I have started The Trillias Gambit Book Three of J.V. Hilliard's Warminster Series.

“Crimson flags borne on horses of white, see them ride, ye children of light." – The Ballad of Eldwal

I have started The Trillias Gambit Book Three of J.V. Hilliard's Warminster Series.

Compassion is never a weakness and love a hard seed to slay, so perhaps there is a near-invisible glimmer of hope for our Bone Elf assassin. But I doubt it, as now he sails on a very strange ship to Thronehelm where also ride Princess Addilyn Elspeth and Sir Ritter Valkeneer to rally the realm against the fell alliance from the Dragon’s Breath Mountains - for the Keepers have fallen to the Fallen Keeper. Leaving the Last Keeper Daemus Alaric and his friends to find a certain lost book requiring they pass Ancient Trillias' Gambit. Thus does this epic, unique, and unpredictable saga continue, and I need not possess Erudian Sight to see that the fight, the war, has just begun. I just hope Prince Montgomery arrives with his own surprise on time.

"The blade of betrayal, the sharpest of weapons, is wielded not by your enemies, but by your friends." – Warminster the Mage

I have finished Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore, the fifth book of her Graceling Realm Series

I have finished Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore, the fifth book of her Graceling Realm series.

Somehow I doubt that Bitterblue and her friends will ever visit Winterkeep again. Nearly dying once is perhaps expected, but constant seasickness, nearly drowning, freezing to death, kidnapping, political plots, explosives, traitors, spies, attempted murder, storms followed by shipwreck and a long harrowing journey across uncharted glacial northlands while nearly freezing to death again and dogged still by the remnants of plots the rest of which await you at home? Next time just send a delegation. Anyway, twas fabulous seeing the world from Hava's perspective, as well old friends in both the Dells and the Seven Nations. But most importantly, I am glad that Hava found her place and is no longer a Graced shadow. This is the last book of the Graceling Realm series, but somehow I doubt it will stay that way; it never does.

So, either for new journeys or old, farewell and lots of love to Hava, Linny, Bitterblue, Giddon, Hope, Adventure, Coran, Liel, Moth and the other kits, Froggat, Annet, Navi, Ollie, Jackie, Fire, Katsa, Po, Raffin, Bann, Helda, Nash, Brigan, and Ror.

The Last War: Book One of The Cynnahu Saga - Official Book Trailer

New authors always hope their books become bestsellers despite knowing how utterly beyond unlikely it is, and that goes for me as well. Yet I also always hoped – again despite knowing the unfathomable odds against it coming true – that The Last War would get its own Book Trailer (I know, I REALLY dreamed big). Well, if the downside of self-publishing is that you must do everything yourself then, by the same token, that is also the upside. So I hired Literary Titan make a book trailer for it... and it is amazing!

Fifty years ago, J.R.R Tolkien died

Fifty years ago, J.R.R Tolkien died. Thus do I raise a glass of proverbial Dwarven ale to the man who remade our world with the world he created.

“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever ever on,
Under cloud and under star.
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen,
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green,
And trees and hills they long have known.

The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone.
Let others follow, if they can!
Let them a journey new begin.
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.

Still round the corner there may wait  
A new road or a secret gate,  
And though I oft have passed them by,  
A day will come at last when I  
Shall take the hidden paths that run  
West of the Moon, East of the Sun."

Quote of a friend

"There's something beautiful about the stillness, its tranquility, of the warmth changing to a comfortable cold that settles the soul. Of the still air that carries the twilight's harmony. The quick moment of complete calm detached from the bustling reality." - Lindsay

I like to think that I have some very wise friends.