TL;DR: If you love big-name series like Throne of Glass, Fourth Wing, The Sun Eater, or Joe Abercrombie’s work—there are indie books delivering the same quality storytelling without the Big 5 label. These are the indie equivalents of your favorite series.
These aren’t “indie books” as a genre. They’re books that happened to be published independently and deliver the character-driven, immersive storytelling you already know you love.
The Indie Equivalents
Five Indie Books Matched to Your Favorite Series
A Kingdom of Shadow & Ash
by J.F. Johns
Like the political intrigue of Throne of Glass?
- ★ World-Building: The fantasy realm contains eight kingdoms which exhibit distinct cultures based on magic systems and social classes determined by horn and antler dimensions.
- ★ Characters: The development of Mal as a compelling hero is complemented by Ash's surprising vulnerability which together form an unexpectedly refreshing relationship dynamic between the leads.
- ★ Plot & Pacing: Political intrigue and magic curses drive the story forward while world-building exposition occasionally interrupts its flow.
- ★ Magic/Tech: The organic and mysterious magic system incorporates seers, shadow manipulation, and ancient curses to support rather than overpower the character-driven storyline.
- ★ BroMantasy Verdict: The fantasy romance works well as a series debut because it combines effective world-building and character development with familiar genre elements.
BroMantasy Reader Experience:
Umbra
by Amber Toro
Like the bonded rider trope?
- ★ World-Building: Twelve distinct tribes and sentient AI bio-ships create a unique post-Earth civilization
- ★ Characters: Believable characters with distinct voices and realistic emotional growth through trauma
- ★ Plot & Pacing: Slow start that builds to engaging action once the foundation is established
- ★ Magic/Tech: Advanced quantum physics and AI technology feels integrated without becoming overly complex
- ★ BroMantasy Verdict: SciMantasy pioneer blending space opera with romance for an accessible entry point
BroMantasy Reader Experience:
Immortal Aberration
by Calum Lott
Like how Christopher Ruocchio blends fantasy into sci-fi?
- ★ World-Building: Unique Cos Realm ascension system and starships called Greatswords work as sublte nods to help seamlessly blend fantasy elements into this sci-fi novella
- ★ Characters: Strong protagonist and mentor relationship, but supporting cast feels a little rushed due to the novella format
- ★ Plot & Pacing: Pedal to the floor action from the 20% mark that never lets up until the final page
- ★ Magic/Tech: Crystalas armor and Rebirth tech create a compelling SciFantasy magic-adjacent system
- ★ BroMantasy Verdict: A fast-paced SciFantasy novella that delivers non-stop action and unique world-building in a short read that includes a complete arc and enough lore to keep you engaged
BroMantasy Reader Experience:
An Inkling of Flame
by Z.B. Steele
Like Abercrombie's deep character work?
- ★ World-Building: Tight, deity driven world glimpsed through faith and war without a bunch of filler
- ★ Characters: A redemptive found family arc with distinct voices and earned bonds
- ★ Plot & Pacing: Fast, framed narrative that trims filler while preserving momentum
- ★ Magic/Tech: Divine linked powers hinted more than detailed, fitting the novella scope
- ★ BroMantasy Verdict: A compact but powerful grimdark novella with a character first approach, sharply paced, and emotionally resonant
BroMantasy Reader Experience:
Discovery
by J.A.J Minton
Enjoy the risks The Hierarchy takes?
- ★ World-Building: Alternate 1992 blends seamlessly with cosmic horror elements, creating a believable world where aliens, mythology, and history converge.
- ★ Characters: Complex, flawed characters with authentic depth - from mysterious Lucia to brilliant Daas - each bringing unique perspectives to humanity's cosmic crisis.
- ★ Plot & Pacing: Five-act structure creates theatrical pacing with slower builds rewarded by spectacular convergent storytelling and masterful narrative weaving.
- ★ Magic/Tech: Technology serves as the 'magic' system with EMP events, AI exploration, and advanced science that feels grounded in historical research.
- ★ BroMantasy Verdict: Genre-transcending debut that seamlessly blends cosmic horror with multiple genres, creating something truly unique and unforgettable.
BroMantasy Reader Experience:
Why Indie Books for Series Readers?
Here’s the thing: great storytelling doesn’t require a publisher imprint. Some of the most ambitious, character-focused fantasies aren’t published traditionally because indie authors get to take risks big publishers won’t touch.
If you already know you love:
- Character relationships that feel earned
- World-building with consequences
- Emotional stakes alongside action
- Writers who aren’t afraid to let their characters fail or change
…then you already have the taste for indie books. You just might not know it yet.
The Indie Books for You
Below are five indie books matched to beloved traditional series. Same quality. Same character focus. Different origin story.
If You Loved Throne of Glass, Read A Kingdom of Shadow & Ash
J.F. Johns delivers the political intrigue, interesting magic system, and epic scope that Throne of Glass readers live for. The character relationships build over time, the magic system doesn’t hold back, and the world-building is the kind that makes you want to live in it. This book does all of that and manages to add some interesting themes to the mix and a good exploration of how power doesn’t necessarily mean good.
What you’ll get: Political stakes, enemies to lovers, a romance that feels naturally built, magic that has some interesting mechanics, emotional payoffs that land.
If You Loved Fourth Wing, Read Umbra
Amber Toro’s SciMantasy hits the same notes as Fourth Wing—that bonded-rider dynamic where the rider and the bonded creature become a team that banters but ultimately has the best interst of the other at heart. Swap dragons for sentient AI ships and you’ve got epic world-building with intimate character work. The kind of book where you’re invested in the relationship because you watched it build. Unlike Fourth Wing, this book has much more yearning and much less of the “missed communication” trope that can sometimes feel draining.
What you’ll get: Bonded-rider dynamic, space opera world-building, character depth, relationship stakes that feel real and yearning that feels natural.
If You Loved The Sun Eater, Read Immortal Aberrations
Calum Lott’s SciFantasy blends fantasy into sci-fi in ways that feel fresh. Dark, richly detailed, and absolutely character-centric. This is indie SciFantasy at its best—ambitious, uncompromising, and willing to go places traditional publishing often avoids.
What you’ll get: Sci-fi and Fantasy blending, dark tone, character-driven narrative, world-building that rewards attention.
If You Loved Joe Abercrombie, Read An Inkling of Flame
Z.B. Steele gets what Abercrombie fans live for: found family dynamics where every relationship feels hard-won and real. Gritty, character-focused, with no cheap emotional beats. Steele also nails that friendly banter that allows you to torture each other for the littlest mistakes, but you know that it’s all out of love. Just people in complicated situations making hard choices.
What you’ll get: Found family, character-driven narrative, earned relationships, gritty tone, and a bit of banter that feels natural.
If You Loved The Will of The Many, Read Discovery
If you were hooked by interesting take on magic, intricate plot weaving, and high-stakes political maneuvering in The Will of The Many, J.A.J Minton’s Discovery hits that same high bar for quality and innovation. It’s a genre-transcending story that blends Sci-Fi, Cosmic Horror, and Mystery, all told through a unique five act structure. This is the kind of masterful, convergent storytelling that in no way feels like a debut novel. The Mintons each have a hand in writing this book bringing something different to the table, all while maintaining a cohesive story that feels like a single author wrote it.
What you’ll get: A story telling style that feels like a movie, a unique five act structure, and a story that will have you on the edge of your seat while sweating whats coming next.
How to Approach Indie Books
Indie books require the same attention as traditional releases. You can’t skim them. The writing is often tighter because there’s no marketing department padding things out.
What to expect:
- Blends of genres that
- More experimental prose styles
- Character work that requires engagement
- World-building that doesn’t hold your hand
What you might not expect:
- These aren’t diamond-in-the-rough stories. These authors made deliberate choices.
- Indie ≠ self-published passion project. Some indie authors have had offers and turned them down to maintain creative control.
- Quality varies, but that’s true of traditional publishing too.
The #IndieVember Challenge
November is #IndieVember—when readers celebrate indie authors and indie books get their moment.
Our challenge to you: Pick one of these five indie books. Treat it like you’d treat a new Brandon Sanderson or Sarah J. Maas release. Give it the attention it deserves.
Because great storytelling is great storytelling. The publisher doesn’t matter. The story does.
Want Full Reviews?
Dive deeper into any of these indie books with our character-first reviews. We use the same 8-category rating system for indie books as we do for traditionally published releases.
[Link to individual reviews in each section above]
Celebrate #IndieVember With Us
Every November, we highlight indie fantasy, sci-fi, and romantasy books worth your time. Indie authors take creative risks. They deliver character-driven stories without publisher committees weighing in.
If you’re looking to expand beyond the Big 5, start here.