Hello friend. If you have been looking for some new indie fantasy novels to dive into, your search might end at this post. Welcome to another post of Indie Recommends Indie. Today, I have Rachel A. Greco on the series, author of The Gift of Dragons. She presents her favorite fantasy worlds. Let’s meet her!
Rachel, welcome to Armed with A Book! Since it’s your first time on the blog, can you please tell me and my readers about yourself?
Thank you so much for having me here! It’s an honor. During the night, I daydream of being a dragon while writing stories about magic, monsters, and mayhem. During the day I work as a journalist for a non-profit, and on the weekends I escape to the nearby woods to hike, kayak, camp, and just suck up as much nature as I can.
Do you primarily read indie books or big publishers books as well?
I used to read only big publishers, but now that Instagram has introduced me to some excellent Indie-published authors, and I’ve met a few in person, I’m definitely growing in this area—probably 80% big publishers and 20% small now. But I hope to keep changing those percentages in favor of more Indie books, and this website is helping with that!
Rachel’s Indie Recommendations
Songflight by Michelle M. Bruhn
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy
Published Year: 2020
Dragon Singer Chronicles Series # 1
Alísa was born to lead her clan of dragon slayers, but her vocal stammer has robbed her of confidence and respect. If she can’t lead slayers, how on A’dem is she supposed to lead dragons?
As the only child of a dragon slayer chief, Alísa’s purpose should have been simple: lead the clan in ridding humankind of the dragon scourge. But while gaining respect from hardened warriors is difficult enough with a vocal stammer, when they learn her empathic powers connect uncontrollably to the dragon enemy, it becomes impossible.
Confidence shattered, Alísa resigns herself to silent service under her father’s apprentice. But when her growing connection reveals one dragon’s capacity for good, she realizes the war isn’t as black and white as the slayers teach. Now Alísa faces an impossible choice: stay with her family in comfortable but condemning silence, or follow the dragon claiming to know her true purpose.
Dragons! The ones in this book all had unique, complex personalities. The main character, Alísa, had a stutter (which actually wasn’t annoying like I’d thought it would be), and is shy. I found her personality to be a breath of fresh air. Instead of a strong, outgoing, ‘take the world by storm’ character, she was an introvert and constantly doubts herself, which was refreshing to read about. The many songs Bruhn wrote for the story were beautiful and lingered in my mind long after I read the last page.
Songflight was everything I longed for in fantasy: fantastical creatures so well written they seemed real, a creative, complex magic system, enchanting world building details, and characters who learned, fought for what they believed in, and grew. Even though I received the book for free as an eARC, after finishing it, I immediately purchased a paperback copy—it was that good!
Recommended to: Anyone who loves dragons and stories bursting with hope and light.
The Arrow and the Crown by Emma C. Fox
Genre: YA Fantasy
Published Year: 2019
Standalone
Ever since Anna can remember, she’s avoided the ancient Grünwald Forest, where her parents disappeared years ago. Everyone in the kingdom of Weissburg knows the tales of vengeful spirits that lurk among the trees, and of a Beast that has taken the lives of peasants, knights, and the king’s own son. But when the Beast emerges after seven silent years to wreak havoc on the kingdom, Anna braves all her fears to confront him. She soon discovers that there’s more to the Beast than she realized…and more to herself than she ever imagined.
The main character, Anna, was basically Lucy from The Chronicles of Narnia with Katniss’ bow from The Hunger Games. There were fantastical creatures not seen very often these days in fantasy books: dryads and naidas that blew a fresh breath into the story. The descriptions were beautifully written, from the spookiness of the Grünwald Forest, where Anna’s parents disappeared years ago, to the rich life bursting in the forest in the spring.
I was so glad that Emma surprised me halfway through the novel! I was a little worried there, thinking I knew who the Beast was and what would happen. I turned out to be wrong, which was a wonderful twist that kept me flipping those pages to the end.
The Arrow and the Crown had lovely, enchanting similarities of the story to Beauty and the Beast—my favorite fairy tale. I can’t wait to immerse myself in Fox’s lovely prose again.
Recommended to: Those who love coming-of-age adventure stories with the touch of a fairy-tale feel.
Dust by Kara Swanson
Genre: YA Fantasy
Published Year 2020
Heirs of Neverland # 1
The truth about Neverland is far more dangerous than a fairy tale.
Claire Kenton believes the world is too dark for magic to be real—since her twin brother was stolen away as a child. Now Claire’s desperate search points to London… and a boy who shouldn’t exist.
Peter Pan is having a beastly time getting back to Neverland. Grounded in London and hunted by his own Lost Boys, Peter searches for the last hope of restoring his crumbling island: a lass with magic in her veins.
The girl who fears her own destiny is on a collision course with the boy who never wanted to grow up. The truth behind this fairy tale is about to unravel everything Claire thought she knew about Peter Pan—and herself.
Dust was a deeper look into the Peter Pan story, this time with Peter stuck in London, unable to return to Neverland, which was such a unique idea.
The characters are the true heart of this story: Claire’s achingly real challenges as she searches for her long-lost brother, Connor. I longed for her to heal and embrace the magic of her dust, which had unusual magical properties. It was interesting to see how those properties changed as Claire grew and healed. My favorite character though was probably Tiger Lily, who’s such a confident, beautiful young woman.
I couldn’t imagine writing someone as complicated as Peter Pan: arrogant, yet likeable; playful, yet serious; a boy, yet a man, but Swanson nailed it. His struggles also felt real as he wondered if the responsibilities of becoming a man were worth the loss of boyhood’s innocence and delight.
The many secrets propelled me to read the sequel and final book of the duology, Shadow, which had a lovely, satisfying ending.
Recommended to: A must-read for Peter Pan fans and anyone who enjoys growing with characters over the course of a story.
Empire of Dragons by Rachel L. Schade
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy (are you sensing a theme here? 😉
Published Year: 2021
Cursed Empire # 1
Fans of lush world-building, morally grey characters, enemies to lovers, and forbidden romance will devour this epic YA series.
Save the empire…or let it burn.
Revenge failed her…
Three years ago, Lo’laeni Nolanhou did the unthinkable, slaying the empress of the cruel Alrenian Empire and freeing her people, the Forwyn slaves. But the price of revenge wasn’t freedom, only guilt. Vowing to never kill again, Lo dedicated her life to the god Elhani, serving as a nun within the Circle of Serenity to fight against the injustices still wrought against her people in the torn capital of Alrenor.
Then Caesiem, a handsome and mysterious Teramese boy aligned with an underground Forwyn vigilante group, flips her world upside down. The unrest growing within Alrenor is worse than Lo realized. Corruption is everywhere…and the Forwyn vigilantes want an empress slayer.
Revenge fuels her…
For years, Empress Jaliana, Daughter of Karye, has been a captive in her own palace. A prisoner to her mother’s killers. A powerless pawn, alone and unable to take back her throne, her dragons, or her kingdom.
Until one night a never-before-seen gift manifests itself within Jalie. It’s terrifying. Brutal. Everything she has ever needed. But the Forwyn won’t give in easily. They task Kovi, a young soldier, to watch over her, and he challenges everything she’s ever believed about her enemies…
One empire. An age-old hatred. Two girls who will risk anything—even their souls—for their people.
Pretty much everything! I loved the diverse perspectives of Lo, the nun who was trying to rid herself of guilt, and Jalie, the empress hostage who was trying to regain her throne. They were both crafted so well and even though Jalie wasn’t the nicest character, the reader still felt bad that she’s held hostage.
Schade did an excellent job making the reader see the events from various perspectives and not know which viewpoint to take; some of the events–both past and present–were delightfully grey in their morality.
I enjoyed watching Jalie and Kovi learn compassion for each other basically against their will.
The world Schade crafted for her story was complex, including their religious beliefs and even down to the way the different cultures dress. The ending was brilliant and made me want to pick up the next book right away. (It’s out now, and the third book is coming out in May, so you could binge read them all if you wanted!).
Recommend to: People who love not knowing which characters to root for, enemies-to-lover vibes, and plenty of excitement and deception!
The Six by K.B. Hoyle
Genre: YA Fantasy Adventure
Published Year: 2009
Gateway Chronicles # 1
Darcy Pennington hates her life. She is an insufferably average teenager with no true friends, crushing social anxiety, and an indescribable sense of not fitting in anywhere. When her parents force her to attend Cedar Cove Family Camp the summer before her eighth-grade year, Darcy once again finds herself on the outside of an established social circle.
But the camp holds secrets, and when Darcy begins to have strange experiences, she comes to believe she’s either losing her mind or on the brink of a discovery that could give her life purpose.
An unwitting tumble through a magical gateway lands her in a new world called Alitheia, and Darcy must convince five other teenagers at the camp to not only befriend her but follow her on a journey beyond their world and their wildest dreams to save Alitheia from an ancient, shadowy foe.
The way the characters journeyed to a different land, had to fulfill a prophecy, and the importance of animals all gave me very strong Narnia vibes.
But The Six was worthy to read on its own merits. One of my favorite things about this book was the creatures Hoyle created to populate the land of Alitheia: mischievous, fun gnomes, mysterious creatures similar to elves, and wizards bursting with magic.
I was very surprised to learn that Darcy was only 13 because the way she complained and quibbled with the characters at the beginning of the book reminded me more of an older teenager, but it’s been a while since I was that age, so what do I know?
I enjoyed watching the six friends mature over the course of the story as well as grow in their unique magical abilities. Even though the first book wasn’t my favorite, each book gets better, and the plot continues to deepen as the overall storyline progresses. A quick, easy epic quest book!
Recommended to: Perfect for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia, friendship stories, and those who love prophecies and heroes/heroines going on quests.
Rachel’s Book Spotlight
The Gift of Dragons
YA Medieval Fantasy
Published Year: May 12, 2022
First of a Duology
When the prince Adelaide seeks to overthrow tries convincing her that the legendary dragons exist and need help, Adelaide must decide where her true allegiance lies before the kingdom shatters.
Ever since the Gyndilians murdered her sister, Adelaide has plotted a rebellion to overthrow the king and prince who failed to protect them during the attack. Following her across the country is a stranger — not just any stranger, but the prince she’s hoping to overthrow — and Adelaide’s plans begin to collapse. But Prince Elias has his own dangerous secrets — secrets connected to the dragons that once lived in the land. If he can’t earn Adelaide’s trust, there may never be any peace for Adelaide, her people, or the dragons.
In The Gift of Dragons by Rachel A. Greco, the fate of two species rests on the tip of a dagger. Can Adelaide overcome her prejudices and thirst for revenge to do what’s best for her people before rage and sorrow consume her?
Find this book on Goodreads and IndieStoryGeek.
Readers who enjoyed Graceling and Eragon—books with adventure sprinkled with dragon lore—would like this book. Early Readers are Saying: “The Gift of Dragons delighted me with vivid descriptions and unexpected plot twists…The surprise ending left me on the edge of my seat, eagerly awaiting a sequel!”
If you’d like to learn more about Rachel’s upcoming books, review copies, and read an excerpt from The Gift of Dragons, be sure to sign up here. Connect with Rachel on Instagram and her website. Also check out her Etsy store to get some goodies (a map, character art of the main character with her hawk, bookmark, and a sticker).
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!
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Thanks for hanging out with us today!
Banner Photo of library by Alfons Morales on Unsplash
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