Group Read Suggestions - JULY - Indie Theme > Likes and Comments

It's time to open up the suggestion thread for July! Our theme for the month is INDIE. This is one of my favorite themes! What great indie Horror and/or Sci-Fi books do you have ready to recommend?

Everyone is entitled to two nominations and as many +1s as you like. Remember, the +1s are important to get the nominations into the polls for voting. Let's see what you've got for us!

🖤💚🖤

I'll nominate the following:

Mean Spirited by Nick Roberts
Transference by B.T. Keaton

I nominate:

That Night in the Woods by Kristopher Triana (horror)
and
Ghosts of Tomorrow by Michael R. Fletcher (science fiction)

+1 for Mean Spirited

Exhumed for horror, and

The Immorality Clause for sci-fi.

Volunteer any of my own works if Self-Rec's are allowed.

I'm new to the indie sphere. I'm virtually unknown.

I write quiet, character driven horror.
D. R. Long

D. wrote: "Volunteer any of my own works if Self-Rec's are allowed.

I'm new to the indie sphere. I'm virtually unknown.

I write quiet, character driven horror.
D. R. Long"

Hi D.R. Yes, we'll allow one of your own books as a recommendation since it fits the category of Indie. Please pick a favorite and add a link here so we can add it to the tally. Thanks!

My indie horror nomination is Sarafina by Philip Fracassi

It's historical horror, set in during the American Civil War

My indie SF is Master Version 1.1 by Antanas Marcelionis

It's military SF set in a futuristic wartorn Ukraine.

"D. wrote:

I write quiet, character driven horror.
D. R. Long"
"

Sounds good to me -- I prefer horror of that type.

I have a question

There Is No Antimemetics Division

This was initially indie published but was picked up by a trad publisher in 2025. Would this count?

Expeditionary Force: Columbus Day

By Craig Alanson

Horror - Corpsepaint by David Peak

Sci-fi - Skullcrack City by Jeremy Robert Johnson

D. wrote: "Volunteer any of my own works if Self-Rec's are allowed.

I'm new to the indie sphere. I'm virtually unknown.

I write quiet, character driven horror.
D. R. Long"

While you're welcome to suggest your own lesser known works you're unlikely to get many +1s and therefore entry into the corresponding poll. Even if you miraculously get into the poll, who's going to vote for it?

It's tough, but good luck with getting some extra exposure.
🙏

+1 Expeditionary Force: Columbus Day

I can't recommend this series highly enough. NYT best seller and he's still indie.

+1 Sarafina
+1 Expeditionary Force: Columbus Day
+1 Skullcrack City

Drew wrote: "Horror - Corpsepaint by David Peak

Sci-fi - Skullcrack City by Jeremy Robert Johnson"

I have Skullcrack City on my bookshelf just begging to be read!
+1 from me!

Random wrote: "I have a question

There Is No Antimemetics Division

This was initially indie published but was picked up by a trad publisher in 2025. Would this count?"

Hi Random! Since it was originally an indie publication, I say it's fair game here. We'll add it to the tally - coming right up ...

I'm adding a +1 for Sarafina as well.

Here's what we have so far:

Mean Spirited +
Transference
That Night in the Woods
Ghosts of Tomorrow
Exhumed
The Immorality Clause
Sarafina ++
Master Version 1.1
There is no Antimemetics Division
Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force) ++
Corpsepaint
Skullcrack City ++

+1 There is No Antimetrics Division
+1 whatever book D.R. Lang nominates

For horror I'm suggesting


Blender Babies by Jon Athan

Seriously, no idea!
Bought it about two years ago and the ridiculous concept makes me laugh.

Quick Update:

Mean Spirited +
Transference
That Night in the Woods
Ghosts of Tomorrow
Exhumed
The Immorality Clause
Sarafina ++
Master Version 1.1
There is no Antimemetics Division +
Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force) ++
Corpsepaint
Skullcrack City ++
(Placeholder for D.R. Lang) +
Blender Babies

+1 Skullcrack City
+1 Sarafina

For sci-fi my suggestion is


Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Trying to go for more well-known titles that may be more mainstream now.

Here's the reorganized supermarket shelf:

Mean Spirited +
Transference
That Night in the Woods
Ghosts of Tomorrow
Exhumed
The Immorality Clause
Sarafina ++
Master Version 1.1
There is no Antimemetics Division +
Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force) ++
Corpsepaint
Skullcrack City ++
(Placeholder for D.R. Lang) +
Blender Babies
Dungeon Crawler Carl

+1 The Night in the Woods
+1 Exhumed
+1 Sarafina

The life of a supermarket shelf stacker these days is rough 😂.

I'm adding a stack of +1s as well.

Mean Spirited ++
Transference +
That Night in the Woods +
Ghosts of Tomorrow
Exhumed ++
The Immorality Clause
Sarafina ++++
Master Version 1.1
There is no Antimemetics Division +
Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force) ++
Corpsepaint
Skullcrack City +++
(Placeholder for D.R. Lang) +
Blender Babies
Dungeon Crawler Carl

Here's a SF nomination for Lost in Time by S.A. Ison.

+1 for There Is No Antimemetics Division
+1 for Blender Babies
+1 for Skullcrack City
+1 for Ghosts of Tomorrow

Thanks 💛🧚‍♀️🙋🏼👍!

+1 for Antimemetics division
+1 for dungeon crawler Carl

Although I’m cool with others winning that I don’t know do I can learn about them! :)

Horror: The House of Long Shadows by Ambrose Ibsen

Horror: The Envelope by John Durgin


+1 Mean Spirited
+1 Dungeon Crawler Carl

+1 Dungeon Crawler Carl

Wendy wrote: "Horror: The House of Long Shadows by Ambrose Ibsen"

Adding the link:
The House of Long Shadows by Ambrose Ibsen

Come on guys. Theresa has done all the hard work of posting, updating and broadcasting this thread, and I'm here too.

We've got plenty of excellent suggestions but we need your +1s to decide on the selections for the poll.

Updates from last night seem to have disappeared, Goodreads.
WTF!

Current List:

Mean Spirited +++
Transference +
That Night in the Woods +
Ghosts of Tomorrow +
Exhumed ++
The Immorality Clause
Sarafina ++++
Master Version 1.1
There is no Antimemetics Division +++
Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force) ++
Corpsepaint
Skullcrack City ++++
(Placeholder for D.R. Lang) +
Blender Babies +
Dungeon Crawler Carl +++
Lost in Time
The Envelope
The House of Long Shadows

+1 The House of Long Shadows

Horror: Haunt by Laura Lee Bahr by Laura Lee Bahr

+1 The House of Long Shadows
+2 Ghosts of Tomorrow
+1 Sarafin

Karen wrote: "Horror: Haunt by Laura Lee Bahr by Laura Lee Bahr

+1 The House of Long Shadows
+2 Ghosts of Tomorrow
+1 Sarafin"

I'm not adding that book to the list, Karen.
Unknown author, unknown year of release, no ratings, nothing.

+1 There is No Antimemetics Division
+1 Sarafina

Richard Alex wrote: "Karen wrote: "Horror: Haunt by Laura Lee Bahr by Laura Lee Bahr

+1 The House of Long Shadows
+2 Ghosts of Tomorrow
+1 Sarafin"

I'm not adding that book to the li..."

Sorry, I didn't check the link when I added it. I guess there's more than one copy of it on GR. Let me try to link the right one.

Haunt by Laura Lee Bahr

👌 Great, that works, Karen.

The Vampire, The Tutor, and The Madman.
Yes, my book. I'm an insidious capitalist.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

+1 The Vampire, The Tutor, and the Madman

Josh wrote: "The Vampire, The Tutor, and The Madman.
Yes, my book. I'm an insidious capitalist.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2......"

You can promote your own book, why not, and I'll add it for the second time!

Do it a third time however 🥴.

Mean Spirited +++
Transference +
That Night in the Woods +
Ghosts of Tomorrow ++
Exhumed ++
The Immorality Clause
Sarafina ++++++
Master Version 1.1
There is no Antimemetics Division ++++
Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force) ++
Corpsepaint
Skullcrack City ++++
(Placeholder for D.R. Lang) +
Blender Babies +
Dungeon Crawler Carl +++
Lost in Time
The Envelope
The House of Long Shadows ++
Haunt
The Vampire, The Tutor, and The Madman

+1 The Vampire, The Tutor, and The Madnan

There should be two +1s for the Vampire, etc.. You missed mine the first go around, Richard.

Netanella wrote: "There should be two +1s for the Vampire, etc.. You missed mine the first go around, Richard."

It's hotting up now, Netanella, you're right I missed that!

Tell you what, I'll +1 it too 😂.

+1 No Antimemetics
+1 Ghosts of tomorrow

Mean Spirited +++
Transference +
That Night in the Woods +
Ghosts of Tomorrow +++
Exhumed ++
The Immorality Clause
Sarafina ++++++
Master Version 1.1
There is no Antimemetics Division +++++
Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force) ++
Corpsepaint
Skullcrack City ++++
(Placeholder for D.R. Lang) +
Blender Babies +
Dungeon Crawler Carl +++
Lost in Time
The Envelope
The House of Long Shadows ++
Haunt
The Vampire, The Tutor, and The Madman +++

At the moment a book needs at least +++ to make it into the poll.

+1 Blender Babies. Absolute wild book title. I love it!

And screw it, I’ll toss a +1 for the D. R. Long placeholder too.

Richard Alex wrote: "....Tell you what, I'll +1 it too 😂.
..."

There you go, true Indie spirit! 😂 Love it!