I am absolutely thrilled to be a Cybils judge for the eighth (!!) year running in 2018. This will be my fourth year as a panelist for round 1 of YA speculative fiction, and I have to say, this is probably my favorite category to participate in (when my life allows for it). I love making my way through a huge list of books, reconnecting with the type of story I loved most as a teenager. I always end up finding new favorites I likely wouldn’t have read otherwise, including past finalists Death Sworn by Leah Cypess, An Inheritance of Ashes by Leah Bobet, and Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser.
Nominations opened October 1, and I hope each of you will take just a few minutes to submit some titles. You can nominate one title per category, and each must have been published specifically for the stated age range (in the case of my category, teenagers/young adults) between October 16, 2017 and October 15, 2018. Because I’m a helpful kind of person, I’ve created a list of books that are eligible for YA speculative fiction this year below. These are books I’ve already read that I think would be worth considering or books I’m just excited to read. Be sure to check your title against the list of those already nominated so you don’t duplicate.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
Onyx and Ivory by Mindee Arnett
Damsel by Elana K. Arnold
Devils Unto Dust by Emma Berquist
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Contagion by Erin Bowman
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole
Mirage by Somaiya Daud
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James
Lifel1k3 by Jay Kristoff
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Sanctuary by Caryn Lix
Black Wings Beating by Alex London
Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier
Nightingale by Amy Lukavics
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan (This may be more suited to YA Fiction, but I’m not sure!)
Seafire by Natalie C. Parker
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez
Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis
Dry by Neal Shusterman
Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria