A Year in Review

Above: Our front yard, covered in 5 inches of freshly fallen snow, on Christmas Eve morning. The sun casts long shadows from the trees, and makes the yard twinkle like nature’s Christmas lights.

December 31, 2025

Well, we made it. 2025 is mere hours away from being behind us. So much has happened over these last twelve months, both personally and professionally. I’ll not dwell on the former (for those who don’t know, my mother passed away in April), but I’d like to take some time reviewing the latter.

Year in Review

I published two books in 2025.

Mission Aboard the Longfin was my first dip into middle grade fiction. This sea adventure was so fun to write, and based on the limited feedback I’ve received from young readers, they really enjoy it. My 10-year-old nephew said, “it’s actually really good”, and my husband’s friend has a 12-year-old who said, “Tell your friend their book is really good!” Can’t get much better praise than that.

Convergence of Connection is the third book in The Way of the Wielder series. It picks up right where Mysteries of the Material left off, and to say that it’s full of emotion is putting it extremely mildly. After book two’s cliffhanger ending, how could it not be? Reviews have been positive, but don’t take my word for it! Get your copy now, and be ready for book four.

Speaking of book four…

The Way of the Wielder, Book Four: If you follow my blog, you’ll know this book is fully drafted and currently in my first round of self-editing. I’m about 65% complete, and should wrap it up within the first ten days of January. After that, it’s off to my editor and cover artist. Then I have to work on every author’s worst nightmare: the blurb.

Showing Self-Published Authors Some Love

In addition to writing over 200,000 words, I also read a lot. 40 books, to be exact! And a majority of those were written by independent authors.

As we welcome a new year, I’d encourage you to welcome some new—and incredibly talented—independent authors to your reading lists! Below are the self-published books I read in 2025, with a short description of what the story’s about.

NOTE: Clicking on the title brings you to Amazon. Clicking on the author’s name brings you to their author website (if they have one), which may have other options available for purchase.

Self-Published Books Read in 2025

Ravenwood, by Nathan Lowell

This is the first book in Lowell’s Tanyth Fairport Adventures, and it’s quite delightful. Cozy fantasy, midlife magic awakening, a somewhat quest-driven adventure, and great character development. Oh, and there’s a curious raven. Definitely check this one out.

Too Hot to Handle, by Ruby Jones

This M/M android ardour is delightfully spicy. The main characters are stuck in a hotel during a snowstorm, and the android character (Evan) is infected with a virus that could kill him… unless Carter helps satisfy the virus’s demands. Great character development, a unique plot, and great romance.

Troth and Lazarus, Home from the War, by E.H. Lupton

Lupton has, without a doubt, become one of my favorite authors. Her work is mysterious, romantic, slightly spooky, and has some of the greatest character development I’ve read in ages. Troth and Lazarus are books three and four in the Wisconsin Gothic series, respectively, following the stories of characters you’ve come to love and a sibling who’s struggling with being back from Vietnam. They’re delightful, but if you’re going to start reading her work, start with Dionysus in Wisconsin.

Ambition to Savor, by B.B.E. Gwyn

This is an adventure fantasy story, with a unique magic system (using food stuffs to increase potency of smells and flavors) in an atmospheric setting. There’s some overly descriptive prose which I found myself skimming, but overall it was a decent and original story.

Fire’s Hand, Fates’s Heart, Earth’s Blood, Fate’s Folly, and Broken Things, by Lindsey Brounstein

Yes, I read three books by this author this year; and yes, I loved all of them. This is the Five Fates Series. It’s a high fantasy tale, with great character development, a unique and mysterious magic system, wonderful found family, and romance that’s all off page. Each book follows two main characters, although there are several supporting characters throughout. Please do yourself a favor and read these books!

Two Marlboros, by Simona Francini

This M/M romance follows the story of an art student and a NYC police detective. The former witnesses a crime, and the latter is investigating it. Each brings their own baggage, but as the story unfolds, they start to heal each other, and eventually fall in love. It felt a bit overwritten, but overall I really enjoyed this. You might, too!

Strand of Faith, by Rachel J. Bonner

This story follows a young woman on the verge of adulthood, and a monk. Both have secrets pasts, neither of which is discovered in this book, but the magic, mystery, and slow-burn romance was very well written. It’s a bit outside of my usual reading preferences, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Must Love Moss and Moonshine, by Maisy Magill

I adored this book. It’s the perfect blent of cozy, romance, and magic, with an enchanting setting, endearing characters, and a happy ending. Truly, it doesn’t get much better than that. It’s high fantasy with occasional spice, and if that’s your thing, you won’t regret reading it.

East of the Sun and West of the Moon, by A.E. Becker

These are the first two books in The Bear Kings series. This is a young adult fantasy adventure following three characters as they wander through an enchanted land. There are magical creatures, talking animals, and no shortage of high-stakes adventure. Check it out!

Shadow of the Elders, by Will Elm

This is a dark, dystopian tale set in a low-fantasy setting. There are multiple points of view and many dark themes, but the ultimate goal is to find a mysterious, and seemingly lost, magic that will restore the world. Or will it? Check it out, and find out for yourself.

Under Darkened Skies, by H.E. Bauman

This is a mysterious fantasy story about a librarian with secret magic. She’s assigned to work on a project for the emperor, alongside her estranged friend and prince. There’s some great character development, and a sweet slow-burning romance that is sure to please in book two (which I’ve yet to read). Romantic fantasy readers will love this one.

The Assignment, by W.G. Walters

A fine science fiction story about researching a discovery that could change how we view our place in the world. Personally, I found the writing style a little difficult to follow, but if you enjoy sci-fi, you’ll probably enjoy this.

Unleashed, by Emily Kimelman

This is a modern-day murder mystery action novel that holds nothing back. It’s a sort of origin story of how a young woman becomes a lethal detective in NYC. The author’s tagline for this series is, “The dog doesn’t die, but the bad guys do”, and that is absolutely true.

Pride and Prejudice at the Cat Cafe, by Kris Bock

This book was delightfully cozy and romantic. It’s exactly what the title suggests, so if you love Jane Austen retellings (and cats), you’ll love this. It was immersive, well-developed, and had great character development. A perfect combo.

Ishness, by A.K. Aston

A paranormal story about loneliness, longing for connection, and finding it in the places you least expect. There’s also a paranormal romantic aspect, which I found incredibly sexy. Several triggering themes, but with its deeply emotional character growth and hope for a better future, it’s one of my favorite books of the year.

The Fright Before Christmas, by Sebastian Johns

A young girl goes to save her brother (who’s on the naughty list) from the shadow of Father Christmas, but puts herself in danger in the process. It’s a frightening tale with good morals, but even though the characters are children, I don’t think I’d read this to younger kids.

The Magik Scarf, by M.K. Browning

Have you ever wondered what The Hobbit would be like if it were written by Diane Wynne Jones (Howl’s Moving Castle) for a young adult audience? That’s this book. It’s whimsical and adventurous, with talking mythical creatures and endless adventure. The main character is young, but matures a lot as this story unfolds.

Legacy of the Crown, by Tim Wilbur

A fantasy tale of epic proportions! We follow a cast of four main characters as the wander through the realms, searching for—among other things—pieces of an ancient relic that can change the world. It’s action-packed, complex, and completely immersive. I cannot wait to sink into book two!

Her Undying Thirst, by Reina Callier

This is a retelling of the classic vampire novel, Carmilla. I’ve not read the source material, but this book is gripping in its own right. The author really made the romance between Laura and Carmilla authentic, which made the ending that much more traumatic. A must-read for lovers of vampire lore.

The Fake Date, by Tasia Timm

Cambria’s younger brother is getting married, and instead of getting paired with an older uncle as her date, she agrees to go with her brother’s best friend, Chase. The kick? She despises him. The twist? He’s in love with her. A delightful rom-com with great character development and heartwarming romance.

Cleanup Crew, by Stefanie DiDominzio

A mafia romance, with a fast-paced plot and great character development. The banter is delightfully snarky, the romance is sweet and endearing, and the action is non-stop. If you like mafia romance, you’ll enjoy this one.

Notes For My Eulogist, by Thom Williams

This is a collection of essays filled with wisdom, nostalgia, and comfort. The writing is almost poetic, but simple, and easily consumed. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll have hope for better things to come. A must-read!

Armor of Sorrow, by D.A. Stephens

If you enjoy stories with a D&D feel, you’ll like this one. The lead character, Dara, arrives in Austernell, and is immediately robbed. But what starts as something simple (finding her stolen chest), quickly becomes a complex story about Dara and her ragtag friends saving a city at war with itself. It’s fun, but there’s some head-hopping, which I found jarring. Otherwise, definitely worth the read.

What’s to Come

Whew, that was a lot. If you’re still here, thanks for sticking around! I’ll reward you with a glimpse of what’s in store for 2026.

—In January, I’ll reveal the title of The Way of the Wielder, book four. (I hear you, squealing with glee.)

—That book will be released in March. Stay tuned for a pre-order link sometime in February.

—With that series complete, I’ll turn my attention to my next series: The Tredania Chronicles. Book one is already written, and I anticipate publishing it in November. More to come on that book, and the series, later this year.

—I may also work on another side project, as a treat.

That’s it for now. Until next time, be well, stay creative, and have a happy and safe New Year!

~Sarah