Hey, friends! As many of you may know, I participate in the BookTubeSFF Awards every year and I love it so very much! I always try to pick up some of the books that I haven’t read that have been nominated, and then pick the winner of each category for me, personally. And even though I really slacked this year, I figured I’d still share my favorites with you today!
The voting for the actual winners opens up on June 1st and closes on June 7th! The live show, where all the judges will discuss the nominees and announce the winners, will be held late June!
But here are all of the different categories, with my reviews and star ratings linked if I read, and who I think should be crowned the winner of each category!
➽ Best Fantasy Novel:
💛 The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin ★★★★★
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden ★★★★★
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence ★★★★★
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab ★★★
This category truly guts me, but I have to go with The Stone Sky always and forever. The trilogy is a masterpiece in general, and that final book is one of the most perfect concluding novels I’ve ever had the honor of reading!
➽ Best Debut Novel:
💛 The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden ★★★★★
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames ★★★★★
The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty ★★★★★
Yeah, I five starred ALL three of these. Oh, cruel world! But The Bear and the Nightingale is the best debut novel I’ve ever read in my entire life.
➽ Best YA:
💛 Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor ★★★★★
Windwitch by Susan Dennard DNF @ 50%
Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab N/A
I don’t even feel bad about this one, because Strange the Dreamer was my favorite book of 2017. Obviously, it deserves to win everything.
➽ Best Middle Grade:
Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi / #1 ★★★
Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan N/A
💛 Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend ★★★★★
The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken ★★★★★
I’m a little torn on this one, just because I did really enjoy Nevermoor, but it took me forever to read! Plus, I also really loved Prosper Redding, but I just think I’ll carry Nevermoor with me longer.
➽ Best Graphic Work:
💛 Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda ★★★★★
Everyone’s a aliebn when your a aliebn too by Jomny Sun N/A
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris N/A
Paper Girls, Vol. 3 by Brian K. Vaughan / Vol. 1 ★★
This is another I should feel bad about, especially because I’ve heard such good things about My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, but Monstress is my favorite graphic work of all time. I couldn’t not pick it.
➽ Best Short Work:
💛 Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire ★★★★★
All Systems Red by Martha Wells N/A
Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor / #1 ★★★★
Few things in my bookish life mean more to me than Seanan McGuire’s novellas. And Down Among the Sticks and Bones is my favorite in this series, to date.
➽ Best Science Fiction Novel:
Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee N/A
Borne by Jeff VanderMeer N/A
The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi N/A
Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel N/A
I know, I’m terrible, but I’d pick Yoon Ha Lee because I’m such a fangirl of their work, but I can’t believe I haven’t picked up Raven Stratagem yet!
Okay, there you have it! Those are my picks! Do you guys feel the same? Did you participate in the BooktubeSFF Awards too? Let me know! And I’m wishing you all the happiest of reading always! And if you’re interested in seeing my picks for the 2017 BooktubeSFF Awards – Click here!
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➽ Also, don’t forget to check out the amazing hosts of this event:
🌑 Samantha from Sam’s Nonsense
🌒 Frankie from Frankie Reads
🌓 Kaitlin from Kitty G
🌔 Rachel from Kalanadi
🌕 Thomas from SFF180
🌖 Connor from Connor O’Brien
🌗 Sam from Thoughts on Tomes
🌘 Chelsea from TheReadingOutlaw
🌑 Elena from Elena Reads Books
meltotheany 
I’d have definitely picked Strange the Dreamer as well, it’s one of my all-time favorites! And ahh you’re making me super excited about The Bear and the Nightingale, I hope I’ll get to it soon. I’ve also heard great things about Down Among the Sticks and Bones & I’ll have to move it up on my TBR list, it seems.
Great post, Mel! 🙂
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You are going to LOVE Bear and the Nightingale, Lily! LOVE! Especially if you read it in winter, because it’s the most atmospheric winter read of my life! Like, my bones feel cold just thinking about that damn book! And thank you for your kind words, love! I hope you’re having the happiest of reading! 💗xx
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Ahh well, now I’m even more excited about it & I think I’ll push it back a few months so I can read it in winter. ❤
Thanks, Mel, you too!! 💕
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I didn’t even know THIS WAS A THING. But it looks super cool! OMG STRANGE THE DREAMER WAS FABULOUS OH MY GOSH. Like Lazlo is just a dream and the writing, oh my gosh I CANNOT, it’s SO GOOD. and I love sarai so MUCH AHHHH. I cannot wait for Muse of Nightmares, the US cover is GORGEOUS and I have no doubt it’s going to be AMAZING and HEART BREAKING!!
I’m so GLAD YOU ENJOYED CITY OF BRASS!! I know many people did, but after trying to get through it, i couldn’t. I was so excited because hijabis in fantasy (ME!!) but I dnf-ed it! I even got a signed copy from the author and look what happens :///
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This comment is my favorite! Haha! Yeah, Strange the Dreamer is legit… everything. Muse of Nightmares is going to be everything, part 2! Hahaha! And I feel like City of Brass is totally hit or miss, and you know you are always valid, bb! But yeah… this year’s book choices had SO many book books! Best BooktubeSFF Awards yet, imo!
I hope you’re having the happiest of reading, love! 💗xx
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i mean if mof disappoints, i think i will just never read another book again. but hopefully it won’t. “has so many book books” XD aww thank you mel, you too ❤
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I agree on Strange the Dreamer and The Bear and the Nightingale! When I read TBatN, I couldn’t believe it was a debut, and it would be the one I choose even though I loved The City of Brass as well (slow atmospheric fantasy = best genre). For sci-fi, I’ve read all but Waking Gods and loved them, but Raven Stratagem is my pick because that’s my favorite series. For fantasy, I’d choose Red Sister, but I haven’t read The Fifth Season yet.
And I’m glad to hear you loved Monstress #2! I haven’t read any of this year’s graphic novels, but I read Monstress #1 last year and really want to continue.
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I love this comment! Okay, first off… it killed me to pick between Red Sister and The Stone Sky! Like picking a favorite child, I swear! Haha! So I completely feel you love! And my heart is so warm from your StD and TBatN feels! Such masterpieces! Both of them! And I loved City of Brass so much, too! I keep telling myself to pick up Waking Gods, but I still haven’t! And I even bought John Sculzi’s book! I’m such a dang slacker! But now I extra hard want to pick up Raven Stratgem! I know it’s going to be a work of art!
Happy reading, love! And seriously, thank you for the comment. Was a joy to read! 💗xx
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Strange the Dreamer was so amazing! And I can’t wait to read The Bear and the Nightingale, it just sounds so fun and fairytale-like 🙂
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Ahhh, I love this comment! And I hope you love The Bear and the Nightingale, love! So perfect, I swear! Happy reading! 💗xx
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look at all these wonderful books!! ❤ I haven't read The Bear and the Nightingale yet but that has obviously got to change. like… magical forest?? feminism?? morally grey characters?? WHERE CAN I GET A COPY OMG
also I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't enjoy Windwitch as much as I expected //: it was pretty slow tbh and it was so chock-full of names and places I didn't care about that I just lost interest? I was constantly waiting for Safi and Iseult to meet and take over the world together but that never happened ):
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Hannah, you are the only other person I know to even be slightly negative about Windwitch… so, I officially love you even more!
As for Bear and the Nightingale. You are going to love it. I know it with my heart and soul. The only thing I’ll say is… it is the most perfect winter time book in the history of winter time books. Like.. you will feel the snow and cold and frost in your bones while reading, I swear it! So… I always recommend reading it then!
But happy reading, love! 💗xx
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Bear and the Nightingale has to win! (although I still have to read the other two in that category and hope I like them just as much as you did 😀 ) And I read Strange the Dreamer recently and it was *gorgeous* (of course, it’s Laini Taylor 😉 ) Awesome choices!!
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Awhhh, thank you, love. You are always the kindest soul to me, I swear. Forever thankful for you. I hope you’re having the happiest of reading! (And both of those… better win *shakes fist*) Hahaha! 💗xx
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Aww that’s a lovely thing to say- thank you so much!! 💗💗💗 hehe absolutely! 😀 xx
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I spot some really great books here, but maaaaaan Red Sister not winning best fantasy??? You’ve got me feeling mixed emotions there. Makes me also want to give N.J. Jemisin’s trilogy now (I know.. I haven’t even started that one yet hihih). 😀 Great post.
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It was like picking between children, Lashaan! It was mean and hard, hahahaha! But also… oh my gosh, you have to start the fifth season! Especially if no one has spoiled you for it, because it’s SUCH an amazing reading experience! 💗xx
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That is a mighty difficult list to choose from, and I haven’t even read most of them but they all sound so good!
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Awh, thank you! And I agree! The 2018 picks were too dang good this year! 💗xx
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I’m afraid to look them up on goodreads because I just know I’m going to want to read them.
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There are several on the list I’ve read and many I haven’t, but I’d find it difficult to vote for anyone other than Victoria Schwab in the categories she’s nominated – such a fan of her imagination and books.
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Awh, I completely understand! This year honestly had SO many good books! Best year yet! 💗xx
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