Just finished The Taste of Lightning

The three moons rise.

Just finished The Taste of Lightning by Kate Constable, sequel-companion novel of her Chanters of Tremaris trilogy. Seldom are drug lords and wars used in Fantasy, if ever, but Constable deals with it just as we deals will all else: frank and heart-filled honesty. And a climax fit to sing one's boots on fire.

Much work lies ahead, so good job thus far and good luck to you Tansy, Perrin, Skir, Evie, and Beeman (seriously). Please say hello to Calwyn for me, when/if you see her.

Downfall vs. Doom

It ironically appears that GRRM heavily based his Doom of Valyria and related events upon Tolkien's Downfall of Númenor. 

The Downfall of Numenor

The Númenóreans were the strongest and proudest race of humans who ruled a vast overseas empire from their island home, they themselves having distinct physical features that set them apart from other humans (great height). Then, to cut a long story short, they fell from their wisdom and embarked on a deed that promised destruction. But before they fell, Amandil son of Númendil, Lord of Andúnië led his people away and so escaped the utter and complete rupturing and flooding that followed which coupled with the total annihilation of Númenor. His son Elendil would go on to found the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor in Middle-Earth.

The Doom of Valyria

In GRRM's A Song of Ice and Fire universe, Valyria was the
strongest and proudest of civilizations, ruling a vast overseas empire from their peninsula  home, they themselves having distinct physical features that set them apart from other humans (purple eyes and silver-gold hair). Exactly how and why they fell remains a mystery, but before the Doom occurred, the daughter of Lord Aenar Targaryen had visions of a cataclysm that would overcome Valyria. A foresight which came true as the Valyrian Peninsula was flooded and shattered beyond repair. Thus he fled to Westeros, where his descendant Aegon the Conqueror would unite the land under the Iron Throne.

Thus in both cases did a noble House flee the vast empire before it's destruction and would go on to be Kings and lords of humans. Of course, Númenor as well as Gondor and Arnor are vastly more noble and humane realms than Old Valyria and Westeros, but the fact still remains.

Beren and Lúthien (a new Tolkien book)

As he does with everything, Tolkien takes Romantic Fantasy to a whole other level. Indeed, the romance between Beren of the House of Bëor and Lúthien Tinúviel makes the tale of Aragorn and Arwen look tame.

"Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that came down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures. And of these histories most fair still in the ears of the Elves is the tale of Beren and Lúthien." - J.R.R. Tolkien


(Tolkien often referred to his wife, Edith, as "my Luthien" – for the Elf maiden in question was inspired from her)

Abibliophobia

This is a legitimate fear. (Although, I think it is the fear of running out of bookshelf space that plagues readers the most. For example, I will not run out of new books to read for another decade at least, my shelves already being packed with fresh books. The problem is that most of them are volume ones...)

My people have a saying...

It is seldom credited, but one sign of a great Fantasy author is when, tucked comfortably within their works, are invented wisdom-sayings – i.e. proverbs; one could also call these little nuggets of wisdom. It is not a rule, of course, as one can easily be a master of the Fantastic without employing such things, but those who do have – at least in my experience – always been masters.

Unsurprisingly, among the first and finest examples of this is none other J.R.R. Tolkien himself. Here are some of the best examples:

"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." 
"Valour needs first strength, and then a weapon."
"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens."
"Perilous to us all are the devices of an art deeper than we possess ourselves." 
"Often does hatred hurt itself."

Another fine example, and one who directly uses the term proverbs and makes them a more integral part of the story than Tolkien, is Mercedes Lackey. She literally created dozens for her invented Shin'a'in (People of the Plains) and Tale'edras (Hawkbrother) cultures. Lackey's proverbs are notable in that they are reminiscent to those of Ancient Asia – e.g. "Just because you feel certain an enemy is lurking behind every bush, it doesn’t follow that you are wrong" is like to "Before telling secrets on the road, look in the bushes."
Other fine examples of quotes from the wondrous world of Velgarth are as follows:

"My people have a saying..."

"Knowledge will always be the best weapon against tyrants."
"Professionals are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs."
"You cannot have a battle without getting your fur in a mess."
"If it gets caught, it deserves to be eaten."
"That was then, this is now; the moment is never the same twice."

I have also heard that C. S. Lewis created a dozen proverbs in The Horse and His Boy, a book in his The Chronicles of Narnia series. However, as I have never read The Horse and His Boy I can provide no examples.

A return to Tremaris

The three moons rise.

Just started The Taste of Lightning by Kate Constable, companion novel of her Chanters of Tremaris trilogy.
It is with great delight that I once again enter the lovely world of Tremaris, only this time following new characters. Regardless, I have been meaning to read this book for years now, and the real question has always been...will there be a connection to Calwyn & co. other than a familiar world map? Time to found out.

Just finished Court Duel

Just finished Court Duel, the second book of Sherwood Smith's The Crown & Court Duet.

So ends a fast-paced and charming adventure. What is not to love about a barefooted countess aiding in taking down a tyrant and, most importantly, bringing love and laughter to a palace full of courtiers whose minds are so full of the high strategy that they cannot see a another human beyond their livery? The overall lesson: Never let past misunderstandings impair relationships; better to overcome them before they catch up with and trip you in dangerous places.

My warmest wishes for a happy future to Meliara of Tlanth & Vindanric of Renselaeus, Branaric and Nimiar of Tlanth, Savona and Tamara, and all my other friends of Remalna. You saved the kingdom and the Hill Folk.