Hello, 

What an amazing response! We received 1,103 entries in total this year (almost double the amount from last year), with 834 adult and 269 youth category submissions. These are the highest numbers we’ve had, and we’re delighted to see the contest growing each year.

The adult category showed 41% historical entries and 32% mythological, while the youth category presented 53% historical and 27% mythological entries. The rest were a combination of both! Some incredible fiction is being read by our reviewers.

Welcome to our submission reviewers

Entries have been screened and anonymized and are now in the care of our dedicated readers. Joining team members Joanne and Taabir for this feat are our volunteer submission reviewers: 

Dedicating their time with us for their second year: Lara Mennel, Frances Taylor, Joy Dillon, Hannah H, Ashley Oppon 

Some new faces: Tehreem Asad, Atulya Saurabh, Lucy Carney, Emmy Moronval, Kyenna Castillo, Lindsay Stafford, Bianca Lorraine Gargantiel, Khadija Ashinawy, Shani Naylor, Raluca Claudia Popescu, Manidipa Mandal, Jack Haworth, Ennis Rook Bashe, Bruno Castillo, Sydney Miller, Jitender Jit Singh, Elnaz Jahesh, and Mica Allen

And our interns: Sophia Reis, Haniya Drury, and Yeseo Kwak

We really appreciate the help! 

Reading progress

Our team have already made an impressive start this year. We’ve almost finished the youth spreadsheet; yes, all 269 entries have been completely devoured and judged twice by our team of readers.

So far we have seen many Greek myths, as well as ancient Roman history, there’s also fantastical Norse, Southeast Asian, Chinese, Hindu, Persian, and Brazilian mythologies. As well as folklore inspired by Sri Lanka, Britain, Nigeria, India, and Japan.

And, last but not least, all the many events and periods across human history that were used as inspiration for the historical fiction entries.

Each entry is completely unique and a celebration of human culture. Creating and telling stories is the most ancient shared practice, and reading writers, young or old, from all around the world is an amazing experience.

Longlist

We’re looking forward to sharing the longlist on November 10 and discovering some new favourite short stories along the way. In October, we'll let you know what's making an impression with our reading team.

But if you can’t wait, that’s okay, we have the perfect solution.

Dust & Divinity anthology

If you wish to read some of the winning stories from past contests, you can check our archive online, or even better, you can read the winning AND shortlisted stories directly at home in our new book!

Now you can buy a copy of the best stories compiled into the anthology Dust & Divinity: Ink of Ages Volume Two. Available today, this book celebrates 25 winning and shortlisted stories from the 2025 Ink of Ages Prize.

Amazon → other buying options →

Our writers take us from the valleys of South Wales to Pakistan’s Lake Saif-ul-Malook, from Polish salt mines to the foothills of Chinese mountains. Murder, betrayal, death, and disaster meet hope, resilience, and a sprinkle of humor. In the face of despair, at least there’s family (when they’re not conspiring against you), music, art, dogs, and Danish pastries.

What endures when everything else has turned to dust? 

Read the anthology and see what you think! And after you read, please leave a review. We want to hear everything about our favorite parts of those stories that were collected with so much care by our team.

Enjoy your reading, folks!

Sophia and Joanne

Ink of Ages Fiction Prize is run by World History Encyclopedia and generously sponsored by Oxford University Press, and more details are available on the contest website.

Joanne Taylor
Proofreader & Editor
World History Encyclopedia
www.worldhistory.org