The recipients of the 5th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards for science fiction romance books were announced on January 31. It’s one of fandom’s most more creative and entertaining awards concepts.

The categories are invented and the winners picked by a panel of judges —

How does it work? A select group of science fiction romance readers and bloggers will each create unique awards for up to 5 books released in that year. Judges will create award categories based on criteria of their own choosing. The goal is to deliver a group of awards that are fun, unique, meaningful, and informative for readers

This year there were six judges, and each wrote a separate blog post with short narratives explaining their award choices.

5th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards: Round One by Riley Moreland

Best Zombie Book for People Who Don’t Read Zombie Books

Nobody’s Hero (The Burned Lands #1) by Bec McMaster

Best New Series

The Rule of Luck (Felicia Sevigny #1) by Catherine Cerveny

Best Anthology

Pets in Space by Cara Bristol, Susan Grant, Laurie A. Green, Pauline Baird Jones, Lea Kirk, Alexis Glynn Latner, Carysa Locke, Veronica Scott, and S.E. Smith

This Series Just Keeps Getting Better Award

Fools Rush In (Interstellar Rescue Series #3) by Donna S. Frelick

Best Series Finale

Prodigal (Maelstrom #3) by Jody Wallace

5th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards: Round Two by Jo Jones

Best Realistic Ending

The Cold Between by Elizabeth Bonesteel

Most Promising New Author

The Dark of Light (Shield of the Starhawke #1) by Audrey Sharpe

Best Misleading Title

Warrior Wench

(The Asarlaí Wars #1) by Marie Andreas

Best Slow Burn Romance

Star Cruise: Outbreak by Veronica Scott

Best Love Story With a Twist

Shades of Treason by Sandy Williams

5th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards: Round Three by Lee Koven

Best Post-Apocalyptic Paranormal

Nobody’s Hero by Bec McMaster

Best Promise

Crash and Burn (Cyborg Sizzle #3) by Cynthia Sax

Best Lady Cyborg

Jumper’s Hope by Carol Van Natta

Best Swordplay

The Champion of Barésh by Susan Grant

Best Mother-Daughter Dynamic

Vellmar the Blade by Fletcher DeLancey

5th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards: Round Four by Anna McLain

Best “Invisible Heroine”

Hostage to the Stars by Veronica Scott

Grittiest Hot and Fast Story

Quick Shot by Pippa Jay

Heroine Who’s Most Like Someone I Might Know

Pirate (Space Gypsy Chronicles #1) by Eve Langlais

5th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards: Round Five by Heather Massey

Most Satisfying Conclusion to a Great Trilogy

Vortex of Crimson (On Deception’s Edge #3) by Lise MacTague

Best Sci-Fi Romance Webcomic

Flesh Machine by Michael Avolio

Most Dapper Heroes

The Clockwork Menagerie by Elliot Cooper

Most Uplifting Sci-Fi Romances

Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time by Cherie Dimaline, Gwen Benaway, David Robertson, Richard Van Camp, Mari Kurisato, Nathan Adler, Daniel Heath Justice, Darcie Little Badger, Cleo Keahna; introduction by Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair “Manitowapow,” foreword by Grace Dillon “Walking the Clouds”; edited by Hope Nicholson

SFR with the Most Relevant Social Commentary Regarding a Current Affair

Gambit (Felig Chronicles #5) by P.J. Dean

5th Annual SFR Galaxy Awards: Round Six by Marlene Harris

Best Bread and Circuses (Intergalactic Edition)

Galactic Gladiators (Gladiator/Warrior/Hero) by Anna Hackett

Best Interstellar Menagerie

Pets in Space by S.E. Smith, Susan Grant, Cara Bristol, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Alexis Glynn Latner, Lea Kirk, Carysa Locke

Best Spoiler Alert Title

Star Cruise: Outbreak by Veronica Scott

Most Unusual Job for a Heroine

One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews

Most Awesomely Prolific and Prolifically Awesome

Anna Hackett