Quote of the month

"When does a hero's journey begin? 

The moment you step outside the safety of your home? 

Or when you realize the fight has just begun? 

Is is when you comprehend how small you are compared to the vastness that threatens to destroy you? 

When did you learn that the journey isn't a lonely road,

and you didn't have to face the darkness alone? 

Lesser souls lose heart and lay down their swords.

But a champion risks everything for the greater good. 

Take comfort in this: True heroes never die."

- Erebos

Tell me again why Darth Vader wore the mask and not the Emperor

Tell me again why Darth Vader wore the mask and not the Emperor (Darth Sidious). I understand the need for a breathing apparatus, but, in the end, Palpatine's face was just as, if not more, ugly. Yes, I know it was the only way to keep Vader alive – but Sidious could have given the Medusa a run for her money.

I have started Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross

I have started Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross.

Fell dreams can be scary enough, but when the ancient curse of a betrayed Duke brings them to life once a month...that is what one calls a true nightmare. Add magicians tasked with defending the realm of Azenor fighting over territory, at least one of whom has good looks and bad enough manners to challenge Clementine's father, and Clem's life is about become something truly undreamt of. Still, adversity tis the parent of progress and every curse can be broken. If revenge can be set aside, secrets overcome, and more artistic forms of magic used, of course, plus maybe a rather revealing mirror in a creepy mansion. All I know is that any Fantasy reader knows the power of dreams in the genre, so a book built upon them...

I have finished Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire by Don Martin

I have finished Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire by Don Martin.

"Everything wants," as is said, for that is the stuff of how contracts are made. Yet deals run two ways and Verity Vox, witch-in-training, found more than she bargained for in the Appalachian town of Foxfire next to a mountain that was old when the moon was young and holds a power within desired by the fell magician Earl who plays by no rulebook humanity wrote. But never had he faced an adversary such as Verity, whose courage and wit, songs and lore, awoke the mountain and freed the town once more.

An utter delight and delightfully whimsical book, Verity and the rules of witchcraft stole my heart within the first pages and never let go. A tale of community that overcomes years of hardship against a terrible inhuman force and finding love amidst such desolation. Is there a better ending than riding and flying off into the sunset? A bit of a cliché, but perfect in my mind. Not that it be a true ending, as I learned that this is Book 1 of the The Verity Vox Series, so no goodbyes this time. Verity Vox, Jack-Be-Nimble, Tacita Tarry, Gilly & Earnest, Mae and Del Miller, I will be seeing you all again in less than a year.

3rd grade alchemists

I wrote this on my personal facebook four years ago today and, looking at it, cannot think why I did not post it here. So I shall now correct that error:

"Never thought I would say this, but I think a few of the 3rd grader may be reading too much Fantasy. Yes, I actually just said that and only partly in jest 🤫 See, a girl had a nosebleed today and naturally a drop of blood hit the blacktop, so what do the other girls do when their friend is taken in to get cleaned up? They instantly used chalk to draw alchemical symbols around the drop of blood as if it were a blood magic altar!"

Seriously, who starts these rumors?

So a student comes up to me today and asks, "Mr. Adler, is it true you've read every book in the world?"

I burst out laughing, then answer, "Oh gosh no! A person could read every moment from the day they were born to the day they die even if they lived to over a hundred, and still not have read the barest fraction."

Student: "Really? They're that many?"

The scary part is that in no point during this conversation was the kid anything less than completely earnest, and was legitimately surprised when I replied "an incomprehensible amount, and that does not even include books that have been lost" after which I told them of the tragically lost Library of Alexandria.

Then, later, a different pair of students asked me if I had read every book in the library, or just most of them. Naturally I told them neither, though I could claim a decent amount of the Fantasy section.

 

For the record, I never did or said anything that could have planted the seeds for these (or past somewhat more fantastical) rumors. I tell riddles and like any good librarian make book recommendations.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave

Naturally we still do not know for sure if this is a prequel or sequel. (Unless I missed something). Regardless, exploring Shamir's homeland will be fascinating. Gosh though...hearing Sothis' voice and her theme... And this enemy... a new foe or the Dagdan branch of those who slither in the dark?