 Now that you've seen my 5-star rated reads from 2021, it's time for me to share my 2022 alphabet reading challenge - indie authors only! An alphabet reading challenge can be set up many ways, but in my case, I follow the suggestions my mother gave me in high school. For this challenge, the suggestions are: -Only choose authors you've never read work from before. -Use the first letter of the author's last name (organized like the library system) -Pick one book per letter of the alphabet (26 books total) -*My bonus for 2022: Only pick indie authors.* This challenge is in addition to traditionally-published books and new books by indie authors I already love that I plan to read in 2022. The goal of it all? To find new authors I love, and support indie authors in the process. So, without further ado, here are my picks for 2022:
So there it is: my list for the 2022 alphabet reading challenge - indie authors only.
Have you read any of these? Are any on your TBR list? Let me know in the comments! Want to keep up with my reading challenge and other featured indie author news throughout 2022? Sign up for my newsletter HERE to stay in-the-loop, and I'll send you a free copy of Splitting Dusk: A Splitting Worlds Novella as a bonus!
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Today I am super excited to share the complete list of my 5-star reads from 2021! As a Reedsy Discovery Reviewer, I get many requests for reviews all year long. Many of my 5-star reads this year came from Reedsy Discovery! Others I found through "Bookstagram" or recommendations from other authors, or I edited them pre-release for the authors and then read the completed versions. From Middle-Grade Fantasy to Adult Dark Fantasy, I have a wide variety of books to choose from, so maybe you can find some for your TBR list, too! Without further ado, here are my 5-star reads from 2021 (in order of date reviewed):
So there you have it: all of my 5-star reads from 2021!
I will continue to post 5-star reads throughout 2022, as well. -Want to keep up with my reviews? Follow me on Twitter HERE, Goodreads HERE, or Instagram HERE. -Want more lists about featured books and authors? Sign up for my newsletter HERE for updates through the year. -Are you an author who wants me to review your book? Check out my Inquiries page HERE for details. -Are you a Reedsy Discovery reader? Follow my Reedsy Discovery profile HERE to see all of my reviews through the year.  With 2021 quickly coming to a close, some of my amazing fellow indie authors and I have put together a live New Year's indie author fest you won't wanna miss! Follow me on YouTube HERE to catch: -Lives About 7 Different Fantasy Genres -Chats with Over 20 Indie Authors -Indie Book News for 2022 -Live QAs with Every Author on the Stream Check out all seven livestreams here:  Live #7: The "Writers of Rohan" Sunday, January 2nd, 2022 at 1:00PM CST We hope you enjoy our New Year's indie author fest!
Hitting the bell on any of those YouTube videos now will let YouTube send you a notification when we go live this weekend. Which lives are you most excited for?  It's been a while since I've hosted live authors to talk about their books, but this month I am excited to announce that I have lined up three indie authors, three author interviews, to go live with me on Instagram!
First up is my September 2021 featured indie author: Danielle Novotny (Sci-Fi). Come join Danielle and I as we chat about her writing career, her books, and writing in general! -Time: 10:30AM CST (11:30AM EST) -Date: Saturday, December 4th, 2021 -Place: @katherine_d_graham 's Instagram Have some questions about books, writing, or Danielle's work in particular? Drop them in the comments here or on my Instagram post HERE and we'll make sure to answer them on the live! Stay tuned for more interview news to come in the next two weeks with E.A. Cartwright and Lauren D. Fulter as well. (Want to be the first to know about upcoming author interviews/events? Sign up for my e-mail list HERE to get first-look news.) With the craziness of life lately, it's been a while since I gave some shout-outs, but today I am excited to share three new featured indie authors with you guys! Each of the authors below has their own featured author page here on my website, and stay tuned for more information about live interviews with them on Instagram in the coming weeks.
Want to see more featured indie authors?If these three new featured indie authors have piqued your interest (or you're missing your favorite sci-fi or fantasy sub-genre), don't worry!
-Check out my past featured indie authors in the archive HERE -Watch my Instagram live interviews in my IGTV saves HERE -Sign up for my newsletter HERE to get first-looks at future featured indie authors (and I'll give you a free copy of Splitting Dusk for signing up). And if you're a fantasy or sci-fi author who would like to be considered for a feature, contact me HERE for more information on my free monthly featured author pages. With the fall upon us (bringing loads of new fall releases to read), I want to share the list of books I gave 5-star reviews to: summer 2021. Anyone who knows me from a reviewing standpoint knows that I don't hand out many 5-star reviews. A book really has to go above and beyond, blowing me away, to break out of the "Loved It" (4-star) and into "Must-Read" (5-star). I am known for being blatantly honest with my reviews, and I will link my review to each book below in case you'd like to read it in full. Many of these books I found courtesy of Reedsy Discovery, although some were reads from fellow authors in my Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter writing community.
I am always looking to expand my TBR list!
Which 5-star reads did you have this summer? -Want to read all my reviews? Follow me on Reedsy Discovery HERE or Goodreads HERE -Interested in seeing what readers are saying about my books? Check out my blog HERE, my Goodreads page HERE or my Amazon author page HERE -Are you an author who would like me to review your sci-fi or fantasy novel? Submit it for consideration on Reedsy Discovery HERE.* *Please note that Reedsy Discovery only permits reviewers to "accept" 3 books in our queue at any given time. If you submit your book while my queue is full, it may be sent to other fantasy reviewers on Reedsy for review. I cannot guarantee a review of every book submitted to me, but I will try my best. (Reedsy reviewers are not paid for our honest reviews.) Each cover shown above is from Amazon.com and is not the property of Katherine D. Graham; Katherine does not claim any rights over the books or their covers, and is not being paid to promote these books.  This morning an interview hosted by Ash Oldfield, author of The Rachaya Series, went live on her website!
The support of fellow indie authors makes such a huge difference when you're an indie author. This isn't a competition; our readers need something to read between books, after all, and I could not be more grateful. -You can check out the interview I did with Ash on her website HERE. -Ash's 'The Rachaya Series' (Dragon Fantasy) is available on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited HERE. -And you can check out my featured indie author of the month, Susan Stradiotto, on the featured indie author page HERE. Happy Tuesday, and thanks for reading!  Today I am excited, because I can finally share about TwinFlames: one of my five-star reads in 2021!
TwinFlames is the third volume in Nicole Wells' "Five Elements" series, and believe me when I say this is one you won't want to miss! Without further ado, here is my review for TwinFlames: ---Review As Posted On My Goodreads Account HERE-- It is said that the third time's a charm. That cannot be more true than it is with TwinFlames by Nicole Wells. UpSpark (volume 1 of the Five Elements series) was sweet, deep, and intriguing. StarDust (volume 2 of the series) introduced us to the conflict to come, with intriguing travels around the world and lore for the series. TwinFlames (volume 3 of the series) marries the best of both worlds, while preparing us for what is bound to be one of the most epic battles in the Science Fantasy scene. Maia is a fighting prodigy but is not in the ring for fame or money. One thing is on her mind: revenge. When the mysterious, tall, dark, and handsome Gabe--the notoriously famous "Angel" in the fighting world--swoops into Maia's life, his passion and drive to save her from being another youth snuffed out in reckless fighting turns Maia's search on its head. It's only when Maia teleports herself stark-nude to a park in France with a power unknown to her that she learns of a power far more deadly than the rapist she's spent her days tracking down--a power that can end the entire world. Swept into a passionate love with Gabe and helped by mysterious friends, Maia must hone her newfound powers and lead the rising "Elements" to protect humanity and the Earth from enemies far beyond their natural ability. TwinFlames was a page-turning read chalk full of emotions often left off the table. Pride, pain, self-righteousness, social responsibility, self-identity, vengeance, and failure abound but are balanced by love in all its forms. TwinFlames is far more than just an action-packed book or fiery romance; it is a book that made me take a look at myself and see parts of myself I usually try to ignore, and bring hope to aspects of my life I once thought long-forgotten. A perfect 5/5 on this one - I cannot recommend it highly enough. Wells is definitely a master storyteller, and I can't wait to read volume 4! --Trigger warnings: Mental & physical abuse mentioned/detailed, contemplations of murder, mentions of police brutality (aimed specifically at race), mention of rape, war and execution, institutionalized mental breakdown/illness discussed, mention of infant loss.-- Want to read TwinFlames: one of my five-star reads in 2021, for yourself or see more about the Five Elements series? -Grab a Copy of TwinFlames HERE -Follow Nicole Wells on Instagram HERE -Sign-up to be on Nicole's ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) and Street Team HERE to read her next books early! -And follow Jennifer, Nicole's Book Tour Coordinator, HERE.  After much deliberation, here are four books that made my recommended reads for April 2021 list! March was a great month for connecting with new authors and reading new books. Here are four of the ones that really stood out (although there are SO MANY more!):
1.) Anna J. Walner's Garkain (Amazon US link HERE) 2.) Andrei Saygo's DC Coven: Oath Breakers (Amazon US link HERE) 3.) Darrah Steffen's Rise of the Dragon Queen (Featured author page HERE) 4.) Melissa Wise's Hades' Queen (Amazon US link HERE) What awesome books by new authors in March 2021 would you include in your recommended reads for April 2021? Leave me a recommendation in the comments!  Meet B.K. Rae: February's Featured Indie/Self-Published Author! This month I am excited to introduce an amazing paranormal urban fantasy romance novel--B.K. Rae's newest volume in her The Keepers of Knowledge series: The Darkmoon Descendant. Here's a snippet about the book: Meet Katherine King, Werewolf... Some bloodlines run dark. Some darkness can’t be overcome. For Katherine “Kay” King, that could mean life or death. Want to read more about The Darkmoon Descendant and learn more about B.K. Rae: February's featured indie/self-published author?
-Check out her featured author page on my website HERE. -Grab a copy of The Darkmoon Descendant on Amaazon HERE. -Follow my Instagram page HERE to be notified when I go live with B.K. Rae in a couple weeks for an interview about The Darkmoon Descendant. |
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