After by Savannah Jezowski

Author Savannah Jezowski weaves a stunningly spooky allegory for the afterlife in her acclaimed Neverway Chronicles series, in which we discover that death is far from the end; or the end of struggles and danger.

“This was a very unique fantasy story!” Reviewer Laura A. Grace wrote. “The premise was extremely interesting. I hadn’t read anything like it before, and as the story progressed, I can honestly say I haven’t read a *book* like this before. I will admit that the ending tore me up. Hugs to all the characters! At the end, the author wrote a note concerning the story and I appreciated that. It brought a new depth to the characters and different situations that were eye-opening.”

“A dark, creepy, beautiful fantasy!” Writes ladyofghostpines in her 5-star review. “I was already a fan of Ms. Jezowski after reading her novella Wither, from Five Enchanted Roses, but this full-length novel was even better! Darker, richer, more heart-rending, with deep characterization and a vividly written Neverway world. For a while there I just didn’t see how anything could end well, but oh–it did! Not without ripping my heart out, but still it was so good, so . . . right. I love Conrad and would love to read more about him. He is an intriguing viewpoint character, for sure. The romance was subtle yet sweet, and quite believable for a character who struggles to express any emotion.”

What Fate Portends by Clara Coulson 

Hidden Gems subscribers were in for a treat when they got the chance to read the first book in Clara Coulson‘s Frost Arcana series, which is set in a not-too-distant future in which ‘normal’ civilization has broken down due to the exposure of the paranormal world that lay beneath.

In What Fate Portends, half-fae former police officer Vincent Whelan is eking out a living by braving the barriers of his sanctuary city to scavenge in the wastelands of North Carolina – but his easy life is thrown into chaos when he uncovers a sinister conspiracy threatening the thin veneer of civility in his protected city.

“Entertaining and fun,” writes reviewer BookWyrm. “A very readable, entertaining book. The story is set in an interesting world, one that combines the supernatural coming out of the closet and a post-nuclear zombie-war type setting. That is, humanity is confined to small enclaves, government is collapsed, modern technology is mostly unreliable and so on. Vincent is a good main character. I like that he’s had training in his magic, but mostly tried to use it as little as he can get away with it.  I’ll be picking up Book 2.”

“Vince is kinda like Elsa, but more sarcastic!” Quips Meghan Remington in her 5-star review. “I’ve flown through the first four books of Frost Arcana and eagerly await the next installment. Vince’s fae nature comes to the fore a lot more prominently through the next few books, so I urge you to dive right in. Sharp, clever, and witty, Vincent Whelan is a protagonist you’ll enjoy rooting for.”

The Dark Road by Gail Z. Martin

Author Gail Martin‘s iconic hero Jonmarc Vahanian was first introduced in the Chronicles of the Necromancer, which has sold over half a million copies. In this collection of short stories and novellas, you’ll learn even more about the blacksmith’s son who rose to become a legendary warrior, told with the deft narrative skill that has has earned Gail legions of loyal fans.

“The long road is littered with malcontents,” writes reviewer Mimbral in their 5-star review. “This character comes alive; no innocent babe who learns to fight better than anyone else here. Here is a young man who was dealt a rough hand and tries to immerse himself in fighting to put his murdered wife behind him, as well as his murdered family. A fun read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.”

“An engrossing page turner,” writes Laure Eccleston. “Filled with adventures, magic, and paranormal creatures. A lot of violence and surprising twists in these stories to keep me turning the pages. Unique, well-written characters and fascinating plots. Fantastic!”

Guns of Liberty by Jamie Mauchline

In an alternative history in which airships rule the sky and occultists bring magic into the forefront, New Zealand author Jamie Mauchline weaves the vivid and exciting tale of Rachel Masters, who is tasked with tracking down a dangerous magical artifact that threatens the safety of the Empire.

“What happens when a pirate, a duchess and an inquisitor have to join forces?” Writes review Tamara. “You have a duchess who gets kidnapped, an inquisitor who is blamed for not stopping it and a pirate that seems to have too much military training. This is a great story with three strong women and is a must read to find out what happens between them.”

“Wow! Loved this one sooo much!” Writes NekoLisa. “This is one of those stories you start and just can not put down! Fantastic read with amazing characters and action.”

Cherie Hunt enjoyed the technical details Mauchline includes, writing: “I was really intrigued with seeing the schematics of the ship in the beginning of the story. After a while I got the feeling I was reading something written like The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings. I found the action of the story entrancing, and couldn’t stop wanting to know what would happen next. Overall I thought that this book was a suspenseful and very entertaining.”

Beneath the Fallen City by Jamie A. Waters

Subscribers to Hidden Gems got a great opportunity to dive into the thrilling Omni Towers series right at the beginning, with this first installment by author Jamie A. Waters. Set in a familiar urban fantasy setting, the story focuses on Kayla – a scavenger forced to brave the ruins of an ancient city in search of vital supplies; and potentially make an alliance with the very man intent on destroying her.

“This author deserves five stars all the way for a fantastic debut release!” Writes reviewer Vinny in his 5-star review. “Being a fan of authors such as Issac Asmov and George Orwell when I was a child, I remember being absorbed for hours about possible advances in science and future events for the human race. This book, being based 150 years in the future was quite a read and I found it right on par with my childhood memories of reading a good science fiction story. I found the story to be very well written and engaging. he arrangement of each paragraph flowed well and each chapter was very easy to read. What pleased me most about the authors writing style, was that it didn’t feel stilted in language and it wasn’t absurd or awkward to read.”

“Once I started reading it I couldn’t stop. This book is full of adventure and intrigue,” writes BookLover. “This book is full of adventure and intrigue. It is a sci-fi, romance, action, and a paranormal all in one.”