But what about the mysterious good witch?

Angela the Herbalist and her werecat
companion Solembum

When reading my Females in Fantasy page I can hear you all asking me "But what about the mysterious good witch?" The wise women, the funny and sharp-witted women of power who appear at odd moments and/or are sought after by the protagonists for aid/advice. This is a trope we all know about and Angela the Herbalist from Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle is who come to mind for me when hearing it. Similar to the wise sage, what distinguishes one from the other is these white witches (for lack of a better term) are typically portrayed as having an agenda of their own, sporadically working with or fighting alongside the protagonists less because they see the necessity of it and more because they want to for their own personal and/or mysterious reasons. I cannot say more because this class of character is more a thing of fairy tales & short stories as opposed to Fantasy literature and, besides, such white witches are near-always so different from one another that trying to wrap them up any more tightly into a category together would be like trying to wrap a cactus in silk, the needles endlessly piercing and poking through the defined parameters one is trying to set.

My father and I just finished West by Edith Pattou

My father and I just finished West by Edith Pattou, sequel to East.
It was delight journeying with Rose again over mountain and sea, to mythic isles and the castles of trolls! Her steady courage, great love, and resourcefulness are truly awe-inspiring as she faces evils far beyond her ken and yet comes out on top, albeit not unscarred, to rescue those she loves. And this time, thankfully, we saw the body and death of a certain pale queen as well as a decidedly unfriendly troll-snake.

Farewell and lots of love to Rose and Charles, Neddy and Sib (congratulations!), Estelle, Arne and Eugenia, and all the rest of the family who inspired my wind rose.

Fire Emblem: Fates - Revelation

I have just completed Fire Emblem: Fates - Revelation, a 3DS game that is worthy of a book, so poignant was the plot and ties forged with the characters. Justice, equality, charity, and peace are the best reasons to draw steel, and this time, unlike in Birthright, I saved the lives grievously lost (including one that nearly undid me), solved most of the Vallite mysteries left hanging from before, and ended the Silent Dragon for good and all. Tis a pity really, that such a once-noble deity fell so far.

Farewell Corrin & Azura, Silas & Rinkah, Kaze & Oboro, Ryoma & Felicia, Takumi & Mozu, Elise & (cough)Odin, Saizo & Kagero, (cough)Laslow & Hana, Subaki & (cough)Selena, Leo & Sakura, Xander & Hinoka, Flora, Camila, Fuga, Jakob...and those fewer who fell. And Queens Mikoto and Arete, whose dreams came true.

 Let Azura's song ring forth!

"You are the ocean’s grey waves
Destined to seek
Life beyond the shore
Just out of reach

Yet the waters ever change
Flowing like time
The path is yours to climb

In the white light
A hand reaches through
A double-edged blade cuts your heart in two
Waking dreams fade away
Embrace the brand new day
Sing with me a song
Of birthrights and love
The light scatters to the sky above
Dawn breaks through the gloom
White as a bone
Lost in thoughts, all alone

You are the ocean’s grey waves
Destined to seek
Life beyond the shore
Just out of reach
Yet the waters ever change
Flowing like time
The path is yours to climb

Embrace the dark,
You call a home.
Gaze upon an empty white throne,
A legacy of lies,
A familiar disguise.
Sing with me a song
of conquests and fates
The black pillar cracks
beneath its weight.
Night breaks through the day
Hard as a stone
Lost in thoughts, all alone

The path you walk on belongs to destiny
Just let it flow
All of your joy and your pain all fall like the tide
Just let it flow
Life is not just filled with happiness
Nor sorrow
Even the thorn in your heart
In time it may become
A rose

A burdened heart,
Sinks into the ground
A veil falls away without a sound
Not day nor night, wrong nor right
For truth and peace you fight
Sing with me a song
Of silence and blood
The rain falls but
Can’t wash away the mud
Within my ancient heart dwells madness and pride
Can no one hear my cry?
You are the ocean’s grey waves"

Namárië, Christopher Tolkien

"As strange as it may seem, I grew up in the
world he (my father) created.
For me, the cities of The Silmarillion
are more real than Babylon."

RIP Christopher Tolkien. Namárië, as the Noldor might say ("farewell" in Quenya, though the word can be analyzed as na + márië, being a blessing and meaning literally "to goodness.")
 
We owe this man so much: The Silmarillion, The Book of Unfinished Tales, Beren And Lúthien, and much else, all of which amount to releasing to the world the vast and vastly complex history of Middle-earth of which The Lord of the Rings is only the tip of the iceberg. Though I did not not agree with him on everything, namely his disparagement of Peter Jackson's LOTR movies, Christopher Tolkien embodied the selfless drive and unrelenting moral dignity that is the heart of his father's work. Imagine dedicating your life to another's work, and to protecting others – for as his father served in the trenches of World War I, Christopher Tolkien served in the Royal Air Force in World War II. He will be missed, for all the above reasons and for his steady presence at the vanguard of all things Middle-earth.

The Guardian: “Christopher Tolkien has died at the age of 95. The Tolkien Society sends its deepest condolences to Baillie, Simon, Adam, Rachel and the whole Tolkien family. Tolkien, who was born in Leeds in 1924, was the third and youngest son of the revered fantasy author and his wife Edith. He grew up listening to his fathers tales of Bilbo Baggins, which later became the children’s fantasy novel, The Hobbit. He drew many of the original maps detailing the world of Middle Earth for his father’s The Lord of the Rings when the series was first published between 1954 and 55. He also edited much of his father’s posthumously published work following his death in 1973. Since 1975 he had lived in France with Baillie."

Namárië, and rest well in the Halls of Mandos.

Terciel and Elinor

Because we did not already know that the universe is mocking me. BECAUSE THE OLD BOOK SERIES' REFUSE TO END!!

About a year ago I wrote:

"I think the Universe is mocking me. I finally start The Wheel of Time thinking that I have the time to read it without other series I love dogging my heels. And why should I not? Christopher Paolini was writing a sci-fi series and thus was not going to return to the world of Alagaësia anytime soon; I had completed John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years (and he had confirmed that there would be no follow-up to book #12 of the main Ranger's Apprentice series); I finished Pullman's The Book of Dust, Nix's Goldenhand sequel to the Abhorsen series; and most of the other one-volume works in my possession.

Plenty of time to read The Wheel of Time, right...?

Well, once again I see why getting to the new Fantasy books that have long graced my shelves is proving so difficult... IT IS BECAUSE THE OLD BOOK SERIES' REFUSE TO END!! On 10/10/2018 Paolini announces The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm out of nowhere. And today I go to the bookstore and find The Red Fox Clan, book #2 of the new Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger which is nothing less that an entire sequel series follow-up to the now-old book #12 (called The Royal Ranger) of the main Ranger's Apprentice series.

My reaction: YAY!! HELP!! AUGH!! (all at once). 
Seriously, the minute I finally begin moving through Robert Jordan's heavyweight what happens? All the my careful planning goes out the window as two of my dearest other series leap out like the unexpected ghosts of departed and beloved friends returned to life and calling to me."

Then a few days later I wrote:

"Edith Pattou has written a sequel to East, a girl and her white bear now becoming a girl and her white snake in a book entitled West. Of course I am not overly upset because it will be wonderful to see Rose again, but, by the Flames of Anor and Tar Valon, at this rate I will never read anything new (once I finish The Wheel of Time)."

Well, now it is 2020 and I am over halfway through the great journey that is The Wheel of Time. And Garth Nix has just announced another book in classic Abhorsen Series is coming out next year. Titled Terciel and Elinor, Nix describes his delight in returning "to the storied land of the Old Kingdom to tell another tale of love, deep myth, necromancy and Charter magic.” Though this time, unlike Goldenhand, it will be a prequel as Terciel is the name of Sabriel's father (the 52nd Abhorsen). I am assuming that Elinor is the name of Sabriel's currently unnamed mother.

Not alone

 “Old friend,' said Cadvan, filling another glass for himself
and sniffing its rich smell. 'If we do not trust one another,
we are already defeated.”

I think that among the most vital lessons Fantasy literature has to offer is the value of friendship. Think about it – the protagonist, if indeed there is only one, always relies on her/his friends and allies for support on both a personal and military level. The lesson being that, in the immortals words of Uncle Iroh from Avatar: The Last Airbender, that "there is nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you." In short, friendship and the ability to make friends is more valuable than any magic sword.

To the Professor!

Today is J.R.R. Tolkien's twelfty-eighth (128th) birthday! As Frodo did for Bilbo, the Tolkien Society continues to celebrate Tolkien's birthday in his absence. Their tradition: at 9pm your time raise a glass and toast "The Professor!"