T. Kingfisher won the Locus Fantasy for her dark fairy tale retelling, praised for its wit, its deeply empathetic characterization, and its deft transformation of folk horror into something warmer and more complex.
The Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel is one of the most widely participated-in awards in speculative fiction, presented annually by Locus Magazine through a reader poll. The fantasy novel category has been awarded since 1978 (initially running alongside a general Best Novel category before being formalized as a standalone category from 1980). Like all Locus Awards, it is determined by popular vote from Locus subscribers and online participants, drawing more voters than the Hugo and Nebula awards combined in most years. The award recognizes the best fantasy novel published in the prior calendar year and has honored an extraordinary range of approaches to the genre, from epic secondary-world fantasy to urban fantasy, mythpunk, and literary fantasy. Past winners include George R.R. Martin, N.K. Jemisin, Neil Gaiman, Naomi Novik, China Miéville, Martha Wells, Fonda Lee, and R.F. Kuang. The diversity of winners reflects the breadth of contemporary fantasy fiction and the range of Locus's readership.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a reader-voted award given annually by Locus Magazine to the best fantasy novel published in the previous calendar year, one of the most broadly participated-in awards in the genre.
Both are reader-voted Locus Awards, but they honor distinct sub-genres: the Fantasy Novel category focuses on works of fantasy (including epic fantasy, fairy tale retellings, mythic fiction, and contemporary fantasy), while the SF Novel category covers science fiction.
The Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel dates to 1978, when Locus began distinguishing between science fiction and fantasy in its annual poll. The categories became more formally separated from 1980 onward.
Winners are determined by the annual Locus Magazine reader poll, open to all readers online and to subscribers who receive additional weighting.
Yes. Orson Scott Card won three consecutive times (1988–1990), George R.R. Martin won multiple times, and N.K. Jemisin and Martha Wells have each won twice.
No monetary prize is awarded. Winners receive a plaque, and notably, the publishers of winning works receive certificates of recognition.
The award has gone to a very broad range of fantasy, including epic fantasy series installments, standalone literary fantasies, secondary world adventures, and mythic fiction—reflecting the pluralism of Locus's readership.
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