The best indie books you’ve never heard of to read at the end of the world

While this started a little slowly, I was soon completely invested in the life of its unlikely hero. Fletcher Sinclair is a meme personified—he lives in his parent’s basement, plays video games all day, and consumes far too much of a particular sports drink. Then, a strange virus hits the world, eliminating all the men—except for Fletcher.

That the human race’s potential extinction should rest upon Fletcher’s shoulders both horrified and fascinated me. It was filled with twists and turns, which even I, as an author, didn’t see coming. No spoilers and no hyperbole, but Erik Dargitz invented the most brilliant post-apocalyptic cult I’ve ever read! Fans of Handmaiden’s Tale and Animal Farm will love this book.

Originally intended as a screenplay, this is rife with vivid imagery and fast-paced action. From the jump, I was hooked, staying up all night to finish the book. It is set in the aftermath of the apocalypse in Seattle, WA.

I loved the developing romance between Beth and Ryker and how Myhre threw us for a few loops along the way. It has heart-pounding action, vibrant interpersonal relationships, and a great atmosphere. If I were at the end of the world, I’d want Beth and Ryker on my team! Fans of other post-apocalyptic indie authors, Harley Tate, Kyla Stone, and Nate Johnson, will enjoy this fast-paced post-apocalyptic romantic thriller.

This is book one of the Lens series, a young adult dystopian thriller. I quickly abandoned the rest of my TBR to fly through the entire Lens series. Riley Taylor is a normal teenager forced into the military out of necessity. But this military isn’t like ours. It’s a death sentence for the impoverished class and criminals recruited under false pretenses.

I loved the good versus evil trope, with the good not being completely good and the evil having redeeming qualities. Life isn’t always black and white, and Cantwell portrays that tension beautifully. The entire Lens series is set in the backdrop of corruption, greed, and overconsumption, having ruined the planet and drowned vast swathes of the American coastline.

Cantwell turned this climate-apocalyptic setting into both a character and a talking point. I’ve read a few series over and over and this one will be joining that list. Fans of Divergent and The Selection series will enjoy this young adult dystopian series.

This is book one of the Outliers Saga series. It is one of those books that you fly through for its entertainment value and thick action, but it leaves you thinking about its message long afterward.

At its core, it is a tale of classism—oppression, struggle, and ultimately, vindication at the end of the three-book series. Yet the main character, Indra, is relatable, yet also admirable. Her dedication to her family and her own sense of integrity resonated with me and made me ask if I’d do the same in her position. Her marriage to her tribal best friend warmed my heart, yet the sparks between Indra and the forbidden Fortis, Asa, quickened the pace of my reading.

Originally crafted as a Robin Hood retelling, Mary went far beyond that story and its familiar tropes with this book. This series is perfect for fans of Hunger Games or Red Rising.

Emma Ellis spins the most horrifying yet hope-filled stories of dystopian societies. In book one of the Eyes Forward series, the world is in a population crisis. Resources are heavily rationed, and the governments of the world are actively taking steps to curb population growth.

That’s when Mae gets pregnant and learns she must find a “life donor”—someone who agrees to die so that the baby may live—or abort her unborn child. I appreciated how Ellis threaded the horror of a forced abortion into a gripping tale of human resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.

The plot twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, yet the message of the book made me think about how we steward our natural resources. This book is perfect for Octavia Butler, 1984, and Brave New World fans.