ST. LOUIS, July 19—A princess disguised as a mystical water-creature impressed Realm Makers judges and won author Sarah Pennington the 2024 Book of the Year Award for her fantasy novel Song of the Selkies.

More than 500 fans and faculty gathered for the Realm Awards costume banquet at the annual Realm Makers conference. This twelfth annual ceremony recognized the best of Christian-made fantastical fiction for published novels in many fantastical genres and other categories. Judges used the top five overall scores from all genre categories to choose the coveted final Book of the Year award.

Nominated and winning titles are featured at the Realm Makers Bookstore, which travels to home education conferences that attract tends of thousands of readers.

At the Friday night event, a separate Readers Choice Award attracted thousands of nominated titles from which fans could choose their favorites. Most of the night’s 500 attendees honored their favorite characters and genres with incredible cosplays, joining a separate competition for best costume.

Genre awards

Fantasy winner: Song of the Selkies by Sarah Pennington

Honorable mention: Eagles of the Grand Kingdom by Matt Barron

Nominees

• Eagles of the Grand Kingdom by Matt Barron
• Heart of the Sea by Moriah Chavis
• Song of the Selkies by Sarah Pennington
• The Looking-Glass Illusion by Sara Ella
• Where Darkness Dwells by Andrea Renae

Science fiction winner: When Death Is Coming by Jen Woodrum

Honorable mention: Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx

Nominees

• Soul Designers by Dona Watson
• Steal Fire from the Gods by Clint Hall
• Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx
• The Wayward by Tabitha Caplinger
• When Death Is Coming by Jen Woodrum

Horror/paranormal/supernatural winner: Almost Paradise by Bryan Timothy Mitchell

Honorable mention: Restoration by C. G. Clark

Nominees

• A Fire to Kindle by Daniel Dydek
• A Vine to Prune by Daniel Dydek
• Almost Paradise by Bryan Timothy Mitchell
• Carol of the Rooms by Diana Leagh Matthews
• Restoration by C. G. Clark

Audience awards

Young adult winner: Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx

Honorable mention: Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams

Nominees

• Bear Knight by James Hannibal
• Face the Night by Lani Forbes
• Heart of the Sea by Moriah Chavis
• Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams
• Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx

Middle grade winner: On Hidden Wings by Adare Elyse

Honorable mention: Paintball With Dragons by Hope Bolinger

Nominees

• Lewis: The Wounded by Lauren H. Brandenburg
• On Hidden Wings by Adare Elyse
• Paintball With Dragons by Hope Bolinger
• The Tiny Cyborg by Jill Williamson
• Woodencloak by Dawn Ford

Short fiction awards

Novella winner: Shattered Echoes by Hope Jian

Honorable mention: The Reader and the Soulless by L. A. Thornhill

Nominees

• A Time to Keep by Teddi Deppner
• Crack the Stone by Emily Golus
• Shattered Echoes by Hope Jian
• The Lost Slipper by Michele Israel Harper
• The Reader and the Soulless by L. A. Thornhill

Short story/flash fiction winner: “Inversion” by Cathy McCrumb

Honorable mention: “A Dying Phoenix” by Karyne Norton

Nominees

• “A Dying Phoenix” by Karyne Norton
• “House of Shadows” by Hannah Carter
• “Inversion” by Cathy McCrumb
• “The Little Tire Shop” by Abi Lyn Voss
• “The Mountain of Death” by Lincoln Reed

Audio awards

Audiobook winner: Rogue Pursuit by B. L. Dean, narrated by Sierra Kline

Honorable mention: Estuary by Lisa Bergren, narrated by Jorjeana Marie

Nominees

• Estuary by Lisa Bergren, narrated by Jorjeana Marie
• Prentice Ash by Matt Barron, narrated by Derek Perkins
• Rogue Pursuit by B. L. Dean, narrated by Sierra Kline
• The Orb and the Airship by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt, narrated by Benjamin Fife
• Unleashed by Amber Kirkpatrick, narrated by Magnus Carlssen

Specialty awards

Debut winner: Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx

Honorable mention: When Death Is Coming by Jen Woodrum

Nominees

• Heart of the Sea by Moriah Chavis
• Steal Fire from the Gods by Clint Hall
• Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx
• When Death Is Coming by Jen Woodrum
• Where Darkness Dwells by Andrea Renae

Cover design winner: Steal Fire from the Gods by Clint Hall, design by Kirk DouPonce

Honorable mentions

• Bard Tidings by Paul Regnier, design by Damonza
• Enhanced by Candace Kade, design by Kirk DouPonce

Nominees

• Almost Paradise by Bryan Timothy Mitchell, design by Damonza
• Bard Tidings by Paul Regnier, design by Damonza
• Enhanced by Candace Kade, design by Kirk DouPonce
• Steal Fire from the Gods by Clint Hall, design by Kirk DouPonce
• The Lost King’s Daughter by A. D. German, design by Damonza

Readers Choice Award winner: A Bond of Briars by Erin Phillips

Nominees

• A Goblin of the Glade by McKenzie Catron
• A Bond of Briars by Erin Phillips
• Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams
• Sides by Bradley Caffee
• Sky of Seven Colors by Rachelle Nelson