Team Secret Scribes announces their Finalists!
- Dave Lawson
- Jan 28
- 6 min read
Today, Team Secret Scribes will be announcing our 2 finalists to move on in the SFINCS competition!
As a reminder, SFINCS (pronounced ‘sphinx’) is short for the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship. It is an annual competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent & creativity present in the indie community. A sister competition to both SPFBO and SPSFC, SFINCS is all about the novella format (less than 40k words), with all genres of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, etc.) applicable for submission.
For the semi-finalist round, each judging team was given 5 novellas of the 20 chosen semi-finalists. Same as round one, each judging team is required to have two judges read/rate each of their 5 allocated novellas before selecting 2 finalists to go head-to-head against the other 8 (10 finalists in total), scored by each team. The finalist with the highest overall score will be crowned the champion!
Before we get to who Team Secret Scribes chose to be their finalists, a quick recap of how we scored our 5 semi-finalists.
To ensure that we put forth the best quality novellas as finalists, 4 Secret Scribes read each novella cover to cover. After we narrowed our 5 semi-finalists down to 3 based on scores, the remaining Scribes read each novella. Therefore, the top 3 semi-finalists had a total of 7 scores. As in round one, to remain objective, we all used the same scoring system: on plot, characters, world, pacing & prose, and overall enjoyment. Each category had 2 possible points, for a total of 10 points per judge, then to be averaged.
See our scoring system in the image below:
In alphabetical order (by author last name), our 5 semi-finalists were:
The Amber Isle by Ashley Capes
Blurb:
After years of running down dead-end clues, the rogue Never has nearly given up his quest for answers; his blood is cursed and his true name a mystery, yet no library, no healer and none who claim to know dark magics have ever been able to help.
Until he steals a map to the mysterious Amber Isle, which might just hold the answers he needs.
But Never isn't the only one who wants the map - an old enemy, Commander Harstas, also seeks it and Harstas craves revenge for the deaths of his men.
Forced to flee through a war zone, Never soon stumbles across a group of treasure-hunters hoping to discover the wonders of the Amber Isle for themselves. But the deeper they venture into the Isle, the more deadly it grows.
Trapped between the greed of the treasure hunters, cunning traps in the Isle itself, the threat of Harstas' fury and his own desperation to finally uncover answers, Never must find a way to unlock the Isle's ancient secrets and escape - or perish without ever learning the truth.
What the Judges Said:
“A nice adventure with good pace and intriguing magic system.”
Bella
“This story has an Indiana Jones vibe where Never is trying to find out about his curse, and is chock full of traps, beasties, and near deaths.”
Bill
“Like a fantasy Uncharted with added blood magic, Amber Isle is affable albeit a little underwhelming.”
Tom
They of the West by Dani Finn
Blurb:
Dralen never could leave well enough alone.
He knows better than to go near the canyons. That’s where the Logans live, wild men of the hills said to devour lone travelers in frenzied midnight feasts.
But the mysterious cloaked figure he saw down by the canyons had to be there for a reason. And he can’t get his Urpa’s poem out of his head: something about “They of the West” and “Treasures buried in memory’s mine.”
Folks used to mine for topaz in the canyons, and other stones too. Magical ones, some said. But the Logans and the cave-in put an end to all that.
Dralen knows he’ll get in trouble if he goes after the cloaked figure, and he’s doubly sure he doesn’t care. Maybe They know something everyone else has forgotten in this little nothing town. Dralen is called to follow Them, but the closer he gets to unraveling the mystery, the more it seems his own journey is just beginning…
What the Judges Said:
“A fun read with some deeply personal themes. I loved the clever use of a poem as a way to identify They of the West.”
Alex
“A personal journey for two young people in a frontier-esque world they desperately wish to get out of.”
Bill
“A kooky western caper for sure but only just scratched the surface of what it was trying to do.”
Tom
Curiouser And… by Jillian Maria
Blurb:
For sixteen years, Ashlyn Jones has heeded her parents’ warnings and followed their rules. But after taking a tumble in the forest, she awakens in a strange land where there are no rules—where signs lack direction, the sky hovers on the edge of night, and all paths lead to the glittering red palace of a wicked queen. Although she’s told there’s no way home, Ashlyn is determined to find one, enlisting the help of a dreamy girl found sleeping in a tree.
But everyone is a little mad here, from the smiling cat to the whimsical man in the top hat. And the more she interacts with this strange land and its stranger inhabitants, the more Ashlyn questions the life she’s fighting so hard to get back to. Maybe she was just as trapped in her role as the dutiful daughter as she is here.
Unfortunately, she’ll be even more trapped if the queen gets ahold of her…
What the Judges Said:
“An interesting read. I’ve not read many fairy tale retellings, and I've never cared much for Alice in Wonderland, but this novella was gloriously well-written and the author hit the mark with the emotional moments.”
Dave
“This novella reignited my love for Alice in Wonderland, blending nostalgic elements with unique twists while skillfully portraying Ashlyn’s character and immersing me in a strange, unsettling version of Wonderland.”
Lorraine
“It didn’t go in quite the direction that I expected, and yet I couldn’t help but be spellbound by it. The writing was squeaky clean, the familiar yet fresh characters were engaging, and the voice was perfectly attuned to the tone and source material of the piece. A very well-crafted novella worthy of a finalist spot.”
Rach
After the Syzygy by J.D. Sanderson
Blurb:
Will We Find Them? In 1977, humans placed the Golden Record on the Voyager spacecraft with the hope it would be found by an alien civilization in the future.
In 2036, the alien equivalent arrived on Earth.
When the news leaks to the press, a global wave of fear, panic, and disinformation leaves people to wonder if the damage can ever be undone. In an attempt to quell unrest, several world governments begin an open exchange of ideas and information, hoping to understand the alien signal. As decades and centuries pass, humanity works together to answer one question.
What the Judges Said:
“Thought provoking and optimistic. I couldn't put After the Syzygy down.”
Alex
“With its solid structure and hopeful pragmatism, this book has made me realise I'm a huge fan of first contact-style Sci Fi.”
Tom
“Reminiscent of Adrian Tchaikovsky, I loved how this story was a message of hope weaved across centuries.”
Rach
Silence is Silver by Andrew Watson
Blurb:
The Urdahl believe pain is inevitable. But if one can lean into that suffering they can achieve anything.
Beneath the desert sands, Bas has spent his entire life training to become a fully-fledged Urdahl. And now his time has come to prove his worth. First, he must drink from the Seeing Bowl to clear his clouded mind and witness visions bestowed to him by ancient deities. Next, he must prove strength of body with the Passage of the High Pass. But destiny is shrouded in red and strength of arm will not be enough to survive its true tests.
Will he ascend to a full Urdahl or will his visions of blood come to pass?
The turning season has begun.
What the Judges Said:
“This compelling novella immerses readers in the harsh life of the Urdahl, with a well-developed character in Bas and a gripping prequel that left me eagerly adding Watson's books to my TBR list.”
Lorraine
“A well-told story in a captivating and original world, with a good use of the 'trial' trope and strong characterisation.”
Rach
“Twists, turns, and betrayals galore, as well as unexpected emotional gut punches. The Urdahl way of life is brutal, and this story is brutally good. Watson’s writing is excellent, brisk, and evocative, and he effortlessly depicts the horrors of Urdahl society.”
Dave
And now for Team Secret Scribes’ finalists…
…drum roll…
Curiouser And… & Silence is Silver!
Congratulations to the finalists!
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