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My Book, "Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch's Rebirth," Just Won a Major Award – and the AP is Talking!

  • Writer: Michaela Riley
    Michaela Riley
  • Sep 25, 2025
  • 2 min read

Updated: Oct 13, 2025

I'm still pinching myself. It's not every day you receive news that makes your heart do a little leap – or in my case, a rather dramatic somersault. My novel, "Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch's Rebirth," has been honored with the prestigious NYC Big Book Award.


Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch's Rebirth Part I by Michaela Riley wins NYC Big Book Award in Fantasy.
Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch's Rebirth Part I Wins NYC Big Book Award in Fantasy

A Monumental Achievement


This is monumental. As an author, you pour so much of yourself into your stories, characters, and worlds. You send them out into the universe with a mix of hope and trepidation. To have one recognized on this level is incredibly validating and humbling. The NYC Big Book Award is known for celebrating outstanding international literary achievements. To be among their ranks is truly an honor I will cherish.


Exciting Developments Ahead


But the excitement doesn't stop there. There's been another development that has me buzzing with anticipation. The Associated Press, a name synonymous with global news and reach, has picked up the story! They've issued a press release, highlighting this win and my journey as an author. You can read it for yourself here.


The thought that my work might now reach an even wider audience, thanks to the AP's incredible platform, is both exhilarating and a little overwhelming. I'm holding onto the hope that this is the beginning of something truly special. It’s a chance for "Labyrinth of Shadows" to find its way into the hands of readers who will connect with its magic, darkness, and message of resilience.


Exploring "Labyrinth of Shadows"


For those who haven't yet delved into the "Labyrinth of Shadows," it's a story that explores themes of hidden power, personal transformation, and the courage it takes to confront your own inner demons. The journey of my protagonist, a witch navigating a world shrouded in mystery and danger, has been a deeply personal one to write. I can only hope that this newfound recognition will encourage more of you to embark on that journey with her.


The Power of Community


This is a moment I've dreamed of, and it wouldn't be possible without the incredible support of my readers, family, and narrator Abby Filsinger for The Witch's Rebirth Series. Everyone who believed in this story has played a crucial role in this achievement.


Thank you to the NYC Big Book Awards for giving me the opportunity to share my Fantasy Novel, "Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch's Rebirth Part I," with them and for the award in Fantasy.


Looking Ahead


Thank you for being a part of this incredible ride. I can't wait to see what the future holds!


Get the Books at Amazon here.



Conclusion


In conclusion, winning the NYC Big Book Award is not just a personal victory; it is a celebration of the stories we tell and the connections we make. I am excited about the future and the possibilities that lie ahead. This journey is just beginning, and I invite you to join me as we explore the depths of the "Labyrinth of Shadows."


Thank you for your support, and I hope to share more adventures with you soon!

Critics' Requiem

Echoe's Never Die

The Editor's Shadow

What if the worst thing you ever read about yourself was true—and the whole world believed it?

Arthur Penwright’s debut novel was supposed to make him a star. Instead, he becomes the target of an online mob, as anonymous critics tear his life apart with words sharper than any knife. In this gripping psychological thriller about writers and critics, Arthur’s quest for vindication spirals into obsession, revenge, and murder as he hunts down those who ruined him.

Set in the ruthless world of publishing and social media, Critics’ Requiem is a dark and twisty suspense novel about the power of words, the danger of cancel culture, and the line between justice and madness. Fans of literary thrillers, meta-fiction, and books like The Silent Patient or Gone Girl will devour this page-turner where every review can be deadly.

Perfect for readers searching for:
literary thriller series, psychological suspense, books about writers and critics, novels about online bullying, dark fiction about internet mobs, fiction about toxic online culture, book reviewer murder mystery, psychological revenge stories, books for writers and book lovers

The story isn’t over. The legend of Arthur Penwright returns with a vengeance.

Across Europe, literary critics are turning up dead—each murder foretold by a chilling manuscript leak, each scene echoing the crimes of the infamous Penwright case.

 

Detective Elias Mercer is called out of retirement, Maia Walsh is drawn back into a web of obsession and betrayal, and Arthur finds passion and peril with the mysterious Sabine Leclerc.

Echoes Never Die is a dark literary thriller about love, betrayal, and digital justice. As new killings sweep Paris, Prague, and beyond, the line between victim and villain blurs. Who controls the narrative when legends refuse to die?

Perfect for fans of:
psychological thrillers, global suspense series, dark academia, novels about betrayal and obsession, European thrillers, books about viral crime, books with strong female leads, books about digital scandals, trending booktok thrillers

Every ending is a new beginning. The final story is being written.

A new apprentice steps from the shadows, orchestrating copycat killings and leaking chapters that shake the literary world. As the body count climbs across Lisbon, New York, and beyond, Arthur, Sabine, Maia, and Mercer are forced into a final, deadly showdown.

 

In this international murder mystery, old legends and new obsessions collide.

The Editor’s Shadow is a gripping psychological suspense novel about redemption, legacy, and the mythic power of narrative. Perfect for readers who crave dark fiction, meta-narrative thrillers, and stories where every secret can kill.

For readers who love:
copycat killer thrillers, psychological suspense series, novels about redemption and justice, gripping suspense novels, international murder mysteries, books about myth and legacy, fiction about narrative power, trending thrillers for adults

© 2025 by Michaela Riley. Powered and secured by Wix
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