Third Place: The Judgment Train by Ivy Ge
Ivy Ge (@ivygeauthor) writes psychological thrillers about ordinary women facing extraordinary threats. She is the author of The Art of Good Enough, and her essays appear in HuffPost, Business Insider, and Mexico News Daily. A pharmacy professor and stage actor, she holds degrees in business, engineering, and pharmacy.
What the Judges said:
"With a strong narrative voice, tight imagery, and an expert unveiling of information, the first page of Rex’s story was a masterclass in making readers wonder, “What happens next?"
"I felt like I was in the cell with Rex—and like we were about to go on a very dangerous, very epic adventure. I loved the crisp, tight descriptions, and I loved the narrative voice. It felt organic to the type of story you're telling. Overall, great tension. On a craft level, great verbs and great action tags around dialogue."
"Ivy, I felt immersed in your story from the very beginning–with such vivid details and a distinct voice, I could practically hear the footsteps echoing through the pod. This first page left me so curious, not just about the visitor, but about Rex and the unique world you’ve built around him. You should feel so proud of the curiosity seeds you’ve planted and the polished level of your writing!"
"I was particularly impressed with how well you wove in your worldbuilding. It’s a very difficult thing to balance unique terms and sci fi settings without spoon-feeding it to the reader. Not only that, but your tight prose and clear perspective drew me in quickly and completely."
Tell us a little about your writing background. How long have you been writing? What inspired you to start?
I’ve been writing seriously for over a decade, moving between creative nonfiction and novels while working in healthcare and teaching. I was drawn to writing as a way to explore moral ambiguity—how ordinary people make impossible choices under pressure. Over time, psychological thrillers became the natural home for those questions, allowing me to examine fear, justice, and identity at their breaking points.
Tell us more about the larger work where this first page is from.
This first page opens my latest psychological thriller, The Judgment Train. Five people tied to an old murder trial find themselves trapped inside a runaway subway car transformed into a courtroom, ruled by a radical AI justice system. The novel explores morality in an era of outrage, engineered truth, and algorithmic control, asking what happens when justice is taken from human hands, yet still shaped by human failings. I’m currently seeking literary representation to bring this book into the world.
Where can readers find more of your work?
More of Ivy’s work can be found on her website here.
A Chat with the Author:
