Review: _Blood and Iron_ by Elizabeth Bear

Creatures from Faery steal children from our world, some fairy half breeds, to replenish their numbers. A group of human mages known as the Prometheans fight against Faery to keep them from overcoming our world and stop the child stealing. Blood and Iron by Elizabeth Bear tells the story of this struggle in the first book of the “Promethean Age” series. Interesting characters, a suspenseful plot and compelling themes makes the book an entertaining read.

First, the author starts out with interesting characters for the book. Elaine Andraste also known as Seeker is a half human half fairy woman with internal conflicts about herself. She struggles with guilt and pain from her human emotions, not knowing which side of her heritage to choose. Matthew Magus is a human mage and member of the Prometheans, a group pledged to protect the world from Faery. He is idealistic, but suffers over his brother’s difficulties. Keith is a werewolf in love with Elaine and reluctant in his role as heir to the pack leadership. Coupled with the amoral creatures of Faery like Whiskey the kelpie, the characters keep the book entertaining with their conflicts.

Next, the darkly suspenseful plot keeps the book entertaining for readers. Ms. Bear writes a tight story that keeps action moving throughout the book. It begins with Seeker looking for a half fairy girl. She encounters the powerful kelpie Whiskey and manages to bind him. Once she returns to the Otherworld, she is ordered by the Queen to find the Merlin, a human who is magic, to help in the fight against the human mages. The Prometheans plan a war to cut off Faery from the human world forever. Added to this is the tithe Faery must pay to Hell and is trying to get out of paying. Bloody battles ensue with vivid descriptions by the author for a great story.

Lastly, the book is an entertaining read due to the compelling themes explored by the author. One theme explored is the struggle people have between their good and dark sides because of their souls. Elaine must struggle throughout the book to choose which half of her heritage to follow. She finds having a soul painful when dealing with hard decisions. The themes of heroism and fate are explored with the build up to the battles. Keith the werewolf fights with being the chosen dragon prince leader of the Faery armies. Ms. Bear also weaves in themes from Arthurian legends to make the story stronger. All these themes keep readers hooked until the end.

Blood and Iron by Elizabeth Bear is an excellent beginning to the “Promethean Age” series. The book is an entertaining read because of its interesting characters, suspenseful plot and compelling themes. Readers will enjoy the dark story of the battle between the Prometheans and Faery, which leads to a satisfying ending. The second book in the series is called Whiskey and Water.

Review: _A Dark Sacrifice_ by Madeline Howard

Some middle books of trilogies suffer from little movement of the story forward. These books sometimes put readers off from boredom. A Dark Sacrifice by Madeline Howard is the second book of the “Rune on Unmaking” trilogy. This book does not suffer from middle book stagnation. The story moves forward through setting, characters and plot.

First, the well developed setting moves the story forward. The world of the novel contains large islands with different cultures. These different islands are connected by ships sailing the vast oceans full of dangerous creatures. Different cultures developed on the islands due to the distances between islands. The setting of this world has a rich past of fallen empires and insidious magics. There are frightening creatures and strange magical systems. Ms. Howard weaves all these elements into a powerful setting that remains vivid throughout the book.

Next, the characters with their problems move the story forward as they try to solve problems. Sinderian is a powerful healing mage with doubts about her strength. She constantly struggles with herself to not be helpless or arrogant. Ruan, who travels with Sinderian, must deal with his heritage from two disparate cultures. He dislikes his mother’s people, distrusting them because they do not accept him with his half blood heritage. Winloki is a young princess destined to fulfill a prophecy. She is torn by her ignorance of the past and the kindness of her captors. Even the empress, Ouriana, has problems with an old enemy who opposes her and she is an unwitting dupe of the forces using her. Ms. Howard develops interesting, three-dimensional characters that keep the story moving forward.

Lastly, a focused plot moves the second book forward to an exciting climax. The book begins with Sinderian and Ruan trying to find Winloki. They travel to a fortress under siege by dark forces. Finding out that Camhoinhann, Ouriana’s high priest, has taken Winloki captive, they pursue the captors joined by Prince Kivik and Skerry. Meanwhile, Winloki travels with her captors and discovers herself sympathizing with them. Sinderian travels with her companions carrying a dark secret plan to save Winloki. These plot threads weave together for a good story. Ms. Howard writes with vivid images and a tight plot that leads to an thrilling climax and cliffhanger.

A Dark Sacrifice by Madeline Howard is an stimulating middle book in the trilogy. Setting, characters and plot blend together smoothly to advance the story of the “Rune of Unmaking” trilogy. The book does not suffer from middle book stagnation. A nice cliffhanger leaves readers eagerly waiting for the next book in the series.

Janny Wurts

Have you ever seen a painting with the artist’s signature and then later discovered that the artist writes fiction too? A person’s mind becomes surprised about those who can do these amazing things. Many artists have multiple talents in the different areas of art. Janny Wurts is such a talent. She does both Fantasy art and writes books. Her books span many worlds of Epic Fantasy with descriptive writing and compelling characters. She graces the covers of some of her books with her marvelous paintings. Ms. Wurts is an imaginative contributor to the Fantasy genre.

Sorcerer’s Legacy is one of her first books. This is the story of a widowed woman from our world drawn into a fantasy one by a wizard. There she is to be the prince’s consort to keep everything in peace. Unfortunately, the wizard dies, leaving her with trying to maneuver through court intrigues and keep herself safe.

One of her first series is the Cycle of Fire trilogy consisting of Stormwarden, Keeper of the Keys and Shadowfane. This Epic Fantasy trilogy tells the story of Taen and Jaric as they struggle to learn their powers in order to save the world from an alien race they consider demons. Science fiction elements blend with fantasy to make this an entertaining story. Ms. Wurts uses her knowledge and descriptive writing to bring this story to life. The sailing scenes are very vivid.

Another of her series is a collaboration with Fantasy author Raymond Feist. It is set in his world of the Riftwar. Daughter of the Empire, Servant of the Empire, and Mistress of the Empire chronicles the story of a reluctant woman chosen to lead an empire by her dying brother. Each book shows the growth of the character as she counters court intrigues and becomes a powerful empress. These authors work together very well to bring a fascinating story to readers and entertain them.

The Master of Whitestorm is a stand alone Epic Fantasy novel. Korendir is the main character of this book. An escaped galley slave, he goes on several different quests in search of treasure. His ultimate goal is to build a fortress at Whitestorm to hide a dark secret. This book has a plot full of action along with an interesting character created by the author’s detailed imagination.

In recent years, Ms. Wurts has been writing books in her Wars of Light and Shadow series. With this series, she explores the theme that war is not the only solution to problems. She does this through her characters of two half brothers; one is a bard and mage while the other is a leader. The story of these two half brothers is traced thourgh several books filled with vivid images and imaginative descriptions. The books in this series are:

Curse of the Mistwraith
Ships of Merior
Warhosts of Vastmark
Fugitive Prince
Grand Conspiracy
Peril’s Gate
Traitor’s Knot
Stormed Fortress

Janny Wurts is a multi-talented Fantasy artist and author. Her books range through several vivid worlds of Epic Fantasy. Some of her art work graces the covers of her books too. She is an imaginative writer with descriptive prose, intriguiing characters and interesting themes. Readers can see more of her art work and learn more about her at her web site: http://www.paravia.com/

Review: _Mists of Avalon_ by Marion Zimmer Bradley

The story of King Arthur and his knights has fascinated people for centuries. An ancient unknown Celtic chieftain laid the ground work for a story that is ingrained in Great Britain’s and other cultures. Modern day authors have retold the legend in various ways, adding new perspectives tot eh story. Many years ago, Marion Zimmer Bradley gave the story a new twist by telling the story from the point of view of the women characters in the story. Up to this point, the women had been mostly peripheral to the story and portrayed as evil or adulteresses. Mists of Avalon is a powerful Arthurian Fantasy through its in depth exploration of the roles of women, the clash of religions and a multiple point of view plot.

The roles of women are an important aspect of the novel that makes it powerful for readers. Most versions of the Arthurian legend are about the men in the story with the women being peripheral to the story. This novel gives readers the story from the point of view of the women. In the legend, Morgan La Fey is portrayed as an evil sorceress bent on destroying Arthur. Morgaine is the main character whose life is followed through the novel. She is Arthur's half sister, raised as a priestess of Avalon and possessing magical powers. She is driven by her religion to do the will of the Goddess while torn by her feelings as a woman. Her education gives her greater freedom and independence then other women of her time. Gwenhwyfar is the daughter of a lesser king. She fears the outdoors, struggles to be pious and tries to remain out of the spotlight. Though she is the High Queen, Gwenhwyfar is limited by her duty to her husband and her religion. She is a contrasting character to Morgaine. Viviane is a third woman character with a different role. As the high priestess of Avalon, she is a woman of great power that manipulates people’s lives to serve the Goddess. The author keeps the story powerful by following the shifting roles of these women and their choices.

Next, the clash of religions in the novel makes the story powerful. It is the time in Britain after the Romans left. The old religions such as the worship of the Goddess are waning while Christianity is on the rise. This creates a struggle for dominance between the two religions. Viviane and Morgaine try to keep worship of the goddess as the primary religion. They make Arthur promise to make the religion prominent in exchange for being made high king. Gwenhwyfar is a devout Christian. She has a strong influence over Arthur because of his love for her. Her strong dislike for the pagan religion drives her to establish Christianity as the main one of the land. this battle for dominance drives an interesting theme that Ms. Bradley keeps powerful with tension.

Lastly, the book remains powerful by its multiple point of view plot. Ms. Bradley tells the King Arthur story through the eyes of the women. Igraine, Morgaine’s and Arthur’s mother, begins the story by arguing with her sister Viviane about not being a pawn of Avalon. She is in love with Uther and not happy with her marriage to Duke Gorlois. After Arthur’s birth, the point of view shifts to Morgaine as readers follow her through her training as a priestess and dealing with changes in Britain. Later in the book, readers get Gwenhwyfar’s point of view added to tell her part in the story. Ms. Bradley fills the plot with suspense, exciting scenes and compelling descriptions through these women characters.

Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley is an enduring classic novel of Arthurian fantasy. The book’s in depth exploration of the roles of women, the clash of religions and a multiple viewpoint plot makes the novel a powerful read. Ms. Bradley created a spectacular retelling of the story of KIng Arthur that changed the subgenre for goo. This book has been on Bestseller lists for many years. It is an important book for readers of Fantasy to read. I highly recommend this book.

Wizards in Fantasy

A man waves his hand and a bolt of lightning crashes into a monster. Brandishing a staff, a woman speaks a spell that crumbles a stone wall into dust. Man or woman, wizards are a primary element of Fantasy. They play important roles in many novels. Merlin is perhaps one of the most familiar wizards in Fantasy, appearing in many Fantasy novels (see previous article Merlin in Fantasy). There are many other wizards that can match or rival Merlin in power and popularity. They appear in a wide range of Fantasy books.

One wizard who is well known in Fantasy after Merlin is Gandalf. He appears in Lord of the Rings and the The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Gandalf is liked by the Hobbits, but can be an imposing figure. Considered a powerful wizard, he doesn’t use much magic openly except in his battle with the Balrog. Mr. Tolkien created a realistic character with wisdom and personal flaws. His portrayal of Gandalf became an inspiration to be emulated by many other Fantasy authors over the years.

Another wizard with an interesting life story is Ged of the Earthsea books. He starts out as a powerful, arrogant youth who learns responsibility for his powers. The creation of Ursula K LeGuin, Ged’s life is told through four books. From youth to Archmage to a journey beyond death, Ged’s story demonstrates the magic life brings with its changes. Ged is an unforgettable wizard. His story is told in A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore and Tehanu.

Not all wizards are men. Fantasy author Maggie Furey’s Aurian is a woman to be reckoned with carefully. Aurian is the daughter of two powerful magicians. She undergoes training in a society where ordinary people are considered little more than servants. Her story is told in four books: Aurian, Harp of Winds, Sword of Flame, and Dhiammara. Aurian’s life is one of struggle, love, sadness and loss. She is an interesting character of a powerful woman with a vulnerable side.

Some wizards are very young in age and the author traces their story through their training in school or as an apprentice. Harry Potter is the latest young wizard who has become popular in books and movies. J.K. Rowling’s contributions to wizards of Fantasy are:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Young Harry is an orphan who grows up in an abusive family but discovers his parents were really wizards. He goes to the magic school to learn to be a wizard and has many adventures. This is an excellent series for all ages that traces a young man growing up in an enchanting world.

Another interesting woman wizard is Lythande of the Blue Star. The wizards of her order must keep themselves ready for the final battle between good and chaos. While waiting, they must keep one secret about themselves. If another wizard discovers their secret, they lose their powers and can be killed. Lythande must keep her secret as she helps people on her travels. Her stories can be found in the book Lythande.

Harry Potter is not the only young wizard in training. Fantasy author Diane Duane writes a series of books about young people in training to be wizards. Young Nita and Kit from our world find a doorway into a world where they learn magic and have adventures. They face real world issues of adolescents in each book. The series consists of six books:

So You Want To Be a Wizard
Deep Wizardry
High Wizardry
A Wizard Abroad
A Wizard's Dilemma
A Wizard Alone

Wizards are an essential part of Fantasy books. Whether man or woman, young or old, good or evil, they bring interesting touches to the stories they appear in. Merlin, Ged and now Harry Potter are all part of our collective memories. Wizards wield magic in various ways, but admired most for their wisdom and advice. They will always play important roles in the Fantasy genre.

Review: _Sword and Sorceress XXII_ edited by Elisabeth Waters

The late author Marion Zimmer Bradley created an anthology Fantasy series that had stories of women magic users and warriors by new and established authors. Now, there is a new addition to the series thanks to the publisher Norilana books. Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Sword and Sorceress XXII edited by Elisabeth Waters contains new entertaining stories of extraordinary women. Many of the stories will catch readers’ interests.

The anthology opens with “Edra’s Arrow” by Esther M. Friesner. Edra is a hunter for her tribe. There is no game to be found and her people are starving. Her sister claims it is Edra’s fault for defying the gods by being a hunter, which is a man’s job. Edra must find the true cause of the trouble to save her people. Ms. Friesner provides a serious story with good characters.

“Pearl of Fire” by Deborah J. Ross tells the story of Rayzel and her harsh dilemma. She receives the Pearl of Fire, usually handed down in her family to men, by mistake. Invulnerable to weapons, she must spend a lonely life in war, fighting many battles. Rayzel must find a way to free herself from such a life. Ms. Ross gives readers a thought provoking story about war and overcoming hardship.

Fantasy author Dave Smeds presents a different story with “Bearing Shadows.” Aerise is a pregnant women living in a community that makes it’s living by wine making. One afternoon people notice her abdomen is glowing with light. This indicates that a Shadow Man, mysterious people that live like ghosts, fathered her baby. She is exiled by her people for life. Aerise goes on a long journey to get her life back. The author explores a difficult issue through interesting situations in the story.

In “Child of the Father” by Alan Morland, Larion must help his lover Anya save her little cousin. The little girl is taken by a corrupt priesthood that rapes young girls. Led by a vicious high priest, the religion controls the country ruthlessly. Larion and his companions try to free the people from the priest with magic and cunning. Ms. Morland delivers a good story of vivid images with a neat twist to the ending.

“Skin and Bones” by Heather Rose Jones takes place in world where clans of shapeshifters that use skins to change exist. Asholi is a skin singer working for a governor of a city. Her employer asks her to seek out a clan of her people to offer them employment. She finds a troubling group of people with a secret. Events escalate when her love interest is kidnapped. Ms. Jones creates a great story of a strange race that has an interesting culture.

Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Sword and Sorceress XXII edited by Elisabeth Waters is another good anthology in a long series. It is a welcome addition for readers. Many of the stories are entertaining, ranging from adventurous to thought provoking. The publisher Norilana Books can be commended for continuing this series for readers who love it. Hopefully they will publish more.

Review: _Iron Kissed_ by Patricia Briggs

Urban Fantasy is a rapidly growing subgenre in Fantasy. Stories about magic and supernatural creatures living in our world make for exciting reads. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs is the third book in her Mercy Thompson series about shape changer living in Washington state. The author keeps the latest book in the series interesting through the characters and plot.

Characters continue to grow in this book, which keeps readers interested. Mercy Thompson is a mechanic who can change into a coyote. She was raised by werewolves and has two of them or love interests. Mercy discovers new strength in this book as she tries to help save an old friend. Adam, the werewolf pack leader, endures courting Mercy with a strained patience. He must keep his dominant nature in control in order to not drive Mercy away from him. Other characters add intriguing touches to the story. Mrs. Briggs provides more facets to her characters that lets them change and draws readers further into the story.

Next, the plot moves at a brisk pace, attracting readers in by being interesting. The story begins with Mercy being asked by her old boss Zee to look into the murders of some Fae on the reservation. Mercy’s sense of smell as a coyote might lead to some clues about the killer. Before she knows it, Zee is arrested for the murder of a human. The other Fae do not like Mercy knowing their secrets and are willing to sacrifice her friend to keep them. She is unwilling to desert her friend, which leads to attacks on her. Mercy gets help from the werewolves as she strives to solve the crimes. Again, Ms. Briggs deftly weaves an action plot together that keeps readers hooked.

The third Mercy Thompson novel, Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs, is an exciting addition to the series. Characters and plot makes the abiding story of Mercy interesting. There are some resolutions in this book. Overall, the book is an entertaining read that ends in a satisfying conclusion. This book leaves readers wanting more and waiting anxiously for the next book in the series.

Review: _Fate Fantastic_ edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Daniel M. Hoyt

Many people all over the world believe in fate and how to get around it. Is it ordained? Can fate e cheated? No one knows the answers to those question. Several authors try to answer questions of fate in the anthology Fate Fantastic edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Daniel M. Hoyt. Stories range from serious to humorous while exploring the subject of fate, but readers will find the stories entertaining.

“But World Enough” By Sarah A. Hoyt is the story of Hannibal of Carthage. As a young boy, the goddess Tanit gives him a prophecy that he will found a great empire. He spends his lifetime fighting Rome but discovers his rue fate at the end. The story is an interesting Historical Fantasy. Ms. Hoyt provides a vivid tale of the past for the anthology.

Humor is a strong component of Esther M. Friesner’s “The Bones of Mammoth Malone.” Set in the last Ice Ae of humanity, the story presents a sardonic account of a bone reader. Mammoth Malone must solve a problem of the lemming clan princess Randi Vixen. The story is told like private eye stories with snappy dialogue and humorous situations. Ms. Friesner presents an amusing story with a good character.

In “A Tapestry of Souls” by Paul Crilley, Crispin, a young village boy, follows a messenger of he Goddess out of love. He watches her die and undertakes a journey o return the body to the Goddess. His choice brings changes to his life and he world. The author’s touching descriptions brings the story to life for readers.

Arthurian Fantasy is represented y the humorous story “Camelot’s Greatest Hits” by Laura Resnick. Merlin tells the story of Arthur who is a musician. The legend becomes part of the career of a famous performer with wry remarks by Merlin. Ms. Resnick delivers a sound, amusing story of fate.

Fate is a subject that fascinates most people, brining difficult questions that are unanswerable. Fate Fantastic edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Daniel M. Hoyt is an entertaining anthology that explores the theme of fate. There are several stories which range from humorous to serious. Readers will find something to enjoy in most of the stories.

Review: _Intrument of Fate_ by Christie Golden

A young woman gets pulled into a dangerous quest to deliver a message to stop a devestating war that changes her life. Her story is told in the Fantasy novel Instrument of Fate by Christie Golden. Set in a medieval style world of humans, elves and other magical beings, the book is made entertaining for readers through its characters, plot and themes.

The characters of the book are sympathetic for readers to identify with. Gillien Songespynner is part of a traveling performer family. She plays music and want to be a bard. Many hardships she experiences keeps her growing throughout the book, making her sympathetic. Daric Rhan comes into Gillien’s life when he is hired by an elf to protect her from dark forces. He has a problem with alcohol because of a troubled past. These main characters find strength in each other to survive their ordeals. Ms. Golden makes the characters realistic through subtle, vivid descriptions.

Next, the plot delivers plenty of action to keep readers hooked. The book starts with Gillien winning a music contest. An elf gives her an expensive, magical lute and tells her to give it to the Queen Mother in a far away city as an important message. Things turn dark for Gillien as she finds herself pursued by a vicious killer. She gains help when Daric joins her to help protect her. He hates the Ghil, a possum-like species that enslave humans. Events continue to build up to a satisfying conclusion due to the author’s tight plotting.

Finally, the themes covered in the novel keeps it entertaining until the end. The main theme of overcoming hardships is the strongest in the book. Main characters suffer through many difficult trials, forcing them to grow stronger as individuals. Friendship is another theme covered with two disparate people developing a relationship by surviving together. Ms. Golden’s choice of themes keeps the story interesting for readers.

Instrument of Fate by Christie Golden is an entertaining Fantasy novel that contains music, elves and magic. Sympathetic characters, an action plot and familiar themes keeps the suspense high and hooks readers for a nice reading experience. The book is out of print, so might be difficult to find, but worthwhile for an enjoyable read.

Some Gift Ideas for Christmas 2007

I apologize for the delay with this articles. This week’s article isn’t a formal one with paragraphs. I felt it just important to list some ideas for gift giving this year.

Books:

For gritty Epic Fantasy there is Steve Erikson’s Malazan books.

Conclusion to Terri Goodkind’s “Wizard’s First Rule” series with Confessor.

Urban Fantasy:

Widdershins by Charles de Lint

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Books by Patty Briggs

Harry Dresden books by Jim Butcher


Software for writers:

Scrivner http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.html

SuperNotecard

DVDs:

“Transformers”
Harry Potter movies
“Mists of Avalon”

Magazines:

Realms of Fantasy http://www.rofmagazine.com

Blackgate http://www.blackgate.com

Starlog http://www.starlog.com

I might update this article during the week with more ideas. Have a Merry Christmas!! :)

Unicorns in Fantasy

Moonlight slants down through the trees of a forest to reflect from a pristine pool of water. A unicorn slips free of the forest to drink from the pool. It looks around for danger, glowing silver in the moonlight. This image evokes a sense of wonder in readers. Unicorns are mythical creatures that grace the pages of many Fantasy books. They are a staple of the genre. These creatures provide us with many hours of entertaining reading.

The classic Fantasy book about a unicorn is The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle. It is the lyrical, beautiful story of the last unicorn in the world searching for the rest. On her quest she is helped by an inept wizard, a prince and a woman. She must fight against a red bull to save her brethren. Mr. Beagle is an excellent Fantasy author who brings this wonderful tale to life with descriptive prose.

Another book is Ariel by Steven Boyett. This book takes place in our world after magic suddenly appears and changes everything. A young virginal man travels this landscape with the unicorn Ariel for a companion. Ariel is a devoted companion with a wise cracking attitude. It is a poignant story of friendship and how love can change things as quickly as magic. (The book has been out of print, but seek it out in a used bookstore.)

Fantasy author John Lee wrote about unicorns in his Fantasy series about Strand. These books are a mix of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The humans are not native to the world of Strand. They are at war with Strand’s former inhabitants. A young wizard must find the unicorns to get their help in the war. The story of the unicorns, wizard and humans continues through four books. The Unicorn Quest is the first in the series.

Piers Anthony has unicorns in his books about “Proton and Phaze.” His unicorns are musical and can become humans. These books are a combination of Fantasy and Science Fiction too. The main character crosses a border between the two worlds. He is helped on the Fantasy side by a unicorn. She acts as his mount, friend and helper. Unicorns play an interesting role in this different series. Phaze Doubt will start you in this series.

A classic unicorn story to seek out is “The Silken Swift” by Theodore sturgeon. This tells the poignant story of a rape victim, an arrogant woman and a unicorn that grants his honor to a worthy person. Mr. Sturgeon is a classic Fantasy author of powerful, thought provoking stories. This one has a different ending that will make a reader cry.

Finally, if you like short stories about unicorns seek out the anthology The Immortal Unicorn edited by Peter Beagle. It has many stories written by several Fantasy authors The stories are very entertaining and some very thought provoking too. (The paperback version was split into two volumes.)

Unicorns are mythical animals that haunt our dreams and imaginations. They are an important aspect of the genre. A powerful symbol of purity, strength and other things, many Fantasy authors have told entertaining, thought provoking stories with unicorns in their works. More works will appear in the genre as long as these creatures inspire our thoughts.

Wild Hunt in Fantasy

It is a warm Summer night in the country. A full moon rises over the hills to the east. You sit by your campfire watching the moon rise. The night is pierced by distant hunting horns and the baying of hounds. A man runs across the face of the moon along the ridge of a hill. He disappears into the night, but is soon followed by a pack of hounds. Riders on horses follow the pack, led by a figure with antlers on his head. Your heart pounds in your ears and a shiver runs down your spine. You have seen the Wild Hunt, which is a part of many Fantasy novels and stories.

Used by many authors, the “Wild Hunt” has its origins in mythology. In Germanic mythology it was known as the “Furious Host,” a group of tortured ghosts that swept through the night and attacked people. Later, the myths shifted with the addition of a hunting motif from Celtic mythology with the antlered leader ruling the Hunt. Scholars believe this stems from peasant fear of aristocratic hunting parties in the past. Whichever the case, the Wild Hunt was a dangerous thing to confront or try to escape. It was symbolic of wild, uncontrollable magic and creatures. Fantasy authors incorporate this mythical creation into many of their novels.

Guy Gavriel Kay had the Wild Hunt appear in his Fionavar Tapestry books of The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire and The Darkest Road. The Hunt represents a wild thread of chaos that destroys good and evil indiscriminately. Characters summon it only as a last resort because of this. The Hunt is not under control of the Creator of this universe where all others obey rules, providing a dangerous, unpredictable element to the books.

The Wild Hunt plays a central role in Dragon Moon by Chris Claremont and . This small trade paperback tells the story of a woman that takes part in a Renaissance Faire. One of the other fair attendees summons the Hunt for his won purpose of revenge. She must fight against the Hunt and her growing attraction the leader of the Hunt. This short book has an interesting plot, strong characters and an exciting ending. Dreamseeker’s Road by Tom Dietz is a Contemporary Fantasy set in rural Georgia. Another story in the David Sullivan sequence, this one involves a struggle between Fairy and the real world. David and his friends draw the unwanted attention of the Hunt. They are pursued through several worlds in trying to elude the Hunt with the help of the Morrigan. The book is full of a lot of action.

Author Jocelin Foxe uses the idea of the Hunt, but set in her own Fantasy world. In her creation, the Wild Hunt consists of men that committed crime against a goddess. These men wait in a limbo until summoned by a woman for help. They have one month to complete their mission or burn to death into oblivion. Each one has a chance at salvation if the love of a woman can keep them from returning to the limbo. The Wild Hunt: Vengeance Moon and The Wild Hunt: Child of Fire are both good books (see previous reviews on this site).

The Wild Hunt finds its way into Young Adult Fantasy books too. It plays a role in the book The Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner. A young girl gets caught up in a battle over magic. Her brother must save her from the dark forces and the Hunt. Mistress of Fantasy Jane Yolen tells a mythic tale in her book The Wild Hunt. It is the story of two boys, Jerold and Gerund, who get caught up in the battle between the King of
Winter (leader of the Hunt) and his wife Queen Summer. This is a deeply mythical tale for all ages.

A fear of wildness and the unknown is part of human nature. The mythical Wild Hunt is a symbol of this fear throughout history. Fantasy authors have used the Hunt in various ways in their books. Its presence brings suspense, danger and chaos to these books. There are many other Fantasy books with the Hunt in them. So, if on a dark night you find yourself alone in the country, listen carefully. Should you hear the baying of hounds and hunting horns, beware. Happy reading.

Review: _Summer Knight_ and _Death Masks_ by Jim Butcher

What would the world be like if magic existed? Urban Fantasy books try to demonstrate this in varying books. Fantasy authors like Charles de Lint, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews and several others portray magic and mythical creatures existing in our world. Jim Butcher brings magic and action to Chicago in his “ Harry Dresden” novels. Two more books in the series continues the further gritty adventures of wizard Harry Dresden.

Summer Knight opens with Harry in a deep depression, filled with guilt over his girlfriend who was nearly changed into a vampire. He has searched for a cure for months, letting his life and work slide. The fairy queen of the Winter court hires him against his will to find out who killed the Summer Knight of the rival Summer court. Harry is confronted by several dangerous creatures and a woman from his past he thought was dead while trying to prevent a war between the Fairy courts. Added to these events, Harry must contend with attacks from vampires due to events that ocurred in the previous book. Mr. Butcher keeps the tension and action flowing with crisp descriptions and character growth.

In Death Masks, Harry is hired by a Vatican representative to recover the stolen Shroud of Turin. He must battle ghastly demons to save Chicago and the world from their deadly plan. On top of this, he faces a duel to the death with the leader of the Red Court vampires to end a war between them and the Council of Wizards. More complications arise with the return of Harry’s girlfriend Susan. Harry has the help of many friends in his trials especially three crusader knights. Mr. Butcher keeps the action flowing to a satisfying conclusion of the book.

Summer Knight and Death Masks by Jim Butcher are two more entertaining novels of the “Harry Dresden” series. The author keeps the action fast paced to keep readers hooked. Harry, the main character, shows growth and changes in each book making him more complex and human. This keeps the series interesting for readers with each new saga.

Review: _To the King a Daughter_ by Andre Norton & Sasha Miller

Four different trees grow in a grand courtyard in the city, representing the four noble houses of Rendel. The trees represent the magic of the strength of the families. Two of the trees are slowly dying. To the King a Daughter by Andre Norton and Sasha Miller. This is the first book of the “Cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash and Rowan” series. A hostile setting, interesting characters and twisting plot keeps readers hooked with adventure and intrigue.

The hostile setting creates the tone for the book. Rendel is a medieval nation ruled by four houses based on trees. The kingdom borders on the Bog, a swampy, tangle of wilderness filled with deadly wildlife and xenophobic people. A strange magic dwells in the bog along with ruins of an ancient civilization. There are several different cultures that clash. The Bog people hate all Outlanders and kill them on sight. Sea Rovers are a group of people that are seafarers, driven from their homes by invaders. Vivid descriptions by the two authors keeps the characters moving through many changing landscapes.

Interesting characters hook the reader for the adventure in the book. Ashen is an orphan raised in the Bog by a witch woman named Zazar. She faces hatred by the Bog people and only stays alive due to the protection of the witch. Her life is complicated by not knowing of her past, which pushes her search for identity. Ysa is the queen of Rendel who wants power and the ability to use magic. She is driven by a bad marriage as well as being a woman, which are not supposed to rule. These two main characters maneuver through a changing world of dangers while having to deal with many other characters that provide growth to them. The authors demonstrate growth in the characters through action and dialogue.

Finally, a plot with many twists drives the action of the book. The twists start at the beginning with men hunting a pregnant woman. Ashen is born and grows up in a hostile culture. She possesses a magical power that she needs to explore. Her fight for survival with changes in her life drives the story, along with Queen Ysa’s ambition for power. There is also a threat from invaders in the north destroying other nations. All the plot threads twist together for a good story.

To the King A Daughter by Andre Norton and Sasha Miller is an entertaining novel for readers. Adventure and intrigue are provided by a hostile setting, interesting characters and a twisting plot which keeps readers hooked. The first book of the “Cycle of Oak, Ash, Yew and Rowan” series is a fascinating beginning to a diverting Fantasy series.

Dennis McKiernan

Fantasy authors strive to create vivid worlds to tell their stories in. They spend hours with their world building to bring their worlds to life. That is why readers remember Fantasy worlds like Middle Earth, Narnia and Valdemar. Dennis McKiernan is such a writer, putting in a lot of effort to bring his Fantasy worlds to life and providing memorable stories to the genre. He has written many books but is best known for those set in his world of Mithgar. All of his books contain vivid images, likable characters and memorable stories. Mithgar is a world with a vast history. Each of the books set in this world take place in some part of that history. A modern day issue usually forms the main theme of each book such as the environment, war and immortality.

The Iron Tower omnibus is the trilogy that introduces Mithgar to readers in an Epic Fantasy story of good versus evil. The Dark Tide, Shadows of Doom, and The Darkest Day tell the story of a battle between good and evil as the four races stand against the Dark Lord rising again. Everything rests on the shoulders of the Warrows, four Hobbit-like beings with jewel eyes who must save the world. This begins an entertaining saga to the history of Mithgar that will proceed in other books.

Two previously published separate books, Trek to Kraggen-Kor and The Brega Path, are combined into The Silver Call. This book explores the theme of how war can be considered romantic through characters obsessed with liberating a fortress from evil. Perry is a Warrow and historian. When visitors arrive in his village, he goes with them to take the fortress of Kraggen-Kor to meet his dreams of adventure. Many things in this book are similar to events in Lord of the Rings>/u> but the author adds a realistic edge to make a point about the romance of war.

The Dragonstone is another story of Mithgar revolving around the search for a dangerous artifact that will cause great trouble for Mithgar. Visions of a horrible war plague Arinn, an elven lady. She teams up with the warrior Aiko to roam the world to stop her vision from coming true. Part of their quest involves finding a one-eyed man, but they find two, which complicates matters. It is an exciting book filled with adventure.

Eye of the Hunter explores the themes of human impact on the environment and immortality. A comet returns to the skies of Mithgar after a thousand years. It signals the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. Evil creatures are rising in the land, awaiting the return of their dead master. The descendants of Warrows, Riatha the elf and others must battle to stop this from happening. This is a stand alone book in the series with a tight plot and many battles.

Racism and intolerance are the themes pursued in Dragondoom. A young prince slays the dragon called Sleeth for its gold hoard. Events are set off by this slaying that brings two kingdoms to the brink of war. Mr. McKiernan brings this story to life with dragons and vivid descriptions of various scenes in the book. This is an entertaining addition to the author’s world.

Voyage of the Fox Rider features an exploration into the nature of evil. The heroine of the book is the Lady Jinnarin, a twelve inch tall Pysk. She seeks out her missing mate after seeing several weird auras. Along the way she finds allies and together they sail around the world in a mysterious boat. This is another entertaining book in the tales of Mithgar.

Another duology set in the world of Mithgar is Into the Fire and Into the Forge of the Hel’s Crucible. In the first book, two wandering Warrows, Tipperton Thistledown and Beau Darby, swear an oath to deliver a copper coin and warning message to a king in a far kingdom. They must travel through a dangerous war zone in their quest. The second book continues their quest as they are drawn into the war and chased by an evil mage. These more recent books of Mithgar have plenty of action and intriguing plots.

Mr. McKiernan concludes his Mithgar books with Silver Wolf, Black Falcon. Bair is the first child born of an Elven mother in hundreds of years. He carries the blood of four races in his veins. Prophecy states that he is destined to be the Rider of Planes. His friend Aravan takes him on a journey, which eventually leads to a confrontation with Kutsen the Dragon King and Ydrai. This book has plenty of action and brings the series to a satisfying end.

Finally, Dennis McKiernan moved away from the world of Mithgar in his recent novel Once Upon a Winter's Night. This is a complex retelling of the fairy tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" with some mythic elements from the Greek myth "Cupid and Psyche." Camille is a young girl from a poor family. One winter night a white bear comes to the door carrying an offer of marriage from the Prince of Summerwood. She accepts the proposal to get money for her family. After traveling to the prince's fairy kingdom, Camille discovers she must break a curse to help her prince Alain. Mr. McKiernan brings this tale of adventure and romance to life with his vivid words. The book is a strong, new addition to the author's works.

Dennis McKiernan is a masterful author of Fantasy. He writes different books full of likable characters, memorable scenes and plenty of adventure. His Fantasy world of Mithgar is what he is best known for, with books spanning the vast history of his creation. Some critics complain about the similiarities to Tolkien’s books, but he does bring some intriguing stories to life with a lot of action. He is entertaining and a writer worth reading. The author’s home page is available at: http://home.att.net/~dlmck/

Review: _Coyote Road_ edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling

Trickster characters play an important role in the mythologies of many cultures. Native Americans have tales of Coyote and Raven. In NOrse mythology there was Loki. Many others appear in other stories from all over the world. A trickster can be a hero or character that fools people. Stories of tricksters can be found in the anthology Coyote Road: Trickster Tales edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling. Readers will discover many entertaining stories written by several Fantasy authors in this book.

“Wagers of Gold Mountain” by Steve Berman tells the story of a Chinese man who runs afoul of two trickster spirits. Set in San Francisco during the Gold Rush era, Ji Yuan seeks the help of wo spirits to save his brother’s life. They offer to save his brother if he will free their servant from jail. Ji Yuan is in a tough dilemma by not wanting to free a killer on the world. The author tells a god story by blending Asian spirits with American lore.

The Greek trickster god Hermes plays a role in “The Listeners” by Nina Kiriki Hoffman. Nysa is the youngest slave girl in a household where the women listen by the men’s conversations secretly. Nysa learns of her master planning to give her to his loathsome friend for a night of pleasure. She prays to Hermes to save her from this fate. Ms. Hoffman provides an interesting tale of ancient Greece.

Rachel is a student in a private school. She waits for her friend to return to spend time playing games. Discovering her friend gone, RAchel plays a game with the housekeeper which turns into a dangerous gamble for survival in “Friday Night at St. Cecilia’s” by Ellen Klages. A nicely woven plot by the author makes the story entertaining until the end.

Charles de Lint provides a strong tale with “Crow Roads.” In this story, Annie watches a mysterious young man with long black hair deal with some bullies. Annie comes from a poor section of town but has potential and dreams. She is touched by the magic of a trickster that changes her life. Mr. de Lint’s descriptions brings the story to life.

One of the most vivid and memorable stories is “The Constable of Abal” by Kelly Link. Ozma travels wither her mother Zilla who is a fortune teller seeking something. They see and collect ghosts. The story begins when Zilla murders the constable and Ozma keeps his ghost because she likes him. They flee Abal to end up in Brid where Zilla takes a job as housekeeper to old Lady Fralix. Ozma grows bored in the town not understanding why her mother stays. The story resolves into a satisfying climax.

Coyote Road: Trickster Tales edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling is an excellent fantasy anthology. The stories about trickster characters range from humorous to serious, but most are entertaining. A wide range of authors provide interesting stories that readers will enjoy. This books makes a nice addition to the previous ones done on other themes.

Ann Marston

There are many good women authors in the Fantasy genre. New writers come along to add their unique voices and stories to the ever growing genre. Ann Marston is one of these voices. She takes elements of Celtic Fantasy and brings to life her Fantasy world of rune blades, magic and adventure. Her books are full of interesting characters, intriguing plots and powerful themes. They span through generations in two trilogies, The Rune Blade and The Sword in Exile. So lets explore the books of this entertaining author.

Ann Marston’s first book is Kingmaker’s Sword. It starts with a young slave boy named Kian escaping his masters. Along the way, he gains possession of a magical sword and meets his uncle Cullin. Ms. Marston weaves a strong tale of adventure with these characters. They live in a world loosely based on Celtic mythology and culture, but with a flavor all her own. She brings the story of Kian to a fulfilling conclusion that leaves you wanting for more.

That comes in the next book of The Western King. This is the story of Kian’s and Kerri’s sons. They must come into their maturity to fight the blood sorcerers of the Maedun. The three sons have to overcome personal troubles to help Celi and decide who gets the sword Kingmaker. Ms. Marston continues creating a strong story that spans generations into the next book.

Broken Blade completes the first trilogy with the grandchildren of Kian. The Maedun sorcerers try to smash the protective magic of Celi. Brynda, daughter of Keylan, must protect the king. A rune blade is shattered in the process. This book ends in an unsettling manner, leaving a lot of things in the air. Characters find their destinies with Ms. Marston’s deft touch, but leaves opening for further books.

The new books form the Sword in Exile trilogy. It begins with Cloudbearer’s Shadow. Years have passed and Celi is under control of the Maedun. The magic is gone from the land. Gareth comes home after years of exile to a ruined kingdom. He must fight evil in his family along with the Somber Riders that patrol the island. Luckily, he has the help of Lowra, a strong warrior woman. This is a dark beginning that will play out in the next two books thanks to the author’s continued intricate plotting.

King of Shadows is the second book. This delves deeper into the battle to free Celae from the Somber Riders. Lowen is a woman warrior waiting for a prince to protect. She waits with her Rune blade for the man she is destined to help come.

Ms. Marston brings the tale of entangled generations and magic to a close with Sword and Shadow. In this book, readers meet twin royal brothers born is secret. Acaren is born to rule and has his beautiful love Eliene to help him. Rowan is born with the power of legendary magic, but must find his soulmate to free it. These four must try to break the spell on the island of Celi that forbids them to return. To do this, the brothers must go on a quest to find two Rune blades on the mountain home of the seven gods and goddesses. The author wraps up this multigenerational story of magic, romance and adventure with memorable characters and vivi descriptions.

Ann Marston is a talented Fantasy author that has added her unique voice to the genre. She writes powerful stories of adventure and magic using elements of Celtic mythology, Irish and Scottish culture. Her books span across generations in telling the tales of Celae and the Rune blades. She creates memorable characters and vivid battle scenes that readers will enjoy. Unless Ms. Marston writes under another pen name, she has not published any books in recent years.

Review: Outremer Trilogy by Chaz Brenchley

The time of the Crusades is an interesting point in history. Christians from Europe tried to retake control of the Holy Land. Knights Templar came to prominence. There were many bloody battles in the name of religion. Fantasy author Chaz Brenchley uses this period of history as a template for his “Outremer” series. In this six book series, he explores clashes of cultures and religious strife, mixed with magic in a world similar to our own. Magical creatures such as the djinni and ifrit add intriguing touches to this gritty series of war and love.

The Devil in the Dust is the first book, beginning the story of two characters. Marron is a young warrior priest in training. He struggles with guilt and his religious beliefs, finding his religion cruel. Julianne is a young woman on her way to an arranged marriage to a baron. She is the daughter of the King’s advisor, trained in the ways of diplomacy and intrigue. Their lives change at the fortress Roq de Rancon after some events happen. Julianne meets a young girl Elisande and a djinni in the desert who gives her a destiny. Marron faces doubts about his faith in the face of several dark events. Mr. Brenchley creates a strong beginning with characters growing through an intriguing plot.

In Tower of the King’s Daughter, the second book, the story of Julianne and Marron continues. Julianne is confronted by the djinni again to go to the Sharai. She must seek a way to escape from her escort to save her father and is helped by her mysterious companion Elisande. After thwarting an attack on the fortress, Marron becomes the squire of Ransom knight Anton d’Escrivey. He finds himself torn between loyalties to the knight and justice for his friends, troubled by the fanaticism of the Order. The story builds to an interesting conclusion leading to the continuation in the next book. Mr. Brenchley keeps the plot tight with a dark edge to the story of Outremer.

A Dark Way to Glory, the next book, finds the characters on a long desert trek. Julianne wants to get to the desert city because of the djinni Khaldor’s prophecy. She travels with several companions from the previous books. Marron now struggles with an alien power in his body, growing distant from his friends with the passing days. They are joined by Sand Dancers, a group of fanatical men warriors waiting for the Ghost Walker to lead them into battle. The journey is grim with new surprises added by the author that deepens the story. This leaves readers wanting to get to the next book.

Events move quicker in the next book, Feast of the King’s Shadow. The main characters find respite in the Sharai Stronghold of Rhabat. This is a desert city carved into the cliffs of a secluded bay near a dead sea. Julianne finds herself drawn to the tribal leader Hasan, torn because of her marriage to another man. Marron finds himself in difficulties due to not being a member of the Sharai as their prophesied Ghost Walker. The companions find themselves threatened along with the Sharai by an army of ifrit. Again, Mr. Brenchley keeps the story moving to a cliff hanger ending, leaving a reader to seek the next book.

The fifth book, Hand of the King’s Evil, begins with a search for a missing character. Julianne has been kidnapped by an enemy. Her new husband seeks her with his army following at his back. Coren, Julianne’s father, and her various friends search for her across the desert. Marron helps in the search, but gets caught up in his own problems. In the wider world of Outremer, strange things happen. The ifrit and djinni continue to manipulate things for their own unknown purposes. A mysterious holy man who performs miracles leads his followers to a castle for reasons of his own. War looms by the end of the book for all factions.

The last book End of All Roads brings all the events into a final confrontation. Three armies battle over the nation of Surayon, leaving death and devastation in their wake. Marron is healed and the Daughter removed from him. He must now deal with being human again. Julianne must deal with her two husbands being in the same country. Their friends deal with their own difficult problem that move the story forward. Mr. Brenchley brings the final book to an interesting end with an unexpected twist.

Chaz Brenchley’s “Outremer” series is an exciting read set in a fascinating world based on the Crusades. Religious war, clashes of cultures and intervening spirit creatures mix into an in depth story of dark, gritty action. Characters pursue peace in a world torn by many problems. The author provides readers with an action packed story that leaves readers thinking after the series is finished.

Review: _Magic Bites_ by Ilona Andrews

Magic rises in waves, creating havoc in cities all over the world. Technology fails during the magic and monsters appear that kill people, creating a need for those to fight the problem. This is the premise of the new urban fantasy novel Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews. The book is a dark, gritty fast paced read with suspense due to an exciting setting, interesting characters, and an eventful plot.

First, the author provides an exciting setting that helps make the book suspenseful. Set in Atlanta, Georgia where things change rapidly. Skyscrapers collapse when the magic rises. Technology fails, requiring alternative magic solutions to allow life to go on as usual. Vampires, operated by controllers, creep along walls. Many varieties of shapeshifters share the city with other creatures and magic users. This necessitates groups of humans that protect people from dander, which are a knightly order and mercenaries.

Next, the book’s interesting characters helps build suspense. Kate Daniels is a mercenary with a hidden past. She is a tough fighter, hard on herself and possessing a cynical attitude. Kate meets her conflicts head on and with plenty of sarcasm. Curran is the leader of the shapeshifters. He is protective of his people and deals honorably with others, but has room to grow. The author creates powerful characters with intriguing backgrounds that keeps the tension going.

Finally, the book is suspenseful with its eventful plot. The book starts with Kate Daniels finding out about the murder of her guardian. Determined to solve his murder, she is drawn into dealing with the vampire controllers and shapeshifters in the city. Her investigation leads to the discovery of missing women and other murders. Kate has a strong reluctance in working with others due to her enigmatic past. Ms. Andrews provides a tight plot with plenty of action, building the suspense to a satisfying end.

Mixing elements of mystery with urban fantasy, Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews is a action filled book that will please readers. Suspense is kept at a high level with an exciting setting, interesting characters and an eventful plot. Further books are planned in this series, which is helped by this debut novel. Kate Daniels is an entertaining addition to strong women characters of urban fantasy like Mercy Thompson and others. Overall, this was a fast paced, enjoyable book.

Romance Fantasy

A new sub-genre is growing in Fantasy. It is Romance Fantasy, which mixes elements from the two genres of Fantasy and Romance. This appeals to readers from both genres. Mixing elements from different genres can lead to new exciting and entertaining works. Publishers, recognizing this potential, are developing new imprints that focus on the crossed genres. Established and newer Fantasy authors are contributing new books to this new category.

Mercedes Lackey provides a book with The Fairy Godmother. This book uses the elements of fairy tales. There is a land of five hundred kingdoms where Tradition must be upheld. One girl does not want to be the Cinderella of her kingdom because of a bad experience. Her fairy godmother takes her on as an apprentice, which goes against the tradition. This leads to more problem for Elena Klovis as she encounters a bad mannered prince. Ms. Lackey puts her talent into providing a new book with entertaining characters in this new area.

Elphame’s Choice by P.C. Cast blends romance, fantasy and some Celtic myth in its story. It tells the story of a woman chosen by the goddess Epona. Elphame travels to a deserted castle to make a new home, following her destiny. She has trouble settling in because of dangerous survivors and victims of the previous war living in the forest nearby. The author provides an interesting books filled with vivid descriptions and strong characters.

Elaine Corvidae writes books that mixes the two genres neatly. Wolfkin is the beginning of a trilogy about shapeshifters, intrigue, war and love. Suchen is the steward of a stronghold. She is sent on a journey to meet the queen’s representative and stop the danger to the kingdom. Yozerf is a shapeshifter sent by the wizard Ax to help Suchen in her mission. They must fight demon’s and dark magic to succeed in their endeavor. Her other books have strong elements too and are entertaining reads.

In Camelot’s Shadow by Sarah Zettel has Arthurian elements. Risa does not want to become the sacrifice of an evil wizard. She meets Gawain and goes to Camelot with him to hide from her nemesis. An expert with the bow, Risa finds herself caught up in court intrigue as she comes under a powerful spell. She fights to save the kingdom and herself. Ms. Zettel provides an entertaining book to the romantic Arthurian sub-genre.

For those that prefer their romance with a darker edge, Sherrilyn Kenyon is an author of many books with these types of elements. Her most popular books are part of a series called Dark-Hunter. Dark Hunters are immortal warriors without souls that hunt and destroy daemons to protect humans. They are similar to vampires, but do not drink blood. The most recent book in the series is Seize the Night. It is the story of the Dark-Hunter Valerius. He faces prejudice from the others as he helps vampire hunter Tabitha fight a dangerous resurrected Daemon. Ms. Kenyon is a master at creating Dark Fantasy books with suspense and romance.

Author Rachel Lee recently contributed a book to this sub-genre with Shadows of Myth. In the story, a young woman named Tess Birdsong wakes up among bodies of a massacre without her memory. She becomes a part of a group of adventurers on a quest to save their world from a dangerous mage. He is using the Ildun Bane, assassin mages, in his schemes. Ms. Lee creates an entertaining story of vivid images and strong characters.

A recent publishing line of Romance Fantasy books is Luna books. They publish books by women authors that contain magic and love. The books vary in setting, with some possessing elements from different sub-genres such as Arthurian, Historical and Epic Fantasy. Information about the publisher can be found at the site: http://www.luna-books.com It contains information on the books, authors and informative articles about writing.

Romance Fantasy is a fast growing sub-genre of Fantasy that mixes elements of the two genres. This mixing attracts readers from both genres and creates new books that could also come under Epic, Arthurian, Historical, etc. type books. These books contain strong heroines that must struggle to accomplish tasks and maybe find love. Readers can find something entertaining and to their tastes.