World Fantasy Awards 2023: Complete list of winners

The 2023 World Fantasy Awards delivered a celebration of some of the year’s most imaginative and compelling work in the fantasy genre. Established in 1975, the World Fantasy Awards remain one of the field’s most prestigious honors, recognizing excellence across novels, novellas, short fiction, and beyond. This year’s selections showcase the genre’s remarkable range, from intimate mythological retellings to tense contemporary encounters that blur the line between the magical and the mundane.

C. S. E. Cooney’s Saint Death’s Daughter claimed the award for Best Novel, while Priya Sharma’s Pomegranates took the novella prize and Tananarive Due’s “Incident at Bear Creek Lodge” earned recognition as Best Short Fiction. These winners reflect a judging panel committed to recognizing stories that challenge conventions and deepen our understanding of what fantasy can do—whether through lush world-building, intimate character study, or the uncanny made suddenly real. The selections demonstrate a healthy diversity of approach and voice across the genre’s landscape.

Below, you’ll find details on each of this year’s major award categories and winners:

Best Novel

• Saint Death’s Daughter by C. S. E. Cooney

Best Novella

• Pomegranates by Priya Sharma

Best Short Fiction

• “Incident at Bear Creek Lodge” by Tananarive Due