Hello writing and reading communities! It’s time for the next installment of Indie Recommends Indie and today I have my author friend Matthew Samuels. I reviewed his book, Parasites, on the blog last year and hosted him for a very fun interview about the book, and later about immersion as part of The Creator’s Roulette series and Armed with A Bingo. Let’s get started!
Matthew, thank you for joining me for this series! I know you but some of my readers might not if they are visiting Armed with A Book for the first time. Tell us a bit about yourself. 🙂
Great to be here, and thanks for inviting me to participate. I’m a writer based in London, UK, and I mostly write Sci-Fi and Fantasy. I mostly read SFF as well, although I’m happy to try anything – I love books as objects as well as reading them, and will usually drift to the hardback section of a bookshop first, as well as keeping a close eye on Illumicrate and the Folio Society etc. I also enjoy walking, gaming, dance music and perhaps ironically, quiet.
Do you primarily read indie books or big publishers books as well?
I really thought I’d struggle to find a long list of indie books that I’ve read, but the more I looked, the more the indie titles crept out of the woodwork. I do think it’s probably about 75 / 25 in favour of the big publishers, but thanks to book twitter, that figure is constantly changing and usually in favour of smaller presses and indie publishers!
Matthew’s Indie Recommendations
The Dusk of Eternal Night by Ben Dever and Vincent LazzariBen Dever and Vincent Lazzari
Fantasy role-play
Published 2020
Series: Lone Wolf Series
Book Number: 31
The second posthumous Lone Wolf book and the penultimate adventure in the saga. It is also the largest Lone Wolf adventure – standing at a mammoth 650 pages. Written by Joe Dever’s son Ben, and collaborator Vincent Lazzari, using notes and instructions from Joe in the weeks leading up to his passing.
Archlord Vashna has returned. Sommerlund is under threat of invasion, and as a commander in Lone Wolf’s army, you must prepare to face the Legion of the Restless Dead. But another tide of Darkness rises to threaten all Magnamund, in the Dark God Naar’s unholy name.
You will uncover a secret society, shrouded in mystery. Some hide among the courts, guilds and armies of the Freelands, others amongst the black sorcerers and warriors of the Darklands. In an epic adventure spanning Southern Magnamund, you must infiltrate hidden lairs protected by ancient spells in a race against time to stop them. They who for millennia have schemed, preparing a ritual to free the True Son of Naar.
Why Matthew recommends this book:
The thirty first book in the Lone Wolf series, Vashna has returned and a vast legion of the dead threatens not only Sommerlund, but the world. However, another threat rises, and as a Grand Master of the Kai, only you can save mankind!
When I grew up, in the 80s and 90s, role-playing books were a huge thing. You couldn’t walk into a bookshop without seeing the sea of green spines of the Fighting Fantasy series, the Way of the Tiger or Fabled Lands titles. The first set of role-playing books I found, however, was Lone Wolf. In Lone Wolf, you play (initially) an initiate of a warrior sect, the Kai. In the very first book, all of your warrior kin are slain by the evil Darklords, and you must make your way to the capital city of your homeland and seek to warn the king of the invasion.
The author of Lone Wolf, Joe Dever, passed away in 2016 after writing 29 of the books, and his son, Ben – in tandem with Vincent Lazzari – picked up the mantle. Ben has recently committed to not only finishing up the series, but also publishing definitive editions; a series of ‘collector’s editions’ were publishing in the 2010s, but are often extremely rare, typically selling on ebay for £100+. Ben and Vincent have done an incredible job of recreating the spirit of the series, and although the latest one is an absolute chonk, it deserves a huge amount of recognition. I’d recommend the series to anyone who fancies a bit of solo role playing – but please, start from book one!
The INFJ Writer by Lauren Sapala
Self-help
Published 2016
Standalone
After years of coaching writers who struggled with procrastination issues, high sensitivity to criticism, and crippling self doubt, Lauren Sapala realized that almost every one of her clients was an INFJ or INFP. Using the insights gleaned from these clients, as well as her own personal story, Sapala shows us how the experience of the intuitive writer can be radically different from the norm.
INFJ writers don’t think like anyone else, and their highly creative brains take a toll on them that they rarely share with the outside world. The INFJ Writer discusses such topics as:
How an INFJ writer’s physical health is tied to their creative output
Why INFJ writers are more likely to fall prey to addictions
When an INFJ writer should use their natural psychic ability to do their best creative work
Whether looking to start writing again or to finish the novel/memoir they started so long ago, any writer with the self-awareness to identify themselves as highly sensitive and intuitive will benefit from this book that helps them to find their own magic, and to finally use it to build the creative life that actually works for them.
Why Matthew recommends this book:
I know the Myers Briggs personality assessment has fallen out of fashion a little, but I still strongly identify with the INFJ type, and in this book (and others), Lauren Sapala identifies a number of facets of the INFJ personality that make it both good and bad to be a writer! She talks through a number of aspects of the type, how to use them and pitfalls to be aware of.
When I first read my personality profile on 16Personalities a few years ago, something definitely ‘clicked’. Being an INFJ HSP is both a blessing and a curse, so I’ve greedily slurped up all of the literature I can find, and Lauren Sapala definitely ‘gets it’ (for HSPs, I’d recommend Imi Lo’s work alongside the usually-prescribed diet of Elaine Aron). I really enjoyed this book – there are a load of tips for being a better writer, as well as just coping with your personality type. Lauren has written a couple of other books on being an INFJ and I always feel a strong sense of belonging when I read her work. I’d definitely recommend this – and her other work – to any other INFJ types out there.
The Engineer by Darran M. Handshaw
SciFi
Published 2017
First in a Series
“We are born in the shadow of fading memories and fallen dreams, living our days within the decaying bones of an age long gone.”
When the Engineer, Actaeon, arrives at Pyramid in the heart of Redemption, nothing goes according to plan. Mysterious raiders pursue him relentlessly across the shattered remains of the ancient metropolis, and the leaders of his homeland pay no heed to his ambitious ideas. Meanwhile, deep beneath Pyramid, a deadly creature stirs. And, when Actaeon meets a skilled young Knight Arbiter with brilliant blue eyes, he starts down a path he could never have imagined.
The vast, fallen city of the Ancients is home to a new people who face the constant struggle to find resources needed to survive in the dangerous ruins. For the Engineer, however, Redemption is a treasure trove of technology, opportunity, and answers. But his unique skills make him a target for those who would use his talents to achieve their own dreams of power and control.
In his endless quest for the truth, will Actaeon discover the fallen city’s greatest secrets? Or will he share the same fate as the Ancients of whom nothing remains but a whisper?
One thing is certain: in Redemption, everything comes with a cost.
Why Matthew recommends this book:
Actaeon is an engineer in a far-flung, post-apocalyptic world. Pursued by bandits, he arrives at the fallen city of the ancients where he meets an intriguing knight arbiter and two firm friends. Together, they try to unravel the secrets of the ancient world.
I met Darran on Twitter after a (very specific) callout for books about engineers in post-apocalyptic worlds (which is oddly how my first novel Parasites begins). We agreed to swap reviews, and I was instantly enchanted by his worldbuilding. The Engineer is – again, oddly – based on a ‘real life’ story of how Darran met his wife in an online RPG. I think you can often feel when an author is writing commercially, reluctantly or lovingly, and this book absolutely radiates the latter; Darran’s worldbuilding, skill and dedication to the novel is fantastic, and although the main character’s verbosity initially irritated me, they eventually won me round.
Darran is currently finishing up the second novel in the series, so I’ll absolutely be pre-ordering when it’s ready. Full review of this first novel can be found here.
I’d recommend this to any SF fans looking for something a bit different.
A Natural by Ioanna Arka
Erotica
Published 2020 / 2021
Series
Beware of the lover who puts his hand around your throat…
She never expected to fall in love again. Stella, a scientist and a single mother, is doing her best to stay sane after the loss of her husband.
John, a British businessman, just moved to Munich, running away from a life of heartache. Charming and well-spoken, he sweeps Stella into a passionate affair.
But his gentlemanly manners disguise a long-repressed and well-hidden dark side. As his true character is slowly uncovered, Stella is unwittingly sucked into his high-stakes world and lands in the middle of a perfect storm.
Why Matthew recommends this book:
Initially published under Ioanna’s pen name, Nora McKinney, A Natural follows Stella, a smart, middle-aged mum living in Germany, as she meets John, a wealthy CEO. Sparks fly, and before long, Stella and John are exploring BDSM while juggling children, divorce cases and health problems.
The main thing I love about this book is how it manages to keep everything real. It’s the most ‘grown up’ erotica you’ll ever read. Yes, there is spanking and whips, but there’s also discussions on limits, aftercare, and what it’s like growing old. All too often, the adult world is presented as focused on the glossy side, but Ioanna’s books (I’ve recently finished her second one, Switch, which I enjoyed even more) don’t shy away from the adult (grown up) as well as the adult (sexual!). I will admit, I found aspects of this book quite challenging – I’d not really come across ‘breath play’ before, and it’s quite full-on, but overall I really enjoyed her work.
I’d recommend this to erotica fans who are looking for something grown-up, which is still a spicy read!
The Rose and the Thorn by Katherine Macdonald
Fantasy
Published 2019
Standalone
A gripping and mesmerising retelling of a classic story, filled with romance, mystery and intrigue.
There is a pale, penetrating loneliness etched into the walls of this forgotten place. A kind of loneliness made living… is this what it feels like to be a ghost, alone in some kind of half world?
Taking shelter from a storm, Rose accidentally strays into a deserted fairy realm, and finds herself trapped there with only a mysterious talking beast for company. Although initially reluctant to befriend her strange companion, Rose quickly finds herself growing closer to him. She names him Thorn, and as the castle blossoms into a place of beauty, so too does their friendship. But something else lurks within the walls, a dark force that will stop at nothing to be free once more…
If Rose is to survive and lift the curse placed upon the castle, she will have to face her fears and conquer the nightmares that have haunted her since childhood, as well as confront the terrifying creature that stalks the shadows in the night.
A passionate retelling of a classic tale, fairy tale fantasy meets Gothic. Will have you sobbing and laughing, and truly believing in the power of true love.
Why Matthew recommends this book:
The Rose and The Thorn is a beauty and the beast retelling; following Rose, who takes shelter in a huge, seemingly deserted mansion, only to find a talking beast, Thorn, in the ruins.
I’d picked this up in a promotion after following Katherine on twitter, and it was an unexpected delight! At the risk of offending most, if not all of book twitter, I hadn’t really gotten on with ACOTAR, and was a bit nervous about picking up another BATB retelling. Thankfully, Katherine’s writing is just beautiful. She paints a wonderful picture of the story, and the characters really come to life. I loved following their progress and seeing how things unfolded. Katherine is also a bit of a legend – I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who writes so quickly despite having another job and family commitments as well, and despite committing to reading her back catalogue, she’s been writing too fast for me to keep up!
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for an elegant, beautifully written fantasy romance
After all these fabulous recommendations, here is one of Matthew’s books that he wanted to highlight.
Matthew’s Book Spotlight
Small Places by Matthew Samuels
Fantasy
Published in 2021
Jamie is a lonely, anxious kid when he has a run-in with a witch in a remote Somerset village. He’s almost forgotten about it thirteen years later when unpredictable storms and earthquakes hit England – and that’s the least of his worries. Suffering from anxiety, terrible flatmates and returning to his family home after his mother is diagnosed with cancer, he’s got a lot on his mind.
But Melusine, the witch of flesh and blood, lures him back with the offer of cold, hard cash in exchange for his help investigating the source of the freak weather; something’s messing with the earth spirit, Gaia, and Mel means to find out who – or what – it is.
As they work together, travelling to the bigoted Seelie Court and the paranoid Unseelie Court, meeting stoned fauns and beer-brewing trolls, Jamie must reconcile his feelings about the witch’s intentions and methods all while handling grief, life admin and one singularly uptight estate agent.
Readers who enjoyed Charles de Lint or David Wong would like this book.
Want to review this book? Get it on Amazon.
I will be sharing my review of Small Places in the coming week so keep a lookout for it!
Thank you so much for hanging out with Matthew and me today as part of the second Indie Recommends Indie Series. I hope you are enjoying the series so far and are looking forward to future posts. 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. Looking forward to connecting with you.
Banner Photo of library by Alfons Morales on Unsplash
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