Congratulations to everyone who made the final ballot in ALL categories. What an honor. I cannot wait for the Awards Banquet in Pittsburg to see all the nominees.
I tried to read all the books on the preliminary ballot, but fell short. Here is the final ballot for best novel, and my reviews on the ones I've read (I will read The Fervor before I vote):
The 2022 Bram Stoker Awards® Final BallotSuperior Achievement in a Novel
Iglesias, Gabino – The Devil Takes You Home (Mullholland Press)
From my Goodreads review: This is my first time reading Gabino Iglesias, but it won't be my last. Steeped with violence, grief, and Mexican folklore, The Devil Takes You Home is an honest, gritty look at the struggles of brown-skinned Americans. This take on the "one last job" trope is like nothing I've ever read. The real-world horror of the drug cartels mixes seamlessly with witchcraft and the supernatural in this brutal tale.
Katsu, Alma – The Fervor (G.P. Putnam’s Sons) - TBR
Kiste, Gwendolyn – Reluctant Immortals (Saga Press)
Gwendolyn continues to impress me. Her novel, Rust Maidens, won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. Her follow-up, Boneset and Feathers, is an amazing and unique take on witches. Now, in Reluctant Immortals, she combines two of literature's well known women (Lucy Westnera from Dracula and Bertha Mason from Jane Eyre), in an epic battle set in Haight-Ashbury during 1967's "Summer of Love." Her writing is mesmerizing.
Malerman, Josh – Daphne (Del Rey)
Josh has been one of my favorite writers since his debut, Bird Box. His writing style, along with his stories, is unique. Daphne is no exception. Part ghost story, part serial killer novel, and part coming-of-age story, this one is special.
Ward, Catriona – Sundial (Tor Nightfire)
Catriona Ward's previous novel, The Last House on Needless Street, captured the attention of many, including Stephen King. In her follow-up, Sundial, Ward's unique writing is on display again. Set in two time periods, each with an unreliable narrator, this one will keep you guessing until the stunning conclusion.