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Literary Titan Book Awards April 2022
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and imagination of these talented authors.
Gold Award Winners
The Future is a Memory, C. Ross
Silver Award Winners
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Shifter
Twin brothers with the power of life and death – will they choose the path of good or evil? In Shifter, the second book in the Healer Chronicles, Michael J Bowler brings us back to the world of Alex and Andy and all the characters revolving around them. Having survived the events in the first thrilling book, the brothers begin to get to know each other and test the limits of what they can do together. But with secret organizations and military operations vying for control of their power, they have to make difficult choices that could save people… or leave them dead. The story takes twists and turns that make you question everything and everyone, from well-guarded fortresses and secret military labs in the desert.
Early on, we’re taken back to Andy’s horrific childhood, which explains his character to the reader and his brother Alex. The reader also gets some recaps and explanations of events in the first book, allowing those that have not read the first novel to understand this one. The author expertly balances dialogue, description, and action, creating incredible tension. A few scenes in the military lab had me literally at the edge of my seat! The author also created a rich and relatable world by adding small details between big moments.
There were plenty of everyday things that we take for granted highlighted in these extreme circumstances. For example, Alex’s experiences with his disability, not being able to reach a shirt in a closet that wasn’t made for someone in a wheelchair. Alex’s human existence gave us a closer connection to a character with incredible power. I loved so many of the characters in the novel. They were unusual heroes, abandoned or scorned by society because of who they are, mistakes from their past, or circumstances beyond their control.
There were also plenty of more important questions of ethics and morality in the choices the main characters have to make, as exemplified in the passage below: “And you would be, Alex. You two could save more lives than anyone in history.” “By killing,” Alex said, his voice barely a whisper. “How is that good?” “Because some people need to be killed so others may live.” Without giving too much away, you can see the dilemma Alex faces when he learns about how some powerful forces would want him to use his power.
However, conflict in the book doesn’t touch only upon questions of morality but also on adolescent insecurities and friendship. Many characters grapple with complex feelings of jealousy or fear of a new person joining the group and taking your place, wanting to prove their strength.
Shifter (The Healer Chronicles Book 2) is a suspenseful young adult thriller. With strong and memorable characters, non-stop action, and high tension, readers will not want to put the book down and anxiously await the conclusion of this exciting trilogy.
Pages: 372 | ASIN : B09R2K41L7
Supernaturals Coming Together
The Younglings Shadows & Magic follows a teenage boy as he comes to terms with his supernatural powers and hunts a killer. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I’ve always been a lover of fantasy & the supernatural. The concept of a diverse range of supernaturals coming together to fight for good, has been an idea of mine for quite a long time. I wanted this concept to be a coming of age type story—teenagers dealing with teenage life, and being thrown into a supernatural world, whilst discovering who they are, forming the bonds of friendship, and falling in love, as well as all the usual teen-angst.
Quinn has a few shocking revelations in this novel on top of being a teenager figuring out who they are. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
As a mother, I have, in the not too distant past, had a house full of teenagers. The joie de vivre that they have is inspiring. But most teens can experience all sorts of difficulties in their day to day lives—from bullying, to gossip, to drugs, to deep depression, isolation, and so on. Subsequently, overly polished plots and people won’t resonate. They want to see themselves in your characters—they want the messy, real deal.
The characters in my series are real teenagers, from the decisions they make, to their reactions to certain situations, and the confusion of falling in love—like real teens. Their heightened sense of emotion (and hormones) can cause immaturity and self-doubt issues. We see The Younglings grow and mature throughout the series. For Quinn, though, it was a matter of integrity—finding out your father is not human but a demon king—would it break him or make him stronger?
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
As a writer, I wanted to be edgy, to write like young adults would think and speak, and really get into their mindset. The theme of self-belief, family bonds and friendship are important to me—but all in all, I felt that my characters needed to be portrayed honestly.
Another thing I needed to remember, was that my book would need to exclude any insight a typical teen would not yet have—for the characters integrity. As teenagers, The Younglings wouldn’t have the wisdom of a forty-year-old, would they? And we have to remember, teens don’t want to be treated like kids. Teens read to understand friends, frenemies, but mostly themselves. I feel the goal should be to empower teen readers.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The sequel—The Younglings: Fire & Magic is out early June 2022. I’m hoping the third in the series—The Younglings: Starlight & Magic will be out December 2022, or early 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
“This is such a hilarious and well-paced YA read that introduces us beautifully into a new series. It is absolutely packed with demons, angels, ghosts, witches, and more, all wrapped up in teen angst, misfits and unwitting heroes.”
Supernaturals are fantasy, right?
Wrong … so very wrong.
When Quinn Carter finds out his dad is a demon king, his life spirals to Crazyville.
As if being secretly in love with his best friend, Eve, isn’t bad enough, he also starts to develop freaky powers, then finds out Eve and his grandma aren’t all they seem.
His new friends have secrets too. Apparently, demons aren’t the only paranormals out there.
Throw in a few spirits, stab-worthy demons and black witchcraft, and life becomes messy for Quinn and his team of supernaturals.
On top of it all, the vampire ministry covet Eve’s angelic blood. Will the team rescue her before it’s too late for Quinn to admit his feelings?
“If you’re a Twilight or City of Bones fan, this is for you.”
“I also loved the grannies! What a fabulous team of guardians they had watching over them!”
“If you are a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Supernatural this is perfect reading material to satisfy your paranormal obsession.”
“Quinn is so well written, funny, frustrating and loveable.”
“I simply loved the world building, the characters that are diverse in their supernatural abilities, gender and sexuality which is fantastic to see.”
Gaia’s Game
Gaia’s Game, by Ken Stark, is the story of how one day changed the lives of all those who reside in Keeter’s Bluff. With the help of fellow Bluff residents, Sheriff Tom Cooper helps save the town from a disaster they’ve never seen before. Newcomer, Emma Wong, explains “Gaia’s Theory” to try and understand the events that unfold that horrifying day.
The story begins with a simple wedding. Then, the Sheriff gets called away to investigate multiple animal attacks throughout the city. What starts as animal attacks slowly turn into murders. The Sheriff believes this is just a crazy day and that the events are not connected.
After meeting Emma Wong, she proposes the idea that Gaia has upped the ante and created a force capable of killing the human race that wouldn’t be so easily stopped. The Sheriff and Emma work as a team and with other surviving residents to stop the deadly force from murdering the entire town. Throughout the day, they realize that what they are experiencing is worldwide and not just isolated in the town of Keeter’s Bluff.
The sharp writing style and eerie tone of this book are blended perfectly to create a high level of suspense throughout the story. Every character that is introduced has their own unique characteristics and develops in interesting ways, even those who are only mentioned in the moments before their death. As readers follow the gory deaths occurring, they begin to realize who is committing all of the murders. The realization of who is doing the killing will leave readers horrified and on the edge of their seat. The enigmatic horror element of the story was one thing that kept me coming back to this book. This novel’s mystery has substantial shock value and keeps readers on edge most of the time. This novel reminds me of the dark supernatural feel of the movie “Sinister” or an updated “Children of the Corn.”
Gaia’s Game, by Ken Stark, is a suspenseful mystery novel for readers who love bizarre horror. This paranormal story will thrill readers until the end and leave them with a chilling conclusion.
Pages: 353 | ASIN : B098GQ4RTJ
Meshkwadoon: Book 1
Alex Tilley has crafted a world where people in the melting pot of Ontario, Canada, come face to face with the spirits of the lands they call home. Blending beliefs and personalities from India and Japan with the indigenous Anishinabek traditions and mythologies forges a new map to follow through these forests and small towns. Meshkwadoon translates as a bargain, trading or exchange. As the novel unfolds, readers discover many other words found in Ojibwe, and some Japanese and Hindi peppered in. Within the context of the story, many terms get defined while reading, and using other languages helps the reader step into the unknown a little less sure-footed, but with a sense of wonder.
The story opens with the dreamy Natasha, who we soon find out appears to be having delusions or hallucinations in the forest, if not visitations from powerful old spirits. Begging for help or direction home, she is told in few and broken words that they don’t want her to leave. Her hazelnut eyes drink in the trees and waterways as she tries to escape. Seasons seem to flash forward as we discover all is not what it seems in the woods.
We follow mild-mannered teacher Arjun on a class trip into Algonquin park from Huntsville Ontario when his hiking group finds Natasha covered in mud, nude, and unable to explain where she had come from, or otherwise who she is. One student, Yutta, assists Arjun with the exhausted and injured girl and soon becomes inexplicably enraptured with her.
After handing the strange girl over to the authorities, Arjun, the teacher, is visited by a mysterious reporter named Chloe who is digging for clues about what may have happened to Yutta’s grandparents. Arjun, certain the strange girl and his student’s tragedy must be connected, goes to the hospital and visit the enigmatic Natasha. Much like Yutta, he can’t get her out of his mind and proves oddly compelled to seek her out. Natasha, now missing from the hospital, has this unlikely duo– man and boy– seeking her out. Visions, apparitions, spirits, and tricksters fade in and out as the men travel together, then separately, unraveling as best they can what happened to Natasha before they found her and uncovering clues to the journey she is on now. Many of the people they meet sometimes help or otherwise hinder their quest to find the striking girl who seems to call from them through miles of the surrounding forest.
Chloe’s father, Ogi, is a medicine-man of sorts and has some answers and guidance but warns them all is not what it seems in terms of the meshkwadoon between Natasha and the earth. Peppered with moments of nightmarish visions, and the terror of being alone in the forest, the book has only a few main characters but many short scenes with unnamed apparitions, spirits, and strangers they meet along the way, perhaps many guises of the trickster spirit Nanabush or the greater spirits of the earth itself. From modern hospitals to the most ancient groves, the story paints a picture of Ontario that is recognizable when Arjun and Yutta are interacting with the familiar, yet a murky mystical world lurks under all of this as they take guidance from the various monsters, guides, and spirits.
Some of these characters may be familiar to readers of fantasy or folklore, and certainly to those who are acquainted with indigenous legends. From the stoic brother bear that lends Arjun clarity and wisdom to the mischievous Puk-wudgie, a tiny woodland troll-creature that accompanies Yutta; there are extremes of delightful whimsy and cold reckoning worked into each chapter as they encounter clues to Natasha’s true nature. The very human elements of exhaustion, pain, nudity, confusion, and dread weave through the story, making this sit very close to the realm of horror without being overly graphic. This is despite the beautiful descriptions of the landscapes these creatures and our cast travel through. The woods are dense between the towns and cities we discover, Huntsville to Sudbury, and it soon becomes clear people can be very close to one another, yet be lost and alone at the same time.
Meshkwadoon spans the genres of dark fantasy, thriller, horror, and magic realism, creating a complex storyline with many twists. Readers will find themselves on a journey questioning what is real as they follow the characters through this chilling novel.
Pages: 242 | ASIN : B09PBKYBBP
The Younglings
Destined to be Keepers – the Protector of innocents in the mortal realm, Quinn and his team of supernatural friends must safeguard their town of Portaville from all the mystical energies that come their way. When a teacher’s heart is torn out of their chest and students start to go missing, the friends combine forces to reinstate the safety of those closest to them. With their freshly discovered powers, the teens can sense something isn’t all that it’s made out to be. All it takes is Mrs. D – Quin’s demon nanny – to confirm their suspicions and their plan to stop the murderer begins. All while Quinn is coming to terms with the fact that he is the demon king’s son!
Author Helena Craggs expertly crafts a brilliant young adult novel and navigates the reader through first loves, sexuality, friendship, and familial unity. Readers will find the characters in the story to be entertaining, full of personality, typical teenage moods, and dedication to their cause. In addition, the author injects humor in the story which lightens the mood of some of the darker drama that they face, and the twists and turns of the storyline as they discover more information about the town, paranormal activities, and themselves, making this an unpredictable urban fantasy novel.
Craggs has done well to create realistic characters and an easy-to-follow storyline with enough action to keep readers engaged. There is a character for everyone to relate to with demons, angels, ghosts, witches, magic, and teenagers. I enjoyed reading about Quin’s character especially as we followed him on his emotional journey of discovering his own powers and learning the truth about his family.
The Younglings: Shadows & Magic is a fast-paced, jam-packed paranormal fantasy novel that is perfect for younger readers looking to be taken on a fantastical journey that is filled with supernatural beings and teen angst.
Pages: 401 | AISN : B09C6JLDQW
The Many Worlds of Mr. A. Skouandy
The Many Worlds of Mr. A. Skouandy & Other Stories from Oakwood Sanatorium is an assorted collection of short stories ranging from heartbreaking to horrifying. Author Julie Kusma explores loss, loneliness, grief, and a host of other mental afflictions in these winding, interconnected tales from the titular mental hospital. We follow Dr. Shepard Blanchard as he investigates the curious case of a newly admitted patient, one Mr. A. Skouandy and his mysterious knowledge of other patients in the ward. Dr. Blanchard becomes transfixed with Mr. Skouandy’s claims, and his investigation leads him on a journey through the origins of how the inhabitants of Oakwood Sanatorium came to reside there.
The main narrative takes place in the Oakwood sanatorium in the 1940s. We are not privy to Dr. Blanchard’s interviews with the patients; instead, we are treated to events in their lives that cause them to end up in Oakwood Sanatorium. The patient’s stories of loss or trauma and the resulting mental illness or psychotic break offer an interesting reflection on how the diverse characters deal with grief in their lives.
The author explores many genres: science fiction, fantasy, and horror are all represented here, while most of the stories are steeped in reality, as unsettling as it may be. The novel itself is a vehicle for some of Kusma’s works that have appeared previously. Dr. Blanchard’s prologues and handwritten notes offer a connecting thread to the stories, and it works to varying degrees. I feel some of the stories mesh well together in the setting, but others feel forced at times. “Free of Bees “and “The Writing Room” fit nicely. “Silence So Deafening” and “Baby Makes Three” have a very Twilight Zone-vibe, which works for this collection.
The Many Worlds of Mr. A. Skouandy & Other Stories from Oakwood Sanatorium is a collection of short stories collected from patients in a sanatorium, making it easy to combine elements from multiple genres. Readers who like the unusual, strange, and horrifying aspects of life will find this eclectic book a great escape from the day-to-day realities.
Pages: 172 | ASIN : B09FKCYN44
LITERARY TITAN 