This month we launched the Indie Book Network, our brand new platform for reviews of independently published books. You can find out more about how it all got started and what we're planning on doing going forward here and here.
Some of the bloggers participating are reviewing here on our blog, and some are reviewing on their own blogs, so every month I'll be posting an end of the month round up here to bring everything together, so that you can browse through and pick up on anything you may have missed.
To kick everything off here on our blog we shared thoughts on Pondweed by Lisa Blower (Myriad Editions), which was also the July book of the month in our newsletter. It's a disjointed story with some memorable characters and I really enjoyed reading it. We've also shared our first ever guest review this month, as Hetty reviewed C.L Moir's Old & Ugly, the debut publication from Behind the Hat Press.
We have some brilliant bookish people joining in with this project, including Jackie of the prolific book blog Never Imitate. This month she shared her thoughts about Not Far From the Junction by Will Ashon (Open Pen), calling this non-fiction novelette full of "stories as remarkable as any work of imagination". Also on Jackie's blog this month was a review of Charco Press's latest title A Musical Offering by Luis Sagasti. Writing reviews that aren't entirely positive is such a skill, and Jackie does it so well, leaving me wanting to read this book despite her not always loving it - as she says "As with a new musical composition – however enjoyable – it is not until the finish that it may be fully considered and appreciated." The final review that Jackie shared for the Indie Book Network this month was of The Blackbird by Claire Allen (Henningham Family Press), an absolutely fascinating sounding novel about the building of Liverpool Cathedral and the shadows that a tragic accident can cast over the lives of the people involved.
Rounding up a brilliant first month, author Jeff Vande Zande sent over a copy of his short story collection The Neighborhood Division which Leyla reviewed on her blog. Ebooks are a great way for us to be able to work with indies from outside of the UK, and I'm really happy to be collaborating with bloggers who are able to read them!
Many thanks to all of the reviewers and publishers who got involved in our first month. If you'd like to be involved going forward, please check for more details & get in touch here.
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