The Indie Books & Authors Newsletter #35
New releases, book review, news round-up, link to a free book, and more!
Editor’s Note
The Newsletter will be taking a 2 week summer holiday break in August, after next week’s edition. In the meantime, click here for submissions via Google Forms. Please read the T&Cs before you submit. Authors, remember to state the title of your book and/or share a link to it on the form :)
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Featured Promotion
The Narratess Indie Sale - August 26 - 28
Author sign-ups are open for the #indieaugust sale of fantasy, sci-fi and horror books hosted by Narratess! Authors wishing to take part and readers to be notified when the sale goes live should sign up to the Narratess Promotions Newsletter.
Whispers of a World Breaker (Elmerïan Chronicles Book 1) by Corey Ratliff
Aric’s job is simple; assist the elves as they moved dragon eggs across the kingdom.
When an orc raid leaves a dragon in peril and her egg vulnerable, the responsibility falls into Aric’s hands to complete the mission. But when the dragon hatches, Aric’s life is thrown into disarray.
Accused of being the world breaker of an old prophecy by the elves, sought after by the ever-growing orc clans as vengeance against the elves, and desired by the human kings and queens for power, Aric will stop at nothing to protect his new dragon. It may be the only thing that can turn the tides of the war.
Can Aric fight fate and save the world, or is he destined by the whispers of a world breaker?
A Spring Fling at Hotel Mayfair by Elizabeth Holland
Enjoy your stay at Hotel Mayfair…
Carrie loves her job as a patisserie chef at Lachlan McLeod’s castle, but she’s restless and feels suffocated by the remote location. She craves the excitement of London and wants a new adventure. So when Carrie’s offered a job at a five-star London hotel, she packs her bags and heads south for the summer.
Hotel Mayfair is at the heart of the bustling city. Carrie quickly forms friendships with the hotel’s eclectic group of staff. When the events planner quits, Carrie finds herself working closely with the hotel manager, Lucas. Neither of them can deny the spark between them, but Carrie’s only in London until the end of summer, and Lucas has commitments he can’t leave behind.
From tempting patisserie, good friends, and her new spring fling, Carrie finds herself caught up in the vibrancy of London, but is it all too much?
The Man in the Woods by Steve Griffin
Who is... the Man in the Woods?
The woods are deep and dark and cold and empty …except for a solitary boy, out riding his bike …and a lone wanderer…
What will happen when their paths cross?
Whatever it is, things will never be the same again.
A chilling psychological novella from the author of the bestselling Ghosts of Alice series.
Trueflame (Fireborn Book 2) by Vanessa Ricci-Thode
Neesha doesn’t care about the affairs of dragons. All she wants is to cultivate her unprecedented pyromantic power, but chafes against her mother’s reputation as a ground-breaking dragon whisperer and against a regressive society that expects her to marry. Escaping not only her mother’s judgement but the attention of family-approved suitors proves difficult, especially when an unplanned pregnancy drastically narrows Neesha’s options and sets a tight deadline for fulfilling her dream of being accepted to the Wizards Guild before motherhood sidelines her.
Just when she thinks she can take no more, her mother’s old foe returns for revenge against her entire family, bringing river monsters, a threat to the dragon city, and tough choices that hold the fate of her city—especially her unborn child—in jeopardy.
She’s going to have to start caring about the dragons and earn their trust in order to succeed.
Trueflame is about a salty bi woman fighting the patriarchy, and how brilliant women are destroyed by the shackles of expectation in a regressive society.
Pre-Order Now
Bad Grains (The Order of the Strawberry Circle Book 1) by Susanne Schmidt, release date 8th September
Eleven-year-old Jo loves Halloween and all things horror, but she doesn't believe anything bad could ever happen in Fels, her small German hometown. When Hektor, her annoying older brother, disappears on his way home from school, Jo assumes he is playing a prank on her. But then both her father and grandma forget Hektor's name, and his stuff mysteriously disappears from his room. With the adults of no help whatsoever, Jo starts an investigation of her own, uncovering an old legend that has haunted the children of Fels for centuries. A monster lives in the rye fields, and draws children into its world under the roots. With two days until the gate between their worlds closes, and only Hektor's obnoxious best friend to help her, Jo must figure out a way to rescue her brother, or lose him forever.
News Round-Up
Authors, bloggers and reviewers are celebrating the work of indie authors for Self Published Authors Appreciation Week.
After the success of the Summer Extravaganza, Hayley Anderton is planning a Winter Wonderland indie books sale, authors can get in contact for details.
The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC2) was won by Rory August for The Last Gifts of the Universe.
Book Review
Blood Over Bright Haven by M L Wang, reviewed by Jamedi
Blood Over Bright Haven is the new novel from the SPFBO5 winner M L Wang, an excellent standalone story that blends dark academia with gaslamp fantasy. A highly emotional book, which isn't afraid of touching many difficult themes, such as racism and sexism, and that might end up becoming one of my favourite reads of the year.
M L Wang crafts a really engaging story that dissects many themes that could be applied nowadays even. Firstly, how sexism is rooted inside Tiran. Sciona has always been dismissed due to her genre, especially in the academic environment; even when she is one of the best investigators in the field, she's undervalued and treated more like a curiosity or somebody that was upped to magistracy by her mentor to have a trophy. Once the truth about Tiran's magic is discovered by her, her reaction is considered histrionical and emotional, all because "she's a woman, and woman's mind are not ready". Sciona is not only fighting for her own prestige, but also she sees herself as somebody who is opening doors that were previously closed to her genre.
In the second place, racism is a base for the "utopic" Tiran. While the Tiranian are at the top of society, most of the difficult and underpaid work is taken by immigrants of Kwen origin, who are treated as scum; Tiranian consider themselves superior, an attitude that can be seen in how Kwen are forced to live in ghettos; and when the sinister origin of magic is revealed, most of the "citizens" decided to ignore it, as they don't consider it important.
And finally, greed over people is an angular piece to the plot; when the price of power is shown, we see how most of the citizens just reject the truth, as accepting it would require forfeiting their lifestyle; and the whole city is propelled by greed.
Blood Over Bright Haven is an excellent standalone novel, perfect for those that are looking for something different but with a big emotional charge; dark academia fans will love it. Personally, I hope we get to explore more of the world, especially of the Kwen territories, but as a single novel, this is almost perfect!
Free Book
Her Last Request (Alex Harper Book 1) by Mark Ayre
Free on Amazon US and UK at the time of composing this edition of the Newsletter.
The Indie Books & Authors Newsletter is compiled and edited by N S Ford, indie author and book blogger.