Wrath of Gods is a finalist in the Booknest Fantasy Awards - And you can vote!

Unbelievable to me, but Paternus: Wrath of Gods is a finalist in the Best Self-Published Novel category of the 2018 Booknest Fantasy Awards. An honor to be included with all these wonderful titles and authors.

And - you can vote for your favorites Best Traditionally Published Novel, Best Self-Published Novel, Best Debut Novel, and Best Imprint (Publisher)! Voting remains open until October 31st.

My choice for semi-finalist in this year's #SPFBO!

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to have been a guest judge for Booknest in this year's SPFBO competition, 2018. The brainchild of Arch-saint of indie authors, the Almighty Mark Lawrence, the SPFBO has become one of the most significant things to happen to self-publishing since, well, maybe ever, and Booknest has waved the torch high for indie books for quite some time. I have to thank Petros T. for asking me to do this. It's been a hell of an honor to be involved.

My task was to read five of the thirty books in Booknest's group, and forward my choice for semi-finalist. Time for a rolling of drums...

There are a ton of amazing self-published books out there, but it was a little scary to have a random selection handed to me, I must admit. Due to the very nature of self-publishing, anyone can do it, and there's no denying there are quite a few not-so amazing indie books as well. I was apprehensive about it, worrying, "what if they all suck?" Luckily for me, they didn't. In fact, quite the opposite. I thoroughly enjoyed four of them, and even the one I didn't has plenty going for it (obviously, it's selling like gangbusters on Amazon).

To review, here are the books in my group:

Twin Spirit by Matthew Thompson is a delightful read I described as paranormal sci-fantasy/portal fantasy with a touch of steampunk and directed by Terry Gilliam, geared at a middle-grade to teen audience, but with plenty for grown-ups to enjoy.

Ghost Electricity by Sean Cunningham--Think Simon Green's Nightside meets Dr. Who, with a heavy dose of Hellboy and maybe even The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. This is easily one my new favorite urban fantasy novels, and Cunningham one of my new favorite authors.

The Ember Child by Anthony Mitchell is a truly great book, in my opinion, that I think will appeal to a whole lot of lovers of epic fantasy. It takes the tropes we love and makes them fresh in a way I have not seen a long time. But from what I can tell from looking at it on Amazon and Goodreads, no one is reading it, which is a terrible shame. I believe it's because of the cover (which isn't terrible or unprofessional, just not real eye-catching and it doesn't scream epic fantasy), and the almost complete lack of marketing, resulting in little to no word-of-mouth. I highly recommend this book and will shout it out any chance I get.

Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike is, as I said in my review, one of those rare reads that doesn't come along very often. Genuine, consistent, extremely well written, as well as fun and funny as hell.

Dragon Bones by D.K. Holmberg was my least favorite of the bunch, but Holmberg has published dozens of books, is making a killing in sales, and is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author to boot. If I was D.K., I wouldn't give a rats-patooty what that Dyrk Ashton knucklehead thinks.

I told you my choice wouldn't be easy, right? I was an entrant in the SPFBO in 2016, and lucky enough to be a finalist and take third place. I checked out many of the finalists from the first SPFBO of 2015, and followed closely all last year. As far as I'm concerned, any number of the books in my Booknest group this year could not only be semi-finalists, they could hold their own in the final ten as well. Still, I have to choose just one, and that one will be--

Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike. Brilliantly written and conceived, error-free as far as my eyes could see, with a uniqueness factor I'm always thrilled to find, and cheerful nods to everything fantasy fans adore, I could see this as not only a finalist, but possibly taking the whole shabang. Fingers crossed for you, Mr. Pike!

Thanks for putting up with me, everyone, authors, review readers, and Booknest alike.

All the very best,

DA

My review of The Empire of Ashes: The Draconis Memoria #3 by Anthony Ryan

The sheer span and scope is mind-boggling - in a good way. In a GREAT way, in fact.

I still can't get my head wrapped around how Ryan was able to put together such an expansive story with so many characters and information and keep it fascinating page after page. To me it's like part military history text of World War II (and I love that stuff), part steampunk novel, and part grand epic fantasy, all made to work in a way I would have previously thought impossible. This series, and particularly The Empire of Ashes, carries us through breathtaking campaigns all over the world, by land, sea, and air, while also describing the fascinating political, economic and technological military industrial developments akin to both that WWI and WWII - but add to that dragons, sea monsters, magic, and armies of the undead. I'm simply amazed. More so because the characters never get lost. They're front and center all the way through.

Speaking of the characters, I can't remember a book where they were more complex yet interesting. Ryan's ability to craft them and bring them to life is masterful - particularly in that we see our hero's sometimes do terrible things, and the most despicable characters at times do the most wonderful things - and most times when we least expect it. Friends can become our worst enemies, and enemies can become the most stalwart allies. It just feels real, but still with that sense of fantastical wonder we all crave.

As a final note: Without giving anything away, hats off and a deep bow with an ear-to-ear grin for the name given to one of the aerostats (from one of my favorite television shows of all time). Hint hint, nudge nudge, say no more...

My review of The Wolf of Oren-yaro by Kay Villoso

Thrilling and touching, a personal tale with the scope of kingdoms.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a refreshing change of pace for me from the military sword and sorcery or urban fantasy I usually read, reminding me of the more introspective narrative feel of The Goblin Emperor, which I loved, but with more action, which I greatly appreciated. Villoso can weave a yarn and make us care in a way I haven't experienced in a very long time. Read it and weep - and cheer at the same time.

My review of Bloodwitch: A Living Blade Novella by Timandra Whitecastle

Jaunty yet eerie and frightening at the same time. Bloodwitch sucks you in like quicksand in a nightmare and doesn't let go.

How Timandra Whitecastle manages to pack so much in a novella, I have no idea. When I think back on the story, there as many main plot points and events, with the same stakes, as most novels I've read that are five times as long. What starts out as mischievous young people conning folks by using magic in a simple boardwalk game becomes a magic school mystery becomes a terrifying end-times fantasy-horror novel. It's somehow very present and relevant, yet feels very much like a dream. Yeah, I know, but I mean it. Give it a shot. It won't give you nightmares. I promise...