Welcome back to the Hearth!
This week, we're embarking on a journey through richly imagined pasts and fantastical worlds. We've got three critically acclaimed indie gems that explore what it means to be an outsider forging your own path—whether you're fighting colonial injustice, uncovering supernatural secrets, or battling to reunite a lost family with your newfound crew. Each is the start of an exciting series!
Let's dive in.
This Week's Powerful Historical Fiction
When the Tamarind Tree Blooms by Elaine Russell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Key Themes: Identity, Colonialism, Found Love, Social Justice
Note: Critically acclaimed by Kirkus Reviews & IndieReader!
Let's begin in 1931 French colonial Laos with a truly powerful and critically-acclaimed novel. Geneviève (Vivi) Dubois, a métisse (half-Lao/half-French), is a classic misfit, rejected by both sides of her heritage. Trapped in an orphanage, she embarks on a determined quest to uncover her past, find her missing twin, and claim her identity. This is a story of immense courage, finding crucial allies and love in a divided world, and ultimately a profound journey of self-acceptance. With starred reviews from Kirkus and IndieReader, this is a must-read for fans of deeply moving historical fiction.
This Week's Gothic Historical Fantasy
Chasing Moonflowers: A Gothic Historical Fantasy by Pauline Chow
Genre: Historical Fantasy / Mystery
Key Themes: Coming-of-Power, Found Crew, Supernatural Mystery
Note: Starred review from Kirkus Reviews!
Next, we shift to 1925 colonial Hong Kong for a "dazzling blend of fantasy intrigue and historical drama." Herbalist Ling Shaw witnesses a vampire's murder and finds her uncle wrongfully accused. To clear his name, she forms a fantastic "ragtag crew" with her friend and a Red Society thug. Together, they unravel dark family secrets and occult rituals, fighting ancient horrors amid brewing revolution. Praised with a starred review from Kirkus, this is a thrilling coming-of-power tale about misfits banding together against a sinister plot.
This Week's Epic Fantasy Adventure
Catching Qat: An Epic Fantasy Adventure by K.T. Pike
Genre: Epic Fantasy / TTRPG-Inspired
Key Themes: Estranged Twins, Found Party, Ancient Mystery
Note: Critically acclaimed by IndieReader & published this week!
Finally, we head into a thrilling epic fantasy, perfect for TTRPG fans! Twins Qrodin and Qat, separated by a tragic past, find themselves reunited two decades later, both hardened misfits—one a seeker of truth, the other an assassin. To unravel an ancient mystery surrounding their mother's death, they must put aside their differences and join a classic "traveling party" of diverse heroes: an elf, a monk, a dwarf, and a tiny archer. Critically acclaimed by IndieReader, this is a fantastic "found family" adventure, and the best part? It just launched on October 28th—perfect for an immediate dive into a new series!
From confronting historical injustice to battling ancient evils, this week's misfits remind us that connection, courage, and a quest for truth can change everything. I hope you found an adventure to add to your list!
Happy reading, and I'll see you back at the Hearth next week.
All the best,
C.J.