The Indie Books & Authors Newsletter #78
New indie releases, a book review, news and a link to a free book!
Editor’s Note
Starting from January 2025, the Newsletter will be monthly, releasing on the 1st of the month. This is to allow the Editor more time to gather content and schedule the Newsletter consistently. All the usual features will remain, except for the Free Book section; authors wishing to promote their free books may be included in the News section or the Featured Promotions.
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Featured Promotion
The Grandmaster’s Gamble by Paul G Zareith
In the depths of the cosmos, slumbers a malevolence that humanity has long forgotten.
An unsuspecting researcher knocks on a door, completely unprepared for what awaits on the other side.
As he tackles a murder investigation, an imperial treason conspiracy and backstabbing - the intertwined fates of two civilizations hang in balance.
As a dark history suppressed centuries ago resurfaces, the direction of the future will be set by one epic gamble.
New Releases
Whiteout (The Order of the Strawberry Circle Book 2) by Susanne Schmidt
WHEN THE BLUE DOOR OPENS, WINTER WILL COME TO FELS.
11-year old Jo has finally managed to make a friend at her new school: Rani, the girl who runs like the wind. Together, Jo and Rani are planning the perfect winter break: cookie baking, caroling, and ice skating at the local pond.
But when the Fels Christmas market is vandalized and strange symbols are found on the stalls, Jo starts to worry that the chilling prophecy made by the monster who kidnapped her brother in the fall might be coming true after all, threatening the safety of all of Fels:
“The price for peace in blood is paid, pay it now or pay it soon, only higher if you wait…”
To protect her family, Rani, and her no-longer-quite-so-boring hometown of Fels, Germany, Jo turns to the Strawberry Circle, the secret order monitoring supernatural activity in the area. Together, can they chase off the spirits that haunt the time between the years? Or will Fels pay the blood price after all?
Join Jo on a frosty and frightening adventure and explore the rich winter lore of Germany in the sequel to BBNYA finalist Bad Grains!
The Wishing Stone (Chronicles of Gam Gam Book 2) by Adam Holcombe
A mythical relic believed to have the ability to grant any wish.
A map, leading the way through ancient and sealed catacombs.
Gam Gam's return to Capital City is not what she expected when she stumbles upon her first clue to the Wishing Stone's whereabouts. Joined by Mina and her new friend Emil, along with the undead retinue of Nugget, Sloughy, and Gerald, they set out to uncover secrets that could unravel more than just their lives.
In the Name of the Flame by Alexia Muelle-Rushbrook
Marking the edge of existence, the lethal wall of the World’s Divide has stood untouched for centuries. In that same time, Virisinigne has been ruled as a single kingdom—until now.
Under siege and sure to lose, the king has only one card left to play and one son who he is willing to risk it on. Despite being largely estranged since a teen, when crown and country demand Captain Niall’s return home, duty compels him to answer.
Niall expects to be enlisted to fight, but when his father hastily commands him to take a pendant, sail through the impenetrable Divide, and plead for mercy from the unknown, he begins to realise how unique his calling is—and wonders if he is truly the man for the job.
But if Niall cannot be the prince he has spent his life trying to ignore and find a way to mend aeons of division in a world where all bow to a deity of fire, everything will burn…
Wild Skies by K E Andrews
I’ll trade ya a story for a drink.
It’s a story about a handsome son of a gun and his trusty dragon, Bean, on the hunt for the notorious train robber, Talon. In a land shaped by dragons, magic, and bullets, Dale Hartwell is just trying to make a living hunting down bandits and bounties while searching for his kidnapped parents. When the hunt for Talon takes him to the Melted Lands, Dale finds that he’s bitten off more than he can chew. He comes face to face with ancient dragons, old magic, and a new lead on his missing family. If he fails this job, not only will he lose his chance to find his parents, he might lose his life. In a showdown with a common enemy, unlikely allies will have to take to the skies, fighting tooth and talon for their lives and the future of the Melted Lands.
Pre-Order Now
Nature’s Tributes by Jade Ford, release date February 25th
No one but you can control your actions.
But are you ruled by your mind… or your heart?
Beyond these doors, we will find out.
As punishment for destroying her lands, Nature has selected six human tributes to enter the realm of the fae and compete in her lethal trials.
Most will die. Perhaps all.
This is the brutality of Nature.
When Rosalind wakes up in the land of Eleria, chosen as one of the six, her only thought is of survival. Paired with the mischievous, handsome Winter fae Aalto, she must set aside her distrust of the fae if she is to stand a chance of making it through the trials.
But what happens when she finds herself battling for more than just her life?
Pre-orders available in the UK (international to follow) from Amazon and Waterstones.
News Round-Up
The Indie Visible Winter Wonderland event will run from 6 - 9th December. There will be lots of discounted and free books to check out at this website.
Judging is now underway for SPSFC4 (Self-Published Science Fiction Competition).
Indie Bites magazine issue 18 will be Bards and Bargains, with a deadline of February 28th.
Book Review
Amusing Miss Austen by Angela Pearse, reviewed by N S Ford
If you love Pride & Prejudice and are in the mood for a fun historical rom-com, this is the book for you!
The story is narrated by Felicity Blackburn, whose friend Jane Austen is secretly writing a novel inspired by the romantic mishaps going on in Steventon. Felicity is not impressed by the grumpy Mr Fitzroy when they meet at a ball. Meanwhile, her sister Harriet is very taken with Mr Pringle but will he propose to her? Felicity’s awful cousin, Mr Humbleton, turns up with the intention of marrying one of the girls and it seems they will have to accept, to keep the house in the family.
I liked that there was enough of the original story to make this novel feel familiar, with some interesting modern twists. As the spicier and more shocking parts of the story did not get into Jane Austen’s novel, this reflects that we sometimes make the error of thinking that Austen’s books are a true reflection of how things were back then. I’m not saying that the cream sponge incident happened, for example (that was funny!) and some details were not historically accurate, but it did make me wonder what else Jane had to omit from her writing. Perhaps there were indeed some things she would’ve loved to include, but that could not be published.
In summary, this was an amusing read which I enjoyed very much.
Free Book
Dead by Sunrise (Brandon Mattson Mysteries Book 1) by R L Ryker
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.