Orcs are a staple of fantasy fiction, especially in LitRPG worlds where players encounter—or even play as—these formidable creatures. But not all orcs are created equal. In the world of Menelon, the Common Orc and War Orc take on unique roles, breaking away from familiar tropes and adding rich cultural depth. Here's how they compare to traditional fantasy orcs and […]
Is Books.by a Trustworthy Platform for Authors and Readers? A Deep Dive into a Concerning Silence As authors, we're constantly searching for reliable platforms to distribute our hard work and connect with readers. In this quest, you might have stumbled upon books.by, a book distribution platform that, on the surface, promises a streamlined path to getting your book out there. […]
Ah, the siren song of book marketing! As indie authors, we’ve all heard it. A chorus of voices from the digital ether, each promising the secret sauce to catapult our literary masterpieces into the hands (and e-readers) of millions. They paint a glorious picture: bestseller status, overflowing coffers, and maybe even a tastefully framed author photo for our mantelpiece. What […]
Imagine stepping into a world where magic and technology meet, where cities aren't just static backdrops but living, breathing entities that pulsate with vibrant energy. Fernwall's Great War is a tale woven with such grandeur that its very cities take on a life of their own, transforming into characters as crucial as any hero or villain. Have you ever wondered […]
Jane Austen, with her keen eye for social intricacies and the delicate dance of human relationships, masterfully crafted narratives where dramatic tension often arose from misunderstandings, societal pressures, and the complexities of love and ambition. Her stories, as many readers adore, didn't hinge on the presence of truly malevolent figures or intricate subplots dripping with dark schemes. But step into […]
The literary landscape, once envisioned as a diverse ecosystem teeming with voices, is increasingly shadowed by the looming presence of a few dominant players. In the realms of ebooks, paper books, and audiobooks, the concentration of power into the hands of near-monopolies is not just a matter of market share; it's a critical issue that is actively stifling the growth, […]
The Great War dramatically changed almost everything and everyone on Menelon. That is no secret, and Fernwall's Great War was no different. What is not generally known is what those changes were, and how they affected each culture. The war spanned three continents and an unknown number of islands. For a rare few, the major impact of the war was […]
Police Inspector Barbara Cole first appears in Raven's Tears and her story continues throughout the Raven & the Iris Series. In this series of shorts, which we're titiling "middle class life in Fernwall", we go back in time to Barbara's preparations to become a police detective, and take a peek at what middle class life looks like in Cascadia. Part […]
Fantasy sailing ships are the front line war machine of The Great War. In the first Fire Mission story, the crew arrives in Bagédaan on a leaky old tub, but leaves on a fine naval schooner. In the fantasy and fiction world, there are several definitions of the "schooner," but in the 18th century, a schooner was defined as a […]
Police Inspector Barbara Cole first appears in Raven's Tears and her story continues throughout the Raven & the Iris Series. In this series of shorts we go back in time to Barbara's preparations to become a police detective, and take a peek at what middle class life in Fernwall looks like in Cascadia. Part I can be found here. […]
