The Legend Awards: Our Top 3 Finalists Are Here and Most Popular Vote is in!

See the list of all the novels that made it in - the perfect Christmas gift list!

Wow. Just wow. The first-ever Legend Awards have wrapped up, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! This has been nothing short of legendary—a bold new chapter for our community, and every single one of you made it happen.

Kudos to Karina Fabian for taking home her very own engraved sword - because your fiction is worth fighting for! This stunning 39-inch sword is paired with a ribbed, leather-wrapped handle - it’s not a combat tool, but it does have exceptional grip and comfort. Housed in a sleek wood-and-leather scabbard, this piece is a perfect blend of legend and awesomeness - engraved with her name.

Keep reading to learn about all the books that made it in, and get links to all of them!

Why the Legend Awards?

Stories are powerful. They grab us, shape us, and stick with us long after the final page. But finding epic stories—especially ones written by Catholic and Orthodox creators? That’s not always easy.

And then, out of all the books out there, which are the ones people like most? The ones that might actually be worth a place on your TBR? That’s even harder.

That’s why we created the Legend Awards (see the launch announcement). We want to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent in our LegendFiction community - and beyond - and celebrate the works that stir our souls and fire up our imaginations.

This was our first time doing anything like this. And honestly? It’s amazing! This wasn’t just about picking a winner - it’s about pulling together a treasure trove of indie novels. Novels you’ve never heard of - and might just love.

You made this happen. You voted, you shared, you showed up. This isn’t just our win—it’s yours.

Keep scrolling to see the most popular books, and the first place vote. Everything happened in public, using Featurebase, software for collecting votes, so that authors shared their books with friends, fans, and family. We decided this was the fastest and easiest way to help our community see voting happen in real time.

Kudos to Karina Fabian for marshalling the most votes around her latest novel, Gapman! She will be earning her sword

This is just the beginning. The Legend Awards want to stay, and we’ll be back next year. We’re only going to grow from here. With every vote, every share, every bit of support, you’re building a future where creativity thrives, and legends are born.

Let’s keep making legendary stuff.

—Dominic

P.S. If you haven’t already, dive into the stories from our nominees. You might just find your next favorite book (and get bragging rights for supporting it before it’s famous).

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Gapman by Karina Fabian

Votes: 31

Blurb: When Ron Engleson wakes up with superpowers, he’s determined to do good for the city of Los Lagos. Being the first superhero in the world is hard enough—but on the border town of the Faerie and Mundane worlds? Forget gang fights and bank thieves—he’s also fighting murder hornets and possessed geese. On top of that, he’s adopted by the local dragon, Vern, who’s under orders to train him up and keep him out of the police’s way. At least there’s a chance for romance with the local reporter—but does she want the man, the hero, or the story?

Join Gapman as he defends his mom against sleazy exes, rescues an ill-tempered chihuahua, and faces mortal danger on the Conveyor Belt of Doom!

“Yes, I’m in this book, but it really is about my padawan. Enjoy.” - Karina Fabian

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DON'T by Gabriella Batel

Votes: 20

Blurb: Don’t play. I saw you.

Paityn’s awake. Her near-terminal lupus keeps her that way. That’s how she crosses Tony Suarez again. That’s how she becomes the only witness to something she wasn’t supposed to see.

The first time, Tony shot Paityn’s stepfather. Now he wants Paityn. He wants to keep her quiet about what she saw. And the best way to keep Paityn quiet is to silence her family.

But Paityn’s not going to let Tony touch her family—not while she’s still alive. And she’s not dead yet.

A heart-pounding debut ready for fans of Cory Anderson’s What Beauty There Is and Marieke Nijkamp’s This Is Where It Ends.

“This ambitious debut novel…marks this young author as one to watch.” —Corinna Turner, author of the Carnegie Nominated I Am Margaret series

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AVALON LOST: A YA Fantasy Adventure Novel by Mary Rose Kreger

Votes: 16

Blurb: Unless he finds her, the kingdom falls.

Philia Pendragon is the greatest teen fencer in modern Wales, but she longs for another world. Late at night, she's haunted by memories of a magical, medieval kingdom, and the loving father she was forced to leave behind. Can Philia navigate shifting portals and hidden traitors to return to the Enchanted Isle?

Will Owain is the most determined apprentice in the King's Watch. Selected by His Majesty for a high-risk mission, Will must forego his quest to rescue his mother from the traitor Lord Amaranth. Can Will find the King's lost daughter, Philia, by year's end and prevent the King from forfeiting his throne to Lord Amaranth?

AVALON LOST's visual storytelling, compelling characters, and epic fight scenes will appeal to fans of The Legend of Zelda universe and John Flanagan's Ranger’s Apprentice series. Enjoy this new YA fantasy adventure book for teens and adults! Your adventure begins here.

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Here are the all the books entered into the Awards that didn’t win the popular votes, sorted by most to least votes. Check out these fantasy, fairy tale, epic YA, and more titles by Catholic and Orthodox authors!

• DONE by Gabriella Batel - Gabriella Batel

• Markmaker by Mary Woods - Mary Woods

• The Exile (Divided Kingdom Book 2) - Allison Ramirez

• The Divided Kingdom (Divided Kingdom Book 1) - Allison Ramirez

• WINGLESS by Catherine Witzaney - Catherine Witzaney

• The Bard and the Siren - Paula Luther

• To Heal a Broken Heart by Aveline Brooke - Aveline Brooke

• League of Angels - Thomas Tan

• By the Light of Two Moons by Sparrowhaven Press - Colleen Cambell

• The Canadian Nights by Katharine Campbell - Katharine Campbell

• Doctors, Assassins, and Other Tyrants by Katharine Campbell - Katharine Campbell

• Rosaline's Curse by Katharine Campbell - Katharine Campbell

• Love, Treachery, and Other Terrors by Katharine Campbell - Katharine Campbell

• Octave of Stars by Zephyr Thomas - Zephyr Thomas

• The Emperor of North America (Young Chesterton Book 2) by John McNichol - John McNichol

• The Tripods Attack! (Young Chesterton Book 1) by John McNichol - John McNichol

• Paper & Feathers by Zephyr Thomas - Zephyr Thomas

• The King's Gambit by John McNichol - John McNichol

• Mark's Noble Quest by Katharine Campbell - Katharine Campbell

• Sanctuary of Nine Dragons (Palace of the Twelve Pillars Book 3) by Chris Weigand - Chris Weigand

• Palace of the Twelve Pillars (Palace of the Twelve Pillars Book 1) by Chris Weigand - Chris Weigand

• Palace of the Three Crosses (Palace of the Twelve Pillars Book 2) by Chris Weigand - Chris Weigand

• Prisoners of Thornbrill (The Tindoria Chronicles #1) by Hannah Pennington - Hannah Pennington