My 2025 Holiday Gift Guide
(Books to consider buying for the bookworm in your life. Or yourself. I’m not judging)
As it’s now November, I know some of you are probably thinking about holiday gift options for those special people in your lives (I know I am.)
That being said, I thought this would be a great time to mention some of my favorite indie reads. Small Business Saturday is this month (November 28), and indie authors are all small businesses, so please consider checking out some of these books for your gift-buying needs. (I will limit this list to 10, since I could probably go on for days about all the books I love, but for the sake of brevity, I’ll do my best to keep it short.)
So without further ado, here are 10 of my favorite indie books/series I think you should consider checking out—or gifting to your favorite bookworm.
A Drowned Kingdom Saga by P.L Stuart (epic fantasy)
The first 5 books in the series are currently available, with book 6 pending publication in the first half of 2026. This series features a unique take on the traditional Atlantis myths, complicated politics between many warring factions, and a main character who is as vain as he is charismatic. The series begins with A Drowned Kingdom.
A Song for the Void by Andrew C. Piazza (cosmic horror)
This book takes place in the 1850’s era, on a merchant ship in the Indian Ocean/South Pacific region. While the horror element isn’t immediately evident, it slowly builds throughout the book until it reaches a crescendo at the end (and by then, things have really gone bad.) I loved the vibe and setting of this book, and it’s one I’ll remember for a long time.
The Dark Profit Saga by J. Zachary Pike (epic fantasy/satire)
This is one of the most entertaining fantasy series I’ve read in a long time. It’s full of laughs and nerdy gamer and popular fantasy references that I never got tired of. But it also considers the economic impact of things such as an evil liche terrorizing the landscape, or the cost of heroes fighting off hordes of undead or angry dragons and expecting payment in return for their services. It’s a lot of fun, a complete series, and it begins with Orconomics.
Far Removed by C.B. Lansdell (dark/dystopian science fiction)
While this is book 1 of a duology, I have it on good authority the second book will release in 2026. Far Removed is one of the most unique books I’ve read in a long time, and none of the characters are human. It’s set on an alien world and features a sentient species that is somewhat oceanic in nature, but the story and characters presented are both incredible. This book also had a “WTF just happened” moment that is unforgettable.
The Heartbeat of a Million Dreams by Halo Scot (space opera/dystopian science fiction)
This one’s a standalone novella, for those who want a faster read. It’s set on Mars and features a dual POV story that bounces between the leader of a political rebellion, and a sort of “chosen” one who doesn’t know what she is or why she’s important. It’s a story packed with raw, visceral emotion, high stakes, and some of the most beautiful prose out there.
The Hybrid Helix Series by J.C.M. Berne (space opera science fiction)
This series features a main character who is a Power, a sentient space station, a huge and varied cast of alien species, super-powered monsters, and some of the best one-liners around. Every book has a complex plot, a ton of action, mysteries (some solved in the same book, others much later), and intergalactic politics. They’re fun and fast-paced, and even though the series isn’t complete yet, the author has been releasing at least 1 book a year (the first 7 are available, and I believe book 8 is coming very soon.) The series begins with Wistful Ascending.
Imago: A Dystopian Gothic by Matthew Zakharuk (horror/dark fantasy)
Set in a fictional land that reminded me strongly of Soviet-era Russia, Imago is the tale of a young woman enrolled at a college of sorts that specializes in spellcraft. Spellcraft is employed by The Authority (the aptly-named government agency that runs pretty much everything), and is based on the reading/usage of glyphs. I really enjoyed the magic system, but the intrigue around a certain conspiracy the main character becomes entangled in was the star of this book. The story is dark, and I listed it as horror because it has many of those elements.
The Legacy of Boulom Series by Timothy Wolff (epic fantasy)
This series features lizard people, mages, raid boss-style bad guys (that require raid-boss style battle mechanics to take down), gods that are very active in their world, and a cast of characters that are both unforgettable and entertaining. It’s a complete series and begins with Platinum Tinted Darkness.
Metal by J.F. Lawrence (apocalyptic science fiction)
Metal spoke to the microbiologist in me, but I loved it for more than just the science aspect. The story is fantastic too. It features a microbial strain that has been bioengineered to eat metal—any and all metal—and it can do so very rapidly. Imagine what our world would look like if all the steel and aluminum were suddenly disintegrating. Most of our infrastructure wouldn’t stand a chance.
The Triempery Revelations Series by L.L. Stephens (epic fantasy)
This is another series with the first 5 books available, and book 6 (the finale) should be available in Spring of 2026. I fell in love with the worldbuilding in this series, but it’s the character work that really shines. All of the characters feel so real, and all of them have flaws. After reading book 5, the stakes were higher than ever, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the end plays out. The series begins with Sordaneon.
And if you’re interested in any of my books for the holidays, please check out my ko-fi shop. Paperbacks and hard covers are available for all of my titles. They are signed, wrapped, and come with book/series-themed bookmarks: A.J.’s Ko-fi Shop