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On July 27, 2025

In Uncategorized

Walking the Way of the Wise:
A Biblical Theology of Wisdom

by Mitchell L. Chase

DETAILS:
Series: Essential Studies in Biblical Theology
Publisher: IVP Academic
Publication Date: June 3, 2025
Format: Paperback
Length: 162 pg,
Read Date: June 15-22, 2025

Wisdom in the biblical sense is more than street smarts. It is more than cleverness on a particular field, Biblical wisdom is the result of living in glad submission to God’s Word in God’s world. Biblical wisdom is believing what God has revealed and seeking to live in light of it.

What’s Walking the Way of the Wise About?

This is an attempt to show a biblical theology of wisdom—focusing on how the various genres “showcase” or tell (as well as show) an understanding of the concept.

This will incorporate various elements of the revelation throughout Scripture, showing how they contribute to an understanding along a salvation-historical trajectory.

It’ll be easier to let Chase describe this:

Chapter 1 roots us in the early chapters of Scripture, where the seeds—and even a tree—of wisdom are found. Chapter 2 discusses the story and person of Job, since I think his life was very early in biblical history. With chapters 3 and 4, we follow the stories and steps of Abraham and his descendants—the Israelites. In chapter 5 we see the rise of David and we hear his songs, his psalms. The shadow of Solomon looms over chapters 6,7, and 8, as we reflect on his life and on the books of Proverbs, the Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. Our exploration of wisdom in the Old Testament concludes with chapter 9, where we follow the Israelites into exile, which is where folly takes its disciples. Chapter 10 directs our attention to the incarnation and ministry of Jesus, the true and greater Solomon. In chapter 11 we consider the importance of walking wisely as Christ’s people, for the days are evil. And finally, in chapter 12, we cast our eyes toward the end of the wise road—the way that leads to life and blessing, the life we were made and saved for.

This salvation-historical trajectory will help us situate Scriptures teaching about wisdom in light of the big story of Scripture itself. With a canonical perspective on wisdom, we will see the various ways that the biblical authors instruct us about this topic. And we will more fully appreciate how they summon us to join the blessed and joyful saints who are walking the way of the wise.

Proverbs/Ecclesiastes

An interpretive danger to avoid when reading through Proverbs expecting earthly fulfillment of these promises in an absolutizing sense, as if life were not complicated and inexplicable things did not happen. Do the righteous not suffer? Do the wicked not sometimes prosper? Do people who walk with integrity not still face obstacles? Do the wise not sometimes die young? Do the wicked sometimes not seem to get away with their schemes and escape consequences? Consider the earthly ministry of Jesus. The wicked came against him with conspiracy and intrigue. He, the holy and righteous one, was killed. His vindication occurred through his bodily resurrection—a kind of resurrection that comprises our hope when Jesus returns.

We can affirm two things: the book of Proverbs is true, and life is complicated. The proverbs are statements about how life typically works.

The book of Ecclesiastes does not exactly feel like a warm hug. It is more like a splash of cold water to the face. But if you are being lulled to sleep when you need to be alert and sober-minded, a splash of cold water can be a pift, a lifesaver.

If we are going to be wise, we have to welcome uncomfortable truths, We have to be willing to sit with difficult realities, such as unanswered questions, the futility of work, and the inevitability of death. One manifestation of folly is the resistance to dealing with reality. Foolishness does not want to acknowledge the way things are. So, when the writer is helping readers grow wise, he gives a heavy dose of what life is like in a fallen world.

It’s probably cheating to find some of the best material in this book to be from Chase’s discussion of the OT Wisdom Books, but it’s also not surprising that he’d be able to get much of his material from Proverbs and Ecclesiastes (as well as other books in the genre).

Many people—including people I typically think of as worth paying attention to, will take Proverbs and apply it without nuance or real understanding of life being complicated. This not only does a disservice to the reality we all see every day, but it also fails to understand the book properly. Obviously, in the few pages Chase can give to the book, we’re not going to be able to get a full understanding of the book—or of what it tells us about wisdom/wise living. That said, what he does help the reader to understand will help the reader to tackle the book on their own—at least to know better than trying to see the book as a straightforward look at life.

The same can be said for Ecclesiastes—not that nearly as many people will try to take a reductionistic approach to the book—and those who do will typically see it as a dark, mysterious, and maybe cynical/hopeless look at the world. Chase shows that the answer is not as simple as that.

Other Highlights

I truly appreciated the way he discussed the whole of Job—obviously not in a lot of depth, he only had 11 pages for it. But he starts off by showing that the book is not just about Job’s suffering in faith—but that the crux of the book is a discussion of wisdom and its source being God.

Another highlight for me was seeing the Pentateuch—particularly Deuteronomy—serving as the background for so much of the book of Proverbs. It’s easy to see the book as a semi-random collection of couplets and droplets of good advice. But if you see it as the work of a father carrying out the instructions in Deuteronomy to explain and apply the Pentateuch to his children (for example, but not limited to that)—it takes on a new life and vitality.

But the biggest highlight for me—and there were many—is Chapter Eleven, “Walking Wisely in Evil Days.” This chapter covers the Christian Life (essentially), drawing on the Pauline and General Epistles. The second section of that chapter, “Growing in Wisdom in Christ,” contains the best two pages of the book. Obviously, you need more of the book to get everything he’s saying there—but if you only read two pages of the book, those should be it.

So, what did I think about Walking the Way of the Wise?

Wisdom is not merely hearing. Wisdom is hearing with a readiness to obey. The Lord lavs out a myriad of commands while the nation gathers at the base of Mount Sinai, and the wise response is the embrace of and submission to these commands. There is a relationship between wisdom and God’s law. God’s commands are for the good of his people as he directs them in true worship and holy living. Wisdom, like God’s laws, is for our good. Wisdom orients our lives toward God and neighbor in ways that are honorable. While it may be too simplistic to say that God’s laws and wisdom are identical, we can certainly affirm that God’s laws are an example of wisdom. His laws are wise and direct his people wisely.

I’m glad to see this series back, with a new editor* and second-phase in its focus. If nothing else, both of those promise more volumes to come—and they’ll likely to be as valuable as their initial counterparts.

It’s frequently the case, but it seems to be more the case with this book than usual. The footnotes could serve as a TBR for several months’ reading. I’ve added a few books to my list (and could’ve easily doubled that number).

I personally benefited from Chase’s definition of “wisdom” and how to find it in Scripture. I really appreciated his unwillingness to make Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and James the epicenter of his discussion, but to look for it throughout the Scriptures (see above). Tackling the topic of wisdom from a Redemptive Historical point of view rather than a Systematic perspective (which is what I’m used to, as I expect most are), really helped me to see the breadth of it—and even to help with my Systematic understanding of it (as it should).

All in all, this is a truly helpful and insightful read, and I commend it to you.

* I have no complaints about Dr. Gladd’s time on the series, was just noting the new general editor.

4 Stars

Looking Back at a Week of Spreading the Self-Pub Love

On July 26, 2025

Here we are at the tail end of Self-Published Author Appreciation Week, and wow, there’ve been a lot of great posts this year. I hope you all have spent time on the SPAAW Hub to read it all.

Around here, in case you didn’t notice, it was all about spreading the love for self-published works. For the second year in a row, I asked a number of Self-Published authors to plug their newest–or their soon-to-be-released–book and to talk about a self-published work they wanted to get extra eye-balls on.

We heard from:

JCM Berne
Tom Bookbeard
A.J. Calvin
Thomas J Devens
Livia J. Elliot
Shannon Knight
James T. Lambert

David T. List
Vanessa Ricci-Thode
Michael Michel
DB Rook
Ben Schenkman
K. Q. Watson

I want to thank them for their time and contributions, yet one more time. Each of you have increased by TBR. I’ll probably be thankful for that at some point, but right now it’s a bit overwhelming.

(Kidding! (mostly))

So, what was mentioned by these august writers (in July)? We didn’t have anyone recommend the same title as someone else this year, which is pretty cool. It’s a diverse batch of 28 titles–something will likely appeal to everyone who reads it. Likely multiple somethings.

Thanks again to all who participated. Thanks to all who read. And thank you to all of those Self-Published Authors out there. I hope you felt appreciated this week.

Image by Monika from Pixabay
The 2024 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

Saturday Miscellany—7/26/25

On July 26, 2025

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

I really don’t have much for today, almost an inexcusably short amount. In my defense, I was a little busy this week.

Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet A Refuge From Censorship: Why Independent Bookstores Will Save Us—The headline might be overly optimistic, but it’s good to dream, right? “Kate Broad on the Invaluable Civic and Cultural Role of Booksellers Across the Country”
bullet Captivating Characters of July—Yesterday was the last Friday of July? Eeep. Time for another installment in this meme that needs to get more steam. (he says, having contributed once this year)
bullet I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’re about to wrap up Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week 2025. Be sure to check out Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week 2025 Hub to see most (possibly all) of the posts associated with it. A few things that I want to highlight:
bullet #selfpublishedauthorsappreciationweek and/or #SPAAW on Bluesky have a lot of goodies to see (I didn’t see much action over on not-Twitter).
bullet Read Indie Fantasy‘s contributions threatened to break my bank
bullet You’ve gotta enter the Giveaway for Bones and Betrayals: Silence of the Dead by Erica Marks and Andi Ewington, not only is it a great read. But the entertainment possibilities in the responses are high. I want to read more of them (a reason for you, and a reason for me—we both benefit!)
bullet There’s also a Giveway from Your Paper Quest Subscription Box—one of the best ideas that I’ve seen this year
bullet Lastly, Seán reminded us all of the “need to actively support unorthodox writing projects that would struggle to exist in the modern trad pub industry but would flourish” online, like their flash fiction Substack, Shadows & Sorcery and “all the fantasy encyclopedias, bestiaries, and in-universe texts I’ve been told people want to write but ‘don’t have an audience.’ I, for one, would like some recommendations for the latter.
bullet I shared this link 10 years ago, I just re-read it and thought I’d share. 20 Surprisingly Profound Quotes From Fantasy & SciFi. Some real gems.

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago Week?
I refuse to believe it’s been ten years since these.
bullet Kitty Saves the World by Carrie Vaughn
bullet Re Jane by Patricia Park
bullet And I mentioned the releases of: The Redeemers by Ace Atkins; Who Let the Dog Out by David Rosenfelt; and Lessons from Tara: Life Advice from the World’s Most Brilliant Dog also by David Rosenfelt

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
(it was unintentional, but I’m embracing the coincidence that these are all self-published works)
bullet Shield of The Mothership by JCM Berne—The greatest mystery in my life is why I’m not caught up on this series. But more importantly–new JCM Berne, folks! Get on it!!
bullet You’ll Never Walk Alone by Troy Lambert—a creepy-looking short story
bullet Jumping Judiciary Corruption by E. N. Crane—another series that I’m inexplicably behind on. Cyn and Winnie look into the death of a sequestered juror.

The Irresponsible Reader On…Self-Published Crime Fiction

In Books, Miscellany, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, News/Misc., Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week

(updated 7/25/25)

From the first moment that people did the strange thing of asking me to talk about their books on my blog, I’ve been impressed by the quality of a lot of what’s been published by authors going out on their own, taking all the risks, shouldering all the responsibility and doing all the work to get their words, their dreams, their blood, sweat, and tears. This should be celebrated—it’s definitely appreciated, as we’re trying to show this week.

As part of this week-long celebration, I’m continuing my habit of highlighting the self-published works that I’ve blogged about over the last few years (or meant to blog about, but at least read)—just a sentence or two. Hopefully, this’ll be enough to make you click on the link to the full post. Beyond that, it’d be great if I inspired you to add a few of these to your TBR. Also, be sure you check out the other posts over at the SPAAW Hub.

Last, but certainly not least for this week, my apparent specialty: Crime Fiction–vigilantes, police, private eyes, people who have no business at all near a crime…you name it, I love this stuff. This tl;dr list also proves that I was right to break these lists down by genre.

bullet Kind Hearts and Martinets by Pete Adams—a near-to-retirement D. I. with a rag-tag team investigates terror threats, murders, and bike thefts.
bullet Cause and Effect: Vice Plagues the City (my post about it)
bullet Irony in the Soul (my post about it)
bullet Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping by Cheryl Denise Bannerman—a mystery writer finds herself the target of a kidnapper and has to employ everything her characters have done to save her own life. Which sounds more dire than this cute novel actually ever achieves. (my post about it)
bullet The City That Barks and Roars by J. T. Bird—Anthropomorphic animals in a 1950s-esque civilization, a pair of detectives hunting for a missing colleague. (my post about it)
bullet Death Stalks Kettle Street by John Bowen—a man with pretty severe OCD is sure that people in his neighborhood are being killed, but the authorities don’t see it–and his turn is coming. (my post about it)
bullet DI Hannah Robbins by Rebecca Bradley—DI Hannah Robbins novels follow Robbins and her team as they solve murders–she’s got a great team and the novels have some of the best hooks around.
bullet The Twisted Web (my post about it)
bullet Kill for Me (my post about it)
bullet Dead Blind by Rebecca Bradley—A Detective adjusting to prosopagnosia (“face blindness”) tries to keep the condition under wraps while leading his team investigating an international organ smuggling ring. Great hook, strong execution. (my post about it)
bullet The Butcher by Nathan Burrows—a darkly comic tale about brothers struggling to keep their farm and butcher shop alive, until they develop a new sausage recipe. (my post about it)
bullet The Shoulders of Giants by Jim Cliff—A rookie P.I. (inspired more by fiction than reality), is on the hunt for a missing college student. (my post about it)
bullet Bad Memory by Jim Cliff—this novella finds Jake Abraham looking into an old closed case and forces it open. (my post about it)
bullet Sharp Investigations by E.N. Crane—a comic series with a heavy-accent on mystery (or is it the other way around?), featuring a former Army MP and her K9 partner who set up a PI firm in a small Ohio town
bullet Barking for Business (my post about it)
bullet Chasing Empty Caskets (my post about it)
bullet Don’t Get Involved by F J Curlew—a slow burn of a novel about some street kids in Kyiv who find a large amount of drugs and a Scottish teacher in town to help their schools. (my post about it)
bullet Criminal Collective by Russell Day—a collection of short stories and a novella from one of my favorite crime writers. (my post about it)
bullet Jeremy Barnes by Robert Germaux—tired of teaching, Jeremy Barnes becomes a P.I. These books have a very Spenser-vibe to them and are great comfort food.
bullet Hard Court (my post about it)
bullet In the Eye (my post about it)
bullet Small Bytes (my post about it)
bullet Daniel Hays Mysteries by Robert Germaux—Daniel Hays heads the Special Assignment Squad —- a Major Crimes squad set up to help smaller cities in the county around Pittsburgh–hunts down serial killers in these entertaining thrillers.
bullet Small Talk (my post about it)
bullet One by One (my post about it)
bullet DC Smith Investigation by Peter Grainger—I’ve listened to these on audio, but the novels are self-published. Smith is a former DCI who’s voluntarily demoted down to Detective Sergeant so he can actually work cases–in his own idiosyncratic way. There is something indescribably charming about these books, I can see myself re-reading these for years.
bullet An Accidental Death (my post about it)
bullet But For the Grace (my post about it)
bullet Luck and Judgement (my post about it)
bullet Persons of Interest (my post about it)
bullet In This Bright Future (my post about it)
bullet The Rags of Time (my post about it)
bullet Time and Tide (my post about it)
bullet A Private Investigation (my post about it)
bullet The Truth (my post about it)
bullet The Camera Man (as close as I got to posting about it)
bullet The Late Lord Thorpe (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet King’s Lake Investigations by Peter Grainger—I’ve listened to these on audio, but the novels are self-published. This series tells what happens after DS Smith leaves Kings Lake, following those he trained and left as they form the backbone of the new Murder Squad. They’re just as good.
bullet Songbird (my post about it)
bullet On Eden Street (my post about it)
bullet Roxanne (my post about it)
bullet Missing Pieces (my post about it)
bullet Another Girl (my post about it)
bullet Catch & Neutralize by Chris Grams—Members of a vigilante group that takes down criminals who’ve gotten away with crimes against women and children find themselves in a very hairy situation. (my post about it)
bullet Fatal Forgery by Susan Grossey—as 19th Century British Policing begins to take a new shape, a magistrate’s constable investigates a new kind of financial crime. (my post about it)
bullet Ostler by Susan Grossey—Grossey brings us a 19th Century amatuer slueth hunting for a friend’s murderer, who finds so much more. (my post about it)
bullet Sizar by Susan Grossey—now a university constable, the Ostler has to solve a murder and uncover more corruption in Cambridge. (my post about it)
bullet DoubleBlind by Libby Fischer Hellmann—a PI looks into suspicious deaths following COVID vaccines while dealing with people who think she’s a wife who ran away from a cult. Eventually, she has to stop and figure out what’s going on with her doppelgänger for her own sake. (my post about it)
bullet The Secret of Rosalia Flats by Tim W. Jackson—following the death of his father, a man returns to his Caribbean island childhood home to look into what happened. (my post about it)
bullet Cooked Goose by Laura Jenski—a couple on a cross-country motor home trip discovers a body in a campground, and decides to investigate the death to “help” local law enforcement. (I thought I posted about this months ago, apparently not. Soon, maybe?)
bullet Afton Morrison by Brent Jones—the story of a Children’s Librarian with impulses to become a serial killer. No really. It’s twisted. It’s fun. It has some heart, too.
bullet Go Home, Afton (my post about it)
bullet See You Soon, Afton (my post about it)
bullet Nice Try, Afton (my post about it)
bullet Time’s Up, Afton (my post about it)
bullet Harvested by Troy Lambert—a PI starts looking into a rash of dognappings sweeping across Seattle and uncovers something chilling. (my post about it)
bullet Stray Ally by Troy Lambert—An ex-special ops soldier takes on terrorists, Aryans on the hunt, and an out of control military officer, with only his wits, experience and a fantastic stray dog. (my post about it)
bullet Teaching Moments by Troy Lambert—Max Boucher is back, this time to hunt for a stolen horse–and runs across a serial killer while he’s at it. (my post about it)
bullet Cutthroat Cupcakes by Cate Lawley—I maybe should’ve included this on the Fantasy and UF lists, too. But Lawley describes these as cozy mysteries, so I’ll stick with that. The owner of an artisan candy shop is arrested by magic police for selling cursed items that have been used to kill someone. It’s a rough way to learn that magic exists. She works with the detective to find the actual killer to clear her name. (my post about it)
bullet Cooking for Cannibals by Rich Leder—an ex-con trying to go straight, a behavioral gerontologist, and a group of senior citizens get into hot water with an experimental drug and competing criminal organizations. (my post about it)
bullet Let There Be Linda by Rich Leder—I can’t sum this up in a sentence or two–a comic crime novel set in L.A. full of interweaving plotlines. (my post about it)
bullet McCall & Company: Workman’s Complication by Rich Leder—a struggling actress takes over her late father’s P.I. Agency (my post about it)
bullet Shadow Ranch by Rebeca Carey Lyles—A woman trapped in a polygamous cult attempts to free herself, her brother, and others. Featuring a truly despicable villain. (my post about it)
bullet Bones & Betrayal: Silence of the Dead by Andi Ewington/Erica Marks—A necromancer and his partner are compelled to investigate a murder in a fairly typical Fantasy city. It’s a truly compelling mix of magic and mirth. Mystery and intrigue. And pie. Delicious, and sometimes deadly, pie. (my post about it)
bullet The Lion’s Tail by Luna Miller, Aidan Isherwood (Translator)—a retired physician turns to a new career as a P.I. An early case turns out to be too much for her to tackle on her own and she recruits some help from people in her neighborhood, creating her own Baker Street Irregulars. (my post about it)
bullet San Diego Dead by Mark Nolan—a modern-day privateer and his dog are on the run from a vengeful drug mob. (my post about it)
bullet How the Wired Weep by Ian Patrick—you’re not going to see me say something negative about a Patrick novel, but this one is special. a gut-wrenching, taut look at a police informant and his detective handler as they try to take down a local drug lord. (my post about it)
bullet The Warrior Series by Ty Patterson—Once upon a time, I think we’d call these books “Men’s Adventure” novels. Former Delta operative (and some friends) now run a covert-ops group.
bullet The Warrior (my post about it)
bullet The Reluctant Warrior (my post about it)
bullet A Tail of Mystery by Paul Regnier—an unemployed reporter (who suddenly has the ability to telepathically communicate with his dog) returns to his small home town to try to rebuild his life. But first, he has to clear himself of suspicion for murder. Cozy-vibes and a talking dog–what more do you want? (my post about it)
bullet Dead Down East by Carl Schmidt—a part-time PI gets sucked into investigating the death of his state’s governor (my post about it)
bullet Big Trouble in Little Italy by Nicole Sharp—a bank-teller finds herself working with the FBI to take down her ex-fiance who turns out to be working for the mob. It’s fun, spicy, exciting, sweet–and did I mention spicy? (my post about it)

If you’re a self-published author that I’ve featured on this blog and I didn’t mention you in this post and should have. I’m sorry (unless you’re this guy). Please drop me a line, and I’ll fix this. I want to keep this regularly updated so I keep talking about Self-Published Authors.
Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Footer

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The Irresponsible Reader On…Self-Published Fantasy

In Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Miscellany, News/Misc., Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week

(updated 7/25/25)

Today we’re going to be looking at Self-Published Fantasy. These are some of the most imaginative, creative, and enjoyable Fantasy novels I’ve read since I started blogging. These authors approach this beloved genre in ways that surprise and inspire me. Check out these books, hopefully, you’ll find something good.

I should also add that this list has grown more than the others this year…maybe half of the new books I’m talking about this week are here.

bullet Healed by Carrie Alani—A tired and beleaguered nurse gains the ability to heal (my post about it)
bullet Partial Function by JCM Berne—a fun-as-all-get-out wuxia-inspired novel where a former legendary warrior has to try to rescue her kidnapped daughters, and who knows what wake of destruction she’ll leave along the way (my post about it)
bullet Of Honey and Wildfires by Sarah Chorn—Chorn’s Western/Fantasy about…I don’t have room here. It’s beautiful prose, heartbreaking stories, and a stellar example of writing. (my post about it)
bullet Oh, That Shotgun Sky by Sarah Chorn—the follow-up to the above. A handful of people trying to come to grips with the new world they find themselves in. (my post about it)
bullet Seraphina’s Lament by Sarah Chorn—A planet is dying, political upheaval, and the dawn of a new reality. One of the most brutal reads in recent memory (and one of the most disturbing covers!). I absolutely loved it and would be literally counting down the days until the sequel if I knew the date. (my post about it)
bullet One Man by Harry Connolly—A man hiding from his past becomes a one-man army trying to save a kidnapped mother and daughter. (my post about it)
bullet Buddy the Knight and The Queen of Sorrow by Peter David—A valiant teddy bear knight, who is devoted to protecting his Person from the monsters from The Realm-Under-The-Bed, has spent years defending a little girl named Mieya from these fearsome foes. He’s frequently assisted by his companion, a stuffed tamarin—a mandolin-playing bard. Esteban not only fights at Buddy’s side, but his songs frequently tell the tales of Buddy’s victories. These two (and allies they’re yet to meet) take on the ultimate foe. (my post about it)
bullet 1-800-CallLoki by Dawn Blair—a collection of novellas tracing Loki’s adventures in 21st Century America. (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet Toby and the Silver Blood Witches by Sally Doherty—A young boy who takes care of his seriously ill mother, gets the surprise of a lifetime when a witch crashes into his attic and asks for his help! It’s a fun MG adventure. (my post about it)
bullet Haven by Ceril N Domac—a family in a slightly grimmer (and future) version of the U.S. has to go on the run to a safe settlement when they start to display signs of being more than human. (my post about it)
bullet The Hero Interviews by Andi Ewington—A Loremaster conducts a series of interviews with Fantasy heroes, and others, to find and describe the essence of heroism. A thoughtful look at the idea is buried under jokes that will appeal to Fantasy Readers and RPG Players in particular-but many others, too. I had a great time with this. (my post about it)
bullet The Story of Lucius Cane: Book One by Vanya Ferreira—a mildly atypical vampire goes up against a lycanthrope-ish rogue in 1794. (my post about it)
bullet The Impudent Edda by Rowdy Geirsson—a brilliant retelling of Norse mythology set in the Boston area. (my post about it is forthcoming, was hoping for yesterday. Or back in April.)
bullet The Camelot Shadow by Sean Gibson—Victorian academics face off with druids (and others?) on a hunt for an Authurian artifact. Finding it will determine course of history. (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet The Blackwood Saga by Layton Green—three brothers from New Orleans travel to a fantasy version of Earth and have to fight their way back home. (I haven’t finished this series yet, and it’s driving me crazy)
bullet The Brothers Three (my post about it)
bullet The Last Cleric (my post about it)
bullet The Spirit Mage (my post about it)
bullet The White Room by Pierce Taylor Hibbs—There’s a lot going on (visibly and invisibly) in this Pennsylvanian small town. (my post about it)
bullet The Knight Revenant by Adam Holcombe—this short story introduces Gam Gam the Necromancer in a fantastic way. (my post about it)
bullet A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe—a newly orphaned child finds refuge with a knitting Necromancer in a fun adventure, that isn’t afraid to explore other emotional environments. (my post about it)
bullet Nugget’s Tenth Life by Adam Holcombe—what was life (rather, were lives) like for Gam Gam’s cat before she brought him back? (my post about it)
bullet The Wishing Stone by Adam Holcombe—Gam Gam has a map that could get Mina what she’s looking for. If they can survive the attempt. (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet Stone of Asylum by Hilarey Johnson—In the late 1800s, as the Gold Rush in the Northwest starts to die off, a Korean warrior, with particular magical abilities, tries to track down his missing sister.(my post about it)
bullet Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani—a street thief/revolutionary finds herself over her head after her latest mission. A fast and fascinating read. (my post about it)
bullet A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher—A 14-year-old young woman whose magic controls baked goods is the only thing standing between her city and an invading army. You know, that old yarn. It’s delightfully charming. (my post about it)
bullet Grave Cold by Shannon Knight—a mix of creepy fantasy and creepier SF in a dystopian future. (my post about it)
bullet The Conjuring of Zoth-Avarex: The Self-Proclaimed Greatest Dragon in the Multiverse by K.R.R. Lockhaven—A group of magic users summons a dragon into 21st Century U.S. and immediately lose control over it. Heroics and hilarity ensue. It’s part corporate-satire, part fantasy-trope satire, part celebration of those same tropes, and all very funny. (my post about it)
bullet Mrs. Covington’s by K.R.R. Lockhaven—This book about friendship and nachos describes a young man looking to get out from his weathly father’s shadow who ends up buying a capybara-themed pub and running it with his new friends. There’s also a treasure hunt. Warm fuzzies, kindness, and good times ensue. (my post about it)
bullet Zoth-Avarex’s Escape Plan: A Pick-Your-Own-Path Experience by K.R.R. Lockhaven—A short Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style sequel about what happens to the dragon after the novel. (my post about it)
bullet The Glass Frog by J. Brandon Lowry—an orphaned teen who has dreams beyond the village she was raised in gets the change to see the larger world when a stranger washes up on shore. A great mix of light moments and emotional depth. (my post about it)
bullet Bones & Betrayal: Silence of the Dead by Andi Ewington/Erica Marks—A necromancer and his partner are compelled to investigate a murder in a fairly typical Fantasy city. It’s a truly compelling mix of magic and mirth. Mystery and intrigue. And pie. Delicious, and sometimes deadly, pie. (my post about it)
bullet A Graveyard for Heroes by Michael Michel—the second Dreams of Dust and Steel novel. The story grows grander, our perspective enlarges—and assuming that the pre-series status quo was as good as it could be, this civilization is in trouble from many sides. Stunning work. (my post about it)
bullet The Price of Power by Michael Michel—the first novel in the Dreams of Dust and Steel series. We focus on four characters as their nation is on the verge of collapse–and get glimpses of the roles they can pay in keeping it from complete disunion (or their roles in pushing it toward the end). (my post about it)
bullet The Culling by M. T. Miller—a bleak fantasy world is beset by monsters, and The Culling is a committed group of warriors wandering the countryside to fight them. These are dark books, but so fun to read.
bullet Apex Predator (my post about it)
bullet Brotherhood of the Worm (my post about it)
bullet The City of Scales (I accidentally deleted my post when it was almost done, and I’m having a hard time replicating it. But it’ll be here soon)
bullet The Nameless Chronicle by M. T. Miller—humanity struggles in a desolate, post-apocalyptic world. One man rises to fight the despots ruling them. He suffers, he bleeds, he dies. He just can’t seem to stay dead.
bullet Ascent (my post about it)
bullet Bedlam (my post about it)
bullet Risen (my post about it)
bullet A Strange Chemistry (my post about it)
bullet Strife (my post about it)
bullet The Complete Nameless Chronicle—the series is now published in one “boxed set” eBook
bullet Curse of the Fallen by H.C. Newell—a woman whose magic has her marked for death and her closest friend journey to find a way to break the curse she’s under. (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet Heart of Fire by Raina Nightengale—two young people surprisingly find themselves bound to dragons, and the world may soon change because of them both. (my post about it)
bullet Sir Thomas the Hesitant and the Table of Less Valued Knights by Liam Perrin—a wholesome and comedic Arthurian tale about knights not quite good enough for the Round Table (my post about it)
bullet Bizarre Frontier Omnibus #1 Brock Poulsen-a group of novellas following the adventures of a Wild West lawman cursed to never die as he takes on supernatural foes. (my post about it)
bullet Bard Tidings by Paul Regnier—a light-hearted Fantasy adventure about a bard who finds himself in the unlikely position to save a village from an invading army. He’s also strangely capable of it (with the right allies). (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet Panacea by Alex Robins—in an alternate ancient Greece, the war between the gods comes to Earth. (my post about it is forthcoming, if I can ever figure out how to put what I want to say into words)
bullet Klone’s Stronghold by Joyce Reynolds-Ward—a temporary teaching job becomes so much more. (my post about it)
bullet Cursed Cocktails by S.L. Rowland—a battlemage tries to enjoy his retirement by relaxing and starting a business. If only the world would let him. A heart-warming cozy fantasy. (my post about it)
bullet Sword & Thistle by S.L. Rowland—an adventurer is sent on a near-impossible task. But the payoff will make the struggles worth it. Another heart-warming cozy fantasy in this series. (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet An Unexpected Afterlife by Dan Sofer—wide-scale resurrection of the dead causes more than a few problems for everyone in modern Israel. (my post about it)

If you're a self-published author that I've featured on this blog and I didn't mention you in this post and should have. I'm sorry (unless you're this guy). Please drop me a line, and I'll fix this. I want to keep this regularly updated so I keep talking about Self-Published Authors.

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The 2025 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

PUB DAY SPOTLIGHT: You’ll Never Walk Alone by Troy Lambert

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

I’m excited talk about today’s release of (literary local) Troy Lambert’s You’ll Never Walk Alone. It looks like a quick, intense read for the thriller fans out there. Here’s a little more about the story to get you interested.

Book Details:

Title: You’ll Never Walk Alone by Troy Lambert
Format: eBook/Audio
Length: 26 pg.
Publisher: TUnbound Media
US Publication Date: July 25, 2025

About the Story:

Face Your Fears. Embrace the Unknown.

In the heart-pounding thriller, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” nurse Grace Whitmore is caught in a storm—both outside and within. As she trudges through rain-soaked streets after a long hospital shift, every shadow threatens to pull her back into a childhood terror she’s tried to forget.

When Grace senses an unseen presence tracking her steps, paranoia and dread begin to twist her reality. Is it her imagination, or is there truly someone lurking in the dark? Each echo of footfalls drives her deeper into a maze of fear and doubt.

Just when she believes she’s found safety behind her apartment door, a returned badge on her doorstep throws everything she thought she knew into question. Was the night’s pursuit merely a figment of her mind—or a misunderstood gesture of goodwill?

As tension mounts with an inexplicable sound from her home, Grace’s journey morphs into a battle of wits and survival. Will she overcome the haunting shadows of her past, or will the true threat emerge from where she least expects?

Discover the gripping tale of suspense and psychological intrigue that will keep you questioning every flicker of light and shade.

Book Links:

Author’s Audio/eBook Bundle Page ~ Author’s eBook Page ~ Other Retailers

About the Author

Troy Lambert writes thrillers and mysteries that keep readers up past midnight. With a mind for puzzles and a taste for the twisted, he crafts stories that are gripping, emotional, and unforgettable. When he’s not writing, Troy is podcasting, teaching, or spending time with his loyal dog. Dive into his books and discover why readers can’t put them down.

Website

Spreading the Self-Pub Love in 2025 with David T. List

I had so much fun with this last year (and grew my TBR–plus a few others’), that I’m bringing it back. In the spirit of “a rising tide lifts all boats,” for Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week I wanted to give some Self-Published authors a chance to spread some love.

(They also get to do a bit of self-promotion, I mean, c’mon, it’s hard out here…)
Spreading the Self-Pub Love in 20205 with David T. List

An Elevator Pitch for Something You Love

Kings of Paradise by Richard Nell

Kings of Paradise remains one of my favorite self-published fantasy novels. It’s gritty as hell and opens with an outcast with perfect memory cooking and eating a person he’s just killed. “In a brutal world, a deformed genius from the snowy Ascom seeks vengeance while a young prince in paradise-like Sri Kon struggles to prove himself worthy. Their destinies collide in an epic power struggle.”

My Elevator Pitch by David T. List

VIOLENCE & VIGILANCE, published August 2023, is the first book in Turesia Untamed, an epic fantasy duology that explores the cost of immortality, the atrocities grief inspires and excuses, and the will to fight against impossible odds. It features song magic, beast riders, mercenary outlaws, and weather manipulation.

About this Author
David T List describes himself as “of the southern US. Writer, bassist, explorer.”

Amazon’s author page expands on it a bit, “David hails from the humid subtropics of the southeastern US, where he writes fantasy fiction, plays bass guitar, explores the wilderness, and kicks it with his family. He’s adept at trouble-shooting, thanks largely to his proficiency at trouble-making, and puts both to use creatively to bring to life unlikely creatures, unique settings and situations, and villainous heroes.”

Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Bluesky ~ Book

Be sure to check out Kings of Paradise and Violence & Vigilance, let’s show them both some love!

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Image by Dawn Hudson/Prawny from PublicDomainPictures.net
The 2025 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

Spreading the Self-Pub Love in 2025 with DB Rook

(They also get to do a bit of self-promotion, I mean, c’mon, it’s hard out here…)
Spreading the Self-Pub Love in 20205 with DB Rook (A returning guest!)

An Elevator Pitch for Something You Love

A Dragon of the Veil by Nick Snape

Brooding, damaged and expertly crafted characters unearth mechanised dragons as their world comes under threat from a mysterious evil.

My Elevator Pitch by DB Rook

Teenage angst meets robot genocide, space pirates and giant spiders.

About this Author
DB Rook entered the indie book scene with his debut, Callus & Crow. A western themed post-apocalyptoc odyssey of revenge and redemption.

As one of The Four Beardsmen of the Bookpocalypse (youtube podcast show) he can be found chatting to other authors and those that form the indie community either in panel mode or as a player in The Bookpocalypse live RPG. A family man, reviewer, gamer, drummer and RPG nerd and northerner (Uk), DB is eager to whisk you off to one of his worlds to enslave you with his dark, charming and innovative take on the fantasy/Sci-fi genre.

Website ~ Book ~ Twitter ~ Bluesky ~ Linktree

Be sure to check out A Dragon of the Veil and Residuum, let’s show them both some love!

Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Footer

Image by Dawn Hudson/Prawny from PublicDomainPictures.net
The 2025 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

Spreading the Self-Pub Love in 2025 with Ben Schenkman