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BOOKTWEETING’S TOP TEN: SELF-PUBLISHED AND SMALL PRESS BOOKS

January 1, 2017

Welcome to 2017! If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to read more self-published and small press books, here are my ten favorites (out of a really strong field) from 2016. Keep watching Booktweeting.com and @booktweeting on Twitter for more reviews of indie books.

DIRE: SEED by Andrew Seiple

A SUPERVILLAIN WITH A CONSCIENCE? Sharp SFF thriller set in a “Teslaverse” where costumed heroes are real. A MINUS

STAR NOMAD by Lindsay Buroker

SMART SPACE SHOOT-’EM-UP stars a fighter pilot desperate to get back to her war-torn planet. High action! B PLUS

YOU DON’T BELONG HERE by Tim Major (Snowbooks)

A STOLEN TIME MACHINE is the last desperate hope of a haunted man on the run. Fascinating SF thriller. B PLUS

STAY CRAZY by Erica L. Satifka (Apex Book Company)

INTERDIMENSIONAL MONSTERS IN RUST BELT America? Or just a schizophrenic’s bad day at work? Brilliant punk SF. B PLUS

THE UNPLEASANTNESS AT BASKERVILLE HALL by Chris Dolley (Book View Café)

WODEHOUSE MEETS STEAMPUNK meets country-house murder mysteries in a delightful mix of fantasy and fun. B PLUS

THE APOTHEOSIS BREAK (SKYSAIL SAGA, VOLUME 1) by Josh Rhoades and Mike Rutledge

SWASHBUCKLING AIRSHIP ADVENTURE with lots of action, set in an intriguing steampunk/Ruritania SFF world. B PLUS

THE LOVED ONES by Sonya Chung (Relegation Books)

TWO FAMILIES’ STORIES, linked by a moment of tragedy, unfurl in all their richness. Heartbreaking, lovely. B PLUS

WITCH IS WHEN I SAID GOODBYE by Adele Abbott

A WITCH TURNED DETECTIVE solves mysteries with magic in this charming twist on traditional English cozies. B PLUS

HITS & MRS. by Karen Stollznow

SHARP, FUNNY MYSTERY follows a reporter turned detective trying to expose a Casanova of a TV psychic. Clever! B PLUS

MOSES by Balogun Ojetade (Roaring Lions Productions)

WILD, ACTION-PACKED ADVENTURE set in a “Steamfunk” universe where Harriet Tubman is a superhero. Fun SFF! SOLID B

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ANAXAGORAS by Aaron Ward

December 26, 2016

GRACEFULLY CYNICAL FANTASY set in antiquity, on a Mediterranean island ravaged by a vast monster.

Grade: B PLUS

ANAXAGORAS
Aaron Ward
2016

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THE APOTHEOSIS BREAK by Josh Rhoades and Mike Rutledge

December 4, 2016

SWASHBUCKLING AIRSHIP ADVENTURE with lots of action, set in an intriguing steampunk/Ruritania SFF world.

Grade: B PLUS

THE APOTHEOSIS BREAK (SKYSAIL SAGA, VOLUME I)
Josh Rhoades and Mike Rutledge
2016

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HEX ON THE BEACH by Gina LaManna

November 27, 2016

CHARMING, FUNNY PARANORMAL thriller with strong characters, appealing worldbuilding, sweet romance.

Grade: B PLUS

HEX ON THE BEACH (THE MAGIC & MIXOLOGY MYSTERY SERIES, BOOK 1)
Gina LaManna
2016

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A STAR-RECKONER’S LOT by Darrell Drake

November 20, 2016

MAGIC, MAYHEM, AND MYTHOLOGY abound in a fiercely inventive fantasy adventure set in ancient Iran.

Grade: B PLUS

A STAR-RECKONER'S LOT
Darrell Drake
2016

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THE SHUFFLIN’ DEID by Derek Paterson

October 31, 2016

A VERY SCOTTISH ZOMBIE apocalypse hits a small town. Scary and funny, with lots of local color. SOLID B

THE SHUFFLIN’ DEID
Derek Paterson
2016

Grade: SOLID B

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THE MATCHING (THE PAPER DUCHESS BOOK 2) by Angeline Trevena

July 18, 2016

UNSETTLING MISOGYNIST DYSTOPIA has strong characterization, atmosphere, but fuller worldbuilding needed. B MINUS

THE MATCHING (THE PAPER DUCHESS BOOK 2)
Bogus Caller Press
2016

Grade: B MINUS

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THE SISTER by Louise Jensen

July 11, 2016

SHARP ENGLISH THRILLER takes on love and loss and family and friendship with a chilling twist. Very smart. B PLUS

THE SISTER: A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER WITH A BRILLIANT TWIST YOU WON’T SEE COMING
Bookouture
2016

Grade: B PLUS

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THE WATER ROAD (THE WATER ROAD TRILOGY BOOK 1) by JD Byrne

July 4, 2016

GRAND EPIC FANTASY set in a brilliantly imagined world where two nations have clashed for a century. B PLUS

THE WATER ROAD (THE WATER ROAD TRILOGY BOOK 1)
JD Byrne
2016

Grade: B PLUS

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BITE SOMEBODY by Sara Dobie Bauer

June 27, 2016

SASSY VAMPIRE MYSTERY/ROMANCE with a great sense of fun and a memorable Florida setting. B PLUS #BeachReads

BITE SOMEBODY
World Weaver Press
2016

Grade: B PLUS

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