BBNYA 2025 Semi-Finalist: The Cyclopes' Eye by Jeffrey Haskey-Valerius

“In a world where corporations own your body, rebellion begins with a single eye.”

The Cyclopes' Eye book spotlight is part of the BBNYA 2025 Semi-Finalist Tour celebrating outstanding indie fiction!

🌟Hello BBNYA Fans

If you’re new to the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award series, this spotlight offers a taste of the imaginative storytelling that defines the competition.

In this gripping YA speculative fiction tale, one boy’s fight for freedom becomes a desperate struggle against corporate control and the price of progress itself. With heart, humor, and tension, Haskey-Valerius crafts a near-future world that feels all too possible — darkly funny, fast-paced, and emotionally resonant. It’s no wonder this book stands tall among the BBNYA 2025 semi-finalists, showcasing the power of independent voices in speculative fiction.

If you love discovering indie authors through immersive book spotlights that mix humanity, rebellion, and imagination, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to learn more about the story, the author, and where you can find this unforgettable YA sci-fi adventure.

“Part dystopia, part dark comedy, and entirely unforgettable.”

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 💚About BBNYA

The Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is a yearly competition judged by book bloggers, for book bloggers — and most importantly, for readers who love discovering hidden gems in the indie world.

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Want to learn more?
📚 Visit the BBNYA Website
🐦 Follow @BBNYA_Official on X (Twitter)
💬 And don't miss @The_WriteReads, the powerhouse community behind this amazing event.

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📚 All About the Book

I’m fascinated by stories that blend sci-fi and social reflection. Haskey-Valerius dives deep into both—this is the kind of speculative fiction that lingers long after you close the book. I can't wait to read the entire story.

The Cyclopes' Eye
By Jeffrey Haskey-Valerius
Series: The Cyclopes' Eye #1
Published by NineStar Press on April 2024
Genres: Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 379

First they came for his sister’s eye. Now they’re coming for his. And what’s even worse is he deserves it.

Step into the chilling world of The Cyclopes' Eye, where corporate control tightens with every blink. In near-future America, healthcare conglomerate Axiom harvests people’s eyes under the guise of ‘medical research.’ They may claim it’s for the ‘greater good,’ but 17-year-old Henry Youngwell has seen the destruction it causes — his twin sister Judith was already forced to give up her eye. Forced to become a cyclops.

And now it’s his turn. Already deeply anxious and unstable, Henry spirals when his name is called at Drill Day. He’ll learn the real reason he and Judith were chosen, and he’ll try not to create even more wreckage along the way. Henry, Judith, and their diverse, queer-forward band of friends will discover just what happens as they try to resist Axiom from the inside out.

Experience the tension and introspection of The Cyclopes' Eye, where Henry's internal monologue and dark humor paint a vivid picture of a society commodifying its youth.

Every year, BBNYA showcases the best in indie publishing, and this book exemplifies why this competition matters—it pushes creative boundaries and spotlights emerging voices.

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🛒Purchase Links for The Cyclopes' Eye (Book One)

[amazon fields ="1648907520" value="thumb"]

Kindle  |  Paperback 

If these links don't route to your region's Amazon store, please let me know—I’ll happily send you the correct one. Using my links doesn't cost you anything extra, but it helps support my site and indie author features. 💖

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Prefer to shop local?
🛍️ Try  Bookshop.org to purchase this thrilling dystopian tale online from your favorite local bookstore—it's a great way to support indie authors and book bloggers like me.

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🖋️ Meet Jeffrey Haskey-Valerius, Author

Jeffrey Haskey-Valerius (he/him) rarely knows what's happening. He works in healthcare by day and writes weird fiction and poetry by night. His shorter work has been featured in numerous literary journals and has been nominated for prizes, including Best of the Net. He currently lives in the Chicago area with his unbelievably handsome and perfect dog and cat, and also a human whom he loves. This is his debut novel.

Connect with Jeffrey:
Website  |  Goodreads  |  Storygraph  |  Amazon

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📜 MORE 2025 BBNA SEMI-FINALIST WINNERS

Check out more of my BBNYA 2025 Semi-Finalist spotlights here:

The Strange Grey Everything by Rebecca Crunden

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🌟 Closing Notes

Thanks for stopping by today’s BBNYA 2025 spotlight post! Today's featured semi-finalist delivers an unforgettable mix of sci-fi tension, dark humor, and emotional depth — a story that challenges what it means to be human in a world driven by control and fear.

If  The Cyclopes' Eye has piqued your curiosity, be sure to grab a copy and follow the author for updates on his future projects. Supporting talented indie authors like Jeffrey helps keep creative storytelling alive and thriving.

✨ Keep watching for more BBNYA 2025 semi-finalists right here on the blog — you’re sure to find your next great read among them.

As a long-time fan of dystopian fiction, I’m always thrilled to discover stories that push boundaries while staying deeply human.

Projects like BBNYA 2025  shine a light on talented authors who might otherwise fly under the radar, and posts like this help readers connect with those voices.

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