Hello everyone! Welcome to another post of Indie Recommends Indie! Today I have fellow reviewer Tristen Kozinski with me who shares review at Adventuresome Reviews with brother, Keegan. The two of them co-authored books and today, apart from highlighting indie authors, the spotlight will be on their book, The City of Locked Doors. I hope you will find some good books to read next in his recommendations and check out their YouTube channel and website. 🙂
Thank you for being on this series, Tristen! Since this is your first time on Armed with A Book, please tell me and my readers a bit about yourself. 🙂
Hello everybody, all you villains, villainesses, and the rest of you less interesting sorts, I am Tristen Kozinski, one of an author pair with my twin brother, who must not be named less my rampant ego goes unsatiated. (Keegan’s his name). We’re a pair of general goofballs, dark and epic fantasy writers, and almost competent book reviewers. We play chess, video games, work the night shit somewhere mysterious, he draws, and I used to keep honeybees.
Do you primarily read indie books or big publishers books as well?
I read both independently and traditionally published books, at about an 80/20 split.
Tristen’s Indie Recommendations
Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
High Fantasy, Asian theme
Published 2019
Standalone distantly related to another series.
A mother struggling to repress her violent past,
A son struggling to grasp his violent future,
A father blind to the danger that threatens them all.
When the winds of war reach their peninsula, will the Matsuda family have the strength to defend their empire? Or will they tear each other apart before the true enemies even reach their shores?
High on a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful warriors in the world, superhumans capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For hundreds of years, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire’s enemies at bay, earning their frozen spit of land the name ‘The Sword of Kaigen.’
Born into Kusanagi’s legendary Matsuda family, fourteen-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: to master his family’s fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen’s alleged age of peace, Mamoru realizes that he might not have much time to become the fighter he was bred to be. Worse, the empire he was bred to defend may stand on a foundation of lies.
Misaki told herself that she left the passions of her youth behind when she married into the Matsuda house. Determined to be a good housewife and mother, she hid away her sword, along with everything from her days as a fighter in a faraway country. But with her growing son asking questions about the outside world, the threat of an impending invasion looming across the sea, and her frigid husband grating on her nerves, Misaki finds the fighter in her clawing its way back to the surface.
This book was beautifully written and constructed. You are immersed in a setting that is vibrant, tangible, and culturally complex, and carried through it by characters that are every bit as good. They are rich with individual emotions, flaws, conflicts, and interact intimately with both each other and story at large. The action scenes are taut, and the magic system an excellent example of how to expand beyond the boundaries of the basic four western elements archetype. Then, you have the story as a whole, which is complex, beautiful, and bursting with emotion.
The setting is Asian themed so it’s different from the standard medieval European of most fantasy. We have two primary pov characters, one woman and her teenage son, so the narrative doesn’t become overwhelming. There is something of a backstory narrative present, where we view one of the character’s pasts, but it’s a rare instance where that past narrative is as interesting as the present one and benefits the present narrative while avoiding the pitfall of the reader already knowing what will happen.
Adults, for the complexity of the narrative and characters, but otherwise almost everyone. This is a beautiful and nearly flawless book, and I believe only those with an abhorrence for some of its basic elements (fantasy or action, etc) wouldn’t be able to enjoy it.
The Wake Up by Angela Panayotopulos
Light Fantasy, literature
February 2020
Standalone
What if you could see the angelic or demonic manifestations of people’s characters in mirrors? And what if, in your world, this gift was fatal?
Since early childhood, Lexi has repressed a rare ability to See. For most of her life, and from most people who know her, this is a well-kept secret. Raised by a family of mirror-makers, glass-blowers, and wolves, Lexi trains herself to See selectively, plagued by her otherness. She comes of age when the nation’s leader bans man-made reflective surfaces, plunging the nation into a dystopia where government agencies annihilate families like Lexi’s and redraw the lines of normalcy, tradition, and trust.
As her family breaks apart, Lexi falls for a man whose secrets run even deeper than hers. Betrayal and deceit ignite dangerous consequences in a world of blurring realities. Caught up in a battle as old as time itself, the last mirror-maker must revamp a break up into the greatest wake up of her
This is an evocative, intimate story written with lovely prose. The emotional complexity of its main character is wonderful as she suffers and exhibits a wide range of emotions that the reader can believe and empathize with, not the least of which is the element of a psychologically abusive relationship. The art/act of glassmaking is deeply important to the narrative and one of the books triumphs is how the author succeeds in attaching the reader emotionally to the act and art of it.
In contrast, the negative aspects for me were minor, and one not even really a negative. The first is that this isn’t an event-driven, action narrative story. Yes, events happen and they’re exciting or entertaining as required, but they rarely propel the narrative forward. This is a character-focused, living-in-a situation story and as a result is a slower story.
The second, and only real, issue was that a core plot element stretched belief. It’s a small gripe, and an important element but the implausibility of it still occurred to me several times through the course of reading.
People who like slower stories, who grew up reading and have an appreciation for classic literature. The Wake Up has the same feel of those books while still having a more modern execution. It would be great for people who want to read a just really well written and plotted fantasy story that’s not about saving the world, or anything similarly grandiose. It’s a small, personal, story that occasionally brushes against the larger world.
The Lady of Kingdoms by Suzannah Rowntree
Historical Fantasy
Published 2019
Standalone in Watchers of Outremer
Magic made her a warrior.
Justice will make her a legend.
Jerusalem, 1180: A catastrophe destroyed Marta Bessarion’s family and whisked her away from everything she once knew. Now, armed with a magic spear and a burning thirst for justice, Marta vows to protect her new home and family, no matter the cost.
But trouble is brewing in the glittering palaces of Jerusalem…
The young Leper King, Baldwin, is dying. Before he goes, Baldwin must choose a successor…but every choice is a bad one. An innocent child, exploited by stronger men? A crafty cousin who has already tried to snatch the crown? Or his brilliant, passionate sister who is determined to rule – even if it triggers a war?
When enemy armies muster on the kingdom’s borders, Marta charges into battle. But when Baldwin’s choice puts her newfound family at risk, Marta finds herself fighting a new kind of battle – one in which intrigue, deception, and betrayal are the weapons.
To save the kingdom, she’ll need more than a magic spear to destroy its enemies.
She’ll need a saint to save its soul.
The Lady of Kingdoms is Book 2 in the Watchers of Outremer series (though you don’t have to read Book 1 first). Wonder Woman meets City of Brass in this thrilling historical fantasy featuring lady knights, fierce princesses, and eldritch dragon angels!
Excellent prose and character work, with that character work being tightly interwoven into the story’s narrative themes, which are in turn tightly interwoven into the narrative plot. The Lady of Kingdoms also happens to be one of those rare, superbly paced books that intermingles action scenes, intrigue scenes, and character interaction scenes with none feeling rushed, taking too long or ever being less than entertaining, and without any scene ever feeling like fluff or filler.
Aside from these technical aspects, it’s also different from your standard medieval European fantasy. It is set during the crusades around Jerusalem and does an excellent job of exploring that time period, from the way wars were fought to the immediate political situation and conflicts.
Religion and faith are important aspects of the book(s) as well, but viewed on a more personal level and often positive light. That being said, these are not Christian preaching books; religion and faith are elements of the book, and tied to the magic elements, rather than the purpose or driving force behind it.
People who like historical stories, are a fan of soft magic systems, who find the time periods of the crusades interesting, or who are ready for a different setting of fantasy from the standard. There is also a significant element of politicking in The Lady of Kingdoms.
Gold Shadow by L.C Perry
Science Fiction, Dystopia
Published 2017
First in Bronze Rebellion
In the North American continent, eighteen year old Ebony has been living as a slave for as long as she can remember. The underground cities, the tattoo, the scars and the shackles are a part of the only world she has ever known. She knows that in order to survive, she will have to stay strong. And she will stay strong, cursing those in power, until her very last breath. She waits for a meaningful way to die as she quietly pushes her body to its limit…but that all changes when rebels from the surface drop down right in front of her.
Now, Ebony is challenged to envision a life beyond slavery as she and the other escapees are thrown into the center of a rebellion against the monarchy. She has to embrace this glimmer towards a real life…this glimmer called freedom. But what can she contribute to a rebellion that is doomed to fail like those before it? How can they stop a corrupt monarchy that has lasted for a century? Among the lower class, those with hope are hard to come by, but Ebony has found refuge with people full of it. And through their strong desire, an idea emerges…one that has never been done before. The princess of the country is coming of age and what better way to send a message to the king and queen than to kidnap their only daughter?
I was initially hesitant to read Gold Shadow, I did not want to read another teen love-triangle rebellion dystopia novel. Teen rebellion in general just saturates the market right now, and they’re rarely more than passable. That being said, I loved Gold Shadow.
Although it says Teen Dystopia on the tin, this book is more suitable for new adult because the contents of this book are substantially darker than more teen books, and the characters (although teenagers themselves) reflect that.
Gold Shadows strongest feature are it’s characters, which are numerous, varied and excellently fleshed out. My favorite is Ebony (our main protagonist) who is a beautiful combination of apathetic, broken, lonely and just a little bit feral. Watching her journey through the initial hell of her life in the Root Cities up to the ‘normal/hopeful’ life as a rebel was one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I’ve had in a while. However, some of that is probably due to my having a taste for characters like her.
The story itself progresses at an excellent pace, allowing the readers to enjoy the various scenes and emotional arcs without overstaying their welcome or over stressing a point. The prose is generally good, though it occasionally suffers from wonky sentence structure. Nothing’s grammatically incorrect, just uncommon phrasing that tended to leave me momentarily confused.
Finally, my one real criticism for the book was that I just did not enjoy Irene’s chapters (she being the second POV character.) I acknowledge that they’re probably necessary for the narrative that takes place, and that her character likely is also, but they were just less interesting than Ebony’s emotional-charged chapters and story arch.
People who like strong female leads, or who want a teen rebellion narrative with a little more bite and grit.
Cloak of the two Winds by Jack Massa
Fantasy
Published 2016
First in The Glimnodd Cycle #1
Pirates, sorcerers, and witches battle for an ancient magical treasure.
To the Iruk people of the South Polar Sea, the crew of a hunting boat is sacred–a band of men and women warriors bound by oath and a group soul. But when Lonn leads his crew away from the hunt to pursue his dream of a treasure ship, they find more than an easy bit of piracy.
The ship belongs to the witch Amlina, and after the Iruks carry off her possessions, they are robbed in turn. Worse, one of their band is taken–Glyssa, the woman Lonn loves.
To rescue her, the Iruks must join forces with Amlina on a perilous voyage far from the seas they know. To Lonn and his mates, nothing matters but saving Glyssa. But Amlina knows much more is at stake. Among her possessions is an object of ancient power. In the wrong hands, the Cloak of the Two Winds can unravel the age-old magic that keeps the world from chaos.
Why you love this book: Cloak of the Two Winds is an excellent fantasy book. The world is imaginative and distinctive. The characters, for the most part, are complex and complement one another. The prose is good and the story is entertaining.
For me, the best part of Cloak of the Two Winds is the world itself. Magics abounds in it, much of which is by turns subtle and overt. This makes the world feel real, and builds a desire to see more of it realized, to experience what other wonders the author has envisioned.
The characters are well-developed and distinctive from one another, with the exception of the core groups less active members. They each occupy a certain emotional spectrum and compliment one another with varying opinions, reactions and view points. That two of the core group are a little under-explored is one of my few, and very minor complaints with Cloak of the Two Winds.
My only other complaint is there are moments where the story drags just a little, where the events feel more humdrum than exciting. There a few and minor, though they can extend a decent span of time.
My quibbles aside, I highly recommend this book.
People who like good world building and want a lighter, more adventure oriented fantasy read.
Tristen’s Book Spotlight
The City of Locked Doors
Dark Fantasy, Dystopia, Steampunk
Published 2017
Four hundred years ago a plague befell the world. It warped the bodies of all organic things and drove both man and beast rabid during the night. Law and order vanished in a matter of days, along with most of the human race.
Years passed and from this madness rose the Tyrants, a brutal god-like sect of individuals who could enforce their will on the surviving dregs of humanity. With their tyranny, they brought order back into the world and established settlements. A convoluted semblance of civilization began aided by the magic of Necromancy, to raise those butchered in the night, and Hemomancy, to heal their injuries.
In Umbras, domain of the Tyrant Lock-And-Key, all humans are imprisoned at night where they cannot harm others or the city. Beyond that however, Lock-And-Key does little to interfere with the lives of her subjects. They live and bide with a tentative happiness in the enforced peace her presence brings, until, in the dark of one night, a stranger comes to Umbras.
Readers who enjoyed the setting of the Powder Mage series by Brian McClellan. It has also been compared to The Nightmare before Christmas (aesthetically and tonally rather than narratively) and Wraith: The Oblivion.
Connect with Tristen on their website and Twitter. Also check out Tristen and Keegan’s Youtube channel for indie reviews!
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! Thanks for hanging out with us today!
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