands, so quickly learned to read and I never looked back. Although I insisted on being read to for a very long time as well.
How long have you been reviewing?
Since I only wrote a handful of reviews in the years before starting the blog in 2018, I’ll go with 7 years.
What made you want to be part of SPFBO? If this is your first year, what are your expectations, what are you looking forward to the most? If you’ve been a judge before, would your approach be different this year, and if so, how?
Why wouldn’t I want to be part of SPFBO? But to answer the question, pretty much the same reason why I eventually started a blog. Actually, one of my motivations to start a blog was to one day become a judge. That happened a lot faster than I thought, lol. I heard about SPFBO through a couple of indie author friends I made before the blog. Both of them were in SPFBO 3, and one of them even went to the finals! It was exciting to root for them, and I realized how many more gems could be out there in the indie community, and I wanted to be part of that. To help discover the gems, to champion the friends and all the other hardworking people. I wanted to help to give them a platform.
I was super lucky to be invited to be a guest judge in SPFBO 4 when my blog wasn’t even half a year old and when I barely knew anyone in the community, and the next season Mark for reasons only known to him, allowed me to enter the arena leading my own team. Been here ever since, except for SPFBO 7 when I needed a year off due to burnout. So all in all this will be my 7th season as a judge. Lucky for me, I’ve read the majority of the champs already, so I’ll have an easy time!
Where do you do your reading/reviewing? Any particular food/drinks/music you like to have?
These days I do most of my reading on my couch. I used to read a lot more while commuting to school/work but since I live close to my workplace, I can’t do that. I do listen to audiobooks on the way home, though and in the evenings (I guess I never really grew out of bedtime stories, hah). When on holiday I can read anywhere and anytime. I’m one of those people who can read in a car (for a while, until motion sickness gets the better of me), and since I’m not the one driving…
I always have snacks at hand, both salty and sweet so I’m always munching on something. These days I prefer having a quiet place, but I used to listen to music. When the mood strikes, I still put up something for background noise. Turns out, instrumental music is good for that – who would have thought I’d become someone listening to movie soundtracks, but here we are. When I’m out and about I do listen to music though. Rock and roll, baby!
What book outside of your usual go-to genres were you surprised to enjoy? Bonus points for SPFBO titles!
The thing with me is that it’s hard to surprise me. That said, it does happen sometimes. I think negative surprises are more common for me. A couple of positive examples:
Triggernometry by Stark Holborn – western AND mathematics? Normally I would run the opposite way, but I judged for a different award, and wow was I surprised.
Beneath Black Sails by Clare Sage – romance AND nautical fantasy… I didn’t have high hopes, but it was picked as a semi-finalist by one of my teammates, so I had to read it. I was pleasantly surprised! Nautical fantasy is very much not my thing (though, try telling that to RJ Barker…)
What other medium do you enjoy when it comes to SFF? Any recommendations?
Hmm, I watch the occasional movie or TV series, but I don’t seem to be into the mainstream stuff that everyone loves. There are exeptions though, such as Arcane on Netflix. Man, I was absolutely glued to the screen and I genuinely did not expect that as I have never played with the games its based on. Same goes for Lockwood & Co. I was gutted it got cut, I enjoyed that show.
You are being held against your will in an extremely sinister and hellish institution (not the Asylum, gods forbid 😏), the MC of the last book/movie/series you read/watched attempts to rescue you. Who is it, and how does it go?
Hah, funnily, last time I picked Dissolution by C. J. Sansom, which I just finished reading. As it happens, I’m once again currently reading (or rather listening) to that, but I’ll go with something else. Let’s see. The last thing I watched was a reality/documentary so that’s no help. And the last book I finished reading was Be Mine by Lizzy Barber. I’m not sure how good my chances are escaping an Asylum with the help of Beth who is a bit of a mess currently. Then again, she got out of a cult, so she knows a thing or two about madness, so she can come in handy maybe. Or she’ll end up being stuck with me. I’ll give 50-50 odds.
Finish the sentence!
The best thing about the Asylum is… everything, really. This is my brainchild, something I poured a lot of time, effort, and occasionally money into. It’s not always easy, but I keep doing it for my staff and for all the books that still waiting for me to be discovered.
My biggest bookish pet peeve is… repetition. Please, please, PLEASE don’t keep using a character’s name in almost every goddamn line in a discussion. I’m also not a fan of the overuse of “said” as a dialogue tag. There are others out there, you know. It’s especially annoying for audiobooks.
My favorite trope is… a twisted trope. I’m not big on tropes, but I love it when someone goes, picks a trope and puts it upside down. Who needs a knight in shining armor to save the princess from the dragon, when the princes can fall in love with the beast instead?
If I could pick any book to live in, that would be… either The Imaginary Corpse by Tyler Hayes (I need to hug those poor abandoned imaginary friends) or A Rival Most Vial by R.K. Ashwick, because that’s how much I loved this book. It sounds like a fun place to live with a cool found family and friends AND magic! I totally would borrow some of Eli’s accessories, too.
I wish there were more fiction books about/with/featuring… pandas. The world needs more fantasy pandas. Please give it to me!
A book/series I wish were made into a movie/series is… Easy. The Yarnsworld series by Benedict Patrick would be AMAZING.
I read indie books because… I love discovering gems, fall in love with stuff that publishers might pass on, and make friends with the authors who work super hard to take care of everything by themselves.
My dream fictional job would be… witch queen.
Pick one (a short explanation on your choice is welcome – and usually more fun -, although not required):
Blurb vs cover: I’m not quite happy that I trned out to be that person, but these days I let covers pique my attention before I read the blurb and make a final decision.
Plot-driven vs character-driven: I would say a mix is the best, but if I don’t connect with any character, then it’s hard for me to care about the book, good as it may be.
High stakes vs low stakes: I’m tired of all the looming doom and battles and what not. Give me low stakes and cosy fantasy, please.
Journey vs destination: I’m not a fan of books where the journey takes center stage (and I mean literal journey, not personal growth), so I’ll go with destination.
Panda vs dragon: I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with everyone. Who wouldn’t choose a panda?! Dragons are super impractical to keep, you know.
Sword vs sorcery: I don’t care much for fights and battles, so I’ll go with the much more fun sorcery.
Gods vs monsters: I’m picking gods, because I’m a mythology nerd, and I would sooner read about religions and gods being up to mischief than beasts and other monsters. Though, they can be fun too.
Talking animals vs sentient objects: Oooh, this is a hard choice (why I am even surprised? I put together this questionnaire, FFS.). But I think I’ll go with sentient objects. I’m a historian, and imagine how much objects could tell us about people in past ages! Although, it would be fun to talk to pandas as well.
Royalty vs common people: I mean, come on. Of course I’ll take royalty. I’m the Queen after all.
Modern setting vs historical setting: I genuinely enjoy both. Historical fiction and UF are my two favorite genres. Someone tell me why I’m doing this to myself, again? Okay, okay, I’ll pick. Actually, you know what? Everyone else ignored the “pick one” part of this section, so I’m going to cheat and pick both.
Sea/ocean vs desert: There is something about water that draws me. Funnily enough, I’m not into nautical fantasy, and I probably would be horrible on the sea (motion sickness is not my friend), but I’d love to live near a big body of water.
Western vs Eastern: Unfortunately, my reading is mostly dominated by books set in Western cultures, but I’ve been fascinated with Asian cultures for a while now, and would like to read more books set in and around Japan in the future.
Romance vs thriller: I knew this would be my downfall – luckily I already cracked on the setting choice, so I happily will cheat again and pick both. I slowly got back into romance in the past year or two, especially M/M romance, but crime thrillers are also something I enjoy reading if I need to get away from fantasy.
Courtly intrigue vs war battles: No questions asked. Battles bore me to death. Give me intrigue any time.
Chosen one vs villain: Definitely villain. We baddies need to stick together.
What would be your choice of an alternative showdown for the Champions?
The others had some great ideas, so I’ll go with a board game tournament. We could use Benedict Patrick‘s card game from his Card Mage series that’s based on mytical creatures.
Tru
Trudie Skies is a non-binary author based in North East England, though they have been living inside fantasy worlds ever since they discovered books and refuse to return to reality. Within Trudie’s daydreams you’ll find SPFBO and BBNYA finalist The Thirteenth Hour, a gaslamp fantasy described as obnoxiously British and best read with a cup of tea. When not conjuring new worlds, Trudie spends their free time exploring the realms of indie books and video games, staring at clouds, and chasing after their fluffy companions.
Follow Tru on social media:
What are your preferred pronouns?
They/Them
What made you fall in love with reading?
I was a lonely kid and the library was my sanctuary. Escaping into a fantasy world is necessary for your sanity.
How long have you been reviewing?
I’ve been writing books longer than I’ve been reviewing them, but one cannot become an author without reading many books! And from that love of reading books comes the natural desire to cry and shout over them. I started a side blog reviewing indie books a few years back and hope to keep it up.
What made you want to be part of SPFBO? If this is your first year, what are your expectations, what are you looking forward to the most? If you’ve been a judge before, would your approach be different this year, and if so, how?
SPFBO X was my first year as a guest judge, and while I’m ready to take a break and go back to writing books, I couldn’t resist taking part in the championship round as an excuse to read the winners of SPFBO’s history.
Where do you do your reading/reviewing? Any particular food/drinks/music you like to have?
I read on my phone most of the time, so I’m able to whip out a story no matter where I am. I’m always prepared with a book! If my cat isn’t using my keyboard as a bed, then I’ll do my reviewing at my desk. I don’t have any particular snacking habits when reading, but I sometimes listen to video game music in the background.
What book outside of your usual go-to genres were you surprised to enjoy? Bonus points for SPFBO titles!
My favourite thing about taking part in book contests such as SPFBO (and also SFINCS) is that I’m introduced to new indie authors and books that I normally wouldn’t pick up and read for myself. Through this, I’ve come to realise that I quite enjoy crime thrillers and urban fantasy stories and noir featuring detectives. Mushroom Blues from SPFBO X was one such book.
What other medium do you enjoy when it comes to SFF? Any recommendations?
I’m a big video game fan, and many of my favourite RPG’s and video games have inspired my own fantasy worldbuilding. My current gaming obsession is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is set in a fantasy version of France. The story and character work is simply incredible! It’s an artistic masterpiece.
You are being held against your will in an extremely sinister and hellish institution (not the Asylum, gods forbid 😏), the MC of the last book/movie/series you read/watched attempts to rescue you. Who is it, and how does it go?
The last few books I’ve read have been SPFBO ones, so I’m not sure I’m legally allowed to answer!
Finish the sentence!
The best thing about the Asylum is… the friends we made along the way!
My biggest bookish pet peeve is… people talking to me when I’m trying to read. Can’t you see I have a book in my hand?!
My favorite trope is… attack and dethrone god!
If I could pick any book to live in, that would be… Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater so I can have my own personal guardian angel.
I wish there were more fiction books about/with/featuring… less princess, princesses, kings, queens, and royalty in general.
A book/series I wish were made into a movie/series is… The Cruel Gods by Trudie Skies!
I read indie books because… they’re creative, innovative, and pushing the boundaries of unique fiction.
My dream fictional job would be… author!
Pick one (a short explanation on your choice is welcome – and usually more fun -, although not required):
Blurb vs cover:
Plot-driven vs character-driven:
High stakes vs low stakes:
Journey vs destination:
Panda vs dragon: Always the panda
Sword vs sorcery:
Gods vs monsters: Monsters fighting gods!
Talking animals vs sentient objects:
Royalty vs common people: down with the queen! Wait, no, I didn’t mean it like that!
Modern setting vs historical setting:
Sea/ocean vs desert: I can’t pick so I say both!
Western vs Eastern:
Romance vs thriller:
Courtly intrigue vs war battles: Can I say neither lol
Chosen one vs villain:
What would be your choice of an alternative showdown for the Champions?
A bake off.
Now that you got to know us a bit more, go and check out all of the champions on our SPFBO Champions’ League page!
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