#bring in the mad queen roles based in a fantasy land

[laylawatermelon]

Ehem...

ANNOUNCEMENT 📢

PUT ZENDAYA IN A HORROR MOVIE 🗣️🗣️🗣️

I got ideas ...

A mistress of mischief maybe ..

Something Adams family adjacent?

Give her something with whimsy!

A mad hatter role perhaps?

Ugh Zendaya please we need you. Gothic sexy scary ZENDAYA we need you!!

[an-ambivalent]

Yandere! BNHA (main trio) Alice In Wonderland AU

The tales held a certain rhyme that told Alice to be wary--

 It was: 

You are in the role of Alice,

In a fictional universe where everyone’s madness is in denial.

Proceed with caution, for discretion is the key to survival.

Their crazy love will corrupt your sanity,

Keep to yourself, and trust no one if you wish to save your humanity.

--but Alice never heed the warnings, and now she must pay the price. 

(It’s your local ambi again here to deliver you trash no one asked for :^) fund my go2fund ty. Also, it's been a long as time since I’ve watched the film, tbh I barely recall anything from it. This is based on from what I remember so it's probably inaccurate to the actual story but LOL enjoy! Idk what this is ;’^)

Shoto - King of Hearts

If you entered the land Shoto ruled over once, you were never going to leave again. Whatever Shoto wanted in his Kingdom, Shoto would get it. Whether or not you held any feelings for Shoto, would not matter. Once he set his eyes and heart on you, he would have you locked up in a place where only he would see you. If someone else ever mentioned your name to him even simply out of curiosity,  would try see you, or take you from him, Shoto would be merciless about having them killed.

Similar to the personality of the original Queen of Hearts, Shoto could be impatient, and become blinded by his fury very quickly. With his people, this impatience caused him to behead many, sometimes for the smallest of reasons. With you, it would lead to utterly cruel punishments. If Shoto wanted you to do something for him: an act of intimacy, show affection, entertain him and etc, and you refused to it, he would be forgiving for the first few times. Afterwards, he would begin to lose his patience quicker and quicker each time. His punishments would become harsher, and he would continue to mistreatment you until you broke, and began to behave in whatever way he wanted you to do so.

In the instance you obeyed him from the start, he would eventually start to become bratty and demand more from you. His demands would worsen until they were unrealistic. In the moment when you would be unable to fulfill them, he would start to punish you. He would make each punishment crueler than the previous one until he broke you.

Either way, with Shoto’s temper being like thin ice that could break at the slightest of pressure for any reason, it would never be a happy ending for you.

Midoriya - Mad Hatter

In the realm of madness, Midoriya was notorious for his. He even had nicknames like ‘Mad Midoriya’ or ‘Insane Izuku’ that highlighted his peculiar and anomalous personality. Things that were odd, new, and similar to adjectives used to his describe his personality, excited him. You were everything that thrilled Midoriya, and with the way you were, you were just as mad as him if not more.

Whenever you attended his hosted tea parties which were just for the two of you, Midoriya always watched you with awe glistening in his irises. Often you spoke about the ‘other world’ you were from where fantasy was all just a myth and magic did not exist; you had explained to him that you were from a world of science where something like ‘cars’ existed. Your tales were so creative that even he, the mad hatter could not come up with something so bizzare. You were an absolute lovely wonder to listen to,  and you had madness that perfectly matched Midoriya’s. You were perfect, perfectly perfect for him.

“I better get going now. I still need to make my way through the kingdom of hearts and find the bunny,” You said, and this caused the awe in Midoriya’s eyes to morph into panic. As you were about to stand, Midoriya instantly rushed up to you and roughly pushed you back in your chair. You winced, and were about to snap at him, but never received the chance to because he had instantly shoved a piece of cake in your mouth.

Due to the suddenness of the cake being shoved in your mouth, you gagged. Additionally, for a cake its taste was disgustingly thick, liquidy and metallic.

“You won’t need to go to the Kingdom of Hearts or find the bunny. I killed them to make sure you will never need to leave me for them. Also because I wanted to try a new recipe for the cake where the velvety filling was actual blood instead of combination of mixed berries. And since you visited me, I wanted you to be the first one to try it! How is it?” Midoriya asked excitedly, as he leaned extremely close to your face, and his eyes and lips widen in zeal.

His words would have terrified you, had it not been for the black spots that began to cloud your vision. Your consciousness began to fade, and anything else that Midoriya said was heard as distant muffling.

“Oh, I forgot you wouldn’t be able to answer me by now since you’ll be falling asleep. No worries, you can answer me later since you only belong to me now.”

Bakugo - Bunny

“You shouldn’t have followed me [Name]. You still have some time left, get away from me. Stay away from everyone and return to your own world while you still can,” Bakugo warned, and stepped back from you. At his words, you furrowed your eyebrows in confusion, but remained where you were. You  allowed the blond-haired human, who had some features of a rabbit, to build distance between you two since he seemed to feel frightened by you.

His body language screamed scared, but it was anger which was written on his face. His bunny ears were flipped backwards, and would have blended with his hair if it was not so spiky. His tail and nose were twitching in anticipation. As adorable as he was for a weird human and rabbit hybrid, this entire situation confused you.

“You’re the one who practically begged me to follow you though. You led me here, somewhere I’m completely lost and have no idea where to go or what to do. You can’t just bring me to an unknown place, and then tell me to go on my own. You need to take responsibility for that,” You said, and your words seemed to have triggered something in him because right away, Bakugo froze. Then slowly, moments later, like the way a creepy doll turns its head in a horror movie before it begins to chase its victim, Bakugo turned towards you, and his eyes were impossibly wide.

Then, he breathed out deeply, before he took out a small bottle from the pocket of his pants. The bottle was labelled ‘drink me.’ Afterwards, he walked towards you, and you were surprised at the authoritativeness that was now laced in his voiced, and how he wore a stern expression on  his face rather than his previous wary one.

“Drink it or I’ll force you too,” He demanded, and there was a menace vibe concealed in his aura that made you take the drink from him immediately. It was obvious that his words held an absolute threat, and he was not joking. Besides, you had drunk the ‘drink me’ potion on your way into this madness, and the worse that would happen to you was you would either grow really big, or really small. It would not poison you, so not thinking much of it, you opened the lid, and gulped down the drink.

Once you finished consuming its entire content, you began to shrink instantly. You became the size of a chocolate bar, and afterwards, Bakugo picked you up single-handedly.

He smirked at how tiny you had become, before he tossed you in a small glass vase, and locked it. You gasped. You started to knock against the vase, and shout at Bakugo to let you out. However, the only response you received was darkness as he put you in his bag. Due to your own screams, and being locked in the glass vase, you did not hear the dangerous words he murmured to himself.

“Now, I can keep you hidden from everyone else, and only for myself. If someone finds out, and tries to take you away from me, I’ll kill them.”

[randomnameless]

FE4 run - the unofficial 3rd Gen

Procrastination at its finest here - what would happen in this run of FE4 after several years?

warning, as always, this is not serious

Queen Larcei and King Seliph of Granvalle are actually pissed at the reconstruction and their own Kingdom - why should they start trading with Agustria first and help them more than help Isaach?

The “nobles” can’t tell them that they’re “barbarians” since Larcei is obviously Isaachian so they use the “it’s too far to send help there, we must secure the Yied Desert first if we want to cross and provide them with goods etc...” card.

But then Larcei tells them that Verdane is closer, and yet Granvalle isn’t helping her brother with his rebel-taming duties. Hell, if she could, she would go there to help him get rid of the bandits. But she can’t because she is Granvalle’s Queen.

Seliph understands that providing help to Verdane will bring less benefits to Granvalle than helping Agustria - who still has a functioning economy, and, besides, as the son of Sigurd, he feels indebted to the people of Agustria (he might have read a letter his cousin’s wife gave him).

So while he is a bit furious but powerless about helping in Isaach’s reconstruction, he continues with the general trend of his forefathers and doesn’t give a fig about Verdane.

Things are difficult in mainland Granvalle for Tine, because everyone and their cats hate Freege, and demand outrageous fees for Reparations about what the Freeges did during the War - when i say everyone and their cats it’s mainly the New Kingdom of Thracia and the Miletos guilds.

Tine and Nanna will never be friendly towards each other until their deaths.

She doesn’t care about Miletos though. Hopefully Seliph puts in place a new policy about “sharing the costs” so every Duchy has to participate. Ultimately, Seliph suspends the payment when he and his cousin have a heart-to-heart talk around the famous bottle of wine because Leif knows now that bleeding dry a country or a duchy isn’t the way to build a lasting peace between nations.

Tine also has problems in her personal life, because he husband is in Jungby and if they manage to get an Ulir Crusader, soon enough they will need a Tordo one but hey, there’s no one left with Tordo blood and there’s a duty not to let bloodlines extinguish (that’s the last thing Seliph heard from F!Lewyn).

Speaking of Jungby, as expected, Faval is the golden puppet Duke whereas Lester - who managed to convince his mom to come home - rules the house. They try to repair some of Faval’s early decisions like opening the castle to accomodate all orphans in the Duchy and giving a quarter of their treasury to the Conote orphanage he used to live in. Faval loves his wife, of course, but she has a duty to recreate a new Tordo line, just like he had to take his Holy Weapon and fight in the last Holy War. So he isn’t sad.

A bit pissed, but not sad.

Johalva was acclaimed as both as a hero and as a kinslayer by the randoms of Dozel. Lana was really pissed about this, but Johalva didn’t deny the various accusations but still add that he had to do those things to protect the civilians, the innocents etc and Julius was really mad, didn’t you see the big monster disappearing in the sky during the end of the war?

He finally managed to be acclaimed as a good Duke after head-butting with some of his fellow Dukes who called him a “disgrace” and managed to make Seliph reconsider his idea of taxing Dozel more than the other Duchies (Chalphy, Jungby and Edda) in the war reparations efforts.

He and Lana also made graves for Johan and Brian, but none were made for Danan.

Lana’s a bit worried about Neir blood disappearing, but given one or two generations cousins could marry and a Crusader could be born again.

Oifey trains Seliph’s son in the ways of chivalry like he did with Seliph when he was younger, he hopes that Seliph’s son will inherit the Chalphy duchy, because he doesn’t feel like he belongs here, in the halls and the throne that were supposed to be Lord Sigurd’s and Lord Byron’s.

Arthur’s dream never comes to fruition, and despite his best efforts, he cannot manage to make the world see Velthomer as anything else but a nest of vipers and other less than savoury people. Fee is the only reason why he didn’t pack his things and run away to Silesse after ten years of rule.

Cherry on top, despite being Azelle’s son, Arthur is also known for having been the one to have killed everyone in his maternal family, so the randoms think they get the short end of the stick - he even killed Lord Ishtore who participated in the child rescues with his sister!

Hopefully with a certain priest’s help, he still managed to rebuild the Duchy so they’re not in the Verdane tier of development anymore. After Arthur’s death, the randoms in Velthomer will say that he wasn’t so bad as a Duke.

Speaking of the savages, Ulster makes his base in Evans because it’s closer to Granvalle and to the royal forces he petitions to help against the barbarians.

When Julia finally joins her husband after being fed up with flower pot duties, she moves the new capital to Genoa. “Verdane” is too remote from everywhere, and in Genoa, they’re both close to Granvalle and to Miletos. Why Miletos? The closer they are to them, the harder it is for them to ignore Verdane, so they will have to listen and maybe obey when they petition for help or to stop putting stupid tariffs on their exports.

Why should they listen? Because Julia is Seliph’s sister and he cares a lot about her well-being.

Ultimately Ulster becomes King of Verdane, but Julia remains a Princess of Granvalle. Their son is the Prince of Persia Verdane and also a Prince of Granvalle. Hopefullu, the kid has major naga blood (even if ulster was overjoyed when the kid managed to “learn” Astra because those rumours about Julia and Seliph are still bothering him, just like they bother his sister) and even if he likes Verdane a lot, some people start to tell him that he has every right to sit in Belhalla and live with the civilised people.

He tells them to fig off.

In Agustria however, there are several rebellions brewing, even after Ares became King. Some former Princes/Kings call him an imposter, other call him too subservient towards Granvalle.

Strangely, though, Lene managed to usher a new era of show and other performing arts - to the point that the New Kingdom became reknown for its great arts. The children puppet shows about the Great King Ares vanquishing the Demon of Granvalle are always full. Through those shows, Agustrians manage to live in a collective fantasy of how they participated in ending the war and fought against Loptyr.

Shagall was the Shield that tried to protect Agustria from the Loptyrians during the first Gen and Eldingan was the Sword who defeated them, but through a deception the Loptyrians had Eldingan killed, so he passed the role of the Sword to his son Ares - everyone was happy, even the old Shagall partisans who, at first, didn’t want Ares or Eldie’s line to usurp the previous line of the Kings of Agustria and reminded Ares of Eldie and House Nodion’s vows.

Sadly enough, Lene wanted to make the lives of the performers and other orphans better with the economic profits earnt by those shoes, but it disappeared in the pockets of the people who were organising said shows. 

Delmud was busy ruling the rest of the country, and exchanging letters with his sister and King Seliph, as the cordial man he has always been.

In Thracia’s New Kingdom we had Leif and Nanna happily creating a new dynasty - and Altenna’s forever alone.

Arion disappeared, and everyone thought that the line of Dain perished with him. However, one of Leif’s former cleric friends told him that there is a child living in (again) an orphanage in Tahra who is Lord Arion’s kid, but for his own sake, it’s better to live as an ignorant peasant than as a prince who lost his kingdom, wouldn’t he agree?

Due to Altenna’s dedication, and Hannibal’s popularity, the Thracians weren’t that crushed when the unification happened, and even if the northeners still have a better lifestyle then their southerners brothers, at the end of Leif’s reign, both people start to have to same lifestyles as in, there are brigands and piss poor people on both sides of the peninsula, but also, rich merchants and assholes in the South too.

Leif is aware that when he asked money to Seliph he acted a bit selfishly, but his Kingdom passes first. They still managed to remain great friends, and Leif’s son married Seliph’s daughter.

In Silesse, Ced manages to get a major blooded baby on someone but realises that he was never cut out to be a King, given how the country governed itself without him during all those years. 

However, he didn’t bail out like his Father, and started to make several researches about dragons, and the mytical land of Archanea - prompted by Loptyr’s sight at the end of the war, and also, because of F!Lewyn.

He volunteered on the first expedition (passing through the northern seas of Silesse) but realised that his place was in Silesse, to study more and, maybe, start to develop trading routes to the new land. It’s only during the last years of his life that he managed to see a returning ship - after several years, sailors finally managed to land somewhere ; they brought him special endemic fruits found in that new land : Zofian Oranges.

The Isaachian people were happy when Shanan returned, because they heard disturbing rumours about their King misbehaving in Thracia and thought that if those rumours started, that meant that he was dead and some man tried to usurp his good name.

They were relieved when they saw him again.

Since the Isaachians had been freed early, they manage to reinstall some sort of government in Isaach (the capital) and everyone from the other kingdoms pledged their allegiance to Shanan - granted, they couldn’t find the former nobles of Sophara, so it was just some elders who participated in the ceremony.

Shanan was a bit disappointed that Granvalle didn’t send as much help as they expected, but thought that maybe Seliph was busy managing internal affairs.

Sadly for him, Patty gave birth to 3 children who all had the brand of Odo on their backs.

He decided that the eldest would remain in Isaac, one would go to Sophara and the last to Ganeishire. 

But the one who was in Sophara wanted to inherit Isaach’s throne, given how he was a boy while the eldest was a woman, and trouble ensued.

More trouble ensued when Seliph’s son didn’t want to return to Chalphy and remain in Belhalla, and when Julia’s granddaughter has had enough of Verdane and managed to steal the Book of Naga, wanting to return to Belhalla.

France Agustria declared itself the Holy land and elected a pope, who took residence in Orgahill and who managed to hear the voices whispers of the gods. Soon enough, being the eldest brother of the Pope, Ares’ son, when he became King, declared the Thracians heretics, for they were developing and practicing dark magic.

Miletos tried to rob everyone using the various tensions as catalysts, but, in the end, they were unable to do a thing when Ares’ second daughter managed to survive a shipwreck when Leif’s only son didn’t. Thracia accused Miletos of having staged an accident to get rid of their heir - Leif’s daughter managed to find (or forge, depends on the POV) a letter detailing how Agustria paid the corrupt Miletosians to sabotage her brother’s lifeboat.

Hopefully Seliph died a few years before the start of the Third War, so he never knew how much the next generation managed to screw what he and friends fought for.

the end

[ohmytheon]

What if you wrote a fantasy AU todochako one shot?? She could be in charge of protecting him with her magic?? Idk I just think it would be cute

Did you say one-shot? Because my brain apparently didn’t. This could definitely stand on its own as a one-shot, but there is going to be more of this. Mostly because I have been wanting to write a BNHA Fantasy AU so freaking bad and this hit all my buttons. It won’t be regularly updated like my other fics, but this was a lot of fun to write. I got way into writing the backstory for this. (Guess who they’re traveling to speak with. lmao)

When Uraraka had been given the order to protect the prince during their journey through the barbarian lands, she had been incredibly displeased. If there was one thing she had learned in her life, it was that royals were arrogant and snotty. They had far too much money than they knew what to do with, spending it frivolously while the little people wanted for more, and thought themselves better than everyone else.

Still, despite her attempts during her childhood to avoid all things royal, as she had gotten older and her magic stronger, the king had seen it fit to bring her to the court. After all, magic was power and power meant a stronger rule. He was already a man who ruled his people with an iron fist and he had ensured that Uraraka was a part of that rule. It hadn’t helped that her magic was stronger than most wizards or witches twice her age or more.

After years of war between their country and the large barbarian tribe that hung around their borders, there had been talk of a treaty. Uraraka wouldn’t have been interested in it if not for the fact that magic was more prevalent there. She’d even heard talk that they had dragons! Her magic was unique in her world, making people both revere and fear her at times. She felt removed from everyone, especially since she’d been taken from her parents when she was younger and forced to live on the outskirts of the castle like she belonged to the royal family.

Being tasked with the crowned prince’s protection had not been a pleasant one, but it afforded the opportunity to leave, spread her wings, and explore a world that she had only dreamed of. If she had to deal with some uppity prince in order to do that, she would suffer it. She had learned to ignore a lot of things in her time after being brought to court. A snotty rich kid who would one day be king would be simple enough to deal with. He probably wouldn’t even leave the safety of his horse drawn carriage unless it was to complain. Maybe she could even pretend that she was on some grand adventure instead of babysitting some highborn ponce.

Having really only seen Prince Shouto Todoroki from a distance and at royal functions, being kept away from him, Uraraka had not interacted with him personally. She hadn’t been allowed to, seeing as how she wasn’t from a highborn family. Although she wasn’t considered lowborn anymore, it was easier to interact with them. Being stuck in the middle left her in a strange limbo, belonging to neither and making both resent her on some level. She had expected that of Todoroki as well. From what she’d seen of him, he was aloof and cold, allowing very few close to him, even if many highborn girls fawned over him. She supposed he was attractive, even with that mysterious burn on the side of his face, but that was offset by his distant superiority complex.

Of course the prince was nothing like she’d anticipated.

Besides Todoroki, a few other highborn members of the court had come along with them on the journey to hold the treaty talks. They all stayed in the carriage, peeking their heads out to complain or demand something. With Uraraka’s position as the mage of their company, nearly all of their orders were directed to her or the head of their guard, a young but very serious knight named Teyna Iida. He was much more intense about the whole thing, but then there had been reports of attacks on caravans and the like. It was partly why the king had decided to speak with barbarian tribe about a peace treaty. They could provide protection on the road for a price and also allow more trade to come in, their lands rich with bounty that they didn’t have in their borders.

While most people rode horses, some were forced to walk. Uraraka hated the idea of riding above others that were less fortunate, so she had chosen to walk like many of the lower-born knights and tradesmen. It helped that she was more familiar with them too. She kept her staff on her at all times, just in case, and a small pack filled with potions and herbs should she need them.

As soon as the castle was out of sight, the door to the carriage opened and the prince stepped out effortlessly without even bothering to ask for it to be stopped. She peered at him, expecting him to complain about the heat or bugs, but instead, he asked a young green-haired knight, “Can you retrieve my horse for me?”

Izuku Midoriya was one of the higher-born knights and a close companion of both the prince and many other knights in their company. He was friendly in a way that made people both high and lowborn flock to him. Out of everyone, Uraraka had only seen him act as a friend to Todoroki. Even as the prince remained impassive, Midoriya was often smiling and laughing. He was kind. When many other highborns sneered at her for her lowborn blood and even some of the knights shunned her for her magic, he always went out of his way to speak with her. He was one of the few people in the castle that had made her time bearable in the past. She wondered how someone with such a good heart as him was able to be friends with someone as unapproachable as Todoroki.

Now as they were traveling, Midoriya grinned down at the prince from his horse. “Was the carriage not to your liking or was it the company?”

Todoroki sighed. “If I have to listen to Monoma complain about ‘savages’ and their rumored customs one more time, I might throw him out.”

Midoriya laughed as he waved down a knight to bring over a beautiful white horse that only Todoroki was allowed to ride. “I don’t think anyone would be upset with you if you did.”

“Not to mention Yaoyozoru’s constant hints about a betrothal between me and his daughter are threatening to drive me mad.” Todoroki took the reins of the white horse, bringing a hand to softly caress it. Despite his tired and displeased tone, a faint smile cross his face as he mumbled something for only his horse to hear. It was an unexpectedly soft gesture that took Uraraka by surprise. Maybe she shouldn’t have been eavesdropping, but she was only a meter away.

“You’re quite popular,” Midoriya teased.

With practiced ease, Todoroki pulled himself up onto his horse and swung his leg over. He looked like a natural, like he’d been born to ride, but then, many highborns were like that. Commoners didn’t get the chance to ride horses as often unless they worked with them. Uraraka liked riding horses, but she didn’t want some of the lowerborn knights and members of their company to think that she thought herself better than them. Still, she had been admiring Todoroki’s horse earlier. He was one of her favorites at the royal stables.

“It’s not me that’s popular. It’s the crown.” There was no bitterness in Todoroki’s voice, but there wasn’t any happiness either. Unlike Uraraka, who was stuck somewhere in between, the prince knew his place. He had his restraints as well. Instead of looking upset or disappointed by it, he’d accepted his role. “And that’s what will be behind any motivation of my father’s choosing for the future queen. As if I have any choice in the matter. He should be talking with the king, not me. It’s just bothersome.”

Though she had never felt any sort of pity for him before, Uraraka thought that rather sad. He was wealthy beyond any imaginable means and would rule this country one day, but there were some things that he would never be able to have. Something as simple as love was not to be in his future. Even if Uraraka found it difficult to form some connections because of her magic, she would at least have a choice. So far, she’d chosen to not consider it at all, focusing on her magic and building her strength, but it wouldn’t have to always be that way.

They continued the rest of the day in relative silence. The guards talked amongst each other while the tradesmen stuck with one another. Midoriya often acted as a go between for all of them, weaving his horse through the group to speak with Iida for updates and then back to where Todoroki rode in silence.

The prince was still aloof as ever, but for the first time, Uraraka noticed something different about him. He was at ease. She’d never realized how tense he was before, but now she saw just how uncomfortable he’d been every time she saw him at court. Out here, he was much more at ease, his body relaxed and his expression one of passive content. He had probably never been far from the castle either now that she thought about it. This trip must have been a chance for him to escape the confines of his royal blood on some level.

As the sun began to set, Iida decided that they would stop and make camp. It was at least a three days journey to the border if nothing came up to stop them or so she’d been told by a knight named Jirou. It was rare for women to be knights, but she had lived on the border of the country and was more familiar with the barbarian tribe than most people. Where she had grown up, fighting had been much more common and it hadn’t mattered what gender you were. A woman could still die by the sword or flame.

Unlike the other highborn members of their group, Prince Todoroki was active in helping set up base camp. He did simple things such as help other pitch their tents before insisting on helping with his own. Naturally, it was larger than the rest and more elaborate as well. She caught a few members of their group gazing at it enviously, but no one said anything. Very few spoke out against the Todoroki family. The king was feared and respected and, despite his harsh rule at times, he was mostly a just king. Uraraka simply didn’t like him, but even she kept her mouth shut.

She was in the process of setting up her own tent when a voice from behind asked her, “Do you require any assistance, my lady?”

Ready to brush off another attempt from one of the knights to engage her, Uraraka huffed and said, “I’m not some hapless maidan.” However, when she turned around, she found herself standing face-to-face with the prince and her face burned a furious pink. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know–” Speaking so brusquely to one of royal blood was a punishable offense. She often spoke sharply to highborns, seeing as how they meant very little to her when put up against her magic, but not to someone like him. “I apologize, Your Grace.”

Todoroki, on the other hand, didn’t seem phased by her behavior in the slightest. “There’s no need to be so formal around me.” That was easy for him to say. He was the bloody crowned prince of the whole kingdom. “I don’t think that you’re hapless. I merely want to make sure I pull my weight around camp.”

“I’m fine, really!” Uraraka insisted. With a simple swirl of her left hand, the tent seemingly pitched itself up with the help of invisible hands. She’d learned to do that a few years ago. Even the simplest magic helped build her strength, so she had to continually use it for even trivial things.

Todoroki’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly. He was very good at hiding how he felt. “You’re the court mage.”

“I wouldn’t say that I’m a mage. That sounds so fancy.” Uraraka held her staff closer to her. “I’m more like a witch, if I’m being honest.”

“I was told that you were a part of my guard,” Todoroki said in such a serious tone. “You were walking nearby the whole time and I didn’t even acknowledge you. I apologize for my rudeness.”

A nervous laugh tumbled out of Uraraka’s lips. She was talking to the prince like it was normal. This was not normal. “It’s not a big deal. I usually tend to keep to myself, even at the castle. I don’t like drawing attention to myself much. It’s…not always positive when I do.”

“Because of your magic?”

Uraraka nodded her head. “Most people find it fascinating and admire it.” She held out her hand and opened it palm up, a ball of light appearing in it as she did. With the sun close to falling down the horizon, the light provided them better vision and she watched the way it glowed in his eyes as he focused on it. “Others though…” The ball of light turned into a swirl of darkness that enveloped her hand and took it out of sight. “It’s a curse, something to be feared. I’m considered little more than a weapon of the kingdom.”

“Have you ever had to use your magic in battle before?” Todoroki’s question was so straightforward that it took her aback. There hadn’t been any fear in his eyes as he’d watched her use her magic. It had been more than curiosity as well. He had looked… Well, it was hard for her to tell what he’d looked like, but his face had been more open than she could ever remember him appearing.

“Once,” Uraraka admitted. “When the neighboring kingdom sent someone to assassinate you.”

Recognition lit up in Todoroki’s eyes as he snapped them back up to hers. “You saved me then?” His gaze was almost too much for her, his mismatched eyes filled with intensity, to the point where she almost took a step back.  She bit her lip, but nodded her head again. “Why was I not made aware of this?”

“Well, your father – the king, I mean – keeps me at the castle for such reasons, but he prefers for me to…not mingle much with the court.” Uraraka shifted uncomfortably on her feet. “I come from a very lowborn family, but was brought to the castle when my powers began to bloom. I suppose there’s not much magic left in these lands, so I’m considered an important tool.”

Todoroki stared at her. “You’re not a tool.” He spoke with such conviction that it nearly knocked the wind out of her chest, as if he had some sort of magic that could do that. Why was he being so nice to her? He was of royal blood. He would be king one day. She might have to fight to the death to protect him, but he didn’t even need to acknowledge her presence. “You are an important member of the royal court and my personal guard and you should be treated as such with the proper respect.”

Uraraka blushed again. “I’m used to it…”

“I’ve heard tale that your magic is extremely powerful,” Todoroki continued, “though I’ve never seen it until now.” He frowned. “I thought…” She found herself leaning in as he trailed off, a troubled look crossing his face. “I’ve seen you around the castle for years. I thought you were a serving girl of some sort. I never even knew…”

“Don’t fret!” Uraraka said hastily. “That appearance was what the king thought was best. If I remained unassuming, I could serve my purpose better.” She smiled. “Besides, who would believe that the kingdom’s most treasured weapon and mage was a young girl?”

When Todoroki stepped forward and took one of her hands in both of his, Uraraka nearly jumped out of her shoes. She might have accidentally zapped them both with a bit of magic, but he didn’t blink. “That’s unacceptable. You shouldn’t be hidden in the dark. If you’re a sign of power, then you should be allowed to show your face to the world.”

She didn’t know what to say. Honestly, she wasn’t sure if she was even capable of words right now. She was beginning to understand why he had such a polarizing effect on many of the highborn girls at court. Not that it meant anything! Uraraka managed to put on a weak smile and say, “Thank you,” if only because there was no way she could get anything else out. Her magic felt like it was burning through her veins and it was all she could do to contain it. Sometimes, her emotions made it go haywire, especially when she was nervous.

“You should eat with us tonight,” Todoroki told her.

That sounded…terrible. She could only imagine eating at a hastily made dining area in the main tent that was serving as a base of sorts with all the other highborns, many of whom sneered at her. Ugh, especially Lord Monoma. He was young like that, but had taken over as the head of his family after his father’s hunting accident. He was one of her main tormentors. She’d love to turn him into a toad, but alas, it would only end badly for her.

“I usually have my meals with Midoriya and Iida,” Todoroki continued before she could answer. “The others are…”

“Grating on the nerves?” Uraraka offered.

A ghost of a smile crossed Todoroki’s face. “I was going to say ‘difficult’, but Midoriya would say that was more appropriate.”

She did get on well with Midoriya and she liked Iida. Both of them were serious about their positions and jobs to protect the prince, but they could be light-hearted and they had always been friendly to her. It would be nice to have a meal with them and be treated as closer to an equal. She was still wary, of course, mostly because the prince would be there, but she had a strange feeling that he was thinking the same thing. Yes, he was above them all, but there would be times when not being treated as such came as a relief.

This journey was a way to feel that for the both of them apparently.

“So, will you join us tonight?” Todoroki asked.

“If you don’t mind,” Uraraka replied.

“I will have Midoriya find you when it’s ready.” Todoroki finally let go of her hand. Uraraka tried not to act like she hadn’t been holding her breath the entire time. “There’s still work to do around camp and I should see to the others.” They could hear someone yelling. It sounded like one of the highborns was displeased about the rate their tent was being set up. Todoroki sighed. “A prince’s duty never ends.”

It was very close to a joke and Uraraka bit back a smile. She gave a small bow, which he returned, and then he gave her his leave, taking off the in the direction of the shouting. As soon as he was out of her sight, Uraraka ducked into her tent and put her face in her hands. She’d talked to the prince! He’d grabbed her hand! He’d invited her to dine with Midoriya and Captain Iida! What was going on? This was definitely going to be an interesting journey.

[hoopslab]

Game of Thrones S7 Ep1: Winter has been a long time coming

SPOILERS FOR GAME OF THRONES ON HBO, UP THROUGH EPISODE 1 OF SEASON 7

Way back in 1997, I started reading this book called A Game of Thrones, the first in a promised series called A Song of Ice and Fire. It was an outstanding book, taking many of the standard concepts found in sci fi/fantasy novels and turning them on their heads. The book had this crazy de-centralized cast with maybe 10 point of view characters, many of them children, that told the story from several different angles at once. There was no clear-cut protagonist, and the closest thing we were given to a central “hero” got killed before the first book ended. 

While there was a lot of political intrigue among the adult characters, who all were playing the Game of Thrones on some level, I found myself most interested in the young characters. The 7-year old Bran, who got thrown out of  a window, was paralyzed, but seemed to be developing a third eye. The 9-year old Arya, who was already fiery and took no stuff from anyone, beating up the whiny Prince Joffrey to get one of the first out-loud cheers of the story. The 14-year old Jon Snow, who seemed to get a raw deal from day 1 with a “step mom” who hated him and a life-long birth as a celibate monk on The Wall before he was old enough to have to make that decision. And of course, the 13-year old Dany, who was abused and exploited by a sadistic and desperately weak older brother and ended the story by reintroducing the music of dragons to the world.

I’ve waited literally 20 years to find out what those young characters would do when they grew up. And on Sunday, I finally started to get answers to some of those questions.

Let’s talk about the first episode of season 7 of Game of Thrones, on HBO, which sets the stage for the final stretch of a story marathon that has already extended for more than half of my life.

Dany’s return to Westeros

I’m starting with the end of the episode, because it’s the stone whose ripples affect the most other main characters. Daenerys Targeryan ended Season 6 on a boat, traveling with an armada of ships that were bringing her Doethraki hoard, her Unsullied warriors, and the rest of her army towards Westeros with her three dragons flying overhead. At the end of the first episode of Season 7, she finally arrived. She landed at Dragon Stone, at a castle that had seemingly been abandoned after Stannis Baratheon took his show on the road in Season 2. 

Dany’s return, in Episode 1, focused on the emotional aspect of the homecoming. She had been born at Dragonstone, but other than that had never set foot on the continent that she believes herself destined to rule since being exiled as a baby. She’s had a crazy, turbulent life on the run with her big brother that ultimately saw her sold as a “wife” into a situation that was a short step above slavery, and ultimately growing into a warrior-queen and conqueror of nations on other continents. Thus, on the show, they focused on how mega of a deal it was for her to finally be back on the land of her birth...from her feeling the sand with her hands, to her slow walking tour of her new home base. Her line to Tyrion, “Shall we begin?” was the last line of the episode, and really whets the whistle for what should be an epic storyline in this penultimate season of the show.

The Hound sees the White Walkers coming

This whole storyline is a departure from what we’ve seen in the books, to date. The last published book in the series, A Dance with Dragons, did not have the Hound traveling with the Brotherhood without Banners. In fact, in the book series, it hasn’t even been confirmed yet that the Hound is still alive. And Beric Dondarion had long-ago passed his...gift...on to a certain Stone-hearted character that was not resurrected on the show. So, before late last season, I wasn’t looking for the Hound and the Brotherhood to be marching together up North.

However, Episode 1 gave the Hound a feature section and foreshadowed a big role for him moving forward. First, they had the crew re-visit the exact cottage where the Hound and Arya had visited and the Hound had stolen the life savings of a man and little girl. Fast-forward to the present, and the man and little girl are dead (seemingly by the man’s hand) after they apparently ran out of food. The Hound is clearly responsible for their misery...and for one of the first times, he actually seems to feel and acknowledge that guilt. His digging graves for them, because that’s all that he can do at this point, shows clearly that he has grown as a character from a henchman without feelings (that could strike down Micah with no remorse in Season 1) into a more nuanced warrior at this stage of the game.

But the most important revelation was that the Hound can now see visions in the fire (that he’d even get close enough to fire to look is HUGE for him), and that those visions were of the White Walkers. The Westeros universe is full of legends, and the priests of the Lord of Light have perpetuated some of those legends. The fact that the priest Thoros has been able to resurrect Beric from death so many times would suggest that Beric’s life is somehow important to the Lord of Light in his goals...and one of his biggest assumed goals is to counter the White Walkers. But perhaps, it’s not Beric (or the non-existent Stone Heart) that are the important ones...perhaps Beric was kept alive specifically to bring the Hound to where he needs to be, so that HE can become one of the leaders against the White Walkers? I look forward to finding out.

The Lions and the Krakens

Cersei ended last season with an absolute G move, wiping the priests of the Seven and the Tyrells completely off the map. Of course, in her gloating glee, she also abandoned her son who took that opportunity to commit suicide. This left Cersei as the queen, with absolutely nothing to humanize her, which caused even Jaime to look on in horror.

This season opens with Cersei one-step away from cackling laughter on the “evil overlord” scale, with Jaime seemingly terrified as he tries to figure out a way to move forward when the world hates them and his partner is channeling her inner Mad King (er... Mad Queen). Cersei’s power move is to partner up with Euron, the other evil monarch on the board, who happens to own a sea armada and has a history as a pirate. 

While the partnership pairs the two most odious families/live characters on the  board, it was also necessary because...Jaime was right. Cersei and crew were sitting ducks without allies, but with the GreyJoy armada they can at least make it interesting. They still seemingly have no counter to the dragons, but it would seem that they are set up to cause their own brand of mischief in the short term.

What can Bran do at Castle Black?

Bran Stark was my favorite character in the books, and though some of his development/training has been less exciting on-screen than I’d have hoped, I have still been anticipating his role as an adult. In Episode 1, he finally makes it back south of the wall with his entry to Castle Black. Like Dany’s return, this is another potentially big stone thrown into the pond...but unlike Dany, no one else is aware that Bran even exists. 

On the political front, there’s the very real question of what happens in the North, where Jon Snow has been declared King, when it is learned that a true-born son of Ned Stark is still alive? But more importantly, to me, is what Bran may be able to accomplish as the Three-eyed Raven? Will he be able to communicate through the trees to other characters? Is he just going to walk the past to learn more important stuff? Will he tell Jon that he’s the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna? Will he warg into something powerful and fight? Jon and Dany are, on paper, the most important protagonist-like characters in the story. But Bran is a wild card, and after 20 years I’m really looking forward to seeing how his storyline plays out.

Sam and Sir Friend Zone at the Citadel

Sam Tarley got some on-screen time in Episode 1. His initial montage of duties was...gross. No other way to say that, really, but I guess the show did a good job of conveying that he has scut duties that are repetitive and seemingly endless, and that have kept him from doing any major learning. His stealing of the key to the forbidden section, and subsequent learnings on Dragon Glass, could be important in moving the narrative along. But we (meaning the viewers) already knew that Dragon Glass was a thing, so I’m curious what else he’ll learn of value that makes his time at the Citadel worthwhile.

Also, the 1-second cameo of (presumably) Jorah Mormont’s scaled hand in the dungeon/hospital should have future significance, as well.

Winter came for the Freys

The cold-start of the show, with Arya masquerading as Walder Frey and essentially destroying the Frey House was...fun. Maybe it shouldn’t have been, because Arya is still a young girl that has now effectively become a trained serial killer...and I should probably worry for what this bodes for her moving forward. But...yeah, I can’t lie, I’ve enjoyed watching her reap her revenge on the odious Frey family for the Red Wedding. 

Like Bran, Arya is another wild card that could have a major effect on things moving forward, that no one else even realizes is alive. While Dany is the obvious power on the board, the four Stark kids have a lot of juice themselves...it’s just dispersed, and currently unharnessed. Will the 4 remaining Starks ever become aware of each other and start to work together? If so, they’d be incredibly powerful. But, that’s a pretty big what-if.

Jon, Sansa & Littlefinger...& Dany?

One of the most big assumptions for ASoIaF readers on the message boards, back in the day, was that Jon Snow and Dany Targeryan were on a crash-course to become the big power couple of the series. Jon was “Ice”, Dany was “Fire”...and together, they could run things. And, this could still happen.

But, last season, when Sansa and Jon reunited at the Wall there was this odd sense that they were acting less like brother-and-sister and more like lord-and-lady. I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but their on-screen chemistry sparked enough of a buzz that the actors that play the parts have been asked about it and online shippers have started putting them together.

Whether there is any future to the shipping or not, it’s clear that the showrunners are playing up the conflict between Jon an Sansa as they try to figure out how to run the North. Sansa questions Jon’s every decision, but not in a constructive way...more in an undercutting way, the way that she called him out for his decision on handling the Umber and Karstark families in the middle of a meeting. It seems as though she could have conveyed her opinion to him 1-on-1, and they could have hashed that out before they got in front of the people. On the other hand, the argument can be made that Jon hasn’t listened to her enough, and that she’s speaking the kind of sense that could have saved Ned and Rob...if they hadn’t been so set in their ways. Is Jon going down the same path to the same end?

Add in that Littlefinger stays in Sansa’s ear, constantly telling her that she should rule (instead of Jon) and empowering her with his army and options...and there’s definite potential for Sansa to go her own direction. And in the previews for Episode 2, there’s certainly a hint that Jon may be considering a meeting with Dany. At the least, there is a Jon-Sansa-Littlefinger ruling triangle and very potentially a love-triangle as well...and Dany’s introduction to that volatile brew could have very real political, and/or romantic, consequences.

Takeaway

This was just episode 1. I’m really looking forward to watching how this plays out over the next two months, which will ultimately set the stage for the End Game in Season 8. Winter has been a LONG time coming...20+ years for me...and now that it’s here, I’m going to love watching it burn!

[ilfaudraleurdire]

Fantasy Ultimate Game of Thrones positions

So for some reasons, I was really bored and checked out some ultimate kingsguards, small council, etc. combinations people have put out there and while a lot of them are really cool and interesting and all that, I felt like a lot of them were missing key characters. I therefore decided to make my own list. Also, this disregards current alliances and also has some dead characters so ya know...

Here it is (careful for spoilers if you read in details) (also, I based it on both the books and the show)

Ruling Queen : Daenerys Targaryen - She is the rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. She tries to do what is right and she has three freaking dragons.

King Consort : Renly Baratheon - Beloved by the people, kind and gentle from one of the great families of Westeros. Also knows how to play the Game of Thrones. Ideal match

SMALL CONCIL

Hand of the Queen : Olenna Tyrell - Smart, capable of ruling and does not tolerate bullshit or incompetence

Master of ships : Yara (Asha) Greyjoy - More than capable naval commander, respected and strong-willed.

Master of whisperers : Quaith - She’s this mysterious figure in Essos that seems to know everything and warns Dany about it. She’s practically already her master of whisperers if you think about it.

Master of Law : Catelyn Stark - Justice and honor are important to her, yet she is still understanding and can show empathy. We see that she’s very respectful of the laws of the kingdoms when she allows Tyrion to leave after his trial even though she REALLY wants him dead.

Master of Coins : Arianne Martell - This character only appears in the books, yet she is smart, scheming and is the actual heir to Dorne. Dorne needs to have a spot on the small council and Arianne is the smartest person they have aside from Doran who is busy leading the kingdom.

I am also removing the Grand maester because I feel like this order is not working for the realm but rather working for themselves. Also, it is the only position that the king/queen doesn’t choose on the council. Instead, I am creating a new position, which I feel is lacking in the present council.

Master of Foreign Affairs : Missandei - Missandei is ideal for this position as she’s lived in many countries, experienced different roles and speaks an outrageous number of languages. She brings a different perspective to the small council, which is good to have.

QUEENSGUARD

Lord Commander of the Queensguard : Brienne of Tarth - Not much to say here, Extremely strong, capable warrior who is completely loyal.

Rest of the Queensguard

Obarra Sand - Deadliest woman in the kingdom with a spear. She is tough, strong and will not hesitate to kill.

Maege Mormont - The She-Bear, the lady of Bear Island. She is known as being a fierce warrior and fought for Robb Stark in the war of the five kings. Her favored weapon is a spiked mace. The show killed her off in the Red Wedding but in the Books, her character is actually still alive.

Ygritte - Kissed by the fire, Ygritte is a great archer and fierce wildling fighter. She is not afraid to stand up for herself and is strong-willed. People who stand in her way are very likely to die.

Meera Reed - One of the Crannogmen, Meera is said to be very good with weapons. She’s tasked of protecting “prince” Bran Stark as well as her brother Jojen through an extremely dangerous journey north of the wall, which she actually manages to do. She typically fights with a net and has defeated Summer, a direwolf, in mock combat, by trapping him in her net. Having someone who can singlehandedly defeat a direwolf to defend you is pretty ideal in my opinion.

Arya Stark - While her style is mostly stealthy, Arya is a very capable killer. She typically uses a dagger to slit her enemies throats. Because she’s learned the skills of the faceless men, even her being publicly in the kingsguard wouldn’t cramp her style, seeing as she could disguise herself to do her killings when needed.

Alysane Mormont - The second daughter of Maege Mormont was left out of the show. In the books, she successfully leads an assault on Ironmen ship, beating these warriors on the water, where they are strongest. She is known as the young She-bear and claims her children were fathered by an actual bear.

WARDENS

These positions are usually simply occupied by whoever rules the Eyries, the North, the Westerlands and the Reach. Oftentimes, there’s at least one person on the small council who is also a warden of some sort (Jon Arryn, Ned Stark, Tywin Lannister, Kevan Lannister and most likely Jaime Lannister soon) but I’ve decided to leave them out of the small council to have power more spread out.

Warden of the South : Margaery Tyrell - Beloved by her people, smart, pretty and from a powerful house. Margaery has all it takes to be the Ruling Queen except for Dragons. She is by far the most capable and charismatic leader of the Tyrells and should rule the South.

Warden of the West : Cersei Lannister - While most people hate Cersei, it is fair to say that she was dealt a rotten hand in life. She had to marry someone she didn’t love and who didn’t love her, she was never encouraged to follow her dreams and was clearly a victim of Westerosi sexism. If the laws of inheritence were not sexist, Cersei would have been taught how to rule and would have inherited Casterly Rock after Tywin’s death, being a few minutes older than Jaime. In this world, I think Cersei would have been a capable leader and strong strategic mind. Not to mention that she will stop at nothing to win.

Warden of the North : Sansa Stark - Innocent little dove with dreams of chivalry turned cold mastermind by the cruel world and Littlefinger’s meddling, Sansa is without a doubt the most capable leader of the North. She sees through people’s games and is willing to make the alliances necessary to come out on top.

Warden of the East : Anya Waynwood - I have to admit, there wasn’t much to choose from in the Eyries. Littlefinger is mad for power and would be horrible for the kingdoms, Robyn is useless and Yohn Royce is too proud and boring. I feel like Anya Waynwood is the only passable option there.

So here it is, the rulers of Westeros in my imaginary land. This clearly won’t happen, especially since some of these characters are dead in the show. Fun fact though, each and every single one of them is alive in the books (escept Renly). So that’s something to think about. I did pick people who managed to survive thus far because it shows that they are somewhat skilled at manipulating the world without getting killed (or you know, getting killed once and then coming back to life, I’m looking at you Lady Stoneheart).

A quick word about the Queensguard, I specifically decided to choose fighters with different styles because I feel like to beat the Kingsguard right now, someone simply has to learn how to counter one specific fighting style. With all these warriors who wield different weapons and fight differently, I feel like it would be much harder to plan an assassination on the royal family, as you’d have to counter several fighting styles to get to them.

[swipestream]

Fantasy New Releases: 16 March 2019

West Virginia witches, bounty hunter barbecue pitmasters, fantasy detectives, and a new Tarzan story from Edgar Rice Burroughs feature in this week’s roundup of the newest releases in fantasy.

Awaken Online: Dominion – Travis Bagwel

Following Jason’s evolution into a Keeper, he finds his fledgling city once again in turmoil. A new and deadly enemy threatens the Twilight Throne — one that has no difficulty contending with Jason and the members of Original Sin.

Jason must work quickly to consolidate his city’s power. That means securing the villages within the Twilight Throne’s influence, finding a steady stream of income, and growing the city’s military strength. Even as the group grapples with these changes, they notice that something is stirring up the native undead around the city, although the source of this strange influence is uncertain.

One thing is clear, however. Jason might have evolved, but his enemies have adapted with him. If the Twilight Throne is to survive, the group must grow stronger and Jason must learn to control his newfound abilities.

Otherwise, the darkness may very well claim them all.

Blood Creek Beast (Blood Creek Series #2) – Jay Barnson

Worlds apart, and just ‘round the bend…

For years, Jack Parsons dreamed of escaping the tiny community of Maple Bend, West Virginia. Now he is trapped in another world entirely. Seeking help to protect the crossroads from the immortal “man in the white suit” and his Coven, Jack ventures into the world ‘Round the Bend, a mirror-image of West Virginia more wondrous, and more dangerous, than he had ever imagined.

On the other side of the crossroads, the Coven pursues Jessabelle Rose with plans to use her shape-shifting powers for their own dark ends. Jessabelle must choose between flight or fight; to escape the Coven forever, or risk everything to protect her family.

What began with mysterious deaths deep in the Appalachian Mountains now threatens to engulf two worlds. Witchcraft and creatures of folklore mix with shadowy high-tech organizations and political intrigue in this thrilling tale of magic and adventure.

Cirsova Vol. 2 No. 1 – edited by P. Alexander

The Spring issue of the All-New Cirsova Magazine of Thrilling Adventure and Daring Suspense is out now!

The big star of the spring issue, of course, is the brand-new Tarzan story “Young Tarzan and the Mysterious She”, by Edgar Rice Burroughs and Michael Tierney. Based on a fragment from 1930, this previously “Lost” Tarzan adventure takes place in the Jungle Tales period and, in addition to being a cool adventure in and of itself, ties into and resolves some issues from The Jewels of Opar.  Young Tarzan ponders his nature among his ape family in the jungle when he hears there may yet be another such as he! Who is the white-skinned she who lives among the Gomangani tribes, and is it she whose visage haunts the ape-man’s dreams?!

But in addition to this all-new Tarzan story, we’ve got a bunch of other thrilling adventures that you’ll want to check out!

The City Under the Mountain (The Seven Signs #4) – D.W. Hawkins

In the savage north, an ancient relic awakens.

Fugitives from the Conclave, Dormael and his friends must seek the next piece of the Nar’doroc deep within a perilous hinterland. Beset by vicious monstrosities, they uncover a place where ancient secrets lay forgotten, a graveyard abandoned to the march of time. Its revelations could lead them to the next fragment of the shattered artifact, but menace lurks in the shadows of its history. To survive it, a dangerous sacrifice must be made.

Across the Stormy Sea, Nalia Arynthaal, Princess of the Winter Passes, dives into the midst of an empire at war. With nothing but guile and icy resolve, she works to revenge herself upon those who disgraced her family. Surrounded by enemies, Nalia must embrace a treacherous ally to bring down an empire bolstered by thousands of angry swords. To restore her family’s honor, Nalia may have to renounce her own.

Everything may yet fall to powers darker still—the seeds for which are being sown beneath the surface. Will Dormael and company recover the shattered Nar’doroc? Will Nalia bring down her enemies, or be crushed by the unyielding march of empire? What secrets lie buried in the past?

For the Killing of Kings (The Ring-Sworn Trilogy #1) – Howard Andrew Jones

Their peace was a fragile thing, but it had endured for seven years, mostly because the people of Darassus and the king of the Naor hordes believed his doom was foretold upon the edge of the great sword hung in the hall of champions. Unruly Naor clans might raid across the border, but the king himself would never lead his people to war so long as the blade remained in the hands of his enemies.

But when squire Elenai’s aging mentor uncovers evidence that the sword in their hall is a forgery she’s forced to flee Darassus for her life, her only ally the reckless, disillusioned Kyrkenall the archer. Framed for murder and treason, pursued by the greatest heroes of the realm, they race to recover the real sword, only to stumble into a conspiracy that leads all the way back to the Darassan queen and her secretive advisors. They must find a way to clear their names and set things right, all while dodging friends determined to kill them – and the Naor hordes, invading at last with a new and deadly weapon.

The Horsemen Gather (The Unbelievable Mr. Brownstone #17) – Michael Anderle

Barbecue is life.  Everything else is just details.

Can a bounty hunter be happy as a pitmaster?

With his life settling into a comfortable routine and the criminals of Los Angeles finally accepting his power, James ponders a future of family and food rather than kicking bounties through walls.

James’ idle thoughts of retirement are put on hold when a rogue group of government agents decides to go after the man they feel is the greatest threat to the country.

The bounty hunter might not mind someone taking a shot at him, but going after his loved ones risks awakening a power even James might not be able to control.

One faction of the government might want him dead, but another needs his help to retrieve a map to a weapon that might save the world.

How many people will need a beat down before everyone understands you don’t go after anyone Brownstone cares about?

Remnants of the Lost (The Elder Stones Saga #3) – D.K. Holmberg 

An unexpected threat to the power of the elder stones begins to emerge.

With his father likely dead, Haern trains to face the Ai’thol, using every ability he possesses to be strong enough to defeat them. A chance encounter with someone who’s lost more than him changes everything.

Daniel uncovers the Ai’thol using a new alloy that gives impossible powers and he might be the only one capable of stopping them. The search to understand the alloy brings him back to Elaeavn where he uncovers something unexpected. To understand his future, he must face his past.

Lucy gains an understanding of her abilities but struggles with her role among the C’than. How can she serve them when those she rescued need her help and leadership?

Not all is as it seems. The search to understand the elder stones continues, but powers maneuvering for decades are playing a game only a few understand leaving those stuck in the middle facing a deadly threat for survival.

Sevenfold Sword: Guardian (Sevenfold Sword #11) – Jonathan Moeller

The quest of the Seven Swords holds a dark secret at its heart.

Ridmark Arban is the Shield Knight, the defender of the realm of Andomhaim.

The quest of the Seven Swords nears its end, and dark powers rise to seize the world.

Ridmark has learned the terrible secret at the heart of the Seven Swords. Now he need only escape Urd Maelwyn, the grim city ruled by the dark elven tyrant known as the Confessor.

But few who enter Urd Maelwyn ever leave alive.

And the Maledicti priests will kill to protect the secret of the Seven Swords…

The Skaar Invasion (The Fall of Shannara #2) – Terry Brooks

The Four Lands are under siege. Wielding a magical ability virtually impossible to combat, mysterious invaders defeat the most fearsome Troll armies, then focus their savagery on the Druid order—and all hope seems lost.

Eventually the invaders reveal a more human face, but understanding their motives in no way mitigates the brutality of their actions. Dar Leah, once the High Druid’s Blade, has crossed paths—and swords—with their ruthless leader before. So he knows that if any hope exists, it rests in the hands of the Druid Drisker Arc, now trapped inside vanished Paranor.

As Drisker races to find the ancient knowledge that could free him, Dar goes in search of Tarsha Kaynin, the young woman blessed with the powerful gift of the wishsong, whose magic could draw Drisker back into the world of the living. But little do they know that what appeared to be a formidable invading force may only be the forerunner of a much larger army—one intent on nothing less than total conquest.

Titanshade (The Carter Archives #1) – Dan Stout

Carter’s a homicide cop in Titanshade, an oil boomtown where 8-tracks are state of the art, disco rules the radio, and all the best sorcerers wear designer labels. It’s also a metropolis teetering on the edge of disaster. As its oil reserves run dry, the city’s future hangs on a possible investment from the reclusive amphibians known as Squibs.

But now negotiations have been derailed by the horrific murder of a Squib diplomat. The pressure’s never been higher to make a quick arrest, even as Carter’s investigation leads him into conflict with the city’s elite. Undermined by corrupt coworkers and falsified evidence, and with a suspect list that includes power-hungry politicians, oil magnates, and mad scientists, Carter must find the killer before the investigation turns into a witch-hunt and those closest to him pay the ultimate price on the filthy streets of Titanshade.

Fantasy New Releases: 16 March 2019 published first on https://medium.com/@ReloadedPCGames

[minervacasterly]

~Complications for the Red Dragons~ Game of Thrones just started and Daenerys’ so called master-plan has met its first setback much like Henry Tudor’s initial plan to storm England by distracting Richard III with his ally, the Duke of Buckingham’s rebellion. It didn’t work out for him as well and what everyone thought would be Henry Tudor’s triumphant return, turned out to be disastrous because on top of that, a big storm greeted him as he sailed across the channel, forcing him to retreat. Don’t worry Henry, I am sure once things get back to normal, people will start rebelling against Richard and see you’re a better candidate. ;) Those of who know the histories behind Game of Thrones, know how they ended. We know that things turned out okay for Henry. He got what he wanted and established a dynasty that to this day, remains famous. We will see if it plays out the same for Daenerys. Actress Emilia Clarke prefers to base her portrayal on Henry VII’s fantasy counterpart on his granddaughter, the larger-than-life, Elizabeth I aka Gloriana. Elizabeth I’s approach towards her allies was similar to her paternal grandfather, and like him, she certainly knew how to use symbols to boost her image and to suit her narrative; but where she differed was in her personal interactions with her allies and (especially) her favorites. The show gives us a Daenerys who is a volatile and who will accept ‘no’ for an answer, who is desperate to legitimize her claim as her muse, Cate Blanchett’s Elizabeth I was. On the other hand, Henry’s desperation manifested in other ways, by making glorious promises that he had no way of keeping, and using religion to his own advantage, casting himself as the one who’d bring England out of the dark and into the light. And sure, you can say that Daenerys is using religion to her advantage -the whole prince that was promised thing- but whereas show’s Daenerys wants to force everyone to nod their heads at her, book Daenerys like her historical counterpart could care less about people’s motivations -or what they say behind her back- as long as they get her the throne. She ponders about her faith, where she stands and which one is the correct one, but she ends every thought by amusingly thinking that these are just “games within games” and that nothing else matters but her crown. As a result, she is less cold, and does her best to befriend the right people while still acknowledging that being so young, she is bound to make mistake at one point or another. When Daenerys tells Jon Snow that faith in herself is what kept her alive after countless years of trying to escape assassins, and going through other hardships, it echoes more what Elizabeth would've said than Henry Tudor who was described as a serious youth but one who also enjoyed playing cards, drinking moderately, and joking with his best friends. Elizabeth I enjoyed hosting parties and wearing the best gowns she could find, but when it came to ruling, she could be as ruthless as her father and sister, and the older she got, the more unpredictable she became. The show has decided to blend more historical people together in the already existing characters. Cersei has taken on the role of several infamous -and not so infamous- kings and queens in the renaissance. Like Richard III in mid-summer before Henry Tudor landed on Milford Haven on Wales, he issued a thunderous proclamation calling Henry a bastard who’d ravage England with his army of mercenaries and disgruntled Edwardian Yorkists and staunch Lancastrians, in an effort to scare the population into allying themselves with him. And let’s face it, as much as I love Henry VII and Daenerys, facts are facts: Cersei has more experience in politics than Daenerys. Daenerys has been through serious stuff but she has no experience in ruling and this is not a simple thing of ‘practice makes perfect’. She is the mad king’s daughter, and just as Richard III also used the image of a deranged Henry VI and France’s mad king (Charles VI who was Henry Tudor’s ancestor and like Daenerys’ father, he was psychotic) to make people think twice before pledging their support to Henry; Cersei is using Aerys II’s crimes to shine a bad light upon Daenerys and what her reign could mean for Westeros. None of us can predict the future, but these people are who they are because they gambled. It was all or nothing for them. Cersei’s motto to Ned Stark in season 1 echoes what Richard III thought when he confronted Henry Tudor; in the game of thrones there is no middle path, you win or you die. We think this is a simple matter of good vs evil and while Game of Thrones likes to use that plot device as well when it came to the white walkers, in real life, it was far more complicated. There was no magic, or prophecy or except the ones that men attributed to things that could be easily explained by common sense to justify the actions of the person they were backing. Just as with Daenerys, many people did NOT want to back Henry Tudor right away because his first attempt to take the throne ended in disaster and with Richard III have a healthy wife and son, there was no reason to believe his reign would be short. Not to mention, that he was an experienced politician and seasoned soldier who knew more about war than his opponent. But alas! Fame favors the bold and Richard soon found out that he wasn't the only seasoned general in this war. Henry had with him his uncle who'd been through many battles, the Earl of Oxford who was a brilliant strategist and many more who aided him in his quest to become King of England and unite both houses, York and Lancaster into one.