Lily Starling and the Storm Riders Wins Silver in YA Sci-Fi at the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - September 3, 2026 - Outpost Books is proud to announce that Lily Starling and the Storm Riders by Christian Hurst has won Silver in the Young Adult Science Fiction category of the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards.

The award marks another milestone for The Lily Starling Series. Last year, the first book in the series, Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander, received Bronze in the same Readers' Favorite YA Sci-Fi category, kicking off a streak of recognition that culminated this summer with an IPPY Gold Medal for the novel. This year's Silver win for Storm Riders continues that momentum while marking a new achievement for the series' second installment.

"Storm Riders has always been one of the strongest entries in the series," said Jean-Paul Aubert of Outpost Books. "It expands Lily's universe, deepens the stakes, and explores what it means to build yourself while facing forces beyond your control. We're thrilled to see it honored with this award."

In Lily Starling and the Storm Riders, a routine rescue mission turns into a devastating ambush when the Storm Riders - a ruthless band of spacefaring raiders - vanish into the chaos with Lily's closest friend. With the Salamander crippled and the galaxy on edge, Lily must confront zealots wielding the power of a cosmic tempest the Union refuses to understand.

"Book two can sometimes be overlooked," said Hurst. "But Storm Riders is where Lily's world truly gets bigger. It's a story about being shaped by things you can't control, and I'm grateful to see it receive this recognition."

Outpost Books congratulates all of this year's Readers' Favorite winners and finalists, including B. Ward Powers and Marti Ward, whose Klandor Rising: The Complete Series received Gold in the YA Sci-Fi category.

Lily Starling and the Storm Riders is available now in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

Jean-Paul Aubert
4607 Library Rd
Suite 220
Bethel Park, PA 15102
202-716-9000

Outpost Books is an independent speculative fiction publisher headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The imprint focuses on bold, character-driven stories that explore adventure, identity, resilience, and hope across strange new worlds.

This release was published on openPR.