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Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
Filaments by KZK Zuganelis Kasling
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
The Visitors
A few years from now, Earth faces total annihilation, unless two determined aliens can rewrite its fate. Bjorn and Zorn, shapeshifting observers of our troubled planet, are horrified by what they see. Determined to save humanity from itself, they leap back through time to intervene. Their unlikely allies? A ragtag band of cynical animals: Dax, a chicken-nugget-loving Maine Coon; Penelope, an irreverent Adélie penguin; Florence, a thoughtful cow; and Ptoni, a prehistoric Pteranodon with attitude. Saving the world is serious business, but with this crew, chaos comes laced with comedy.
The Visitors by Andrew Cahill-Lloyd targets a young adult audience, though its wit and inventiveness easily appeal to older readers as well. Fans of Artemis Fowl will recognize the quick pacing and mischievous tone, while admirers of Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett will find familiar notes of absurdity and satire.
Cahill-Lloyd excels at weaving eccentric characters and outrageous scenarios into a cohesive, fast-moving narrative. Beneath the laughter, however, pulse weightier themes, homophobia, racism, and the perils of blind faith. These serious undertones are handled deftly, introduced with humor and humanity rather than heaviness.
Each brisk chapter feels like an episode from a gleefully bizarre television series. The jokes land fast, the dialogue crackles, and amid the hilarity, flashes of insight remind us what’s at stake. Bjorn and Zorn’s advanced technology allows for wild journeys through time and space, yet it also highlights a sobering truth: humans, given such power, might not use it for good.
For all its zany energy, The Visitors is more than intergalactic farce. It’s sharp, funny, and oddly poignant, a whirlwind of wit and wonder that never overstays its welcome. Cahill-Lloyd writes with the kind of gleeful abandon that invites readers to laugh, think, and maybe cringe a little at their own species.
Pages: 264 | ASIN : B0FS6Y7YDK
The Dragon Moonstone
The Dragon Moonstone follows the chaotic, funny, and often heartfelt journey of Noah Farmer, a young man who discovers he’s inherited wizard blood and must learn to control his unstable magic before it consumes him. What starts as an odd encounter with a mysterious enforcer quickly spirals into a whirlwind adventure full of enchanted forests, eccentric mentors, and mischievous magic gone wrong. At its heart, it’s a story about self-discovery, friendship, and finding courage when the world turns upside down. It’s got the charm of a coming-of-age tale with the wild unpredictability of a modern fantasy romp.
Reading this book felt like riding shotgun on a road trip through chaos and wonder. Garske’s writing is lively, cinematic, and easy to slip into. The banter between characters kept me smiling, especially the snarky exchanges between Noah and the exasperated Erik Guyguyum. I liked how the humor softened the heavier themes about loss and growing up. The energy of the story carried me forward. It reminded me of the kind of fantasy I read as a kid, where everything feels possible and slightly dangerous.
What really struck me was the emotional thread running beneath all the spells and mayhem. Noah’s grief, his uncertainty, his stubborn will to find where he belongs, all of it felt real. The story doesn’t just play with wands and wizardry; it digs into what it means to grow into yourself when you don’t fit neatly anywhere. I found myself laughing one page and unexpectedly touched the next. Garske’s characters are flawed in the best way. They make bad choices, say dumb things, and still keep trying. That’s what made them feel human, even when surrounded by magic frogs and talking raccoons.
I’d recommend The Dragon Moonstone to anyone who loves lighthearted fantasy with a dose of heart. Teen readers, fans of quirky wizard tales, or anyone needing an escape into a fun, fast-moving adventure will enjoy it. It’s about friendship, family, and finding magic in the mess.
Pages: 301 | ASIN : B0CK6G9V11
The Song of Hadariah
The Song of Hadariah follows Carrie Eisen, a seventeen-year-old caught between the ordinary pressures of finishing high school and the extraordinary call of magic. When she encounters a talking fox named Adom, her world is turned upside down. Alongside her two best friends, she’s drawn into Hadariah, a realm where music and spirit are one, and darkness has silenced its heart. Together, the girls set out to retrieve enchanted violin strings stolen by the demon king Asmodeus, hoping to restore harmony to a dying world. What starts as a whimsical fantasy quickly becomes a story about friendship, belief, and courage.
Reading this book felt like stepping back into the kind of story I would’ve loved as a teenager. The writing is vivid and heartfelt, full of warmth and charm. Goldenberg’s voice has this nostalgic rhythm to it. It moves like a bedtime story told by someone who truly believes in the power of magic. Sometimes the pacing slows a little, especially in the early chapters, but once the girls enter Hadariah, the world blossoms with texture and wonder. I liked how the author blended Jewish folklore with classic fantasy elements; it made the story feel both familiar and fresh. The dialogue among the girls felt genuine too, full of the easy banter and affection that comes from years of friendship. Their bond grounded the magic, made it feel real.
There were moments when I wanted to see a little more from the story’s darker side. Asmodeus, for instance, comes across as more symbolic than menacing, and the conflict feels gentler than I expected. But the real struggle isn’t only against a demon, it’s about growing up and finding the courage to believe when the world makes it hard to do so. I loved how Carrie wrestled with doubt and faith, logic and wonder. It reminded me that magic isn’t always about spells or creatures, it’s about trust, bravery, and the invisible threads between people. And that hit home for me.
The Song of Hadariah is a lovely, thoughtful fantasy that captures the ache of adolescence and the pull of imagination. It’s ideal for readers who miss the sincerity of early young adult fantasy, those who grew up on Narnia, Inkheart, or His Dark Materials, and still look at the world hoping to find a hidden doorway somewhere.
Pages: 212 | ASIN : B0FR2MLTMR
SWITCH and Blue Eagle: A Superhero Sidekick Novel
Switch and Blue Eagle tells the story of Jack Dufraine, a teenage sidekick known as Switch, and his father David, the legendary superhero Blue Eagle. Together, they protect Herald City from villains like Blizz Kid, Queen Venus, and the eerie Poster Boy. Beneath the flashy battles and high-speed heroics lies a story about legacy, pressure, and the uneasy relationship between generations. Jack struggles to live up to his father’s impossible expectations while questioning the morality of their world, a world that seems to see justice in black and white. The novel blends comic-book action with genuine emotional conflict, making it more than a simple superhero tale.
Author Joseph Safdia’s writing is clear and visual, almost cinematic, and I could picture every fight scene as if it were on a big screen. But what really grabbed me wasn’t the action. It was Jack’s internal struggle. He wants to be a hero in his own way, to think rather than just punch. His dad, though, is stuck in an older mindset, all muscle and certainty. That tension hit home for me. It reminded me of those times when your elders just don’t get what the world feels like now. Safdia captures that gap perfectly. Still, the dialogue sometimes felt a bit heavy, almost like it came from a comic book bubble. It worked in places, but I wanted a bit more subtlety.
What stuck with me most were the small human moments. Jasper, one of the criminals, trying to save his family from the mob, it made me rethink the idea of “villains.” Safdia doesn’t just show the shiny side of heroism. He looks at the cracks in it. The book asks what makes someone good or bad, and whether society even gives people the same chances to choose. Those questions stayed with me. Sometimes leans into comic-style melodrama, but it’s sincere, and that sincerity carries it.
I’d recommend Switch and Blue Eagle to readers who love superhero stories but want something deeper than capes and catchphrases. It’s for those who like action that also makes you think, and who appreciate a bit of heart beneath the heroics. Teen readers will see themselves in Jack’s doubts, and adults might see a bit of their own reflection in Blue Eagle’s rigid worldview. It’s an entertaining, heartfelt story that mixes the thrill of superpowers with the pain of growing up.
Pages: 351 | ASIN: B0FS2718R1
Sitnalta
Sitnalta tells the story of a young princess trapped in a kingdom ruled by cruelty and fear. From her birth, Sitnalta’s life is shadowed by her father’s tyranny and the tragic death of her mother. As she grows up, she becomes restless, yearning for freedom beyond the walls of her father’s cold castle. The novel follows her journey from captivity to self-discovery, blending elements of fairy tale, adventure, and moral reflection. The book opens with heartbreak and ends with a quiet defiance that feels earned. It’s a story about courage, kindness, and the stubbornness it takes to be yourself when the world insists otherwise.
Reading Sitnalta pulled me in more deeply than I expected. The writing is vivid and easy to fall into. The author paints scenes with the kind of care that makes the air in the story feel real. The story moves between light and dark with an unhurried rhythm. I found myself frustrated at times, mostly because I cared so much. Sitnalta’s innocence, her stubborn streak, her quiet bravery, they resonated with me. Some of the dialogue feels old-fashioned, but that suits the fairy-tale tone. What surprised me most was how layered the “villain” felt. King Supmylo is monstrous, yes, but there’s something broken beneath his cruelty. That complexity made the story more relatable than I expected.
There’s sadness in nearly every chapter, but it’s the kind that lingers gently instead of crushing you. Sitnalta’s world feels unfair, and yet she carries herself with grace and wit. Her friendship with Najort, the kind-hearted troll, was my favorite part. It’s strange and tender, filled with quiet understanding. The writing in those scenes feels softer, almost glowing. I caught myself smiling at moments that shouldn’t have been happy but somehow were. The author doesn’t overcomplicate things. The prose feels clean and honest. You can sense that it was written with love, not just for the story but for what stories can do, for how they let us hope.
I’d recommend Sitnalta to anyone who loves stories about courage, compassion, and freedom. It’s not just a tale for young readers; it’s for anyone who’s ever felt trapped by the life they were born into. It’s a book that made me think about kindness in a world that often rewards cruelty, and about how sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is walk away and begin again.
Pages: 204 | ASIN : B0FWFBQMG3
Terra Tamers: Alpha
Terra Tamers: Alpha is a sprawling young adult sci-fi adventure set in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity clings to life aboard floating cities after a cataclysm known as “the Hollowing.” The story follows Matthew Wong, a teenager under house arrest in Sojourn, a massive city adrift at sea. Alongside his younger brother and a group of friends, he ventures into a dangerous world filled with sentient machines called Holos and mysterious remnants of the old world. The book is a blend of futuristic technology, human resilience, and the kind of awkward hope that only a young hero can carry. It’s part survival story, part coming-of-age tale, and part philosophical dive into what it means to remain human when the world has been remade by its own creations.
Reading this book felt like watching a vivid dream unfold. There’s an undercurrent of pain and perseverance that runs beneath the action, a quiet heartbeat that says, “keep going.” The writing isn’t always clean or polished. But it feels alive. I found myself drawn in by the rhythm of the dialogue and the scrappy, sarcastic charm of the narrator. The world-building is detailed without becoming overwhelming, and the emotional core, this bond between siblings trying to find their place in a crumbling world, hit me harder than I expected.
What really stood out to me were the quieter moments, the human ones tucked between the chaos of combat and survival. The book isn’t afraid to be sentimental, and I kind of loved that. It wears its heart right on its sleeve. There are bits where the pacing slows, or a joke lands flat, but the sincerity never does. You can tell Petrilli poured himself into these pages, and that makes the story resonate in a way that feels more honest than many perfectly edited novels.
I’d recommend Terra Tamers: Alpha to readers who love stories about grit and heart more than perfection. Fans of Percy Jackson or The Maze Runner will feel at home here, though this book carries a quieter, more introspective tone beneath the adventure. If you’re looking for a story that blends science fiction with emotion, or if you simply want to be reminded why hope still matters even when the world feels broken, this one’s worth your time.
Pages: 524 | ASIN : B0F9DBXR8H
Washington
The book Washington tells a gripping, slow-burning story of Evan, a ninth-grader navigating the chaos of high school life while a darker tragedy brews beneath the surface. It’s a novel that moves between ordinary teenage moments like awkward conversations, new friendships, and lunchtime hierarchies, and shocking violence that tears through that fragile normalcy. The shifts in time and tone build a picture of youth that feels raw and real. It’s part coming-of-age story, part psychological drama, and part social warning. Through quiet, honest scenes, the author shows how loneliness, cruelty, and silence can twist into something explosive.
Reading this book hit me hard. The writing feels unfiltered and close, like you’re sitting in Evan’s head, watching him sink and resurface with every scene. Author Thomas J. Gebhardt III’s prose is simple but charged, almost cinematic. He writes with an eye for small, human details, the twitch of a hand, the blur of light across a hallway, the weight of a single choice. That’s what makes it so effective. You can almost feel the tightness in Evan’s chest, and remember what it was like to be young and lost. At times I wanted to shake the characters, to stop what I knew was coming, but the story keeps you trapped in its slow inevitability. It’s haunting. It’s frustrating. It’s heartbreakingly believable.
I found myself angry, sad, and quiet all at once after finishing it. The book doesn’t offer neat answers, and I respect that. Gebhardt doesn’t preach or dramatize; he just lays it all out and lets the horror of it unfold through real people. The tension builds so naturally that when the violence erupts, it feels both shocking and inevitable. It’s the kind of story that stays with you, not because of the event itself, but because of the way it makes you look at all the moments that led up to it like the ignored signs, and the missed chances for kindness.
Washington is not a light read, but it’s an important one. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a story that makes them feel something real and uncomfortable, especially teachers, parents, or anyone who’s ever felt out of place in their own life. It’s for readers who want truth over polish, emotion over perfection. It’s a book that reminds you that people are complicated, that pain hides in plain sight, and that silence can sometimes be the loudest sound of all.
Pages: 354 | ASIN : B09VN18DDF
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