Wastrel Books

An indie book publisher.

Coming soon

What the reviews are saying

  • Readers Favorite Five Stars

    Readers' Favorite

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    “The Everling and The Acid King by J. Christie is a wildly inventive and emotionally charged science fantasy adventure that takes the beloved ‘magical school’ trope and electrifies it with sharp edges and adult stakes. […] The Everling and The Acid King is an unforgettable, genre-defying debut that fuses fantasy and science into something truly unique and emotionally resonant […]”

    K.C. Finn

    U.S.A. Today best-selling author

  • Kirkus Reviews

    “Christie stirs up enjoyable comparisons to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters from Marvel’s X-Men comics. […] Christie is wise enough to leave plenty of room for exploring the setting and characters in future novels. The author also smartly does what few writers remember to do in series openers—resolving the main storyline while also hinting at the future, rather than leaving everything major plot points hanging. Overall, it’s an engaging introduction to a fantastical world.

    An inventive first novel that’s enlivened by an appealing hero.”

    Kirkus Reviews

  • City Book Review Icon

    City Book Review - Los Angeles

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    " [...] The Everling and the Acid King is a fever dream of found family, hidden trauma, and secret power. There’s sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and humor, and it all blends in a way that works better than it has any right to. I closed the book, still buzzing from it. [...] this story zaps you out of your comfort zone [...]. I don’t know what’s coming next in this series, but I’m in."

    Kyle Eaton

  • Midwest Book Review

    “ […] this compelling saga will appeal to YA and adult sci-fi AND fantasy audiences who like their stories packed with science and emotional connection. […] Because of all the action, well-developed tension, and compelling characters and atmosphere that swirl around Chezzy’s life and world, The Everling and the Acid King stands out from the crowd. […] Libraries seeking a blend of hard science, fantasy, sci-fi, and quest saga will find The Everling and the Acid King easy to recommend.”

    Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer