Editor’s Note
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New Releases
Guardian (The Caein Legacy Book 2) by A J Calvin
Alexander has been sent on a perilous journey through the Southlands, a pilgrimage all would-be magi must undertake in order to develop their abilities. His brother, Andrew, was named his guardian by the Oracle, a strange woman with the ability to see glimpses of the future. The brothers do not know the land or its dangers, but both understand the importance of the journey.
With the proper training, Alexander will become instrumental in opposing Colin’s tyranny in their homeland of Novania. Colin is king; he has reinstated the Mark Inspections and seeks to execute anyone born with the Mark of the Magi, whether they are trained to use their abilities or not. That his brothers escaped his grasp once is a source of ire for Colin, and he plans to make war directly on the magi to the south who harbor the fugitives.
The natural dangers of the land may not stop Alexander from succeeding in his quest, but the royal assassins sent to pursue Andrew might prove to be their undoing. Andrew is sworn to protect his brother no matter the cost to himself…
Even if he is the last of the dragon-kind.
Spark of the Divine (The Kalaraak Chronicles Book 1) by Louise Holland
SAVE THE GODS. As a Divine, Mae wields her strange gifts working as a mercenary, until a simple rescue job has the crew uncover a plot to steal divinity from the gods. And when the god Mae serves is attacked, she must find a way to restore their power—before the entire seven realms will be thrown into chaos.
SAVE THEIR REALM. With the kingdom of Altaea already on the edge of war, and the divinity of all gods at stake, the crew must travel beyond their country and their realm to save it. But each member has their own agenda, and forbidden romance and deadly betrayal threaten to break them apart.
SAVE THEMSELVES. Originally inspired by a years-long Dungeons and Dragons campaign and the first instalment of the epic fantasy series The Kalaraak Chronicles, SPARK OF THE DIVINE brings a group of reluctant heroes on a quest to save a god, as the fate of their realm hangs in the balance. Will they each find what they desperately seek, or will the secrets they keep from one another be their undoing? Can they master their fears to defeat an evil their world has never seen?
Better Dirty Than Done by Rick Czaplewski
Already facing a wretched cancer diagnosis, a young man's prospects for survival dim as he learns his treatments have not worked. Writing against the clock, he feverishly authors a story of profound joy and sadness exploring the life he could have lived. Desperately told, his story takes you through poignant memories, intimate relationships, and fantastical triumphs in a quest to make sense of it all and leave a legacy behind. An addictive, inspiring memoir, Better Dirty Than Done will have you turning pages and questioning the value of your own time. What would you do if your life suddenly had an imminent expiration date? Grab a box of tissues and reflect on both the fragility of life and its limitless potential for joy. Beautifully told through an authentic, intimate voice Better Dirty Than Done will inspire anyone seeking to make sense of life. It fits perfectly with the missions of hospital and cancer organizations and on resource lists of inspirational reads for cancer patients and survivors. This is the perfect book for college students or university “book talk” events.
Pre-Order Now
Tomb of Heart and Shadow by Cara N Delaney, release date December 12th
Their marriage was a simple bargain. Love was not supposed to complicate things.
When her reputation-obsessed family issues her an ultimatum – get married or be disinherited – Saria seizes upon what seems like a most convenient solution. She strikes a deal with a stranger – marriage and a child in exchange for freedom and security, away from her manipulative family. That her bride is a sorcerer from the mysterious city of Neeth is not a problem. Or so Saria thinks.
Divorced after a personal tragedy, Taleysin doesn’t expect much from her second marriage. A child and heir to carry on her sworn duty to the city of Neeth, and more importantly, a wife who won’t ask too many questions. The deal with Saria seems to be everything she wants – and nothing more. She will have her heir, and Neeth will remain safe for another generation.
But as the newly-weds slowly get to know each other, their resolve over their practical decision begins to crumble. While Saria becomes ever more curious about Neeth’s magical secrets, Taleysin finds herself growing closer to a woman who was supposed to be nothing more than a means to an end. When a mysterious assailant begins to hunt Neeth’s sorcerers, endangering its secrets and the safety of all, Saria and Taleysin must find a way to work through this shift in their relationship – to save both their marriage and the city.
News Round-Up
A feature about the Newsletter’s 1st birthday is available to read on Whispering Stories blog.
The Kindle Storyteller Award 2023 was won by G J Ogden with Forsaken Commander (The Aternien Wars Book 1).
The Indie Ink nominations are being announced and the voting will open this month.
Book Review
The Teleporter by Lee Hall, reviewed by N S Ford
I enjoyed this fun, wacky short novel. It’s a mixture of satire, slapstick humour, superhero sci-fi and American noir. The story is narrated by Kurt Wiseman, who works for a dodgy tech company and has a reliance on alcohol. He has published a graphic novel and sometimes the characters appear and talk to him. A bizarre chain of events leads to him acquiring the ability to teleport. He decides to use this superpower to help the people he meets on nights out and to bring down the evil boss of the company. He has an oddball bunch of friends who help him to gain confidence and realise he doesn’t need to drink so much. The plot is a little chaotic but I liked the references to what usually happens in superhero stories and how this one fits the pattern, or not. The characters were quite interesting, not exactly likeable, but the kind of people you can root for. An entertaining memorable read which made me laugh. It also has more serious points to make about power, greed and equality.
Free Book
Getting Into Practice by Edward Vernon
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.