The Indie Books & Authors Newsletter #63
Exciting new releases from indie authors, plus reviews and link to a free book!
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Featured Promotion
Dandelion is the newest book from Merlina Garance. A second chance romance with flashbacks to young love, addressing the struggles of coming out in an unwelcoming environment and building the life you really want. It’s available to pre-order now and will be published on June 15th.
New Releases
Sing No Suns, Sing the Night by Michael Michel
When the light that guides us fails, we must face the darkness within… or perish.
A warlord’s bitter crusade. A starship’s crew caught between a mindless monster and a race against starvation. Conflicted aliens unable to stop their conquest. The unhappy life of a sentient gun.
Sing No Suns, Sing The Night is an SFF short story collection and an ode to Grimdark. Hope and despair. Love and hate. Sweet beginnings and sour ends. These stories cover themes that challenge our beliefs about self, society, and the nature of living.
If you’re ready to be dragged to the lip of the abyss and dangled over the edge, read on.
Horrorscope 4: A Zodiac Anthology Volume 4 edited by H Everend
Aries. Taurus. Gemini. Cancer. Leo. Virgo. Libra. Scorpio. Sagittarius. Capricorn. Aquarius. Pisces.
It is said that destiny is determined by the stars. The signs of the Zodiac can predict who you’ll love, who you’ll hate, and who you’ll become. But the fates written in the stars are not always kind. Sometimes, they’re terrifying.
In HorrorScope, Volume 4, you will find 36 dark fantasy poems and short stories all inspired by the zodiac signs. Within these pages, you’ll face demonic angels, children who definitely aren't what they seem and an island where not even love can save you from your worst nightmares.
After all, some folks are just born under a bad sign.
Pierced by Silver (Paranormal Misadventures Book 2) by Anca Antoci
When a vengeful blood-sucking creature stalks a Transylvanian village, leaving a trail of gruesome murders, Ella, Felix and Radu join forces again, and must face their own darkness to stop the carnage before Transylvania drowns in blood.
Deep in the heart of Transylvania, nestled amidst ancient forests and shrouded in centuries-old superstitions, lies the village of Vânători. A string of gruesome murders has left the villagers terrified, and the authorities baffled. Joining forces are Ella Martin, a witch with a hidden past, Felix Goia, a brilliant but haunted police inspector, and Radu Lupu, a mysterious police captain whose supernatural nature has the potential to unravel everything.
As the bodies pile up and the villagers’ fear turns to rage, Ella, Felix, and Radu find themselves caught in a race against time. The locals suspect one of their own to be a strigoi—a relentless force that hungers for blood. They must uncover the truth behind the killings, whether it’s a human monster or a strigoi, before the village is consumed by darkness.
However, their investigation takes a perilous twist when Radu, as a vârcolac, becomes the target of an unrelenting predator armed with silver tipped arrows. With their strongest ally out of commission, Ella and Felix must hurry to save him and stop the killings before Vânători becomes a ghost town.
Once Upon a Spring: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology by H L Macfarlane et al
A hunter invades a blossoming grove and becomes obsessed with its beautiful spirit.
In a world forever waiting for spring, two women with no pasts or memories find each other.
A shapeshifting hare seeks her missing brother among the bluebells.
The god of the underworld mourns the loss of his beloved wife, the goddess of spring.
Once upon a time stories travelled from place to place on the tongues of merchants and thieves and kings alike. Winter would thaw, and down rivers of melt water and roads cleared of snow a new round of stories would pop up like flowers in every village or town or city.
In the spirit of these age-old stories comes Once Upon a Spring, a seasonal anthology of folk and fairy tales from 16 authors across the globe. It covers everything from spring curses to fledgling romances to daring adventures, and features both intriguing twists on classic tales and exciting original stories.
Book Reviews
His Name Was Wren by Rob Winters, reviewed by N S Ford
An enjoyable mystery sci-fi story which reminded me of those movies where bike-riding kids encounter aliens. Set in the English town of Hurstwick, in 1944 something crashed into the woods. It was said to be an aeroplane but one boy, an evacuee named George, knew better. In 2018, a boy called Max moves with his mum to the town and with two new friends, Isaac and Ellie, uncovers the truth. He finds that what happened is connected to his own identity. The story has a good pace, including action but slower sections with research at the library. There is humour and an excellent sense of place. A recommended read if you like mysteries and stories about extra-terrestrials.
Coup de Coeur by Halli Starling, reviewed by Merlina Garance
I was swept up into Halli Starling's magical New York from the first few pages. I loved this so much. Every character is their own person with a unique voice but most of all it was the writing, the environment that had me hooked.
For the first time I fell in love with the morally grey character and I so hope he gets a redemption arc because I don't want to be in love with a baddie haha.
Highly recommend this book!
Free Book
Lady of the Underworld (Hades’ Salvation Book 1) by Skyler Andra
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.