Hello writing and reading communities! I am excited to kick off a new series with my friend SK today! As readers, we know prioritizing our TBR or even thinking about finishing it is a lost battle. That makes me sad sometimes because I can only share with you guys books that I have read, missing out on the thousands of books I would either never get to or just aren’t for me. Going forward, a few times a month, I will be hosting indie and small press authors to share books by fellow indie and small press authors that they love. This is also an opportunity for you to connect with them, if you are interested in reading their books.
Let’s get started with none other than SK, who is my dearest friend and has been on the blog a few times before.
SK, thank you for kicking off this series with me! 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. 🙂
Aww, I love hanging out with you, Kriti! It’s wonderful to be back on your blog. For those who don’t know me, I’m a sci-fi/fantasy author and an insatiable reader greedy for all the incredible worldbuilding. I write books blending immersive, fresh worldbuilding with organic magic and hints of science fiction popping out in places that might be unexpected. And when I’m not writing or reading, I’m usually somewhere trying to help other writers.
Do you primarily read indie books or big publishers books as well?
I read about 80% indie on average. I love books of any kind, no matter how they’re published, but I really love to discover the hidden gems and help to boost them however I can. Those tend to be indie– but not always! I’m trying not to gush too much about too many books here, but I’ve found some amazing books I’m dying to share with more people.
SK’s Indie Recommendations
The Hidden King by E.G. Radcliff
YA Fairy Tale/ Fantasy with Found Family Themes
Published July 12th 2019
First in a series: The Coming of Áed
Hidden truths. Hidden power. Hidden destiny.
On the shores of a rusty sea, in the streets of a starving city, a young man named Áed scraps to build a life for himself and the makeshift family he loves. Scarred by a trauma he cannot remember, and haunted by the brutal damage it left behind, he has no idea of the courage his future will demand.
When tragedy strikes, a desperate Áed risks a treacherous, life-changing journey in his last chance to save the only family he has left – but an ancient legacy smoldering within him is about to turn deadly. Neither he – nor a kingdom – will ever be the same.
Why SK recommends this book:
This book is absolutely incredible in so many ways I’m kind of at a loss of where to start, so let me start with the characters. Áed is amazing. He’s so easy to root for, and he, as well as all the side characters, feel fully fleshed out. All he and his partner really want is to give Ronan, the boy they’re raising, a better life than either of them had. It’s not much but it’s a goal. Áed is disabled and he’s gay, neither of which define him or drive his main conflict, which is really refreshing. Instead, his found family accepts him for who he is and loves him for who he is, facing the battles that do come at his side.
And the battles that come his way are hard to describe without spoiling anything because this is a book about self-discovery, as Áed learns about himself. It’s dark, it’s brutal, it’s touching, and it’s heartwarming. It makes you feel all the feels, and that’s why I love it so much. The author did an absolutely brilliant job and I’m going to be a little annoying about this book for a while because it’s just that good. Don’t forget that besides reading indies, another good way to support great authors is to ask your library to get the book (if your library takes purchase suggestions). And, of course, telling all your friends like I’m doing now!
If you’re a fan of dark fantasy, found families, (ooh, there’s more tropes I could list but I don’t want to spoil things), or of authors like Robin Hobb, then try this book!
My one complaint is that the worldbuilding was so cool, it could have gone even deeper (but really, it was about on Robin Hobb’s level, and about that level for dark and gritty).
Legacy of Flame by Rebecca Bapaye
Sort of Court Intrigue, sort of Romantic Fantasy
Published May 13th 2021
Standalone
A winter queen and prince of flame, bound together by fate.
Following a deadly attack on a druid grove, twenty-five-year-old Elia Kolenikova, queen of the Ice Realm, is the first and only monarch to take a stand against the fire priest order, a reclusive band of sorcerers with unlimited power. Determined to find a way to protect druids from further violence, Elia turns to the annals of history, tracing her knowledge of fire priests back to a time when a previous Ice Queen was intimately tied to the rise of the order. There’s just one problem: what Elia reads in those accounts may not be true.
To unravel the mystery, Elia needs more than an ally—she needs a fire priest. An immortal Ice Realm prince who’s been missing from the history books for centuries.
Syllian, like his father before him, sacrificed his mortal body to be born again in flames. Two thousand years later, he’s hunted at every turn by fire priests seeking revenge for his betrayal of the order. The threat means little until a rumor reaches him: Queen Elia Kolenikova is asking questions. About fire priests, about druids, and most dangerously of all, about the truth.
Emerging from the shadows could cost Syllian his life. But if he doesn’t, the lies and propaganda of the fire priest order will cost Elia hers first.
Why SK recommends this book:
This is a really well put together book that’s part mystery and part adventure. Elia’s point of view was really interesting to me because she’s a really refreshing Queen PoV. Rather than politics and drama and chess, she’s studious and an enormous history nerd. Being a huge geek myself, I loved that. I enjoyed her interactions with her few friends and her stubbornness. The romance was really light, which I liked, but if you’re a romance fan that might not work for you.
I loved learning about what really happened vs what was written down in the history books, and I loved the build up to the final showdown. The piece about Syllian’s father didn’t fit for me, but it didn’t bother me too terribly. I enjoyed the friction within the fire mages order and the trouble between them and the druids, especially with Syllian’s involvement in all of that– that was really well done, I thought.
And another thing I loved was the worldbuilding–I know, no one who knows me is surprised. From multiple moons to multiple suns, the worldbuilding details are slipped in with finesse so that the reader is reminded often that we’re not on Earth. The immersion was handled with skill, so that at no time did I feel too daunted, and yet the intrigued constantly pulled me farther in.
If you love historical mysteries and second world fantasies with just a little light romance, this book is for you!
The Gatekeeper’s Staff by Antoine Bandele
This is a YA Mystery/Fantasy with West African Myth/Folklore woven in
Published June 19th 2021
First in a Series – TJ Young & The Orishas
TJ Young has been surrounded by magic his entire life, yet he has never tapped into it… until now.
Fourteen-year-old TJ grew up normal in a secret community of gifted diviners in the heart of modern-day Los Angeles. His powerful sister was ordained to lead his people into a new age of prosperity, but her mysterious death in Nigeria threatens to destroy the very foundations of TJ’s world.
Desperate to pick up where his sister left off and uncover the secrets behind her questionable death, TJ commits himself to unlocking the magical heritage that has always eluded him. So he enrolls in Camp Olosa—a remedial magic school for the divinely less-than-gifted in the humid swamps of New Orleans.
But little does he know, TJ is destined to cross paths with powerful spirits of old thought lost to time: the orishas.
Delve into this young adult fantasy based on the mythology of the West African Orishas, where TJ will encounter unlikely allies, tough-as-gatorhide instructors, and the ancient secrets of the orishas.
Why SK recommends this book:
I haven’t read much West African mythology, but from playing Capoeira, some of it was instantly recognizable to me. TJ is a fantastic character, and I was really invested in his struggle to master his magic, limited as it was. I absolutely adored the concept of his true power being to encourage others (this isn’t really a spoiler, don’t worry). The real spoiler attached to that though blew me away and I did not see that coming. It was excellent!
I loved the way the real world and the fantastical merge and meld in this, but I also loved how diverse the characters were, from a range of backgrounds. And each of the side characters felt fully developed and real, and I could root for them all, though I really enjoyed Joshua. I loved the way the book handled grief too. It was such an honest, respectful way to deal with it, and TJ deals with his sister’s deal through most of the book, because it’s not something that you just get over. But he gains friends and he gains knowledge of himself and his true power as who he is–even discounting magic–and that’s something any kid could use. I highly recommend this book!
Fans of Black Panther and Percy Jackson or Harry Potter need to read this book.
Never Say Never by Justine Manzano
This is a YA Contemporary Romance with a bit of Mythology thrown in
Published June 15th 2021
Standalone
Brynn is done with love.
After she walks in on her mom doing the horizontal mambo with a man that’s decidedly not her dad, Brynn Stark swears to NEVER fall in love. One of her friends–Val– reveals her true identity–Aphrodite, goddess of love, and promises to show Brynn why she shouldn’t lose faith.
But when Brynn realizes she’s beginning to fall for Adam, Aphrodite’s boyfriend, Brynn’s forced to decide if she’ll choose her goddess-given fate, or risk it all for the wrong-but-right guy.
One thing’s for sure.
Love sucks.
And it’s all about to blow up in their faces.
Why SK recommends this book:
The first thing I notice about Justine Manzano’s writing is always the main character’s snark. Her main characters always have delicious attitude but a creamy heart of gold. Brynn is no exception. Brynn’s got some amazing friends, including Nina, who is absolutely wonderful. We all need a Nina in our lives.
One thing I loved was how Brynn’s stuck in this situation and she keeps looking for how to do the right thing. She’s not looking for her own best interests or anything like that. She wants to protect her friends–even when Val’s infuriatingly snotty and even when her life is blowing up in her face. I also loved the life lessons she learns along the way (though I’m still furious at Brynn’s mom.)
While I’m not a huge Greek gods lover anymore (but I devoured Greek mythology in my teens), the characters make this book absolutely shine. They’re the kind of characters who walk out of the book and make themselves at home in your head, from Gabe and Adam and Nina to Brynn’s dad and uncle.
If you love contemporary fantasy, Greek mythology, and or YA romance, especially if you love sassy smart-mouthed characters, definitely try Never Say Never!
Cradle of Sea and Soil by Bernie Anés Paz
Epic Fantasy
Published June 23, 2020
First in a series: The Islandborn
The Primordial Wound has festered with corruption since the birth of the world. The island tribes have warred against its spawn for just as long—and they are losing.
Burdened by the same spiritual affliction that drove the first Halfborn insane, Colibrí lives in exile with little more than her warrior oaths and her son. But when Colibrí discovers corrupted land hidden away by sorcery, those same oaths drive her to find answers in an effort to protect the very people who fear her.
Narune dreams of earning enough glory to show that he and his mother Colibrí are nothing like the Halfborn that came before them. Becoming a mystic will give him the strength he needs, but first, Narune will need to prove himself worthy in a trial of skill and honor.
Together, Colibrí and Narune must learn to become the champions their people need—and face the curse threatening to scour away their spirits with fury.
Why SK recommends this book:
This is another book where I adore the worldbuilding. It’s just amazing and fresh and new and I love that. The author drew from his Puerto Rican heritage and the worldbuilding is very immersive, which is exactly how I like it, from phrases and slang to title and how they view the world. Even the food and customs reinforced that this is not the typical fantasy setting, and I really appreciated that.
The plot is interesting, though there are a couple pacing fumbles in the second half where information is given that the reader was already given, so I didn’t think that was necessary. (The editing in the first half was really clean, and then there are more minor editing mistakes in the second half too, I noticed. Still, nothing that drew too much attention from the story.) I really appreciated how it was tied into the village life struggles, and I loved the tie-ins to Colibrí and Narune’s relationship as mother and son. I loved how interactions with the sentient tree-lords and the various animals as they fought through the Stillness plaguing their land, and the magic system was interesting (but I’m not a huge magic system person).
I loved learning about the way the world worked and how their society worked at the same time as I was getting a handle on their personal past and their individual dreams. The pacing of the information being doled out was overall well done and the crux of the conflict–a spreading Stillness that kills the land and magic while spawning monsters that must be broken up into dust–was very cool, especially as the Halfborn are really good at this, and yet they’re exiled from the community they’re protecting because the community fears them.
There’s so much lore and so much interesting stuff to get into, and several of the characters were really cool (even if Ixchel made me furious). But you want characters to evoke strong emotions, too, after all! And the cacica also evoked strong emotions, after all.
If you enjoy second world fantasy but are looking for something new, something that’s not the typical medieval European-style fantasy, then try this!
After all these fabulous recommendations, here is one of SK’s books that she wanted to highlight.
SK’s Book Spotlight
Between Starfalls by S. Kaeth
Epic Science Fantasy
Published in March 2020
Series: Children of Nexus
Never leave the path.
It’s sacred law, punishable by exile.
When her son goes missing in the perilous mountains, Kaemada defies the law to search for him. She enlists the help of her hero brother, a priestess berserker, and a fire-wielding friend.
But the law exists for a reason.
When the search party is captured by the mythical Kamalti, they learn that Kaemada’s son was sent to an ancient prison city. As they battle for freedom, they discover a horrible truth that will change the future of both races forever.
With their world in upheaval, Kaemada must find a way to peace if she’s to save her son—but tensions between the two races are leading to war.
Perfect for readers who love second world fantasy blending sci-fi and fantasy like the Stormlight Archives and the Broken Earth trilogy.
Want to review this book? Check it out on Indie Story Geek. If you want to be in the loop for SK’s upcoming books and learn about review copies, be sure to sign up here.
I loved Between Starfalls and if you have not read it yet, check out my review. I will be back with the review for book 2 later this year.
Thank you so much for hanging out with SK and me today as part of the very first 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, send me a message on Twitter or Instagram!
Banner Photo of library by Alfons Morales on Unsplash
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