Self-Pub Fantasy Month Recs: 3 Books, 3 Authors



I think probably the first self-published book I read was Hugh Howey's Wool, which I found on my library's online ebooks collection. Ever since then I've been slowly reading more and more self-published stuff. There are a variety of reasons for this including but not limited to:


  • I've pretty much exhausted my local library's Fantasy and Sci Fi collection
  • When you're looking outside the library (aka, having to buy the books you read) self-published works are a lot more affordable (seriously, the prices of trad published ebooks are ridiculous) and there are often free works that are excellent
  • I've found a lot more variation and creativity in self-pub works and a lot less of the tropes I got tired of. For example, I'm much more likely to just find a fantasy work that doesn't contain a love story shoehorned into it in Self-Pub works...
  • My forays back into traditional publishing and the "classics" or super famous SF&F have not satisfied my personal tastes - I've bounced off some very popular works pretty hard
  • I'm now self-publishing my own books and it helps me understand the market I'm working in


I could probably go on. Anyway, if you look at the books I've read and reviewed on goodreads you'll see it leans quite heavily towards self-published works. (This is not to say that ALL self-pub works are amazing, I've found a lot of books I hated and dropped pretty quick, or finished, but rated them 2-stars or given them scathing reviews.)

Through all this reading I've found some hidden gems that you should absolutely check out. These are books I will shout about until they get famous. Because they really deserve more recognition. I'm keeping a list of these Hidden Gems right here on my website, and I aim to keep updating it regularly.

I also organized the Sale of Beloved SFF Books with the goal of highlighting some beloved and lesser known SFF works, and offering readers a recommendation with each title so they know why someone else loved it. The sale is over now, but if you click the link above you will still find the sale page and be able to check those books out. I also plan to do this again, perhaps regularly.

So I'm really excited by the efforts of the folks at Self Published Fantasy Month, which runs annually in September and I hope to take part in it with a few posts and reviews this year. I'd like to kick things off with a couple of lists of recommendations. Below, I've chosen the top 3 books and top 3 authors I would recommend you all check out.

Recommendations: 


For Lovers of Immersive World-Building: 

An Elegy of Heroes: The Agartes Epilogues by K. S. Villoso

  • Completed Trilogy 
  • Rich world-building covering various kingdoms, empires, etc. 
  • Focus on normal characters rather than royals or chosen ones 
  • The author's other series set in the same world has been picked up by a traditional publisher 


The Eagle's Flight by D. E. Olesen 

  • First in an ongoing series. 
  • Rich world-building with a focus on various parts of one realm reminiscent of the Danelaw
  • Focus on epic big picture with battles, complex politics, and varying perspective characters 
  • Currently available for free on the author's website 


Currently by Sarah Mensinga

  • Stand-alone novel
  • Rich world building in a unique world ruled by tides with a steam-punk feel 
  • Focus on one character's journey and discovering the world through her eyes 
  • The author is also an illustrator so there are some excellent narrated chapters on youtube where she reads the chapter and completes an illustration of a scene from it 


Authors I've grown to trust: 



I tend to read more fantasy than science fiction, but I've read a few of Mr. Cobets books over the past few years and I realized that I can always expect his science fiction to offer two things. Creative and unique alien races and, more importantly, a deep exploration of meaningful themes related to how humans interact with each other and with nature. I like science fiction to say something meaningful so his books are perfect for my personal preferences. I'm still planning to finish reading all of them, but so far I particularly enjoyed the novel Godeena and the novelette Black Seeds.


Daniel E. Olesen

As I said above, the high fantasy novel The Eagle's Flight has excellent world-building. Reading it was immersive for me in a way that not many books have been. I can remember being this immersed while reading Lord of the Rings for the first time. So although his Chronicles of Adalmearc series is not yet complete, and although I usually prefer stand-alone novels over long series, I am now hooked on this series and will keep reading as long as there are books being released. I trust this author to deliver a quality novel each time. I've re-read The Eagle's Flight and it was just as good upon re-read, and I also read the second book in the series The Raven's Cry. Both have been excellent quality and I can't wait for the third one.


K. S. Villoso

Another author whose epic series "An Elegy of Heroes" managed to immerse me in a very rare way. Not only did I enjoy this self-published trilogy, but I've recently read her traditionally published novel The Wolf of Oren-Yaro and I enjoyed it so much I'm eagerly awaiting the next one, which will release at the end of this month. These traditionally published novels are set in the same world as her self-published novels, and I'm also currently reading the collection of short stories called The Dragonlord's Call and Other Stories, which I got when I signed up for her newsletter. Again, this author produces such high quality books that I am now a fan and will read anything she publishes.



I hope you find something in my above recommendations that you enjoy. I'm hoping to make a couple more posts during the month highlighting some more great self published fantasy so stay tuned for that, I guess, and happy reading!

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