SFINCS3 Finalist Review – Ben Galley: The Weaver and the Wyrm 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 …

It's time for the #SFINCS #SFINCS3 finals, and I've been reading! #TheWIPs

A shamed mage is sent to retrieve a dangerous magical weapon, which turns out to be a poisonous, legendary animal sought by a strange mafia boss. And things become complicated... #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2026/04/03/s...

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 Round 2 Review – Karen H. Lucia: A Second Life Worth Living 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 fourth read in Round 2 of #SFINCS was A Second Life Worth Living by Karen H. Lucia. #TheWIPs

A poignant, honest exploration of the ways we stand up for what we believe in. #SFINCS3 #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2026/01/25/s...

SFINCS3 Round 2 Review – Jennifer R. Donohue: The Drowned Heir 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 third read in Round 2 of #SFINCS was The Drowned Heir by Jennifer R. Donohue. #TheWIPs

A dark but hopeful exploration of dangerous, magical sea beasts and sharing your body with your uncle. #SFINCS3 #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2026/01/23/s...

SFINCS3 Round 2 Review – Gregory Kontaxis: The Knight of the Moon 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 second read in Round 2 of #SFINCS was The Knight of the Moon by Gregory Kontaxis. #TheWIPs

A bounty hunter and a brave warrior are blackmailed into hunting a runaway knight... #SFINCS3 #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2026/01/11/s...

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...

#TheWIPs have received their Round 2 allocations for #SFINCS!

I'm so excited to get reading again! 👀

Look upon the chosen!

Our judge team, #TheWIPs has announced the semi-finalists for #SFINCS3! #BookSky

There were so many awesome novellas I was so pleased to read! The choice was truly difficult!

SFINCS3 Round 1 Mini Reviews The first round of SFINCS, the indie novella competition, is drawing to a close with the 20th of December. Additionally to the 10 novellas assigned to me (read my reviews here), I managed to read a…

Round 1 of #SFINCS is nearly over, and so this is my last review post where I wrote a couple of words about 5 more novellas I read outside of my original allocations!
#SFINCS3 #TheWIPs

helynalclove.com/2025/12/17/s...

And in case you're curious, below you'll find the thread of my first 10 reads!

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 …

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 – 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 …

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 – 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 …

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 – 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 …

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 – 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 …

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 – E. L. Montague: The Incident at Peeling Head 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 fifth review for #SFINCS Round 1 is up! #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs

I read The Incident at Peeling Head by E. L. Montague, a breakneck-speed sci-fi adventure about a motley crew of space pirates stumbling into a whole lot of trouble. #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2025/10/23/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 …

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 – J. P. Relph, Mathew Gostelow: Watcher 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 third review for #SFINCS Round 1 is up! #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs

I read Watcher by J. P. Relph and Mathew Gostelow, a supernatural thriller about rebel angels and a man capable of walking in other people's skins... #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2025/10/12/s...

SFINCS3 Round 1 Review – Millie Abecassis: Daughters of the Blue Moon 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 second review for #SFINCS Round 1 is up! #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs

I read Daughters of the Blue Moon by Millie Abecassis, a dark fantasy retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2025/09/29/s...

SFINCS3 Round 1 Review – Olga Werby: Good Girl This year I’m a judge for the yearly indie novella competition, SFINCS (The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship), and I thought I’d resurrect my blog for the purpose of posti…

My first review for #SFINCS Round 1 is up! #SFINCS3 #TheWIPs

Also, stealing @stevewestenra.bsky.social's idea, and this will be a thread (if I don't forget lol) #BookSky

helynalclove.com/2025/09/29/s...

Watch out, The WIPs are coming for y'all's novellas! 😏 #SFINCS3

So happy to be part of this team! 💕 #SFINCS #BookSky #thewips

Judging Teams | The Speculative Fiction Meet the current teams judging for The Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship.

I'm officially BACK as a judge for #SFINCS3! I can't wait to read everyone's wonderful books--last year was a genuine delight.

www.sfincscompetition.com/judging-teams

Happy to be part of #thewips this year--credit for our name goes to @helynalc.bsky.social

#SFINCS