Through the podcast and social media I have been so fortunate to connect with wonderful authors and bookish friends who have introduced me to a new world of books that I may not have discovered: Indies!

One of my reading goals for 2023 was to read more books that were independently published, and I was somewhat successful. Of the 115 books that I read, 17 were indies, and I’m hoping to improve upon that percentage (14.7%) next year. Let’s be real, I read a ton of Manga this year and that messed with all my reading stats.

Some of the books included in this list were books that I read to cover on OWWR pod, some were read through my participation on team Before We Go Blog’s SFINCS team, and others were books I read for fun (I’m a perpetual mood reader). I’d highly encourage you to check out all the books/authors on this list and I’ve linked each book in its title.

Here’s my indie list for 2023:

Goodbye to the Sun by Jonathan Nevair

2023 has been the beginning of my “sci-fi era.” I’ve become fascinated with other worlds, future technologies, space travel, and the melding of space and nature. Goodbye to the Sun is the first in the Wind Tide trilogy and is simply put, a terrific book. Complex, nuanced characters, and unique worlds; this book gave me all the vibes of Andor and Dune (favorites of mine). I’m excited to read the rest of this finished series soon, but you can check out my longer review of this book in a previous blog post.

Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater

You’ve likely heard of Small Miracles due to its recent win of the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off, and I can say with zero hesitation that this book is completely deserving of all the awards and positivity surrounding it. If you’re a fan of Good Omens, you’ll definitely enjoy Small Miracles, which follows a fallen angel attempting to lead a sinless woman to sin. The audiobook was a real delight and if you need a lighter book that will make you smile, give this one a listen! You can check out my longer review of Small Miracles on this blog if you need further convincing. I can’t wait to dive into Atwater’s (many) other works!

Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons by Quenby Olson

I will continue to shout from the mountaintops that the “Miss Percy’s” books are wonderful! The first installment in the series was the winner of OWWR pod’s third Indie Intermission and it was so much fun to cover!  The first book follows Mildred Percy as she goes on an extraordinary journey that gives her purpose when she thought she had none. It’s a book with a lot of heart, plenty of food, and a little bit of dragons.There has yet to be another book covered on the podcast that’s made Hannah and I giggle and carry on as much as this one. I’ve gifted and recommended this book more than any other book this year and the feedback has been great. The second book in the series is available now and Olson has a third in the works, so there’s plenty of Miss Percy to keep you entertained.

The Fall Is All There Is by C.M. Caplan

Holy creativity! C.M. Caplan does not hold back in this one. There’s action, unique technology/magic systems, and some of the most relatable and amazing characters that you will ever read within the fantasy genre. The Fall Is All There Is lets you inside the brain of Petre, a quadruplet who is doing his best to prevent a civil war with or without the help of his royal siblings. This is the first book in Caplan’s Four of Mercies series and the second book can’t get here fast enough. Give this book a read and then listen to OWWR pod’s interview with C.M. Caplan in which we (mainly me) spoil things immediately. So definitely read the book first!

The Assassin of Grins and Secrets by K.E. Andrews

The Assassin of Grins and Secrets was OWWR pod’s second Indie Intermission of 2023 and one of my first ventures into “grimdark fantasy.” The Assassin of Grins and Secrets follows the mysterious Serein, who is offered a chance at freedom in exchange for serving the crown prince as a guard. Things are definitely not what they seem and Serein has to learn who she can trust in order to survive. This book was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed talking with the author and learning about her process. Be sure to check out our episodes on this one!

Before the Shattered Gates of Heaven by Bryan S. Glosemeyer

Character work on point!! Bryan Glosemeyer knows how to write a character arc! Glosemeyer’s Before the Shattered Gates of Heaven follows main character, Sabira, through 4 novellas that depict a journey from the fighting pits to freedom and glory. The book features a highly complex world where technology, space, and divinity all coincide. Characters are tasked with exploring their own roles in a society plagued by classism, racism, and religion, and must determine how to make the world better for themselves and others. There’s plenty of action and amazing world building. Glosemeyer knocked it out of the park with this book and deserves a lot more attention for the work he is doing in his writing.

Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill

Friends, I get it. I get the hype. I’ve seen others talking about Cahill’s The Bound and the Broken series for a while, so my expectations were fairly high going in and I was not disappointed. Cahill’s series is an epic fantasy that I’ve heard described as “Eragon for adults,” which I think is fairly accurate based on the first book and what I think/hope is to come. Of Blood and Fire is an excellent introduction to a series about survival, self-discovery, and friendship. This first book was a total comfort read for me this year and I’m hoping to make the rest of the series a priority going into 2024. Cahill has definitely gained another fan in me.

The Fall by Ryan Cahill

Did I read these books in the wrong order? Possibly since I read Of Blood and Fire first. But things in the plot are still connected in my mind, so I’m “ok” with it. The Fall is Cahill’s novella that takes place four hundred years before the events in Of Blood and Fire. This little nugget of a book gave me background information that I needed and was a lot of fun to read to boot!

Seasons of Albadone by Elan Marche and Christopher Warman

Four stories and four seasons woven together to create one of the most haunting books I read this year. I loved how the authors wrote the characters and their situations with so much nuance and heart. The writing writing is beautiful and so incredibly unique. A Contract in Sol Forne is definitely making my list of “must reads” for 2024. If you want more info on Seasons of Albadone, check out my longer review from earlier this year.

The Necessity of Rain by Sarah Chorn

I’d be lying if I said that 2023 was overall a great year for me. It wasn’t. This year has been a rough one for me personally, and reading has definitely been a refuge, particularly science-fiction and fantasy stories. This makes the fact that I read The Necessity of Rain toward the end of the year and that it was my favorite book of 2023 all the more interesting to me. The Necessity of Rain follows a cast of fantastical characters working through grief, hope, time, love, and the truth of their situations. Chorn fills this book and its characters with emotions and themes that the readers can feel deeply. This book is truly beautiful and it made me feel like I wasn’t as alone as I can sometimes feel. Chorn is a true talent and The Necessity of Rain is not to be ignored.

**The following books are all participants of the ongoing Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS). I am a member of Team Before We Go Blog which is how I came across six of these novellas. The following descriptions depict my own personal views/updates and are not tied to results of the competition. Please see Before We Go Blog or the SFINCS website for reviews/results of the competition.**

From the Ashes by B.S.H. Garcia

From the Ashes combines excellent world building and beautiful prose in a concise story. I found myself connecting with the characters early on and was really impressed by the amount of detail the author included. I am really excited to continue on with this series!

The Collector’s Lost Things by Jessica A. McMinn

Rei is a Collector, and the youngest recruit to join the Tower. He’s good at what he does and learns that in order to improve upon his rank, much will be asked of him. There’s a lot of emotion in this story and even though it’s short, the world-building and setting are superbly written. I loved this novella so much!

Hot Button Issue by Catrina Bell

Hot Button Issue is a ton of fun! It follows a Latina lawyer who is struggling to balance her place on a witch roller derby team, a new relationship with a shifter, and her fight to do what she knows is right politcally. This book really made me smile. The characters are great, the story keeps you engaged, and there’s plenty of spice, too.

The Godmother by Katherine D Graham

The Godmother has been training the Fairy Princess for years to prepare her to take the crown someday. For years the world has been in turmoil and the Dragon Emperor’s deadly return leaves the future uncertain. This book is extremely creative, full of action, and will keep you on your toes. It is the prequel of the Starfire Express series, so be sure to check it out.

A Hired Blade by JC Rycroft

A Hired Blade is well written story that follows a sellsword on her journey across Rescalin. It’s an excellent concept with interesting characters, action, and queer representation. The Blood-Born Dragon is the next book in the series and looks to amp up the story and characters from A Hired Blade.

Of a Strange World Made by Anthony W. Eichenlaub

Perfect for my “sci-fi era!” Of a Strange World Made is a fast-paced and fun story set in a futuristic, colony world. The author tackles moral dilemmas surrounding technology, humanity, and colonization, and introduces some interesting characters. I really liked reading it and the sequel is going on my 2024 TBR list.

A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe

I’m not crying. You’re crying! Fine. We’re all crying. I won this book in a giveaway the author hosted and read it in a single sitting earlier this year. This book has wonderful characters, hearfelt moments, and is one of the most interesting depictions of grief/loss that I have read in a while. I absolutely loved it.

2023 was such a fun reading year and I’m so glad that I was able to pick up so many independently published books! Thank you so much to all the authors included in this post for writing these books and for all your hard work! It is so appreciated.

If you’ve got indie book recommendations for me, Hannah, or listeners of OWWR pod, please reach out! We are always looking for more options for Indie Intermissions or books to add to our own reading lists.

Cheers!

Laura