Award category archive

Kirkus Best Books of the Year – Science Fiction and Fantasy Winners

Browse Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy winners and nominees by year. This archive follows one award category across the full Kirkus Best Books of the Year history.

Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy Cross-year archive

2025

Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy results for the 2025 award year.

View full 2025 awards

Aunt Tigress

Qin, Emily Yu-Xuan

Standalone · Dark Fantasy

Mar-2025 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Automatic Noodle

Newitz, Annalee

Standalone · Science Fiction

Aug-2025 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Bewitching

Moreno-Garcia, Silvia

Standalone · Fantasy

Jul-2025 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Blackfire Blade

Logan, James

The Last Legacy Series · Book 2 · Fantasy

Nov-2025 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

Schwab, V.E.

Standalone · Fantasy

Jun-2025 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Engines of War

Ford, R.S.

The Age of Uprising Series · Book 3 · Fantasy

Jun-2025 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Isle in the Silver Sea

Suri, Tasha

Standalone · Fantasy

Oct-2025 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Katabasis

Kuang, R.F.

Standalone · Fantasy

Sep-2025 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Lessons in Magic and Disaster

Anders, Charlie Jane

Standalone · Fantasy

Aug-2025 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Once Was Willem

Carey, M.R.

Standalone · Dark Fantasy

Mar-2025 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

When We Were Real

Gregory, Daryl

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2025 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

2024

Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy results for the 2024 award year.

View full 2024 awards

Alien Clay

Tchaikovsky, Adrian

Standalone · Science Fiction

Jun-2024 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Bright Sword

Grossman, Lev

Standalone · Fantasy

Jul-2024 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Familiar

Bardugo, Leigh

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2024 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying

Wexler, Django

Dark Lord Davi Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

May-2024 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Long Live Evil

Brennan, Sarah Rees

Time of Iron Series · Book 1 · Contemporary Romance

Sep-2024 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Mercy of Gods

Corey, James S.A.

The Captive's War Series · Book 1 · Science Fiction

Aug-2024 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Ministry of Time

Bradley, Kaliane

Standalone · Literary

May-2024 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Sky on Fire

Lyons, Jenn

Standalone · Fantasy

Jul-2024 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Stardust Grail

Kitasei, Yume

Standalone · Science Fiction

Jun-2024 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The West Passage

Pechacek, Jared

Standalone · Dark Fantasy

Jul-2024 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

2023

Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy results for the 2023 award year.

View full 2023 awards

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

Chakraborty, S.A.

Standalone · Fantasy

Mar-2023 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Blade of Dream

Abraham, Daniel

The Kithamar Trilogy Series · Book 2 · Fantasy

Jul-2023 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

A Day of Fallen Night

Shannon, Samantha

Roots of Chaos Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Mar-2023 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Deep Sky

Kitasei, Yume

Standalone · Science Fiction

Jul-2023 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Immortal Longings

Gong, Chloe

Flesh & False Gods Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Jul-2023 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Infinity Gate

Carey, M.R.

The Pandominion Series · Book 1 · Science Fiction

Apr-2023 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

These Burning Stars

Jacobs, Bethany

Kingdom Series · Book 1 · Science Fiction

Oct-2023 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Translation State

Leckie, Ann

Standalone · Science Fiction

Jun-2023 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

We Are the Crisis

Turnbull, Cadwell

The Convergence Saga Series · Book 2 · Fantasy

Nov-2023 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

2022

Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy results for the 2022 award year.

View full 2022 awards

The Art of Prophecy

Chu, Wesley

Standalone · Fantasy

Aug-2022 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence

Kuang, R.F.

Standalone · Fantasy

Aug-2022 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Moon Witch, Spider King

James, Marlon

Standalone · Historical

Mar-2022 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Nona the Ninth

Muir, Tamsyn

The Locked Tomb Trilogy Series · Book 3 · Science Fiction

Sep-2022 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Paradox Hotel

Hart, Rob

Standalone · Thriller

Feb-2022 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Saint Death's Daughter

Cooney, C.S.E.

Standalone · Dark Fantasy

Apr-2022 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Spear Cuts Through Water

Jimenez, Simon

Standalone · Fantasy

Sep-2022 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

A Taste of Gold and Iron

Rowland, Alexandra

Standalone · Fantasy

Sep-2022 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

When Women Were Dragons

Barnhill, Kelly

Standalone · Fantasy

May-2022 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The World We Make

Jemisin, N.K.

The Great Cities Series · Book 2 · Fantasy

Nov-2022 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

2021

Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy results for the 2021 award year.

View full 2021 awards

Destroyer of Light

Brissett, Jennifer Marie

Standalone · Science Fiction

Oct-2021 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Free Bastards

French, Jonathan

The Lot Lands Series · Book 3 · Fantasy

Oct-2021 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Klara and the Sun

Ishiguro, Kazuo

Standalone · Literary

Mar-2021 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Light From Uncommon Stars

Aoki, Ryka

Standalone · Science Fiction

Oct-2021 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Machinehood

Divya, S.B.

Standalone · Science Fiction

Mar-2021 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

No Gods, No Monsters

Turnbull, Cadwell

The Convergence Saga Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Sep-2021 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Project Hail Mary

Weir, Andy

Standalone · Science Fiction

May-2021 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

A Radical Act of Free Magic

Parry, H.G.

Standalone · Fantasy

Jul-2021 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

2020

Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy results for the 2020 award year.

View full 2020 awards

Black Sun

Roanhorse, Rebecca

Between Earth and Sky Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Oct-2020 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The City We Became

Jemisin, N.K.

The Great Cities Series · Book 1 · Fantasy

Mar-2020 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Driftwood

Brennan, Marie

Standalone · Fantasy

Aug-2020 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Goldilocks

Lam, Laura

Standalone · Science Fiction

May-2020 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Master of Poisons

Hairston, Andrea

Standalone · Fantasy

Sep-2020 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Piranesi

Clarke, Susanna

Standalone · Fantasy

Sep-2020 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Poet King

Myer, Ilana C.

The Harp and Ring Sequence Series · Book 3 · Fantasy

Mar-2020 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Seventh Perfection

Polansky, Daniel

Standalone · Fantasy

Sep-2020 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Trouble the Saints

Johnson, Alaya Dawn

Standalone · Fantasy

Jul-2020 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

The Vanished Birds

Jimenez, Simon

Standalone · Science Fiction

Jan-2020 Kirkus Best Books of the Year Science Fiction and Fantasy *

Browse Award Categories

YA Fiction Archive Middle-Grade Fiction Archive Debut Fiction Archive YA Fantasy and SF Archive Picture Books Celebrating Family Archive Book Club Fiction Archive Short Fiction Archive Middle-Grade Fantasy and SF Archive Middle-Grade Graphic Fiction Archive Mysteries and Thrillers Archive Historical Fiction Archive Romance Archive

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