Hey there, book lovers! Today, I’m sharing a special list of hidden indie gems — books that have captured the heart of readers and deserve way more hype. These stories have fantastic characters, compelling plots, and unique worlds that indie authors have poured their souls into. Plus, I’m including one from my own paranormal series because it seems I sneak under the radar with readers!
A hauntingly beautiful novel filled with lyrical prose and emotional depth. Ashley’s storytelling weaves mystery and family secrets into a tapestry you won’t want to put down.
Rachel brings magic to modern urban fantasy in a way that’s both thrilling and heartfelt. This first book in the DFZ Changeling series is a fantastic start to a captivating world.
My Blood Angel series is a paranormal urban fantasy journey into a world where vampires, witches, and supernatural forces clash in shadowy battles. With intense action, complex characters, and a twist on vampire lore, it’s a series close to my heart. If you love paranormal stories with a fresh voice and a bit of grit, this one might just surprise you!
Thanks for stopping by and exploring these underrated indie reads with me. If you pick any up, I’d love to hear what you think! And if you have any hidden gems of your own, please share — I’m always on the lookout for my next favorite book.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
The quirky, best-selling Urban Fantasy Series. When a Witch-in-Training falls for a Demon-Possessed Soul…
When Mark decides to follow in his Nanna’s footsteps, and train in witchcraft, he takes on more than he could ever have imagined. Up until now, he has been ignorant of the magical dangers, demons and monsters that his coven defend against. Everything changes when Damian moves to Tealford. He is everything Mark has ever wanted, but he comes with his own cursed life.
Luckily, Mark has the support of his friends and family… as well as the handsome newcomer.
Kelly S. Marsden grew up in Yorkshire, and there were two constants in her life – books and horses.
Graduating with an equine degree from Aberystwyth University, she has spent most of her life since trying to experience everything the horse world has to offer. She is currently settled into a Nutritionist role for a horse feed company in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Her first book, The Shadow Rises, was published in January 2013, and she now has several successful series under her belt.
Australia based author Grace Rose Thomas is the YA Urban Fantasy author of The A’vean Chronicles. Check out the video to find out how you can win a copy of her first book Awaken.
(Click on the cover images to order your copy)
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.)
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
I grew up in Melbourne, Australia in the 1970’s when entertainment came in the form of sport or a good book. I chose both. An avid love affair with my pinto horse ensued as well as a healthy diet of any book I could get my hands on. English and history were always my favourite subjects so logically I studied to become a Critical Care Nurse! Books, particularly historical fantasy, have remained my number one go to for a healthy retreat from the craziness of the real world. After having a beautiful family and bringing a wonderful nursing career to a close, I finally took the time to write down one of the many stories that have been swirling around in my dreams for years. My dreamscape is rich with fantasy that both inspires and frightens me at the same time. I am pulling out those threads and spinning them into the type of stories I love to read. I’m finally letting out all my angels and demons.
Awaken (The A’vean Chronicles Book 1) by G.R. Thomas Genre: Urban Fantasy
SOME PEOPLE AREN’T DESTINED TO BE ORDINARY. With a special gift held close to her heart, it was always going to be hard for Sophia Woodville to live an ordinary life. As a 20 year old nursing grad, she thought she had her future all sorted. However, destiny was about to intervene. Her secret was not so secret. The gift she possessed was just a hint of something far beyond her wildest imagination. Sophia will be pulled, kicking and screaming, into an unseen, ancient world that challenges all that she thought to be true of herself, her family and the origins of humanity. Original sin, forbidden love and her life in constant danger. Will Sophia survive this dark twist of fate? Will the devil be her saviour? Will an Angel be her downfall?
Sophia Woodville’s life is anything but ordinary. You can’t be ordinary when you’ve discovered you’re an Earth-born Angel. Alone and suddenly powerless in the stinking heat of the Daimon realm, Sophia has been betrayed by the one person she trusted most. She must find a way to escape and continue her quest to unravel the clues left for her eyes only, fighting the Zombie-like Rogues to preserve the prophecies of Enoch. Only then can the Fallen Angels return to their homeland and humanity be released from the grip of Yeqon and his evil horde.
Paranormal urban fantasy that gets darker with every turn of the page.
“The safer you feel, the more danger you’re in…” Sophia Woodville has survived Yeqon’s clutches to return to the safety of Kaymakli. Despite loss and the kidnapping of her best friend, she gains strength, knowledge and a healthy appetite for revenge in a world overrun by Daimon. Whilst focused on Enoch’s clues for the portal, she doesn’t notice that there is another danger rising, a new enemy with a different agender. At a time when she’s pulled between loyalty and obligation, between those she loves and the strange prisoner called Ben, Sophia has to find a way to bring everyone together, to know friend from foe, and to end the bloodshed, to save humanity from destruction.
“Vengeance…a comforting echo…a warm hug that tantalised the darkest of thoughts.” Despair has left Sophia prey to the same evil she is trying to overcome. It’s only those she’s brought together that help her face the evil sisters, Anjou’elle and Neph’reus who have elevated themselves as the new darkness… or are they? Unusual and brazen vampire attacks across the world are terrifying humanity to the brink of war and sending the fallen angels of A’vean to ground for their own survival. The weight of Sophia’s destiny is heavier than ever. With more than one enemy, with a world in chaos, will a devil be her saviour, will an angel be her downfall?
Would you like a chance to win a$15 Amazon gift card, an eBook set of the entire A’vean Chronicles series, or a signed copy of Awaken? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
OK, so I got this idea from another authors blog and thought – WHAT A GREAT IDEA!
I’ve decided to start a little geography project with my kids and I could really use your help. Using a world map, my kids and I, are going to attempt to map out where my readers are. This will include blog followers as well as all you amazing people who have purchased a copy of one or more of my books. So, that means I need to know where you are!
How are we going to do this?
WITH YOUR HELP
As well as a bit of color coding (one color for blog readers, one color for book readers, and one color for those of you that do both)! Or maybe for the book readers I’ll have one color for each book… yeah, I don’t have it all figured out yet – its still a plan in progress.
In the comments section below this blog, please tell me if you follow my blog and/or have read one of my books or added it to your “to read” list. Then let me know where you live (City/State/Country – Or however much you are comfortable giving).
Want to have even more fun? If you are a book reader please post a photo of yourself holding a copy of my book (paperback or eBook) so the cover is showing in the photo! You can post it in the comments below, on twittertagging me @Nina_Soden, or on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/BloodAngelSeries(Facebook search: Nina Soden – Author)
I’d like to know just where my readers are and how far my reach has gone. This is my attempt to find out from all of you, while my numbers are still small. I appreciate your help on this project as do my lovely children!
Set in a futuristic Dystopian where society is governed by a council of vampires and lycanthropes, selection students are sheltered and raised in a deceptively Utopian world. Strict rules are imposed to control population growth, education, and even personal interactions with other members of the sector, all in the name of safety.
When ‘A’ comes of age she, like all youth throughout Sector C, and her selection classmates aren’t sent out into the world to find jobs, make money and lead happy carefree lives. They are forced to endure the rigorous physical and mental testing of Selection Week before choosing their destiny or being forced into a fate far worse. Those that make it out alive are announced as sector residence, given a position within the society, and allotted all the privileges of their chosen “culture.” However, when your only choices are vampirism, lycanthropy, breeder, blood donor, or banishment to the Wastelands, what choice do you really have?
Suspenseful, intense, passionate, and awash in paranormal delights, SECTOR C ~ THE CHOSEN captures the enchantment and mysteries of the supernatural world and the power of friendship.
OK, this post is short – but very VERY important, and I do hope that you re-post it and share it with all of your friends.
One of the most important things for an indie-author is friends and followers – READERS. With that in mind I’m reaching out to you, my amazing blog followers, and asking that you follow me here and everywhere (see links below) and that you share this post. Tell your friends, bribe your families, and blackmail your enemies into following me too!
This is where I talk about my books, upcoming projects, host author interviews, and sometimes just go really REALLY off topic and ramble about random stuff.
I tend to go through spurts where I read constantly – in the carpool line, making dinner, at karate, at dance, etc… Then I go through spurts where I don’t crack the spine of a book for months. Right now I am smack dab in the middle of three books, well, one play and two books. Basically, I am at the beginning of a regular reading marathon… at least for me.
Every year I set a reading goal for myself… In the past it has always been 12 books! Yeah, I know – that isn’t that many, but come on… I have a full-time job and two kids that do dance, karate, t-ball, cheer leading camp, etc. etc. etc. So, for me to find time to read even just one book a month is often hard. So, I have always set my goal low… one book a month… and hoped that I actually exceed it. In 2013 I exceeded my goal of 12 books by 5 and read a total of 17 books… I WAS EXCITED! In 2014 I raised my goal, just a little, to 20 books and I managed to read 26! Yeah, last year was a big reading year for me. This year 2015… I have decided to increase my goal again – I plan to read 30 books! It is already February 27th and I have only finished 4 books… I’m a bit behind and not getting off to a great start, but I have time. Right?
A Time To Live (by Jonas Lee) – This is the second book in his series, the first was A Time To Reap which I finished last year. Time Travel – Science Fiction – FUN-FUN-FUN!
Redeemed (by P.C. Cast) – This is the FINAL book in the House of Night series – Vampires, Goddesses, and possessed minions… OK!
So… the whole point of my post, which I never really got to is this… Books are a wonderful escape into a world you never knew existed. They are a vacation for your mind and cost only pennies compared to what most people spend on actual vacations. So, take a stay-cation… grab a good book… and let it take you to places you’ve never been.
This book was given to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This third (final?) installment of the Blood Angel series is once again looking at the transformation of Alee (Aleerah), the only living dhampir. It continues after her transition back into high school, learning the ropes of a vampire, the nature of being a witch, the betrayal of the Underground and the love dichotomy she finds herself in.
The Critical Points:
Writing:
Nina’s writing has progressively improved throughout the series and by this point, she has started to master the craft. Weaving in the imagery and emotions of her characters. There were some misspellings here and there, giving the teeny ding on the writing alone.
Story:
This story starts off on the fast track and very rarely slows…
Wow, it feels really funny to say that. I mean, I am an author. I have four published books, 3 novels (the Blood Angel Series) and 1 poetry book, but calling myself an author still feels strange.
Author is only one of the many hats or ‘personalities’ I wear throughout my day. My most important? Mommy, that one simple word means the world to me and hearing it when my kids call me – well, that melts my heart. The other hats I love to wear: wife, daughter, sister, actress, and artist. The hats I wear because everyone has to make a living and keep the house in order: employee, consultant, chauffeur (when you have kids – you are nothing if not a chauffeur), cook, assistant cheer coach, etc., etc., etc. Hats I’m learning to wear: self-publicist, marketing specialist, social-media specialist, and all the others that go with being an Indie-Author – man, it is HARD WORK!
This blog was originally started to keep a record of my journey as I wrote, edited, and published my first young adult series ~ the Blood Angel Series ~ Awaken (book 1), Beginnings (book 2), and Revenge (book 3). Well, I did it! It was a long yet exciting adventure and the final book was published in August of 2014. Before publishing the final book I put the first two books through a rigorous re-edit and rewrite in order to make sure that they were the best they could be. Now, I feel fully confident that all three of my books are exactly how I want them to be. I would love to share them with you and find out what you think. If you are interested in learning more about the Blood Angel Series please take a few seconds and spend the few dollars it takes to download my eBooks or order your printed version – and please tell your family, bribe your friends and blackmail your enemies into picking up a copy of their own.
Where to “follow”, “like”, “subscribe”, and buy the Blood Angel Series:
Now I begin a new journey as I work on my next series. I can’t say too much, but I promise to keep you all informed as I learn more about where this new adventure is going to take me – and my readers.
Hop on… join the ride… and click follow to come along on this new adventure.
And, if all that isn’t enough… follow me because I randomly (often) get writers block and end up going way off topic, and challenging myself to discover new things about myself, or just new things about the world in general!
Want to know when my new releases are available for pre-order before they hit the shelves?
Just fill out the following form and I’ll be sure to let you know about any discounts, giveaways, and pre-order offers I’m having!
Nina Soden 