Hello friend. Today’s Indie Recommends Indie post features author, editor and streamer, Nicholas Lawrence Carter. Let’s meet him and learn about the indie books he loves! I am excited to dive into his latest book, Reclamation: Path to Singularity, and you can learn more about it at the end of the post.
Nic, welcome to Armed with A Book! Since it’s your first time on the blog, can you please tell me and my readers about yourself?
Thank you for having me! I’ve been writing all my life in some way or another. I’ve also always loved reading. I was that kid who always had a book in his hand. It took me a long time to realize that I should merge those. But, hey, we’re here now! I’m a pretty homely person these days. I work as a freelance editor, so I work from home. I also stream on Twitch, and, of course, I write books.
Do you primarily read indie books or big publishers books as well?
I read a good mixture since I’m an editor. These days it’s more indie than trad.
Nic’s Indie Recommendations
Strung by Roske
Historical Fantasy
Published 2022
Standalone
In an attempt to repel an unwanted suitor, Lady Lysbeth Haywood shares her unfashionable enthusiasm for the “Faye”—a supposedly-mythical race few believe exist. Instead, her suitor is driven to capture one as a gift.
When the Faye, Evyn, is delivered to Lindenholt Manor, Lysbeth’s dread at the prospect of a forced engagement yields to the thrilling actualization of childhood Fayetales—and the chance to satisfy her long-suffered curiosity. Unfortunately, Avonleigh society is less receptive to the strange arrival.
Maligned, mistreated, and forced into servitude, Evyn’s traumatized silence spurs Lysbeth to his aid. Trust and affection emerge slowly, and as extraordinary Faye mysteries are peeled away, their revelations—and Lysbeth’s own role in them—reach farther than she ever thought possible.
I could talk about this book for days. Historical Fantasy isn’t really my cup of tea, but I do like fantasy in general. I was not prepared for Strung. Roske weaves an intricate story centered in an immensely fascinating world. The character development is some of the best I’ve ever read.
Lisbeth could’ve easily been a character that grew stale as the story unfolded, but Roske treats her like a real person. She has flaws and shortcomings (often an inability to see beyond her privilege arises), but at her core, she’s a caring and inquisitive person. I don’t want to say too much about any other character, as the journey in this book is the slow unravelling of the story and character arcs.
Strung is layered as a musical number would be, complete with rising and falling moods and story beats that coincide with where they would be a musical composition. I’m not just spewing words here, that is actually how the story is formatted. I’ve never read anything like it.
I think fans of Historical Fantasy, Magical Realism, Period Pieces, and Fantasy in general would find something to appreciate in Strung.
Graveslinger by Darren Lee Compton
Dark Fantasy
Published 2021
Series starter (but the only one out so far)
Fiya Pratt Diaz had one job: Making sure the dead stays dead. It used to pay very well.
Thomas and his daughter, Liama, escape captivity from a strange cult, finding help in the hands of Fiya Pratt Diaz, a supernatural hunter who specializes in dealing with the undead. Together the three uncover the truth behind the cult members and their release of the deadly plague known as Ghoul Fever in the Seattle area. It seems that the cult has something even bigger up their sleeves though and they’ll do anything to bring Thomas and Liama back, including hiring a pack of werewolves to retrieve the father and daughter.
With the stakes growing more dire than ever, can Fiya overcome her own doubts and reservations to survive and do what’s right despite terrible odds?
You’ll find through these recommendations that I love characters. I’m big on character development and character study pieces. Graveslinger features fantastic development for Fiya, our protagonist in this book. There are few chances for her, and you, to catch your breath here. The action is frantic, the pace is quick, and the story never lets up.
The protagonist isn’t anything new or groundbreaking, but the driving motive is believable, and oddly, in a way, relatable–even with the character being utterly despicable. That’s a hard line to toe, and Darren Lee Compton does it wonderfully.
The heart of the story is two father/daughter dynamics. One with Fiya and the hardened monster hunter that took her in as a child. The other with Thomas and Liama, victims who escaped a Ghoul Fever (a unique take on zombies) infested prison.
After having read the book, and reflecting on the story and breakneck pace,I’m honestly a bit shocked that Darren Lee Compton was able to fit so much development, and even some quiet moments, into this book.
Fans of gritty, dark fantasy will certainly enjoy Graveslinger.
Dark Redemption by Justin Miles
Paranormal Fantasy
Published 2022
Series starter (only book 1 is currently out)
Some heroes and villains are not born. They ascend.
They are the cursed, the disowned, and the outcasts of the human and Shattered worlds. The boogeymen in the dark. They are seers.
After his family was slaughtered by two monsters made from the darkest of nightmares, Logan Blake became a seer, a human who was affected by a strong magical presence early in life. He now works as a contractor, a mercenary working in the Shattered Community.
Now with his only ally, a forbidden elf-mage hybrid named Samantha, he is offered a contract that threatens the future of the Shattered World. With enemies hiding in the shadows, will his skills and abilities thrust him into his destiny, or will echoes of the past be his downfall?
In Dark Redemption, Justin Miles explores the rigors of the Shattered World through the experiences of Logan and Sam–two contractors with questionable methods. Don’t let that sentence fool you, these two aren’t your average anti-heroes, they have excellent depth. Each has a mysterious and tragic past that still produces struggles in their present.
The story is essentially a travel log, our protagonists must deliver a package, but it seems the whole world (or worlds!) is out to stop them. The action is quick and seamlessly moves from one encounter to the next while still providing quiet moments for the characters to expand their wings and flourish. The heart of the book is the platonic sibling-like love Logan and Sam share–and their humorous teasing.
The main story is interspersed with memories of Logan’s life and how he came to be a Seer–humans with incredible magical abilities. I enjoyed the memories, and they offer a nice change of pace from the main thread. The book is well-paced and will constantly keep you on the edge of your seat.
Honestly, Paranormal anything isn’t really my jam, but I edited this book. However, that doesn’t influence my recommendation. I genuinely loved this book.
Unsouled by Will Wight
Fantasy
Published 2016
Series: Cradle #1
Sacred artists follow a thousand Paths to power, using their souls to control the forces of the natural world.
Lindon is Unsouled, forbidden to learn the sacred arts of his clan.
When faced with a looming fate he cannot ignore, he must rise beyond anything he’s ever known…and forge his own Path.
Will Wight is a tremendous world builder. Unsouled does have a bit of a slow start, but everything about the world he’s crafting is so unique and interesting that I couldn’t put the book down. Wight blends elements of realism, martial arts, Chinese culture, and the tried-and-true staples of fantasy to deliver a series that is magical.
I wasn’t initially drawn to Lindon (a common complaint about the first novel), but author Will Wight weaves a touching character arc that will have you excited for the series. The book ends with a rather shocking and unexpected twist. I won’t say anything about it, but it reframes the story and sets up an interesting path for the future.
While I don’t think Unsouled (or the Cradle series) is anything like Brandon Sanderson’s books, I think if you’re a fan of Sanderson, you’ll appreciate the world Wight crafts. Both authors are big on character development and world-building, so if that’s your thing, the Cradle series is worth a look.
Cosmic Threads by C.J. Canady
Young Adult Fantasy
Published 2022
Series
Dhalia native Ashanti Orun is a Light Witch with a green thumb. One morning while tending her garden, the sky is split asunder, and a legion of winged invaders lay waste to Ashanti’s village. She has the chance to save her daughter, but only by stripping young Aaliyah Orun of her vital powers.
Parnissi, a subterranean world, will offer refuge to those in need, but nothing there is as it seems.
A decade downstream, Aaliyah is preparing for her first day of Scavenging. The world above has fallen to ruin, aswarm with malevolent monsters. Though Aaliyah is ashamed to be magicless, she’s mastered the ways of a Ghadreel Staf, hoping to use the weapon against the winged invaders.Led to her birthplace by the voice of her late mother, Aaliyah, amidst her virgin quest, unravels a network of truths that spell grave danger.
Parnissi’s ruler, Zeracheal Duth’Kaar, came to Earth in search of the Dragon Scale, an enchanted sword . . . but having failed to capture it, the world’s last Wizard has aligned with wicked forces to achieve his ultimate sinister goal.Despite a heavy handicap, Aaliyah must embrace her fate, and help to save the Earth at last—a job that will call for faithful friends and the power of love!
I’ve read both books in this series, and I actually like book 2 (Cosmic Love) quite a bit more than book one. However, you won’t have any idea what’s going on if you don’t read them in order! I’m not a big fan of YA books, but the character development from Canady kept me hooked. The main trio of protagonists have a bond that feels real and lived-in. Their conversations felt like ones I’d overhear at the mall in my teenage years.
The plot is pretty straightforward, but a few sneaky twists keep the spice flowing. The ending was entirely unexpected, and it sets up the second book to be drastically different (and it is).
My recommendations have all been fantasy books (I’m gearing up to write a fantasy series), and this one is a worthy entry. I do enjoy the second book quite a bit more, but I think both are worth the effort. Even if just for the characters alone; something that Canady excels at. The supporting cast all get good time in this series, and you’ll finish feeling like you got your time and money’s worth.
Nic’s Book Spotlight
Reclamation: Path to Singularity
Science Fiction / Speculative Fiction
Published 2022
Satine is an android…
…the only android…
…and the only chance for humanity’s survival.
Generations ago, humans fled underground. Storms rage over the surface and pollution fills the air. Only Satine can survive above ground.
But Satine’s mind is plagued by an impossible memory; the humans are hiding something.
Now, Satine is keeping secrets and even lying to humans. Devon Orchard, humanity’s head scientist, suspects Satine is changing, and it terrifies him. His suspicion threatens Satine’s newfound independence and her existence.
To understand the odd memory, Satine must investigate before her core melts. But as she dwells among the surviving humans, feared and avoided, Satine must decide if humanity is worth saving—unless Devon Orchard gets to her first.
Reclamation: Path to Singularity is a thought-provoking character study filled with intrigue that examines what it means to be human, to feel emotion, and the longing that we all feel for connection!
Readers who enjoyed Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and Foundation will like Reclamation.
Connect with Nic on his website and Twitter.
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!
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