Hello friend. Happy Friday! Today’s Indie Recommends Indie post features author Holly Payne-Strange and she shares her favorite indie reads. Her spotlight book is Strange And Twisted Things. Learn more about it at the end of the post. 🙂
Holly, welcome to Armed with A Book! Please tell me and my readers about yourself!
Hey there! Well, I’m a novelist, scriptwriter and poet, with a focus on horror and sci-fi. I really enjoy looking at ‘our world’, with a twist! But apart from that I also love languages, playing D&D, and taking my cat for walks. I live with my wife in NYC and am thrilled for the start of the spooky season- it’s always so invigorating.
Do you primarily read indie books or big publishers books as well?
It’s not something I pay much attention to, to be honest. Before writing this, I don’t think I ever checked who published a book. Not even once. I really enjoy finding lesser known books in general, going through yard sales, used book stores, charity stores, that kind of thing, so I’d imagine many of them have been small presses. But I can’t say much more than that, sorry.
Holly’s Indie Recommendations
A Melody In The Deep by Cara N. Delaney
Sword and Sorcery fantasy
Published 2021
Keola is a mermaid – and bound for marriage to a foreign human prince. Unable to face a life cut off from the ocean with a man she despises, she chooses freedom at a terrible cost. Posing as a human wavesinger to remain hidden from her pursuers, she finds work on the ship of the dashing captain Anaar Kahlani.
Anaar is searching for a mythical treasure and believes that Keola is the key to finding it. Amidst the hunt for fame and fortune, Anaar begins to fall for the mysterious wavesinger. Confronted with a secret and a dangerous revelation, she must decide what price she is willing to pay for untold riches – and for love.
When Keola’s past catches up with her, can they survive the oncoming storm together, or will the trials ahead demand more of them than they are willing to sacrifice?
What a fun book! It’s fast-paced, atmospheric, and has great imagery. The last one is especially important to me. When I read, I want to be drawn into a whole new world, and I really got that here. Also, I’m certainly a fan of sapphic romances, and the author does a wonderful job with this one, creating well-developed characters and deep relationships. Finally, anything with ships and captains is just such a joy to read, so what’s not to love? This is a wonderful sea-fearing fantasy, while still having a lot of heart, so I think it would appeal to fans of ‘To Kill a Kingdom’ by Alexandra Christo or ‘Daughter of the Pirate King’ by Tricia Levenseller. But honestly, I believe it would appeal to anyone with a sense of adventure in their hearts. I highly recommend this book as a fun, engrossing beach read, ideally with a glass of prosecco. Personally, I couldn’t put it down!
The Bone Forest by Sarah Cooley
Horror
Published 2023
Sixteen-year-old Alessa Hale is seeking answers in the disappearance of her older sister, Aria, who wandered into the forest near their home in Pine Hollow, South Dakota, and never returned.
Two months later, Aria stumbles into town, soaked in blood, with no memory of her disappearance, striking fear in the locals and causing turmoil within Alessa’s family. Her parents, already strained by grief and loss, try to hide Aria’s violent behavior and bizarre outbursts from the prying eyes of their neighbors to keep up appearances.
When several more townsfolk vanish into the woods with no explanation, the police immediately suspect Aria. But Alessa’s parents seem more concerned with maintaining their public image as good Catholics than supporting Aria through the detectives’ dogged investigation. Soon, Alessa will question the motives of everyone around her, including the town’s priest, Father Samuel, who believes Aria is beyond help.
In the midst of all the chaos, Aria’s behavior becomes increasingly unpredictable. She refuses to eat, she barely speaks, and she claims to hear voices calling to her from deep inside the forest. Police amp up their investigation upon hearing rumors spread by frightened citizens who have witnessed her erratic behavior.
In a desperate attempt to save her sister, Alessa is determined to uncover the truth, and learn how and why this happened to Aria. If she can’t uncover the truth, she’ll lose her sister and her own life to religious zealots, relentless detectives…or something far, far worse.
Another book with a great lead, this thriller is truly gripping! A wonderful novel as we enter the spooky season; I can’t recommend ‘The Bone Forest’ enough. It strikes a perfect balance between mystery and compelling family dynamics, with high stakes and tension throughout. Author Sarah Cooley skillfully crafts a narrative that delves into the complexities of familial love, the consequences of fanaticism, and the chilling unknown that lies within the nearby forest. The characters are vividly portrayed, and the town’s atmosphere is as much a character as the people themselves. I’m always a sucker for vivid settings, and this book surely delivers. I believe this book would appeal to fans of ‘In the Woods’ by Tana French or ‘The Family Plot’ by Cherie Priest. However, I also recommend that newcomers to the genre give it a try, as it’s not overly gory (although keep in mind I’m a horror author myself, so take that with a grain of salt!) and is very approachable.
We Have Met the Enemy by Felicia Watson
Sci-fi
Published 2019
Lovelace #1
In the 31st century, Naiche Decker joined the Uniterrae military seeking revenge for the death of her mother in battle against the Eternals. After being assigned to a deep space mission to root out the enemy’s home world, she finds so much more, questioning if revenge was what she really sought in the first place. We Have Met the Enemy harkens back to the classic science fiction of Asimov, Clarke and Herbert, but with the richly developed characters of a Roddenberry-esque story.
This is partly space opera, part family drama, and personally, I love the mashup! It feels very ‘classic sci-fi,’ where you truly care about the characters and the world they are exploring. It does have strong military themes, with an alien war as the backdrop, but it also takes the time to develop the characters and their relationships, which is something I really look for. Also, (and you may be noticing a theme here) it has a strong female lead, which I am always drawn to. I absolutely loved seeing her change and grow throughout the book; she has a real character arc, which is a pleasure to witness. Her journey allowed her to evolve as a character while still staying true to herself, a feat that can be distinctly difficult to pull off. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys dreaming about the stars, especially for fans of Star Trek.
Blood and Roses: A Devotional for Aphrodite and Venus edited by Rebecca Buchanan
Anthology collection
Published 2023
Part of a Series
She is the Foam-Born. The Myrtle and the Rose. Lover, Warrior, Mother, and Creatrix. Aphrodite and Venus are complex Goddesses. The same may be said, of course, of any Power. When it comes to Deities associated with love or sex, though, too many fall back on caricature when trying to explain or understand such Beings: they are all lusty bubbleheads or consumed with materialist desires, or, worse, frivolous and cruel, given to playing with human hearts for their own amusement. That is not Aphrodite, nor is it Venus. Rather, they are Goddesses of immense power and deep passions, who can be kind and angry, wise and stubborn, cosmic in their transcendence and intimate in their immanence. The poems and essays and myths and rites here included reflect that very complexity. Many of Aphrodite and Venus’ devotees see them as distinct entities, a Power unto themselves; others see them as one and the same, as unique cultural manifestations of the same divinity; still others see Her as an aspect or name for the universal Power which inspires and manifests love in all its forms. Whatever your relationship with the Goddess/es, it is our hope that you will find the words here both inspirational and inspired, and wholly reverent.
I’ve always been interested in strong anthologies, and I have quite a few from this particular group, including ones about Hera/Juno, Hestia, Hermes, and Demeter. I really enjoy experiencing many different voices and perspectives on a single topic; I find it to be very enriching. However, I particularly love this one because of the vivid juxtaposition of Aphrodite’s gentle love and her more passionate, dangerous side. It offers a fascinating look at a goddess, a historical time period, and love and femininity in general. The poems, stories, and devotionals remain highly relevant today. I can open it to any page at random and find something truly fascinating. This collection also addresses issues such as body acceptance in an uplifting and kind way, which I believe is truly important. I think anyone in a contemplative mood would enjoy this; it’s a body of work that truly deserves to be savored.
Metallon by Martin Van Pelt
Sci-Fi
Published 2022
Aliens from an unknown solar system visit Earth in this darkly humorous science fiction novel.
An alien ship enters a new solar system with the mission of mining ore for its electricity-based planet, Metallon. The crew hopes to utilize the first rocky planet to complete their task—until the ship’s AI informs the captain that their destination is already inhabited by beings called “humans.”
Now the otherworldly group must make reluctant contact with humans in order to get what they need and get back home. But as the aliens acquire more information about these strange creatures and their even stranger civilization, they begin to realize this mission may be bigger than they realized. What starts as an alien visit to Earth may just transform the world in extraordinary ways.
This insightful science fiction commentary on humanity presents a fascinating vision of a new age for the planet—and all the other magnificent creatures lurking in the universe.
I have to admit, I’m a bit biased. I’m currently working on my next sci-fi novel, and I went on a total binge read of the genre while working on my first draft. However, this one truly stood out to me. I love books with a dash of humor; they can provide us with a fresh perspective on things, and this book made me laugh more than once! I also particularly enjoy books where the characters act intelligently, displaying genuine curiosity and care, and I found that here. I got the impression that the characters were sincerely pondering the problems presented to them, which I truly appreciated. It’s also a very creative look at first contact sincero, which was both believable and fresh. I believe this book would appeal to any fan of the sci-fi genre, but especially to readers of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams or “Contact” by Carl Sagan.
Holly’s Book Spotlight
Strange And Twisted Things
Published 2023
Horror
In a quiet village nestled deep within the heart of Italy, an elderly woman finds herself abandoned by her family, the depth of her loneliness almost overwhelming. Seeking solace in a decaying house, Greta clings onto the memories of her estranged husband, whose absence haunts her every waking moment.
As she steps over the threshold of her new home, the house awakens with an ominous energy, enveloping her in its unsettling embrace. Strange occurrences plague Greta’s days, while chilling whispers echo through its dilapidated hallways. Only one fact cheers her- she is clearly not alone.
Caught between the longing for companionship and the terrifying consequences of embracing darkness, Greta must make a harrowing choice. Will she succumb to the allure of the house’s sinister inhabitants, finally gaining the company she so desperately craves, or will she break free from their clutches and confront the horrors that lurk within?
“Strange and Twisted Things” is a chilling tale set against the scenic backdrop of Italy, where Greta’s unwavering love battles against the very essence of evil itself.
Readers who enjoyed The Haunting of Hill House and The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield would like this book.
Did you add any books to your TBR today based on this post or did you see any you have already read? Tell us in the comments!
Thanks for hanging out with us today! Find Holly on Goodreads.
If you are an indie or small press author who is an avid reader and wants to be featured, connect with me social media or express your interest through my contact form. This is a fantastic way to bring attention to fellow indie authors as well as your own book. 🙂
Holly, thanks so much for the awesome review of We Have Met the Enemy! You have some great reads recommended here. Definitely adding to my TBR pile!!