Bella Dunn returns to the Eileeran Saga to follow up The Sorrow of the Wise Man. Book two, Darkness Unleashed comes out November 27th but you can get a teaser here and now at Fanfiaddict!

3 …

2 …

1 …

Let’s do this.

Release date & time: November 27th 2025

Blurb:
The war between the Eileerean sisters left a legacy far worse than the corpses of the fallen soldiers. The peace forged by Daelyn’s grandmother is crumbling.
Callandra was left under the rule of a tyrant, and while Gaelyr and Lyhtana brace for another war, tragedy strikes Vaedora, in an ominous turn of the Wheel of Fate.
To save Atheatis, Daelyn must protect her only child, Elara, even if it means sacrificing her whole Queendom.

Thrust into a fate she was not prepared for, Elara will be forced to watch her world burn.

New alliances will be forged. New enemies will rise.
Elara will learn the darkest secret of the Eileerean House, and yet the greatest mystery of all remains stubbornly out of reach.
Your fate will find you.

Pre-order link: https://books2read.com/darknessunleashed

ARC Sign-up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BzY4KilpdDQyWuOm18d-H7znNlcwWekUBi69XPVZ6JU/edit

GoodReads link:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232466317-darkness-unleashed

Author Bio:

When she was a child, Bella believed she could control the wind.

One day, when she was about 6 years old, she read The Snow Queen and fell in love with books. She wrote her first “award winning” story in 2^nd class (her teacher used her story as a reading test. Not sure her peers were very happy…)

After that, she never stopped writing, particularly enjoying creating chronicles and short stories, as well as “theatre plays” to perform with her childhood friends.

Bella graduated in Biology and joined a postgraduate school, decided to pursue a career in Science, but her passion for the written word never dimmed and she continued to scribble here and there, drafting several novels and short stories in the past years. Although her preferred genre is fantasy, she dips into other genres as the stories “finds her”.

If you enjoy Bella’s books and stories, consider supporting her writing: buy her a cup of tea!

Bella Dunn – Embrace the magic of reading.

Welcome to The Wavering Plane. Home to many odd and wonderful nations; one of which is The Galzarian Empire. A proud, defiant and slightly paranoid realm – with plenty of paperwork to boot.

Here, every aspect of life has the requisite laws, forms and reports, overseen by Galzar’s many bureaucratical branches, known as Parliaments. And that includes monsters.

For Rella Trattle, clerk at the Monstrosity Parliament, horrid tales of bestial encounters are ordinary and mundane. Monsters kill folk, monsters get slayed, forms must be filled and reports completed. There is little to be surprised by.

That is until an unusual case lands on her desk, chucking centuries of Galzarian statute out of the window. She soon finds herself thrust into an administrative mess that is a beast of its own – with the complainants involved being the worst bloody part.

Release Date: June 20, 2025

Pre-Order: Checks, Balances and Proper Procedure in Monster Hunting | Universal Book Links Help You Find Books at Your Favorite Store!

Goodreads: Checks, Balances and Proper Procedure in Monster Hunting by Sean O’Boyle | Goodreads

ARC Signups: E-ARC Submission form

Cover Artist: @AvusArt on both Instagram and Twitter/X

Author Bio

Seán O’Boyle is an Irish, London-based, writer on his self-publishing journey. Since he was a young lad, he’s loved creating stories; whether scribbling short fiction in his school copybooks, or creating dramatic home movies with his toys. He’s even dabbled in the fine art of stand up comedy, with about half a dozen sitcom scripts rotting in the forgotten folders of his old laptops.

His love for fantasy grew during lockdown through reading the genre; epic, cozy and everything in between. And from this, his fantasy comedy adventure debut “The Ballad of Sprikit The Bard (And Company)” was born. Described as “Discworld meets Lies of Locke Lamora”, he hopes readers will enjoy the characters, world and story he’s been building for 3 years. Hopefully they might laugh too (or at least exhale sharply through their noses a few times).

You can read an interview with the author talking about his debut novel, The Ballad of Sprikit the Bard (And Company) here: Author Chat: Seán O’Boyle – The Ballad of Sprikit The Bard (And Company) | FanFiAddict

Synopsis

Horror doesn’t have to be in-depth. The October Music is a collection of nearly 100 tales of creep, horror, terror, and dread. From existential and cosmic horror to vampires, werewolves, and simple terrible, awful luck, there is a story here for every taste. Sit down, curl up, and make sure your windows and doors are locked nice and tight before letting The October Music fill your senses with darkness.

Review

You know what, I’ll admit that there are a few things that scare me. For example, I don’t like spiders. Or razors. Oh, and I get really creeped out by the smell of oranges (no joke – urgh). Ahem. Anyway, there are few things that scare me, but still I bravely put myself forward to read The October Music by A.C. Cross before its release so that you’re prepared.

Tainted Love

I’ll come right out and say that Cross’ collection of creepy capers is a real treat for horror fans. Over a hundred flash fiction stories that range from interment to cute little demon friends. Expect plenty of blood splatter and unsettling scares in between. There really is something for everyone.

There is a lot to be said for a collection that keeps the macabre flowing on every page. Cross is like a modern day Cryptkeeper, striking the delicate balance between letting the reader’s mind do the gruesome work and challenging us with downright terrifying scenes. And given how much I enjoyed his previous title, The Boddicker Letters, I was pleased there was some near-Lovecraftian stories included too.

Just Can’t Get Enough

For someone who doesn’t read a lot of horror, that didn’t matter when I read The October Music. I was compelled to read just one or two more stories with each sitting. A little bit like horror Pringles. There were moments when I was grossed out, mortified, aghast, thoroughly depressed and all of these challenges were exactly what I want from a book like this. I wanted to be scared and godammit I was certainly scared.

If you enjoyed Bad Dreams in the Night by Adam Ellis, or you enjoy scrolling through one-sentence horror stories on Reddit then you’ll find this is an unmissable book. It’s also perfect for those of you who just want something you can pick up, freak out, and put down again whenever you need a little scare.

More information on The October Music can be found in our cover reveal article here: Cover Reveal: The October Music by A.C. Cross | FanFiAddict

*Shivers*. Creepy. Haunting. We love it.

Well, as promised, here’s all the info you need to get yourself a copy when the book comes out. Don’t mind me, I’ll just be checking all of the doors and windows are fastened shut.

PRE-ORDER THE OCTOBER MUSIC HERE

Release Date: March 7th

Blurb: Horror doesn’t have to be in-depth. The October Music is a collection of nearly 100 tales of creep, horror, terror, and dread. From existential and cosmic horror to vampires, werewolves, and simple terrible, awful luck, there is a story here for every taste. Sit down, curl up, and make sure your windows and doors are locked nice and tight before letting The October Music fill your senses with darkness.

Cover Artist: Melina Böckenholt (art) and Luke Tarzian (text and formatting)

Artist bio: A.C. Cross is a doctor, but not the kind that you want treating you for kidney stones or pneumonia or anything. That’d likely make your situation much worse.

He (currently) lives in the Great White North of the United States as a bearded, somewhat-handsome man, depending on who you ask.

He’s a lover of words, many of which you have just read in this very book.

He’s an admitted scotch whisky and beer snob and his liver would not argue with him.

He is the author of the Roboverse series of books as well as Where Blood Runs Gold, The Boddicker Letters, and Zoo.

You can find more about him as well as some neat little free stories at www.aaronccross.com.

But that’s last year’s news. The Pawns of Havoc is nearly here, so let’s reveal that cover!

And now for everything else you need to know …

Release Date

May 29th 2025

Blurb

Cork has quickly made a name for himself among the Kosellan mercenaries, but now his boss has come to him with an unusual job. Cork’s erstwhile countrymen, the Winn, have hired him to travel into the barren Frozen Lands and destroy a convoy, leaving only one survivor.

Cork isn’t sure he can trust the Winn. He feels like a pawn in their political game. However, his mother is sick and the Winn have promised to heal her if Cork does the job. And killing is what Cork does best. To make matters worse. Cork’s crew has been decided for him: Arabella, an inexperienced and infuriating archer, and Nessa, a gloomy criminal with murder on her mind.

Cork will have to figure out how to complete the job, avoid Winn treachery, and manage conflicts with Arabella and Nessa along the way.

It’s going to be chaos.

Pre-order:

The Pawns of Havoc | Universal Book Links Help You Find Books at Your Favorite Store!

Cover Artist

MIBLART | Book cover design services

Author Bio

Dave Lawson is an Oklahoma-based fantasy novelist. He received an MFA in Fiction Writing from The New School in 2009 and published some contemporary literary fiction, before spending several years doing absolutely nothing with his degree. His first fantasy novel, The Envoys of War, was published in October of 2024. He enjoys writing about conniving rakes and creative liars who do whatever they must to get what they desire. However, Dave’s not like his characters. Pinky swear. When he’s not writing, he teaches high school English and Drama. He lives with his wife, Caitlin, and their dog, Rowena, who is a ball of energy. In a past life, Dave was surely a pirate.

Keep up with Dave’s books and sign up to his newsletter via his author website: Dave Lawson, Fantasy Author

Synopsis

Peace in the Sky

Peace-in-the-Sky awakens, captive, after a brutal head injury. With her fractured memories, she knows only that she must protect her daughter Anissa. Even if Peace-in-the-Sky manages to escape the fierce wasteland tribe holding her captive, she and Anissa face a journey through a blasted landscape inhabited by warring peoples scrabbling for subsistence. To find safety, Peace-in-the-Sky must use her developing power of the pillars-of-flame to clear their path. As her memory reveals the secret of her true nature, her body and mind deteriorate. But nothing can stop her from delivering Anissa to the promised paradise of safety and plenty, even at the expense of her life.

Station in the Sky

Donna, once Peace-in-the-Sky, awakens aboard Station-in-the-Sky and rejoins a society that had been her home for thousands of years before knowing Anissa. But she soon discovers her fellow stationers have lost sight of their original mandate to protect Earth. Instead, their new plans will threaten all of Earth’s inhabitants. As her memories return, she becomes suspicious her head injury was actually an attack by another stationer. Framed as being faulty, Donna must navigate the eccentricities of the other stationers without being caught, and covertly assemble proof of their plans before they realize she will do anything to keep Earth safe from their meddling.

Read both of Caye Marsh’s stories together in Station in the Sky!

Review

I happened across this duo novella book as a result of the SFINCS 2024 competition, after Peace in the Sky was part of our allocation for The Secret Scribes team. That novella snuck its way onto my top reads of 2024 list, so when the immediate follow-up, Station in the Sky, I couldn’t resist returning to the post-apocalyptic Earth Caye Marsh envisioned.

This is two novellas rolled into one overarching book and both halves are very different. Peace in the Sky is an on-the-ground, post-apocalyptic story that sees titular character Peace in the Sky awaken in a cage alongside a girl who claims she’s her daughter. Trouble is, Peace in the Sky has a substantial headwound and memory loss.

There follows a hazy trip through the wasteland in Peace in the Sky’s bid to return her daughter, Anissa, to her people and safety. We know little of why the post-apocalyptic world has turned into an arid, unforgiving climate but it’s still a gripping trek through a dangerous future. I liked the degradation of Peace in the Sky’s condition leading to the narrative leaving much to the reader’s imagination. The tunnel vision of these characters is claustrophobic and increasingly desperate. It’s captivating writing.

Through this mother and daughter pairing we meet the people’s of the apocalypse. These are made up of tribal people who either persevere out in the wastes or live in and around a protective dome, shielding them from the harsh radiation of the sun. These microcosms of societies are a duality of hope and tragedy. They revere our protagonist but fear her in equal measures, particularly as she is able to call forth fire from the heavens when threatened. The atmosphere is constantly on a knife-edge. Edge of your seat stuff.

Peace in the Sky is bleak. At its core it’s a desperate clinging on to motherhood as a child outgrows a parent. Marsh scratches and worries a wound before ripping it open by the end of the story. It is a theme that blends well with the post-apocalyptic overtone throughout.

Station in the Sky

Which brings us to part two of the book. The tone takes a shift into the immortal space … station. Peace in the Sky, now Donna, awakens aboard the orbital space station above Earth. At once she sets about uncovering the mystery behind her head wound on the planet’s surface. Where Part 1 focused on a post-apocalyptic trek, this part centres around Donna’s investigation , which leads into an unravelling thread of immortal station shell politics and obsessions.

It answers some questions the reader has from Peace in the Sky without over-explaining. Again, the narrative is claustrophobic as Donna follows the breadcrumb trail available to her. 

Where the first part was an introspective on motherhood and a struggling humanity’s determination to survive, this part is a more speculative Sci Fi effort. Was it quite as strong as Peace in the Sky? Perhaps not fully, but it nonetheless demanded I keep reading to unveil its murder mystery. The story’s pulse quickens.

A space whodunnit is an enjoyable theme in its own right but I appreciated a more subtle theme in the station’s purpose. Exploring semi-immortal beings coming to terms with their own dwindling relevance was a different flavour of bleak than what was offered in Part 1. I felt sorry for these beings by the end, even those murderous ones. All in all I left the station in the sky a very satisfied Sci Fi fan.

Final Thought

Station in the Sky doesn’t pull its punches. Although both parts are not fully cohesive when included in the one book they are still gripping stories in their own right. Whether it was on the post-apocalyptic arid planet surface or in a station full of secrets, I had a great time with this book.

Publish date and info about the author are all in my cover reveal for this book, which you can read here: Cover Reveal: Station in the Sky by Caye Marsh | FanFiAddict

You can check out more about Station in the Sky and other titles by Caye’s publisher here: Home | Space Wizard Science Fantasy Books

Scroll down for all the information you need, including a teaser trailer and everywhere you can listen to the podcast.

Wasteland premieres on Friday 24th January.

Blurb

1500 years after Ancestors from Earth colonised planet SP714, countries have divided, risen, fallen, and been consumed by larger, stronger nations. Just off the coast of Xenos, the island of Rone has spent 12 long years fighting for independence against the nationalist Xenosi government.

In the hopes of ending the war once and for all, the Xenosi Prime Minister, Tazenik, purchases an experimental missile from Dex Industries, the notorious weapons corporation. This missile lays waste to Rone, wiping out all life and turning the landscape to fine grey dust.

Following this devastating event, Captain Sarra Sax and her Unit of specialised Mecha Pilots are the only soldiers capable of exploring this new Wasteland. Together, they search for survivors … and find answers.

Wasteland Cast

Wasteland enlists a stellar cast:

Sarah Golding, who has appeared in over 60 audio fiction podcasts.

Karim Kronfli, celebrated for his roles in The Magnus Archives, Sherlock & Co, What’s the Frequency?, and Beyond the Veil.

Jon Glover, whose career covers high-profile roles in much loved British dramas, including the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy TV adaptation and the BBC Radio 4 serial, The Archers

Ethan Reed, the male Dream Visitor in the multi-award-winning RPG adventure Baldur’s Gate III

Marie-Claire Wood, having appeared in multiple Hollywood movies, navigates the starring role as Captain Sarra Sax.

Trailer

Listen to the Wasteland teaser trailer here.

Where to Listen

You can listen to Wasteland wherever you get your podcasts. Wasteland – A Dex Legacy Story

Author Bio

Emily Inkpen is a science-fiction novelist, audio dramatist, and Creative Director at Alternative Stories. She is the writer and co-director of the globally successful audio
drama, The Dex Legacy, which recently won the BSFA Award for Best Audio Fiction.

In addition to her own projects, Emily is acting Social Media Officer for the British Science Fiction Association.

You can find more information about Wasteland – A Dex Legacy at:
http://www.emilyinkpen.com/wasteland

And you can follow Emily on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram and Threads @emilyinkpen

If you’re curious about the original series of The Dex Legacy, our very own Frasier Armitage interviewed Emily about it in this post. Interview: Emily Inkpen, creator of The Dex Legacy | FanFiAddict

That’s the cover reveal but wait, there’s more! Here’s all you need to know about this double-novella, including where you can pre-order:

Release Date

4th February

Blurb

Two novellas in one! Read the duology Peace In The Sky and Station In The Sky together in one volume.

Peace In The Sky

Peace-in-the-Sky awakens, captive, after a brutal head injury. With her fractured memories, she knows only that she must protect her daughter Anissa. They plot to escape the fierce wasteland tribe holding them prisoner and seek the safe haven of the dome. After that a grueling journey awaits them, through blasted landscapes inhabited by warring peoples scrabbling for subsistence. Peace-in-the-Sky must use her mysterious power of the pillars-of-flame to clear their path. As her memory reveals the secret of her true nature, her body and mind deteriorate. But nothing can stop her from delivering Anissa to the promised paradise of safety and plenty, even at the expense of her life.

[It just so happened that Peace in the Sky made it into my top reads of 2024 post: Tom Bookbeard’s Top 10 Indie Sci Fi and Fantasy Reads of 2024]

Station In The Sky

Donna is back home on the Station where she has lived for a thousand years, now fully repaired. She can’t escape the idea that the head injury which nearly caused her death was inflicted by a fellow stationer. As she begins to covertly investigate, she soon discovers her fellow stationers have lost sight of their original mandate to protect Earth. Instead, their new plans threaten all of Earth’s inhabitants. Framed as being faulty, Donna must navigate the eccentricities of the other stationers without being caught, and assemble proof of their plans before they realize she will do anything to keep Earth safe from their catastrophic interference.

Pre-Order

Publisher’s website: https://www.spacewizardsciencefantasy.com/book/station-in-the-sky

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Station-Sky-post-apocalyptic-Caye-Marsh-ebook/dp/B0DR9QKNYQ

Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Bookshop, Waterstones, coming soon.

Author Bio

Caye Marsh is a former biologist writing Sci-Fi and Fantasy. She cherishes the unbroken quiet of wild places and the true dark of night, so please keep it down and remember to extinguish all outdoor lights.

Find her at https://cayemarsh.com/.

Publisher Info

Website: https://www.spacewizardsciencefantasy.com/

Cover Artist

MoorBooks Design

First thing’s first. You’re in my town, stranger. You gotta know this here weird western review ain’t an ARC, I haven’t been given a copy by the author, and the book is already out. I’m jus’ here to tell you to take a break from your TBR and git.

Synopsis

Sheriff Errol Thorpe keeps the peace in Santiago. Most folks know not to piss him off, but when one bandit runs his mouth it sets off a violent chain of events that sweeps Thorpe along for the ride. He’s soon waist deep in bandits, corruption, flesh-eating Dust storms, revenge and human-like creatures who bleed gold.

We’re about to find out why this Sheriff is called The Judge.

Review

I’m not new to an AC Cross book. I’ve read his epistolary, The Boddicker Letters, so I was expecting there to be some splatterful horror elements to Where Blood Runs Gold. Disclaimer – I’ve also made it no secret that I love a weird western. Look, here’s me raving about weird westerns:

Review: His Ragged Company by Rance D. Denton (The Testimonies of Elias Faust #1) | FanFiAddict

Review: Callus & Crow by D B Rook (The Wayward World Chronicles #1) | FanFiAddict

But I haven’t yet raved about this weird western. Let’s fix that.

Thorpe

Cross kicks us off with a no-good varmint kickin’ up trouble in Sheriff Errol Thorpe’s small town of Santiago. We quickly learn that’s a mistake. Thorpe’s immediate introduction is a snapshot of the man’s brutality. Saddle up, because you’re moments away from that scene early doors. Cross doesn’t hold back. There’s blood on the sand and it gets real graphic, real fast. Those of a squeamish disposition better put the book down.

On the subject of that scene, it set a pretty high bar for the remaining descriptive writing of the rest of the book. I saw an author channeling Murakami’s Wind up Bird Chronicle which was unexpected but very well-done. Cross’ frontier is a harsh place make no mistake.

Let me tell you a story …

My greatest enjoyment came from Thorpe’s stories that crop up at various sections throughout the book. It speeds up a long journey while injecting worldbuilding elements. These are often like those creepy side characters that crop up in a Red Dead Redemption game. Not necessarily integral to the story but damn near addictive. That these stories sometimes serve a dual purpose is another credit to an author giving me all the weird western vibes I could ask for.

On the worldbuilding, the flesh-eating Dust storms and golden blood leads the plot along. Where did they come from? What are they for? The monsters in the shroud vary in shape and size but there was always something that nudged me toward reading just one more chapter. Like Cross’ Lovecraftian take with Boddicker Letters, there’s not always a clear explanation which adds to the disturbing element.

This is also, of course, a particularly sweary novel. What else would you expect? Thorpe is a satisfyingly blunt sumbitch after all. The characters all feel like an authentic take on the genre, meaning that I was fully immersed in the world.

Whether it was a Thorpe story, someone’s ass getting beat, or all manner of weird western fuckery going on, beyond his cycle of violence protagonist Thorpe is a human who is deeply vulnerable. He’s a real bastard, sure, but there’s no shortage of those close to him that call him out on it and bring out a different side. Because of this, by the end of the novel we’re saddlin’ up and riding out with Thorpe ain’t no mistake.

This is How You Do A Weird Western

This book serves as a reminder to not neglect your TBR. As reviewers, we love the shiny and the new future releases so much that it’s easy to forget that we’re sitting on a real gold mine of indie talent already. So, as for this being my TBR reminder, Where Blood Runs Gold was a dropkick in the teeth.

Getting to know The Judge, Errol Thorpe, who’s not far removed from Frank Castle blasting through the Wild West, was a bone-splinteringly wild read. His story gave me a burning two fingers of neat bourbon for breakfast, it gave me Red Dead, it gave me Bone Tomahawk. Simply put, this, if ye beg my pardon ma’am, is how you do a weird western.

You gotta read this, pardner.

It’s been a year. I’ve read 52 books in total, a lot for me. A book a week. But let’s break that down a little more. 52 books. 8 trad. 44 indie.

This isn’t a coincidence. I’m finding myself more and more fed up with trad publishing at the moment. I don’t feel it’s marketed at me, nor am I particularly excited by it anymore.

Indie publishing is on the up and the authors have limitless creativity. There are no shackles. Authors are rejecting the query trenches and writing what they want to write. The biggest trad pub I read this year I found lacking – rushed and nothing but a tick box exercise with weak characters. Not ideal for a character-driven novel.

Rant aside, I’m focusing my top reads solely on indie books. I did 5 last year. This year I’m doubling it.

10 Shattered Spirits The Fall of Ishcairn by Cal Black

Rating: 10/10

The first SFINCs competition slammed into my TBR in December 2023 and demanded my attention for the entirety of January 2024. ELEVEN books read in total: Cora Christensen by Tanner Howsden, Roxy Buckles by Nicole Little, The Re-Emergence by Alan K. Dell, A Mirage in the Memory by Simon Tull, The Collector’s Lost Things by Jessica McMinn, We’re All Monsters Here (more on that later) by Amy Marsden, Ruins of Smoke by Joao Silva, A Wolf in Thief’s Clothing by Lily Anne Crow, Dark Heart of Ilmore by Cara Delaney, and … The Fall of Ischcairn. (Psst, it was more than 11 but the others I read in December 2023.)

Where did this even come from Cal? This steampunk pseudo-Prussian aggressor horror story? It’s brilliant. It’s terrifying. An astounding read.

Shattered Spirits is a ride. The writing is a tightly woven spring that unleashes a visceral horror until the end. Buy. This. Book.

9 The Boddicker Letters by AC Cross

Rating: 9/10

My Duolingo buddy, and the bastard who once rolled two 19s when I gave him disadvantage on a skill check during our D&D campaign. These are just two strings to AC Cross’ bow. A third string is oh man this guy can write.

The Boddicker Letters is a Lovecraftian epistolary that’s as fantastic as it is utterly disgusting. It’s a true homage to the classic horror, with Cross delivering otherworldly scaremongering in spades. I’m still unsettled months after reading it.

Titular main character Titus Boddicker is a hapless protagonist. The letter format of the narrative gives a great vehicle for his descent into madness. Cross is at his gruesome best as reality unfurls.

There’s a twist in the tale too and you won’t see it coming.

Seriously though, two 19s?

8 Sledge vs The Labyrinth by Nick Horvath

Rating: 8.5/10

SLEDGE TO THE MOTHERFUCKIN EDGE BABY

I love this book. You love this book. If you haven’t read it, you’re going to love this book. It’s not even a fantasy or sci fi story but Sledge has found a home in the SFF indie community. Nick Horvath’s debut is brutal. You better read it to find out why the main character is named after a hammer.

I’ll say it again, this guy makes Kratos look cosy.

With near constant action, brutal fighting and the most cathartic bloody violence committed to prose, Sledge is an experience and likely a repeat read for when you want to take a sledgehammer to a stressful day.

Be a sledgend and read my review. Review: Sledge vs The Labyrinth by Nick Horvath | FanFiAddict

7 A Wolf in Space

Rating: 9/10

Alex Valdiers’ space western was a great start to the year. I’d read A Choice of Weapons for SFINCS in December 2023 and requesting an ARC prior to A Wolf in Space coming out was a no-brainer.

Malvius and his majestic sideburns ride their way through the stars atop a flying space horse. Gunfights, bully-busting and space mafias makes this a science fiction frontier story to savour.

It’s a space spagehtti western that’s carving out its own little niche in the SFF sector. There aren’t many books filling out this particular space but I’d hope we see more like the Raoke Gang series.

The only negative about this one is that I lent my signed copy to a friend and I haven’t gotten it back yet. Chelu, I’m still waiting here.

I reviewed this one too: Review: A Wolf in Space by Alex Valdiers (The Raoke Gang #1) | FanFiAddict

6 His Ragged Company

Rating: 9/10

Rance is a twisted sumbitch ain’t no mistake. An’ this here warlock-rustlin’ weird western is a grotesque display of guns n’ gore. It’s also seriously good.

Elias Faust is the sorry ass protagonist who gets his ass kicked on most pages. Fievel Goes West this sure ain’t. More like Fievel Goes Postal.

I’d strongly recommend the audiobook of this one as the narrator gives a solid performance as the gritty sheriff Elias. It’s also very satisfying to hear the kooky and colourful cast of characters come to life.

I’m a huge fan of a weird western, so if you’re anything like me you need to take this to the top of your TBR to experience it.

You can see my more in-depth thoughts in my review: Review: His Ragged Company by Rance D. Denton (The Testimonies of Elias Faust #1) | FanFiAddict

5 We’re All Monsters Here by Amy Marsden

Rating: 8/10

This vampire novella was, quite frankly, obscene. I felt unclean reading it. I even called my mother and apologised. Sex, violence and murder, all swimming in fountains of blood. A cold shower read, make no mistake. It’s absolutely fucking filthy. That’s why it’s so bloody good. Heh, see what I did there? It’s a vampire story. Ah, nevermind.

Vampire Anna arrives at a secluded retreat for the elite. Her POV casts an interesting take on how vampires operate. In this case, bide your time to feed until you let loose in an all-you-can-eat blood buffet.

A fast paced-plot keeps everything racing along. There are twists and turns thrown in that make Anna’s feast a little more complicated than she intended.

4 Dark Town by Palmer Pickering

Rating: 9/10

I read this as a palette cleanser after a particularly-heavy trad pub novel. I wanted to disengage my brain and just read something easy. LitRPGs serve this purpose for me. So, how dare you, Palmer Pickering. How dare you write something so captivating? I didn’t want to fall in love with the daring duo of Temerity and Half Pint the goblin but you went and made me do it anyway.

In all seriousness, the Dark Town series is an automatic buy for me. Fantastic characters. A LitRPG that isn’t rules heavy yet still scratches the itchy inner loot goblin. Skills are earned through enchanted jewels. Equipping certain colours grants different abilities. Simple, straightforward, so if you’re curious about LitRPG but are worried it’ll be overwhelmingly complex, read this first.

It’s my first time reading a novel by Pickering, it certainly won’t be the last as Dark Town’s follow-up, The Swamp, is out in 2025 and I’m itching to read it.

3 Peace in the Sky by Caye Marsh

Rating: 9.5/10

Caye Marsh’s hazy sci-fi is another SFINCS find, this time from the more recent 2024/2025 competition. The titular main character Peace in the Sky is as enigmatic as they come. Her head wound slowly causing her to deteriorate as the novella progresses yet her deadly streak is never nullified.

It’s an ultimately tragic tale. Themes of motherhood and a punishing climate make this a harsh read but still a captivating one.

Marsh somehow captures perfectly a wounded character’s base instinct to nurture. We learn about the character only through her interactions with the world and its denizens. It’s a bold but flawlessly executed vision, making Peace in the Sky a unique experience of a read.

2 The Envoys of War by Dave Lawson

Rating: 9/10

Remember when fantasy used to be funny? Lawson’s fantasy debut is a sweary and satisfying story from first to last. I called it one of the best indie debuts of 2024 for good reason.

There’s a lot to love in this one but ultimately it’s the affable cast of misfit characters that won me over. Charming and laugh-out-loud funny but not afraid to mix in some serious character moments too. Justice for Francois.

I coined the term “sidequest fantasy” for Envoys. It’s a plot that sets down one path before firmly focusing on how best to make the characters shine. These are the people who aren’t the chosen ones, and they have a worthy story to tell.

I’m really happy to see the book is making waves in the indie community. The author is a genuine guy and this book follows suit. I hope that we don’t forget to put more fun into fantasy in 2025.

If you missed my review of Envoys, I got you. Review: The Envoys of War (The Envoys of Chaos #1) by Dave Lawson

1 Undead Samurai by Baptiste Pinson Wu

Rating: 10/10

There’s sometimes a book that comes along where you’re absolutely unprepared for. A book that you misjudge. Then you read it and you fall in love. Undead Samurai is my book of the year for 2024. Pinson Wu finds an Edo pulp zombie formula that reads like Tarantino having a go at a Yojimbo remake.

Deeply-flawed characters are the front and centre of why this book is so good. Their goals and motivations are heartfelt. Each fully rounded by an author on song. Samurai zombies are as lethal as you might expect.

Good (or good as their reputation would indicate) as the protagonists are, there’s rather too many undead for them to handle. A near-constant unease makes this damn near terrifying to read but impossible to put down.

Never has the striking of a drum impacted such fear in a reader than it does in Undead Samurai.

Fanfiaddict contributor Sean raved about it in his review: REVIEW: Undead Samurai by Baptiste Pinson Wu | FanFiAddict

Support Indie Authors!

So, there you have it. Ten top indie books. Next year, even more indie books! More reviews. We’re really going places with self-published Sci Fi and Fantasy and I can’t wait to see new voices emerge on the scene. Please consider supporting the authors on this list if any of the stories strike a chord. You won’t be disappointed.

Until then I hope you enjoy getting through your TBRs and consider supporting all of the authors mentioned above.