#epic fantasy adventure

[author-a-holmes]

ARC REVIEW: Wrath and Wraiths by Andrew Claydon

Chronicles of the Dawnblade Book Four

I have so much to say about this book and ALL of it is good!

If you’ve been following my reviews of this Epic Fantasy Adventure by Andrew Claydon, you’ll know that the beginning of Book 3 had left me a little unsteady about the tone the series was taking, but while ‘The Odd Sea’ recovered in the second half, ‘Wrath and Wraiths” has blown all of my concerns out of the water from Chapter One.

It’s a masterpiece of storytelling, once again filled to the brim with Claydon’s unmistakeably humor. Dry, witty, and a joy to read, and even though the middle of November is the busiest time of my year, once I dipped a toe inside the front cover, I couldn’t stop myself from finishing the whole book.

Especially when, after only two chapters, Nicholas is separated from the rest of the main cast in a way that leaves you utterly on the edge of your seat. I simply couldn’t stop then, I had to keep going to find out how Andrew Claydon was going to fix the mess he’d put Nick in this time!

The poor man never seems to get a break but, by now, he’s beginning to learn how to roll with the punches. Literally! And the character progression is not only wonderfully portrayed, it’s a joy to watch Nick grow into his own a little... while still bumbling through the odd mistake that humanizes him in a way that really makes this whole series a refreshing take on the fantasy genre.

A surprise in book four of the series, was getting a second point of view, but because of the way in which Nick is isolated for a majority of the story, it was also a sorely needed point of view.

For my part, I loved reading some of the story from Shift’s perspective! Not only do I have a soft spot for thieves, getting to see inside the headspace of some of the other characters is always a delight, and seeing them cope (Or NOT cope, as the case may be) with Nick’s untimely absence was as fascinating as it was enlightening.

I do hope the dual POV can be continued in future books, or possibly some other POV’s from other characters if the plot/situation fits.

The plot for book four was incredibly well woven, and tightly put together, but I still spotted a few threads related to Nick’s other compantions that I can see have been left for future books that I cannot wait to find out how the author is going to address.

And since Book 9 is currently being written, I know I have plenty to look forward to. My congratulations go out to Andrew for once again crafting a wonderful piece of storytelling. The paperback will be gracing my bookshelves as soon as release day hits (Counting the days to DECEMBER 4TH!)

I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[joncronshawauthor]

Reading Order for The Ravenglass Chronicles: Embark on an Epic Fantasy Adventure

For fans of epic fantasy, the Ravenglass Chronicles, with its intricate storylines and unforgettable characters, offers a deeply immersive experience. Each book in the series is inspired by the tarot’s major arcana, weaving a rich tapestry of magic, intrigue, and adventure. To help you navigate this enchanting world, here is the definitive reading order for the Ravenglass Chronicles. Book 0…

[therealimintobooks]

Book Tour Featuring *Guardian's Legacy* by Darren Simon @IVSDCURRENTS @sdsxxtours #giveaway

Book Tour Featuring *Guardian’s Legacy* by Darren Simon @IVSDCURRENTS @sdsxxtours #giveaway

Guardian’s Legacy The Last Princess of Latara Book 3 by Darren Simon Genre: YA Epic Fantasy Adventure Fourteen-year-old Charlee Smelton is a Guardian, a path forced upon her by fate. She’s come to accept this fact after fighting to save Earth, the world she thought was her home, and the magical world of Janasara, the true home of her bloodline. But the fight is not over. Once more, Charlee…

[sarahreesbrennan]

I remember reading in one of your blog entries (years ago??) that in the new book you were writing, the main character's *sister* had cancer. Does that mean that Alice was originally the main character of Long Live Evil? Was she going to go into the book to save Rae, instead of Rae going in to save herself?

How extremely kind of you to remember!

No, that was actually a YA murder mystery that I wrote while ill, revised while recovering, and sent out into the world where it died on submission. (Which means we sent it out to about 12 editors and the editor either said no, or said yes and took it to acquisitions - a group of people at the publisher including sales and marketing - and acquisitions said no.)

One editor told me she really wanted and really tried to buy it. Another person who worked in publishing (and has since changed jobs, or I wouldn’t share this) said the response at her acquisitions was - if you like this writer, find the next her (implications about health and youth were made).

I was terrified my agent was going to ditch me too, but she said ‘We’ll sell that one day, for now let’s write the next thing.’

I remember another writer telling me she missed my work that wasn’t a tie-in, and I felt ashamed to tell her it wasn’t that I wasn’t writing other things - it was that I couldn’t publish them.

The tie-ins meanwhile were paying the bills (they still are tbh!) and I was and remain so grateful for them. But I also really loved writing them - especially my Sabrina tie-ins, you don’t forget the first, and it reminded me I want to write horror and poly one day - and how they got me to love and sympathise with so many fandoms.

I see the burnout of caregivers all around me, and I wanted to write the story of one. But maybe I also wanted to take a step back from cancer. I didn’t think I did, at the time. I had a whole lot of things I tried writing before Long Live Evil, and I think some of them were really good. One of my critique partners gave me a lipstick with the same name as someone in the murder mystery. There was a romance novel another critique partner said was her favourite thing I’d ever written. But none had someone with cancer at the heart of the story.

And even though Rae isn’t much like me, maybe I had to start there. You can’t make real magic using someone else’s liver. Maybe I had to wait to be brave enough to use my own liver.

I do get requests for advice on how to cope with rejection of your writing, and I always worried I didn’t have anything else to say, but I suppose my example says - if you can, (and I know it’s hard, you feel so terrible at writing and so useless) (and you love the work you’ve done so much and you don’t see a way forward to loving the next thing) (but still, if you possibly can) write the next thing.

Even if the first thing sells, you’ll want the next thing one day. Writing the next thing is more writing practise, so it’ll make you better. Write the next thing.

Ultimately I’m really glad Long Live Evil was my comeback book. I think it needed to be. It took the time it took.

But maybe it was a shade of that past book (where the heroine’s sister with cancer was six, so not much like any of the Time of Iron characters) that made me think of the YA version of this book, which I always had in my mind as something I was intentionally hewing away from - a more straightforward book, a book that might have sold better - in which shy reader Alice was the hero. She’s the one with the suggestive hero name - Alice through the looking glass - the heroine looks, and the more projectable-upon personality. She’d get called annoying less often (though still some, because she’s a girl), partly because she is (with love, Rae knows I’m right) a genuinely less annoying person. Much kinder, much sweeter, and much better at in-depth reading! Her sister being in trouble would’ve been a backstory, a catalyst point, and - you’re totally right - a great motivation for her to get the Flower. Saving a family member is a much more sympathetic and heroic motivation than saving yourself and one I do love (the Hunger Games, Labyrinth, Mahy’s the Changeover, and I write it a lot!). I think Snarky While Tragically Dying Rae would’ve been a pretty popular side character, too. I think it would’ve been a good book! Just not mine.

I love your question because I love thinking about POV, and all the decisions that are the building blocks of a story. To me, the Alice centric Time of Iron is a version that exists. As are several versions of the Lia centric Time of Iron. And versions centring other characters exist to me, too. (Eric, absolutely.)

Speaking of POV musing, I think Rahela the wicked stepsister featured more in the musical than the book. If the Time of Iron series ever became a TV show (and at this point in time I think I’d rather a movie because it wouldn’t… get cancelled…) and I got to write it (don’t know why I would…) I would start with the beginnings for three characters about to go on a journey to somewhere strange to them: Key in the Cauldron, Rae in the hospital, and Vasilisa in the icelands. There are so many possibilities! And I really wanted the sense that there were so many possibilities, too.

But I wanted the chronically ill one to be the centre of the story, and for it to be her villain origin story, and to ask a lot of questions (hence a lot of villains!) about who gets villainised and why. And I thought hers, to my mind, would be the most fun of all the possible stories.

So that’s the one I made. But Long Live Evil has a lot of origins. Thank you for remembering one of them! I don’t think I would’ve dared tell the story, if things hadn’t worked out for me (so far, fingers crossed).

And I also tell it to be clear my publisher was taking a RISK with me and Long Live Evil, and I really appreciate that, and I’m so happy it’s worked out for them (again so far, early days, fingers crossed, etc).

I hope some writers - whether in the process of submission, rejection or making the choices that are the building blocks of story - find this helpful, and some readers find it interesting.

Let this be one of the universes in which your story is told.

[fairy-of-divorce]

Just started listening to Naddpod for the first time from the very beginning, and Jake is such a relatable first time playing DnD experience to me lol. He rolls a human fighter with a very silly 2-sentence backstory, clearly expecting to come in and fight some monsters. Only to be greeted by a boy scout who decapitates people and a sweet southern lady who turns into a mushroom. And accidentally (and not very successfully) becoming the voice of reason for Emily and Caldwell, who are just running around like who feral gremlins, making the most batshit descisions. I feel his confusion in my very soul.

[kairaloi]

"What did it look like before you cleaned?" he asked.

Reed went to the windows. They were dusty and undisturbed.

"Well… His Highness's hairpin was on the floor. But that's it," Marigold said. She pulled her apron between her hands, starting to get nervous with Patrick and Reed’s serious tone.

"Hard to make a mess when he's the only thing in here," Patrick admitted as he turned slowly, looking around the room as well. “Has anyone else been to see him this morning?”

“No. Everyone’s busy getting ready for dinner tonight,” Marigold said.

“How long was he alone in here?” Patrick asked, pulling out a notebook to start writing her answers.

“Eh…” she shifted nervously. “We’ve left him alone before. Why is it suddenly a problem?”

Reed knelt to look at the floor. Patrick was a good investigator, but some things he just wasn’t going to think to look for. Although Reed wasn't sure what he was looking for either. Circles of salt? Candle wax? Mythiric was a world that had a rich history of magic and swords that could cut stone, but all that was in the past. They’d lost the knowledge about two thousand years prior when the first queen of Durshand had purged the corrupt priests of some demon religion. His history lessons had been over five years ago and his disappointment that he couldn’t sling fireballs or summon monsters as pets had caused him to lose interest.

“It’s not a problem,” Patrick assured. “We’re just… looking into something.”

Marigold fidgeted. "Reed? What are you doing?"

"I'd say it was witchcraft, but y'all ain't got that here." He got up, dusting his hands and pants. Ten years he'd been in this world, and all that time he'd thought soullessness was just this low-technology world's way of describing birth defects. Boy, was I wrong… Apparently, inert lumps of flesh can spontaneously become complete assholes.

"What?"

"Never mind," Reed said in English, then waved it off. Correcting to Durrish, he asked, “Can you answer the question, Marigold?”

Find out what's happening on Tapas!

[hannahyeaman]

Looking for a slowburn epic fantasy with unique characters (harpies!), dual POV, no spice, a lush setting, anime inspiration, and more?!

✨ SOUL-BOUND is available now in paperback and ebook ✨

When a tsundere princess with forbidden magic loses her flight during her quest to heal corrupted crystal roots, she must depend on a charming vagabond's aid to help her before their avian world collapses.

Think TANGLED and ANASTASIA's royal x rogue dynamic with the traveling romance like DANCE OF THIEVES meeting the healing, atmospheric setting of FERNGULLY.

🪷 SOUL-BOUND SUMMARY 🪷

Avem, a continent inhabited by bird-like humans called Avians, consists of seven territories, each of which contains a crystal root: a treelike sanctuary preserving magic. Avians cannot wield the land’s magic themselves.

Except, Mika, the princess of Passíer. However, her father forbids her to use it out of concern for her safety.

Due to the expanding corruption from Cantio; a fallen territory under Passíer’s jurisdiction because of its damaged root, Zayn the militant king of Nyx, suggests Scorching Cantio. To avoid such a catastrophic outcome, Mika flees from home, determined to heal Cantio’s root herself.

In Cantio, she meets Roshan, a vagabond playing double agent to protect what’s left of his uncorrupted homelands. Upon noticing her pink feathers, unique for her specific species, he cautions her to leave before she’s captured and used as coin. She snubs his warning and is nearly taken captive.

During his efforts to help her, Roshan is wounded. Mika heals him with her magic, unintentionally and unknowingly bonding them together.

When the quest costs Mika’s wing and grounds her, she accepts Roshan’s offer to escort her across Avem to heal the damaged roots before corruption destroys their world.

✨ Links in bio! ✨

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Fire and Ice (1983) directed by Ralph Bakshi.

[imaginal-ai]

"In Search of Distant Realms" (0001)

(The Seafaring Prince Series)

[gontelag]

TWINROVA (OFFICIAL MANGA TRAILER)

Visit the New Generations website for more info on TWINROVA!

NEW GENERATIONS: https://www.new-generations.com/ WEBTOONS: https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/tw...

DISCORD:   / discord   X: https://x.com/NEWGENERAT10401 INSTAGRAM:   / _new_generations__  

[amplexadversary]

hehehehe CR doing that classic video game sequence where the player gets to play through a several missions across multiple playable characters either simultaneously or in quick sequence as part of one plan

[tometraveling]

I will never have enough books with custom edges. 🩷

[bestanimatedmovie]

Classification poll 2

Go vote in the other polls!

[vexnever]

Journey into the Mystical Grove 🌙✨

Hey everyone!

Today, I decided to skip my usual studies and embark on an adventure into the depths of Neverwinter Wood. With my faithful familiar—a loyal dog—by my side, we set out to explore the unknown.

As we ventured deeper, we noticed a mystical light shimmering through the trees. Guided by curiosity and my companion's instincts, we followed it and discovered an ancient stone archway adorned with glowing runes resembling constellations and lunar phases.

I took a moment to sketch these intriguing runes into my spellbook for future study. Feeling a deep connection, I offered a prayer to Selune, the Moon Goddess, seeking her guidance. The archway's glow intensified, and with a mix of excitement and reverence, we stepped through.

On the other side, we found ourselves in a tranquil grove bathed in perpetual moonlight. 🌌 Seven stone pillars encircled a serene reflecting pool, each pillar engraved with symbols of the moon's phases. The atmosphere was peaceful, filled with subtle magical energy and the soft whispers of a distant melody.

Now, standing in this celestial haven, I'm contemplating my next move:

Should I gaze into the reflecting pool for visions or messages?

Examine the stone pillars to uncover their secrets?

Attempt to commune with Selune for wisdom?

Or explore the grove further for hidden discoveries?

This unexpected journey has been incredible so far, and I can't wait to see where it leads next! Stay tuned for more updates on this mystical exploration. 🌙🐾

[velvetdarkarts]

Astrid Rennier

Dior Lachance

Celene Castia

Laure Voss

All the characters I’ve drawn (so far) from Jay Kristoff’s series Empire of the Vampire. Love, love, love this story and these characters.

[darknerdofthesith]

Down To The Ground - AD&D Cohol Saga (2023)

“The shaman came in by night. He laid waste to our camp, threw undead and sorcery at our men. But in the end, we dragged him down to the ground…”