BBNYA2026 Semi-Finalist Spotlight: Not Lucille by Mike Steele

 

It’s 1931, and children should be seen and not heard.

Ten-year-old Lucy Contento can’t help but be seen and heard. And she’s always in trouble for it. She talks too much. She’s impulsive. She writes with the wrong hand. Her parents would be mad enough knowing she routinely earns afterschool detentions. They’d be furious if they found out she’s been sneaking onto the campus of the nearby Trenton Academy for the Deaf. But there, Lucy has met Florence, a lonely and profoundly deaf girl her own age. Florence doesn’t mind Lucy’s flaws. Though Florence can’t speak, she has a unique way of communicating. If Lucy can figure out how to learn Florence’s special language, the two could be friends.

Lucy devises a plan, but it’s going to cost a whopping $7.98—more money than she’s got. She can’t tell her parents why she wants the funds without revealing she’s been visiting Florence. Besides, her parents don’t have a penny to spare. Her father has been out of work for months. And nobody else in the Contento family has an income. Or do they …? Lucy soon discovers she’s not the only member of her family hiding something. Can she get the money she needs while keeping everyone’s secrets? Or will her scheming land her in the biggest trouble of her life?

In this story of friendship and belonging, a young girl navigates prejudice, punishment, and identity while establishing her voice in a world that often tries to keep her silent.

BBNYA2026 Semi-Finalist Spotlight: Meet Me in the Woods by C.R. Reece

 

When Lowen Lawrence is invited to participate in the annual Moon Water Ritual, she unknowingly unlocks an ancient curse, turning her life upside-down. With two mysterious--and gorgeous--strangers pop up in her sleepy Midwest town of Moon Creek, Lowen is both intrigued and alarmed. Sebastian, with his forward flirtation, and Wesley, who seems steady and familiar, both appear to be keeping secrets. The problem is: Lowen can't seem to stay away from either of them.

When teens are found murdered in town, Lowen understands how dangerous her life has become since Sebastian and Wesley recklessly barged into it. With the help of her friends, Noah and Taylor, she must dive into the mysteries of alchemy, telepathy, and witchcraft in order to figure out who is haunting the woods of Moon Creek, or else become a ghost herself.

BBNYA2026 Semi-Finalist Spotlight: Lost Distillation by D.G. Redd

 

When the world loses its magic, will those who rely on it band together, or will personal problems and petty greed still take precedence?

Varista isn’t a wizard, she’s a thief, and not a well-accomplished one. But after an accidental fire, she ran and hid in the first place she could find, the wizard academy tower. So for months she’s spent her time dodging questions and the notice of her fellow students. In the city outside, Peronyl Landowe continues his quest to climb the council ladder and eventually rule the city. Capturing the fugitive will go a long way to securing his place, if only he could find her.

Now, hidden external forces relieve the world of magic. Varista, thrust from the safety of anonymity, must solve the crisis while avoiding the authorities. Meanwhile, Landowe has tasked himself with benefiting from the calamity and outmanoeuvring his opponents. Their worlds are about to collide.

Will the wizards and politicians of the city set aside their vendettas and games to protect the citizens? Or will Landowe finally capture Varista and bring her to an undeserved justice?

BBNYA2026 Semi-Finalist Spotlight: Lianna and the Hombit by Valinora Troy

 

A grieving girl in need of a friend. A magical creature with a secret task. Can they end the ancient curse threatening their new home?

When 13-year old Lianna, devastated by the loss of her father, is sent to the distant land of Nivram, she finds her new home and guardian every bit as horrible as she expected. When she meets a magical birdlike creature called a hombit, they strike an alliance: Lianna will help it complete its secret mission if it helps her get home.

But her plan goes awry and she accidentally awakens a creature that threatens both her and her new home. Lianna must uncover family secrets to avoid a terrible fate…

A heart-warming story of the healing power of friendship when all seems lost.

BBNYA2026 Semi-Finalist Spotlight: Killer Quill by Sheda Ketzer

 

Murdered in cold blood and resurrected through forbidden powers, Quill becomes her world’s legendary assassin. She can never part with her eponymous quill. It keeps her alive, heals her wounds, and enables her to transform colors into animate objects doing her bidding. In exchange, the quill feeds on her victims’ souls. When her latest mission sparks the higher power’s wrath, Quill must avenge the death of her people and her own murder. Failure will cost more than just her life.

AVR Weekly News ~ 672nd Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by 
Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. 
~ Recap the past week ~ 
~ Show what's upcoming ~ 
~ Share news ~ 
~ Display book hauls ~

BBNYA2026 Semi-Finalist Spotlight: Jester by Tim Carter

 

In a realm ruled by idiots, their only hope is the Fool.

You’d think an army of zombie trolls and undead ogres would catch the nobility’s attention. You’d be wrong. The rulers of Halfsock are deeply in denial. Besides, they have taxes to avoid, neighbors to plunder, and relatives to backstab.

With war looming, a goblin latrine slave named Shelly resolves to save Castle Halfsock from itself. He must take on many roles… jester, detective, spy, and political fixer. But his most challenging role—especially after a lifetime spent cleaning other people’s toilets—is as a confident secret agent worthy of trust, friendship, and maybe even love.

Can the least powerful person in the realm overcome his insecurities to depose rulers, forge alliances, and fend off an undead horde?

A comic tale of politics, friendship, and found family for fans of Nicholas Eames, Terry Pratchett, and J. Zachary Pike.

BBNYA2026 Semi-Finalist Spotlight: Involuntarily Immortal by Emily Barlow

 

Sable Montgrief wishes her curse would let her die. Unfortunately for her, fate has other plans.

Sable longs for release from her centuries-old fate. Living alone in a remote cabin, she's close to breaking the spell keeping her alive—until her solitude is shattered by a desperate father, Adem Ozturk.

Adem is in a race against time to save his daughter, Ailith, who is haunted by terrifying visions of a future she cannot control. Their only hope lies with Sable, whose unique abilities could prevent a coming catastrophe—but convincing her to help means binding her to another lifetime of torment.

Dive into a gripping tale of sacrifice, fate, and the thin line between life and death in this spellbinding urban fantasy adventure!

Friday Featured Spotlight ~ The Write Reads Blog Tour: He Loves Me (Not) by Márie Zepf

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA

BBNYA2026 Semi-Finalist Spotlight: Insider by K.B. Gazeena

 

Yang Lin is a rising star at Hauser Incorporated, one of the three corporations that rule Earth. But Lin has a secret that could destroy everything she’s worked to achieve.

She wasn’t born on Earth, but on a refugee ship fleeing a faraway colony. Lin has lived her whole life in two worlds, associating with other refugees from the colonies at home but passing as a successful Earth-born woman at work and school.

Now Lin has to choose.

Her mother and a group of fellow colonists have a plan to get more refugees past the deadly defenses guarding Earth, and they need Lin’s help. Joining the cause could mean losing everything—even her life. Refusing to help will mean the death of thousands from her homeworld.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Lin, someone powerful is about to blow her cover. In Insider, a gripping sci-fi thriller, Lin’s next move could save her people or doom them all.