Indie Spotlight: Sci-Fi and Fantasy Part Two

In this edition of our monthly thematic roundup of BookLife titles, we feature sci-fi and fantasy. Want to see your book featured? Check out the Indie Spotlight calendar at booklife.com/indiespotlight.

 

Monsters, Aliens & the Paranormal

Cryptids

Robert Herrick

ASIN B0D265DVM1

Author statement: “Alex was rescued by aliens when he was a baby. Now, he works with them to capture cryptid creatures like the Loch Ness Monster. When a cryptid vanishes from the aliens’ monitors, Alex encounters something more dangerous than the creature he was sent to recover. Cryptids is the kind of adventure novel I liked to read when I was a kid—a fast-paced sci-fi adventure with lots of action, strange creatures, and futuristic gadgets.”

 

The God Squad: Thunder and Pomp

Devan B. Deyerin and Kara Rubinstein Deyerin

ASIN B0CW7BLTGQ

Author statement: “The Clarke brothers had grown accustomed to the monsters only they could see, but confronting gods is proving to be a far graver challenge. The two ran away from home to shield their family from the menacing creatures, but a twist of fate sees them lose their magical protection. We are a mother-son writing duo who during the pandemic embarked on this creative venture together, combining our writing styles to create a tale that we feel is truly special.”

 

Postapocalyptic Stories

Earthweeds (Sons of Neptune #1)

Rod Little

ISBN 978-1-5472-6856-6

Author statement: “A green fog descends over every major city in the world, and the populations disappear one by one. By nightfall, every living soul in every metropolis is gone. Earth grinds to a halt. Only a few stragglers are alive in the rural countryside. When Sam and his brother return from a mountain camping trip, they find only empty city streets. Alone, they look for any survivors to give them answers. I wanted to showcase the possible future for a fractured world that cares little for the environment, if an alien force decided we didn’t deserve it anymore.”

 

Refuge on the Mountain

Cornelia Feye

ASIN B0CPQNZDM8

Author statement: “After a massive solar storm causes a catastrophic global blackout, Greg and Vega Stern escape with their extended family to their solar-powered, self-sufficient mountain cabin. Their survival is threatened when a dead body is found on the path behind their home, and a gang of lawless neo-Nazis tries to take over their property. My husband and I built an off-grid cabin in the Cuyamaca Mountains east of San Diego. During the pandemic I realized what a great sanctuary this remote cabin was. I imagined a massive geomagnetic solar storm disabling the power grid on a global scale.”

 

Social Issues

Bitter Suites

Angela Yuriko Smith

ISBN 978-1-72154-680-0

Author statement: “The Bitter Suites is a hotel that specializes in renewable death experiences thanks to advanced technology and highly trained resuscitators. There are so many wonderful reasons to experience death, from the therapeutic to pure recreation. Whatever the reason, death is the best way to get a new lease on life. A positive, affirming experience. What could possibly go wrong? I wrote Bitter Suites because I had a friend that was on a self-harm cycle, and I wanted to show her that the idea of ending it all fixes nothing.”

 

Warped State

Jo Miles

ASIN B0CHHL7M43

Author statement: “Jasper Wilder is an activist, not a spy, but he’ll become one if that’s what it takes to stop the revival of the deadly experiment that devastated his home planet—until his relationship with an idealistic local activist threatens to derail his plans. This is an LGBTQ+ book with gay main characters, a nonbinary viewpoint character, and other queer characters.”

 

Epic Fantasy

The Mystic Menace

Stephanie Pascaru

ISBN 978-1-989861-48-6

Author statement: “My inspiration for this book came from the enchanting fairy tales and mythical, adventure-filled stories I grew up reading as a child. I wrote this book with the hope of capturing that same sense of wonder and enjoyment. A farm girl in a plague-stricken kingdom decides to use her newfound lightning powers to overthrow the immortal rulers who caused the plague in the first place.”

 

Petition

Delilah Waan

ISBN 978-0-645-51002-709

Author statement: “So many of the protagonists in fantasy are male and/or orphaned and/or Chosen Ones who are born having (or, through some machination of fate, are endowed with) special abilities that bring them power and privilege. Well, Petition is the complete opposite of that. It’s a story of love, duty, and sacrifice, centered on an ordinary daughter of immigrants doing her best to achieve her parents’ dream of a better life. And it’s dedicated to all the families who left everything behind, seeking that same dream.”

Remnants of a Scarlet Flame (The Last Draegion #1)

Cindy L. Sell

ISBN 978-1-963768-01-5

Author statement: “Remnants of a Scarlet Flame began as a tabletop role-playing campaign that I ran for a group of friends, but quickly became so much more. It’s a story of what happens when people allow differences and misunderstandings to divide them, and how we should always stand up for social justice, even when we feel like we’re standing alone.”

Natalie Wright

ISBN 978-1-963768-01-5

Author statement: “When a dragon destroys Quen’s village and kills people she loves, vengeance fuels her quest to hunt the beast. But Quen soon discovers she is the hunted as factions vie to control her growing power. This epic fantasy story steeped in magic and mythological creatures was actually inspired by my love of astronomy and sci-fi. The discovery of a binary star system in which the second, smaller sun orbited the larger sun inspired my poem casting the two suns as gods. That poem ultimately led to the creation of the primary religion found in Season of the Dragon—epic fantasy inspired by science!”

Shock of Fate (Anchoress Series #1)

D.L. Armillei

ISBN 978-0-9986720-3-8

Author statement: “The inspiration for my flagship series, Anchoress, came to me during an energy healing session. The story seemed to be downloaded into my consciousness, and I envisioned a teenage female warrior who had faced numerous challenges and emerged stronger than ever. She was an inspiring figure, and I felt compelled to tell her story. From this vision, the entire Anchoress series was born.”