I love the forced proximity to sweet slow burn romance throughout and their development." Theladyraven, Goodreads
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Showing posts with label Medieval Fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medieval Fantasy. Show all posts
Friday, February 10, 2023
a prickly exterior... The Elven Healer's Apprentice (Elves of Eldarlan #4) by Elisa Rae
Friday, September 8, 2017
Unlocking a love that lasts for lifetimes… and beyond - A Shape on the Air by Julia Ibbotson
"This story has a wonderful combination of having a mystery that needs solving, a time slip aspect and also an intriguing set of characters from both time periods. Both timelines work well within the story and the transition from one to the other was on the whole easy to understand and felt pretty natural. With the added mystery making a great puzzle that I couldn't wait for it to be solved."- Rachel, Goodreads
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Dark magic and a trail of black feathers - Black is the Colour (Tales from the Hearthfire) by Nicole Hurley-Moore
Published: October 27th, 2014
Cover Artist: Conor Moore
Description:
Ciana has loved Oran all her life and nothing, not even her father will prevent them from being together. But the Mayor of Stonemark has higher aspirations for his daughter than the village blacksmith. He engages the help of a witch and dark magic to bend Ciana to his will.
Oran knows that he doesn’t deserve Ciana. But their love is stronger than the metal he forges and welds. She has his heart and he will never turn from her no matter the cost.
Separated, Ciana will need all her strength to journey through the deep forest and save Oran from the witch’s curse. Alone and with only a trail of black feathers to follow, Ciana will fight against the odds and attempt to bring her lover home.
Lovers of paranormal romance, with a touch of magic, will love BLACK IS THE COLOUR, nicely written by Nicole Hurley-Moore. Perfect introduction in her new series Tales from the Hearthfire, the story of three sisters Ciana, Mariella and Elisabetta. If you are looking a great quick read, just sit back, relax and follow Ciana and Oran's journey, set in medieval which it's filled with magic, curse and a witch! It's the fantastic love story of Ciana, the loving, caring and headstrong daughter of the Mayor of Stonemark and Oran, the village's gentle blacksmith. In this short novella, you will discover that they were meant for each other, whatever happens, Ciana will do anything for HER man. Will love break the curse put upon Oran? I really loved this paranormal! I'm excited to read her next novella MY WOLVEN HEART, Mariella's story. I recommend this beautiful, sweet and charming fairy tale. - Amazon
Author's Bads (mistakes) of the romance literature
1. Killing off the hero
2. The misunderstanding that keeps the couple apart lasting the entire length of the book.
3. Killing off the heroine
4. Prologues that last forever
5. Too Stupid To Live Heroines
6. Heroines with no backbone or gumption
7. Heroes who are too autocratic and overbearing (or are just being jerks for no apparent reason).
8. Not enough research
9. Not enough depth
10. Not making the reader care about what happens to the main characters
EXCERPT
TOUR SCHEDULE
Oran’s arms were around her, holding her tight. She snuggled against him to capture his warmth. Outside the wind had picked up. It caused the branches to scratch against the cottage walls. Ciana closed her eyes but there was something that wouldn’t let her sleep.
She tilted her head back and looked at Oran. His eyelids flickered for an instant before closing altogether. His dark hair had fallen forward and obscured part of his face. Reaching up, Ciana brushed it back.
“You should sleep. The dawn will be here soon enough and we have a long journey ahead of us,” he said as he tightened his grasp.
“I know, but I can’t settle... it’s as if...”
“What?”
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s as if something isn’t right.”
“All is well, my love,” he answered sleepily. “It’s been an eventful day. You’re worried that your father will come after us but we will soon be far beyond his reach.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“We’ll be long gone before he even returns. Fear not,” he said as he kissed her shoulder. “We’ll be at Havensport in three days and the very thought of Stonemark will be far behind us.”
“I’m sure that’s true,” Ciana said as she closed her eyes and willed herself to fall asleep. But the wind shrieked and circled the cottage and Ciana could not shake the feeling of foreboding.
“Of course I’m right. There is nothing to worry about...”
The door burst open with a bang. The wind tore around the room, circling the bed. With it came leaves, sticks and debris from the woods. Oran threw himself over Ciana in an attempt to shield her from the maelstrom. The wind howled like a banshee and the bed shook, until she was sure that both of them would fall.
“What’s happening?” Ciana shouted.
“I don’t know – but nothing natural I’ll wager,” Oran said as buried his head above hers. “Just hold on, love and wait for it to pass.”
But it didn’t. The wind became stronger and rattled the cottage until Ciana thought the whole thing would blow away. Ciana wrapped her arms around Oran’s waist but let out a cry as a branch dragged across her forearm, scratching and snagging her flesh until it bled.
“Put your arms beneath me and keep down – I’ll protect you.”
“But who will protect you?”
“I’ll be fine as long you’re safe. Everything will be...” Oran broke off as the wind tugged at his body. It began to lift him up.
Ciana grabbed his arms and tried to anchor him to her. “You can’t have him!” she screamed against the circling wind. “You can’t have him!”
Oran held on to the rough wooden bed head and she felt his muscles strain and bulge as he gripped on. “Ciana, I...”
The vortex spun quicker around the room. Noise thundered in Ciana’s ears as she was buffeted by more twigs, leaves and black feathers. She held onto Oran until her knuckles were white and her nails dug into his skin.
“I won’t let you go.”
His dark eyes locked onto hers for a moment. “I love you.”
“Nay, I won’t let you go...” But even as the words fell from her lips her grip slipped.
The force of the wind lifted Oran off the bed. The leaves swirled around him and swallowed his body so only his outstretched arms and head were visible. The strength of the whirlwind wretched Oran from Ciana’s grasp, the bed head snapped and with one final look Oran was dragged off the bed, back through the open door and into the night dark wood.
About the author:
Nicole has always been a lover of fairy tales, history and romance. She grew up in Melbourne and Central Victoria and has travelled extensively. Her first passion in life has always been her family, but after studying and achieving her BA in History and Honours in Medieval Literature, she devoted her time to writing historical, fantasy and contemporary romance. She is a full time writer who lives in the Central Highlands of Victoria with her family, where they live in the peaceful surrounds of a semi-rural town.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Guest Post, Excerpt and Giveaway: Serpent on a Cross (Book #1) by Wendy C. Garfinkle
Cover Artist: Loretta Matson
Description:
Dennah Dubrovnika is a formidable hunter and talented healer. However, she cannot control her own powers, which have suddenly reawakened in the aftermath of her mother’s violent capture by a powerful warlord who destroyed their village in his wake. As she races to free her mother, Dennah is accompanied by Jeth, the man she loves. But she’s increasingly, inexorably drawn to the mysterious Skallon who is allied with her greatest enemy.
Will Dennah be able to gain a measure of control over her magic or will she lose everything and everyone she loves to its raging inferno?
Serpent on a Cross is Book One in a Jewish fantasy adventure series set in Medieval Eastern Europe.
GUEST POST
The poetry (lyricism) of the Medieval Fantasy
I’m not sure what it is about combining the medieval world and fantasy that attracts other writers and readers, but for me, I think the draw is a combination of the romanticism we attach to that time period, as well as the idea that men were men, and women were women, chivalry was in bloom, and the belief in magic was a daily part of life.
Of course, I don’t like EVERYTHING about medieval times. For one, women had little to no rights, unless they were fortunate enough to have an indulgent father, husband or other male head of the family. Or unless you happened to be Jewish or Muslim. Those women enjoyed more freedom – greater education and often a choice of husband – than their Christian counterparts.
As far as magic goes, the belief, or superstition, of witchcraft wasn’t at all a romantic notion. In most cases, it was something to be feared. Even simple herbalism and midwifery were subject to suspicious scrutiny. Especially during times of plague or other endemic illness not easily curable or even contained by said herb-women, or if children were born with birthmarks, which at that time, were more often than not seen as marks of the devil, or if children died within the womb or at birth. Then midwives were under suspicion of witchcraft.
But when it comes to WRITING medieval fantasy, an author can take the norms of the medieval period and change them to suit the story, whether that means keeping true to the norms, or taking literary license with them. Like I did with Serpent on a Cross. While Jewish men who were merchants and scholars traveled a lot, their womenfolk rarely did. In a case such as Dennah’s, where someone needed to rescue her mother, it probably would have been men to take on the task. But Dennah is not just any young woman, and so with nary a thought to her own safety, forges headlong into a barely-planned rescue mission, that very quickly becomes fraught with challenges and danger.
EXCERPT
Stomach churning, a sour taste in her mouth, Dennah hovered above the massacre from her nest in the ash tree she’d climbed at the edge of the forest.
Guilt twisted a knot in her belly as she remembered Mamen’s order to flee, but she couldn’t leave; she might be needed. So she’d climbed the tallest leafiest tree she could quickly find, its branches extending almost to the roof of their cottage. She fastened the leather bracer on her left forearm, finger guards on her drawing hand, in case she was forced to shoot the ash bow. After stringing it, she set it and the bag of arrows in the cradle of two limbs a little above her and out of easy reach so she wouldn’t be tempted to fire down upon the invaders.
From her perch she saw the soldiers enter the shtetl, thundering over the ramparts as if they were fagots; they crushed the golden fields of barley, and wheat, forcing the defenders to give way or be trampled beneath hammering hooves. Seeing the guardsmen attack the horses to unseat the soldiers, her heart raced. Get them! What right have they to attack our home?! Anger boiled just under her skin. Her gaze sharpened and the branch grew warm beneath the grip of her fingers. Though there was no breeze, the limbs of her tree swayed gently.
Almost without thought, as if her hands had a will of their own, she pulled bow and quiver within reach and nocked an arrow. With precise aim, she inhaled, drawing the cord back, hearing the soft familiar creak as it stretched. She released on the exhale. Gracefully, the arrow sped toward its target, a soldier who’d edged up behind Marek and raised his sword. The shaft caught him in the throat, sunk deep and broke through the skin at the back of his neck. He fell with a thud, blood mixing with fertile ground in a muddy pool beneath him. Relieved of its burden, the soldier’s horse veered away from the melee.
Marek, eyes narrowing, seemed to find her hidden in the ash. He nodded slightly and turned to face another foe. A surge of pleasure warmed her at his wordless approval. Then there was no more time for thought; only action. Again and again her arrows flew true; but she was careful to watch for enemy soldiers looking in her direction. Her stomach dropped when she saw first Yuri, then Selwyn, and finally Yakkov surrounded and disarmed. A quick inventory of her quiver yielded only four arrows. Not enough to free the guardsmen. I’m sorry.
Goodreads ** Amazon ** Barnes&Noble
About the author:
Wendy C. Garfinkle was born and raised in South Florida. She moved to Northwest Texas in her early 20s, but returned to South Florida eight years later. She holds five degrees, including MA and MFA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. She’s a poet, reading addict, and collector of interesting clothing tags, which she recycles into bookmarks.
She has served as a copy editor and reader for Hippocampus Magazine, an online nonfiction lit journal, and as a reader for the James Jones First Novel Fellowship. Wendy is a crime analyst for a local law enforcement agency, and lives with her teenage son.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Interview and Giveaway: The Queen's Pawn by R.J. Hore
Description: 13+
Young Harow just wanted to stay on the farm for the rest of
his life, but his mother insisted he go to school in the City to study to be a
priest. Now the City is in flames and he is racing across unfamiliar
countryside trying to get the mysterious and sensuous Queen Reginee and her
extremely annoying and very spoiled daughter Desiree-Rose to safety.
Of course there is a rebel army on their heels, black
wizardry afoot, and sundry and dangerous creatures and villains, monstrous and
common, seductive and evil, lurking along the way. If this were not enough for
the youth to worry about, the Queen’s amorous chambermaid and bodyguard
Mathilde, a smallish giantess, just wants to get him alone.
MB's INTERVIEW
Thank you, Mr.R.J. Hore
What do you think about our day fantasy literature evolutions/trend?
Trends seem to come and go more quickly than they used to. Paranormal romance has slipped a bit with the big publishers, zombies are still here, but the zombie mash-ups are fading, and vampires are still sparkling instead of bursting into flame or turning to dust. Which leads me to suspect that writers should avoid trying to catch the latest trend, or the next one, and stick to writing interesting stories. If you consider some of the top authors, they have either started their own trend, or simply written a compelling story that doesn’t fit into a common mold. I like the fact I can write about almost anything without being forced to follow the herd all the time. I have no objection to adding features from other genres into a fantasy tale. A little horror in a scene or a touch of science fiction can add to a story.
What fantasy stories bring in our life?
The easy answer is escape. A fantasy story can lead the reader into a completely different world, or add magic to solve a problem. The character may be a normal person, or can be other-worldly. A good story makes the reader think. It can also make the reader want to expand their horizons. A tale of knights and derring-do might bring about an interest in history and the middle ages. A steam punk adventure set in the Victorian era could have the reader stopping to look at what actually happened. If not, these stories still broaden the reader’s experience. If nothing else, a good fantasy story will make the reader forget their own problems for a while, or might even encourage them to try writing their own tale.
What a fantasy story must have?
I write both medieval-style fantasy and fantasy detective. (urban?). The medieval story writer should have some basic knowledge of the actual time period being copied when they set down their tale. World building is important. The clothing, weapons, and buildings such as castles, all help to flesh out the story. Readers will complain if armies on foot or riders on horseback cover vast unattainable distances, never stopping to eat or rest. Fantasy doesn’t mean suspending all reality, unless you are writing something like Alice in Wonderland. A good fantasy story should have a well-built world, believable characters, and careful use of magic. Don’t have the hero flying off to escape danger in one scene, if you haven’t explained how he or she can do that before-hand. Be consistent with both the world, and the characters. Would the people you have created really act like that based on what has gone on in the story before? When they say write what you know, that also comes true in urban fantasy. Make that street scene or waterfront area stand out…because you have been there. The medieval writer has to either travel to the exotic locations, or do research through other methods, like museums and books.
What a fantasy story should avoid?
Try and avoid the common tropes. When doing your research of publishers to send the manuscript to, you will frequently see references to topics like: no talking cats, no vampires, or no zombies. Beware, if you are incorporating overdone similar ideas, your story has to really shine or have a different twist or point of view. Don’t overdo magic. If it’s too easy, if gets your characters out of too many problems without them (or the author!) having to come up with interesting solutions, that’s cheating. The plot is important, but the characters have to stand out. The setting can be almost as important as the characters. Beware of glossing over holes in the plot or description. If you can incorporate three actual facts about something, like a zeppelin, a steam train, or a sailing ship, your reader will believe you are an expert and may forgive minor sins. Of course, as always, avoid a slow start and try and open the story with something to grab the reader’s attention. Some book-store browsers never get past the first sentence, so catch them while you can.
What would you say to those who refuse to read fantasy?
Often the fans or authors of fantasy may have themselves to blame if they can’t attract new readers. Maybe we frighten them away when they ask what the story is about by confusing them with too much fantasy jargon. For example, take my novel The Queen’s Pawn. I could say it’s a questing adventure, complete with wizards and dragons and strange monsters. It’s the story of a youth who must rescue the queen and the princess from evil villains. You can picture their eyes glazing over. Alternatively, I could simple say it’s the story of a young man who must overcome the odds on a journey to guide a widow and her daughter to safety. It has humor, adventure, and romance. Take a look at another book I wrote, The Dark Lady. It’s the story of a young princess who discovers her parents have been murdered and she is beset on all sides by grasping men who wish to control her, and the kingdom. I could also simply say it’s the story of an orphan girl who must survive difficulties while trying to discover who murdered her parents. Once we lure the unsuspecting reader into opening the pages of a good fantasy tale, I think we have them hooked.
GoodReads ** Amazon ** Barnes & Noble
Ron can be found sailing on Lake Winnipeg when not writing novels or critiquing for an on-line magazine He won first prize for a Canadian Authors Association short story contest for a ghostly love story, but his preference is for longer works including a recent trio of medieval-style fantasies and the Housetrap Chronicles fantasy detective series through www.burstbooks.ca . Supervised by his understanding wife and a large demanding cat, most of his writing efforts continue toward fantasy, with occasional lapses into science fiction and horror.
Website ** Goodreads ** Amazon Author Page ** Facebook
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