Category Archives: General

A Year In Reviews

A year ago tomorrow, I started this blog so that authors would have a place to review other works they enjoyed and admired. Over the last fifty-two weeks, we’ve published three-a-week reviews of indie titles from science fiction to mystery to romance to … I’ve lost track. That’s 156 works by indie authors that other authors recommend.

When I started, I hoped this catalog of indie works would introduce people to the world of indie novels – and the authors who read it, write it, and enjoy it. I think we’ve done a good job across a wide variety of works by a wide variety of people. I could wish for more but when you rely on volunteers the only thing to say is “thanks.”

This may be the last post because I’ve run out of works in my own reading list (600+ titles over a five year period) and I can’t read fast enough to keep posting three reviews a week of great books I’ve read. I read a lot – sometimes five or six titles a week – but some are books I won’t recommend because they’re follow-on books in a series that I enjoyed. It feels cheaty to recommend book three in a series. Some are books I didn’t enjoy enough to recommend. Not that they’re bad books – a book that can’t get me to the end of the sample, isn’t necessarily bad – but it’s not a book I’m willing to say “Yeah! This was good. You might try it.”

I don’t know what we’ll do in the future, but perhaps enough indie authors will be willing to fill in the holes going forward.

Thanks to all who’ve supported the experiment over the last year. Like a good book, we’re going to turn the page here and see what comes next.

The Alecto Initiative

A series that stands out for its characters more than its plot is always a winner with me. Hunter and O’Neill have done that with this Lorralynn Kennrakis series.

It starts out with a young girl being sold into slavery – as one does. The story takes a bit of a turn after that. One thing that never changes is Lorralynn Kennrakis and her determination to succeed against all the odds. This series stands out in particular because it doesn’t fall into the “to make a woman strong, just give her a bigger gun” trap. Oh, she has guns, but it’s not the guns that make her strong.

I thoroughly enjoyed this but don’t take my word for it. As always, why not grab a sample and see for yourself?

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

A Modern Witch

This isn’t the first book I read from Debora Geary. I haven’t read everything she’s ever written under all her pen names, but the witch series has a fond place in my heart. This is contemporary fantasy at its best.

The main character – Lauren – is only the appetizer in this literary feast. The ensemble cast of fire, water, air, and earth witches elbows into the story to help their newest member come to grips with the changes happening in her life. This is a coming of age story in a certain sense, or a coming into power story – as are all the witch tales. I found myself – or at least parts of me – in the various characters and every book hit home for me.

If you like fantasy but aren’t exactly enamored of vampires and the were-beasts, maybe grab a sample. It might be the series you’re looking for.

Disclaimer: I know Deb online and count her as a friend and colleague. I’ve no vested interest in this title nor do I expect to get anything in return from this review. There’s a long story behind this that’s not mine to tell.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

The Lord Son’s Travels

lord_sons_travelsEmma Mickley brings us a tale in the mold of Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court. Our hero – Adrien Lord Son, fourth in line of succession – intends to lead as quiet and unassuming life in the service of crown and country. As usually happens to well-meaning fools, his plans are soon thwarted by visitors from another place and time.

I read this story last spring and loved it. A true hero’s hero facing confusing and insurmountable odds, collecting as motley – and dedicated – a crew as exist anywhere in literature. A well fleshed world with lively characters and engaging situations provides the stage for Adrien and Eleanna in their unlikely and deadly quest.

This is a comfort read. Mickley doesn’t freight the story down with a lot of heavy baggage. The themes that she weaves so skillfully unfold in good time without cluttering the narrative along the way.

If you’re looking for a cracking good story with evil villains and admirable heros, why not grab a sample of The Lord Son’s Travels and see what you think?

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Watch This Space

More and more indie authors rise to the surface every day. Across a variety of genres in a variety of forms, new voices speak to new readers from around the world. Too often I feel constrained by what I can recommend to my core fans and so I don’t share as much about these new voices as I might.

I’m partial to novels and so overlook shorter works. I read mostly science fiction and fantasy, but occasionally dip into other genres. I wanted a place where authors – including me – can talkĀ about the books they enjoy rather than the books they write.

For readers, I want this to be a place where you can find interesting new authors and participate in the conversation about titles that might not be at the fore front of the store front.

I’ve started collecting reviews. I hope to post a fresh review three times a week but that will depend on how many other authors I can convince to play along. I’m looking forward to the experiment.

Watch this space.