November 2025 Choose Your Own Fantasy (Voting is Open!)

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Rules for Nominations


1. All members can make one nomination and one second. Members can not second their own nomination.

2. Nominations must be in the format [book link] by [author link] and should include a brief reason why the book is nominated for the theme.

3. Nominations must be books that are either first in a series or standalone, over 160 pages and not already on the group shelf.

4. Nominated books cannot be by authors we've read in the past 24 months (listed below).

5. Nominations may not include children's books or short fiction anthologies by multiple authors.

6. Authors may not nominate their own work.


Please note that specific themes may change one or more of the rules listed above.

At the end of nominations the 5 books with most seconds that meet the requirements will go into the poll. The polls will open on the first of the next month.

After each nomination period this thread will be closed and all further discussion about the nominated books will be on the poll. Before the start of the next month's nominations this thread will be cleared. The list of nominated books will be copied to a recommendations thread.

***The moderators' decision is final***

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Ways to find out if an author is already on the group shelf:

Search the Mod account's shelves
Look at the Group Bookshelf (sorted by author)
Look at the AuthorStats sheet of the Spreadsheet of group books

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

This months theme is Choose Your Own! Please nominate (and second) the works of a new-to-shelf author.

Simples!

--

Nominations open tomorrow! (Friend the mod account to get an update.)

Less than 24h left to vote on this month's polls!

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Nominations are open!


Please nominate/second on the first line of your post
If the nomination/second is buried in a wall of chatter, it's hard to spot when tallying. Chatter is otherwise encouraged! :)

Make sure to include the word 'nominate' or 'second'
That's how we double check, by searching for those words.

If you switch your second, please also tell what you're switching from
So that we don't have to search the whole thread to see what you originally seconded.

Wait until the first tally is posted before you start seconding!
To give everyone a chance to nominate something :)

[Silvana]

I nominate Chasing Moonflowers: A Gothic Historical Fantasy by Pauline Chow because I want to. (glad I don't to explain further since it's a free prompt LOL)

PS: seriously though, the setting looks fun.

[CBRetriever]

I nominate Jhereg by Steven Brust and thee are no books by him on our shelf. As someone said in a review: It is a delightful blend of traditional fantasy and a detective noir, with a bit of wry humor.

Charles de Lint would have been another good author to add

[Sarah]

I’m going to nominate When Among Crows by Veronica Roth.

I think it’d make a good fall read. Urban fantasy that incorporates Polish folklore I believe? Has queer rep. The world building was well done even though its novella length. The sequel comes out this fall. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it. A little reminiscent of the Witcher but it may just be because of where the folklore is pulled from.

[Netanella]

I agree with CBRetriever, and I am nominating Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint, which is the first book in the Newford series.

[CBRetriever]

Netanella wrote: "I agree with CBRetriever, and I am nominating Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint, which is the first book in the Newford series."

thank you - I was hoping someone would nominate a book by him

[Meredith]

I'l nominate Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell.

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

---

[Anthony]

I nominate the Pulitzer-Prize winning Beloved by the late, great Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison. It’s labeled on Goodreads as “magical realism” and that’s absolutely true. Morrison would be the second Nobel Laureate on our shelf, after Kazuo Ishiguro.

[Anthony]

I’ll second Dreams Underfoot. I’ve read some of his short fiction and I was very impressed. He seems very deserving of being on our shelf.

[Michelle]

Are seconds open? If they are, I'll second Jhereg

[Jabotikaba]

I nominate Range of Ghosts because it is an interesting and well-written book.

[Melanie, the neutral party]

I nominate Greenteeth by Molly O'Neill. It's a debut work by the author and my favorite book so far this year. I think y'all will love it too.

[Melanie, the neutral party]

I second Someone You Can Build a Nest In.

[Ellen]

I second Greenteeth.

[Nicole]

I nominate VenCo by Cherie Dimaline. Urban fantasy with witches and witch hunters, bonus for a magical New Orleans. 2023 Goodreads fantasy nominee

[DivaDiane]

I will second Beloved. One of the most powerful and devastatingly beautiful books I have ever read. Time for a reread!

[Melanie, the neutral party]

Nicole wrote: "I nominate VenCo by Cherie Dimaline. Urban fantasy with witches and witch hunters, bonus for a magical New Orleans. 2023 Goodreads fantasy nominee"

Cherie Dimaline's Marrow Thieves is already on our shelf.

[Meredith]

Jabotikaba wrote: "I nominate Range of Ghosts because it is an interesting and well-written book."

Elizabeth Bear is already on the shelf (Karen Memory). I agree, that is a really good book.

[Banshee]

I'll second Beloved.

[Sarah]

I’ll second Someone you can build a nest in.

[Kaia]

I second Greenteeth.

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

---

[CBRetriever]

I second Dreams Underfoot

[Ryan, Your favourite moderators favourite moderator]

and i second Jhereg o_O

[Roger]

I nominate The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley

I thought it a decent start to this epic fantasy series and since its not on the Group Bookshelf, I thought I'd remind folk it's out there!

[Ryan, Your favourite moderators favourite moderator]

I nominate Dread Nation by Justina Ireland.

[Cheryl L]

I'll second Someone You Can Build a Nest In.

[Hank]

I second When Among Crows

[Silvana]

I second The Emperor's Blades

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

---

[Jabotikaba]

Meredith wrote: "Jabotikaba wrote: "I nominate Range of Ghosts because it is an interesting and well-written book."

Elizabeth Bear is already on the shelf (Karen Memory). I agree, that is a really ..."

Sorry!

[Meredith]

I'll second Greenteeth.

[Amber]

I’ll second Greenteeth!

[Kaa]

Second Beloved

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Top 5 with seconds make it to the poll
Nominations close on the 23rd

Nominated with seconds:

Greenteeth +4
Someone You Can Build a Nest In +3
Beloved +3
Dreams Underfoot +2
Jhereg +2
---
When Among Crows +1
The Emperor's Blades +1

Nominated:

Chasing Moonflowers: A Gothic Historical Fantasy
Dread Nation

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Voting is open!

Make sure notifications are on :)