INTERVIEW: Taran Matharu
One of the coolest things about reviewing books you love, is when you get to speak more about them with the authors of the books that you love. Grimdark Magazine recently had the chance to catch up with Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Soulbound Saga, Taran Matharu, and talk more about his latest novel The Tainted Khan.
We loved his epic dragon fantasy novels and speaking with him has left us even more excited for the final instalment in this excellent series!
[GdM] Thank you Taran, for taking the time to chat with us about all things The Tainted Khan. For our readers who haven’t yet picked it up, could you give them a teaser of what to expect from the novel?
[TM] The Tainted Khan is a tale of identity, survival, and reclaiming lost heritage. Readers can expect a sweeping journey across the Great Steppe, where Jai must navigate brutal tribal politics and prove himself worthy of his father’s legacy—armed with little more than a soulbonded dragon and a past that few believe. Expect betrayal, battle, training sequences, ancient customs, and moments of tenderness.
[GdM] The Tainted Khan takes place in a different geographic area to the events of Dragon Rider but I found the settings to be very vividly detailed and was fully immersed whilst reading both novels. How much planning for the world have you had to do? What are your real-world inspirations for it?
[TM] Thank you! Imagining the world of the Great Steppe involved a great deal of historical research—aka my favourite form of procrastination haha. I studied the cultural norms and practices of extinct nomadic and pastoral cultures from all over the world, with a special focus on those living on steppes and plains. In particular, the Sithia were inspired by my own ancestors, the Indo-Scythian Saka peoples.
[GdM] The reader learns a lot more about Jai’s people and his family history in The Tainted Khan and the last time you spoke to Grimdark Magazine you said how you were inspired by the life of Atilla the Hun for Jai. Were there any other historical events that you drew from?
[TM] Definitely. Jai’s story mirrors the fate of many royal hostages from ancient history. I drew from the lives of Mithridates of Pontus, Timur, and even the mythologised early life of Genghis Khan. The tribe’s customs also reflect steppe warrior codes, blended with caste systems reminiscent of feudal India. The Tainted tribes are a direct nod to untouchable classes, and the perpetuation of historical injustice.
[GdM] I think it’s safe to say that there is a bit of a dragon renaissance happening in fantasy now. As someone who loves dragon fantasy, I’m all for that. Why did you choose to focus the Soulbound Saga on dragons rather than any of the other creatures who can be soulbound?
[TM] Dragons are the apex symbol of power and majesty. In a world where the soulbound warriors are central, a dragon is the ultimate companion and weapon of war. Of course for Jai, Winter is more than a mount—they share souls, minds, and history.
Dragons are a force for change, and allow an individual to have the greatest impact, both on and off the battlefield. Other soulbound beasts exist—Griffins, Mammoths, Sabreteeth and Manticores for example are formidable—but dragons challenge the status-quo and upend hierarchies. That’s what I needed for this story.
[GdM] What has is been like having a dragon series come out at the same time as some other very big dragon themed novels?
[TM] I try not to invite too much comparison, especially since the current dragon renaissance is closely tied to romantasy—and Fourth Wing in particular. While we share some of the same trappings—dragons, griffins, bonding, military academies—the DNA is very different. The Soulbound Saga is perhaps more rooted in epic fantasy, focusing on identity, survival, and cultural legacy, with romance playing only a subtle role in the broader narrative.
[GdM] Other than the dragons though, what is your favourite animal in the Soulbound Saga? I love the khiro, but that’s because Navi holds a very special place in my heart.
[TM] Navi is absolutely my favourite too. She’s old, scarred, yet unbroken. The khiroi in general were inspired by prehistoric megafauna, woolly rhinos to be specific, but I wanted to give them the stoicism and empathy one might associate more with horses. That being said, if I had to pick a steed of my own, a griffin edges out a khiro—I’d still want to be able to fly!
[GdM] Do you have a favourite character to write?
[TM] Jai was always my favourite character, but what I enjoyed most was exploring Leonid’s past through his diary, and his legacy. He’s certainly the most complex and morally ambiguous character in the series, and his shadow is cast heavily on this book. I can’t say more than that.
Author Taran Matharu – Photo Credit Anita Wong[GdM] I really loved the magic system within these books, how the mana can pass between two soulbound, its uses, how the cores can change, how the characters have to build up their power etc. What were your inspirations for the magical system?
[TM] I can’t deny that the main inspiration was the Cultivation genre in particular, which I must acknowledge Will White as having popularised in the West, but is very much of Eastern origin. Of course, I had to adapt it to a world of sharing souls with powerful beasts. I also took great inspiration from video games and their impact on the rise of Progression Fantasy, particularly using stored mana as a fuel source for magic.
[GdM] Although Dragon Rider and The Tainted Khan are the first of your books I have read, your writing style really gels with me as a reader. I feel like I’m reading an old favourite even though I’m not. What are your favourite writers or fantasy worlds?
[TM] I must confess, I try not to read too much fantasy when I’m writing, as I do fear accidentally taking too much inspiration from other books in the same space as mine. Consequently, much of my inspiration comes from historical fiction and non-fiction. In particular, Wilbur Smith’s and Bernard Cornwell’s books had the greatest impact on me today and in my formative years as a writer. Growing up, though, I have to acknowledge Redwall as my primary source of fantasy reading—Mossflower is the first book I remember reading, and choosing for myself.
[GdM] I’m always really curious about different writers’ processes. How does yours work? Do you plot everything out in advance? Or do you wing it as you go? What does a typical writing day look like for you?
[TM] I tend to have a blurry vision of the book as a whole that is subject to change as I write it and it solidifies in my mind, but with several key milestones that I am writing between…that also sometimes shift too!
[GdM] Are you able to share anything about what is coming next in the series? Are you planning a trilogy, or writing further stories set in this world?
[TM] It’s definitely a trilogy.
[GdM] What are you working on at the moment?
[TM] Absolutely nothing—it’s time for a break! Although I’m playing with the idea of a post-apocalyptic screenplay. Though it may turn into its own standalone novel instead.
[GdM] Taran, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to chat with us. I’m so grateful for the chance to learn more about your writing and this world. I’m excited for the next book in the series, but whilst I’m waiting, do you have any reading recommendations for fans of The Soulbound Saga?
[TM] That is an easy one! I have to recommend these dragon rider series: ‘The Bound and The Broken’ series by Ryan Cahill, the ‘Songs of Chaos’ series by Michael R. Miller, and the ‘A Time of Dragons’ series by Philip C. Quaintrell.
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