Welcome to the FOURTH Epic Sale of Beloved SFF. There are over 50 fantastic recommended books on sale for just $0.99 each from Aug 18th-22nd 2023, each with a brief recommendation so you know why it's awesome! And if you look closely you might spot a freebie here or there as well as many additional books the authors decided to offer up for a discounted price as well!
Dark humor combine with brutally stark character portrayal.
~ Angela Boord
Imagine you are a son or daughter of gods: self-involved, uncaring, selfish gods who either ignore you completely or use you for their own ends. Now read Children--if you dare.
~Marian L Thorpe
Children turns familiar myths on their head, defying expectations whilst staying true to their source. If you enjoy Nordic mythology and prefer your fantasy on the grimdark side, Larssen’s distinctive voice is likely to appeal to you.
~ Tim Hardie
2022 Queer Indie Award Winner
Other Books on sale by this author:Why Odin Drinks - See the author's other worksHere!
Curse of the Fallen by H. C. Newell
Fallen Light Book 1
Recommendation:
"Classic dark fantasy with a modern take that reminded me of The Witcher and Skyrim!"
~ Sadir S. Samir
"Curse of the Fallen by HC Newell is perfect for fans of The Witcher and Skyrim. The way she handles racism between elves and humans is wonderful, and there were some big emotional moments in the book."
A masterful piece of character-driven fantasy in a gritty Victorian-inspired setting.
~ Angela Boord
Legacy of the Brightwash has one of the most well realized characters I've read in a long time. It's dark as hell and deeply, wonderfully and horrifically human all at the same time.
~ C.M. Caplan
I love this one because the writing is gorgeous, there's an intriguing murder mystery, and it is Gaslamp/Victorian Grimdark, so yeah that's awesome, right!? Also some of the best characterization and deeply personal interactions you will find in a fantasy book.
~ Nick Borelli of Out of This World SFF
"Grimdark gaslamp with romance! A dark story showing both the best and worst of humanity with incredible characters that step out of the pages."
~Tru Skies
"Characters you love from the first page facing wonderfully real dilemmas in a gritty, fascinating world. Plus stunning, evocative writing and all the emotional trauma."
~ CM Debell
Seasons of Albadone by Christopher Warman & Élan Marché
The Eighth Chant Book 1
Recommendation:
"because it's a charming, quick read - four short stories that are loosely related, revolving around the magic of an enchanted forest"
"I loved this book. Rich environmental themes and stunning writing marry well to create a captivating plot, but it's the characters that really blow me away. This is a story that breathes on and off the page."
"Dark fantasy at its darkest and most mind twisting. Otherworldly in tone and setting, this book takes you on a trip that will blow your mind. Emotional, stark, beautiful prose, this is a novel that takes hold of you and won't let go."
"Quiet? I’d say it's simultaneously dark, escapist, fascinating, elegant, visceral, and entertaining. One of my favourite reads of the year so far. Also: NIMSAH."
This one is a classic cultivation fantasy, where we follow a young protagonist as he was taken from his village and ends up joining a sect of cultivators. Wong does an excellent job of making the genre accessible for westerners. Again, the characters are what truly shine in this one, though the setting is also excellent.
"Burn Red Skies has one of the most incredible takes on dragons I've ever seen. Besides that (and airships) it has an incredibly compelling cast of characters that come from a very diverse array of backgrounds. It's great to see them all come together in the end."
~ Christopher Warman
"Rosero’s writing has a distinctive style that’s all her own and she should be on everyone’s radar in the world of fantasy literature."
No one actually recommended this, but after asking so many other awesome authors to put their books up for sale I figured I'd offer my epic fantasy standalone up as well.
"The story is not what it seems, and once you finish, you will immediately want to turn around and read it again!"
~ Angela Boord
Flesh Eater by Travis M. Riddle
Houndstooth Book 1
Recommendation:
This one starts as a heist story and becomes one part romance and one part redemption story. I think the thing I loved the most about it was the characters, and especially the MC. Riddle has a way of writing characters that feel like someone from the next apartment over, and I love it.
This book was simply amazing and great fun. You can't beat a band of aging shield maidens going out on one last epic adventure! Cannot recommend enough!
~ Lyra Wolf
THE Thor: Ragnarok-inspired Viking mum fantasy you have been looking for. Half-giant Lovis just wants to raise her daughter in peace, but when fellow shieldmaiden Solveig arrives to put the warband back together, Lovis can't say no. Cue Ragnarok. This book is written with vivid attention to detail, a fantastic grasp of military history, and immersive, thrilling battle scenes which create a feast for the imagination's eye. Add in the brisk pacing, and this is probably the closes thing you'll get to reading an action movie this year!
~ Suzannah Rowntree
NOTE: this book is only on sale from Aug18th-20th, so grab it fast!
Other Books on sale by this author:Touch of Iron
-- Check out the author's other workshere!
Shadows of Ivory
by TL Greylock
Recommendation:
"Shadows of Ivory by TL Greylock is an awesome adventure fantasy that's basically Indiana Jones with a conscience meets Lord of the Rings with a dash of Assassin's Apprentice."
Sarah Lin's The Brightest Shadow is an absolute blast- it's existentialist epic fantasy mixed with a heavy dose of wuxia. It's filled with fascinating cultures, fast paced fights, and highly memorable characters.
Intricate worldbuilding and a realistic, if not terrifying, depiction of a disease spreading through a country lends itself to a uniquely-crafted tale.
No one actually recommended this, but after asking so many other awesome authors to put their books up for sale I figured I'd offer up my latest epic fantasy book as well.
I have a special love for Blood Bounty, by Liza Street. It's a dark historical fantasy with a weird wild west vibe, and I don't think I've ever read anything else quite like it. Vampires and gunslingers apparently go together well!
Men and women with superpowers in an alternative Regency England? It should surprise no one that I love this book. There are dangerous pirates, a dashing Royal Navy captain, a female heroine who chooses danger and adventure over the constraints of an arranged marriage... plus badass magic. I love how Elinor's power is perceived as both incredibly valuable and highly dangerous, which adds richness and complexity to the magic of this series.
"With two watches on your wrists, both equally precise, can you appreciate the rust and scratches as well as the polished gold – or the other way round? A masterpiece."
Wonderful character-driven story with excellent world building.
~ Quenby Olson
A fascinating world with deep characters, split across two timelines that complement and enrich each other in great ways that keep you hooked on the story the entire way through.
~ Travis M. Riddle
This is a fantastic sweeping epic romantic fantasy with lush world-building and engaging characters. If you like big epics, deep characters, and a world you can really get immersed in, this is right up your alley.
~ Carol A. Park
A fantastic romantic fantasy with incredible world building and utterly compelling characters.
~ Krystle Matar
A stunning and sprawling nonlinear narrative that manages to make first person feel epic, viscerally compelling, and personal in a cocktail I haven't seen since Robin Hobb.
An excellent little bite of a novella, with the same world as Fortune's Fool but in a short bite for people who are curious about her world but can't commit to a big chonky novel!
The Fire in the Glass, by Jacquelyn Benson, is an intriguing Edwardian fantasy mystery which follows a Cassandra-esque prophetess trying to catch a serial killer. Its historical research is superb, and I particularly enjoyed the realistic portrayal of the time period's mediums.
~ Olivia Atwater
An epic historical fantasy mystery set on the eve of World War I. Lily Albright has a gift - she sees visions of the future - but can she fight fate to save the lives of those she loves? I really loved watching Lily accept and level up her powers, and the sense of coming doom and supernatural conflict surrounding the looming World War I was delightfully epic, plus there was an achingly tender romance.
A gamelit romantic comedy, was absolutely delightful from start to end. Zack Moore is trapped in a dating sim that forces him to clean up his life and date women in order to earn gaming time. But as Zack is about to learn, true love can't be reduced to an algorithm. This is not just an addictive story with characters who'll win your heart despite all their flaws, it also pulls no punches when confronting the protagonist with the consequences of his actions. I ADORED the epic character arc in this book as Zack goes from zero to hero.
"A highly entertaining fantasy comedy with an unrelentingly wacky sense of humour that perfectly hit the mark for me."
~ Phil Williams
“The Crew is a fast-paced, action-packed story with a team whose members possess the glorious disfunctionality of The Guardians Of The Galaxy characters and a leader whose personality, humour and even some parts of his backstory resembles Deadpool’s."
Delightful. Vicar White attends to ho-hum church duties while on the side she ministers to creatures in a parallel world that she can access only through Morey, a smart-mouth Gryphon who's also a fundamentalist Christian. White is a liberal.
Some of it is just plain funny (even though I like celery.) Some of it is dark humour, a satirical comment on the world. I loved it.
~ Marian L Thorpe
Larssen appears to be on a path to inheriting the esteemed Terry Pratchett's throne as the best fantasy satirist to-date.
~ P. L. Stuart
The kind of book where you find yourself reading out your favourite passages to whoever happens to be sitting nearby, whether they asked you to or not! I’m not sorry.
~ Tim Hardie
Other Books on Sale by this Author:Children -
Check out the author's other worksHere!
Literary High Fantasy
The Necessity of Rain
by Sarah Chorn
Recommendation:
"Because nobody can write and evoke emotions the way Sarah Chorn does."
~ The Shaggy Shepherd
"Beautifully written characters, breathtakingly original world, and utterly heartbreaking."
"Super ambitious debut novel that mixes both Fantasy and Sci-Fi and gave me vibes of both Indiana Jones and The Mummy!"
~ Sadir S. Samir
"It’s an exciting, imaginative, and well-written debut that feels different to the kinds of story I’ve read before.”
~ Mark Lawrence
“A book spanning so many genres—science fiction, high and low fantasies, comedy, romance—could easily have become an unfocused mess. But Faywood pulls it off brilliantly, making A Gamble of Gods a joy to read. So, grab yourself a big vat of popcorn to munch on as you enjoy this blockbuster debut.”
~John Mauro, Grimdark Magazine
“Combining rich prose, solid characterization, a cool plot alongside comedy, romance and found family tropes, this debut just won me over.”
~Fantasy Book Critic
Progression Fantasy
On Lavender Tides by Travis M. Riddle
Jekua Book 1
Recommendation:
If you love Pokemon and want Pokemon with a twist in a secondary world with characters that feel like they're the still-maturing young adult from the apartment next door, then this is one you'll enjoy. I thoroughly enjoyed the Pokemon-esque aspects of the Jekua in this tale, and Riddle's slow, meandering coming-of-age worked for me."
Sand and Storm by Stella Dorthwany is the romantic fantasy you'd get if you mashed up Harry Potter with Indiana Jones and The Mummy. Faryn, an intern archaeologist, is swept up into an adventure with a professor also known as Heartbreaker of the Year. Meanwhile her cousin Cora, a mage in an arranged marriage, is about to uncover a sinister magical plot. This story is packed with adventure, magic, wit and had me laughing out loud on every other page!
Military Science Fiction with great world-building and characterization, I loved the exploration of the creepy power on the planet (& I still remember it years after reading!)
This dystopian near-future science fiction tale offers a thought-provoking exploration of family and what it means and some great character development for a diverse set of characters.
"YA Science Fiction to be enjoyed by adults too. A believable not too far distant scenario with very current moral dilemmas played out by relatable characters. And a robo dog..."
Sapience: A Collection of Science Fiction Short Stories
by Alexis Lantgen
Recommendation:
Sapience is a fascinating collection of sci-fi short stories. It features a variety of stories that range from gritty and thought-provoking to futuristic fairy tales. Among my favorite stories is Chrysalis, the tale of a woman stranded in a broken vehicle on Europa's surface. It has such an unexpected, almost poetic ending, and that ending then weaves itself into the stories that follow. I also really loved The Last Bird and Swan, two related stories about mechanical birds that manage to be both tragic and uplifting.
Saints and Curses: A Collection of Fantasy Short Stories
by Alexis Lantgen
Recommendation:
This book is a strong follow up to Sapience, Alexis Lantgen's first short story collection. I'm a particular fan of The Lost Cat, a unique vampire story, and Braids, an interesting tale of feminine power and magic. I'd also love to see more stories about Nikolas, a creative, demon-hunting take on St. Nicholas. Alexis balances light & darkness well in this charming, thought-provoking collection.
It's an incredibly fun, imaginative adventure full of airships and gunplay and rich characters, with one of the most well-thought-out worlds I've read in a long time.
"This book is a lot of fun. The magic is big, the humor is funny, the gods are devious and awful, there's a touch of unapologetic romance among characters it's easy to root for, all of it in an excellent gaslamp fantasy setting."
~ Angela Boord
"A darkly weird and highly original steampunk thriller set in a world of autocratic deities, divided loyalties and twisty politics."
~ Jacquelyn Benson
"This is an exciting, characterful genre-bending story with some of the most inventive world-building I've encountered in a long time."
~ Phil Williams
"The Thirteenth Hour is a very good book. This is an absolute triumph – worldbuilding, plot, characters. My favourite book of 2022."
~ Bjørn Larssen
Sword and Sorcery
Petition by Delilah Waan
Resonance Crystal Legacy Book 1
Recommendation:
"Both original and familiar; a beautiful story about family sacrifice, told in a narrative voice that feels effortless and familiar while highlighting a fascinating magic system and fantastic worldbuilding."
"Oh boy, do I love this book. From the moment I laid eyes on the cover I knew I was going to love it. It's an Urban Fantasy / Thriller mix with punk witches, street gangs, and all the fun that brings. It’s gritty, it’s rough around the edges, it has a touch of supernatural and well-written character dynamics that makes this book unputdownable."
Found a great book you loved? Give us a shout-out on social media and let your friends and followers know. Use the hashtag #BelovedSFFBooks and any of the following images:
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Thanks to Bjørn Larssen for the awesome images!
And here are a few more images organized by genre groupings:
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Thanks to Delilah Waan for these!
Want to discover more amazing SFF books? Check out the following:
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