Child of Vanris by Nikki McCormack | BBNYA 2025 Finalist Spotlight
One of the things I enjoy most about BBNYA is discovering indie fantasy worlds I might never have found on my own. The competition features hundreds of entries, making every finalist placement a significant achievement.
🏆 4th Place Finalist in BBNYA 2025
Child of Vanris by Nikki McCormack earned the #4 spot in this year's competition. This epic fantasy follows Kasiel, a boy with a hidden heritage whose quiet life is shattered when mercenaries come hunting for him. Forced to cross a war-torn kingdom and confront secrets about his past, Kasiel must discover where he truly belongs before powerful enemies decide his fate for him.
About Child of Vanris by Nikki McCormack
Here's a closer look at the fantasy adventure that earned a place among this year's BBNYA finalists.
Child of Vanris By Nikki McCormack
Series: The Warden's Son, #1
Published by Independently Published on January 2024
Genres: Epic Fantasy
Formats: Audiobook, eBook, Paperback
Pages: 402
At five years old, Kasiel was found with the pointed ends of his ears cut off. Despite that brutal start, he’s lived twelve peaceful years with the man who took him in. Keeping his hair long over his mutilated ears helps him hide the fact that he is Vanrian, a child of the enemy.
Everything changes when mercenaries arrive hunting for Kasiel. The last people he expects to come to his rescue are Vanrian soldiers, one of whom claims to be his spirit brother, whatever that means. They plan to take him across the war zone to deliver him to his real father, a man whose name strikes terror in his enemies.
With his secret exposed, Kasiel can’t return to his old home. This is his chance to find out who he was supposed to be. It means traveling to a foreign land where they have unusual psychic abilities he may share. It also means leaving behind everything he’s ever cared about. If he is to survive, he will need to learn their language and culture and earn his place in their society.
Meanwhile, the man who cut Kasiel’s ears will do anything to keep him out of his true father’s hands, even if it means killing him.
Why This Book Stands Out
Child of Vanris combines the sweeping scope of epic fantasy with a deeply personal coming-of-age story. At its heart is Kasiel, a boy caught between two worlds who must uncover the truth about his identity while navigating a kingdom divided by war.
The story blends family secrets, dangerous journeys, political conflict, and found-family relationships into an adventure that balances action with emotional stakes. Readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy will find plenty to connect with as Kasiel struggles to understand where he belongs and whom he can trust.
With a young protagonist facing impossible choices, a mysterious past, and a father whose reputation inspires fear across the land, Child of Vanris offers the kind of high-stakes fantasy journey that keeps readers turning pages to discover what happens next.
Reader resources:
Curious to learn more or see how this story is resonating with other readers?
Before we move on, here's a quick look at the author behind the story.
Meet Nikki McCormack
About Nikki McCormack
Outside of her career as an author, Nikki McCormack is a professional technical and creative writer, spider wrangler, animal lover, and devoted cat mom.
Writing fantasy and science fiction stories has been a lifelong passion for her. She loves to draw upon her myriad life experiences doing everything from wild cave exploration and competitive horseback endurance riding to practicing iaido and archery.
She invites you to join her for some fantastic adventures
Explore more from the author:
Website | Amazon | Goodreads
Where to Buy
If this finalist sounds like your kind of read, you can explore purchase options below.
Support Local Bookshops
If you prefer to shop local, you can purchase Child of Vanris through independent bookstores using Bookshop.org.
Curated by Gina Rae Mitchell • Championing indie authors and stories worth discovering
Kindle | Paperback | Audiobook
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About BBNYA
The Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is a yearly competition where book bloggers from around the world read and score books written by indie authors. From hundreds of submissions, a small group of finalists is selected, culminating in one overall winner.
The award celebrates the creativity and diversity of independent publishing while helping readers discover incredible books beyond the traditional publishing spotlight.
BBNYA Website
@BBNYA_Official
@The_WriteReads
More BBNYA 2025 Spotlights & Reviews
Explore more of my BBNYA 2025 reviews and spotlights.
Closing Notes
Thank you to The Write Reads, BBNYA, and Nikki McCormack for allowing me to spotlight this finalist today.
Please consider congratulating the author in the comments or sharing this post with a fellow reader who enjoys discovering great indie books.
Happy reading - and thank you for supporting indie authors and stories worth discovering.
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