We're almost a quarter of the way through 2025. So, what have you been reading this year? If you're a fan of fantasy and science fiction like I am, I have a few recommendations for your ever-growing to-be-read list.
Note: All of the following books are written by independent authors like me, who choose the do-it-yourself method because, either:
(a) their work doesn't fit into the mold of the profit-driven publishing world, or
(b) they have chosen to maintain creative control over their work instead of ceding control to a faceless corporation.
Let's show these indies some love 📚
To start off, I want to share a promotion that’s running right now, featuring heroes with power, from fantasy realms to dystopian worlds and distant galaxies. Here's the link. Some of the indie fantasy and science fiction novels included in this list are offering massive discounts on eBook editions right now.
Next, we've got two indie fantasy books that I read this month.
The core.author Review:
Gibson will suck you in quickly with this story’s unique world-building, dark, gritty tone, and backdrop of cultures in conflict. This one is a finalist in this year's Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO).
The core.author Review:
Classic, fun fantasy that took me back to the old-school fantasy novels of the 1990s (Forgotten Realms, R.A. Salvatore, Terry Brooks, etc.). A very strong debut from an author team I'm sure we'll hear more from.
First up, it's Mushroom Blues by Adrian M. Gibson: a murder mystery set in a world whose native sentient species is a human/fungus hybrid. It is wonderfully weird and fun. But be warned, this one comes with an R-rating.
Next, it's The Legend of the Black Hammers: Rebirth, the debut novel from daughter/father writing team Tatyana and Daniel Kowalski, featuring a motley crew of adopted siblings on an epic quest. What really shines in this story is the cast of characters. Zach, Earldene, Cosmo, and Sasha are adopted siblings with instant chemistry. It’s difficult for me to choose my favorite character. Each one is unique and memorable in their own way (although it’s probably a tie between Sasha and Cosmo for my fav). And the Acknowledgements section of the book gives even greater meaning to the story — as I read, I found myself picturing the real-life counterparts to these characters, perhaps rolling dice while clustered around a tabletop on their own fantasy adventures.
Naturally, I made sure to leave customer reviews for both of these books on Amazon — I can't stress enough what a huge help this is for indie authors.
Finally, don't forget to check out the Fallen Odyssey Complete Series Omnibus: 5-Book Digital Box Set Collection, available now.
Thanks again for joining me on my author odyssey!
Corey McCullough