Crown Prince: Book One of New Blood by W.D. Kilpack III is a finalist in the Indie Ink Awards in the Best Mentor Character category. Kilpack said, "I will never get tired of hearing from readers who appreciate my books. So much work goes into writing a novel, having a little appreciation goes a long way." Crown Prince was nominated in four categories: Best Mentor Character, Best Friendship, Best Morally Gray Character, Best Setting. Members of Indie Story Geek then voted online. Only those receiving the most votes were named finalists. The finalists in 24 categories will then be read by the 80-member judging panel. This is the first time Kilpack's work has been nominated for the Indie Ink Awards. Kilpack has five novels, four in the epic fantasy New Blood Saga (Crown Prince, Order of Light, Demon Seed, Rilari), and the sci-fi novella, Pale Face. Between them, they have won 18 book awards. Sci-fi epic Battle Calm is coming soon. Kilpack said, "This has been a very exciting process. The interactive element is very different from most of the other contests that I've taken part in. I am very aware of most of the other finalists in the Best Mentor Character category and there is nothing but quality that I can see." According to Sinister Soup podcast co-founder, Clay Vermulm, "Bill [Kilpack] is a wonderful man who works extremely hard on his craft. Kilpack delivers a stunning blow to the belief that Indie-Fantasy is worth any less that its salt [with] well-crafted epic[s] with unique plot mechanisms, well-developed and believable characters, and a world grounded in the visceral and the real." Reviews • "I've been won over by Crown Prince! The world is deeply conceived. The prose is well crafted. The solemn, almost-inhuman Guardian/seer standing guard during a deadly siege as the young queen gives birth makes for a hell of a great start! That weightiness to his character was a key point of interest to me that comes across right from the opening pages, plunging right into the thick of it for a wonderful change of pace. Crown Prince is intriguing, grand, strange, and shadowed by ill-omens. It is Shakespearean." — Tom Mock, author, The Long Nights • "Natharr is very much tested as he strives to save the life of newborn Crown Prince Vikari. This book reads wonderfully, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know the story. It is full of pulse-pounding adventure and also features great, extensive world-building! Definitely a recommend from me!” — Philip Chase, Ph.D., medievalist and author, The Way of Edan • 5/5 Stars — "Kilpack presents an atmospheric and immersive journey into a richly crafted fantasy world, balancing a strong character-led adventure with a wider web of plots. There’s a clear flair for character, dialogue, and attitude ... with Natharr's intense presence affecting all who encounter him. The weightiness of his responsibilities and the depth of the world-building immediately gripped my attention. The way the characters’ attitudes and actions were shaped by the realism of the worldbuilding was totally compelling. This book delivers on every promise ... swift pacing of the plot, coupled with dark storytelling, strong descriptive skills, and captivating character development." — K.C. Finn, USA Today best-selling author, The Book of Shade • 4/4 Stars — "Crown Prince stands out with amazing descriptions, complex characters, and intriguing supernatural elements. Kilpack has a flair for setting the scene and creating memorable characters. I absolutely loved the descriptive prowess of this author, [who] genuinely takes the time to help us immerse in the fantasy world, no matter if he describes a battle scene, a peaceful moment, or a mythological creature ... he always manages to conjure the best images ... incorporating supernatural elements in a general atmosphere of myth and legend. There was nothing I disliked about this novel." — OnlineBookClub.org • 5/5 Stars — "I absolutely love Crown Prince! It is a very dark epic-fantasy story following a very intimate cast of characters. The way things unfold, you’re thrown into the thick of the action right from the beginning. The way events unfold to the way characters come together, you cannot help but keep flipping the pages. You get really close with these characters, and you can’t help but want to know what happens next!" — Usman, host of Bards and Books YouTube channel (British Columbia, Can) • 5/5 Stars — "Creating worlds and characters is not a easy, but the author did an excellent job. Crown Prince has everything you want: intertwining sword scenes, the battles of a war, kings, queens, knights, magic, fairies, love. Kilpack's ability to crystally describe a scene [was] like I was taking part in a meal or a sword fight. Crown Prince flowed smoothly and any fan of fantasy will rejoice [and] if you have never read a fantasy novel (like me), this one will get you hooked." — Jose F. Nodar, author, Books, Pens & Larceny (South Wales, Aus)