"Green Witch Mean Time" by Cherry Northcutt

Current Tags

witch cozy, cozy mystery, young adult, paranormal mystery, female sleuth, amateur sleuth, magic

Categories

Mystery / Paranormal

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Green Witch Mean Time

Author's Description

It was a nice day for a magic show, until the magician was found stabbed in the heart! What's a teenage witch to do? Jade Green is taking a gap year, selling potions at the farmers market, and saving for a trip to Europe. Things take a turn for the worse when she finds the traveling magician lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Can Jade find the killer before she becomes the next victim? If you like mixing magic, mystery, and fun with a pinch of romance, then this is the story for you.

Why I Chose it

I enjoy cozy mysteries! There aren't too many on Vella.

[11 episodes so far, with 11 in the last 30 days.]

Who Might Like This

If you're a fan of paranormal cozy mysteries, check this one out!

Unrelated Griping

Yes, the "Completed" carousel is unchanged, and the bots have taken over the new releases. But what annoys me the most is all the posts in the FB groups asking when bonuses are going to be posted. Seriously. It goes on for a week.

"Jase Dauphin and the Island in the Swamp: A Kindle Vella Middle Grade Ghost Adventure" by Ken Griffin

Current Tags

middle grade, spooky, ghosts, mystery, story puzzles, comedy, funny teenage boy voice

Categories

Teen & Young Adult / Action & Adventure

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Jase Dauphin and the Island in the Swamp

Author's Description

Twelve-year old Jase Dauphin is thrilled to spend summer vacation exploring his grandfather's spooky, swampy island. There he discovers a hidden cave, a disappearing haunted house that moves around, and his father's old ghost-hunting notebooks. Oh. Right. He ALSO finds bats, gator-filled bogs, and the general presence of ghosts! Soon he and his new friends are waist-deep (literally, in quicksand!) trying to solve the mystery that chased his dad off the island.

Why I Chose it

I don't run into too many middle grade stories. This one sets up the family dynamics in the first episode and also brings in the adventure portion. Who wouldn't want to go live on an island for the summer?

[24 episodes so far, 22 in the last 30 days.]

Who Might Like This

For the middle grade action/adventure fans!

Unrelated Griping

The "Completed stories" carousel hasn't changed since they added it a week or two ago, and there's an erotica story with a fairly racy cover that shows up in a prominent position. I'm surprised that isn't more of an issue.

"Dragon Ranch" by Liz Rockrose

Current Tags

dragons, western, alternate history, texas, contemporary fantasy, young adult, fantasy

Categories

Teen & Young Adult / Fantasy

Affiliate Link

Dragon Ranch

Author's Description

Charlotte Morgan's got a policy against attending any tourist trap where the main attractions can fly, breathe fire, or crush you with one pinky toe. Unfortunately, her father's arranged for her to spend the summer helping out at her cranky aunt's Dragon Ranch in Texas.

Why I Chose it

The first episode has at least three different tropes my teen self would have killed to read. (For the record: troubled teen being dumped on a stranger by uncaring parents, a horse dragon farm, and dangerous animals rescued from an abusive past who will learn to trust the protagonist.) 

[29 episodes, 4 in the last 9 days]

Who Might Like This

It's a dragon story for your inner horse girl!

Unrelated Griping

I saw yet another "non-fiction written by people who drive around in RVs" story today — seriously, there ought to be a separate genre just for that. Anyhow, it was a masterclass in an unreliable narrator, except, again, it was supposed to be non-fiction. Very interesting in a grin-while-backing-away sort of manner.

"The Ivy Labyrinth" by Cady Hammer

Current Tags

magical realism, slow burn romance, enemies to lovers, fantasy adventure, fantasy romance, magic quest, fantasy

Categories

Fantasy / Teen & Young Adult

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The Ivy Labyrinth

Author's Description

In a world of magical instability, four high school students are chosen every year to enter the Ivy Labyrinth and try to break its hold on the planet by solving a series of complex challenges and riddles. Most never come out. Now, a new four have been chosen: the quiet intellectual, Kristy; the dutiful son, Kai; the impulsive best friend, Brianna; and the highly reactive screwup, Ash. In a high fantasy, Hunger Games-meets-Maze Runner serial, there's no telling what obstacles will come up next.

Why I Chose it

I like the idea of a labyrinth that might kill everyone who enters and yet requires sacrifices. Sure, this is is obviously influenced by Hunger Games (and I assume Maze Runner as well, though I don't know anything about that one), but it's going to be the characters that make or break this. There aren't any plots that haven't been told before.

[22 episodes so far, with 1 updates in the last 30 days.]

Who Might Like This

Fans of The Hunger Games should check this out!

Unrelated Griping

It feels like they haven't updated the "Featured in Kindle Vella" list for a really long time, but maybe I'm just imagining that...

"The Adventures of Verity Cogswell" by T.L. Demmons

Current Tags

steampunk, fantasy, adventure, faery, alchemy, steampunk adventure

Categories

Teen & Young Adult / Fantasy

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The Adventures of Verity Cogswell

Author's Description

Faeries, alchemy, and mechanics all collide in sixteen year old Verity's world as she comes of age. Join her as she travels towards Aethos, the City of Wonders and her future at the Universitarium of Mechanics and Alchemy. That is, if she can dodge her determined mother and the Brilliant Match she has planned, as well as the demon fae who wants her head on a platter for beating him at his own game.

Why I Chose it

I find steampunk entertaining, and the main character of this story is engaging. Verity wants to go off to learn how to work with the wonders of the world, and her mother wants her to be respectable and get married. By the end of episode one, Verity is planning to escape and the reader is rooting for her.

[6 episodes so far, with 2 updates in the last 30 days.]

Who Might Like This

Fans of steampunk with a plucky young woman adventurer should check this out!

Unrelated Griping

There really are a lot of great stories out there, but you have to be prepared to wade through a lot of terrible ones to find what you want.

"Pandora's Legacy" by Jen Sequel

Current Tags

mythology, magic, supernatural, horror, mythological creatures, mystery, fantasy thriller

Categories

Fantasy / Teen & Young Adult

Affiliate Link

Pandora's Legacy

Author's Description

The hardest task Crystal thought she would undertake her senior year was completing college applications. When she accidentally unleashes dangerous creatures only read about in stories & legends, she soon discovers that she is somehow bonded to them. When the death toll rises and the lives of her friends and family are put in danger, she realizes she needs to do something to help stop the chaos. As she races to find a solution, she uncovers a family secret that was forgotten for centuries.

Why I Chose it

Horror usually isn't my thing, so you know this has to be really gripping to get me to read three episodes!

[9 episodes so far, with 5 updates in the last 30 days.]

Who Might Like This

Anyone who enjoys suspenseful writing with a touch of mythological horror should check this out!

Unrelated Griping

No griping today! I've been busy writing the next novel in my Jackpot Drift series, so I haven't had much time to look at serials for the last few days.

"Rust and Rose" by Annemieke Liu

Current Tags

fairy tale retelling, beauty and the beast, queer fairy tale, asian fantasy, bisexual protagonist, chinese american, ya contemporary fantasy

Categories

Fantasy / LGBT Fiction

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Rust and Rose

Author's Description

~BEAUTY & THE BEAST, but make it queer and Asian American~ To save her family from financial ruin, Mei vows to study for a year with a metal-faced sorcerer -- but her vow entangles her in his curse, a curse that will steal her freedom, sorcery, and love. Mei is certain she can earn her sorcerer's degree and end the curse, and maybe even fall in love along the way. But her task gets more complex as three trials push her sorcery to the limit, and she realizes she's falling for the wrong person...

Why I Chose it

This is the second Beauty & the Beast retelling I've highlighted on the blog, but it's very different from the first — instead of a secondary world fantasy, this has more of a modern day feel to it: the main character is flying to Tokyo to visit her father when things go sideways.

I know I said before I wasn't a fan of fairy tale retellings, but I think I should modify my statement. This feels different enough that I would not have noticed it was retelling Beauty & the Beast if it hadn't said so in the description.

[48 episodes so far, with 8 updates in the last 30 days.]

Who Might Like This

Contemporary fantasy fans should check this out!

Unrelated Griping

I know I mention this a lot, but you would be shocked at the percentage of stories on Vella that are either 1) a wall of text with no paragraph breaks at all, or 2) a wall of white space with every sentence given its own paragraph.

I don't get it. It's really not that hard.

"Beyond the Thistlethorn" by Taverlee Shaw

Current Tags

hedgewitch, tinydragons, naturemagic, yafantasy, witches, fairytail, folklore

Categories

Fantasy / Teen & Young Adult

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Beyond the Thistlethorn

Author's Description

A bright and charming magical fantasy about a young witch sent to the wild and magical Kingdom of Kittlewick to become the new Hedgewitch. A magical romp with tiny dragons, opinionated imps, suspicious elves and one very determined Hedgewitch!

Why I Chose it

This starts with a tiny dragon (unsuccessfully) stalking a bird on the slate roof of the girls' school where the main character lives, and it's just a nice touch that won me over despite being designated a prologue.

[6 episodes so far, with 6 updates in the last 30 days.]

Who Might Like This

The cute & likability factors are off the scale -- you should check this out!

Unrelated Griping

Today I saw a post from someone whose story is in the top 25 and I think she's spending over $500 per month on Facebook to achieve that. I guess it makes sense, but I worry that indie publishing margins are just going to keep dropping as it becomes a requirement to keep dumping that kind of money into advertising.

The thing is, if the Vella interface were improved, with better searching and categories that niched down to the level that would be useful for someone looking for a new story to read, it would be possible for Vella readers to go to Vella to find something to read. As it is now, all the readers are being drawn in directly from some external site to one story by the author, which isn't really building the platform.

"Chimera" by Marley Lynn

Current Tags

young adult, romance, fantasy, angels and demons, thriller, supernatural, humor

Categories

Teen & Young Adult / Paranormal

Affiliate Link

Chimera

Author's Description

Kahlua has always felt like she didn't belong-but never knew how right she was. Her mother's sudden disappearance means that she must take her place among a cabal of demon fighters, and paranormal activity in their rural town takes a violent turn. Kahlua's presence incenses the spirits and no one knows why. With a vicious underworld hound released to sniff her out, and dark voices calling for her to join them, Kahlua has to question her attraction to the dark-and the true identity of her father.

Why I Chose it

Solid writing with enough grounding details to make me ignore the fact that the protagonist is in high school. (That last bit isn't a complaint about the story -- I just don't read YA because who the heck wants to relive the hell of being in high school?) Nice hints of humor as well!

[10 episodes so far, with 10 updates in the last 30 days.]

Who Might Like This

Anyone who enjoys paranormal YA should jump on this!

Unrelated Griping

I'm in the middle of NaNoWriMo, so no real griping today. I mean, Vella still has a terrible user interface, but that hasn't changed.

"This Dreamer" by Sara Watterson

Current Tags

fantasy romance, adventure, love, just kisses, young adult, romance, action and adventure

Categories

Fantasy / Teen & Young Adult

Affiliate Link

This Dreamer

Author's Description

Is the life of one intriguing mortal worth the end to a millennium of dreams? When Evie, an immortal Watcher turned reluctant assassin, falls in love with her intended target, Adan the Dreamer, is it worth the cost to prevent his untimely end?

Why I Chose it

Strong writing. In fact, the writing was strong enough to get past my dislike of YA, so kudos to the author.

[6 episodes so far, with 6 updates in the last 30 days.]

Who Might Like This

YA fantasy with well-written characters and an intriguing premise -- is that for you?

Unrelated Griping

There's one guy who has dumped at least five (possibly more) novels on Vella. I'm guessing he knows how bad they are because he's only using the first letter of his last name for his pen name (and his first name is very common).

I'm torn between wanting to say 'hey, either you think they're good enough to publish under a real name' and 'might as well get that bonus money while Amazon is passing it out'. Maybe I'm just jealous because his stories have sat on the new release section for weeks and mine showed up and disappeared after two days. I just need to get over it already.

"Tooth and Claw Academy" by R.C. Barnes

Current Tags

mythical monsters, dragons, vampires, diverse, female lead, mystery, urban fantasy

Categories

Teen & Young Adult / Fantasy

Affiliate Link

Tooth and Claw Academy

Author's Description

Gina Rosario is the new transfer student at the highly competitive Towne and Covington Academy. Gina is secretly there to uncover private information for one of the school's benefactors. But what seems like a simple stealth assignment turns into something far more nefarious and dangerous. Towne and Covington is not your ordinary elite academy. There are monsters walking the hallways and skulking in the shadows, and they look just like teenagers.

Why I Chose it

The carrot & stick sequence that gets the main character involved in the plot in the first episode is a masterful example of how to get the reader on board.

[10 episodes so far, with 1 updates in the last 30 days.]

Who Might Like This

Urban fantasy in an academy setting -- what's not to love?

Unrelated Griping

This might be general life advice, but it also applies to Vella: never include "foot" or "shoe" in your search terms. (Unless you have a foot fetish, of course. Then you should use that in all of your search terms.) I mean, I've written my share of tentacle porn, but the foot fetish people? They're way out there.

Update: My new story (published six days ago) finally showed up in the "Recently Added Stories" section. It's good to have data.

"The Interstellar Trials" by Kate Sheeran Swed

Current Tags

space opera, tournament, science fiction, generation ship, tough heroines, romance, dystopian

Categories

Teen & Young Adult / Dystopian

Affiliate Link

The Interstellar Trials

Author's Description

Her life is a crime. To survive, she'll steal another. Reggie's spent her life stowed away in the crawl spaces of a generation ship, headed to the stars. When her tyrannical captain announces a tournament -- as a road to peace with an enemy fleet -- Reggie steals another girl's identity to snag a spot in the games. She doesn't want to win. She wants to escape. But avoiding the trials is harder than she expects. If she reveals her identity, she risks losing everything--including her life.

Why I Chose it

The first episode opens with tension -- our main character is hiding from people while waiting to steal a catcher. Then, of course, everything goes wrong. The catchers themselves are also a neat concept -- tiny machines that protect the generation ships hull by their sheer number, and also serve to sample and store anything they come into contact with. Interesting conflict plus nifty science -- I"m there.

[31 episodes so far, with 5 updates in the last 30 days.]

Who Might Like This

Hunger Games in space!

Unrelated Griping

I hit a whole lot of info dumps masquerading as episode ones. I know some people are big fans of prologues, but -- especially in a serial -- authors have about two paragraphs to grab a reader. If we're still 500 years in the past by the time I hit the third paragraph, I'm closing the tab.