Indie Reads for #IndieAugust!
In honor of #IndieAugust, a month to celebrate indie-published novels, I thought I’d share a number of books I’ve enjoyed. For those of you who subscribe to my newsletter, you’ll recognize these books!
If you’re already an indie-novel reader, keep on keeping on. But if you haven’t yet delved into the realm of indie, and like to read fantasy, here are some of the novels I’ve enjoyed!
Note, this is the first of many booklists because there are so many terrific indie-published novels. Like always, the affiliate links cost nothing extra, but support my writing.
Great #IndieAugust Reads for Teen and Adult Readers
Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide (to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons)
by Quenby Olson
I can’t even express how much I adored this indie book—think Lemony Snicket meets Jane Austen… with a baby dragon. If you’re looking for a feel-good tale filled with tea, cake, manners (and did I mention a BABY DRAGON??), give this cozy read a try.
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking
by T. Kingfisher
This was one of my favorite books of the year. It is funny and sweet, magical and silly. The story structure was fantastic, the characters endearing, and the magic was oh-so-fun. It does have some dark themes, but is appropriate for younger readers.
The Silver Ship and the Sea
by Brenda Cooper
Although they bill this book as hard science fiction, at its heart, it’s a character-driven science fantasy story. While alien, the world was familiar, and it played with themes of classism, ableism, and defining what is “other”. Something I thought Cooper did particularly well was create conflict; conflict between the colonists and the world, the colony and genetically-enhanced children, and even between the children themselves.
Legends & Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes
by Travis Baldree
This book blew up within months of publication. It’s a cozy, slice-of-life fantasy I loved. It’s not technically indie now because it got picked up by Tor Books, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers. Still, it started as an indie book and will give you a great introduction to what indie authors have to offer!
Light-hearted Indie Reads
Crossing Over Easy
by Nova Nelson
Beware; I got hooked on the Eastwind Witches cozy mystery 12-book series. It was the perfect series to binge over my 10.5-hour drive to Bozeman and back. The stories are short, fun, and feature a protagonist who finds herself very out of place in a world she never expected to exist.
The Night Raven
by Sarah Painter
The Night Raven is the first book in the Crow Investigations series. Although I don’t read a lot of urban fantasy, I tore through these books. Unlike a lot of urban fantasy, the protagonist is not a wise-cracking, harder-then-nails private investigator. Instead, she’s a reluctant heroine who never wanted to join her powerful mafia-like magical family in their criminal enterprises. The series is funny, charming, light, and airy—exactly the escape I was looking for.
The Thirteenth Hour
by Trudie Skies
I read this book as an ARC late last year, but it was so good I’ve since purchased a copy to keep. It’s a gaslamp fantasy set in a fascinating world full of steam-punk vibes. Truly, the world building is fantastic, and includes 12 races from domains ruled by 12 gods. The City of Chime, where most of the story takes place, is a mortal-only realm from which the different races can travel to any of the domains through a clock. This is the first book in the series and the preorder for the second book is up now.
Amazon | (Not available on Bookshop.org)
The Chrysillium Tree
by Laken Honeycutt
This debut fantasy novel features magic, courage, integrity, betrayal, strange creatures, and love. Although it reads like a classic epic fantasy novel, the world Honeycutt has built is kinder and gentler, and there is a general sense of camaraderie that I enjoyed.
Dark Indie Reads
Edge of the Breach
by Halo Scot
This is the first book in the Rift Cycle series set on a dystopian earth. Scot has populated her world with characters that are horrifying and compelling at the same time. The writing is great, but dark. Even her content warning makes me squirm, so if you enjoy lighter reads, this one isn’t for you.
Amazon | (Not available on Bookshop.org)
Legacy of the Brightwash
by Krystle Matar
I was floored by this book. Not only was it Matar’s debut, it was nominated for 2 Stabby awards; Best Debut 2021 and Best Indie Book 2021. It’s a noir fantasy and reminded me of the TV show Bosch x the Rift Cycle series by Halo Scot. The world is bleak, but the story has heart, humor, and love. Highly recommended.
What are some of your favorite indie reads?
Header Photo by Elisa Calvet B. on Unsplash