Indie Authors & Books discussion

Feel free to share books you're currently reading/status updates/book flailing.

I just finished I Hate You, I Love You Part 1 by Bailey B. It was okay, a solid 3 star read. Now I need to dive back into my ever growing Netgalley list to see what I have to read next haha

Sometimes a solid romance novel is all you want! :D

Hope you find an awesome ARC!

I'm loving Release by Patrick Ness, and I just started Duplication by Francesca Forrest. :D

Hi everyone! I'm currently switching between books very fast since I clearly can't pay attention to one at a time. I'm reading Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad from my college reading list. I'm listening to the audiobook of Secrets of Six-Figure Women by Barbara Stanny and I'm finding it quite useful.

I haven't read Heart of Darkness yet, but I'm really interested in learning more about the Congo Reform Association. I want to read King Leopold's Soliloquy by Mark Twain, too. I think (?) all the proceeds of that pamphlet went to help people in the Congo, too. Such a sad, sad chapter of history. How are you finding the book?

Rebecca wrote: "I haven't read Heart of Darkness yet, but I'm really interested in learning more about the Congo Reform Association. I want to read King Leopold's Soliloquy by Mark Twain, too. I think..."

Oh, I didn't know that! The book wasn't a good experience honestly. I barely understood it. I'm hoping to like it more and understand it more deeply as I study it.

Rebecca wrote: "I haven't read Heart of Darkness yet, but I'm really interested in learning more about the Congo Reform Association. I want to read King Leopold's Soliloquy by Mark Twain, too. I think..."

I am definitely going to read King Leopold's Soliloquy. Thank you for mentioning it. I have been reading more about Heart of Darkness and its background and it's truly horrifying.

It's so horrific. Another one I found but haven't read is King Leopold's Ghost. Honestly, everything I learn about him makes me so angry. When you start examining the rubber trade, prepare to scream for hours on end at the injustice of it all. I honestly don't know what the fuck was wrong with that man and his lackeys. It's unforgivable what they did.

currently reading The Dirty South by John Connolly. Fantastic as usual.

Don Jimmy wrote: "currently reading The Dirty South by John Connolly. Fantastic as usual."

I actually don't think I've read any of his books! Is he a thriller/mystery writer?

Rebecca wrote: "It's so horrific. Another one I found but haven't read is King Leopold's Ghost. Honestly, everything I learn about him makes me so angry. When you start examining the rubber trade, ..."

Thanks for this recommendation! Gosh, I agree. I watched a documentary on youtube about the trade business and him and it's just unbelievable.

Tavleen wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "It's so horrific. Another one I found but haven't read is King Leopold's Ghost. Honestly, everything I learn about him makes me so angry. When you start examining th..."

I didn't know there was a documentary. Do you have a link?

Just started Buried Vapors by Matthew Kesselman. The opening got me hooked!

Finally got A Discovery of Witches read and reviewed (at last!), so now I just need to get cracking on all the amazing indie ARCs I have awaiting me: Buried Vapors, Bloodlaced, The Wolf and The Water and Jinnik: The Asset: A Cold War Memory.

ALL THE BOOKS!

I started Piranesi today - very intriguing so far

Don Jimmy wrote: "I started Piranesi today - very intriguing so far"

It sounds very interesting!

I'm currently reading Ruinsong by Julia Ember, which is an ARC I got for a book tour. Looks very promising!

❀ Alex ❀ (The Scribe Owl) wrote: "I'm currently reading Ruinsong by Julia Ember, which is an ARC I got for a book tour. Looks very promising!"

Ooooh, that looks so fab! I hope it's as awesome as it looks <3

Currently reading The Book of Life, and I'm very curious to see what happens to my favourite characters! I'm also flailing in anticipation of the next season of the television series. It's seriously so good if you haven't seen it!



I'm also buried in study and have a pile of Korean War history books that I'm going through (or back through). Currently: Name, Rank, and Serial Number: Exploiting Korean War POWs at Home and Abroad and Fire And Ice: The Korean War 1950- 53.

I also have a few ARCs that are going to get my attention over the holidays because I just haven't had the time to properly give them the attention they deserve: Jinnik: The Asset: A Cold War Memory, Beyond The Milky Way and Catch Lili Too.

ALL THE BOOOOOOKS.

I stumbled across My Dawn Is Only Five Hours Away by Dion Anja and I'm really enjoying it! I love poetry <3

About to start Alex Silver's newest book. Then onto Sarah Gailey's newest. I might be in a bit pit of ARCs at the moment!

Isaiah wrote: "About to start Alex Silver's newest book. Then onto Sarah Gailey's newest. I might be in a bit pit of ARCs at the moment!"

I really want to start Gailey's series! I loved their short story!

Oh my gosh, I have like 20 ARCs that need my attention and I've been grading exams the last couple of weeks and have my thesis to focus on editing, and finding time to read while also editing my next book is just impossible ;_:

Rebecca wrote: "Isaiah wrote: "About to start Alex Silver's newest book. Then onto Sarah Gailey's newest. I might be in a bit pit of ARCs at the moment!"

I really want to start..."

Gailey uses they/them pronouns. Their stories are AMAZING. I started with novellas, but now I just read everything no matter if the subject is one I generally avoid or not. An author that can make me enjoy magic, is magical (pun not intended). I was beyond excited when I got their book as an ARC.

I am around 25 ARCs at the moment. Most are due in February and March. Perfect timing for a book slump where reading takes so much energy and I get no enjoyment.

Isaiah wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Isaiah wrote: "About to start Alex Silver's newest book. Then onto Sarah Gailey's newest. I might be in a bit pit of ARCs at the moment!"

I real..."

Edited! Sorry about that, I didn't realise!

Fair play!!

I'm currently reading End of Days by Wendy Alec. I've so enjoyed this series and have been waiting a long time for her to complete this novel. Unfortunately, life has been chaotic and hasn't allowed much time for reading. Aggravating because I'm itching to read this one!

Raven wrote: "I'm currently reading End of Days by Wendy Alec. I've so enjoyed this series and have been waiting a long time for her to complete this novel. Unfortunately, life has been chaotic and hasn't allowe..."

Saaaaaaaaaaaame (re: life). I haven't had much time at all for reading of late and I'm behind on all my books.

Currently reading last year's SPFBO winner, The Lost War. Took until like 20% for me to get into it but I'm really enjoying it now. I have all kinds of theories about what's going on. Excited to see if any of them are correct. I hear the ending is nuts.

Ooh, I've been hoping to pick that one up! It looks really good!

I just started The Grimy and The Greedy by Meaghan Curley. It's got a strong start. I'm already intrigued so far.

I'm currently reading Miss Percy's Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons, which I discovered through the 2022 Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO 8).

The story's got a slow, easy pace to it with numerous quirky parenthetical comments (mostly amusing, but sometimes a little too much). It's a nice change from the fast-paced action-filled books I often read. So far I'm enjoying it.

I'm reading Austrian Spencer's folk horror novel, "The Sadeiest"
https://www.amazon.com/Sadeiest-Austr... discovered through recommendations. It presents a new way to think about Mr. Death and death itself, challenging traditional concepts throughout the book. Clues given in the book's artwork add interest to the story. It is by far, one of the best novels I've read in 2022.

Wonderful Tonight

More than a fly on the wall to the Beatles and 60s-70s rock and roll, but the life of someone who lived it and has at least three iconic rock ballads written about her.