Hey bookworm friends. Round 2 of BBNYA is now over and the scores have been counted! The competition was tight and 17 finalists have been chosen and announced. I’m so happy to see that some of my favourites made it to the finals but sadly not all of them did. I gave out a decent amount of high scores—what am I to do when I loved so many of them?! And it’s not just me; about 70% of the semi-finalists received a score of 4 out of 5 or higher. So congratulations to all of the semi-finalists🎉! And now, let’s take a look at my top 5 books that didn’t make the finals.
The excerpts from round 2 were 10,000 words each so that’s what I’m basing my opinion on. I gave all of these a 4.75 out of 5 and I hope to finish them at some point! If any sound good to you too, I encourage you to check them out and give these authors some love 🖤!
For purchase links, I’ll try to prioritize the author’s website or Bookshop.org, if I can find the book on there. Otherwise I’ll have to share an Amazon link.
BBNYA 2025: My Top 5 Books That Didn’t Make The Finals.
In The Name of Honor by Courtney & Clarke Collins
A half-elven princess grieves the loss of one father, and fears for the other.
A loyal guardsman torn between his word and her safety.
And a creature so corrupted, he’ll hurt them all to make the world kneel.
Dimitar delivers the worst message of all: vile Corrupted creatures have returned and murdered the king’s best friend. Eager to earn knighthood, he’s surprised when given an order he doesn’t expect: guard the princess… from herself.
Kaleela grieves her father’s friend, who she loved like a second father. She’s left behind while her father seeks justice, shadowed by Dimitar to keep her from following. When Corruptors then capture her father, Kaleela resolves to rescue him, more afraid of losing him than the dangers ahead.
Dimitar must break his vow to keep her safe in the kingdom and together head to the enemy’s lair to free the king. They’re ambushed and come to a disturbing realization: Corruptors now hunt Kaleela for leverage against the uncooperative king. Kaleela and Dimitar must evade capture and rescue her father before he suffers a fate worse than death: total corruption.
By saving one Dimitar will fail the other, and no one is shielded from the Corrupted retribution against both human and elven lands.
Performances of a Death Metal Bard by Rob Leigh
Unfortunately, Death Metal doesn’t get much play in this sleepy, peaceful, actually kind of boring kingdom. Of course not. It’s tough inventing a genre on your own, and it doesn’t help when all the instruments you’ve tried up to this point don’t match the brutality necessary for a dark and heavy performance.
My coin only seems to be enough to get me to the next run-down village, and it’s dwindling fast.
To make matters worse, my newest lute is not normal. It never stays in tune, it’s barely holding together, and it keeps whispering to me. Over and over, demands for vengeance and murder echo in my head, with the promise that I’ll find the sound I need if I just listen to the voices.
So what’s a starving bard to do?
The City of Mist and Tears by Alex Robins
Keselgraad. A city of iron and stone, rising from the mist-shrouded wasteland to pierce the pallid clouds. A colossal man-made mountain stretching a mile high, from the blood-stained alleyways of the Slums to the crystal-studded spire of the Church of the Mother, whose amethyst shards shine brighter than any star.
Keselgraad. Both a haven and a prison. There is no way in. No way out. For the city is under constant assault from an enemy that is as relentless as it is indomitable; a raging sea of churning white that encircles the crumbling walls in its cold embrace. Only the radiance of the Mother can stem the ravenous tide. Only the shield of her faith can keep her citizens safe.
But there is a secret hidden deep within the ancient, decrepit heart of Keselgraad. It is whispered in the darkness of the underground galleries. Scratched into the mud. Etched into the stone.
The crystals are failing.
Their light is dying.
And without their protection, the Mists will be free to enter Keselgraad. To gorge themselves on the flesh of a thousand helpless souls. To drain the life from every last living being; man, woman, and child.
Until the city becomes a tomb.
The Storm Beneath The World by Michael R. Fletcher
The gods have abandoned their creation, fled to the city beyond the clouds. Banished from the heavens, the Betrayer rules the hellish storm beneath the world.
Before the gods left this world, they cursed its people. The magical abilities the inhabitants once enjoyed became twisted and dangerously addictive. Now, to discover one’s talent is a curse. These corrupt souls are doomed to use their skills, improving and growing in strength, until they can no longer resist its lure. Starvation and death are the fate of every Corrupt.
When war with a neighbouring island becomes inevitable, four young Corrupt are sent to a hidden school to hone their dangerous talents. They are to be trained and used as weapons before the curse claims them.
United in purpose, divided by caste, only they can save their home.
Trollgrave by Alex S. Bradshaw
Something stirs in the Forest of Broken Trolls…
Despite all his skill in healing and runecraft, God-Speaker Alvir Einarson could not save everyone.
In the wake of failure, he seeks aid from an old mentor and witnesses a wave of darkness sweep over the land that, for a single moment, extinguishes all magic.
In the capital, he discovers a fellow god-speaker is missing and the streets swarming with Windborn – resurrected warriors gifted with supernatural powers by the gods’ enemies.
Answers await in the Forest of Broken Trolls, but within its sinister depths even the gods’ protection may not be enough, and no more so than now, when the gods’ strength may be fading and dark powers are on the rise.
One thing is Alvir Einarson would rather die than let the gods fall.
Trollgrave is a standalone Norse fantasy filled with fanatical outlaws, strange magic, and vicious monsters.
ICYMI, check out my other #BBNYA2025 highlight:
🏆 6 Books That Stood Out to Me But Didn’t Make it to the Semi-Finals
Let’s chat in the comments!
Did any of these catch your attention? Or, what’s an indie book you’ve loved?
These all sound good!
I have read only one of them, “Performances of a Death Metal Bard” and I loved the idea of it, even if I didn’t really love the execution. But the idea is solid and I am glad to see that you enjoyed what you read of it!
And I love the cover of The City of Mist and Tears, it’s also the book that sounds most appealing to me (to be honest, all sound pretty good, but this one most of them all!).
I honestly loved so many of the reading experiences for this contest so far, I’m impressed! Oh I’m glad you tried Performances of a Death Metal bard, sorry to hear the execution didn’t work for you. I’m hoping to finish it at some point and see how I feel about the rest of it!
I agree the cover for The City of Mist and Tears is cool and the story has captured me for sure. Thanks, Susy!🖤
Great post!! I did not have any of these books on any of my lists either! haha! I’m starting to wonder if I’m in the same program, just kidding! haha. I do need to go back and mark which ones I would like to finish though!
Ahah there were just SO many books, I remember being overwhelmed by the original giant list so I’m not surprised there hasn’t been any cross-over. Yes, I’d love to know which ones captured your attention! 😄
Oh wow in another case of very strange timing I added the first of these to my TBR yesterday 😂 they all sound like interesting ideas and I have to admit that I hadn’t heard of any (besides the first) prior to this post. I’ll definitely have to check out your full thoughts when you get around to reading the rest of these ones 🥰
Oh wow seriously? That is too funny! and I loved how it starts off it totally captured me so I hope it will do the same for you. I really should prioritize finishing these they’re worth it.
Its odd how it keeps happening, we must be in sync 😂 thats wonderful to hear. Its always good when a book reels you in straight away. I hope you enjoy finishing them off whenever you get a chance to.
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