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Do you know that Amazon has a listing of the top-selling and free sci-fi and fantasy books? The checklist modifications continuously — authors set their books to free briefly to advertise their work, and, in fact, books transfer up and down within the rankings. Learn on to search out your enjoyable free learn for this weekend! And seize the books shortly as a result of they don’t at all times keep free for lengthy.
This week’s checklist is totally totally different from these of the earlier weeks. So for those who’re a fan of free books, there are going to be new issues to learn on a regular basis. If you wish to get this checklist in your inbox each Friday afternoon, subscribe to the MetaStellar weekly e-newsletter.
There are numerous books to undergo, so this week I’m being helped out by a few different members of our MetaStellar neighborhood. Should you’d like to hitch me in doing these evaluations — and taping our common Friday movies — electronic mail me at [email protected].
10. A Charming Crime by Tonya Kappes
That is the primary of 13 within the Magical Cures cozy thriller collection. The opposite books are $5.99 every, however the whole collection is in Kindle Limitless.
From Maria Korolov:
June Heal lives in a small city, the place she makes a dwelling making homeopathic medicines. She inherited the enterprise from her mom, who died of a coronary heart assault. Or did she?
June’s childhood greatest good friend, Oscar, is now a police officer in the identical city, and has grown into a really hunky man. She additionally has a cat with a mysterious means to indicate up locations its not speculated to be.
June has a behavior of blowing up her work shed whereas mixing her medicines. I don’t know a lot about natural cures, however, so far as I’m conscious, not one of the elements are speculated to be explosive.
Then Oscar tells her that he simply found one other city, that he’s by no means heard of earlier than, and he would possibly take a job there. And there’s a store in that city that desires to promote her cures. June’s by no means heard of this city both, however drives over. Apparently, neither of them assume it’s unusual that there’s a city a brief drive away from the place they’ve lived all their lives that they don’t find out about. June goes into the store that desires to promote her stuff, and there’s a snow globe there — or perhaps a crystal ball — and a face seems in it and tells her that she’s at risk. She’s additionally invited to come back dwell within the city and open a store there. And what have you learnt — there’s a vacant store proper there on the town, together with her mom’s title on it. Yup, June is beginning to keep in mind this place. She and her mom used to dwell right here, earlier than they moved away when June was very younger.
Usually, I’d be throughout a narrative like this. A lady strikes to a small city, discovers that she has magical powers, that her cat is admittedly some type of magical acquainted, and she or he has to unravel a homicide — all whereas romancing a good-looking cop. The writing is mild and breezy and it might definitely be a welcome diversion on a dreary, snowy, winter weekend. I dwell in western Massachusetts, and, child, it’s chilly outdoors.
However perhaps I’ve learn too many books of this sort and I’m all magical-cozied out. Nonetheless, there are numerous books on this collection, and they’re all in Kindle Limitless. I’m going to maintain this one on my to-read shelf, once I’m within the temper for one thing mild and comfy once more.
Get the Kindle book free from Amazon right here.
9. Slaves of the Sword and Wand by Joel Newlon
That is the primary of what would be the Songs of the Sword and Wand fantasy collection. Its normally $14.99 however at the moment it’s free.
From Alex Korolov:
Should you’re a fan of army fantasy tales, I’d advocate this ebook.
Dunstan has been an indentured soldier within the military since he was discovered as an orphan when he was seven years outdated. On the age of 37, he’s technically speculated to be free of the military as he’s served for thirty years.
He goes to petition for his freedom to the native ruler, Lord Cuthwulf, who seems to be somewhat treacherous. Dunstan finally ends up killing some troopers, rescuing a witch, and now has to flee from lord Cuthwulf and a few extra troopers which can be coming to assault, and that’s simply chapter one.
I undoubtedly like this ebook, and I plan to complete it. It’s a enjoyable plot, and it’s not mild on the motion. And I like that Dunstan is an older, skilled army man as a substitute of some younger man, as typically appears to be the case in fantasy tales.
Get the Kindle book free from Amazon right here.
8. Silver Spells by Kate Moseman
That is the primary of 4 books within the Midlife Elementals city fantasy collection. The opposite books are $0.99 to $3.99 every and are all in Kindle Limitless. That is the third time this ebook has been on this checklist. We beforehand reviewed it final February and final Could.
From Maria Korolov:
When not studying books about kick-ass ladies killing folks and house battles, I totally take pleasure in cozy magical mysteries.
On this one, Luella is a social media supervisor at a sunscreen manufacturing facility. Her daughter has simply gone away to school. And she or he will get fired. No rationalization, nothing. As she’s packing up her stuff, a wierd white canine runs into the constructing and runs out once more. Solely Luella and her two greatest associates see it — the opposite staff don’t react in any respect.
Her boyfriend implies that it’s her personal fault she obtained fired, regardless of her good efficiency evaluations, and she or he dumps him on the spot. Good for her.
Now she’s dwelling in an condo she will be able to not afford, with faculty payments that she will be able to not afford to pay, so she jumps at a possibility to dwell rent-free house-sitting for her mother’s good friend whereas she job-hunts.
And the bizarre stuff simply retains piling up. I’m seven chapters in, and there’s nonetheless no signal of a thriller. Aside from the apparent one about what’s with all of the magic taking place to Luella and her two associates. However I’m having fun with it very a lot, I just like the characters and the sunny Florida setting. We’re buried in snow right here the place I dwell in Western Massachusetts, so I can use some sunshine, even when it’s simply in a ebook.
Get the book free from Amazon right here.
7. Apache Jack by Brent Reilly
That is the primary ebook of three Apache Jack books within the twenty one ebook Enjoyable Monster Thrillers collection. Often every ebook is $4.99, however at the moment the whole collection is free. Not one of the books are in Kindle Limitless.
From Alex Korolov:
I wouldn’t name this ebook sci-fi or fantasy, however for those who’re a fan of historic fiction set within the American west throughout the frontier period, then you definitely’ll in all probability like this one.
The 12 months is 1843, and Jack Miller and his household are passing via New Mexico. The Southern Pacific Railroad is paying Miller good cash to survey a path for a railroad from El Paso, TX to Yuma, AZ. However these are troublesome instances. Texas is at warfare with Mexico, and native native American tribes are a menace to vacationers.
Miller has his two brothers serving to out. They every additionally introduced two sons, in order that they have a good-sized crew.
I learn the primary two chapters, and I felt prefer it was half historical past lesson, half story. The start of chapter two has a somewhat prolonged part speaking concerning the historical past of the Colt repeating rifle, however I did discover the knowledge attention-grabbing.
There’s a tense interplay with some Mexicans, which does result in some taking pictures, and curiously ends with Jack proudly owning a gold mine.
I like historic fiction normally, and I believe Apache Jack has a enjoyable storyline and many attention-grabbing historic info that the writer appears completely happy to share with the reader, and I’d maintain studying. However for those who’re searching for spaceships or wizards or something like that, this one isn’t for you.
Get the Kindle book free from Amazon right here.
6. The Dragon Misfits by D.Okay. Holmberg
It is a field set of the primary three books of The Dragon Misfits six-book coming of age fantasy collection. Individually the books are $3.99 to $4.99 every, however the whole collection is in Kindle Limitless. D.Okay. Holmberg is a daily on this checklist. Final December we reviewed The Infinite Warfare collection and his Elemental Academy collection. Final November, we reviewed The Teralin Sword, a field set of the primary three of six books in The Teralin Sword epic fantasy collection. Final September, we reviewed his The Misplaced Prophecy field set. We reviewed The Cloud Warrior Saga field set again in July, and, later that very same month, Path of the Flame, the primary of 5 books in The Dragon Thief coming of age fantasy collection. Could of 2022, we reviewed Unbonded, the primary of 5 books within the First of the Blades epic fantasy collection. Lastly, in April, 2022, we reviewed The Risen Shard, the primary of eight books in The Chain Breaker epic fantasy collection.
From Maria Korolov:
I like this writer — I’ve learn a number of of his different books.
I’m not normally a fan of coming of age books, however I do like epic fantasy, and I do like dragons.
The story begin out with Jason out within the woods and snow, searching rabbits together with his bow. Again within the village, his mom and sister are ready for him to deliver again a rabbit as a result of there’s a celebration happening, and it’ll be ruined if he comes again empty-handed. But it surely’s getting late, and he finally provides up and heads house, drained and hungry. His complete household is hungry.
Again on the village, the opposite younger males deal with him badly, due to how his father died a 12 months earlier — burned by a dragon. However there’s one woman, Tessa, from a household of dragon hunters, who treats him kindly, as a result of Jason’s father saved her life.
His mom, a healer, has been sick in mattress ever since their father died, and his sister has been staying house to handle her.
It’s type of a tragic existence for the child, and a dismal begin to the ebook. I would keep it up, as a result of I just like the writer, however the first couple of chapters aren’t puling me in.
From Terrence Smith:
From the beginning, the ebook gives the look of a extra critical model of Dreamworks’ How To Prepare Your Dragon. The settings is a distant village on the base of a snow-covered mountain, which has a yearly celebration to recollect the wrestle of their folks towards the dragons, which had not been seen by the villagers for 100 years.
The younger protagonist, Jason, takes on the function of hunter for his household, his sister and mom, who continues to be devastated from the lack of her husband, Jason and his sister Kayla’s mom, a 12 months in the past. He had been killed by a dragon, which nobody appears to consider, as dragons haven’t been seen by any of the villagers for a very long time.
Jason additionally has a silver eye which supplies him dragon imaginative and prescient, which is basically infrared imaginative and prescient. He shares that trait with those that have been on the dragons’ facet throughout the peak of the village’s battle with them. This additional makes him a misfit and an outsider.
One of many only a few folks within the village who exhibits him any kindness is Tessa, who is instantly a ray of sunshine. She is alive as a result of Jason’s father protected her from the dragon that they encountered. Anybody who has learn any story ever will assume she will probably be Jason’s love curiosity.
Instantly, the story units up the thriller of one thing to come back, as Jason sees a wierd form transferring within the forest whereas searching at some point, though he isn’t fairly positive what it was. The annual pageant is a good mechanism to speak this world’s lore, which instantly has me intrigued.
If the primary two chapters are any indication, this can be a suggestion for dragon followers in every single place.
Get the Kindle book free from Amazon right here.
5. Shiftless by Aimee Easterling
That is the primary of three books within the Wolf Rampant city fantasy collection. The opposite books are $4.99 every, and the collection shouldn’t be in Kindle Limitless. This isn’t the primary time Aimee Easterling has been on this checklist. We reviewed her ebook Fae Wolf this previous December, and her books Moon Glamour again in Could of 2021.
From Romel Madray:
A lady decides to take the time off and visits a bookstore within the metropolis. A werewolf, she left her house pack ten years in the past to keep away from being pressured right into a mating. On the bookstore, a male werewolf named Chase spots her and she or he runs, however he catches up together with her within the parking zone. Though she is drawn to him, she doesn’t wish to be used as a pawn by him or every other male werewolf.
Usually, the turmoil attributable to her interior wolf’s alter ego makes her anxious, however this time she feels a way of security. Chase presents to have espresso together with her, however she runs again to her condo as a substitute.
Later, she has to trace down a misplaced toddler at a nationwide park. In wolf type, she finds the kid however is shot within the shoulder by a person who she finally kills. She returns the kid to their dad and mom and displays on her personal childhood and household.
Afterwards, she goes for a hike within the forest and meets her father. She learns that her sister is lifeless and that her father needs an inheritor. She should persuade her deceased sister’s nephew, Keith, to be the pack inheritor, or else her father will drive her to return to the pack and produce an inheritor herself.
The primary chapters of the ebook have been troublesome for me to learn as a result of it assumes that the reader is already accustomed to the world, characters, and wolf-human dynamic. Some world-building info is offered later, however I needed to fill within the gaps whereas studying. When these assumptions turned out to be incorrect later within the ebook, I had to return and reevaluate, which slowed down my studying and left me feeling pissed off.
For instance, the narrator stays unnamed and the “wolf” shouldn’t be clearly outlined early on, which makes it obscure the separation between the 2 and the way they have an effect on one another. Is the interior wolf a psychological break, an imagined persona, or an incorporeal spirit within the physique? With out prior information of the style, it’s exhausting to grasp the characters and their place on the earth.
There are additionally some character motivations that appear implausible, particularly when in comparison with our personal world. For instance, if the narrator didn’t even know her sister died, it implies that they weren’t very shut, so it’s unclear why her father thinks she will be able to persuade Keith to be the pack inheritor.
For readers accustomed to the style, I’d charge the ebook as common, however for brand new readers, it could require extra focus to grasp the world and characters.
Get the Kindle book free from Amazon right here.
4. The Hunted by A.J. Scudiere
That is the primary of 5 books within the Black Carbon sci-fi dystopian thriller collection. The opposite books are $4.99 every and should not in Kindle Limitless. The fifth ebook is scheduled to be launched afterward this month. We beforehand reviewed this ebook in February of 2022. Then, in August, we reviewed Resonance, the primary of 5 books within the Relentless Suspense technothriller collection.
From Alex Korolov:
Should you like legendary beasts, horror tales, and heart-pounding life or loss of life pleasure, The Hunted is for you.
Joule is operating from a pack of hell hounds.
You get the concept they’re actually good at killing folks, they usually don’t cease as soon as they’ve obtained your scent.
She makes it to a home, however the canines break in…
That is some type of creepy fantasy horror ebook, and I cherished the primary chapter. A lady’s on the run from some supernatural beasts — and it looks as if she’s moments from being torn aside. I used to be on the sting of my seat, and I wished to know what occurs to Joule as she desperately tries to flee loss of life by hellhound.
Get the book free from Amazon right here.
3. Wanderer’s Odyssey by Simon Goodson
It is a field set of the primary three books within the eight-book Wanderer’s Odyssey collection. The opposite books are $3.99 every and should not in Kindle Limitless.
Jess was born a slave and had by no means set foot on a planet’s floor. His captors use him and different prisoners as cannon fodder. Whereas investigating a thriller house ship for booby traps he and two fellow prisoners are mysteriously free of their management collars and are ready to make use of the ship to flee.
Jess is a fairly passive character firstly of the ebook. Issues simply occur round him, via no specific effort or means of his personal. I choose my major characters to have somewhat bit extra company.
It appears to be like like there’s a strong and evil empire. After escaping from their captors, Jess and his companions choose up a misery sign and save a household of smugglers from the empire’s enforcers, blowing up one of many empire’s ships within the course of.
In the meantime, it seems that the ship Jess stole has extraordinarily superior capabilities and is powered by an AI that may do practically something and was simply sitting round ready for somebody to inform it what to do.
It’s a hokey premise. I find it irresistible. I’m going to maintain studying.
Replace: I’m now on ebook 5 of the collection. And, sure, I paid cash for them. My ideas: To start with, the books deserve higher covers. A lot, a lot better covers. They need to have these trendy flashy covers with spaceships on them, as a result of that’s what these books are like on the within. Second, there are just a few locations the place the primary character does issues out of stupidity. A type of “too dumb to dwell” conditions. Which is okay. The protagonist is younger, new to all this, and has spent his complete life as a slave, the place he’s simply finished what he was advised as a substitute of getting to be taught any decision-making expertise. However he has typically has folks, or AIs, round him who know higher. A fast repair for a few of these “too silly to dwell” issues is for him to get good recommendation then, as a result of his inner points, refuse to observe it. However this isn’t a deadly flaw for the books. Actually, many best-selling properties undergo from the “too silly to dwell” drawback the place major characters do dumb issues simply because it might be good for the plot. It’s simply certainly one of my greatest pet peeves. So, backside line: for those who like house operas, that is very, very satisfying — satisfying sufficient to maintain me studying via the collection and paying for the later books.
Get the Kindle e-book field let loose from Amazon right here.
2. Looking Season by Kate Rudolph
That is the primary of 4 books within the Guarded by the Shifter paranormal romance collection. The opposite books are $0.99 to $4.99 every and should not in Kindle Limitless. We beforehand reviewed this ebook in December of 2021.
From Maria Korolov:
I’m prejudiced towards romance books, naked-male-chest-on-the-cover books, and something that smells of Twilight.
However I’ll make the leap. For you, expensive reader.
Stasia’s dad’s new spouse is ten years youthful than Stasia. Her dad needs her to come back to a party — for her ninth step-sibling. She’d somewhat not go, and is somewhat sorry that she moved again to New York, the place the household is just too near consolation. Additionally, her father is obscenely rich. The household has a jet and a fleet of vehicles. Stasia herself has an inheritance, which she prefers to not contact.
Whereas she’s strolling down the road, on the telephone together with her dad, somebody tries to kidnap her. Proper in broad daylight, in entrance of witnesses. She fights again, and the folks round her assist.
I like Stasia. She’s competent and calm and picked up, even in a disaster. This is smart since she works within the ER.
The subsequent chapter is from Owen’s standpoint. He’s a werewolf and a military vet. His unit all obtained changed into werewolves and have been kicked out of the military two years in the past and began a safety firm. They’re simply getting began, in order that they principally tackle small bodyguarding jobs. And a job is available in — to protect the heiress.
I really like this, too. I do know I mentioned I wouldn’t, however I like each of the primary characters. I can see myself coming again to this.
Get the book free from Amazon right here.
1. Kingdoms of Sand by Daniel Arenson
It is a assortment of the primary three of six books within the Kingdoms of Sand excessive fantasy collection. Individually the books are $2.99 to $4.99 every, and the collection shouldn’t be in Kindle Limitless. Daniel Arenson has been on this checklist earlier than. This specific field set was additionally on the highest ten checklist final week, however moved from tenth to first place. And we reviewed his ebook Earth Alone, again in October of this 12 months.
From Maria Korolov:
That is an epic fantasy billed as Recreation of Thrones meets Spartacus, and the writer is a USA Right now bestseller. That sounds fairly good, and I had excessive hopes for this ebook stepping into.
We begin out with Maya, a younger girl with magic powers and an evil older half-sister. The older sister, Ofeer, is a product of rape — their mom had been attacked by invaders. Now the invaders are again once more, they usually practically destroyed the nation the primary time round. Maya’s household are the rulers, and her older brother will finally inherit the dominion — if it survives. Oh, and magic powers are unlawful right here.
I didn’t like Maya. She gave the impression to be a kind of “too silly to dwell” folks. Figuring out that magic is forbidden, she nonetheless makes use of it to heal a sick canine. Out in public. With out checking if anybody is watching. A prince — one of many invaders — exhibits up and kills the canine for fun. And Ofeer and the prince chuckle about it. I don’t like seeing a sick canine mistreated. I don’t like the way in which that Maya appears good, however is missing any widespread sense. And Ofeer is simply evil. I didn’t like anybody on this first chapter.
Then we change to the standpoint of certainly one of Maya’s siblings, Epher, the older brother who’s in line to inherit the dominion. He’s fearful concerning the enemy fleet that simply confirmed up. And he’s additionally bickering together with his two different siblings — this can be a massive household! — one sister is a fighter, and she or he simply needs to kill everybody, once more with no considered penalties. And there’s additionally one other brother, who simply likes to drink and have a great time. Additionally with no considered penalties. Epher is the one one of many lot who appears to have any widespread sense, and he’s burdened by the guilt of listening to his mom’s screams as she was raped when the invaders have been right here the final time. However he comes throughout as somewhat too pious and sanctimonious. He’s a little bit of a scold. I sympathize with him — I’m the oldest child in my household, too — however he’s not precisely enjoyable to spend time with.
Then we transfer to the standpoint of Ofeer, the evil sister, as she seduces the invading prince proper in entrance of Maya and the prince’s solders after which has intercourse with him. She’s sick of her household and of their silly little kingdom and desires to go dwell within the massive evil empire with all of the cool folks.
Then we change to the standpoint of Marcus, the evil emperor of the invading empire. He’s obtained ten hundreds slaves marching to their doom, prisoners being crucified proper and left, all of the horrible excesses of Rome. And right here is the place we be taught that the nation that Maya is from is a spot the place folks get circumcized. So I’m guessing that is an allegory for the story of Israel in Roman instances.
I’m not personally against this setting. I’ve learn different speculative fiction books set both in historic Rome or in comparable cultures and I appreciated them. However this specific collection of books is somewhat too grim and miserable for me. There’s simply horrible struggling in each path, and in my escapist studying I prefer to get somewhat break from that type of factor. Particularly since that’s all we see on the information as of late.
However for those who like your epic fantasy on the grim facet — and loads of folks do — then I do have the say that the writing fashion may be very compelling and the ebook pulls you in. The story strikes alongside at a great strong clip, and there’s loads of rigidity and excessive stakes proper from the beginning.
Get the Kindle book free from Amazon right here.
See all of the Free Friday posts right here. Do you’ve different free books for us to take a look at? Remark beneath or electronic mail me at [email protected].
Have you ever learn any of those books? Are you planning to? Tell us within the feedback!
And watch Maria, Romel and Terrence talk about all ten books within the video beneath:
Romel Madray is a software program developer, social media marketer and begin up consigliere. He’s additionally an skilled enterprise marketing consultant and accountant, and in addition writes and illustrates kids’s books. Take a look at his web site at Romel Madray Artwork or go to his YouTube channel.
Terrence J. Smith has contributed his writing to nonprofits and each print and digital publications. He enjoys all issues know-how, however remembers to meditate and admire the surface world.
