Wow, what a year! 2023 was by far the biggest year yet for Silverstones Books, and not just because it was the first full calendar year we were open. There were many ups and some downs throughout the year, but I'm really glad with where the store is as we close out the year. Let's jump in as I break it all down. 2023 Recap I started 2023 by doing pop-ups, but quickly abandoned that, as I was not seeing the traffic I needed for that due to many factors out of my control. So I went back to focusing...
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson Book one of the Stormlight Archives Summary: Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. War rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes...
Get To Know The Blogger: Matthew Zorich
Hello! I’m Matthew Zorich, author of the historical fantasy book Bastards of Liberty, book one in the Conspiracy of Crows trilogy. My book imprint, Raccoon County Press, focuses on fantasy and horror. I’ve been an avid reader since I picked up Dragons of the Autumn Twilight many years ago. I have a degree in journalism from the University of Akron. Besides writing, I hike, game (PS5), and support the local arts whenever possible. I enjoy both urban and natural exploring when hike. You can find my graffiti and mural finds and hiking moments on Instagram often. I read various genres...
Where to Start With Indie Books: 10 Authors to Start With Part 3
This week we're talking about two authors that have taken the fantasy genre by storm in recent years with their dark and epic tales. John Palladino John Palladino burst onto the scene in the summer of 2022 with his debut The Trials of Ashmount. His books are firmly rooted in the grimdark genre of fantasy, and he's not afraid to remind you of that. Taking cues from authors like Joe Abercrombie, Mr. Palladino's Tragedy of Cedain series will have you hooked on the multi-pov tales of people that seem to just have no luck in life, or no love for...
Where to Start With Indie Books: 10 Authors to Start With Part 2
Continuing my Intro to Indie series, today we're going to check out authors Mark Timmony and James Lloyd Dulin, fantasy writers taking completely different approaches to the genre. Mark Timmony Mark Timmony is the author of the Eye of Eternity series, which currently consists of the novel The Blood of the Spear and the prequel novella Starbinder. This series revolves around two brothers who are the subject of a prophecy, and what that means for them politically. This series wears its Wheel of Time influences prominently and doesn't take itself too seriously. Mark is currently hard at work on the...
Get to Know the Blogger: Michael Roberti
Hey everyone! Kavin and I realized that I haven’t done a “get to know you” post yet, so I’m doing that instead of my weekly review. I’ll be back with reviews next week with Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames! Anyway, for those of you who don’t know me: my name is Michael Roberti, but in conversation I go by Mike. I am a husband, father, former punk singer, current high school English teacher, and author. My first series, Crown and Tide, kicked off with The Traitors We Are in 2022, and I released the prequel novella, The Revenge...
Where to Start With Indie Books: 10 Authors to Start With Part 1
"I want to start reading indie and self-published books, where do I start?" I get this question a lot. Over the next five weeks I'm going to highlight ten authors that are perfect entry-points into the indie and self-publishing science-fiction and fantasy world, starting with Andrew D Meredith Andrew D Meredith is the author of two ongoing series. Thrice is book one in his Needle and Leaf series, a series that is inspired by Slavic mythology. The Needle and Leaf series is on the smaller scale compared to his other series. It has a smaller cast and smaller stakes....
The Return of the Knights by Gregory Kontaxis
Summary The Palace of the Dawn will soon be stormed. The most ruthless man of all time is one step away from assailing on Iovbridge and dethroning Sophie Delamere. The Queen of Knightdorn is now alone, with neither allies nor an army capable of rebuffing the enemy which is approaching her city. Everything appears to be over, until a mysterious young man, Elliot, makes his appearance. Entangled in a web of lies and politics, Elliot will try to draw Walter away from Iovbridge and face him in the stronghold of Wirskworth. He will attempt to rekindle relations and revive the...
Silverstones Blog Buddy Read Announcement & Reveal
The Silverstones Blog team is doing our first buddy read! We're looking forward to what we hope will be a fun time for everyone. I've never participated in a buddy read, much less organized one, so I'm excited to get into it. But I bet you want to know what book we're reading. Okay I guess I'll tell you. We are reading Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, book one in the genre-bending Sun Eater series! "Hadrian Marlowe, a man revered as a hero and despised as a murderer, chronicles his tale in the galaxy-spanning debut of the Sun Eater...
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Summary The first novel in the First Law Trilogy and debut fantasy novel from New York Times bestseller, Joe Abercrombie. Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he’s on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian — leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies. Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields...