Welcome!

Hi. I’m speculative fiction author Kristen Brand. If you’re looking for a good book in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, then you’re in the right place. My novels all have fast-paced action, witty banter, and at least a hint of romance. I’m a huge nerd, which comes through in my writing, and I love reading and talking about books, comics, and short stories.

Check out my books page for a full list of all my novels. Or look at my web fiction for links to free stories you can read online.

Thanks for stopping by!

Short Story: A Magical Education

Ever wonder how the wise old mentor character puts up with the whiny, annoying hero he’s training? Then have I got the tale for you.

My short story, A Magical Education, follows a group of aging mentors drinking mead and venting about the next generation of heroes they’re trying to educate. It’s a humorous fantasy short, and you can find it in Issue 81 of Swords and Sorcery Magazine here or by clicking the image below.

Check out the magazine’s archives while you’re there. It’s full of entertaining and adventurous sword and sorcery fiction. Enjoy!

A Magical Education Cover

Book Spotlight: Red Wrath by Gerhard Gehrke

I’m always on the lookout for cool new superhero books, so when Gerhard Gehrke contacted me about his new novel, Red Wrath, I was super interested (pun intended). Then I heard the premise described as “What if the Punisher tried to take out Superman?” and immediately put it on my to-read list.

  • A female protagonist who sounds totally badass? Check.
  • An interesting twist on the superhero genre? Check.
  • The most metal title I’ve ever heard? Double-check.

Check out the blurb below and let me know what you think. Personally, I can’t wait to read it.

Red Wrath Cover Continue reading Book Spotlight: Red Wrath by Gerhard Gehrke

Favorite Book Quote Art

I’ve posted before about how I love making book aesthetics, but if you follow me on Twitter, you know I’ve also got a thing for throwing together images with quotes from my novels. #BookQW (Book Quote Wednesday) is my favorite hashtag. Authors posts quotes from their books based on a weekly prompt, and it’s cool to see snippets from novels and novellas of all different genres.

I’ve been doing it for a while now and have made dozens of images, some of them better than others. Here’s a roundup of my personal favorites. Continue reading Favorite Book Quote Art

New Superhero Fiction (October 2018)

Halloween is over, and though October is a month for spooky horror reads, there were plenty of good superhero novels and novellas released last month. Here are a few that caught my eye. As usual, I haven’t read all of these books personally, so please read the reviews and samples before purchasing. And if you have any recommendations, let me know!

Spectra: A Cynical Superhero

by Amy Sumida

Spectra Cover

They think she’s a superhero. She thinks they’re delusional.

Amara Madison has strange abilities. She can manipulate colors; use them to create illusions, alter auras, and affect the human body in both helpful and harmful ways. She’s not alone either. Amara lives in a secret community of supernaturals in Washington DC. Some of her kind try to help humans. They call themselves superheroes instead of supernaturals. Amara thinks that’s just super-ridiculous. Continue reading New Superhero Fiction (October 2018)

Short Story: How to Stop Trains (A Guide for Superheroes)

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any short fiction on my blog, so here’s a little something from The White Knight & Black Valentine Series. Enjoy!

How to Stop Trains (A Guide for Superheroes)

Railway Symbol

An excerpt from White Knight’s lecture at the Academy on April 15, 2002.

Remember the acronym TAD: Time and Distance. You may be strong enough to stop a runaway train in a split second, but if you bring a train moving a hundred miles per hour to a sudden stop, the passengers are going to keep moving forward at a hundred miles per hour. They’d have a better chance of survival if you threw them headfirst into a brick wall. Continue reading Short Story: How to Stop Trains (A Guide for Superheroes)

4 Haunting Halloween Reads

I’m a total wimp when it comes to horror. My imagination is so overactive that just watching the preview for a scary movie or reading a recap can freak me out. So when I do read something spooky, it’s because I’ve been sucked in by the amazing atmosphere, characters, or premise.

Like Crimson Peak. It’s terrifying, but I couldn’t resist that gorgeous gothic atmosphere.

Crimson Peak Gif

Here are some books that are undeniably scary yet so good I couldn’t put them down and hide. If you’re looking for an atmospheric Halloween read, look no further. Just don’t blame me for any nightmares. Continue reading 4 Haunting Halloween Reads

7 Favorite Book Aesthetics

I’ve become a little obsessed with book aesthetics.

You may have noticed this already if you follow me on Twitter, where I’m all over #ThursdayAesthetic every week. If you’ve never checked out that hashtag, you really should. It’s full of gorgeous imagery, and I’m blown away by the talent of the author community. Every week, one of the hosts announces a theme, and writers create an aesthetic based on it for their books.

I’m not that good at it, but I don’t let that stop me. 😉 Practice makes perfect, and I like to think I get better every week. Either way, I have a lot of fun, and I want to share some of my favorites that I’ve made so far. Continue reading 7 Favorite Book Aesthetics