The Indie Books & Authors Newsletter #24
New indie releases, news round-up, book review and a free book! The Newsletter is now approaching 100 subscribers, thanks for your support!
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New Releases
The Binding of Bloom Mountain (The Valley Book 1) by Siggy Chambers
“One fool in search of money wins a cursed mountain and a lifetime of nightmares...”
When Celeste Foster loses her job with the US Forestry Service, she finds solace in drinking herself stupid every night. But when she sees an ad that says “ADVENTURERS WANTED” and “compensation upon completion”, she pulls herself together to head for the town of Milton.
In the mountains of Northwest Virginia, she enters a portal to an alternate Shenandoah Valley. Here monsters and gods live alongside humans, and every family has magic in their blood. But a curse festers on the slopes of Bloom Mountain. A decade has passed with no one to bind the magic, and soon the curse will destroy Milton.
Armed with a recording, a bag of ritual items, and fresh scones from the cute barista that housed her, Celeste starts up Bloom Mountain. The Binding tests her endurance, sanity, and ability to adapt to this new world. If she can survive the horrors on the mountain, there might be more than just money waiting for her at the end.
Birds of the Storm (Catching Up Book 3) by Mary Lay
Caroline Munhead has spent two years catching up with her old school friends and taking her first tentative steps as a young woman. Now in 1927 she spreads her wings a little further and finds herself in north Somerset in a rented cottage. A new group of friends and a new set of challenges bring Caroline to an unexpected proposal. Will she make Somerset her forever home? Will a message from beyond the grave prove true?
This third instalment of the Catching Up series is sure to engage readers old and new in Caroline’s journey of self-discovery.
It Doesn’t Go Away by Wendy Dalrymple
A woman on the brink. A long, endless hike. Something waiting in the woods.
There’s something waiting for her along the Appalachian Trail. Watching. Following. She knows it. She can feel their eyes on her at every corner. It’s only a matter of time before they catch up…
In the aftermath of a horrible traumatic incident, a woman sets out on a solo long-distance hiking trip along the Appalachian Trail. Despite her insistence to push through, dark forces manifest in strangers' faces and terror sets in. With every turn through the dense, dark wood, she discovers that running away from her past is more difficult than it seems, and in the end, it just doesn’t go away.
Unity (The Dangers of Dreaming Book 3) by Chloë L Blyth
She was my world, and I watched her die.
Kyle Clarke is good-looking, charismatic, and heart broken.
He has been chasing revenge for years only to be let down time and time again. But this time, it’s different. This time, he has made a deal with a (marginally) more respectable man. A man of his word, hopefully.
He might not know exactly where he is, and he might have allowed Adam, Ella, and his dad to be trapped in some kind of “collection,” but it is totally under control.
With Kristina by his side, Kyle plans to get his revenge and then return to save the others.
But what if they don’t want to be saved?
Everyone wants to be a hero but, this time, they’re going to need to work together. And that’s easier said than done…
Pre-Order Now
Death Before Dishonor: An Emily Fallon Novel by Madeline Vaughn, publication date 31st July
Lieutenant Emily Fallon returns home from her recent at-sea deployment. All she wants before her next assignment is a little bit of R & R.
As soon as her boots hit the ground in Norfolk, VA, a series of events start to unfold. It is clear that someone is targeting her family.
Follow Emily through Norfolk, VA and the Outer Banks, NC as she tries to unravel the conspiracy that started long before she found out about it.
Will she be able to save her loved ones in time? Whom will she be able to trust? She will quickly find out that prior events and people in her life are not truly what and whom they seem to be.
*** New releases and pre-orders wanted! Indie authors, send in details of your new books for the opportunity to be featured! ***
Featured Promotion
The Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award 2023
BBNYA is an annual indie book award hosted and judged completely by book bloggers from all over the world!
Sponsored by the Folio Society, the maker of beautiful illustrated collectible editions of the world’s great works of fiction and non-fiction.
Our goal is to give under appreciated, lesser known Indie authors a chance to make themselves known without being overshadowed by the big names, but also show the world the power of book bloggers!
News Round-Up
The 8th SPFBO (Self Published Fantasy Blog-Off) was was awarded to Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater, congratulations to the winner and finalists.
Rebecca Crunden has recently updated her indie authors resources page.
Book blogger Danni at For Books Sake invites indie authors to be featured in an author spotlight, please complete this form.
*** News wanted! Send in your positive news about indie books & authors! ***
Book Review
Seeds of War (The Smokesmiths Book 1) by João F Silva, reviewed by Jamedi
A book that has been on my radar for a long time, as I'm a big fan of the genre (nothing like a good grimdark novel), and which has fulfilled my expectations, being a character-driven story, with morally questionable characters, and that hooked me from the first page until the end.
In this story, we are going to be following three characters whose arcs will end clashing in the final conflict, and that represent very different aspects of the human condition. Morally grey, non virtuous characters.
Gilmore, leader of a settlement in a continent that appeared after the end of the Crimson Wars; mother of two, and a woman that has lived war. She has turned into a crime boss in order to protect the settlement and her freedom from the different kingdoms looking to colonize this new continent. The fact they are the only producers of a elixir that brings strength and that might become a deciding factor in future wars only endangers the independency they wanted to get.
Rednow, commander of the Leeth, a really valued group of mercenaries, and a smokesmith. While has been leading them with great success, he's starting to feel tired of the mercenary's life, looking to retire after some jobs. Once we start going deeper into his past, we get to see how the memory of her sister is haunting him, marking many of his actions. A man that is not afraid of violence, but who at the same time is also trying to take care of the members of his group.
Orberesis, a petty thief that was identified as a god after the orb he was carrying created a new continent, marking the end of the Crimson Wars. Probably the most interesting character for me, as we can see how he's mentally ill, and how the adoration he's getting due to his "divinity" is messing with his mind. Said that, he could be called a manipulative and cruel person, and won't be wrong; we become spectators of how he uses his influence just to gain power and to get rid of the people he hates.
The production of a mysterious elixir in Gimlore's settlement becomes the angular plot key that will weave those three stories together; leading to a conflict where our characters will have to fight to defend the things they value, and that will end marking the start of a new power fight that seems to be the focus of future books.
If you like gritty fantasy, Seeds of War is an excellent novel for you. Fans of Abercrombie or Brian McClellan should take a look at it, because you will certainly enjoy what you are reading. With the ending, I can only wait for a second book that answer some questions!
*** Book Reviews wanted! Send in a review of an indie book you enjoyed and get a FREE Featured Promotion for your books/website/services in the Newsletter! ***
Free Book
Found You by Sarah Jules
Free on Amazon today (Tuesday) - otherwise available on Kindle Unlimited.
*** If you’re an indie author with a free book promotion coming up in the next few weeks, or have a book available perma-free, send details to the Editor for the opportunity for inclusion in the Newsletter. ***
The Indie Books & Authors Newsletter is compiled and edited by N S Ford, indie author and book blogger.