Best Novella, 2026

The River Has Roots

Amal El-Mohtar (opens in a new tab)

144 pages

Two sisters who sing to a river in a village close to Faerie are separated when one of them falls for a fairy.

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Also on the ballot

Automatic NoodleAnnalee NewitzTordotcom
Cinder HouseFreya MarskeTordotcom; Tor UK
Murder by MemoryOlivia WaiteTordotcom
The Summer WarNaomi NovikDel Rey US; Del Rey UK
What Stalks the DeepT. KingfisherNightfire; Titan UK