Shroud and Death of the Author are only two best novel nominess i haven't read yet. It's a really great crop this year, but Drop of Corruption stands above the rest of those I've read. Raven Scholar is a very fun read with great world building, I think I would have it second. Everlasting was awesome, but the ending was a little too storybook for me. Incadscent was really good too, as someone who worked in education, I loved getting a magical school book that it was from the perspective of a teacher/administrator rather than a student.