13 Underrated Books You've Probably Never Heard Of

Thirteen independently published books. No Big Five publishers, no major marketing budgets, just strong voices and stories that deserve more attention. This list spans fantasy, horror, sci-fi, mystery, and middle grade fiction: a banker who works for a dragon, a haunted-house story that earns the Stephen King comparison, a debut that won two national sci-fi awards back-to-back, and a dystopian novel from an author shortlisted for the Faulkner Society Award.If you're looking for underrated book recommendations, hidden gem reads, or indie fantasy and horror titles to add to your TBR, this is the list. All thirteen covered, with a "who's it for" on every single one. ------------------ 🎉 25K SUBSCRIBER GIVEAWAY To celebrate Topher’s Library reaching 25,000 subscribers, I’m giving one winner The Atticus’ Starter Library, a curated collection of eight books. To enter, leave a comment naming the two books featured in this video that most interest you and tell me why. A winner will be chosen at random two weeks after the video’s publication and announced in the comments. Because of the size and nature of the prize, this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. I am working on a separate giveaway for international viewers, so stay tuned! ------------------ 📚JOIN THE TOPHER’S LIBRARY DISCORD Looking for more bookish conversation? Join the Topher’s Library Discord, where we have monthly reading paths, book discussions, buddy reads, community recommendations, and a growing group of curious readers who love talking about stories across genres. ➡️ Join here:   / discord   ------------------ AUTHORS MENTIONED SCOTT WARREN Author website: https://www.scottwarrenbooks.com THE DRAGON’S BANKER Amazon: https://amzn.to/4fkpP9Q Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/118321/9781078... KAREN BAUGH MENUHIN Author website: https://karenmenuhin.com MURDER AT MELROSE COURT Amazon: https://amzn.to/4foZSG8 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/118321/9781916... KATY MUNGER Author website: https://www.katymunger.com TOO OLD TO DIE Amazon: https://amzn.to/457n2vJ PERIN GUREL Author website: https://www.perinandmarjanesearlautho... LALEH AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE BIRDS Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RBXvI5 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/118321/9781957... KAITLYN FACISTA Author website: https://www.teawithtolkien.com INTO THE HEART OF MIDDLE-EARTH Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gHSHev Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/118321/9781646... ANDREW WATSON Author website: https://andrew-watson.co.uk YouTube channel: UCCXNfX7slcs6HGu5dpYFXBA HARBINGER OF JUSTICE Amazon: https://amzn.to/4vxBxDO Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/118321/9781739... KA-YEE ESSOE Author website: https://snowquillpress.com/authors/k_... YouTube channel: UCeTxqAwX30GQhQLzVlvmOEA SHAZZWICK OF LAND: TIME BECOMES RELEVANT Amazon: https://amzn.to/4wcnogK Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/118321/9798903... CHANCE DILLON Author website: https://www.chancedillonauthor.com Youtube channel: UCU6wffLhLwQuc6dq7HwFjQg MERCY: TEARS OF THE FALLEN Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bL4Vzq Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/118321/9798218... L.C. MARINO Author website: https://www.lucasmarinowrites.com YouTube channel: UC6NuujyANzo9IGpqfuXVMzw BURN THE GIRLS Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RdqSQT Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/118321/9781960... MICHAEL CLARK Author website: https://www.michaelclarkbooks.com/?v=... THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ps1wLM JOHN, AMY, AND JAKOB MINTON Author website: https://www.jajminton.com YouTube channel: UCeoTDN0Pl946tLxee-HBLRQ DISCOVERY Amazon: https://amzn.to/457MktL Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/118321/9798992... ANDY GIESLER Author website: https://humblequill.com/author/mr-drew/ THE NOTHING WITHIN Amazon: https://amzn.to/4wInDQh Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/118321/9781733... TONY GENTRY Author website: https://www.tonygentry.com COVENANT CITY Amazon: https://amzn.to/4b0Mbf3 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/118321/9781732... -------------------- Topher's Library is a channel dedicated to helping people fall in love with reading and find new books to add to their shelves or TBR. I am based out of the Greater Richmond, VA area in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, but my thoughts are often dreaming of Scotland and the UK. TIME STAMPS 0:00 Introduction :30 Giveaway: The Atticus Starter Library 1:30 The Dragon's Banker 2:37 Murder At Melrose Court 3:51 Too Old To Die 5:09 Laleh And The Language Of The Birds 6:33 Into The Heart of Middle Earth 7:59 Check The Description 8:25 Harbinger of Justice by Andrew Watson 10:07 Shazzwick Of Land by Ka-Yee Essoe 12:12 Mercy: Tears Of The Fallen by Chance Dillon 14:16 Sneak Peak - The Broken Binding 14:48 Burn The Girls By L.C. Marino 16:57 The Patience Of A Dead Man 18:41 Discovery by J.A.J. Minton 21:11 The Nothing Within by Andy Giesler 23:17 Covenant City by Tony Gentry