The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
LightNews LightNews
banner
thesfincs.bsky.social
The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
@thesfincs.bsky.social
300 followers 70 following 58 posts
A competition for indie novellas that is judged by volunteers. Affectionately called BabyBo. https://www.sfincscompetition.com/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
thesfincs.bsky.social
The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship @thesfincs.bsky.social · Sep 28
Interested in seeing which teams are reading which novellas? Check out the team allocations and learn about the teams!
#writers
#booksky💙📚🪐
www.sfincscompetition.com/sfincs3
SFINCS3 | The Speculative Fict
www.sfincscompetition.com
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
voicesofvalhoon.bsky.social
I've got another #SFINCS review for you, folks!

I don't often read horror, but stories like these definitely make me think I should delve into the genre more.

Full review ⬇️
weirdereviews.blogspot.com/2025/11/reap...
Cover of Reap, Sow by S.H. Cooper: An elderly woman with stark white hair screaming with a dark hallway behind her Genre: Horror Summary review: Reap, Sow is a surreal tale written with beautiful and evocative prose. While the ending was perhaps a little predictable, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the story, as Cooper pulled me from scene to scene with some of the most imaginative turns of phrases and descriptions that I could practically feel and hear. For those that love horror with a strong psychological element and speculative elements akin to magical realism, REap, Sow is sure to please.
November 6, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
blog.readindiefantasy.com
It's a Month of Rain & Reads, and we do take a little time for reading ourselves, too.

Today, we have a review of The Drowned Heir, by @authorizedmusings.bsky.social, which is also a contender in the SFINCS novella competition.

www.readindiefantasy.com/amorar-book-...

#BookSky #AMoRaR #SFINCS
Banner image for our review of The Drowned Heir. Based on the regular AMoRaR banner with the book dragon and the ghost cat, it also shows the cover of the book.
November 9, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
stevewestenra.bsky.social
My fourth #SFINCS3 review, this time for J. D. Cadmon's sweet Sapphic romance, The Handyma'am and the Werewolves!: beforewegoblog.com/sfincs-revie...

#SFINCS #indiefantasy #queerfantasy
SFINCS Review: The Handyma’am and the Werewolves by J. D. Cadmon
"The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”) is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the t
beforewegoblog.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
authorizedmusings.bsky.social
since it's in the running for #SFINCS , I've updated the page for The Drowned Heir on my blog to link to the reviews that it's gotten (the first is not by SFINCS judges but the other three (!) are

authorizedmusings.blogspot.com/p/the-drowne...
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.
November 13, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
yuvalkordov.bsky.social
My #SFINCS entry, Sisters of Mercy, is now available far and wide. Get it here: books2read.com/sistersofmercy

🖤 Cyberpunk, incensepunk, and cosmic horror all rolled into one
🖤 Mechs and demons
🖤 Post-apocalyptic coming of age
🖤 Found family
🖤 Guaranteed tears at the end

🪐📚💙
🩸📚
November 18, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
angelaboord.bsky.social
My first #SFINCS review is up! IResiduum by DB Rook is a fun SF apocalyptic adventure that reminded me of an action movie.

www.angelaboord.com/post/sfincs-...

💙🪐📚 #SFF #indiebooks
SFINCS Review: Residuum by DB Rook
“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...
www.angelaboord.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
angelaboord.bsky.social
Another #SFINCS review from me today, this one for Dave Lawson's The Pawns of Havoc. I had fun with this one, a morally ambiguous sword and sorcery tale with a touch of light romance:

www.angelaboord.com/post/sfincs-...

💙🪐📚 #SFF #indiebooks
SFINCS Review: The Pawns of Havoc by Dave Lawson
“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...
www.angelaboord.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
blog.readindiefantasy.com
Daily Challenge 23: Bite-size - Share your favorite novella or short story. SFINCS fans should find this one easy!

#AMoRaR #BookSky
Banner image for today's giveaway with the challenge: Bite-size - Share your favorite novella or short story.
November 23, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
helynalc.bsky.social
My seventh review for #SFINCS Round 1 is up! #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs

I read Parasitic Omens by Jessica A. McMinn, a fantasy horror where a detective stumbles into a monstrous plot of greed and fanaticism on the gaslamp-lit streets of Copperton. #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2025/11/23/s...
SFINCS3 Round 1 Review – Jessica A. McMinn: Parasitic Omens
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 …
helynalclove.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
angelaboord.bsky.social
Good morning and a new #SFINCS review 😁

Phengaris by Anna Orridge is a creepy queer ecohorror with some excellent imagery and characterization.

www.angelaboord.com/post/sfincs-...

💙🪐📚 #BookSky #indiebooks #Horror #SFF
SFINCS Review: Phengaris by Anna Orridge
There's something very wrong in Thurstrop Wood.Mark Warner never noticed it before. He's there to get away from his life, his ailing mother. Out of his head. Not to think about anything.Birds sing in ...
www.angelaboord.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
helynalc.bsky.social
My eight review for #SFINCS Round 1 is up! #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs

I read The Dregs by Thomas J. Devens, a grimdark fantasy novella about a group of war survivors on one last, desperate mission. #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2025/11/24/s...
SFINCS3 Round 1 Review – Thomas J. Devens: The Dregs
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 …
helynalclove.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
helynalc.bsky.social
My ninth review for #SFINCS Round 1 is up! #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs

I read The Bestowed: Champion of the Condemned by C. Ryan Crockett, an epic fantasy adventure about a grieving warrior finding a new cause. #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2025/11/25/s...
SFINCS3 Round 1 Review – C. Ryan Crockett: The Bestowed: Champion of the Condemned
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 …
helynalclove.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
helynalc.bsky.social
My tenth review for #SFINCS Round 1 is up! #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs

I read Proxima Station by Mike Mollman, a whacky space adventure where a young anthropologist is sent to spy on humanity's alien allies on a distant space station. Shenanigans ensue. #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2025/11/26/s...
SFINCS3 Round 1 Review – Mike Mollman: Proxima Station
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 …
helynalclove.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
behindthepages.bsky.social
It's that time of the year where I start posting SFINCS reviews!!! First up is my review for Skyfold by T.J. Mckay! @thesfincs.bsky.social
#booksky💙📚🪐
#writingcommunity

www.behindthepages.org/post/skyfold...
Skyfold by Tim McKay SFINCs3 Book Review
Readers will be immersed in a nerve wracking heist as Cabbot and Riven scale their way to the Skyfold, the place of Sovereign power.
www.behindthepages.org
November 30, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
helynalc.bsky.social
How do you like Gilgamesh? I have vaaaague memories of reading some of the Hungarian translation in primary school! :D I'm reading *so many* novellas for SFINCS these days. I also started Children of Ruin by Tchaikovsky...already amazing. And I'm re-reading Authority by VanderMeer.
October 15, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
helynalc.bsky.social
My sixth review for #SFINCS Round 1 is up! #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs

I read The Butcher's Lot by Cate Baumer, a dark, melancholy romance of two outcasts (one of them a vampire). #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2025/10/24/s...
SFINCS3 Round 1 Review – Cate Baumer: The Butcher’s Lot
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 …
helynalclove.com
October 24, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
jamreads.com
Time for a @thesfincs.bsky.social's review: Parasitic Omens, by @jessicaamcminn.bsky.social is a promising novella that lands into the dark and gritty side, scratching that itch for a Bloodborne like atmosphere.

Full thoughts:
jamreads.com/reviews/para...

💙📚
JamReads - Making your TBR closer to infinite
In JamReads you will find content about books, and why you should read them more. This content may include reviews, interviews and occasionally, some news of the literary world
jamreads.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
fantasybooknerd.bsky.social
New SFINCS review from Sue today!
suebavey.bsky.social Sue’s Musings @suebavey.bsky.social · Oct 13
Here’s my review of SFINCS3 round 1 contestant Water’s Edge by Ellie Lieberman

pagechewing.com/sfincs3-roun...

@thesfincs.bsky.social #novella #horror
October 13, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
voicesofvalhoon.bsky.social
My fourth #SFINCS review is up! The Nome King and The Shroud was SUCH a fun read.

Full review on my blog⬇️

weirdereviews.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...
On the left is the cover for The None King and the Shroud (a Dyson Sphere in space) on the right is a review summary: The Nome King and The Shroud is a tale as old as time of human vs absolutely unhinged AI that can and will kill them without hesitation, but with a delightful twist. The titular "The Nome King' is not only an ark ship shot into space to ferry a colony of humans to a new world, but also a (surprisingly very funny) Al that deals with a tricky conflict of wanting to embrace their freedom and being angry that they were imprisoned for so long, but also still caring for the humans they have carried through space for centuries. This story is told from multiple POVs that jumps around much like a movie or TV show would, and I think it's utilized excellently. While the plot is perhaps predictable, it was an incredibly fun (and at times shocking) read. If you enjoy killer Als, humans just trying to survive in a worst case scenario, and excellent comedic timing then I highly recommend you give this novella a read.
October 14, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
kiraofthewind.com
This novella I just read for SFINCS was really good and had a moment during a beautiful lesbian sex scene where one of the women instructs the other to masturbate. It's only one part of the whole scene, but it's great:

bsky.app/profile/grim...
October 15, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
helynalc.bsky.social
My fourth review for #SFINCS Round 1 is up! #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs

I read The Devil Owns Primetime by Sirius, a queer, religious horror about a greedy preacher who gets his comeuppance. #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2025/10/15/s...
SFINCS3 Round 1 Review – Sirius: The Devil Owns Primetime
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 …
helynalclove.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
helynalc.bsky.social
Hello, do you want to know what I'm reading for the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship aka #SFINCS?

Here they are, in this thread! Lots of cool indie novellas, feast your 👀! #BookSky #fantasy #scifi #horror
October 15, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
blog.readindiefantasy.com
It's book review time!

Here's our second review for this season's edition of SFINCS:
Reap, Sow, by S.H. Cooper is a horror novella set in the deep south, where the nights are hot as hell.

www.readindiefantasy.com/book-recomme...

Highly recommended - enjoy!
/nils

#SFINCS #Booksky
Banner Image for the review of Reap, Sow. The banner shows the book's cover as well as a twisting alleyway and burning flames.
October 16, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
danifinnwrites.bsky.social
Big thanks to @kiraofthewind.com for turning me onto this, and to the SFINCS competition, without which I never would have heard of it!
October 18, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Reposted by The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
voicesofvalhoon.bsky.social
The time has come for yet another #SFINCS review! I've never read a noir greek mythology mystery, but it was certainly a fun combination.

Full review ⬇️
weirdereviews.blogspot.com/2025/10/serv...
On the left is the cover for Servant of the Muses by Brad A White On the left it says Genre: Greek mythological mystery t was a dark and stormy night when I started ready Servant of the Muses, and this novella was just the thing to complete the evening. I love noir vibes in a fantasy story, and White really hit the nail on the head with bringing in that kind of atmosphere to this story. While I don’t know a ton about Greek mythos and it’s usually not the kind of thing I reach for, I though the presence of the muses and Jake’s knowledge of the gods lead to a very interesting mystery with high stakes. I wasn’t a huge fan of the way Jake talked about Erato and other women, but he never did anything untoward to any of them and the language used is very much ‘of the time’ that the book is set in. If you enjoy noir mysteries and greek mythology, this novella is an excellent melding of the two.
October 18, 2025 at 9:53 PM