When I heard Sword of Kaigen had a focus on motherhood I almost didn’t pick it up…I thought as someone who isn’t a mother/doesn’t want to be a mother that I wouldn’t be able to relate to it or enjoy it and I was SO wrong! It was definitely my favorite aspect of the book and offered a perspective of motherhood that I’d really never read before and I found it so interesting. Plus the really cool action scenes put it over the top for me. Great book! Also glad to hear you enjoyed Never Die because it’s arriving at my house tomorrow 😆

I love this video! I'm so glad you've been able to cover indie authors (especially honest, no-nonsense coverage).

I can't say enough good things about Sword of Kaigen. It has so many important themes typically missing in fantasy. I recommend it to literally everyone's TBR pile. I can never understand what it is to be a woman, but as a father this book still reached me on a deep and emotional level. I very rarely cry while reading but that book tore my heart to pieces (in the best way) and I'd give it 10/10 on the basis that it actually changed my life. The book inspired me to reclaim my own identity and balance *who* I am with *where* I am in my life.

What a great review of these self published books! I had to add The Sword of Kaigen on my to read list, you were so passionate about it! I'm looking forward to dipping my toes into the self-published scene

Just found your channel. I am loving it so far. What a great video. I liked hearing your thoughts on these books.

You are right about the Sword of Kaigen. Excellent character development and world-building for a standalone. Outstanding really. A must read.

Oh, I'm so happy you've read Sword of Kaigen! I finished it a couple days ago and have been watching everyone's reviews. I thought you had read it, but your channel didn't come up until I searched sword of kaigen with the name of your channel too. I was blown away by this book! I loved what you said about motherhood representation here. I mean, wow. I've never read anything like it. I loved every minute, even the parts with Robin, and I cried for HOURS while reading this- always a great sign! This is definitely going to be one of my top books this year(along with Tress. January is rocking!). I just NEED someone to talk to about Mamoru.😭

I have read none of these 😮 Some seriously good recs you just added to the TBR. Great content as always!

SoK broke my heart in soo many pieces! I still don’t understand when did I got so attached to Mamoru and Misaki 😭 THE BEST FANTASY STANDALONE IVE READ SO FAR! The story is just so so important and impactful 💙 i could talk about this book forever! I already wanted to read Orconomics but after your review Im gonna jump on it asap 😂💙

Great video. One thing I enjoy about your reviews is how much you take into consideration things like taste, etc. A book like Grey Bastards is just not going to be for some people, and while you describe all the reasons it didn't work for you, you mention how many other people greatly enjoyed it anyway. It's the hallmark of a good reviewer to be able to this, and many people are bad at it. As for the winners, I'm basically with you. I've only read Kaigen and Orconomics and greatly enjoyed them both. I have Grey Bastards on audio and I'm pretty sure I'll like it, but I'm not as big of a fan of crass humor either, so I may find myself in your camp on that one eventually too.

Great set of reviews & sensible advice!

Wow, you have such great reading taste 😉 Glad you still had fun even though our opinions were in sync! Enjoyed breaking everything down with you. Although I'll admit my brain did shut off for the last couple of books haha. Looking forward to our next project 🤓

So now I have to read Sword of Kaigen! I have never heard anyone in a review talk about it having motherhood as a theme and I am all over that in fantasy! Also I hear you on the erasure of self that happens when a women becomes a mother, I have felt that since my daughter was born in 2019 and creating youtube videos has really become my way of claiming space that is just about me and not about my role as a mother.

I'm new to the world of self-published fantasy, and this video swayed me to read Sword of Kaigen. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Great video!! Happy reading to you!! 😊📽📖🍁

I'm gonna read Sword of Kaigen now. And I want to read with you next time. You should do like a book club type thing next year

Thanks to this video I picked up Orconomics and I absolutely love it! Its so much more than just a parody. Thanks!

Great stuff. I've only read Kaigen and it was excellent in its uniqueness. A couple of the others have interested me at various times, but French and Anderson are the two that I'm thinking of at the moment, having cooled on the others somewhat. There are some really good books in the wider competition though and your comments at the end are definitely correct in that you should go for what sings to you, and not necessarily what other people have voted top of the pile.

Never heard of the SPFBO competition. Hoping to read a bunch of them this coming year!

I now want to read Orconomics. I used to play WOW and it sounds intriguing. Thanks for the video!

As someone who lives in Manila, I rarely see self-published books being sold in the local bookstores. I often get to see them at bargain bookstores when they were already pre-owned and old. The closest chance I would get to read them is to subscribe or purchase ebook copies instead. Very interesting list! 🥰🤓😍

Yesssss the sword of Kaigen is just OUTSTANDING! One of my favs this year too😍

I forgot about your channel. I never have your videos recommend to me. But today I got a notification so here I am!!

Awesome video, I need to get around to Sword of Kaigen as I know I’ll love it, and I’ve need to give Organomics, The Thief Who andThe Lost War as I hadn’t heard of them. I might avoid the other 2 only because the issues that you brought up are also issues I have with things so I know that They aren’t for me.

I loved the mother figure in the Threadlight Series also! Always up for a gush chat about that! Every Willow chap is a strong chap!

Once SPFBO 7 announces finalists it would be awesome if you could go over them (based on descriptions or main themes) and try to predict the winner based on this experience and what was previously picked as winner. And if you plan on reading them after you can do reaction on your first prediction. Just thought it would be fun idea. I really liked this video. 😊

Sword of Kaigen was great, fell off a little at the end but such a great book. I've gone back and re read parts of the book a few times and still feel all the feels. I 100% agree what you said about the last chapter feeling out of place and you get the vibe it's building for something else

Great video. Its not just the winners that deserve some attention. Just look at Senlin Ascends which didn't get close to winning but ended up blowing up. I have read The Grey Bastards and Sword of Kaigen. I thought the Grey Bastards was good. Didn't love it but l am also not a big fan of grimdark dark. I liked Sword of Kaigen. I had very high expectations for it and I was a tiny bit dissapointed but still thought it was great and some moments spectacular. I am most interested in reading Orconomics. Sounds like a book I would like.

Very interested in reading Grey Bastards, Sword of Kaigen and The Lost War. What can I say, I love Dark + Grimdark Fantasy.

I loved The Sword of Kaigen ! I already want to re-read it !

Thank you for the recommendations! I've yet to read any of these 😅

Just finished The Sword of Kaigen and I'm devastated. Don't know what else to read. Do. I just wanna cry.

I think the semi finalists are often a good selection to look at, but there’s so many of them. Lots more that’s not grimdark in that pool though :)

Thanks for adding Orconomics to my tbr!

I misread the title of this and panicked for a second when I saw Orconomics, thinking you might have read mine too as it was a finalist that same year. But it definitely didn't win (got pretty trashed actually). Thanks for shining a light on indie books!

I loved the Grey Bastards trilogy! I liked book 2 and 3 better than the first. The stuff you said about thoughts on their orc fathers and women’s places in the world are addressed much more in the other two books and it’s overall a fantastic series. Book two is from Fetch’s perspective. The frequent crude sex-stuff is toned down after book 1 as well in my opinion.

After hearing your thoughts on Orconomics, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Rob Hayes. Another Self-pub satire that i recently was pointed to and it has become one of my favorite series. Mostly I'd love to hear more of your thoughts of focus in satires.

I love the lists the mark Lawrence puts out and Rob J Hays also does it monthly and have found some very good books that way. Also most are on Kindle Unlimited which I love.

I’m going to TRY Sword of Kaigen now - I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it, but your honesty makes me want to at least try. I don’t DNF often either - my most recent was a Rivers Solomon SF that seemed to just normalize rape - I can’t. I just. Can’t. So, knowing SoK is grim, but you loved it, I’m going to try. 💕

The theif who pulled on trouble braids, surprised me when I first read it, no expectations going in. Amra Thetys series is very enjoyable.

I've not read any of the ones you mentioned and, to be honest, none of them sound like they would be to my personal tastes. Interesting video all the same.

I'd be interested in knowing your thoughts on Michael R. Fletcher's books. He's one of my favorite writers and he's self pub. His Manifest Delusions and Obsidian Path books are so freaking good. His book Black Stone Heart came in second in the SPFBO last year (should've won), and his newest book Norylska Groans is currently in the running to win this year I think.

Yep, I also DNF Grey Bastards. I also like Sword of Kaigen! Unfortunately, I like epic fantasy, but don't know if I like grimdark or not...I'm thinking not.

I hate how you rated Grey Bastards. Just kidding 😅 I think you're evaluation of how you got to that rating is spot on - and a good reminder you should always trust in your own tastes more than any jury. I've personally never looked into this competition, but did pick up two on my own - and tried to pick up Sword of Kaigen based on several reviews but it was impossible to get at the time. I will try again, thanks for reminding me. Grey Bastards I liked. Presenting a pretty standard fantasy world but grimmer has my interest, and focusing on a fantasy variant of a rebel motorcycle gang was also fun. While it didn't live up to its full potential there were enough twists to keep me interested - and in the sequel. Orconomics I really loved - mostly because of the heart and somewhat unexpected depth it showed. I knew I was gonna like the parody aspect, and it is pretty well done at that. But as with Pratchett and the best of parody, it tackled some pretty heavy subjects and had me pause for thought a couple times. I have the sequel ready to go.

Damm, now I really wish Voice of War won, because you would have had to put it on this list.

Really loved Sword of Kaigen. It's such a beautiful book that really explored a lot of complexities, including Misaki's husband. Mothers do need more spotlights. I have seen -- been -- with mothers who overcome extraordinary obstacles. There's so much more in them, and being bias, I have seen it through my grandmother, great grandmother, mother, and wife. Also, Mamoru is a gem. That little "secret" shared between him and us, readers, is so precious and sad. Definitely a book that did something unique. I agree with the epilogue portion of Sword of Kaigen. It felt a little forced and really out of place. I had the same issues with Where Loyalties Lie. Love Hayes. Love Never Die, Pawn's Gambit, and Spirits of Vengeance (What an amazing book), but this pirate book of his, just didn't work for me. That scene you mentioned was just iffy. It's like just showing or proving that the guy who made it happen was just a "Very Bad Guy." The fact the victim recovered from it so easily makes me think it wasn't the first time this was done to her. I didn't DNF it, but all the action that happens later on, just all didn't work for me in all. As for Lost War, I felt the same exact thing. All the hype for that "thing" made me constantly looking for it. But is is something to experience. My nitpick for it is how the main character could just magically pull some shenanigans to save himself and everyone. That magic light stone or whatever it was. Dude, come on. lol

It's too bad there isn't a competition for books that are not as grim. I'd love to see good self published fantasy that is in the sub-genres I really enjoy. I understand that there isn't a restriction on what type of Fantasy enters, just the kind of self selection you talked about.

Loved Sword of Kaigen, listened on Audiobook earlier this summer. Any plans for a full review of some of the books you haven't done?

I've read four of the winners: The Lost War 8.5 Sword of Kaigen 7.5 Where Loyalties Lie 7.5-8 The Thief Who... 7.5-8 I can't find my x/10 scores for those last two, the ranges are based on my 4 star Goodreads ratings. I almost dnf'd Sword of Kaigen, the first part annoyed me no end with all of the foreign terms and I couldn't relate to a single character until Misaki's flashback. I'd say the part before that was a 5, the middle 9 or better, the ending about 8-8.5. A really mixed bag for me with some great storytelling buoying it up.

When I saw the Lost War I thought it was one of Devin Madson's We Ride the Storm books. They must share cover artists.

Yes people, pick up Kaigen. It's sooooooo good. Trust Bookborn

This my first time I see you your channel and I think i like your smile I mean your video you know JK

As a woman in my 30s who has never wanted children it's very interesting to hear an actual mother's perspective on that aspect of Sword of Kaigen. One of the bigger reasons for me is feeling my life as it is will end because it will forever more be about the child first. I appreciated Misaki so much for that completely new look into a different face of motherhood. It's not often talked about when mothers don't instantly love their baby or that miscarriage conversation that occurs. All we're ever told to believe is motherhood is magical and any struggle is worth it. You can't even think otherwise or you're just a bad mother. Yet father's are praised if they're just involved in the child's life. Something I kinda liked and disliked at the same time in the book, is their resignation to staying under the empire's radar and just get small wins for themselves. They had no intention of ever rebelling. It's so frustrating when you want the big bad government to fall and the good guys to have vindication and yet....it's kind of realistic. If they tried anything, they would be instantly smooshed and they have hardly anyone left as it is. I was so sure Robin was going to turn out to be the big evil guy stealing kids with abilities 'cos I just couldn't understand his importance until I saw the trilogy. Blegh. Yep no I'm good with Where loyalties lie. I would feel the same way with that scene.

I read The Grey Bastards before I'd heard about SPFBO, and actually finished the sequel just a few months ago. The setting is a really interesting, but I felt it slipping away from me. The way the characters talk was great for establishing a sense of place, then started to feel a bit one-note. A great initial pitch, and I should probably sit down and figure out what more I wanted from it. Thanks for the snort-laugh re: the orc romance cover. Just as a heads up, the sequel features Fetching as the primary character and oh man does she (and some other characters) get raped or almost raped a lot.

I have orconomics I need to try it again so far I have DNF the book twice…..

I find it interesting how much everyone seems to love Sword of Kaigan. Makes me think I am doing something wrong since I found the story clunky and couldn't get into the world at all. 🤔

I actually DNFed The True Bastards, it looked so good when I bought it but i was very disappointed by the main character and the way the story went. I read The Sword of Kaigen and Misaki and the other wives were it's saving grace. The ultratraditional setting in a modern world and the men's behavior, even after it's explained to us, totally ruined it for me.

DNF means did not finish?

Sword of kaigen has been a standout interest for a while for me, looks amazing, all the rest look pretty good, except for this half orc book, looks pretty terrible

grim dark writers afraid to make an unlikable protagonist... *Jorg from Broken Empire has entered the chat*

um...did you just spoil Stormlight Archive for us while saying you didn't want to spoil a different book?

I could not get through The Grey Bastards. Just wayyy to ridiculous.