LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

An inveterate Magic: the Gathering player, I pay close 
attention to the lore and THIS STORY,  Not for a Stranger, 
is the one for this month. A toast to Huatli and Saheeli.

"Hail royal June, sun-bright with poppies crowned" said John Cowper Powys, the English philosopher, lecturer, novelist, critic and poet. But I echo that hail today for another reason in addition to joyous Summer. It is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, and with it let me continue to offer my undying support for the LGBTQIA+ community and reiterate the role Fantasy literature plays in supporting them by, to start, inviting people to read my LGBTQIA+ in Fantasy page, and listen to what happened to me today. As I state on the just mentioned page, I personally am not LGBTQIA+. However, I have students who are and one year I told them – quite truthfully, by the way – that I was writing a Fantasy book in which one of the key characters is lesbian. Their eyes lit and they were on their feet in less time than it takes to say it. But it is the moment when I told them that the character is a Queen that I shall forever remember, for the glow on their faces out-shown the lights on the ceiling by a leap and a bound. They began questioning me about the character, wanting to know her name, what she looked like, all about the land she ruled and, most importantly, when the book was coming out. To this last I gave them a disappointing answer, for an unfinished rough draft of a 500+ page book is naturally years away from publication, and they asked me how they were supposed to wait that long for a book with a gay Queen. They want to see the rough draft as it stands and one who has some artistic skill began drawing this Queen based on my description. The moral of the story? Representation matters, people. Seeing yourself in literature matters in a huge way. Indeed, when I found these students they were eagerly pursuing the school library's LGBTQIA+ Pride Month book display.

On that note, let me also reiterate that I utterly condemn such book banners, and they feel the full force of my contempt so hard it ought to frost their windows. So if you are anti-LGBTQIA+ and are reading this, do not even THINK of commenting on this or any other Stars Uncounted page or post spouting your intolerant drivel, because I will take one look and delete it. It will never appear, and I will lose no sleep over it. Rather, I will be laughing at how you are so insecure that you feel the need to rant on a Fantasy blog while reflecting on the truth of another Mercedes Lackey quote: "Make someone a devout, fanatical anything, and his brain turns to mulch." Then I will stop laughing and forget all about you, because I categorically deem anti-LGBTQIA+ people as a class of idiot so utterly unworthy of respect that I will not waste any more minutes thinking about you. You are a mosquito whose comment was a bite on this blog, and I will flick your comment away with as little thought or care as I would an actual mosquito misguided enough to try to get at my blood. Less care, actually, since, unlike true mosquito bites, deleted comments do not itch after the fact.

"The young must grow old,
Whilst old ones grow older,
And cowards will shrink,
As the bold grow bolder.
Courage may blossom in quiet hearts,
For who can tell where bravery starts?
Truth is a song, oft lying unsung,
Some mother bird, protecting her young,
Those who lay down their lives for friends,
The echo rolls onward, it seldom ends.
Who never turned and ran, but stayed?
This is a warrior born, not made!
Living in peace, aye many a season,
Calm in life and sound in reason,
'Til evil arrives, a wicked horde,
Driving a warrior to pick up his sword,
The challenger rings then, straight and fair,
Justice is with us, beware. Beware!"

-  Brian Jacques

I have started The Equinox Tor, Book Three of David Doersch's Chronicles of the Raven

At the author's request I have started The Equinox Tor, Book Three of David Doersch's Chronicles of the Raven.

I predicted that this book would begin with battle and I was right, for the Autumn Equinox is but a day away and Fel's servants must be stopped ere far more than Daffyd falls. Yet the Barbárs hordes and their sadistic Angor blood-shaman allies hold the Tor and advance deeper into the Green Mount, spilling Highlander blood all the way. While further south, though Lachland is for the moment safe, the Church of the Five are up to their polite necks in bloody plays for power... and has it in for Queens the world over. All of it wrapped up in a web of far-reaching plots complex enough to make a spider envious, so here's hoping that Queen Darienne and the Raven Corvus Corax and their kith and kin can – even without full understanding – fight their way through it since the price of failure is...total.

The battle cry goes out as swords are drawn… "Protect the Tor!"

 

(Naturally the Official Book Review will come after I finish the book.)

My father and I just finished The Age of Enchantment, the first of Anna James' Chronicles of Whetherwhy

My father and I just finished The Age of Enchantment, the first of Anna James' Chronicles of Whetherwhy.

Just because an author wrote one book you loved does not mean that one automatically reads, much less likes, their other, future books. Sometimes ones does, others times not – and this was absolutely the former! Coming strong off her Pages & Co. series, Anna James once more weaves her enchantment in this new series on the magical island of Whetherwhy, only instead of books the magic is rooted in the four seasons and everyone has the magic of the single season. All save Enchanters, who have the magic of them all.

Of course, this is Anna James, which means the plot – like the weather – is unpredictable. Juniper had more trouble getting her school of magic than I have ever read (I will never look at plant bulbs the same way again) and her twin Rafferty got himself into a bigger tangle, a harder knot, that Juniper's magpie and Zinnia's bloody stag. For all is not well in Whetherwhy, dark plots born of jealously and a desire for fairness spouting grim vines. Fortunately they contained the blight and healed their own divide. But the magical balance of the island is still off and we never did learn where the Queen stands in this.

IT'S OUT!

My full debut Epic Fantasy series, The Dragonkin Legacy, is now available on Amazon.

By the way, I did not choose June 1st at the release date arbitrarily. It just happened to also be the day the June edition of Kirkus Reviews Magazine came out – which includes their stellar review of the book.

“The worldbuilding is superb...[and] the characters are just as memorable...an enthralling epic teeming with valor, camaraderie, and searing battles.”
– Kirkus Reviews

 

I just finished Gift of Magic, Book 6 of Lynn Kurland's Novels of the Nine Kingdoms

I just finished Gift of Magic, Book 6 of Lynn Kurland's Novels of the Nine Kingdoms and the conclusion of its second trilogy.

Sometimes you have to walk back in order to move forward. You can choose your friends, but you cannot choose you relatives. Two age-old phrases that Ruithneadh of Ceangail and Sarah the dreamweaver would find very special appreciation for after learning who was leading them about, that Miach's theory was quite right, and where they ended up fighting a battle and building a home (two separate places these). And is not even talking Sarah's family history into account. But both family matters, and Gair of Ceangail's lifework, have been firmly to rest.

I will now say what I did after finishing the first trilogy: "I seldom dive into Romantic Fantasy...but this series caught and pulled me along with its ceaseless, heartfelt action. Seldom has any series chewed up entire afternoons the way this one has. Which is why I shall miss" Ruith and Sarah, for watching them first struggle against black mages and the past before ultimately prevailing was a gripping joy. Better still, they made it back to Mhorghain and Miach's wedding on time.

(Will I ever read the rest of the Novels of the Nine Kingdoms? Likely not, but who knows. I would like to see more of Rùnach and I just know the fate of the exiled Bruadair royals are involved, yet six more books is a lot to chew on though, and shelf space is, for me, almost as valuable as magic.) 

A new Harry, Ron, and Hermione

Tis no secret that HBO is making a Harry Potter TV series, but today we can finally put new faces to three very old, very dear, names. Behold the new Harry, Ron, and Hermione! Here is everything currently known:

"The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved “Harry Potter” book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling. The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters “Harry Potter” fans have loved for over twenty-five years. Each season will bring “Harry Potter” and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and cherished films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally. The series is written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner. Mark Mylod will executive produce and direct multiple episodes of the series for HBO in association with Brontë Film and TV and Warner Bros. Television. The series is executive produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films."

Also, "this could be on HBO Max as early as 2026, according to BBC News." Beyond that and the general expectation born of curiosity and vicarious excitement, this news carries limited emotion resonance with me since I never watched the Harry Potter movie. But I LOVE the books and this proud Ravenclaw will not mince words: HBO – and the new trio – have some very large broomsticks to fly. But more power to them in trying to recast, so to speak, the spell that is Harry Potter and follow in the hallowed footsteps of the first three to let the world join them on the Hogwarts Express.

My The Dragonkin Legacy comes out under a week!

Yep! Hard to believe that June 1st is nigh upon us, and with it:

“The worldbuilding is superb...[and] the characters are just as memorable...an enthralling epic teeming with valor, camaraderie, and searing battles.”
– Kirkus Reviews

“À la Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea saga… Adler’s world-building is exceptional and the character development and dynamism is impressive.”
– BlueInk Reviews

"Long ago, the continent of Cynnahu was shattered by a genocidal war between the native Dragonkin and invading human mages, leaving humanity victorious and the Dragonkin extinct. Now, millennia later, the descendants of those human conquerors face a newer yet still ancient enemy as a time dictated in Prophesy has arrived. A time when not one but five shall save – or fail to save – the Archipelago of Cynnahu in humanity’s Last War against the snake-folk of Nag Isle. A time when a Traveler, Orphan, Survivor, Student, and Lord will set sail to rediscover the secret of the Elder Song, the last magics of the Dragonkin.

They are Sakura, whose life is shattered when her entire family and home island are slaughtered; now orphaned and homeless, she seeks vengeance. Myrriden, the footsore mage and single father whose life is busy enough without a war. Emrys, Myrriden’s nervous son, who is certain he does not have what it takes to be a great mage like his dad. Volcan Darkrod, the enigmatic Fire Mage who’s past and powers are a mystery. And Archmage Hoth, the unflappable Leader of the Cynnahu folk who feels the weight of countless lives on his shoulders.

Guided by an ancient riddle recently uncovered by the famed Grey Owl Aneirin, this Team of Five must run a race of swords, spells, and dusty scrolls. But time is their greatest foe. Will the courage and wits of two eleven-year-olds and three vastly different mages be enough to free purposefully hidden secrets from forces predating human rule in Cynnahu to reunite the scattered Song while fighting a desperate war on land and sea? Only three things are certain: the past is not dead, where swords fail scrolls may prevail, and that humanity stands at the edge of extinction."