Honor: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Anthology

by Z.S. Diamanti (Editor And Author), J.L. Odom, Herman Steuernagel

Travel from distant planets on the edge of space to enchanted worlds filled with magic. Laugh with plucky thieves and cry with aging mages. Discover ancient wisdoms, rise above unbeatable odds, and reflect on personal sacrifices.

ALL FOR HONOR!

Honor is an exciting new anthology from Golden Griffin Press, featuring twenty-two SF&F authors. Each of them is a rising star in independent publishing in their own right, but we brought them all together to create this beautiful anthology.

Clocking in at nearly 200,000 words, Honor is packed to the brim with 22 new SF&F stories for readers to enjoy and maybe even discover a new favorite author--or twenty-two!

Not to mention we hired some amazing artists to fill this anthology with awe-inspiring sci-fi and fantasy art!

Buy Honor today!

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Anthologies, Audiobook

769 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2026

About the author

Z.S. Diamanti is the award-winning author of the Stone & Sky series, an epic fantasy adventure and the result of his great passion for fun and fantastical stories. He went to college forever and has too many pieces of paper on his wall. He is a USAF veteran of OEF and worked in ministry for over 10 years. He and his wife reside in Colorado with their four children where they enjoy hikes and tabletop games.

You can get a FREE series of his stories at zsdiamanti.com

Connect with him on social media: @zsdiamanti

Reviews

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

HONOR ANTHOLOGY - various authors

My goodness me was this a fabulous anthology! All well written, all with resounding honour at it's core, spanning through realms magical and otherworldly. A few stood out more than others but the overall read was awesome!

THE LEACHER -LJ ODOM:
Despair, desolution, bleakness, dedicated and determination, this describes Zur, a Leacher. What a great twist on Mother Earth, one not so giving, rather taking, sapping...a very powerful story, an emotional story. These words by Zur tugged at my heart, "I think I’m going to die. But I don’t want to. And I’m going to try not to". Family, duty and strength are all poignantly captured. Really well written, giving honour a new face, loved it!

THE EDGE OF HONOR - HERMAN STEUERNAGAL:
"In a land where magic was forbidden, it was often smuggled in from distant shores" And this is precisely what Tarvo undertakes, he's a courier of sorts, a deliverer, but this delivery lands Tarvo in some very hot water. I enjoyed the dwalf aspect, the "unusual" package and the flow of the read, which felt like a complete novel, not a short story. I'd actually love to read more of Tarvo's adventures.

TO FIRST BLOOD - BLAKE & RAVEN PENN:
What a cool story! Loved this take on dragons. Kheradok is a warrior, different to his peers, he chose peace, his conviction is that “Peace is the reason for war. It’s why we fight.” This is a magnificent tale, it shows courage, it shows resolve, it shows patience. The writing style got me riveted right from the start and I was rooting for Kheradok from the onset. The cast is superb, the pace is awesome and I felt every emotional dilemma! I'd love a full series!

LUMINESCENT RESOLVE - DAN KENNER:
Superb world building, really brings this world and characters alive. He's not one for change or ambition, he's content copying text after text, though he's smart and could achieve so much more if he wanted to. But, as he says, "Why step up when I can fulfill my purpose each year until the day I die?" So when the darkness descends, unexpectedly early, he has a choice to make...What an unexpected turn the battle took! My golly, I felt elation at the events, the descriptive manner of the prose, besides having me turn my lights on brighter, had me smiling through my tears. Fab read.

DISCHARGED - Z S DIAMANTI:
Heck was this good! Although Sci-fi is not my go to read, I do enjoy a good "outer world" experience, and, this story gave it to me in spades! Awesome and binding me in place, I alternated laughing and aww-ing while reading this. Although, I admit, here were tears too, for Jerom... No longer a captain, dishonourably discharged for doing an honourable deed, Zaen stumbles onto the andy, in the hands of some shady characters and what ensues, is heart pounding action and of an unlikely friendship between machine and man, in the most delightful read. I adored the andy! I adored Zaen! I adored the interaction! I just adored everything about this read! Brilliantly executed in every way, action, emotion and humour lock in like a Rubik cube, I REALLY need more of this world and more of Kaen and Kallon!

THE GRIEF PATH - AMANDA AULER:
Poignant, heartbreaking and heartwarming, this story wound itself into my soul. The grief Lars feels, I feel, I feel it all. I felt his anger, his remorse, his resolve to honour his late wife's wish, as if it were my own. Embarking on a journey, full of grief in his heart, the perils are as stark as a cloud covered night. Loved Gruk and I loved the unique depiction of goblins, super cool. The snippets of Lena through Lars reminiscing were so well done and gave me a sense of her compassion, kindness and loving nature. Along the way, he passes through enemy territory, all who knew Lena, respected Lena, goblins, trolls, centaurs, remember Lena, “A she-elf of peace made to marry a man of war.” Lars might have started his journey on a quest but found so much more, "In her death, you have been made to see life". Heartstring pulling read.

RAIN ALONE IS NOTHING - BRADY HUNSAKER:
Sten looks defeat and despair in the face and finds a strength deep within him to not give up, to defend the defenceless, to offer aid rather than retreat. Brady has a way with words that infuse depth and feelings into whatever he pens, this is no exception. He knows how to fuel the action to near explosive, so very adrenaline charged, I feel the blows, I taste the blood, but, at the same time, he infuses hope, no matter the odds, perseverance, righteousness, doing the honourable thing. Even though all the gore, the sense of community is rife, alive and kicking. Which is precisely what this read is, very much alive and just awesome!

PRIMUS - E.A. HENDRYX :
After the demise of his brother, quiet, sensitive Mal enters the trials in place of him, even though Mal had no interest in the trials, he wants to honour his brother. A few vital things happen, he befriends a fellow competitor, Nev; he overhears a plot directed at the Elected and he discovers new strengh, new purpose within him. A lot packed into this short story, keeping me on my toes. Boy was I not expecting THAT ending! What a cool twist!

BARBLADE THE MERCIFUL - T. D. OREL:
This dark story has a cool twist to it, it's the humans who should be feared, not the creatures of this world. Zombek is one such creature who, against the principles of his people, decides to protect, rather than slay, his remorse is that he "chose to be a weapon, instead of a shield…"This story shows it's never too late to do the honourable deed, to be proud that sometimes, "mercy begets mercy"

MY WATER'S KEEPER - ANDREW D MEREDITH:
Although I found the writing style easy, for some reason this one didn't work for me.

FAITH METHODS OPTIONAL - E A WINTERS:
An interesting read, great action throughout and a few heart stopping moments. Phew! Thank the stars the author turned it around, I was worried there for a moment! Very vivid and cool world building, descriptive. I really enjoyed Silver and Purge, cool characters and Flip, well, he tugged on my heartstrings.

INSUBORDINATION - CHARLES HACK:
Sometimes one needs to discard orders, one needs to make a stand for what is right and Raider does just that. She pulls out all the stops to embark on a daring rescue to save her team. She loses much but gains much in the form of a very unexpected chance. I loved her determination and her...honour. Great emotionally charged read that I'd read more of in a jiffy.

THE TRUE PURPOSE OF A THING - DL JENNINGS:
Aidryn has a great talent, he's able to restore pretty much anything through his ability. With the veil failing, and at the king's request, he sets to strengthen the veil that keeps them all safe. Aidryn might be squire to ser Deilus, but the easy affection and respect for one another is touching. This story took such a turn I was gobsmacked as Aidryn learns the truth about the veil, exposing the lie. This was a gorgeous gorgeous read!

NO HONOR AMONG THIEVES - DAVID ESTES:
This started off so strong, I was afraid to blink in case I missed something, adrenaline central from the beginning. 2 friends, both not even teens, run for their lives after a thieving almost went belly up. Survival is the catch words, honor is dubious. Ten years later and nothing has changed...except the twist the author spun...My goodness, I loved this story! Rich and delicious is the prose, dark and decadent is the theme, a thrill a minute. Dio stole my heart, completely! Vivid, engaging, gut churning, I was upset that I reached the end, I want more! I need more!

LORE ISLAND - VICTORIA McCOMBS:
Kate is desperate to save her sister, she'll do anything to get the cure. And she does, by entering a dangerous labyrinth with the cure as the prize. If she can survive... My goodness was this a tense and dramatic read! I don't think my heart stopped pounding until the very last, where the author took it to a wonderful ending!

THE FORSAKEN DETOUR - BRIAN WILSON:
What an unexpected tale! Mayalla and Evine, sisters joining their father on a journey, land on a planet known as the Forsaken, after a strike on their ship by random space debris. This story is full of heart, as preconceived prejudice is put to rest. The author blends sci-fi and magic sublimely, something that I really enjoy, and he had me riveted from the start. I loved the world he created and golly gee, the end caught me by surprise. Excellent read!

THE WOODWEAVER'S ROSE - TORI TECKEN:
Heck, bring out the tissues for this beautiful and very emotionally charged read, you're going to need a full box. I really loved the writing style, I could feel it all. I loved the childlike exuberance and innocence of Marlee, but it was the woodweaver who stole the show. His character was incredibly realistically portrayed. I was crying through my smile at the sheer beauty of being cared for, loved unconditionally . Such a poignantly read, sensitively delivered. Really loved this one.

A BETTER NAME - MORGAN SHANK:
Very cool read, very well written, I immediately started rooting for Sarah. Names are important, losing your name means losing your humanity. Thrust into a situation that turned out not to be what she thought, she discovers horrific truths. Golly, I'm really interested to read more of this one, I need to know if Sarah manages to find out why the magic strips some and I definitely need to know what happened to the Duke!

FUGITIVE OF THE STARS - ERICKA EVREN:
Loads of veiled action in this read, a few things stand out, I REALLY like Dtara and I REALLY dislike Benjo! The undercurrent of mutiny is palpable, the dislike Dtara has for slavers is offset by need, the need to pay off debts, as sour as it sits. But then one of the captives, Reeves, gives him food for thought and before long, he's given an opportunity for redemption. Enjoyed this one.

PAPERCUTS AND PORTENTS - LIZ DELTON:
A bout of bullying had Bruna leave the Carriage House to clear her mind. She very soon discovers, by leaving without getting permission, she's suddenly a fugitive. When Camille comes to her aid, Bruna thinks all her problems are over but they've just begun. I loved Bruna's conviction of right and I had a soft spot for Harryn. This author is fabulous! How she managed to mesh tension, drama, danger, mystery, magic and strength of characters, into a beautiful and heartwarming read, is beyond me, but she does, and she did...I loved it.

A MARTYR'S HONOR - TIM FACCIOLA:
In an attempt to stop the bloodshed, Darrow, a Knight, urges the king to allow him to parlay with the enemy and everything goes to hell in a basket. My word, this author crafts a tale with such skill, I barely have time to catch my breath. He conveys, superbly, just how fickle mankind is, how greed and tyranny are wrapped up in lies for dominance. Every emotion stands out, every character stands out and most of all, the agonising of duty over what is right, leaps from the pages. Exceptional read!

OCAM'S CIRCUIT - SAM PAISLEY:
What a cool way to end this anthology! Imagine waking up, unexpected, before the allocated time, with a fractured memory and your only other companion is a machine, albeit, a very jovial machine. Well, I could picture it all, thanks to the author's excellent penmanship. I loved both Commander Jeffards and OCAM, their interaction so on point. I delighted in OCAM's humour as he guided Jeffards on his path to strength and recovery, to relearn everything, just like a newborn babe. This really was poignant read, full of heart. I came very close to shedding tears a few times. The real star of this story was, without question, I AM! I really enjoyed this read, it gave me major Dark Matter vibes, which I loved.

[Doc of the Dark Arts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars
Format: E-Book ARC
Spoilers: No

Honor is a really cool concept, and a really fun book filled with short stories by Indie authors in the sci-fi and fantasy realm. I was really excited to be a part of the ARC team, and really enjoyed these stories and discovering some new authors! This was organized by ZS Diamanti, and each story has the theme of "honor." We got a great variety of fantasy and sci fi stories, and 22 fantastic indie authors who all had their own unique spins on this theme.

I think this book does some great things. First, I think short stories are an underutilized medium, and they are uniquely their own skillset. I also think they are under read by SFF readers generally, and make for a great way to break things up and keep speculative fiction fresh in between massive tomes and long series. If you like reading short stories or are looking for great reads in-between large SFF books, these stories will do the trick.

The other thing that is so gret about this is the ability to check out a whole bunch of indie authors and see whose writing style really jives with you. It is a really unique way to see some new authors, support independently published authors, and get some amazing stories at the same time. For me, the highlights were stories from JL Odom, ZS Diamanti, DL Jennings, and Tori Tecken. I really think there is something for every SFF fan in here, and you will find some new authors you will want to check out!

[Max I Like Fantasy Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me tell you writing a review about an anthology is not easy, as it seems possible to write endlessly about each story and review them all. I will not do so here.

Overall this was a REALLY good experience for me. As with all collections of stories there will be those you love, those you don’t love and everything in between. I am very happy to report that of the 22 fantasy and science fiction stories in here there were only two I would deem “duds” and even when discussing those two stories with others, there was a fair mix of people who really liked them.

Let me start with the highlights. There were many truly excellent stories here. The anthology opens with one such story, The Leacher by JL Odom. This story highlights Odom’s biggest strengths which are intensity of feeling, world building and character work. Here in a short span Odom delivers an emotional piece about someone who literally gives their body to the land, feels unimportant and goes off to war- where he feels like he can do something more important.

Luminescent Resolve by Dan Kenner really stole the show for me. If I HAD to choose a favorite story in this collection, Kenner takes the award. This anthology includes many stories that are a part of other established worlds and series and my only disappointment with this story is that there was no other series to immediately purchase in that world. It reminds me the Stormlight Archive in someways while also feeling fresh, interesting and dramatic.

The Grief Path by Amanda Auler was another stand out about a man taking his deceased wife’s ashes to their final resting place as our MC struggles with not really living up to the man his wife thought he could be during her life. This story was at times fun and was an emotional gut punch.

Speaking of emotional gut punches, you should also really read Woodreavers Rose is the tale about a older man who doesn’t really get visitors, who is sought out by a young girl to visit her grandmothers tree. This is heartbreaking and heartwarming and let’s just say I am reading one of Tecken’s full length works now. Coincidence? Yes. But am I upset by that? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I recently had the distinct pleasure of reading Flour and Forge by Herman Steuernagel. And that was an enjoyable cozy adventure featuring a human who teams up with a warrior dwarf named Tarvo. Herman’s story The Edges of Honor follows Tarvo as he meets another integral character from Flour and Forge. And honestly I loved this story tremendously. I would read more adventures featuring Tarvo.

There are few other stories I want to at least take the time to mention. Discharged by the venerable ZS Diamanti really showed off his abilities with science fiction. How have I never thought of calling an android an Andy before? Honestly I would love to see Diamanti write a series of science fiction space exploration stories Ala Star Trek, some could be cozy others less so. If this story is any indication of whether he could pull off such a feat the answer is a resounding yes.

The stories here by TD Orel was frickin sweet enough to get me excited to get to his Titans Nest book, as well as Liz Deltons story was so interesting and unique (about a papermage accused of cheating due to their abilities) really has me thirsty to try both her epic and cozy fantasy series. Bryan Wilson’s Forsaken Detour was the appetizer I needed before getting started on his book Forsaken Planet.

This wouldn’t be a review if I didn’t at least comment on the two stories that missed the mark for me. First, To First Blood by the Penns. I really disliked the dialogue in this story, which read like it was from the 1993 Sonic cartoons, it just didn’t work for me and I also just couldn’t get behind a story about not being willing to smush a dragon spider but totally be willing duel over that. Others really liked this so perhaps it was just me. And the other was Rain Alone is Nothing by Brady Hunsaker, which I felt probably would have been better if I knew more about his series. For me this read that like meme were the fantasy terms are unintelligible. Unfortunately this works in long form fiction because the reader gets time to learn, in short stories however it creates confusion and a lot of jargon you need to learn quickly in order to really get to the story.

In the end of the day this is a great book if you’re interested in sampling a wide array of indie authors or are already in invested in some of them. I went into this book a huge fan of ZS Diamanti and JL Odom and I came out of it with a longer TBR than I started with, could I really ask for anything more than that? The reality is there is no such thing as an anthology where every story works for everyone. But the overwhelming balance of this collection is very very good.

[KB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honor is a triumph of independent publishing. Each and every story was crafted with a level of quality that could easily be found in the traditional publishing space.

This anthology is full of some of the best and brightest minds in the sci-fi and fantasy community, and it shows in the sheer range of voices and ideas on display. From sweeping, imaginative worldbuilding to intimate, character-driven narratives, every piece feels purposeful and polished. The stories explore the concept of honor from multiple angles: duty, sacrifice, loyalty, and even moral ambiguity. This gives the collection a thematic depth that lingers long after the final page.

What makes this anthology stand out most is its consistency. It’s rare to find a collection where every story feels thoughtfully curated and engaging in its own right, yet still contributes to a cohesive whole.

Honor confidently proves that passion, talent, and careful editing can produce something truly exceptional.

Thanks to Z.S. Diamanti and team for providing the ARC!

[T Adventure · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic anthology full of great stories. There's so much here to love, not the least of which is getting to experience so many new and different authors. Of course, there are those I already know and love, like Odom, Meredith, and Tecken, but there's also so many more, like Auler, Jennings, and Facciola, that I'm definitely very interested in exploring more by now. This book is full of beauty and wisdom, with a broad range of stories, styles and themes. Bound under a single idea that keeps them together. All for Honor.

[Katie Mclean · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first saw this book announced I was excited. At the time I had only read one of the authors before but quite a few of the others were on my TBR as well. So I knew this would be a great anthology. And it is!

Right now, rather than review each story, I’m going to talk about the entire book. One thing that I loved about this format, is that it’s centered around a specific theme. Themes and truth are very important to me in the books that I read and every one of these stories did a good job in that regard. There are 22 different authors who contributed and I think it’s fascinating to see how each one chose to interpret the theme of honor. It also means that even the stories I didn’t enjoy as much were still ultimately good reads. There’s a good amount of variety in these stories. Some are fantasy, some are sci-fi. Some of the stories are very action packed and others are more slow and thoughtful. Some are sweet and cozy and some make you want to cry. Some are simple and some are complex. Some have crazy creatures, some have intriguing magic systems, and some have neither. But almost every single one made me want more, in a good way. I’m very curious about each of the individual authors and I’d like to read more from them. I think if you enjoy sci-fi/fantasy and if you enjoy short stories you’ll like this anthology. It’s a fantastic way to try new indie authors while reading stories full of truth. Highly recommend!

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Z.S. Diamanti and his team for giving me an advanced copy for my honest review.

Anthologies can be hit or miss depending on consistency, but Honor lands on the stronger side by delivering a collection that leans into its theme with purpose. Stories centered around heroism, honor, and exploration give the book a clear identity, even across a wide range of authors and styles.

There are definite standouts. Luminescent Resolve and The Grief Path rise above the rest and give the collection some real weight. These are the kinds of stories that remind you why anthologies work when they work well.

Character depth varies, as expected with shorter formats, but the thematic focus helps carry many of them. Even when individual development is limited, the ideas behind the characters give them life.
Pacing is one of the anthology’s biggest strengths. Most stories move efficiently and keep things engaging, making it easy to move from one to the next without feeling bogged down.

The writing itself is understandably mixed with over twenty authors involved, but overall, it holds together well. There’s more good than bad, which is exactly what you want from a collection like this.

Where this book really succeeds is in what it offers readers. It’s not just a collection of stories. It’s an introduction. A way to discover new indie fantasy and sci-fi voices you might not have found otherwise.

⭐ Category Breakdown ⭐
Storytelling: 4.0
A great collection overall, with standout stories like Luminescent Resolve and The Grief Path were some of my favorite.

Character Work: 3.5
The themes of heroism and honor help bring characters to life, even when depth is limited.

Pacing: 4.0
Strong pacing across most stories. Easy to move through without dragging.

Prose & Style: 4.0
Naturally varied, but mostly enjoyable across the board.

Emotional Impact: 5.0
A great introduction to indie fantasy and sci-fi authors. Easy to recommend.

⭐ Final Rating ⭐
Average: 4.1 rounded to 4.0 stars

Final Thoughts
This is exactly what a good anthology should do. Give you a range of voices, a few standout stories, and a reason to explore more authors afterward.

If you’re looking to branch into indie fantasy and sci-fi, this is a strong place to start.

[Makenzie Gregersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY. SMOKES. This anthology was incredible.

TLDR: Intriguing. Heart wrenching. Touching. Relatable. Nostalgic. Poignant. Adventurous and Exciting. Soul shattering. Fulfilling. Thoughtful. Encouraging. Hopeful.
These stories left me smiling, giggling, pondering, crying, ruminating, and wanting for more. If you like scifi or fantasy that goes deeper than just a fun story, if you want something with a mix of cozy and exciting and deep, this is it. If you want something that makes you stop and just think— on your own life, on the world, etc, without the weight of the real world, pick this up. It’s worth the read. And the re read. And then sharing it with everyone you know.

The only downside (which is actually still just an upside): My TBR has grown by MILES after being introduced to each of these incredible authors.

The Long Version:

Let’s start with the fact that I am not an anthology girlie. This is important to know— I love long form stories. I get into them easier when I’m attached to the author or familiar with their work already. That was not the case for me going into this. I was familiar with the work of only one of the 22 authors of this book.
I gobbled this up, though. The only solid similarities in these stories were the themes— scifi/fantasy, and HONOR. Each of them was completely its own, diving into worlds that were impressively deep despite them being short stories. I felt immersed in each one, and was OFTEN left wanting more of these worlds. Like, desperately I need more.
My favorite part of this anthology was how often it left me pondering. What does it REALLY mean to be honorable? My consensus after reading these works, is that it can vary by person, situation, and world. What is truly honorable is doing the best you can to be the best you can. To give to the world, rather than only to yourself. Honor is sacrificial. Honor is not ONLY the big, heroic, acts. Honor is the small things we do for those within our sphere of influence. It isn’t the number of people who see your honorable acts, nor the number of people impacted by them. Honor is found in our hearts, our motivations, and our willingness to do what is right or good, not just for the sake of ourselves. There was an absolutely perfect mix of high stakes, action packed, and cozy, thoughtful, slow stories. This book filled my soul.

I don’t know that any other book has ever made me ponder so deeply after reading that I’m basically hosting a book club with the voices in my head, breaking down and considering every angle and every meaning. This is more than a collection of stories. This is a collection of heart. This is the book I am most looking forward to reading to my children as they get old enough.

I truly cannot thank these authors enough for the chance to read this, to discuss, and to personally beg for more of the worlds they wrote of. I want to be actual friends with all of them simply on this exploration of Honor. I could rave about each of these for ages. Need to convince all my friends to read this so that I can.

“Honorable mentions” of my top faves:
• The Leacher by J.L. Odom
• To First Blood by Blake & Raven Penn
• Luminescent Resolve by Dan Kenner
• Discharged by Z.S. Daimanti
• My Water’s Keeper by Andrew D. Meredith
• the Woodweaver’s Rose by Tori Tecken
• OCAM’s Circut by Sam Paisley

[Alyssa Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infinity rating. 5+ stars. Couldn’t put it down.

First, it was my HONOR to read this book early. *ba-dum-tsh*

Second, this is a must-have read for 2026. This anthology’s has already wedged itself right in between my top 5 reads of 2026 thus far.

Every single author truly outdid themselves. If I had to choose a favorite, I’d probably go with Primus by EA. I was fully immersed into the storyline and everything was so vivid?? It was magical. Beautiful. Shocking. Stellar.

I truly believe any reader could find a new favorite author just by picking this book up. What a wonderful to display different writing styles and skills in describing science fiction worlds. I wasn’t surprised that every story was fantastic, after all they’re collaborating with ZS!

To end my review, I would highly recommend this anthology and I’m looking forward to more books like this in the future. Now that I’ve read this one, I’m more likely to pick one up off the shelf that I’m not as familiar with the authors for!

Thank you to Z.S for the early copy of Honor. Time to order my shelf trophy!

[Michelle the Magical · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome exploration of sci-fi and fantasy authors that I've been considering reading! I thought it was very interesting the different ways the authors thought to bring in the theme of honor.

I came into this mainly for the one story by my favorite authors, (The Skystone Chronicles is seriously so good, you have to read it!) but my tbr was unnecessarily but expectedly lengthened. I'm looking forward to reading more of these author's books! Some of my favorites, other than To First Blood (the one I read this for), include, but are not limited to, Luminescent Resolve, The Rain Alone is Nothing, Fatal Methods Optional, The True Purpose of a Thing, and Papercuts and Portents.

Thank you to the author for giving me an ARC, I was honored to recieve it.

[Afton Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

this collection was such a good read! for a lower of fantasy and sci-fi this was right up my alley. I discovered some new authors and some of these stories were just excellent.

not every story was for me but because they were short I wasn't dedicated to read more which I really enjoyed.

I did receive an ARC of this collection and was so honored but this is my honest review. it might take you awhile, it's long, but reading one a day is very easy and is a great way to explore new types of work.

[Marissa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stand tall!!

I came to Honor as a Kickstarter backer and ARC reader, and it completely delivered. ZS Diamianti and 21 fellow indie authors have built something special here — a collection that takes you from the edges of space to enchanted worlds steeped in magic, all tied together by one powerful theme.

I read a few stories every day and loved the rhythm of it. Some made me laugh, some genuinely moved me. At nearly 200,000 words, there is so much to discover and I found myself virtually dog-earing authors to follow immediately (physically dog-earing pages is blasphemy and I will not be taking questions).

Being thanked in the credits was the cherry on top of an already incredible reading experience. Can't wait to hold the hardcover special edition in my hands. Highly recommend.

[ENIGMASEDGE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single author in this book deserves so much flowers. It is ridiculous. Every author had a different take on the meaning of the word honor. Needless to say, I am a gigantic, sci-fi and fantasy nerd and this itched every scratch for a good sci-fi fantasy story. I wish every single one of these was its own 500 page chunker.

[Debbie Delano · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was my second ever anthology and it was full of so many amazing stories. many of which I would love to have full length books on to have longer versions of the stories. I love that this allowed me to learn the writing styles of so many different authors that I may not have come across before and I'll gladly be adding them all to my regular reading list.

[Robert Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honor is a compilation of Sci-Fi and fantasy stories from a great group of authors! I have read books by several of them already including Brady Hunsaker and Z.S. Diamanti! What I really love about this concept is that you get to read so many authors and compare writing styles! It’s a great intro to find new authors you may enjoy! My 2 favorite reads were Discharged by Ziamanti and Rain Alone Is Nothing! If you love Sci-Fi and fantasy then Honor is a must for you! Enjoy!

[Wouter K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m very happy to have found this anthology. I feel the general quality of the stories is extremely high. Of course I have my favorites, but I really have no unfavorites or gripes with any of the stories. Just all kinds of authors getting added to or bumped on my TBR. I did a quick review/impression after each story:

The Leacher – J.L. Odom
This story was conceptually very interesting and really pulls some heart strings. A true reflection on honor. It shows two sides of the same coin. How honor relates to glamour but also how it relates to purpose and how those two are not necessarily the same type of honor. It is also a reflection on how we honor each other, knowing each other’s added value to the overall cause and also honoring each other’s feelings.

The edges of Honor – Herman Steuernagel
Funnily enough I feel the previous story is much more about the edges of honor, while this story is about losing and regaining a feeling and a repertoire of honourable behaviour. A very interesting story about a mysterious package. I really want to know how this story continues now.

To first Blood – Blake & Raven Penn
Yes Dragonpeople, fighting a greater enemy. Two rivalling soldiers faced with a fierce challenge. I really liked this story for its plot but also for the relationships within the story. Really a wonderful well-developed set of arcs that exactly fit the span of the story.

Luminescent Resolve – Dan Kenner
I loved the concept of this story. The world building was very original and the dark enemy as well. How some people get power and how it can be used is a really great idea. Also the protagonist is very original and a very interesting choice. Loved his relationship with Tovo and Garoll. Having said that, the ending felt a bit rushed and bombastic and I felt some of the positive feelings at the end of the story are misattributed, which was slightly mended in the last sentence.

Discharged – Z.S. Diamanti
A wonderful story about two men and an android, at the core, filling the gaps in each other’s lives. The main character is riddled with honor but needs to rediscover it. I really enjoyed the action packed story that still had its silent moments of reflection. I did have extreme Android 16 from Dragonball Z vibes. Android 16 being modelled after Gero’s son and the android in the story getting the name of Jerom’s son, and also how he’s so sweet with animals and gentle overall. But there’s more to it! I love how in the concept of Diamanti Androids are learning and shaping themselves in the world, rather than just being factory settings.

The Grief Path – Amanda Auler
This is my favorite story of this anthology. There is so much grief, regret, but also grace with anger, and the inability to move forward or grow. And then there is growth. Just read it, I’m not going to spoil it. It is a beautiful tale. Tears were flooding freely for a large part of this story. If by chance you read this, thank you for bringing this story to the world, Amanda.

Rain alone is nothing – Brady Hunsaker
When you enter the army you have an oath to protect humanity and then of course there is assignments. But when the assignment does not fit the oath, honor dictates the oath comes first. So Sten does not join his retreating squad but instead stays behind to defend a village against monsters. A blood-curdling desperate battle ensues. The battle was slightly too descriptive for me, I reckon this is a combination of all the monsters having to be described and then also having to be defeated. Then again, the monsters are very creatively depicted and the battle overall is atmospheric.

Primus – E.A. Hendryx
I riveting story for it shortness, with trials, a mysterious plot, a great friendship plot and an amazing twist. About the honor of picking up to fulfill your families duty and to protect the ruler. The latter is a bit questionable of course in these times, but this part of the equation is then solved in the next story 😉.

Barblade the Merciful – T.D. Orel
A wonderful story about choosing what’s right versus duty. As a group of elite hybrid human/insect soldier is called upon to help against a human invasion, not everything is what it seemed to be. Our protagonist needs to navigate this grey area. Great character work and action in this one.

My Water’s Keeper – Andrew D. Meredith
This story was almost meditative. About a Paladin that gets promoted in his order but with terrible conditions and an assignment that makes him struggle. A meditation on honor, humility and duty. How performative is doing the right thing? If no one knows, can we be truly honorable? This story was much more quiet than others but all the better in terms of character work.

Fatal Methods Optional – E.A. Winters
A story about two very experienced criminals being hired to do a great heist. But not everything is what it seems. During the story they pick up a boy that is required to assist them, which also changes the outlook of the main characters, as they try to make their way through an Indiana Jones like dungeon full of traps and adversaries.
Insubordination – Charles Hack
A military story about an officer disregarding her orders to stand down to save one of her squads. While I had a bit of trouble connecting at first, with a lot of procedural military talk, as soon as the action began I was really sucked in. Turns out there is quite a bit of emotional payoff to be head in this dramatic story.

The true purpose of a thing – D.L. Jennings
A story about how to use your power for the right thing. I loved the way magic worked in this story, very original and how it fed into the plot. Aidryn is a squire but is called upon to do a mission only he might finish to save the world. High stakes, great ending.

No honor among thieves – David Estes
A story of two thieves that grow up together, grow apart and then do one big dream heist together. But not everything is as it seems. Saying more would spoil it. I really enjoyed this story.

Lore Island – Victoria McCombs
Little did I expect, when picking up an anthology about honor, to read about a chauffeur. But this Chauffeur’s honor knows no bounds. I loved the labyrinth part so much, I will be looking for a labyrinth story to read soon 😉. Also the background of the story is very well constructed, emotionally laden, making everything happening immediately very relevant. Great story.

The Forsaken Detour – Bryan Wilson
Up until here this was the most engaging story for me morally. I love the premise of a family of space miners having to make a detour at a planet in its low technology era. However, what transpires and how the main characters act gave me some very conflicting thoughts and reflections. I was going to put a spoiler tag with all my thoughts but that would be too long which is really a testament to how Wilson made really human characters.

The Woodweaver’s Rose – Tori Tecken
This was the second story in this anthology that made me cry. It is a beautiful quiet meditation on craftsmanship, family, commitment and duty. I will not say too much about the story to prevent spoilers, but it is truly well-crafted and presents a warmth, joy and sadness that really reaches the heart.

A better name – Morgan Shank
A story about a young woman who has won a title despite her fathers failings and bad reputation. She discovers the ugly truth of the system she’s joined and tries to survive and adapt. Very fascinating magic system that simultaneously shapes the world.

Fugitive of the Stars – Ericka Evren
Yes! Pirates, in space. And a lot of moral ambiguity with a looming mutiny on the background. This story had great pacing, interesting characters and handled the theme of honor in a very great and moving way. Very interesting space-building as well. I really got a feeling how the different races in space fulfilled varying roles.

Papercuts and Portents – Liz Delton
A wholesome story about a young talented mage finding her own code of honor. I loved how this was a story of hope, while at the same time showing the problem with systems designed by humans, regardless of the underlying values. The character work was quick and well done and the magic system very fascinating. A world I’d love to revisit.

A Martyr’s Honor – Tim Facciola
Great grimdark fantasy about a very honorable man serving a very decadent overly zealous king. I really appreciated how the story addresses the way faith and religion has been and is still being used to propagate hate, discrimination and violence. How in the name of their fate, the king throws away honor and his men. At the same time we see our main character struggle, being skeptical. Honorbound to serve the king, but also feeling his honor demanding to do something to end a war and end slavery.

OCAM’s Circuit – Sam Paisley
A wonderful story about a scientist waking up out of cryosleep to save the ship and its mission. Great relationship building with OCAM, the spaceship AI and a painful struggle to keep everyone else safe. Loved the plot development at the end, really touched my heart.

[Hooks In Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honor Anthology Review

This book has something for everyone! Fantasy and Sci-Fi fans will be sure to find something that speaks to them. Thanks to this collection, authors that were already on my radar have been moved up from my TBR list to purchasing, and authors that I have never been introduced to have made a grand entrance and joined the ranks of my book hoard. Finally, authors that I follow almost obsessively, it was like coming home to spend some time with old friends. This collection will take you for a ride. At times I was in tears, and other times I was left staring at my kindle thinking…. What just happened!? I have since also gotten it in audio format and immersed myself for hours. The one constant? The theme. Honor.

The Leacher, by LJ Odom
Starting strong with authors that I now have on my must read more of. The leacher is a heart gripping story of a man searching for honor by wishing to be something he is not. The journey of finding his place and honoring himself, thus granting honor and prosperity to those around him to thrive in such a dark time hit home. I really enjoyed this story.

The Edge of Honor, by Herman Steuernagal
I really do have a soft spot for courier stories, especially when it means that adventure and challenges are to come. Forbidden magic, unexpected cargo and a whole lot of “oh no” moments that leave you reaching out and wanting to go on more adventures.

To First Blood, by Blake & Raven Penn
When you come across a character that holds resolve and conviction and insists on standing by that, you’re going to be cheering and rooting for that to shine through right until the very end. This is exactly what this story brings to the table. But also, a very cool take on dragon type creatures.

Luminescent Resolve, by Dan Kenner
Wow! This one was super unexpected, but a thoroughly fantastic read. When a scholar who copies text day in and day out and is very content to live out their days doing just that - gets thrown into the thick of things when the longest night arrives early? You get to see how deep someone can really dig down and how much they're actually ready to give of themselves for their community. Shine bright, I shed a tear for you.

Discharged, by ZS Diamanti
Oh, how heart felt letters bring a tear to my eye. This story completely sucked me in. Intrigue, action, pain… and always doing the right thing… even if it means you lose everything. You never know what kind of new beginnings come next.

The Grief Path, by Amanda Auler
What happens when peace marries war? Come join Lar and Lena to find out. This story kept tears pooling along the edges of my eye. I love how love can be so unconditional that you can see the honor and truth that lies beneath, even if they can’t see it for themselves. It just takes a long journey of grief to find it,

Rain Alone is Nothing, by Brady Hunsaker
A very fitting title to this story. Sten just very well will be one of my new favourite heroes, for that is what he is. Defeat and despair be damned, this man will just not give up, even when the rest of his garrison does. Epic action and battles come in hot in this story and will leave you breathless and feeling hopeful for the world around you because you know these kinds of people exist.

Primus, by E.A. Hendryx
What a little unexpected adventure. When a grieving and struggling artist loses his brother who was studying to take on the trials with the hopes to serve the elected… he steps into his brother's place… what happens next is going to surprise you!

Barblade to the Merciful, by T.D. Orel
This one challenged my brain a little bit, and I was so thankful for the image at the end of the story that finally clicked what I was trying to picture in my head. However, the moral of this story hits in just the right space. Just because you have done things that caused pain in the past, does not mean that you can’t repent and change in the future. Mercy begets mercy, and I loved that.

My Water’s Keeper, by Andrew D. Meredith
One can certainly say a lot in the absence of words. It also takes you on an inner monologue journey. To live a life like this would be very challenging, and this story shows that one may never know the sacrifice and honor some individuals will take on quietly without the world ever knowing. Or, how important their jobs actually are for they will feel it when they are gone.

Fatal Methods Optional, by E.A. Winters
Well, this one takes you on a feisty little adventure. Close calls, interesting characters and a good pace.

Insubordination, by Charles Hack
Oh give me insubordination any day of the week when it stands for what is right!! This one for me was done quite well, and the healing that was layered through it was done quite well.

The True Purpose of a Thing, by D.L. Jennings
This, is so so so sweet. That is really all the words I have for this one. It is literally what I wrote in my notebook.

No Honor Among Thieves, by David Estes
Yessssss! I love a great heist story, especially when it goes wrong in the beginning. Spanning so many years in a short story is very tough to do, but it was done so well here. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and how I cheered at the end! I may have startled my furry companion in my happiness.

Lore Island, by Victoria McCombs
What a fantastic little story about sacrificing it all just to save ONE loved and cherished family member. Will go to great lengths to succeed, and does - and though the actions were driven just to save one, the ending will make you smile.

The Forsaken Detour, by Brian Wilson
Oh! A family adventure! This is going to turn out all rosey right? RIGHT!? This story does take you across the vast depths and hurls you into a space where it gets you to really look at family dynamics. Preconceived notions of one another and the opportunity for learning and growth while being thrust in not so wonderful situations. I quite enjoyed the heart of this one.

The Woodweavers Rose, by Tori Tecken
Um, excuse me. I would like more stories please. Just like this one. One that grips you, and breaks your heart at the very same time, because these types of things do happen…. A lot…. And when you’ve lived through it yourself, its very nice to see it put out in such a way you can step back and see just how beautiful and caring it can actually be, even though it is one of the hardest things you’ll have to endure. Oh my heart.

A Better Name, by Morgan Shank
Whoa, this is NOT a place I would want to wake up and find myself in. Though, in a lot of ways, it IS like what we live in. This story makes you think. What does your name hold for you and how do others perceptions and preconceived notions play a role in where you’ll end up….food for thought.

Fugitive of the Stars, by Erika Everen
Wow, this one has a lot of drive in it. I found it to be a very interesting read, and I do enjoy a good opportunity for redemption.

Papercuts and Portents, by Liz Delton
WOW! Have you ever just been so frustrated and overwhelmed that you just need a breath of fresh air and maybe a short visit with your mother? I know I have, but in the case of Bruna - it was the VERY wrong move. She finds herself on the run, and with a very rare and particular paper magic she needs to remain hidden - but yet survive. She is challenged with survival, doing what is right and standing by those decisions. Had me invested right from the get go.

A Martyr’s Honor, by Tim Facciola
Goodness gracious, I will never, ever tire of how well Tim tears down right into the deepest and dirtiest places of the human condition and just brings emotions out into the forefront. Highlighting how there is honor even faced in the worst possible situations.

Ocam’s Circut, by Sam Paisley
Oh I needed something like this. I really did. This one has a tonne of heart, patience even though urgency and sprinkle in a little bit of humor to calm the heart a little bit. I would love to have a little bit more of this world. I was not ready to leave it.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when a veritable army of indie sci-fi and fantasy authors band together to create a massive anthology, all in the name of honor?

Absolute MAGIC. That’s what happens.

22 incredible stories of heroism, sacrifice, compassion, and growth, and not a single one misses the mark. The Honor Anthology demands your attention from the very first page of the very first story, and it never lets up. These characters, these worlds, and these stories will stay with you long after you’ve finished (case in point—I finished about a week ago and still don’t feel like I can do this one justice). I’ll warn you now, you’ll want to read everything each of these phenomenal authors has written, so don’t come crying to me when your tbr gets even longer!

And before you ask, no, I can’t choose a favorite, and you can’t make me!

This one will be seeing a lot of reread time, and is SO poignant, given the current state of the Darkest Timeline—I can’t recommend this incredible work highly enough!

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC e-book sent by author in exchange for an honest review

What an exceptional anthology from some fantastic authors! It was my absolute pleasure getting to read these stories full of heart, adventure, love, heroism and of course, honor! I had only read one of these authors works before and now I have a lot of indie authors to add to my TBR! All of these stories incorporate a theme of honor in their own unique way across many different worlds, characters and atmospheres. Not every story landed and some were complete misses for me such as Lore Island by Victoria McCombs, The Forsaken Detour by Bryan Wilson, and A Better Name by Morgan Shank. However, I'm confident these stories were fun to read and will certainly be someone's favorite. All 22 of these authors clearly have pure craft skill and capability that choosing the top five was difficult!
Here are my top five picks from Honor!

The Grief Path by Amanda Auler (5 stars) - This is such beautiful story about a grizzled and grieving husband on a journey to spread his elf wife’s ashes in a war-torn world bursting with our favorite and familiar fantasy races. Balancing moments of intense action, humor, and numerous callbacks, it is amazing how much Auler accomplishes in less than thirty pages and how every single things packs a profound emotional impact. This is the story that made me start crying in public and has stuck with me the longest. This is the standout, do not miss work in the Honor Anthology.

OCAM’s Circuit by Sam Paisley (5 stars) - I’m not typically a reader who loves hard sci-fi but this story completely caught me off guard. If you have any interest in the sci-fi genre, this is a must-read story with loveable characters, difficult decisions, sacrifice, tension and high stakes, and one of the best twists I’ve read in a while.

The Leecher by J.L. Odom (4.75 stars) - What an incredibly rich and enjoyable read packed tight with emotion and a sincere and kind protagonist. I was hooked from page 2 and could not stop until I finished. Even then, this story stayed with me. The Leecher has a very approachable soft magic system with a war waging on, mostly in the background. The real conflict of this book is in Zur, our narrator and a "Leecher" giving of himself to tame the soil. All the characters in this story are extremely likeable and understandable facing terrible odds yet continuing to make honorable sacrifices. One minor area of critique on this one is that we really don't get to see the progression of Zur's efforts with the soil despite seeing the end result. I would have liked to linger on the growth of his character more.

Fugitive Of The Stars by Ericka Evren (4.75) - What can I say? This was a blast of a story!
It is extremely impressive how much worldbuilding and character-building Evren manages to include without the writing ever feeling bogged down with overwrought details. The conflict and characters, especially the protagonist Dtara, really work well in a way reminiscent of Guardians of The Galaxy. My only problem with this story that kept it from five stars was the rushed ending.

Discharged by Z.S. Diamanti (4.5 stars) - Discharged and Orel's "Barblade The Merciful" were neck and neck for this fifth placing yet this story of Zaen and Kallon packed the emotional punch I love in short stories. I especially love Diamanti's dialogue, the worldbuilding of the android functions, and the shame that Zaen feels despite not regretting what got him discharged. There's a lot of unspoken depth to this story in only a few pages that works perfectly. A few things that didn't work for me were the constant setting-hopping which felt like we never got familiar with a location before we were moved again, the pacing of character beats were a little early for me, and the constant mention of the lack of info regarding Kallon made me expect an answer I knew there wouldn't be time for.

If you have any interest in reading fantasy and sci-fi short stories or just want a tasting menu of the talent out there, give Honor a shot! Thank you to Diamanti and all the Honor authors for letting me read an ARC and be a part of this!

[thereadingox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honor is a theme ever present in fiction, especially Sci-fi and Fantasy. From the noble warrior to the lovable thief to the humble innkeeper, honor is something that we all have a personal relationship with. Honor can be a code of ethics, ingrained in a society or class of people. Honor can be an aspiration that is malleable and ever-changing. Honor can be as simple as doing the right thing in and of itself. However you define it, honor lives amongst us always. This Anthology does an outstanding job of providing 22 versions of honor from a swath of indie authors across Sci-fi and Fantasy. There really is something for everyone in this collection. From epic fantasy to space opera, YA to Cozy fantasy, and a kaleidoscope in between, the stories in this book offer the reader a beautiful and engaging look into honor in its many forms.

What really stands out in this collection is the quality and attention to detail each author brings to their short story. These are well fleshed out, emotionally compelling, character-driven works of fiction that grip the reader in a multitude of ways. And on top of that, many of the stories take place in worlds with additional material for the reader to explore. This is a buffet for finding some amazing new series to add to your TBR or adding to the existing lore from a favorite writer. I personally plan to dive into several of these authors’ series that grabbed me from the first few pages and never let me go.

For the action and epic fantasy lovers, Barblade the Merciful by T.D. Orel, Rain Alone is Nothing by Brady Hunsaker and a Martyr’s Honor by Tim Facciola are incredibly rich with action, mythology, world-building, and peeks into a bigger, bolder series. For the Sci-fi lovers, Insubordination by Charles Hack, Fugitive of the Stars by Ericka Evren, and OCAM’s Circuit by Sam Paisley are futuristic delights and fascinating character studies of honor. And beyond the action, the science, the magic, there are beautiful stories that speak to the human condition, the sense of loss and longing, including The Leacher by J.L. Odom, Discharged by Z.S. Diamanti, and The Woodweaver’s Rose by Tori Tecken. And there are no skips in this book; all of the stories are interesting and satisfying.

This should be a must-read for any Sci-fi and Fantasy lovers, anyone who is looking to read more indie authors, and is a perfect way to get someone who wants to read more Sci-fi and Fantasy a taste of all that is out there. I cannot recommend this collection enough, and the hardback editions are beautiful. Thank you to the team for providing me with an eARC!

[James Hillwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of the lucky readers to get the ARC for this book and I can not recommend it enough! You will certainly find a new favored author or two, or even many more! There are so many amazing styles and stories in this book that each and every one you read is an incredible new adventure! I could NOT stop reading! If I could give more than 5 stars I would!

[Melyssa]

Only read Brady Hunsaker's short story so far (excited to read the rest) but 10/10.

[Beth Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great to discover new Authors in this Anthology and discover their world building. My favorite was E.A. Winter's short story with Siler and Pidge. It also tied into the multiple story lines from her previous series. I have reread it a couple of times already. The only complaint was that is was a short story and not the start of their own spinoff series. Highly recommend!

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sci-fi & fantasy anthology was really a pleasure to listen to. I’m more of a sci-fi fan, but trying to read more fantasy and this proved to be the perfect combo! I must say that there are more fantasy stories than sci-fi, but it didn’t bother me too much, as the quality of all of them was very high.

I was really impressed by some of the stories, leaving me speechless or very emotional, by transporting me in fantastical worlds with complex characters; all based on the theme of ‘honour’. Initially, I thought the stories were more or less going to be the same, as there’s not much you can do with the theme honour, but here’s where the writers’ creativity and talent proved me so so wrong. There is so much originality in these stories around this theme that I was truly surprised.

The narration was also superb, with different narrators equally talented, making the reader fly through the pages.

This anthology has definitely opened my eyes to different ways of writing fantasy and sci-fi, consolidating my love for science fiction and my desire to read more fantasy.

Thanks to Libro.fm for the audiobook and this is my honest opinion.

[Samantha Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been my Honor to read this.
What a great SciFi/Fantasy combo. I loved the central theme that brought all these authors together. It is a great balance of both genres. These are very manageable and well developed short stories and a great introduction if you are new to either genres. My favorites included The Grief Path, Discharge, The True Purpose of a Thing. You get a great teaser from all these authors and it leaves you wanting more. I think this anthology is a great way to have a side quest while tackling those long Fantasy and SciFi series. What a great accomplishment. I hope there are more anthologies to come.

[Etta Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to start this review by applauding Z.S. Diamanti for recruiting, organizing, editing, formatting, and producing such an incredible work of art. I also want to wholeheartedly acknowledge all of the INCREDIBLE authors who took time out of their already-busy lives and writing schedules, who stepped away from their own personal projects, and decided to contribute to this one-of-a-kind collaboration.

This book is a labor of love. It is a testament to everything I love about independent publishing. You have created something truly wonderful that challenges the expectations of the genre and of traditional publishers alike. I was honored (obligatory pun) to read this as an ARC (even if my review is going up a couple days late) and to be a backer on the Kickstarter. It was cruel of you to make TWO special editions, but I personally CANNOT WAIT for my purple version to come in. It will go to a place of honor (heheh) on my Indie Author Shelf and remain among my prized possessions. Reading the ARC on my phone truly did not do this book justice.

I’ve rated the anthology a whole-hearted 5/5 stars because of what it stands for—human creativity, passion, and connection in a world that doesn’t appreciate those traits nearly enough. Below I’ve listed my ratings for the individual stories. These ratings are based on my extremely subjective personal tastes based on the notes I took down as I was reading. My favorite stories were frequently ones that focused on single protagonists, small-scale conflicts, very personal and emotional journeys. In a short-story format (especially in science fiction or fantasy without too much time to spend on worldbuilding), I found these were the most memorable.

Some of these authors I knew before I went into Honor, some were strangers to me. I plan on exploring ALL of them in the future, and I look forward to reading their long-form work. This anthology was an incredible gateway to discover new authors and I’m so incredibly thankful for that.

Congratulations once again to all the authors. This is something special.

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The Leacher by J.L. Odom: 5/5
The magic system is punishing and sacrificial, the tone is cynical and discouraged, but these facts make the ending all the more rewarding.

Edges of Honor by Herman Steuernagel: 3/5
An engaging and straightforward story about a dwarf courier picking a side in a resistance movement.

To First Blood by Blake and Raven Penn: 4/5
Unique human-draconic worldbuilding and an action-filled plot with faced paced fight scenes. The story has a YA tone with cute and entertaining arcs between the protagonist, love interest, and the rival.

Luminescent Resolve by Dan Kenner: 4/5
Fascinating worldbuilding with a compelling protagonist, though the ending left me a little confused

Discharged by Z.S. Diamanti: 3.5/5
Very much enjoyed the robot character, but got lost a little bit in the sci-fi worldbuilding with all the unique names at the beginning. Very sweet ending.

The Grief Path by Amanda Auler: 5/5
Augh. My heart.

Rain alone Is Nothing by Brady Hunsaker: 4/5
A village comes together to defend their home in a final stand. I find myself skimming elaborate fight scenes in short stories because I haven’t had enough time to get connected to the characters but I really enjoyed this 4/5.

Solid Primus by E.A. Hendryx: 3/5
Mal takes his dead brother’s place in the Trials and meets Nev, who splits the POV with him in this story. I think this could have done without Nev’s POV, focusing on Mal’s grief for his brother and rising to the occasion, but I enjoyed the ending.

Barblade the Merciful by T.D. Orel: 5/5
LOVED the insect people. Such fun worldbuilding. All the different factions got a little convoluted at times but my insect nerd heart gives it 5 stars for the insect people alone.

My Water’s Keeper by Andrew D Meredith: 5/5
I loved the monks, the way religion is handled, the familial conflict and emotional weight, and the descriptions of the countryside. Very grounded, I could imagine it so vividly

Fatal methods optional by E.A Winters: 4/5
Fun little heist story!

Insubordination by Charles Hack: 3/5
I felt like the scope of this story was a little too big for a short story and could have easily been expanded into a novella or a full novel. I wanted to learn more about the worlds and characters and had trouble following everything in such a short format, but it was really interesting!

The True Purpose of a Thing by D.L. Jennings: 4/5
Cute, I always enjoy a mentor and apprentice dynamic and the plot twist was interesting.

No Honor Among Thieves by David Estes: 4/5
The dynamic between Dio and Zall was so compelling and their world is harsh and cruel. The ending had me thinking it over for a while.

Lore Island by Victoria Mc Combs: 4/5
Loyalty, both between sisters and friends, is the theme of this story. It’s a dungeon crawl for what matters most. Very sweet.

The Forsaken Detour by Bryan Wilson: 4/5
The descriptions of star magic and contact with the Forsaken made me wistful. So many fascinating implications here.

The Wood Weaver’s Rose by Tori Tecken: 5/5
This one might be my favorite in the whole book. It’s so grounded and hits so close to home for so many families who have older loved ones. I teared up. It’s not a grand story about honor won in battles or through feats of magic. It’s about the ordinary, everyday love for your craft, for your family, for your town. This one will stay with me.

A Better Name by Morgan Shank: 4/5
I love naming magic, in all it’s forms, and this story takes it and twists it into a fascinating concept, playing with nobility and valor.

Fugitive of the Stars by Erika Evren: 4/5
The protagonist of this story isn’t very likable but the story, as a whole, is very likable.

Paper cuts and Portents by Liz Delton: 3.5/5
The concept of paper magic is interesting but the protagonist’s arc was a little flat. I’d be curious to see what she goes on to do after the story and to learn more about this world and the other powers in it.

A Martyr’s Honor by Tim Facciola: 5/5
This story is brutal, bloody, and tragic but the ending is excellent.

OCAM’s Circuit by Sam Paisley: 5/5
The plot twist at the end GOT ME. I love a sentient robot or star-ship, especially when it’s a friendly one, and OCAM was such an interesting character to get to know.

[Phi · Rating 5 out of 5]

*The Leacher by J L Odom
I absolutely love the style this story was written in! The emotions felt so raw and real. I was immediately drawn in, and the story absolutely captivated me all the way to the end! Absolutely fantastic!

*The Edges of Honor by Herman Steuernagel
This was a wonderful story set in a familiar world (since I've read another of this author's stories set in this world). I love how things turned out in the end!

*To First Blood by Blake and Raven Penn
This story perfectly combined heart warming moments with lots of action! I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and all the creatures it introduced!

*Luminescent Resolve by Dan Kenner
It took me a bit to get into this one, but once I did.. man, was it good! The religious/magic system in this was very unique and super cool! And the ending was SO GOOD!

*Discharged by Z S Diamanti
This was such a fantastic and heart warming story that dealt with realistic dilemmas (like doing the right thing, even when it goes against what you've been told). I really enjoyed reading this, and I hope there is more story set in this same world out there somewhere!

*The Grief Path by Amanda Auler
How can one story be so full of heartbreak yet so full of heartwarming moments? This story was a masterpiece in that aspect! Combine that with the flashbacks that worked themselves into the story, and you have an absolutely wonderful read!

*Rain Alone is Nothing by Brady Hunsaker
This was an action-packed story! It really flew by, in a good way, and I look forward to reading more from this author soon!

*Primus by E A Hendryx
It took me a bit to get into this story, but by the end I was absolutely hooked! That ending was so unexpected and fantastic!!

*Barblade the Merciful by T D Orel
What a unique setting/world! This was a dark but interesting story.

*My Water's Keeper by Andrew D Marideth
This story wasn't really my cup of tea, but it wasn't bad. Just not quite suited for me, personally.

*Fatal Methods Optional by E A Winters
While this story was interesting, I am not a fan of kids being in danger.. and there was a lot of that in this one. The ending was great, though, and I'm glad everything worked out well.

*Insubordinatation by Charles Hack
This story really hit the ground running. Full of action and unexpected twists, it was a great read!

*The True Purpose of a Thing by D L Jennings
This was definitely one of my favorite stories in this anthology so far! I really want more! I'll be hunting down this author to see if they have more stories set in this world for sure *fingers crossed* because this one was absolutely INCREDIBLE!

*No Honor Among Thieves by David Estes
Yet another author I absolutely must bump up on my TBR after reading a short from! This was an absolutely outstanding story, and I loved how honor was incorporated into this one!

*Lore Island by Victoria McCombs
This story was filled to the brim with adventure and heart felt moments! I absolutely adored this one! So much! It was just wonderful!

*The Forsaken Detour by Bryan Wilson
I liked how this story mixed magic with sci-fi elements. Very cool!

*The Woodweaver's Rose by Tori Tecken
This was such a sweet story! Heart warming and absolutely touching! I really enjoyed it!

*A Better Name by Morgan Shank
This story was dark and full of action. It felt like it ended sort of abruptly. Maybe it's a prequel to a story/series? I'm not sure. It was intriguing, though!

*Fugitive of the Stars by Ericka Evren
This story had a lot of action, but I didn't really vibe with the characters.

*Papercuts and Portents by Liz Delton
This was such an absolutely wonderful story! I was so excited when I started reading and realized it's a short story from one of my very favorite series!! And it absolutely did not disappoint! I love how it felt a bit like a slice-of-life story set in an epic world. Absolutely perfect!

*A Martyr's Honor by Tim Facciola
Another dark story filled to the brim with action! The characters in this one felt very real and the emotions felt raw.

*OCAM's Circuit by Sam Paisley
This was a really good but also kind of heartbreaking story. I really enjoyed it, though!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Thank you, Simon Maverick Audio, for the gifted ALC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

The Leacher, by J. L. Odom – 5/5

This started the book off strong!! This is about a mage who gives his energy to the soil to hopefully grow crops. Of course, things don’t always work out as easily as he hopes.

The Edges of Honor, by Herman Steuernagel 4/5

This is about a dwarf carrier that is trying to stay out of the resistance. As we learn more about him, we find out he has an interesting past.

To First Blood, by Blake & Raven Penn 4/5

This has human-draconic people and many other creatures. There is a lot of action and it gave off more YA vibes. It was still very enjoyable!

Luminescent Resolve, by Dan Kenner 3/5

This one was good, but not my favorite. It took me a little longer to get into it. The ending was enjoyable, but there is a lot of detail.

Discharged, by Z. S. Diamanti 5/5

I already knew I was going to love this because I love his writing. This is was a very emotional story and I wish it was longer!

The Grief Path, by Amanda Auler 5/5

Oh my gosh. Grief in the title should have given it away. This was a story that definitely made me cry. The way that Lars and his wife’s story unfolds on his journey was such an emotional journey.

Rain Alone is Nothing, by Brady Hunsaker 4/5

There is a lot of action in this one! It has a great moral story, but I felt a bit overwhelmed. This would be a great longer novel!

Primus, by E. A. Hendryx 3/5

This wasn’t my favorite. Mal takes his brothers place in some trials. I wish we would have stuck with him and his grief more.

Barblade the Merciful, by T. D. Orel 4.5/5

The insect people were so cool! This was a great story, with great world-building, even with the shorter pages!

My Water’s Keeper, by Andrew D. Meredith 3.5/5

I thought this was interesting and the religion and conflict were done well. I don’t think it left the impression the author was going for.

Fatal Methods Optional, by E. A. Winters 4/5

I enjoyed this heist story! I felt like the overall story was done very well with the shorter page limit.

Insubordination, by Charles Hack 3/5

I liked this one, but I felt confused for some of it. There is a mission that we are not aware of. There’s a soldier who decided to divert orders and do her own thing. There are some pretty brutal consequences, and I struggled with the abrupt ending.

The True Purpose of a Thing, by D. L. Jennings 5/5

This packed so much in, in such a short story! It felt like a full fledged novel and was so rounded. We get a lot of action and a romance. I really enjoyed this one.

No Honor Among Thieves, by David Estes 3/5

This one was fine. I didn’t connect too much with Dio and the story overall. It was still good, but there are better stories.

Lore Island, by Victoria McCombs 5/5

This was so intense but I loved how much Kate loved her sister. She enters a deadly competition to try and save her! It had a great ending so the intensity pays off.

The Forsaken Detour, by Bryan Wilson 4.5/5

I loved the sci-fi/fantasy mix of this story. This story has a lot of heart and I loved the sisters!

The Woodweaver’s Rose, by Tori Tecken 5/5

Oh My Gosh! This is probably my favorite of the whole entire book. It was so emotional and I was crying like a baby. Such a beautiful story.

A Better Name, by Morgan Shank 4/5

Name magic is so cool! Names are important in all forms and this was such an interesting read. I would love for this to be expanded into a full novel!

Fugitive of the Stars, by Ericka Evren 3.5/5

The story was fine, but the protagonist was so hard to like! It had me struggling with it overall.

Papercuts & Portents, by Liz Delton 3.5/5

This had such an interesting concept with paper magic. I do think this would do much better as a longer story. I would like to know more about the world and magic.

A Martyr’s Honor, by Tim Facciola 4/5

Oof, this one was brutal!

OCAM’s Circuit, by Sam Paisley 5/5

This was such a great way to end this anthology! This story is heartfelt and had humor. I got a bit emotional with this one!

I absolutely loved this book! There are stories that I enjoyed more than others, but you will have that. There are so many writing styles that I knew I wouldn’t mesh with them all. With that being said, I didn’t find a story that I didn’t at least like! I don’t have anything below 3 stars, which is fantastic. The bulk of these stories are much higher rated. I love this whole concept, and Diamanti has done something so cool. If you enjoy sci-fi stories, then I highly recommend this one. You also get to preview so many Indie authors. I will be going to several of these authors and looking up their work!

I listened to the audio, and it was so well done! It was narrated by Rylee Haviland, Josh Ketchum, Andrew D. Meredith, Landon Soelberg, and Brad Witbeck. They all did a fabulous job. Each of these stories is narrated by one or a mix of the narrators. I never found a story I didn’t enjoy because the narration was fabulous throughout the whole book! I loved the audio, and now I need to get my hands on a physical copy!!

[Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brian Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the entire Honor anthology, and I had a great experience with this book.

Twelve of its stories -- that's most of them! -- earned five stars from me. None rated lower than three stars. Five of these stories scored Hearts from my differentiation system for Amazon/Goodreads five-star-level ratings, to separate out the best for additional recognition from within the five-star tier.

This was an incredible anthology with so many amazing stories. I laughed and wept, at times. Above all, I deeply enjoyed the theme of honor in all of these stories: questioning of what honor means, and the heroic choices made in its name. Both from selection and execution of its theme, and from numerous impactful stories within the anthology, this collection rates a Heart from me. I thought it delivered a beyond-five-stars reading experience.


While I recommend this entire anthology, my favorite stories were:
❤️❤️❤️ OCAM's Circuit
❤️❤️ The Grief Path
❤️ Discharged
❤️ The Woodreaver's Rose
❤️ A Martyr's Honor


Discharged, by Z. S. Diamanti - Worldbuilding, character and plot merge to create a short story about a dishonorably-discharged man named Zaen Ryzo, a brand new android, and the gang antagonizing them.

The first line launched into high action and an emotional arc that left me wishing this were a novel. My biggest disappointment of the story is that -I- wanted more.

Even with my desire to know more about what the gang was up to, I can see that, foundationally, the story paid off everything it promised.

The Grief Path, by Amanda Auler - This story DEVASTATED me. I wept... and I'm not OK.

This is the story of Lars Stonelore, warrior of Spire Crag... as he travels to the sea with his wife's ashes, bringing her back to her Elven homeland as she requested. Over the journey, we see bits of Lars's life with his wife and their struggles, both morally and with having a family.

The Grief Path hits hard, perhaps moreso for me than for a typical reader. Part of me wants to gush about the tender story told and how emotional it made me feel; the other part of me is still sniffling and struggling to see--hours after reading.


The Woodweaver's Rose, by Tori Tecken - 'The Woodweaver's Rose' is a great story with lots of subtle layers that I appreciated even more as I searched for my quote after reading. It lives in the space between heartbreaking and heartwarming.

The Woodweaver is an old man who doesn't get many visitors, but a little girl comes and asks him to check on her great-grandmother's tree.

I wish I could gush more about this story, but that would quickly get into spoilers.


A Martyr's Honor, by Tim Facciola - This is the story of Ser Darrow the Lionheart. Outnumbered and outsupplied, his city stands under siege. Their foes demand his king release the religious slaves they hold, and while Ser Darrow thinks it's a reasonable exchange, the King disagrees.

This story tells of desperation and moral choice. Duty to one's personal morals or duty to oaths taken is a core conflict through this story.

I enjoyed the entire story, from start to finish.


OCAM's Circuit, by Sam Paisley - 'OCAM's Circuit' was an elegantly-told story. While the story 'Grief Path' created a deeper sadness for me, this story invoked many feelings and thoughts, and its ending? Well...

We are introduced to Commander Sigmun Jeffards as he wakes from cryosleep. Shortly after he wakes, OCAM, the Onboard Computerized Acclimation Mechanism, is there to greet him and work through the process of getting him rehabilitated and into action. Vital systems aboard the ark ship have begun to fail, and only Jeffards has the skills to repair them, so only he has been awakened early. Yet without OCAM's help, he would starve to death before regaining enough motor control to care for himself.

This plot involves amnesia done right, with potential effects from long cryosleep depicted dramatically. Our hero faces difficult questions as he slowly regains his mind.

[Mark W. Stropes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthology at its finest!

This is my first anthology of short stories I have read and let me tell you what an incredible journey. Actually, it was journey after journey after journey after... well, you get my drift.

I am not going to review each and every story as I don't want to consume a lot of your day when you could be reading this book! However, I would like to highlight a couple of things.

1) Can't go wrong with Diamanti: I trust ZS Diamanti with everything in my reading life. He was one of the first indie authors I have read and love each and every one of his books. When I saw that he was collaborating with other indie authors with the theme of 'honor' I was instantly intrigued. Diamanti's vision of stories has never been disappointing, so I was greatly pleased to dive into this beautiful piece of work.

2) Discovery: This book, if you like sci-fi and/or fantasy, is a perfect indulgence because each story is written by a different indie author and I was able to discover a few new favs! Yes, just by the 30-40 pages the authors write, I discovered authors that really know how to tell a story, build a world, and have a strong theme throughout in just a few pages! I look forward into looking into other books by these authors. This experience has been a true blessing.

3) Life Lessons: Life is hard. It's not fun sometimes. Each story has different types of challenges that the characters must overcome in order to grow and to become the best versions of themselves. Some of the stories truly resonated with me as I was able to reflect on my own personal life and feel what some of the characters feel as their story speaks to me. There are some one-liners sprinkled throughout the anthology that should be inspirational quotes; some hit hard. Yes, I have written some on sticky notes. But I know the journey through this piece of work will be different for everyone.

I encourage you to pick this book up today. It is a very easy read. I laughed a lot and even teared up a couple times. The writing is consistent throughout, captivating, and I recommend this to anyone. Even if you are one that does not normally read science fiction or fantasy. What better way to give new genres a try than right here? One book does it all.

Happy reading, everyone.