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A Chapter Removed from The Wolf Pack.

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The half-elf leafed through the book he was studying. He was due to take the tests to end his apprenticeship soon. He was a tall, handsome young man, just over six feet with shoulder-length auburn hair, a closely trimmed beard and eyes of an intense deep blue. 

He sat in the study at the home of Mabryl in Bluehaven, which was situated on the south coast of the land of Grosmer. With him were Mabryl’s other two apprentices, fourteen year old Tomac and sixteen year old Emmienne. 

Tomac pushed a lock of his unruly dark hair out of his eyes. ‘I think that’s the Master coming in now, Carthinal. You’d better get looking as though you’ve been doing something instead of moping around waiting for that letter, or you’ll be in trouble.’

Mabryl, his master and adopted father had sent off to the Mage Tower in Hambara asking for the young man to be considered for the tests at the next opportunity.

As Tomac spoke, the door opened and Mabryl entered, shaking his cloak as he did so. ‘It’s pretty cold out there, and it’s turning to snow if I’m not mistaken. Unusual this far south.’ He turned to his three apprentices. ‘Have you finished the tasks I set you?’ He hung his cloak on a stand by the door. 

Carthinal stood and ambled to the fire, putting a fresh log on to the flames. ‘Come and get warm, and, no I’ve not finished. I can’t settle to anything until I hear about whether I can take the tests soon. I think Emmienne has finished though. I can’t say about Tomac.’

‘Nearly,’ replied Tomac, jumping from his chair and carrying his workbook to his master. ‘I was a little stuck on the moon phases, though.’ He ran his fingers through his hair. ‘It’s complicated trying to work out both moons at the same time.’

‘Stick to it, youngster,’ said Emmienne from the window seat. She grinned across at the younger boy, the grin lighting up her otherwise plain face. ‘I had problems too, but it comes eventually.’

Tomac groaned and went back to his seat.

‘I’ve finished though, Sir,’ she said. ‘I’ve learned that new spell you gave me and am sure I can make it work. When can I try it?’

Mabryl laughed. ‘Such enthusiasm. We’ll try it tomorrow, I think. In the meantime, I’ve made what I think may be a big discovery. Perhaps the most important one for many, many years. Look.’ He put an ancient-looking book on the table. It had a red leather cover that sported a few cracks and scratches. On the front, in what had once been gold lettering, was the name Armron Filibur.  

The three apprentices gathered round.  

‘I think it may be a spell book from before the Forbidding,’ Mabryl said 

Emmienne gasped. ‘That is old. And if it is, we’ll be able to find lost spells. You’ll be famous, Sir.’

‘Calm down, Emm. It may not be the spell-book of a magister, or even an arch-mage.’ Cardinal smiled at the girl . ‘It may only have the spells we already know and not any of the lost ones.’

Around seven hundred and fifty years previously there had been a war between conflicting mages. It caused such devastation and hardship that, when it had ended, the king forbade the use of magic on pain of death. He ordered all spell books to be burned. 

Some mages, however, hid some of their books and these came to light occasionally. 

During this time, much knowledge was lost and now mages worked to try to re-discover the lost spells. If this book were to be of use, it would need to be taken to one of these mages.

The door opened and Lillora, Mabryl’s housekeeper entered. ‘Sorry to disturb you, sir, but a bird arrived a few minutes ago. I thought you should know.’ She glanced towards Carthinal and grinned, a twinkle in her eye. ‘Probably nothing important though.’

‘I’ll come and look,’ Mabryl stood and left the three apprentices to their own devices.

Carthinal picked up the book and leafed through it. He could understand little of what was written there. Firstly it was in an archaic script and language and secondly he was as yet only an apprentice and had not acquired the knowledge to understand more than a limited number of spells. 

He frowned as he tried to read the words on the page. As he lifted the book from the table to take it nearer to the light, a loose page fell onto the floor. He stooped to pick it up and realised he could read it, unlike the rest of the book, and that it was not a page fallen out, but a note that had been inserted there. He took it to the window seat and sat by Emmienne to read it.

‘What’s that?’ The brown-haired girl strained to read it upside down.

‘I’m not sure.’ Carthinal wrinkled his brow. ‘It fell out of the book Mabryl bought, but it’s not the same writing, nor is it in the same archaic script. It’s a note of some kind.’ He paused to read it.

As he read the note, Mabryl came back holding a piece of paper in his hand.

‘It’s good news, Carthinal,’ he told the young man. ‘There’s a space for you to take your tests in the next batch, which take place just before Grillon’s Day. As that’s in about five sixdays we’ll need to leave here soon to allow us time to settle in before your ordeal. What’s that you’ve got there?’ He strode to the window seat and looked at the paper in Carthinal’s hand.

‘It fell out of the book you bought,’ Cardinal replied . ‘It doesn’t seem to be by the author of the book though. It’s in a more modern script that I can read. It doesn’t make much sense though.’ He handed it to Mabryl who read it, then reread it, this time out loud.

‘“When Kalhera descends from the mountains, and orcs once more roam the land,

When impossible beasts occur and the Never-Dying man is once more at hand.

Then the Sword that was lost must once more be found; only it can destroy the threat

And kill the immortal mortal to balance out his debt.”

‘It does seem a strange thing to write,’  Tomac said, ‘and it doesn’t make a lot of sense either. How can Kalhera descend from the mountains? She’s a god and the gods don’t come down to Vimar.’ 

Mabryl turned the page in his hand and saw some more writing on the back. 

‘This says it’s a quotation from something the writer heard and wrote down. The author says he visited the Oracle on Holy Island and this was what he was told the Oracle said earlier in the day to no one in particular. Only the attendants were present.’ 

He replaced the paper in the book on the table and turned to Carthinal. ‘We must take this to a colleague of mine in the Mage Tower when we go. She’s working on finding the old spells, I believe, and this may be of use to her. The loose note may be a prophecy if it came from the Oracle, but who knows when it was made? It could be that it was centuries ago, or yesterday; and it could be referring to a time well in the future or even in the past. I think we should ignore it for now. Lillora told me our lunch is almost ready, so I suggest we go to the table before she gets mad.’

The three apprentices forgot all about the book and the note as they enjoyed the housekeeper’s excellent cooking and after the meal they returned to their studies. 

Mabryl gave them all tasks to complete and went out again, taking the book with him.

<<>>

Duke Danu of Bluehaven had trained at the Mage Tower in his youth. He had some talent for magic, but with the death of his elder brother in an epidemic, he had to take over the duties and prepared to become the duke one day. He had never taken the tests to end his apprenticeship, but he retained an interest in magic and still practiced it in a small way. ‘To keep my hand in,’ he told people. 

Today he sat in his study going over the accounts of the duchy when a knock came at the door.

‘Arch-mage Mabryl to see you, sir,’  his butler said.

‘Send him in.’ Danu rose from his seat and clasped Mabryl in a hug. ‘You’ve not been to visit in some while, my friend,’ he scolded. ‘Busy with your three apprentices, I suppose.’

Mabryl smiled at his friend. ‘Yes, they keep me busy. Carthinal’s ready to take his tests and become a full mage now.’

‘Is that so?’ Duke Danu raised an eyebrow. ‘Doesn’t time fly? Hardly seems any time at all when you took that scruffy little urchin off the streets. Everyone thought you were mad, you know–taking a street child to be your apprentic, then adopting him? Well, we were wrong. He’s turning out all right.’

‘Considering his background, yes. He still has his faults and I can’t say there weren’t times when I agreed with you I’d done the wrong thing. He still needs to control his temper better and his good looks don’t help him to control his baser instincts. Girls, and older women too, flirt outrageously with him, and he enjoys it a little too much! But I didn’t come here to talk about Carthinal. I’ve made a discovery and I want your opinion.’

 He pulled the spell-book out of a bag at his side. ‘I’m going to take this to Yssa at the Mage Tower when I take Carthinal. She’ll be the best to decide how important it is.’ He handed the book to Danu.

The duke whistled. ‘This is important, Mabryl. I can’t read it, but it certainly looks like a spell-book to me. It’s old and could easily date to before the Forbidding.’ He picked up the note that was still between its pages. ‘What’s this?’ 

‘A little note that was in the book. Carthinal found it. It doesn’t seem to belong to the book though, and I’ve thought it could be a hoax; someone putting a seeming prophecy in an important old book.’

‘Maybe, but I don’t think so. Some research I’ve been doing suggests that Grosmer is about to face some danger. This may be a prophecy about that. I would suggest you take it to Rollo in Hambara when you go. His library’s much more extensive than mine and he can find out more. I’ve been in touch with him about this possible danger so he knows a little of what I suspect.’

‘I don’t know Duke Rollo,’ Mabryl replied. ‘He may not believe me. I’ve heard he’s a suspicious man. I think there is a possibility this note is a hoax even if you don’t. I’ll need to prove that I’ve come from you.’

‘I’ll write you a letter to give to him.’ Danu ambled to his desk and lifted his pen. ‘I’ll also give you this.’ He picked up a small statuette of a trotting horse, about three inches long and two high that sat on his desk. ‘It’s one of a pair we found in our adventuring days. He has the other. He’ll know I’ve sent you when he sees that, especially if you ask him about the other one. Now, go and sit by the fire and I’ll get some wine for us to drink while we talk about other things.’

The two old friends spent the afternoon remembering past times and gossiping about the goings on in the city of Bluehaven as the afternoon passed into evening and the duke’s work lay unfinished on the desk.

If you would like to find out more about this prophecy and what it means, click on the book title in the sidebar.

(This was supposed to be scheduled for next Tuesday, but WordPress, in its wisdom, has decided I should post it now! So this is next week’s post early.)

Poetry

Time Passes

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This is the poem for today from my poetry book, From January to June, One Poem a Day. In it there is one poem for every day of the year, including an extra for leap years.

This one is considering how quickly the years go by, especially later in life.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Time passes.

Tick tock. Time slips by,
One tick at a time.
The older we get, 
The faster it goes
I’m wondering why.

Tock tick. Time flows on.
It feels just last year
I could run quickly,
Pick up a hay bale
Throw it to the sheep.

Tick tock. Time goes forth.
It plods without care
Of how bodies grow old
But minds remain young
Think still they can do.

If you enjoyed this poem, or even if you didn’t, I welcome your opinion. Please leave any comments in the comments box.

If you would like to read more of my poetry, click on the image of the poetry book in the sidebar. This will take you to where you can choose to buy from your favourite online platform.

novel

How I Write: The Journey of a Pantser Author

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I thought I’d tell you a little about how I set about writing my books and stories today, but first, for those non-writers amongst you I’d better make a few things clear. Writers ignore this as you already know it.

There are two–no, three–kinds of writers.

First are the plotters. They are the ones who write like you were taught at school, setting out to write an outline of their work before beginning. These people might write just a simple outline, but others go much farther and write a chapter by chapter outline. They search for the Inciting incident, decide where the first plot point is going to come, and all the other things we are told a good story needs. Then they refer to this as they write. It helps them to stay focused on the plot and not wander off.

Second are what are known as pantsers. These writers write ‘by the seat of their pants’. They don’t write a plan but simply start writing and see where the story goes. Sometimes they are called ‘discovery writers’.

The third type is a combination of the two, sometimes known as plantsers. These writers don’t have a massively detailed plan, but will often have a very general outline which they sort of follow.

I describe myself as a pantser. I haven’t the patience to write a detailed plan, although I often have something in my head. I often know the ending of a story before I start.

I do like to know my characters, though, so I will look at their background and what brought them to this point, even if it isn’t going to be in the story. People’s backgrounds affect how they behave, so this is important.

But in my Wolves of Vimar series, I have produced 4 prequels giving the background of some of the characters. There may be more to come in the future.

Once I have the characters and know them a bit, I begin to write. I allow things to happen as they occur to me. Sometimes it seems as if the characters are taking over. The first time this happened (in writing The Wolf Pack) I thought I must be going mad, because a character did something I wasn’t expecting. (No spoilers, so I won’t say what it was.) Then I discovered that other writers also have characters take over. They don’t always do as we want them to. One of my characters who first appeared in The Wolf Pack, a small dragon-like creature about the size of a cat, made no appearance in the second book, The Never-Dying Man, nor the third, Wolf Moon, but he demanded my attention, saying he must have a bigger role to play and he could be useful. So Muldee became a spy in Immortal’s Death and had quite a big and important role.

Stories often take a turn from what I originally envisaged. This is exciting. Sometimes it means I might have to change the ending. (Getting the right ending is difficult, so as to leave the reader feeling satisfied.)

There are times when I’m simply not inspired. A story is going nowhere and I spend hours trying to decide what to write. If I force myself to start, I frequently find that things happen and ideas flow that didn’t when I was just thinking about it. I suppose the characters are there and telling me what they want! :)) I have a couple of stories like that at the moment, but I have another project on the go, so they will have to wait.

But this method can take you down rabbit holes. This, of course, means more work in the editing process. It has to be sorted before anything else happens. Parts removed that are unnecessary and don’t add anything to the plot. Maybe characters need removing if they don’t do anything. But these can always be kept for another story.

I often run it through Grammarly or Hemmingway, a couple of grammar checkers. After I’ve done all I think I can do, I post it on a couple of on-line critique groups. These are invaluable and help me polish the manuscript as well as pointing out places where they got confused. Yes, I write confusing stuff sometimes.

Only then is it fit for human consumption, as it were. I don’t have beta readers, unfortunately. I’ve been unable to find any reliable ones, so it has to stand after this.

I hope to soon be back to my third historical novel set in the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings.

Thank you for reading.

If you have any comments, please add them to the comments box, and if you want to buy any of my books, you can click on the cover on the sidebar to take you to the online store of your choice.

book reviews, fantasy, novel

Review of Catling’s Bane by D. Wallace Peach

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Overview.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s the first of a series, and I’m looking forward to reading the others. A wonderful story, well told.

Blurb

Catling – She’s a weapon desired by those who reign and those who rebel.

In the tiered cities of Ellegeance, the elite Influencers’ Guild holds the power to manipulate emotions. Love and fear, pleasure and pain mark the extremes of their sway. But it’s the subtle blends that hook their victims’ hearts. They hide behind oaths of loyalty and rule the world.

Until Catling discovers the gift that will be her bane. She is the shield that disrupts the influencer’s sway.

Born in the grim warrens beneath the city, Catling rues the rose birthmark encircling her eye. Yet, it grants her a unique ability, the means to remake a civilization. To the Guild, she an aberration, a threat, and they order her death. No longer a helpless child, Catling has other plans.

As chaos shakes the foundations of order and rule, will she become the realm’s savior? Or its executioner?

Welcome to a world of three moons, a sentient landscape, rivers of light, and tier cities that rise from the swamps like otherworld flowers. A planet of waterdragons, where humans are the aliens living among three-fingered natives with spotted skin. Where a half-blood converses with the fog and the goddess plans her final reckoning.

In the spirit of the fantasy tradition set by Patrick Rothfuss, Karen Miller, and Glenda Larke, follow Catling’s journey as she grows into the deadly force that shapes the future. She is the realm’s shield, an influencer, assassin, healer, mother, and avenger. And all she desires is to go home.

Story

Catling is first met as a child of around two years. She has a birthmark over her right eye, and her mother tries to scrub it off. 

She has been born into the poor, who scrape a living under a large tiered city. The richer a person is, the higher in the tiers they live, culminating in the High Ward’s place of residence.

High Ward Algar holds onto his position by means of regular hangings and the use of ‘influencers’ who can manipulate the emotions of the people. These influencers make people enjoy the hangings, and even influence those being hanged to be happy about it.

Catling discovers she can block the influencers. It has something to do with her birthmarked eye. She has the sense to keep it a secret, though. 

Her mother thinks she can improve her lot without a child, and when Catling is six, she sells her.

The man who buys the child has a large family, and is kind, so Catling enjoys her life there.

Then things begin to change. Her idyllic life is shattered.

I won’t say any more because of spoilers.

Characters

Ms Wallace Peach has given us a wealth of interesting characters. Each one is an individual, with their own quirks. 

I liked the way Ms Wallace Peach dealt with Catling growing up. She was confused, afraid, loving, all the things a young girl would feel. But her special talent made her want to remain hidden. It would be extremely dangerous for it to be discovered that she could block the influencers.

There are a lot of individuals in this book, and I’m not going to pick any out.

Writing.

I find Diana Wallace Peach’s writing beautiful. She spins a wonderful tale, and draws the reader into the story. 

The atmospheres she creates in the different parts of the book seem real. The abject poverty of the people at the beginning of the book; the richness of the higher tiers; the love Catling found on the farm; the river and its dangerous denizens; the swamp people; all are shown so we feel we are part of those communities.

The grammar is good–no, excellent, and there are few typos.

I give it 5*.

 My ranking of books.

In order to get a particular number of stars, it is not necessary to meet all the criteria. This is a guide only.

5* Exceptional. Wonderful story. Setting well drawn, and characters believable–not perfect, but with flaws. Will keep you up all night. No typos or grammatical errors.

4* A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great and original story. Believable setting and characters. Very few grammatical errors or typos.

3* I enjoyed it. Good story. Characters need some development. Some typos or grammatical errors.

2* Not for me. Story not very strong. Unbelievable and flat characters. Setting not clearly defined. Many typos or grammatical errors.

1* I hated it. Story almost non-existent. Setting poor. Possibly couldn’t finish it.

book reviews, novel

Surviving the Horror: The Woods Family’s Final Stand

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Overview

This is the third and final part of The Misery House trilogy. This has given me a problem as I don’t want to give away anything from the first two books into case you’ve not yet read them.

The series is a horror series set in a small town in the US. Looming over the town is an abandoned house, which gives its name to the series as a whole. The story is told in the first person, but from several points of view.

Blurb

Everyone feels safe in their own house. Until it’s too late.

The Woods family is at peace, at last. With Allison now safe. Kaia is not afraid. But everything changes when Allison gets sick… and another child from New Haven goes missing.

Everything leads to the house on the hill. And this time, the whole town is at stake.

Cliff Woods petitions to demolish the house. In response, New Haven slowly turns against him, looking for any reason or way to burn him down, instead. And it’s not hard to find.

At the same time, Kaia simply needs to make it until Nate graduates. Less than a year. But Rhys has more to tell her… Secrets from a hundred years ago.

When the Woods family is no longer safe in their own home, they only have one choice: Fight until the end.

But in this town, there are no happy endings.

Story

This is where it gets difficult. In the first two books, mysterious things happen. 

The main protagonists are the Woods family–Cliff, Naomi and their children, Kaia and Nate.

In the first two books, lights are seen in the house at night. Something chases Naomi Woods and her son, Nate, when they are on a bike ride. 

Then Kaia’s best friend, Alison, disappears at the house, having gone there with her new husband, Malaki.

At the end of book 2 it seems everything has returned to normal after its terrifying ending, but it’s only just beginning. And a mysterious young boy called Rhys turns up and no one can find out his background or parentage. He appears to know little either, even of normal Iife. Cliff and Naomi decide to foster him.

In this third book, the town turns against Cliff, especially when he suggests demolishing the house. 

We are taken back in time to learn something of the history of the house and how it came to be so horrific, and something of its current denizens.

Alison has been so traumatised by her experiences that she is undergoing therapy and her family has moved to the nearby city. The sheriff also has been so affected that he has to retire. And then his four year old son vanishes.

I don’t think I can say much more without spoilers.

Characters

Kaia Woods is a young woman who has just finished school and is trying to decide on her next move. She is struggling with her sexuality and her growing feelings for Alison. When her family is threatened, she finds courage and decides to go to the house to put an end to the dangers in spite of her fears.

Nate Woods is a young man just entering 8th grade at the beginning of the book. He is a keen baseball player who plays for his school team. As a typical teen, he spends much time playing on his X-box with Rhys. He is devastated when his team loses a match.

Like Kaia, he discovers he has more courage than he knew when his family is in danger.

Cliff Woods left New Haven to go to university where he met Naomi, a beautiful black girl. They married, and he brought her back to help run his father’s farm. He loves his wife deeply, and is an excellent father to Kaia and Nate. But his paternal feeling and desire to protect his family leads to his being ostracised by the towns folk. 

He is willing to sacrifice anything, even his life, to keep them safe.

Naomi Woods is a strong woman with a good heart. She works tirelessly for the good of the town and the church. When she feels her children are threatened, she becomes like a lioness and will overcome her fears to protect them.

It appears that, as the only black woman in town, she has been accepted by everyone, but appearances can be deceptive.

Rhys appears towards the end of Book 2. He is a mystery. He is revealed at the end of Book 2 after the climax. He says he can remember nothing of his past, and is baffled by many modern things, even baseball. He tries very hard to fit in and seems to want to be adopted by the Woods family. They all grow to care for him.

There are other characters, such as the Sheriff, Jeremy, who is Cliff’s friend, and Naomi’s friend, Susan, amongst others, but I’ll leave these characters for now.

Writing

David Kummer writes well. There are a few typos in the work, and he hasn’t got the hang of the difference between ‘lay’ and ‘lie’, which he gets wrong every time.

Having said that, he does a good job of building the tension. I found it difficult to put down, and felt a connection with the Woods family.

One thing I wondered about was why he gave Cliff Woods two names. The townsfolk call him Cliff, but Naomi calls him Ben.

There were also, I felt, a few loose ends. Where did Silas, the antagonist, get his power from? for example. And was Alison’s I’ll health due to the

power of the house, and why? Also, why was the Woods family such a target from the beginning?

Still, apart from these things, it was a good read.

I give it 4*

 My ranking of books.

In order to get a particular number of stars, it is not necessary to meet all the criteria. This is a guide only.

5* Exceptional. Wonderful story. Setting well drawn, and characters believable–not perfect, but with flaws. Will keep you up all night. No typos or grammatical errors.

4* A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great and original story. Believable setting and characters. Very few grammatical errors or typos.

3* I enjoyed it. Good story. Characters need some development. Some typos or grammatical errors.

2* Not for me. Story not very strong. Unbelievable and flat characters. Setting not clearly defined. Many typos or grammatical errors.

1* I hated it. Story almost non-existent. Setting poor. Possibly couldn’t finish it.

book reviews, history, novel, romance

Review of Marguerite by Marina Montrose

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Overview

This is an enemies to lovers story. The setting is the Regency period in the United Kingdom. I did wonder if it would be a take on  Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, but apart from the time period, I was wrong.

Blurb

Chemistry sizzles between Lady Marguerite and the Duke of Argyle. Will she be able to reconcile reason with passion?
When the arrogant Duke of Argyle makes an offer for her hand, Lady Marguerite Lennox is quick to refuse, thinking him arrogant and aloof.
Her parents are disappointed she has turned down the best catch in the matrimonial stakes. The duke himself is reeling from the insult to his ego. He decides to pursue her as he has never pursued anyone before. His aim is to conquer, to bend her to his will.
When the duke steals a burning kiss at a ball, sparks fly. Marguerite is struck by lightning, but is terrified of getting burned. If passion wanes, she fears her life will be bleak.
Marguerite is the story of a man who is obsessed with a feisty but kind woman—who loves him but does not much like him.

Story

Marguerite has an English father and a French mother. Her father, Lord Lennox, had been an envoy for the British Government in Paris, but had now returned to England with his wife and daughter.

Marguerite was introduced to Society on their return. The balls, house parties etc are quite simply a means of young people finding a suitable marriage partner.

Marguerite draws a lot of interest. She has been brought up to have a mind of her own, unlike most other young women of the time, who are expected to be meek and accomplished in such things as painting and music, but not anything that uses their intellect.

One person who is drawn to her is the Duke of Argyle. He is not very pleasant, and when he asks her parents for her hand in marriage, she adamantly refuses.

I don’t want to say any more as I don’t want to add a spoiler.

Characters

Marguerite: She is, as I said, a young woman who knows her own mind. She is determined to marry for love and not wealth or position. Her mother regrets her decision to turn down Argyle as he’s a wealthy man and a duke. Marrying him would make her a duchess. But Marguerite dislikes him, and refuses him, even though a part of her is drawn to him.

Marguerite is a kind person and she doesn’t restrict her kindness to those of her own class, as is shown when she helps a poor woman, and a young woman who is finding it difficult to fit in with the snobbish aristocrats as her father, although wealthy, is ‘in trade’.

Duke of Argyle: I did wonder if this story should have him as the protagonist as he has the biggest character arc. At the beginning he is a man who feels entitled to respect. But he doesn’t do much to earn it. He was orphaned early and came into his inheritance. Although his father had been somewhat profligate with his money, Argyle has a good brain and by judicious use, has gained a fortune. However, he is known as a ‘rake’, and keeps several mistresses, and gambles at cards. He is also somewhat disdainful about the society he finds himself in. 

Until he meets Marguerite, he attends few balls.

However, his growing love for Marguerite encourages a change in attitudes.

Alice: Alice is Marguerite’s cousin. She helps Marguerite with her entry into society. However, she isn’t strong-minded like Marguerite, and fits into what a young woman of the Regency period should be. 

Charles: This young man is in love with Marguerite, although he never declares it. He is a bit wishy-washy in my opinion. Not a suitable match for the firebrand Marguerite. If I met him, I think I’d probably quite like him, but consider him a bit meh!

Writing: On the whole the writing was quite good for a first book. No major grammatical or spelling errors.

The point of view in the story is from several viewpoints. We see Marguerite and Argyle, mainly, with occasional forays into Marguerite’s mother. Not a problem as it’s clear who we’re with.

I was a little confused at the beginning as the book opens with Argyll asking for Marguerite’s hand, then goes back to things that led up to it. It was quite a long way into the book before I realised that.

I would have liked to see more emotion shown by the characters, and how they felt inside, but it wasn’t really problem. I enjoyed reading it.

I give it 4*

 My ranking of books.

In order to get a particular number of stars, it is not necessary to meet all the criteria. This is a guide only.

5* Exceptional. Wonderful story. Setting well drawn, and characters believable–not perfect, but with flaws. Will keep you up all night. No typos or grammatical errors.

4* A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great and original story. Believable setting and characters. Very few grammatical errors or typos.

3* I enjoyed it. Good story. Characters need some development. Some typos or grammatical errors.

2* Not for me. Story not very strong. Unbelievable and flat characters. Setting not clearly defined. Many typos or grammatical errors.

1* I hated it. Story almost non-existent. Setting poor. Possibly couldn’t finish it.

announcement, book release, Guest Post, history, interview, novel, romance

Meet Marina Montrose: Author, Artist, and Horse Breeder

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Marina has just released her first book. It is a historical novel set in the Regency Period. I’m looking forward to reading it as I enjoy that genre, and have written two historical fiction books, myself.

Marina has kindly agreed to come and be interviewed on Dragons Rule OK.

Welcome, Marina. It’s good to meet you. It’s always exciting when one publishes a new book, but especially so when it’s your first. Congratulations. You’ve arrived at a place many would like to be. I hope your book is a great success.

Now to the questions.

Who is your favourite author?

This is impossible to answer! There are so many I love—and admire. Also impossible to choose a favourite book.

If that book isn’t a ‘classic’, what is your favourite ‘classical’ book?

My favourite classic has to be Middlemarch, by George Eliot.

If you have a ‘proper’ job, what is it?

My husband and I breed racehorses on a farm in Normandy, France, where I enjoy riding on the beach.

Why do you write?

I have felt the need to write since early childhood, but I never took myself too seriously. I scribbled down stories and was editor of our high school magazine, Sunny Days. I write simply because I enjoy it—I don’t agonise over it and I don’t get writer’s block because I have to steal time to do it.

Many of us feel this compulsion to write. I think if we were prevented from writing, we’d tell stories, either to anyone who would listen, or even just to ourselves.

Why do you write historical romance?

I like to write in a wide range of genres. I have written a number of short stories, some poems, two mysteries (as yet unpublished) and am working on a family memoir. I also write a blog, Letters from Athens, about art, books and other things that interest me. I like to have a few things on the go at the same time. During lockdown, I started re-reading Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer (whom I hadn’t touched since my teens) and was inspired to write a series of Regency Romances, the first of which, Marguerite, was recently published.

Do you have any pets?

We have a huge ridgeback and a tiny dachshund. Guess who is alpha dog?

Haha! My aunt had a dachshund, so I know how feisty they can be!

If you could meet any 3 people, alive or dead, who would they be? Why?

I’ve always had a wish to meet Tom Stoppard, but this dream is over now, sadly. I adored his plays. Also Margaret Atwood, whom I’ve heard speak a few times—I just love her style and her sharpness of mind. Finally, Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk. He grew up in Istanbul at the same time as I did in Athens, and his description of life there (in his books ‘The Museum of Innocence’ and ‘Istanbul’) is eerily similar to my experience, only more ‘oriental’. I would love to have a chat with him a about it.

Yes, it’s a great loss . Like you, I enjoyed his plays.

Do you enjoy sport? Do you prefer to watch or take part?

I competed in show jumping for many years as an amateur at international level.

Wow! Impressive. I rode when I was younger, but never in any competitions.

Do you like art? Who is your favourite artist?

I am an artist as well as a writer. I love to draw and paint and I take part in a local workshop twice a week. I love to visit museums and exhibitions but I cannot name a single favourite artist—there are so many fantastic ones, in all styles and eras.

I, too, paint and draw. I love the Impressionists especially, but the Old Masters were amazing.

Can you swim?

I’m Greek, of course I can swim! I spent my childhood summers barefoot and half-naked on island beaches.

It sounds idyllic.

Do you do any voluntary work? If so, what?

During the lockdown, I started teaching Greek online to refugees— unaccompanied minors who were confined in a shelter in Athens. Later they went back to school, but two boys have stayed connected to me. They are now working adults and we still keep in close contact. I’m also mentoring a wonderful Persian girl who came to Greece at fifteen not speaking a word of Greek or English. She is now studying International Affairs on a full scholarship in America. Long stories but so rewarding.

What a rewarding thing to do. And it’s really nice that you keep in contact with some of your students. I was a teacher until I retired, and some of my ex-pupils keep in touch via Facebook. It’s really good to know how they are going on.

And now a biggy. What do you think is the biggest problem facing the world today?

As usual, the inability of humankind to stop repeating the same mistakes. Reading Herodotus’s Histories is an eye-opener. It is terrifying that human nature has not changed over the centuries.

Yes, it seems the human race is incapable of learning from its mistakes.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit. I’m sure all your readers will enjoy knowing a bit more about you. I know I’ve enjoyed listening to your answers.

A bit more about Marina

Marina Montrose is based in Deauville, France, where she breeds horses with her husband. She is also an artist and writer. She writes Regency Romances, short stories and mysteries. ‘Marguerite’ is her debut novel—a stand-alone, but the first in a series.

Now about her new book:

Blurb

Chemistry sizzles between Lady Marguerite Lennox and Thomas, the Duke of Argyle — communication, less so.

Newly arrived from Paris and enjoying her first London season, Lady Marguerite Lennox has no wish to be married and exchange dancing and flirting for boring wifely duties in a crumbling mansion. So, when the handsome but supercilious Duke of Argyle makes her an offer, she promptly refuses, even though it is a brilliant match. Being a duchess holds no charms for her and what is more, she thinks him arrogant and unlikeable. She much prefers her entourage of charming and amusing swains.

Thomas, the Duke of Argyle, will not take no for an answer. Piqued by her refusal, he decides to pursue her as he has never pursued any woman before. He is obsessed with her, although he thinks her headstrong, obstinate, and rude. But even after a burning, stolen kiss, and a house party full of tender and erotic moments, Marguerite is still unwilling to marry him. This is driving him insane—she is so different from any other woman he has known, he has no idea how to deal with her. 

The duke is tired of locking horns with Marguerite. But what will it take for him to win her heart?

I’ve started to read the book, but am less than halfway through, so it wouldn’t be fair for me to post a review yet. I will do so as soon as I’ve finished, both here, Amazon and Goodreads, as usual.

Here is a link to the book on Amazon.

Take me to Amazon to buy

announcement, book release, fantasy, novel

Immortal’s Death has Arrived

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I’ve now been informed that Immortal’s Death is available on multiple platforms. The links are below.

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK: https://books2read.com/u/b6AYN0

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G33NG9GJ

APPLE BOOKS: https://books.apple.com/us/book/immortals-death/id6755531622

BARNES & NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/immortals-death-vm-sang/1148784243?ean=2940182385084

GOOGLE BOOKS: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=I_uZEQAAQBAJ

RAKUTEN KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/immortal-s-death

A royal wedding. A missing duke. An empire on the brink of war.

Carthinal and his companions gather to celebrate Princess Randa’s wedding to Prince Almoro—until news arrives that Duke Larrin of Sendolina and his wife are missing, and their lands have fallen to enemy forces. With tension rising between Grosmer and Erian, the king dispatches a dragonet to uncover the truth.

As the Wolf mercenaries set out on a dangerous rescue mission, they are blown off course and forced into battles on land and sea. Meanwhile, rebellion brews in Hambara, and young Thadora—noble by blood but raised in the shadows—must uncover Erian’s next move.

Soon, loyalties will be tested, lives lost, and Carthinal will have to face a betrayal from someone he trusted the most.

A richly detailed epic fantasy adventure, IMMORTAL’S DEATH is the fourth book in the Wolves of Vimar series by V.M. Sang.

The first 3 books are available as a Collection. It says ‘The Complete Series’, but that was before Book 4 was published.

The Wolves of Vimar Collection: The Complete Series

The Wolves of Vimar Collection: The Complete Series

by V.M. Sang  | 18 Dec 2023

Kindle Edition £3.99

Paperback £21.99

Hardcover £37 54

All three books in V.M. Sang’s ‘The Wolves Of Vimar’ series of fantasy novels, now available in one volume!

The Wolf Pack: Carthinal is ready for his rite of passage to become a mage. What he doesn’t expect is ending up on a quest to find the long-lost sword of the legendary King Sauvern. Followed by Randa, the daughter of the Duke of Hambara, and the young thief Thad, Carthinal will need all the help he can get in order to complete his quest.

The Never-Dying Man: After straying into Erian, Carthinal and his friends find preparations for war. Carthinal will need to face unpleasant truths about himself; Is his desire to further his magical career more important than his friends, and his country?

Wolf Moon: An invasion is planned to Grosmer. As the heroes make their escape, they accidentally stumble upon an old Dwarven city. Facing enemies on all sides, the five must find where their loyalties lie, But can they save their homeland from certain destruction?

Although it is better to read the whole series, I believe that each book can be read on its own. There are some things that hang over, as it’s a series, but most things are settled in each book. There is an overarching quest of finding and killing the Never-Dying Man to save the land of Grosmer.

If you choose to read any or all of the books, I would be more than grateful for an honest review, and if you would like a free review copy of Immortal’s Death (or any of the other books), please let me know in the comments.

There is no obligation to review, but I would be greatly appreciative.

announcement, book release, Cover Reveal, fantasy, novel

Interview with Sandron from The Wolves of Vimar Series.

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I’ve been told that the release of Book 4 is imminent.

I invited Sandron, brother to Duke Larrin of Sendolina, to come and have a chat. He eagerly agreed.

Image: young man with a dragonet on his shoulder sitting in a castle room .
Image generated by Vivienne Sang using Bing AI Generator

Hi, Sandron. It’s good of you to agree to join me.

Sandron: Thank you for asking me.

Me: I understand you are the youngest of three. What was it like, growing up with two older brothers?

Sandron: Well, I’d have preferred being the second. Not the eldest, though.

Me: Why was that? The eldest would become the Duke of Sendolina. Wouldn’t you have liked that?

Sandron: *Shakes his head.* Nah! Not for me. Too much work. But it suits Larrin perfectly. He was much more serious than either Brand or myself.

Me: Brand is your other brother–the middle one of the three of you?

Sandron: Was. Brand is no longer with us. He was murdered by that fellow, Hammevaro, at a banquet. He’d come to Grosmer as Erian’s ambassador and poisoned the wine for the top table. That included all the dukes, Crown Prince Perdillon and his wife, Princess Helloria, King Gerim and Queen Carolla and Princess Dara.
Sadly, King Gerim died, along with several dukes. Princess Helloria had just gone into labour with Prince Gerim and so she and Perdillon had left, and Prince Almoro was sulking over Randa, so remained in his room.
Brand was one who succumbed, too. *Wipes his hand over his face.*

Me: Why did Hammevaro do this?

Sandron: In order to try to remove all experienced leaders to make Erian’s invasion easier. *Thumps the table.*

Me: You miss Brand.

Sandron: Yes. I miss him every day. *sighs* We had such fun, especially when Randa came to live with us. Her father sent her to share our tutor. *grins*. We called him Snagtooth. His real name was Professor Snaggletuf, as he had very uneven teeth the nickname fit.

Me: Larrin became Duke of Sendolina. What did Brand and you do?

Sandron: Brand joined the army. It suited him, and I’ve no doubt he’d have made it to the highest level. Second sons went into the army. Third sons, *pauses for a second* usually joined one of the temples and became priests. That wasn’t the life for me. I honour the gods, of course, but don’t have a preference.

Me: Why didn’t you join the army?

Sandron: No good at following orders. I’d have questioned them if I thought I had a better idea. Not a good trait in a soldier!

Me: So what did you do?

Sandron: *He broke into laughter.* I became the leader of a bandit gang. No one knew until we captured Wolf on their way back from finding Sauvern’s Sword and Randa recognised me. She then gave me the idea of becoming legit and forming a mercenary troop.

Me: You have a much bigger part to play in this current part of the story. Are you pleased about that?

Sandron: Yes… and no. It doesn’t always show me in the best light. But I was pleased to help my country.

Me: Thank you for coming to Dragons Rule OK.

Sandron: It was a pleasure. Thank you for inviting me.

I’m really looking forward to the release of this book. I enjoyed writing it immensely. It took a long time, but very shortly it’ll be released into the wild.

If you’ve not read the other books in the series, it begins with The Wolf Pack, goes on to Wolf Moon and The NeverDying Man, and now Immortal’s Death.

It all begins with a prophecy found in an ancient book.

When Kalhera descends from the mountains
And orcs once more roam the land:
When impossible beasts occur
And the Never-Dying Man is once more at hand,
Then the Sword that was lost must once more be found.
Only it can destroy the threat
And kill the Immortal Mortal
To balance out his debt.

A newly-promoted mage, a priestess in disgrace, an outcast ranger, an aristocratic young lady. These come together along with others, to try to find Sauvern’s Sword–a mythical, magic sword lost for hundreds of years.

Their quest leads them to near death, rescue by strange creatures, a visit to foreign lands, capture and escape.

Can they succeed in finding the Sword, in order to save the land of Grosmer from peril?

You can get the books by clicking on the cover in the sidebar.

If you have anyone who likes Epic Fantasy in your family, these would make excellent Christmas presents.

And here’s a review.

D. W. Peach

4.0 out of 5 stars Plot-driven high fantasy quest

Reviewed in the United States on 12 March 2024

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The first book in the Wolves of Vimar series opens with the burial of a king and his magical sword, and the sacrifice of twelve warriors whose spirits will protect his body from harm until the eight “wolves” come. This prophecy results, many years later, in a quest, as eight characters are sent by a duke to bring back the sword.

The book is divided into thirds. Part I takes its time introducing the characters who represent a variety of races including humans, elves, dwarves, and their half-elf leader, Carthinal. The group includes the duke’s entitled daughter Randa, a married horselord couple, and a young thief with a thick accent. The backstory for most of the characters comes through multiple points of view with some omnipresent narration.

Part II of the story begins the journey. The author’s attention to world-building is evident as the “wolf pack” wends their way across the land. Part III covers the journey home. The pace is moderate throughout with tangents for fun, humor, and a bit of romance. Much of the book’s journeying reminded me of a Dungeons and Dragons quest, with a variety of creatures offering challenges along the way including Yetis, dragons, nymphs, bandits, hobgoblins, and other fantasy monsters.

The characters are distinct but for me, the book was more of a plot-driven read than an emotionally-deep character-driven one. Most of the characters don’t have significant arcs apart from Randa, the entitled duke’s daughter, and for that reason, I found her the most interesting. Though the first book in the series, it also stands alone well. Recommended to YA readers of high-fantasy quests who enjoy a leisurely pace, plot-driven stories, and encounters with otherworldly creatures and monsters.

book reviews, short story, stories

Glimpses by Hugh W Roberts. Book Review.

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Blurb

After publishing some of his short stories on his blog, Hugh W. Roberts, who is dyslexic, received numerous requests to publish his short stories in a book.

Here, at last, are 28 short stories that will take your mind on a roller coaster of a ride into worlds that conceal unexpected twists and turns.

‘Glimpses’ allows the reader a peek into the lives of everyday people who are about to have life lead them on an unpredicted path. From a mysterious deadly iPad app to a hole in the fence that is not all it seems, to a strange lipstick that appears to have a life of its own, you will encounter terror, laughter, sadness, shock and many other emotions on journeys which promise a thrilling and gripping climax.

If you are a lover of shows such as ‘The Twilight Zone’ and ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’, then you are in for a real treat with this first collection of short stories from Hugh.

Dare you take a glimpse into the lives of these unsuspecting characters?

As this is a book of short stories, my usual format for reviews won’t work.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading these stories. There were stories of different lengths, so you could choose a short one if you haven’t much time, or a longer one if you wanted to settle down and relax.

I began at the first story and worked my way through. 

Every story has an interesting twist, which, for me, made it very interesting and exciting trying to decide what the twist would be.

Some of these stories will horrify you, some will sadden you, yet others will make you smile, but they will all surprise you.

The book is well written and I didn’t notice any typos of grammatical errors.

If you are a fan of such TV programmes as The Twilight Zone or Tales of the Unexpected, then this is the book for you.

I give it 5*

 My ranking of books.

In order to get a particular number of stars, it is not necessary to meet all the criteria. This is a guide only.

5* Exceptional. Wonderful story. Setting well drawn, and characters believable–not perfect, but with flaws. Will keep you up all night. No typos or grammatical errors.

4* A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great and original story. Believable setting and characters. Very few grammatical errors or typos.

3* I enjoyed it. Good story. Characters need some development. Some typos or grammatical errors.

2* Not for me. Story not very strong. Unbelievable and flat characters. Setting not clearly defined. Many typos or grammatical errors.

1* I hated it. Story almost non-existent. Setting poor. Possibly couldn’t finish it.

And another review from Amazon


“If you are looking for a thoroughly entertaining read, Glimpses is the book for you. Each story, cleverly crafted through Hugh’s wonderful imagination, will whisk you away to many different worlds, past, present and future. Every story makes a compelling read and just when you think you know what’s going to happen next, Hugh masterfully reveals a brilliant twist. With bite-size and longer stories, Glimpses is a must-read. I loved it.” – Esther Chilton, Writer, and Author.