Hello everyone! Welcome to another post of Indie Recommends Indie! I have Josh Gillingham with me today. You have met him on the blog before and I learned something new about Josh thanks to this post – he is a board game designer too and we get an indie board game recommendations. Let’s welcome him and get started.
Josh, thank you for joining me for this series! It is always a pleasure to host a returning author. Last time, we chatted about The Gatewatch and this time, I am looking forward to getting some indie recommendations from you. Please tell my readers a bit about yourself. đ
My name is Joshua Gillingham and I am a fantasy author from Nanaimo, Canada. The Saga of Torin Ten-Trees (Crowsnest Books), my troll-hunting trilogy inspired by the Norse myths and Icelandic sagas, has been compared by many to the adventurous spirit of Tolkienâs classic The Hobbit. I am also the game designer of Althingi: One Will Rise, a card game set in Viking Age Iceland (can you tell I like Vikings?) – I was recently privileged to edit an anthology of historical fiction set in the universe of the game titled Althingi: The Crescent & the Northern Star alongside my good friend and co-editor Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmed (Islamicates, A Mosque Among the Stars). I am currently in the final stages of edits for the third book in the Ten-Tree Trilogy and (not so) secretly mapping out a new fantasy trilogy inspired by the French Revolution and the Golden Age of Piracy. I am also privileged to be working again as an editor, this time for a full novelization set with the Althingi universe written by the fantastic Kailtin Felix (The Seeing Trees).
Do you primarily read indie books or big publishers books as well?Â
I would say that I end up reading mostly books by smaller presses, not necessarily self-pub but mostly university presses as I am very interested in translations of sagas and epic literature. I am also fascinated by philosophy but occasionally do read fiction for fim. This surprises people as I am a fantasy writer – however, I think most would also say that the flavour of my writing is rather distinct from most popular fiction these days and, if this is the case, I can squarely place it on my unique literary âdietâ. My partner is an avid library user and probably reads three or four books a week; any big publisher books I end up reading are on her recommendation and this ends up probably only being three or four a year. Most recently I enjoyed The Memory Police by YĆko Ogawa.
Josh’s Indie Recommendations
The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth
Genre: Historical Fiction / Fantasy
Published: 2014
Book 1 of Buccmaster Trilogy
In the aftermath of the Norman Invasion of 1066, William the Conqueror was uncompromising and brutal. English society was broken apart, its systems turned on their head. What is little known is that a fractured network of guerrilla fighters took up arms against the French occupiers.
In The Wake, a postapocalyptic novel set a thousand years in the past, Paul Kingsnorth brings this dire scenario back to us through the eyes of the unforgettable Buccmaster, a proud landowner bearing witness to the end of his world. Accompanied by a band of like-minded men, Buccmaster is determined to seek revenge on the invaders. But as the men travel across the scorched English landscape, Buccmaster becomes increasingly unhinged by the immensity of his loss, and their path forward becomes increasingly unclear.
Written in what the author describes as âa shadow tongueââa version of Old English updated so as to be understandable to the modern readerâThe Wake renders the inner life of an Anglo-Saxon man with an accuracy and immediacy rare in historical fiction. To enter Buccmasterâs world is to feel powerfully the sheer strangeness of the past. A tale of lost gods and haunted visions, The Wake is both a sensational, gripping story and a major literary achievement.
âlif is a raedel for dumb folc but the things i has seen it is not lic they sae. the bocs and the preosts the bells the laws of the crist it is not like they sae…”
Buccmaster, The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth
Let me begin by saying that my number one recommendation is not for the faint of heart. The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth is an apocalyptic tale set in parallel to the actual historical Norman invasion of England 1066 and is written entirely in simplified Old English. Capitalization is non-existent, word spellings are at first incomprehensible, and punctuation, if it really can be called that, is extremely sparse. However, as you dive into this book and pull apart the threads of Buccmasterâs riveting tale as told through his âstream of consciousnessâ retelling, your brain adapts to reading in this incredibly unique adaptation of an archaic orthography.
To say too much more about this book treads dangerously close to spoiler territory; I also believe that this is a book that one should not so much read as immerse themselves in. In short, it is a truly extraordinary literary experience if you are willing to invest the energy in deciphering it. If the description above has you jumping up and down with excitement, then faere wynds ann fallun cees! If you are twitching nervously in place, best proceed ahead to my other recommendations…
The Saga of ĂdĂs RauĂ°feldr by SiobhĂĄn Clark
Genre: Folklore & Myth
Published: Midsummer 2022
Standalone
The Saga of ĂdĂs RauĂ°feldr is a saga deeply rooted in the mythology, legends, and folklore of the Norse and the SĂĄmi at the advent of the Viking era. It is the story of women, mortal, enchanted and cursed, who survive and free those who have been doomed. This tale though dark at times concerns the enduring nature of those who survive, and whose voice can still be heard today.
Those who enjoy historical fiction, mythology, Norse & Icelandic sagas, the Viking Age, and elements of fantasy and the supernatural, would enjoy this book. As would those who have an interest in ancient SĂĄmi mythology, and how they might have interacted with neighbouring groups.
This saga is told from the perspective of female characters within a patriarchal society, and how they maximized their agency. This is becoming an increasingly important and current topic for many. However, it also looks at relationships between people who have been stripped of their identity, men and women alike.
Goodreads and Indie Story Geek links are not yet available. Find more info here.
Siobhan Clark, author of Children of Midgard and host of the Myth, Legend & Lore Podcast has a *new book* coming out through VRĂYDA Literary in 2022. I was privileged to receive an ARC and will now sound the horns about it wherever I go. Siobhan wields her exceptional depth of insight into Norse mythology in The Saga of ĂdĂs RauĂ°feldr, as much a mythic re-telling as it is a literary reckoning.
ĂdĂs RauĂ°feldr carries a curse, a curse which was laid upon her father before being thrust upon her shoulders. It follows her through cycles of triumph and tragedy, each rising in a turbulent crescendo of epic lore. The sweeping span of time, the gut-wrenching heartache, and the radiance of mythic magic weave together in this tale of strength, loss, and ultimate self-realization. Those who enjoy the sagas of ancient Scandinavia will revel in navigating Clarkâs blade-edge prose which wastes no time in cutting straight to your heart. Look forward to its release in midsummer 2022!
The Allfather Paradox by Ian Stuart Sharpe
Genre: Alternate History / Future
Published: 2018
Book 1 of Vikingverse #1
What if an ancient god escaped his fate and history was thrown to the wolves?
Churchwarden Michaels thought it was just a run-of-the-mill crazy old man who stood in the graveyard, hellbent on studying the 1,000-year-old Viking memorial there. But when things start changing and outright disappearing, Michaels realizes there is more to this old man than meets the eye. Now, Michaels finds himself swept up in an ancient godâs quest to escape his destiny by reworking reality, putting historyâand to Michaelsâs dismay, Christianity itselfâto the Viking sword. In this new Vikingverse novel, storied heroes of mankind emerge in new and brutal guises drawn from the sagas:
A young Norse prince plots to shatter empires and claim the heavens…
A scholar exiled to the frontier braves the dangers of the New World, only to find those ânew worldsâ are greater than he imagined…
A captured Jötunn plants the dreams of freedom during a worlds-spanning war…
A bold empress discovers there is a price for immortality, one her ancestors have come to collect…
With the timelines stretched to breaking point, itâs up to Churchwarden Michaels to save reality as we know itâŠ
In The Allfather Paradox Ian Stuart Sharpe imagines history as if it were thrown to the wolves, Norse wolves such as Fenrir, Hati, and Skjoll, to be exact. Instead of Chirstendom dominating the continent of Europe following the Viking Age, the legendary figures of Norse mythology cast their shadow over the world in a parallel imperial age of colonial domination. With fantastic Sci-Fi twists and war that rages across all the nine worlds of Norse mythology, The Allfather Paradox sets readers out on an adventure not to be forgotten.
This series is not for the casual reader – Sharpe expertly weaves real Viking history into his own imagined universe through a series of time-travelling vignettes and a host of memorable characters which will require a dedicated reader. However, serious fans of all things Viking will revel in this cosmic-scale adventure. Lokiâs Wager, Book 2, is already available and I know that Ian is working hard on the third book to complete the trilogy.
Forged by Iron by Eric Schumacher
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: 2020
Series – Olaf’s Saga #1 (Book 1)
From the bestselling author of Hakonâs Saga comes Forged by Iron, the first in a series of thrilling tales about Olaf Tryggvason, one of the most legendary and enigmatic kings of the Viking Age.
Norway, AD 960. The fabric that has held the Northern realm together is tearing. The sons of Erik Bloodaxe have returned and are systematically killing all opposition to the High Seat. Through treachery, Harald Eriksson slays Jarl Trygvi, an heir to the throne, and then comes for Trygviâs wife, Astrid, and son, Olaf.
Astrid and Olaf flee their home with the help of Astridâs foster father, Torolv Loose-beard, and his son, Torgil, who are oath-sworn to protect them. The group escapes east, through the dark, forested land of the Swedes and across the treacherous East Sea, all the while evading the clutches of Haraldâs brutal henchmen.
But the gods are fickle and the group is torn apart, forcing them to fend for themselves in Forged by Iron, a must-read for all who enjoy action-packed historical fiction.
Eric Schumacher presents the harrowing flight of the historical young Olaf Tryggvason from the vengeful sons of Erik Bloodaxe in spectacular close-up detail through the eyes of young Torgil. He shines particularly bright while narrating battles at sea. These conflicts, fought in close quarters and on choppy waters on the far-famed Viking longships, were a defining feature of life in the North-Eastern Sea at that time. Through his retelling the reader feels as if they are aboard the ship in the thick of battle alongside Olaf and Torgil as they dodge deadly arrows and thrust their sharpened seaxes.
Schumacher also infuses his deep knowledge of Viking history into the narrative with details such as how to make Scandinavian dishes like skyr and the finer points of spear-fishing in the river. He also gives a nod to some recent archeological discoveries, including evidence of the Vikingâs more industrial pursuits such as the production of tar and the extraction of iron. Yet in all his descriptions there is no sense of encyclopedic exposition; rather, these savory details flow through the narrative naturally. I highly recommend Schumacherâs Forged by Iron for anyone who has an interest in Viking history, particularly if they enjoyed The Long Ships (Frans G. Bengtsson) or The Half-Drowned King (Linnea Hartsuyker).
Duck, Buck, Moose (Board Game) from Input Studios
Genre: Card Game
Released 2020
Learn more on Input Games
So, as readers may or may not know, I am a board game designer as well as an author. I run a board game design group on Vancouver Island called Little Hammer Forge and several awesome indie board games have come out of this group. One of my favourites falls outside the traditional audience for board games (i.e. nerds like me) and caters instead to lovers of the outdoors!
Duck, Buck, Moose is a light-hearted hunting-themed game for up to four players designed by Gavin Vickery with art by Sebastian Abboud. Each player goes hunting in the woods and searches for the most prized game: deer, bears, elk, and rabbits. However, players can interrupt other hunters by scaring away game, jamming each otherâs guns, and hitting them with fire-arm registration paperwork. All in all it makes for a nice quick play with mechanics that are easy to learn but offer enough strategy for more seasoned board-gamers. I would suggest this for anyone who loves board games, especially those who need a lighter game to help balance out the other heavy or complicated strategic board games in their collection.
Josh’s Book Spotlight
The EverspringÂ
Fantasy
Published 2021
Torin Ten-Treeâs debt of service as a trollhunter in Gatewatch has been paid. Now he must decide whether to return home to take up his fatherâs seat in Ten-Tree Hall or to become a Greycloak of Gatewatch along with Grimsa and Wyla. Torin grapples with an unexpected revelation, the long-hidden identity of his mother, just as a delegation brings urgent news of King Araldof Greyravenâs grave and sudden illness. Heirless, the Greyravenâs death would plunge the land into chaos as the Jarls of Noros entered a struggle of succession. The last desperate hope to keep the realm from wreck and ruin is the legend of a powerful source of healing, the Everspring. Yet, greater questions and graver answers await Torin and his company on the road north through the land of the immortal giants. As long-forgotten secrets are unveiled, they learn not only the cause of the Greyravenâs illness but the insidious origins of the evil that first spawned the trolls in the wild woods beyond Gatewatch.
The Everspring is an epic fantasy adventure inspired by the Norse Myths, the Icelandic Sagas, and the unforgettable landscape of the Rocky Mountains. Myth, history, and imagination fuse together in an epic troll-hunting saga written for lovers of fantasy, Viking History, and Norse lore.
Connect with Josh on his website and Twitter. You can also learn more about the book from the publisher, Crowsnest Books.
Did you add any books to your TBR today based on this post or did you see any you have already read? Tell us in the comments!
Thank you so much for hanging out with Josh and me. If you are an indie or small press author who is an avid reader and wants to be featured, sign up using the form on the Indie Recommends Indie home page. This is a fantastic way to bring attention to fellow indie authors as well as your own book. đ
Banner Photo of library by Alfons Morales on Unsplash
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