INDIE
The Exiled Queen: A Roman Era Historical Fantasy Arama, Roxana | Dhawosia Publishing (377 pp.) | March 1, 2024
A young princess fights to claim her throne and unite her realm in Arama’s sweeping historical fantasy. On her 10th birthday, Princess Andrada of Kerta is ordered by the father she’s never met to begin a traditional boy’s education—her late mother’s wish. King Cothelas intends for his daughter to be his heir, but when she fails the King’s Challenge, she’s forced into an arranged marriage with King Nicetas of Valdavia. Nicetas is a cold and bitter man, haunted by an attempt on his life by Scorilus, the King of Steppewynd, and he leaves Andrada alone for months on end while he lives with his lover, the medicine woman Una. The kingdoms of Kerta, Valdavia, and Steppewynd, neighbors abutting the Black Sea, were once the single realm of Dhawosia; they now narrowly maintain their independence from the Roman Empire as they fret and squabble amongst themselves (King Cothelas demands King Nicetas’ first-born son by Andrada; King Scorilus dreamed of being an explorer, not a ruler). When tragedy strikes, Nicetas accuses Andrada of murder, and the three kingdoms go to war. In the chaos, Andrada must find her resolve and courage to try to unite her divided people. This well-crafted novel features intricate worldbuilding that’s expertly woven into the story with elegant prose: “The Old Temple of Sehul had been built by the founders of Sehuldava to capture the light of the sun on a high holy day. The light would enter the temple through a small window and reach the inner chamber.” The supporting characters often feel two-dimensional, however, with singular motivations that make their actions (and a good portion of the plot) predictable. But all the various 152
MARCH 15, 2024
A story that follows a remarkable trajectory from loneliness and heartbreak to lasting love. A L M O S T F A M I LY
threads come together neatly in the story’s final act for a rousing finish, and the ending provides a tidy setup for the upcoming sequel.
Readers of historical fantasy will love the battles, intrigue, and imagination in this sprawling tale.
Almost Family Bancroft, Ann | She Writes Press (296 pp.) | $17.95 paper May 28, 2024 | 9781647426668
Bancroft’s novel follows a middle- aged woman as she receives a cancer diagnosis, grows close to members of a support group, and learns about herself. In Oakland, California, in 2008, after marketing executive Liz Millanova leaves her alcoholic husband, she’s free to pursue a new relationship with her married boyfriend, Lyle. However, her new world is soon shattered when she receives a stage 1 breast cancer diagnosis that requires immediate surgery and treatment. Later, Lyle breaks up with her, and before long, she receives a stage 4 diagnosis of cancer that has spread to her bones. She finds a way to tell the terrible news to her estranged daughter, Marisa, and in her cancer support group, she connects with two other survivors, Rhonda and Dave. The trio become their own personal support group, which they call “the Oakland Mets.” After attending a baseball game, where they begin to truly bond, the three explore various parks, Alcatraz Island, and local clubs. As her relationship with her new friends deepens, Liz
reflects on her own life and learns to love in a way she has never has before. Over the course of this accomplished novel, Bancroft, a cancer survivor herself, presents a realistic picture of multiple patients’ physical and emotional experiences. The work is also a fine story of platonic love, which is a relatively rare subject in fiction; the unfolding friendships are realistic and emotionally honest throughout, even when their excursions occasionally become lengthy. The main story is told from Liz’s perspective, but Bancroft presents a heartbreaking but beautiful afterword in the third person. It’s a story that follows a remarkable trajectory from loneliness and heartbreak to lasting love. An often resonant narrative of adversity and friendship.
Kirkus Star
Being Human. Human Being. Black, Paul | Novel Instincts (462 pp.) | $25.00 paper Dec. 1, 2023 | 9780972600712
Black’s masterfully constructed SF novel begins as a quirky story about a man dating an extraterrestrial and expands into a grand-scale narrative of alien invasion and intergalactic war. Dallas web designer Cameron Harrison’s dating experiences after the death of his beloved wife haven’t exactly been promising. Close to giving up on the dating scene entirely, he tries one last (“verging on K IR KU S R E V IE W S