Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Today is December 25th, which means some of you will be opening presents, eating turkey, and hopefully having a relaxing time. Perhaps you’re enjoying a mince pie or some eggnog as you read this very blog post.
If you’ve been following our blog for the past twenty-four days, then you’ll know that we’ve been showcasing an underrated indie author and book on our blog every day as part of our Indie Fantasy Advent Calendar! You can read our introduction for a more in-depth explanation, but you probably get the gist by now.
Here is a round up of all twenty-four books featured as part of our advent calendar:
- 1st December: Undine’s Blessing by Tessa Hastjarjanto
- 2nd December: Falling Through Stars by Staci Olsen
- 3rd December: However Many Must Die by Phil Williams
- 4th December: Forest of Forgotten Vows by Grace Carlisle
- 5th December: The Delve by Dani Finn
- 6th December: After the World by Máire Brophy
- 7th December: Humanborn by Joanna Maciejewska
- 8th December: A Magical Imperative by Edith Pawlicki
- 9th December: Where Blood Runs Gold by A.C. Cross
- 10th December: City of Reckoning by Brianna Da Silva
- 11th December: The Many Shades of Midnight by C.M. Debell
- 12th December: By Wingéd Chair by Kendra Merritt
- 13th December: Shattered Spirits: The Fall of Ishcairn by Cal Black
- 14th December: Myth Hunter by Suneé le Roux
- 15th December: Blood Price by Nicole Evans
- 16th December: Bad Grains by Susanne Schmidt
- 17th December: The Phoenix and the Sword by J.C. Snow
- 18th December: Tallis Steelyard: A Fear of Heights by Jim Webster
- 19th December: Windward by S. Kaeth
- 20th December: Rumble in Woodhollow by Jonathan Pembroke
- 21st December: Skylark in the Fog by Helyna L. Clove
- 22nd December: Cailleach~Witch by Jane Gilheaney Barry
- 23rd December: Curse of Souls by Niranjan
- 24th December: Fairie Rising by A. E. Lowan
Truly, I wish I could have showcased more wonderful authors, because there are so many indie authors out there with less than 50 reviews who need more love. This Christmas, consider buying one of the many indie books that will be on sale over the holiday season. Can’t afford to buy books? Then you can show your support by posting a review or raving about an indie book you enjoyed. All of these would make an author smile!
But of course, today is the final day of our advent, and we’ve got one more door to open. This is a special book. Not only is the author a dear friend, but I’d also consider their books to be underrated and in need of more attention.
So today, on December 25th, we’re opening our calendar to Emma’s Story by Nils Ödlund.
In the dead of winter, find your warmth within. Young Emma of the anfylk dreams of a quiet life in her little village in the big forest.
She wants to raise a family and grow old in peace and quiet, with the love of her life by her side.
It’s a plain and simple dream, but it’s hers, and she’ll do what it takes to achieve it.Or, will she?
Her lover is a scoundrel and a rogue, who dreams of adventure and glory, and who’s more at home on the road than by the hearth. Is he truly the man she needs for the life she wants?As the time draws near for Emma to finally make up her mind, a huge bear comes down from the mountains to terrorize the forest, and everything else will just have to wait…
To seek aid for her village, Emma must travel farther than she’s ever been before, and maybe, just maybe, she’ll find the answers her heart desires.Emma’s Story is a cold, wintry fairytale about making difficult decisions, living up to expectations, and how things don’t always turn out the way you hoped.
Bundle up in your favorite blanket and read it tonight.
Yes, today I’m featuring Emma’s Story by my co-blogger, Nils! When we first started this blog years ago, we made a pact that we wouldn’t review or feature each other’s books in order to avoid bias. However, while I may be the tinkerer behind the back end of this site, Nils has contributed far more reviews than me. He’s quite prolific at both reading and promoting indies, putting me to shame! He’s also active over in the Indie Fantasy Addicts group over at Facebook, and an all-round lovely person to know.
Emma’s Story is a fantasy slice-of-life wintery novella perfect for reading at this time of year, and I highly recommend you snuggle up with a hot drink and delve into this on a cold, winter’s night. Nils is also the author of a long-running series, Lost Dogs, which are werewolf stories for people who don’t like werewolf stories!
Join me in taking a look at Emma’s Story:
About the Author
Nils Ödlund is originally Swedish, spent a majority of his adult (well…) life in Cork, Ireland, and currently resides in Haarlem, Netherlands. He’s an avid reader, gamer, and fan of geek-culture.
Ödlund picked up writing as a hobby, almost by accident, back in 2010, and it quickly grew into something of an obsession. In 2017 he decided to get serious about it, and in early 2018, he published his debut novella Emma’s Story. He then spent several years writing and publishing the 10-book series Lost Dogs.
He’s currently working on a series by the name of Gone Home which picks up where Lost Dogs ends.
When not writing, Ödlund enjoys hiking through the countryside, reading, or playing games.
Unlike every other author in the history of all authors ever (citation needed), Ödlund does not have a cat.
- Website: NilsOdlund.com
- Bluesky: @svrtnsse.bsky.social
