15 Indie Books I’m Excited To Read

If you know me, you know I love giving indie books a chance. Yes, they are a hit or miss. Sometimes they are amazing, other times several rounds of editing are needed, but it is still important to support indie authors! If you don’t you could be missing out on some great stories like Aftermath by Clara Kensie, The Reluctant Sacrifice by Kerr-Ann Dempster, and New World: Rising by Jennifer Wilson (which is now published by a small print because of the support of the author when it was an indie!).

Proof is in the pudding – we need to support indie authors!

So here I am today with a few new ones I discovered. I cannot vouch for them as I haven’t read them. These all just sound great to me!

Brian McBride is an indie author and owns a small shop called Irewolf (also important to shop small!) that I discovered from Bookstagram. I love his shop but I haven’t read any of his books. He already has 3 published and is working on a 4th. Can we just talk about those covers, though? They’re amazing. Below is the Goodreads and some quick info (the summaries are much too long to share here)…

• Every Bright and Broken Thing (Goodreads) – I don’t read a lot of books with siblings as the protagonists (usually just one and the siblings are side characters) so this one intrigues me as a story of how siblings navigate brotherhood and their own issues.
• Love and the Sea and Everything in Between (Goodreads) – A road trip novel that sounds like it may have a bit of heartbreak and a coming-of-age story – I’m in!
• Sons of Slaughter (Goodreads) – This is also about siblings…two brothers battling their inner demons while restoring their grandfather’s cabin. It’s not exactly my typical read but based on the full synopsis and the reviews, it sounds raw, tough, and poetic.
• The Wardens and the Wall Between Worlds (Goodreads) – This is his current WIP so it is not out yet but a book about monster hunters and a string of mysterious murders in a small town? Yes, please!

Ok while writing this post I realize the synopsis for all the books are much too long to share here, so if you want all the information for the books I share definitely click that Goodreads link!

• Red Winter by Annette Marie (Goodreads) – An undesired destiny, gods and goddesses, and a possible hate-to-love romance? Heck yes.
• Kingdom of Ruins by  D.C. Marino (Goodreads) – Ngl, the synopsis of this one confuses me slightly but I do get it is a fantasy with archaeology in it and that is something I’ve never read! Plus, Debra is a super sweet person 🙂
• The Isle by Sara Francis (Goodreads) – The world destroyed, islands created as salvation, instead an army of young Bionics, Mutants, geeks, doctors, farmers, and militia were created. Yep, sign me up!
• Soulwalkers by Cassidy Thomas (Goodreads) – This book is set in New Orleans (so, check!) and has magic that can see the future/into your soul (also, check!). I need it (ok technically I already own it lol )!

• The Divided Nation by Angela R. Watts (Goodreads) – A failed USA, gangs, gang lords, war, settlements, its everything I love about dystopian all wrapped up into one. It kind of reminds me of a futuristic (as in 2024) version of Gangs of New York, maybe? I’m in.
• Daughter of the Deep by Lina C. Amarego (Goodreads) – Another book about pirates and ships and rivalries and secrets and THAT COVER!? Why do indie books have the best covers sometimes?!
• Summoned by Mckayla Eaton (Goodreads) – Demons and magic and that cover! Also sounds like it will be a haters to lovers romance as well 😉
• Westcott High by Sarah Mellow (Goodreads) – The synopsis on Goodreads starts with “Pretty Little Liars meets Gossip Girl…” say no more, my friend, say no more.

These three are actually traditionally published but by small presses. I feel those type of books are just as important to support because we want to boost those smaller presses too, not just the top 5! 

• Daughter of the Salt King by A.S. Thornton (Goodreads) – This is a retelling of Arabian Nights (or inspired by it, I forgot which), and is written by my good friend Ali (if you’re on Bookstagram, you probably know who she is!). She just did the cover reveal the other day and you can preorder already (physical copy preorders should be coming soon)!
• The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria McCombs (Goodreads) – A retelling of Rumpelstiltskin! Also, McCombs writes “clean” YA if anyone is looking for that.
• Marrow Charm by Kristin Jacques (Goodreads) – This one sounds kind of like a zombie infection but caused by magic and the survivors are driven underground (like Fallout). That’s what I gather at least and that sounds right up my alley!

Have you heard of any of these? Read any? Will you be adding any to your TBR? Or do you have a favorite indie book you’d like to share? Let me know! I’m always looking for recommendations!