Children's Books Recommendations

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Hi everyone! Today I am going to tell you about some children's and middlegrade books written by self-published or small press authors. These are also available on Kindle Unlimited for free!

The Fast Little Fox (The Fast Little Fox & Friends)

Have you ever wanted to go on an adventure through the forest? Follow the fast little fox as he discovers more than he can imagine along the way! What will he learn? Can he make it home in time for supper? Read on to find out!

Free on Kindle Unlimited

Free Books on Kindle Unlimited #5

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Hi everyone! Welcome back or welcome to the series on my blog where I share books by self-published/small press authors that are free on Kindle Unlimited! Kindle Unlimited is a service where you can get a free trial and then you pay each month and receive unlimited access to millions of ebooks! I'd highly recommend if you love reading ebooks. See the other parts of this series for more free books on Kindle Unlimited! 

So let's take a look at some more indie books that you can read for free on Kindle Unlimited.

The Dacian Enigma (Vialegio Book 1)

The sly deceit and deception of the Dacian King unleashes an Emperor's revenge. A soldier learns the wily crafts of war and politics as he rises through the ranks of the legendary Legion of Gemina. Overreaching ambition lays the framework for fissures within the Roman Empire.

Haze

When Eliza Owens gets a phone call in the middle of the night from a girl she’s never met, she doesn’t know what to think. The girl introduces herself as Paige, and says she used to date Erik Stern, Eliza’s fiancé. What’s more, she has something important to discuss.

The only problem? Paige has been dead for years.

Believing it to be a sick prank, Eliza tries to force it from her mind until Sam, Eliza’s older sister, tells her she met Paige only a few weeks before. And, according to Sam, Paige has nothing nice to say about Erik.

The fight which follows shatters the lives of everyone involved, and Erik disappears without a trace.

Five years later, Erik returns to town after his father’s death. Old wounds quickly resurface, and with them several burning questions. None the least of which is: Who spoke to Eliza and Sam if it wasn’t Paige? And why?

These Violent Nights

Once upon a time, inhabitants of another world tore a hole through the universe and came to Earth. They called themselves Suriias, and rivalled humans in knowledge and skill with one great exception: they had magic.

War followed. Humanity lost. And three hundred years later, humans are on the brink of extinction.

Orphans Thorn and Thistle live in hiding. They are the last of their families, the last of their friends. They scrape by, stealing to survive and living on the streets or hiding in sheds. But even under the brutal regime of the Suriias, there are places where humans can mingle in secret with magical sympathisers, and one night Thistle gets an unexpected offer of marriage from a Suriia with high standing and friends in all the right places. For Thistle, it’s a chance at safety and comfort; for Thorn, it’s a chance to find the ones who killed her parents.

And so the pair move into the capital city of Courtenz. An urban monstrosity of magic and might, false friends and flying cars, drones and death tolls, the new city promises a fresh start – and new love – for both.

But if there’s one thing Thorn knows for certain, it’s that dreams can swiftly turn into nightmares.

Kindle Vella Stories to Read

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If you live in the US, you can access a platform called Kindle Vella where authors can share stories in episodes which are uploaded regularly. You can read the first 3 episodes for free and each read really helps the writers! Here are some Kindle Vella stories you need to check out:

Chaotic Roots

In the world of Kable VonSable's Choosing Chaos comes the story of Fynbar and Ekaterina. Magic, romance, and snark are just the beginning. Dragons, fireflies, chaos, and adventures await.

See MJ Hutto's books here.

Night Rider

A conquered nation. Unlikely heroes. Four strangers linked by tragedy and fate. Nikolas burns to escape. Reyma hides her visions. Rhea stirs rebellion underground. And Shade...Shade is a Night Rider, outlawed, unpredictable and dangerous. No one really knows what he'll do, other than keep fighting. Save Those You Can. Avenge Those You Can't. NIGHT RIDER is an epic fantasy in a world with hints of hope, for fans of The Witcher and LOTR. New episodes every Wednesday.

Poetry Books to Read

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People write poetry about so many subjects using varying techniques. There's always something you can get out of reading a poem. Here are some poetry books to check out!

Watercolors: A Selection of Poetry

A hand-selected anthology of 15 favorite poems from author Dorian J. Sinnott's collection over the last decade. This selection includes: Greed, Bereavement of Winter, Frost, Winter Born, Wolf and Lamb, His Muse, Amnesiac, Ghost in the Machine (Flowers for the Dead Man), Calypso, Marionette, Interstellar, The Astronomer, Sunsets, Burying the Ghost, Symposium, Star-Crossed, White Memory, and Moonbeams.

Black Girl Magic

Rachael DK invites us into her world as a multicultural Black writer and cancer survivor, examining the truths and fictions we tell ourselves and others as we teeter on the tightrope between meaning of life and mortality, guilt and redemption, fear and courage, hope and change. In this latest poetry collection she shares new and old poetry based upon the emotional and physical pains she journaled throughout her life. It's about Black life, an appreciation of it, and our power to transform it. Anyone can read Black Girl Magic in Poetry to gain respect for one another's journeys, honor our anger and heartbreak as humans, and unleash our truest dreams.

Love Lake

Should We Ditch the To Do List?

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It comes to the question, are to do lists harming you more than helping you?

I'm someone who loves making lists. Lists of tasks I need to, lists of things I feel like I should do, lists of things I want to buy etc. But recently I've been coming to the realisation that maybe rather than assisting me and making me achieve a bunch of tasks, making lists is actually harming my wellbeing. 

Books Set in the Future: Sci-Fi Book Recommendations

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Hi everyone! In this post we will be looking at books set in the future. Find your sci-fi recommendations below!

These Violent Nights

Once upon a time, inhabitants of another world tore a hole through the universe and came to Earth. They called themselves Suriias, and rivalled humans in knowledge and skill with one great exception: they had magic.

War followed. Humanity lost. And three hundred years later, humans are on the brink of extinction.

Orphans Thorn and Thistle live in hiding. They are the last of their families, the last of their friends. They scrape by, stealing to survive and living on the streets or hiding in sheds. But even under the brutal regime of the Suriias, there are places where humans can mingle in secret with magical sympathisers, and one night Thistle gets an unexpected offer of marriage from a Suriia with high standing and friends in all the right places. For Thistle, it’s a chance at safety and comfort; for Thorn, it’s a chance to find the ones who killed her parents.

And so the pair move into the capital city of Courtenz. An urban monstrosity of magic and might, false friends and flying cars, drones and death tolls, the new city promises a fresh start – and new love – for both.

But if there’s one thing Thorn knows for certain, it’s that dreams can swiftly turn into nightmares.

Free on Kindle Unlimited

A Touch of Death (The Outlands Pentalogy Book 1)

A thousand years in the future, the last of humanity live inside the walls of the totalitarian Kingdom of Cutta. The rich live in Anais, the capital city of Cutta, sheltered from the famine and disease which ravage the rest of the Kingdom. Yet riches and power only go so far, and even Anaitians can be executed. It is only by the will of the King that Nate Anteros, son of the King’s favourite, is spared from the gallows after openly dissenting. But when he’s released from prison, Nate disappears.

A stark contrast, Catherine Taenia has spent her entire life comfortable and content. The daughter of the King’s Hangman and in love with Thom, Nate’s younger brother, her life has always been easy, ordered and comfortable. That is, where it doesn’t concern Nate. His actions sullied not only his future, but theirs. And unlike Thom, Catherine has never forgiven him.

Two years pass without a word, and then one night Nate returns. But things with Nate are never simple, and when one wrong move turns their lives upside down, the only thing left to do is run where the King’s guards cannot find them – the Outlands. Those wild, untamed lands which stretch around the great walls of the Kingdom, filled with mutants and rabids.

Free on Kindle Unlimited

Dust & Lightning

In the near future, humans have gone beyond simple space travel. By the year 4054, multiple solar systems are inhabited, and taking a spaceship is as commonplace as taking an aeroplane.

Unfortunately, not everything about the future is so advanced. The central planets, led by Earth, have risen high at the expense of cheap labour on distant worlds. Dissent is widespread and arrests are common. Sometimes prisoners are released; sometimes they disappear without a trace, sent to labour camps in other solar systems.

When Ames Emerys receives a letter telling him that his brother Callum has died en route to the remote planet of Kilnin, he takes the first ship he can off Earth, desperate for answers. But the secrets Ames uncovers prove far more dangerous than he could have imagined.

And trouble isn’t far behind.

Free on Kindle Unlimited

Reviewing Things That Have Helped my Mental Health In the Past

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Hi everyone. Today I wanted to write a post about mental health. If you don't know, I deal with anxiety and I have done for years. I've tried various strategies in the past, most of which didn't last but there was a period when some things actually helped and I saw a noticeable improvement in my anxiety and mood. I wanted to review some of those things here so that I can prioritise doing these things regularly again and in case it might help any of you.

Mindfulness

I was fortunate enough to participate in a mindfulness course and over time I really noticed it helping! Things that helped me include:

Book Spotlight: The Child of Fire and Earth: Fantasy Adventure for 8-12 years by Barry Ryerson

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Title: The Child of Fire and Earth: Fantasy Adventure for 8-12 years

Author: Barry Ryerson

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Available in paperback, ebook and audiobook: Amazon.co.uk - Amazon.com (Also free on Kindle Unlimited!)

Signed and personalised paperbacks from author

Synopsis

Hew had always dreamt of being a knight. Take that, villain! Yes, princess, of course I'll rescue you. Thank you, your Majesty, yes I am great with a sword. Unfortunately, being a farmer's son made that dream impossible. Real life was more about cleaning animal mess and checking for weeds.

Until he met the dragon.

It opened up a hidden world of magic around him. Faeries. Hobgoblins. Monsters, shape changers, brownies; you name them, he met them.

But there was a problem.

A blight to the north was making magic fade from the Earth. If it disappeared completely, then everyone would freeze to death.

Yes, that included Hew's annoying little sister, but even she didn’t deserve to be frozen. He would have to be brave and defeat this blight. The question was…

What could a nearly eleven-year-old do?

Author bio

Barry started his career in music technology; using computers to compose music, edit sounds, and mix recordings. After several years of teaching courses from Level 2 diplomas to full degrees, his health took a tumble, and he had to give up teaching. This meant, though, that he had time to write, something he has taken to with passion. He still can't quite believe he's an author. 

He has done a wide variety of random things in his life so far (he has a pilot's licence, performed for 1,500 people at Disneyland Paris, and, technically, is also a ninja) and he sincerely hopes this never stops.

Links:

Website

Twitter

Instagram

Fast Reads!

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Are you looking for some quick reads to get you out of a reading slump or to boost your Goodreads reading goal? Check out these reads that are either short or ones that you may get through quickly! Some of these are free or less than a couple of dollars.

The Man and the Crow

Some witches curse, others are cursed. And sometimes, the cursed want revenge.

Length: 24 pages

Free on Kindle Unlimited!

Treasures and Trinkets: A Dragon's Brood Tale (The Dragon's Brood Cycle)

Before she was a prisoner in Marianne's crystal mines or just another face among the multitudes in the city of Seven Skies, Maddy had a different name and everything she could want—governesses, gowns, and gold to fill her pockets. And though she wasn't the son her father had wanted, it was inevitable that one day she would inherit his title.

But Maddy's predictable world is turned upside down when an extraordinary servant girl challenges everything she's ever known; there's a wider world beyond the comfortable confines of her castle, full of wonder and magic, and Maddy finds that the one thing she doesn't have is the only thing she really needs.

Length; 56 pages

Dust & Lightning

In the near future, humans have gone beyond simple space travel. By the year 4054, multiple solar systems are inhabited, and taking a spaceship is as commonplace as taking an aeroplane.

Unfortunately, not everything about the future is so advanced. The central planets, led by Earth, have risen high at the expense of cheap labour on distant worlds. Dissent is widespread and arrests are common. Sometimes prisoners are released; sometimes they disappear without a trace, sent to labour camps in other solar systems.

When Ames Emerys receives a letter telling him that his brother Callum has died en route to the remote planet of Kilnin, he takes the first ship he can off Earth, desperate for answers. But the secrets Ames uncovers prove far more dangerous than he could have imagined.

And trouble isn’t far behind.

Length: 100 pages

Free on Kindle Unlimited!

99p/99 cents or less Reads!

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Hi everyone! I love reading ebooks; there are a lot of great deals to be found. Here are some reads that you can get for 99p/99 cents or less!

Treasures and Trinkets: A Dragon's Brood Tale (The Dragon's Brood Cycle)

Before she was a prisoner in Marianne's crystal mines or just another face among the multitudes in the city of Seven Skies, Maddy had a different name and everything she could want—governesses, gowns, and gold to fill her pockets. And though she wasn't the son her father had wanted, it was inevitable that one day she would inherit his title.

But Maddy's predictable world is turned upside down when an extraordinary servant girl challenges everything she's ever known; there's a wider world beyond the comfortable confines of her castle, full of wonder and magic, and Maddy finds that the one thing she doesn't have is the only thing she really needs.