So, I’ve been reading a lot about something called Self-Published Fantasy Month, which occurs in September. It’s all about reading self-published fantasy books during the month of September. I remember reading about it last year, but was too busy to fit it in. Since I love supporting self-published authors, I made a mental note to remember for this year. Of course, I forgot. Mental notes don’t work for me anymore, but I’m unwilling to give up the fact that my memory is pristine (it kind of resembled Swiss cheese right now, but I won’t admit it).
Anyways, I have a set reading list based on when I have book review deadlines, so, since I forgot about Self-Published Fantasy Month, I forgot to leave space for self-published fantasy novels. But I take solace in the fact that I actively read self-published novels all year long.
Since I can’t take an active part this year, I decided to share some self-published fantasy novels that I’ve enjoyed since I got my first Kindle in 2010, when Amazon put out lists of the top free books in various genres. Since we definitely weren’t rolling in money back then, I got most of my books from there.
All book descriptions are from Amazon since that’s where I got most of these books.
The Queen’s Blade by T. C. Southwell (the first self-published fantasy author I ever read!)
A doomed kingdom, a young queen’s sacrifice and a killer who will bring an empire to its knees…
In a world where men share kindred with beasts, the Idol of the Beasts predicts a child who will end the Endless War after centuries of strife, but first the enemy king must die and his son be brought to the Jashimari Queen in chains…
After numerous failed attempts, killing King Shandor seems impossible, until an assassin offers to do the deed. His success places the Crown Prince at Queen Minna-Satu’s mercy, and Blade becomes the instrument of her wrath. Forged in the fires of fury, his heart died long ago in the desert kingdom. His glance is as icy as his smile is disarming, and the fires of passion will never stir his blood. He is the Master of the Dance in Jondar, the best to ever hold the title.
Driven by hatred and with the skills of his trade, he will usher in a time of strife and pain that will live in legend, and forever bear his name. He is the instrument who can change fate. He is the Queen’s Blade.
Scriber by Ben S. Dobson
Disgraced scholar Dennon Lark only wants to be left alone in his self-imposed exile—an exile that ends when a rebel army wielding impossible powers launches a series of brutal attacks on villages across the Kingsland.
Forced from his home, Dennon is drawn back into a world he wants nothing to do with. His research into the kingdom’s lost past—the very research that sent him into hiding—may hold the answers to a great many questions about the rebels. Questions about their shadowy motives; about their mysterious abilities; and about their ever-increasing numbers, constantly bolstered by those thought killed in their attacks. And only the King’s infamous warrior niece Bryndine Errynson and her company of female soldiers trust him enough to help him find the truth before the rebels burn the Kingsland to the ground.
Following a trail of historical clues across the kingdom and pursued by forces they don’t fully understand, Dennon and Bryndine may be the realm’s only hope. But in order to preserve the Kingsland’s future, they must first uncover its long forgotten past.
Glasdel by Rob Heinze
From bestselling Indie author of THE SWARM, comes a touching, moving work of fantasy:
Set in a fantasy world in the tradition of George R.R. Martin, Glasdel is a town nestled near an artic lake, which gains its life-force and energy from the Great Glacier at the edge of the lake. When animals and plants start to die around the village, superstitious fear begins to spread. When pieces of ice start to appear on the beach, the council in Glasdel know that something is happening to the Great Glacier. No one in the history of Glasdel has ventured up the Glacier, and the journey that ensues is one of great discovery and adventure. But can the band of adventurers discover what is destroying the Glacier, and will they be able to stop it?
Glasdel is a fantasy work of startling originality that, if nothing else, will keep you entertained and questioning until the very end.
Fans of Robert Jordan, J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, and other high fantasy novels will love Glasdel.
The Deliverer by Jason D. Morrow (the whole trilogy is great)
First they chase him through the mountains for days. Then they murder his grandfather. And just as seventeen-year-old Silas Ainsley is about to escape his nameless enemies, he is killed.
This is where it should end, but Silas’ journey is far from over.
He wakes up and finds himself in a realm called Marenon; a place where humans are not the superior race, where magic is a way of life, and war is threatening to destroy it all.
Forced to make his way through the afterlife alone, Silas joins with a band of lawless mercenaries who claim they can help Silas find his murdered grandfather in exchange for his help on one of their more dangerous missions.
Along the way, Silas discovers he is part of an ancient prophecy declaring that he is the only one who can deliver Marenon from the enemies that wish to extinguish its people – the same enemies that killed Silas and his grandfather.
Earthbound Angels Trilogy by Elizabeth Corrigan
Oracle of Philadelphia:
Carrie works at a diner in South Philadelphia, dispensing advice to humans and angels wise enough to seek her counsel. But there are some problems that even the best advice can’t solve. Her latest supplicant, Sebastian, sold his soul to a demon in exchange for his sister’s life, but his heart remains pure. In order to renegotiate his contract, Carrie must travel into the depths of hell and parley with the demons that control its pathways.
Raising Chaos:
When Bedlam learns that the archdemon Azrael has escaped from the Abyss in order to wreak vengeance against the person who sent her there—Bedlam’s best friend, Khet—he can’t sit idly by. Only one relic possesses the power to kill Khet, who suffers immortality at Lucifer’s request: the mythical Spear of Destiny, and Azrael claims to know its location.
Archangel Errant:
When Heaven is suddenly attacked, all the angels become trapped in their own nightmares. With Michael gone on an angelic mission, Gabriel must rally the remaining seraphim to rouse the sleeping angels and discover who seeks to take the agents of Heaven out of the celestial battle.
The Lot of a Nobody by Dave Johnston
A funny, butt-scratching adventure you won’t want to miss!
Lot Nobody is average – even his ears – and is so lonely that he’s become invisible. But on his 16th birthday Lot truly starts disappearing – uprooted to a magical island, then sent back fully naked in the most embarrassing of situations.
After befriending Ethan Longbow – a classmate who’s about as street as a satsuma – Lot’s insecurities start to peel away, an angry volcano begins to pulsate, and Lot Nobody goes toe-to-toe with the dastardly megalomaniac Hector Shady.
Lot must now face his anxieties, save his new island friends, and discover why the hell his bum has been so itchy …
Adventus by Andrew Mowere
“What can you do when so many people arrive at your doorstep, bleeding and begging for their lives?”
“You pretend that they’re not people and that you can’t help.”The elf portal in Yotaku has opened in earnest. Moreover, another portal has opened in each of Jerr and Veld, respectively spewing orcs and dwarves into the realm. With millions of refugees simultaneously fleeing the destruction of their worlds, humanity’s leaders decide to hide the truth and send a joint mission with agents of all major nations.
Yuuto Aimaru, the observer, is chosen to represent Yotaku. This is the purpose for which he has been cruelly bred, a game of intrigue and trickery. Each country cares only to further its designs, and Yuuto is a spy well versed in deceit.
Would Yuuto do anything for his emperor and country?
Umbral Ten by Douglas Murphy
Theodosia Archmail wakes up on the towers of Starkwind Monastery to find that her world has been turned upside down. Corpses litter every room; a beast that was once human roams the ruined halls; and a second, blood red moon hangs in the sky above her.
The last thing she remembers is escorting her mother and a delegation of mages to a ceremony of purely symbolic importance. Bewildered and hunted, she has no choice but to band together with five other survivors: A knight of the Ardent Church, a librarian, a secretive neophyte nun, and two mercenaries.
But there are worse troubles awaiting them. Across the sea the Blood Moon Inquisition, led by an old friend of Theo’s, has turned its eye towards the island.
The Dragon’s Banker by Scott Warren
Finance: The lifeblood of any country’s beating heart and the life’s work of Sailor Kelstern — Merchant Banker. While wizards brood in their towers and great warriors charge into battle Sailor is more interested in the price of ore, herbs, and alchemicals carried by the trade ships.
But when a spell of bad fortune and bitter rivalry leaves him scrambling to turn a profit on little more than winds and whispers, one such whisper catches Sailor’s ear— a dragon has been seen in the west.
Sailor soon finds that the dragons are very real, and not at all what he expected. And they practice a very different sort of economy — one of subterfuge and fire.A standalone novel of epic fantasy & adventure capitalism from the author of Vick’s Vultures, with bonus novelette: Forego Quest
What if you were the hero of every song, story, and legend?
What if you didn’t want to be?
Find out in this hilarious fantasy short.
The Unfettered Child by Michael C. Sahd
Her tribe is shattered. Her parents are gone.
When eight-year-old Samara faces the capture of her tribe, an unimaginable power awakens within her. Even as this magic threatens to consume her, a disembodied voice intervenes, offering guidance and helping her control these newfound abilities.
Meanwhile, Samara’s father chases his wife’s captors across an unfamiliar terrain. But can Orin find his wife in time to save her? Will Samara learn to control her power and reunite with her family? And who is the mysterious entity traveling with her?
The Music of the Mind by Ash Adler
Finn Bran is a young journeyman bard who performs all the traditional songs of heroism and great deeds, while dreaming that he could someday be part of such a story – but the Kingdom of Valeria is falling into decline all around him as a mysterious force fosters thoughts of violence and intolerance in people’s minds.
Brought face-to-face with this terrifying evil, Finn narrowly escapes death and emerges beaten, but possessing a strange new gift – or curse. Able to hear the purity or impurity of people’s thoughts in the form of music, Finn realises that his unique insight leaves him with the responsibility to fight back against the evil being that has defeated him once already. But first, he must learn to master the music of his own mind.
This quest will lead Finn from the enchanted realm of the Fair Folk to the castle dungeons; to an ill-fated battle with a dragon that leads to a friendship that changes the shape of the world; to an inner mastery of elemental forces.
Finally, will Finn be strong enough to face the immutable enemy that has twisted an entire nation to its own dark ends … or will he need to reach out for help from the strangest of places?
The Adventure by Jennifer M. Zeiger
The Adventure includes three different Choose Your Own Adventure style stories, giving the reader 26 possible endings to find.
Moonrise Mountain: Legend tells of the wild horses that live atop Moonrise Mountain. Now you’re out to discover if legend is true, but first, you have to reach the top of the mountain, and each choice you make will bring unforeseen dangers.
Temple of Night and Wind: Many have entered the Howling Maw in search of its treasures. None have returned. But now your village is starving and the Maw’s treasures are your last resort. So down into the Maw you venture…
The Tournament: To free your uncle from life in the King’s mines, you enter the Tournament. However, this is no typical contest, and its lack of rules makes success all the more difficult, and defeat all the more deadly.
Pick wisely, Dear Reader, for success or failure depends on your choices.
Last Memoria by Rachel Emma Shaw
Sarilla has learnt one thing from stealing memories. Everybody lies.
“An enthralling new take on fantasy’.” – The Nerd Daily
“Sucked in from the start.” – The Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub
“The Last Memoria, is a heartbreaking black tragedy that keeps you at the edge of your seat.” – The New England Book Critic
“This was a dynamic read that I’d certainly recommend!” – The Reading Corner for All
There’s nothing Sarilla hates more than stealing memories, but the king forces her to, just so he can keep his subjects in line. She wants to escape to where nobody knows what she is or what she can do, but her plans go awry when she runs into someone she would much rather forget.
Falon has a six-month void in his memories that he’s desperate to restore. He doesn’t know why they were taken or what they contained, nor why the man he loves is acting so cagily about what happened during that time. He hopes to use Sarilla to get back what was stolen from him and isn’t interested in why she’s so desperate to escape. She will help him get back what he’s lost, whether she wants to or not.
Join Sarilla and Falon in this twisted tale about how sometimes good intentions aren’t enough to keep the darkness at bay.
‘It’s a dark fantasy thriller about love, lies and memory thieves, perfect for readers searching for a new type of fantasy, one filled with real characters on heart-breaking journeys. Think Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but with memory thieves and fantasy monsters!’
The God Queen by M. L. Tishner
THE GOD QUEEN RETURNS. SO, WHY IS EVERYONE SQUELCHING HER POWER?
In a backwater Earth town, Rei Ettowa dreams of traveling across the stars to destroy Infiernen – the knight who murdered her brother.
When Rei discovers she is the reincarnation of the prophesied God Queen, she relishes her newfound ability to channel lightning for revenge. Unfortunately, blazing through a battlefield clashes with the Federation’s plan for Rei and the others like her. All the gods are to be trained as diplomatic figureheads to sway voters, not agents of war. Infiernen must remain untouched.
As Rei navigates her new role in the Federation, she finds herself drawn to Bronx, a handsome young man who can barely control his powers. He is also yet another target of Infiernen’s wrath. Unable to let go of her brother’s murder and desperate to save Bronx, Rei searches for Infiernen, only to discover a shocking secret the Federation has been keeping from her.
Furious by the Federation’s secrets, she’s out for revenge. But not everything is as it seems. What else could the Federation be hiding from her?
On a Blue Moon by Willow
The lives of a man from Earth, an alien being, and a young girl converge on a moon deep in space. A violent act is the spark that ignites incredible journeys. The moon has three human societies. In each society there is an evil presence that the man, girl, their friends, and their loved ones must confront, or flee from. In the end, life on that moon is vastly transformed.
Willow is the author of ON A BLUE MOON. That tale, and the five to follow, are based on her experiences, and the accounts related to her by the many beings she has known, both human and nonhuman. Those tales are collectively THE DAUGHTERS OF FIRTH TALES.
At the beginning of each tale, after the Prologue and before the first chapter, Willow and her daughter, Frither, are together and interacting. Their banter is the thread that ties the six tales together by providing an introduction to each tale, and a hint about what’s to come. Sam is the main protagonist at the beginning of ON A BLUE MOON. As it and future tales progress, Willow, Frither, and the other daughters of Firth, become the driving force.
Earth, as viewed from space, is primarily blue. So is Bluemoon. Bluemoon represents a much less complex version of Earth, yet possess some of the malignant forces of our “real world”: a malicious leader of an autocratic society, a ruthless despot who has his henchmen kill anyone who dares oppose him, racism, and environmental destruction.
Shadow, an alien Meddler, represents an uncontrollable force that drastically alters Sam’s life’s journey, and that of the inhabitants of Bluemoon. Similar to how forces beyond our control shape our lives on Earth.
Overriding everything else, the tales are about the courage of individuals intervening to protect the vulnerable, while so many others observe but do nothing.
Gosh, there’s more. So many more. But now I’m tired. I’m thinking, though, that I’ll probably share more self-published fantasy novels over on Instagram in between sharing what I’m currently reading and promoting my book reviews. There are just so many self-published books out there. Some good, some great, some…well…tried really hard. But you never know what will be someone’s cup of tea!
To everyone participating in Self-Published Fantasy Month, good luck and have fun!
The Lily Cafe 
So many books! I already read a lot, but this just makes me want to read more =)
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There are so many book bloggers who come out almost every day with lists and lists of so many great books and I can’t help but want to look through my couch for some lost hours. I wonder of anyone can really read too much.
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“Look through my couch for some lost hours” Ha! Love that image 🙂
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I hear it’s the best place to find lost things. Except I only end up with toys.
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