Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch’s Rebirth Part I – Why 2025’s Award‑Sweep Is a Game‑Changer for Indie Fantasy

If you’ve been scrolling through the endless sea of indie releases on Amazon, BookBub, or Goodreads, one title has been popping up in every list this year: Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch’s Rebirth Part I by Michaela Riley.

What started as a modest self‑published fantasy has become a tour‑de‑force of recognition, racking up nine prestigious honors across fantasy, horror, and literary fiction. For writers, agents, and readers alike, the book’s award résumé reads like a masterclass in how a debut novel can break through the noise and command industry respect.

Below, we unpack the accolades, explain why certain honors matter more than others, and ultimately answer the question: Which award should Riley (and any aspiring author) highlight when marketing the book?

📚 The Full Trophy Cabinet

Award	Category	Result	Why It Counts
NYC Big Book Award	Fantasy	Winner (2025)	One of the most competitive, globally‑entered contests for independent and mainstream titles.
Storytrade Book Award	Fantasy	Winner (2025)	Recognized for editorial excellence and market appeal among indie publishers.
Bookfest Awards	Fantasy (First Place)	Winner (2025)	A massive international program that blends commercial success with critical review.
Readers’ Favorite	Magic & Wizardry (Silver)	Silver Award (2025)	Voted by a massive community of genre‑savvy readers; signals strong fan enthusiasm.
International Impact Book Award	Fantasy	Winner (2025)	Highlights cultural resonance and worldwide relevance.
Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs)	Chaucer Award (Early Historical Fiction) – Short List	Short‑listed (2025)	The CIBAs are the gold standard for indie authors; short‑listing shows the book stood out in a rigorous multi‑stage review.
CIBAs – Series	Longlist	Long‑listed (2025)	Indicates potential for a multi‑book arc that impressed seasoned judges.
Best Book Awards (American Book Fest)	Horror	Winner (2025)	Demonstrates cross‑genre talent—Riley can scare as well as enchant.
IAN Book of the Year Awards	Fantasy	Finalist (2025)	A respected Independent Author Network competition; finalist status adds credibility.
Literary Titan – Gold Book Award	Fiction	Gold (2025)	Celebrates superior prose, narrative structure, and literary merit.

Labyrinth of Shadows isn’t just a fantasy bestseller; it’s a crossover champion that has earned its stripes in horror, historical fiction, and pure literary craft.

🔍 Why Some Awards Carry More Weight

1. Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs)

• Reputation: Frequently cited as the “Oscars” of the indie world.

• Judging Process: Multi‑tiered (Longlist → Shortlist → Finalist → First Place) with panels composed of editors, agents, and seasoned authors.

• Impact: Being short‑listed for the Chaucer Award (early historical fiction) signals to literary agents that Riley’s work transcends genre constraints. The Series Longlist hints at a franchise potential—publishers love an author whose world can sustain multiple books.

2. NYC Big Book Award

• Scope: Opens its doors to thousands of entries from every continent, many of which are backed by established publishing houses.

• Visibility: Winners receive a press release distributed to literary news sites, a feature on the award’s website, and a badge that appears on the book’s cover.

• Credibility: A Fantasy win in this arena is a quick shorthand for “this book beat out countless competitors, including big‑name houses.”

3. Reader‑Driven Honors (Readers’ Favorite Silver)

• Community Trust: Voted by a network of 50,000+ active reviewers.

• Marketing Gold: Social proof that can be leveraged on Amazon, BookBub, and author newsletters—“Voted #1 in Magic & Wizardry by Readers!” is a magnetic tagline.

4. Genre‑Specific Awards (Storytrade, Bookfest, Best Book Awards)

• Commercial Clout: These contests are known for surfacing titles that dominate charts and sustain sales spikes.

• Cross‑Genre Appeal: The Horror win demonstrates Riley’s versatility—a selling point for readers who crave darker, mood‑shifted narratives within a fantasy framework.

5. Literary Titan Gold Award

• Craft Acknowledgement: While not as widely known as the CIBAs, the Gold Award is respected among literary circles for its emphasis on style, voice, and narrative architecture.

• Long‑Term Reputation: Adds a “literary‑fiction” badge to the author’s résumé—valuable when approaching agents who prioritize writing quality over pure genre.

🏆 The One Award to Highlight (If You Could Choose Only One)

If Michaela Riley were to pick a single accolade to dominate the book’s cover, press kit, and pitch letters, the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs) – Shortlist for the Chaucer Award would be the strategic choice. 

Why?

1. Industry Recognition: The CIBAs are universally respected among agents, editors, and literary scouts. A short‑list citation instantly signals “high‑caliber, vetted by professionals.”

2. Cross‑Genre Credibility: The Chaucer Award is for early historical fiction, a category far removed from typical fantasy. This tells the industry that Riley can write historical depth—a skill prized in world‑building.

3. Future‑Proofing: The CIBAs’ multi‑stage process underscores longevity. Even if the book’s sales dip, the award remains a permanent testament to the author’s skill.

4. Marketing Flexibility: “CIBA‑Shortlisted for Early Historical Fiction” can be placed on the back cover, alongside the fantasy win, to intrigue both genre lovers and literary readers.

📈 What This Means for Indie Authors

Labyrinth of Shadows is a case study in how an indie work can leverage multiple award streams to build a robust platform:

Step	Action	Result
1. Submit Widely	Enter every contest that matches the manuscript’s genre, sub‑genre, and style.	9 awards/recognitions across 5 distinct organizations.
2. Target Tiered Awards	Prioritize contests with multi‑stage judging (CIBAs, NYC Big Book).	Higher credibility when moving from longlist → shortlist → win.
3. Embrace Cross‑Genre	Submit horror version of the story (or excerpts) to horror‑focused awards.	Won Best Book Awards’ Horror category, widening reader base.
4. Harness Community Votes	Encourage readers to vote on Readers’ Favorite platforms.	Silver Award in Magic & Wizardry = strong fan endorsement.
5. Showcase All Wins	Use award badges on the Amazon cover, KDP interior page, and author website.	Immediate visual cue of quality; increases click‑through rates.

Takeaway: Don’t limit yourself to “Fantasy‑only” awards. A novel that can be pitched as horror, historical, or literary will unlock more doors—and more readers.

📚 A Quick Peek Inside Labyrinth of Shadows

Without giving away spoilers, here’s why the book resonated with judges across the board:

• World‑Building: A richly layered realm where witchcraft intertwines with medieval politics—perfect for the Chaucer Award’s early‑historical lens.

• Narrative Rhythm: Riley’s prose balances lyrical description with tight, pulse‑pounding action—earning the Literary Titan Gold for style.

• Horror Elements: A haunting subplot featuring a cursed forest that twists the classic “witch‑in‑the‑woods” trope into fresh terror, clinching the Best Book Awards’ horror win.

• Reader Engagement: Interactive social media quizzes and a dedicated Discord community kept fans voting en masse for the Readers’ Favorite Silver.

🚀 Final Thoughts

Michaela Riley’s Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch’s Rebirth Part I is more than a fantasy novel that happened to win awards—it’s a masterclass in strategic positioning for independent authors. By targeting a mix of high‑profile, community‑driven, and genre‑specific accolades, Riley has built a platform that speaks fluently to agents, publishers, readers, and fellow writers.

If you’re an indie author wondering how to replicate this success, remember:

1. Cast a wide net across reputable contests.

2. Aim for awards with tiered judging—they add layers of credibility.

3. Leverage cross‑genre potential to showcase versatility.

4. Showcase the most prestigious honors (CIBAs, NYC Big Book) front‑and‑center.

5. Turn every badge into marketing gold—on covers, in emails, and in social posts.

The next time you see a dazzling array of gold, silver, and bronze on a book’s spine, ask yourself: Which of those awards can open the door to the next big step? In the case of Labyrinth of Shadows, the answer is crystal clear—the Chanticleer International Book Awards and the NYC Big Book Award are the keys that unlock the future.

Happy reading, and may your own manuscript soon be basking in a similar constellation of accolades! 🌟📖