When it comes to finding the best deals on fantasy books by best selling authors, the most logical place to start is probably your local library (where they’re free, of course) or a local secondhand book store.
That hardly needs to be said, even to casual readers. We readers frequent our community libraries and book shops. Librarians and store workers know our faces, if not our names.
Discounted Fantasy Books by Best Selling Authors – Indie
If you’re an avid reader, you probably already subscribe to some online book promotion services. These services send regular (usually daily) emails featuring discounted or free ebooks. Most of these books are written by indie authors, many of whom (like the author of the post) are part-time authors trying to find a larger readership to help them pursue their passion for novel writing.
For readers of the fantasy genre (and its many sub-genres) who are willing to support indie authors, email promotion lists offer an endless list of new books.
Before we consider discounted fantasy books by best selling authors, here are a few of the best email promotion services to find free and discounted fantasy books by indie authors. I could list many more services, but there’s no point in overwhelming you. These services will keep your e-library stocked for years (maybe even centuries!).
BookBub
BookBub is one of the largest promoters of free and discounted books. When you subscribe to BookBub, you select your preferred genres. After that, you’ll start receiving daily emails with a list of free and discounted titles from those genres. Most titles are available to download through the major online retailers (Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, B&N, etc.).
The BookBub blog features a wealth of quality book reviews, recommendations, and “best of” lists.
Check out BookBub’s featured fantasy books
Book Barbarian
Book Barbarian is a rapidly growing book promotion service that features only fantasy and science fiction books. The majority of titles are by indie authors. Like BookBub, you can subscribe to Book Barbarian and you’ll receive an email every day with a list of about six featured books available for free or at a deep discount.
Check out Book Barbarian’s featured fantasy books
Fantasy Book Deals
Fantasy Book Deals is a relatively new subscription service that claims to have about 35,000 fantasy reader subscribers. Titles include various sub-genres but highlight urban fantasy.
Check out Fantasy Book Deals website
Portal Fantasy
Portal Fantasy sends out weekly email lists of fantasy books. What makes this service stand apart from others is that it is owned by a group of fourteen (at the time of writing) fantasy authors who write in a variety of fantasy genres. Together, these authors feature free downloads of their featured books.
The owners of Portal Fantasy include best selling authors like Lisa Blackwood, D.K. Holmberg, Jeffrey Kohanek, and K.N. Lee.
Check out Portal Fantasy’s website
Discounted Fantasy Books by Best Selling Authors – Traditionally Published
If you already subscribe to any of the services mentioned above, we applaud your support of indie fantasy authors!
But what if you’re looking for a book by your favorite traditionally published fantasy author and you can’t find it at your local library (or can’t wait for it to become available)? Here are a few websites where you can find great deals on best selling fantasy books.
Alibris
One of the older (and possible largest) online booksellers of used books, Alibris has online stores in the US and the UK. When you shop at Alibris, you support independent booksellers from around the world. Although some books ship directly from the Albris warehouses, some books are shipped directly from independent booksellers.
For example, if you live in Florida, you could order a used fantasy book from a small reseller located in your state, which could reduce shipping charges. It’s almost like shopping local.
Thrift Books
Thrift Books is an online bookseller that features new and used (and sometimes rare) books at deep discounts. Many titles are available in hardcover, paperback, and mass market paperback. You can usually choose your preferred condition of the book (i.e. “New”, “Like New” “Acceptable”, etc.). They offer free standard shipping on US orders over $15.
Book Outlet
Book Outlet has online stores in the US and Canada. Like Thrift Books, Book Outlet features titles in hardcover and paperback, but they only sell books in new condition. All books are discounted, some as much as 90% off list price.
Book Outlet USA – Fantasy Books
Book Outlet Canada – Fantasy Books
Giveaways and Contests from Large Publishers of Fantasy Books
Tor Books
Tor Books publishes best selling fantasy authors such as Orson Scott Card, Robert Jordan, V. E. Schwab, Brandon Sanderson, Terry Goodkind, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and many others. When you think of these big names, you usually assume you’ll pay full price for their books. But even in this realm, there are deals to be found.
On the Tor/Forge blog, you can find free previews, discounts, and sweepstakes.
Orbit Books
Orbit Books are publishers of fantasy books by best selling authors such as Terry Brooks, N. K. Jemisin, Andrzej Sapkowski, and Brent Weeks.
Orbit has a giveaway site called Orbit Loot, where you can enter to win free books.
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, publishers of best selling fantasy authors such as Ursula K. Le Guin and Mercedes Lackey, have a sweepstakes page on their YA website, Riveted. You’ll often find some great YA fantasy giveaways here.
More Fantasy Book Deals
You can easily get lost in the forest of discount book email services and giveaways. This post is intended to help you focus on a few trees that produce an abundance of fruit to satisfy hungry fantasy readers.
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