This year I’ve decided that in addition to my usual end-of-year/new-year’s posts of my Top Books Read and Top Anticipated Reads, that I’d like to do a post that highlights some of my favorite self-published/indie author books that I’ve read this year. My blog is open to all submissions and this leads to quite the variety of reads (which I love!) and so this post will be a moment to promote and praise some of my Top 2018 Reads that you won’t find being pushed and flaunted in major bookstores. Hopefully something will catch your eye!

(This year’s post will be particularly long because I’m including some books from years past but the more the merrier!) 

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2018 Indie Reads

ALARUM
(a Walking Shadows novel)
Talis Jones
(YA) Fiction | Post-Apocalyptic Western
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“If you’re looking for a standalone that crosses genres and captures the wild spirit of the American West, the grit of a dystopian future, and the heart of a girl who refuses to lie down when the demons come a calling, then Alarum is a definite must-read.”
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CROOKED RAVEN
(Otherworld #1)
Talis Jones
(YA) Fiction | Paranormal/Fantasy
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“Crooked Raven launches a breathtaking tale of two siblings who will fight through Hell to save one another. Flowing with beautiful prose and a plot that both burns and delights, this is a must read for fantasy lovers.”
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THE FALLEN WORLD TRILOGY
Laura Thalassa
NA Fiction | Post-Apocalypse/Dystopian Romance
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“Unrepentant bloodshed, sacrificial freedom, and love between monsters born of war, this is but the beginnings of the dark tale of The Queen of All that Dies. A dystopian story that will have your adrenaline pounding in your veins, your mind spinning between rights and wrongs, and your feet on constantly shifting ground, this book is the first in a trilogy that is sure to take your breath away with its intensity and daring.”
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HEART OF THE FAE
(Otherworld #1)
Emma Hamm
Fiction | Irish Mythology/Fantasy Romance
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“A tale birthed from Irish legends of old, Heart of the Fae spins a tale of a fae king with no throne, an Irish healer with no cure, and a clash of fate worthy of ballads long told. Romantic, fierce, and beautifully steeped in mythology, this is a definite recommendation for fantasy readers everywhere.”
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THE PAPER SWAN
Leylah Attar
Fiction | Contemporary Romance/Thriller
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“The Paper Swan is a romance grounded in realism, built on the many startling shades of humanity, and shrouded with darkness, pain, heartache, revenge, and the innocent flame of childhood that refuses to burn out no matter how much the hungry wolves devour. A harrowing journey from betrayal to vengeance to forgiveness it will catch your breath, horrify you, twist tears from your reluctant eyes, and yet it is written with such captivating prose as to be lovely. Ugly hearts torn apart into a beautiful story. Shocking, refreshing, and stunningly unexpected, this is a contemporary read that is fated to dominate the shelves.”
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PESTILENCE
(The Four Horsemen #1)
Laura Thalassa
NA Fiction | Paranormal Romance
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“The Apocalypse has begun, Pestilence has completed his purpose, and War now awakens. This gripping beginning of the End is a beautifully compelling story that explores the many depths of humanity and the truths it bares when death looms unyielding. Unforgiving in its realism but merciful in its heart, this is but the first wave of the Apocalypse, and it will have your heart pounding for more.”
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THE PURIFICATION ERA SERIES
Angie Grigaliunas
(YA) Fiction | Dystopian Fantasy
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“Sowing kicks off a series filled with one-way mirrors, mystery, and the bonds of sisterhood. Packed with action, forbidden desires, and players keeping their cards close to their chests, this series is a intriguing read for both fans of fantasy and dystopian fiction.”
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TAINTED EARTH SERIES
Susanne Valenti
YA Fiction | Dystopia
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“A heart-pounding start to this apocalyptic world, the Tainted Earth Saga rears back and shows the first strikes as earth fights back. Fast-paced, twisted, and igniting the tale with everything lost, follow along as wind whispers doom and the animals promise ‘soon.'”
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THE VAMPIRE GAMES TRILOGY
Caroline Peckham
(NA) Fiction | Paranormal
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“An exhilarating and deadly twist on Vampires and Hunters, The V Games will keep your attention locked in with horror and intrigue from start to finish. Risky, bloody, and addictive, witness just how far someone will go to survive as men become monsters and monsters become men.”
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Indie Books Read in Previous Years

CAGE OF LIES SERIES
Susanne Valenti
YA Fiction | Dystopia
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“Every time I get my hands on another book in the series it goes by quickly with no shortage of action and obstacles with an undercurrent of heart igniting the characters.The world building has been so different and constantly evolving as well as the wide cast of characters. Fast paced and exciting we watch as Maya’s story unfolds as she undergoes her quest to unleash the truth upon the people.”
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THE CAT’S EYE CHRONICLES
T.L. Shreffler
YA Fiction | Fantasy
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“Sora’s Quest is an intricate and immersive beginning to a deadly journey in a world filled with forgotten magic. Violent, beautiful, horrifying, and hopeful this book races forwards with determination and an endless sea of imagination hardly daring to stop to rest as the story leaps from the pages swathed in darkness.”
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THE GRIMOIRE SAGA
S.M. Boyce
YA Fiction | Paranormal/Fantasy
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“Lichgates is a fast-paced epic fantasy that will fly you along the journeys of Kara and Braeden and the rise of Ourea. Suit up and be prepared for the jaw-dropping cities and heart-pounding dangers that lie ahead.”
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PRETTY WICKED
(Pretty Wicked #1)
Kelly Charron
YA Fiction | Thriller
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“Pretty Wicked is the exhilarating first-person account of Ryann Wilkanson: sweet and innocent by day, lusting for blood by night. Following the steps of a serial killer’s debut from her very own point of view, this book will capture your attention, slaughter the hours, twist your expectations, and revel in your horror. Prepare for a story of fiction that will have you questioning everyone you thought you knew.”
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RADIANCE
(Wraith Kings #1)
Grace Draven
NA Fiction | Fantasy Romance
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“Radiance walks step by step as a prince of the night marries a human of the sun and they find their way through merging worlds becoming acquainted with each other’s strangeness, growing in a deeper friendship, and finding themselves stunned by a love they never thought possible. Slow-burning, surprisingly lovely, and simply radiant, this fantasy romance is an underdog that holds its own in a world saturated by the quick and demanding.”
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RHAPSODIC
(The Bargainer #1)
Laura Thalassa
NA Fiction | Paranormal/Fantasy Romance
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“Rhapsodic is a story of darkness – how it comforts, how it abuses, how it ignites, and how it rules. Taking humans, supernaturals, and a powerful realm of Fae, this book spins together a romance that will steal your heart, a mystery that will horrify, and a cast of characters that dig deep into their darkness unearthing secrets that take a powerful toll. Rhapsodic, in short, is absolutely riveting.”
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THE SHADOW RAVENS/QUANTA’s TRILOGY
Lola Dodge
Fiction | Sci-Fi/Paranormal
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“Quanta is a jolted adrenaline-paced story of a cold, futuristic, dystopian, science-dominated world with a bit of spicy paranormal and sweet romance to flavor it up into a successful second installment of the Shadow Ravens series.”
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THE SILENT SEA CHRONICLES
Suzanne Rogerson
Fiction | Fantasy
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“The Lost Sentinel contains plenty of action, intrigue, and challenges throughout, making this a thrilling fantasy adventure indeed. It’s the sort of book I enjoyed reading while reclining in a comfy chair on the sunny front porch of my house. It didn’t overwhelm me with information, itty bitty details, or dull monologues, but rather it whisked me away to someplace magical, alluring, and dangerous.”
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A TAPESTRY OF TEARS
Gita V. Reddy
Fiction | Short Story Collection | India
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“The stories shared within it are poignant and thought provoking as well as written in lovely prose that will keep you captivated.”
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UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD TRILOGY
Sarah Lyons Fleming
Fiction | Apocalyptic
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My Review | Goodreads | Amazon
“Until the End of the World faces its fate with no fear in its eyes…well, maybe some fear. Without the promise of guaranteed survival this story jolts the adrenaline and shatters the heart with its exciting take on a zombie apocalypse.”
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