Okay I read your first chapter.
To start with the good, I felt like you were good at conjuring imagery and I have a clear idea of what your hero looks like and I want to know more about the 'stories' the scars and cuts on his body mean already. I can grasp his personality is quite reserved, probably due to the past, and that he has few people he'd consider friends. He's a solitary hunter type. That's all good!
If I had any big complaints it would be that you have some run-on sentences that I had to read more than once to fully understand. You could do with varying your sentence style a little bit and be aware that it tends to be jarring to use a word too many times in close succession.
"Ha! Right indeed old chum, right indeed!" he called out before walking off, leaving Samuel alone once more as his destination arrived closer. Samuel never really understood being called old, as he was merely 30, but he supposed it was rather old.
You used 'old' three times in two sentences. "Samuel never really understood being called old, as he was merely 30." This still works without the redundant information. Also if he considers himself 'merely 30' then I don't think he'd also consider himself 'rather old'. Those words contrast too much.
I'd also separate speech from the main paragraphs where you can so that they don't looks too much like blocks of text. Especially where more than one person speaks because I got very confused sometimes.
Also, you mentioned Roman Gladiators but also dwarves so I'm confused as to whether or not we are in a fantasy world? An alternate Earth? You need to make your worldbuilding just that little bit clearer.
But, also, as a writer, you're not going to please everyone. As much as it sucks, especially from a closer relative, some people will want to put down your writing just because. Some people will genuinely hate everything you think of because it's not their thing. Some people will adore every word you write. When you put yourself out there you kind of have to put your ego and emotions to the side, thank them for their unique take, and move on and keep improving. You clearly have the potential, don't let a blip knock you off course :)
I hope this helps. It's just based on your one chapter, but this is what stood out to me.
