Category: Remi Black

fantasy in an alternate Renaissance world

Celebrations in January

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Start January off Right!

Three Books to Enjoy!

From M.A. Lee, we have two Regency mysteries with a dash of suspense.

From Remi Black, we have the second novella in the Fae Mark’d World series, Spells of Air.

We also have the audio Podcast from The Write Focus.

 

Mysteries Fused with Romance

First up, we have two of the three Key titles in the Hearts in Hazard series. All three have strong male protagonists. With The Key for Spies, Lee also achieved 1.5 million published fiction words. With all the titles that she’s published since 2019, she’s over 2 million published words.

The third book in the subseries is The Key with Hearts. We’ll celebrate that novel in February.

On January 15, The Key for Spies.

Spies and traitors.  Lies and treachery.  Unexpected love where bullets fly.

One traitor destroys loyalty.  What will two traitors destroy?

Here are three links.

  • View the trailer for The Key for Spies: https://youtu.be/Ehc7VxUxCp4 

The ebook and paperback can be published at online distributors everywhere or ask for it at the library:

A Trio of Keys with Intriguing Men

On January 20

The Key to Secrets, book 7 in the Hearts in Hazard series, published in 2018 and featuring one of Lee’s recurring characters, Constable Hector Evans.

Dark Hearts and Sharp Knives.

Hector Evans has plenty of suspects for a bloody death—including the woman he once loved.

View the trailer at this link: https://youtu.be/1Sj7NfvxzXg

The ebook and paperback can be found at online distributors or ask for it your library.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0795F86YW

B&N / Kobo and more: https://books2read.com/u/mZj0Ke

Fantasy Fused with Romance

On January 25 is Remi Black’s To Charm the Wind,  published in 2021 and now 2 years old!

To Charm the Wind has entered the terrible 2’s!

When Haven isn’t a Sanctuary—

When the untried wizard Orielle enters the Wilding on her journey to Iscleft Haven, she expects threats from bears and mountain lions, vipers and hornets.

Published January 31, 2021

She certainly doesn’t expect the creatures of legend: wraiths and gobbers, shape-shifting wyre, and the Dark Fae called the Kyrgy.

Grim, an outcast from Iscleft Haven, is the keen steel that stands with her against these dangers.

Yet when they reach the Haven, the elder arrests Grim. The Haveners aren’t interested in a renewed alliance with the Wizard Enclave.

Is her mission for the Enclave in vain?

Will she ever escape the Wilding?

 

For Writers, the January series of The Write Focus.

January starts with a free opening scene.

  • Last year was Remi Black’s short story, “Godriana’s Font”. You can get the entire story free with this Book Funnel link: click.
  • The year before was M.A. Lee’s “The Lion’s Den”, also available as a freebie through Book Funnel: here.
  • This year, things are little hectic. (Okay, a LOT hectic.) If we manage the recording, it will be the opening scene from “The Poisoner and the Faerie Huntsman”. You can access the story as a freebie through Book Funnel: also here.

The starting series for 2023, our fourth season, is Discovering Characters. Enjoy!

Visit The Write Focus website for more information and links to every episode.

Here’s the link to the blog site: https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/

Enjoy January and look forward to February.

The thaw is coming!

Fae Mark’d World: Magical Creatures and Characters

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Fae Mark’d World

licensed from DepositPhotos
sprites on the wing in the Wilding

Magical Creatures

Dragon – still imprisoned in the Wastes where they were banished after they lost the war against the Fae and Wizard and Mundane alliance following Dragon Dark. Rumors that they were once controlled by the Kyrgy. Massive wings, snake-like body, and a spiked tail. Only queens are fire-breathing; all others are only venomous, with large fangs to deliver poison. Long-lived but not very fertile. (Only queens nest.) Greatest dragon is Werthyrmir.

Fae – wielders of all the elements and exceptionally long-lived. They inhabit Faeron. In the past decade they have renewed alliance with the Wizard Enclave in order to defeat the threat of

Gobber – a stunted creature with round eyes, pointed teeth, and stubby claws. Always in a pack, rarely wear clothes over their thin fur.

Huldra – a mysterious creature, usually female, that lurks only and creates traps for the unwary. Rarely seen and only the Hinterlands of the Wilding and the Wastes. Traps and magical attacks are based upon the elemental power that the Huldra wields. A water Huldra uses ice; an air Huldra uses a sandstorm.

Kyrgy – Dark Fae who rule the Wilding. Krygy means “choosers of the Slain”. Marble-white skin, silver hair, slanted highbrows and sharply angled facial structure. Teeth are sharp points. Eyes are a full-black, with no white sclera. Long and slender limbs. Wielders of all four elemental powers. Supported by their riders, knights and dames who chose to serve them and have their lives extended.

Lindworm – a type of dragon, smaller than both the dragon and the wyvern. Vestigial wings near the head, snake-like in appearance. Only the females are fire-breathing; the males are poisonous with large fangs.

Ogre – Giant-sized and therefore larger than a troll, an ogre is solitary by nature although it will run with others in a pack. Bad-tempered, it usually prefers clubs and maces to other weapons. It dislikes arrows and hates spears. Most ogres have a hunched back and long arms. The skin is a mottled rock color.

Rhoghieri ~ wielders of elemental power. The wyre are their Rhos’ natural enemies. Rho can wield one of the pure elements: Earth, Air, Water, or Fire. They cannot wield the magic of wizardry or sorcery. Once allied to the wizards of the Enclave, they escaped the alliance—burdensome to them—about three generations ago.

Sprite – tiny winged creatures, with a spindly humanoid body and dragon-fly wings. Flashes brightly in various colors. Has a stinger; often called “jewel on a wing with a sting”. The apiary of sprites is ruled by a queen, her consorts, drones and workers.

Troll – a huge, lumbering creature, with mossy and warty growths, usually a shape of grey. Primarily cave-dwelling. Usually in a small group (three to five) or in a pack (10 or more) called a Trouble.

Wolfen / Wyre ~ shapeshifters, taking wolf-form. Ruled by a Prime, who can change and partial-change without limits. All others can shift only at a Moon-Turn (the 3 Lady Moons or the 3 Dragon Moons). Stronger shifters can partial shift. In order to shift out of Moon-Turn, sorcery must be employed. Wizardry does not affect the wyre, who usually ally with sorcerers. Elemental power can affect the wyre. Wyre hunt in packs and stay in lairs. The Prime is supported by a Second / Secondus, Tierce, Quartos, Quintos, Sextos, Septos, Octavos, Nunes, Decem. A full pack has 13 males and 13 females. When assigned to a sorcerer, a pack is usually 10 males with three females.

Wraith / Wight – a vaporous creature from Neotheora (the realm of the Dead Souls). When fed blood or other body substances, the wraith takes on a corporeal form. To say the name of a recent dead person is to give the Wraith a shape to mimic.

Wyvern – a type of winged dragon, smaller than a dragon. Venomous. Not able to breath fire. Four limbs plus the wings.

. ~ . ~ . ~ .

cover design for To Wield the Wind, bk 1 of Spells of Air, by Deranged Doctor Design

Characters in Spells of Air

Orielle – a wizard who has not passed her trials. She volunteered for the mission to enlist the Rhoghieri of Iscleft Haven for a new alliance against the sorcerers and wyre of Frost Clime. Named Aiwaz Solsken by the Kyrgy Knight Sir Sangrior. Assisted in her journey by Grim, a Rhoghieri mercenary from Iscleft Citadel, also on a journey to Iscleft Haven.

Brok – a sentry of Iscleft Haven, who has recently lost his wife Zairantze. Wielder of Earth. A childhood friend of Grim.

Fortis – a mentor of Iscleft Haven and childhood friend of Grim. Wielder of Fire.

Grim – a Rhoghieri of Iscleft Haven, wielder of Air, who has been a mercenary at Iscleft Citadel for the past few years.

Hackett – a mundane who came with Tobit to the Haven from Iscleft Citadel

Kristofen – a knight of Lady Bone’s

Lady Bone – the Kyrgy lady whose brother rules the Wilding

Lillias – a mentor of Iscleft Haven, wielder of Air

Lord Skull – the Krygy lord who rules the Wilding, brother to Lady Bone

Saircuista – a dame who rides with Lady Bone

Sangrior – a consort knight of Lady Bone

Skuld (see Lady Bone)

Surrect – a healer and mentor of Iscleft Haven, wielder of Water

Tobit – elder of Iscleft Haven, wielder of Earth

Trebetha – a wielder of Earth, voted in to replace Tobit.

Volk  a consort knight of Lady Bone

Waren, married to Malva – a sentry of Iscleft Haven, friend to Brok and Grim

Zairantze – Brok’s late wife, a mundane missing from Iscleft Haven

Cover design for The Wyrded Forest, bk 1 in Spells of Earth, by Deranged Doctor Design

Characters in Spells of Earth

Desora / Adalse de Sora – a woman who has lost her wizardry following the backlash of a spell at Iscleft Citadel six years before. She wields Earth. Formerly of the Enclave Clan D’Aulnois.

Braxton – a captain who is seeking Desora. On leave from Iscleft Citadel, recently allied with Harte Regnant de Thettis, the Fae ruler of Bermarck, a sept of Faeron.

Granny Riding – wise woman in the village of Mulgrum

Griss – woodcutter’s helper

Guards from the Citadel – Klemt, Mannon and Challach.

Harte Regnant de Thettis – Maorn of the Bermarck sept of Faeron.

Lord Horst – ruler of the Wilding’s Northern Reaches. His riders include Morcain, Ehren, and others.

Merketh – a forester of Mulgrum turned into a wyre

Rangers detached from Maorn Harte – Alwin, Blaise, Dunstan, Ferrac, Gregoir, Imri, Ivhort, and Seire. Rangers are usually detachments of 10 in number; this detachment has lost Dunstan’s brother Waleran and Ivhort’s brother Vidorst.

Serron – Prime of the Wyre pack in the Wilding. Other wyre are Herlig ……

Skellig – elder of Mulgrum

Tammas – a friend of Teyja’s, son of the potters Estild and Ogrim.

Teyja – apprentice to Granny Riding

 

Wizard Enclave: Basic Info

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Wizard against sorcerer. 

first three by Remi Black

Fae against dragon. 

Wyre against Rhoghieri.

In the recently-revived war between wizards and sorcerers, the Enclave wizards enlist the aid of Rhoghieri, wielders of the four base elements who live in Havens.  The sorcerers have enslaved wyre, animal shifters who became outcasts when the wizards declared them anathema. 

The Faeron, who withdrew when the dragons were defeated and nearly extinguished from the world, have returned to an uneasy alliance with the wizards—for the dragons did not die out centuries ago.  Those nearly-mythic creatures are searching for a way to return so they can wreck vengeance on the Faeron and the wizards who exiled them.

  

Current Wizard Clans of the Enclave

Border Wars, 591

Saldoran’s Revolt, 497-510

Enclave inception, 382.

  • Brantimor. Clan Pater in 620.  Red with Gold / Fire.  Magister Amiste.  Fae comeis Tithran Oran de Ciele.  Sequence of Clan Leadership: Brantimor < Ignace (Border Wars) < Guyot, who became ArchClans in 566 < Evraud, who became ArchClans in 541 < Franchot (Saldoran’s Revolt) < Cosmée (killed in battle during Saldoran’s Revolt) < Salbourne < year 463 clan split with the clan that becomes duCian < Chamisse, who became ArchClans in 451 < Thibaut, founder.
  • Bronchet. Clan Pater in 616.  Blue with Gold / Water with Fire.  Magister Beatrice.  Fae comeis Laidriv Grieze de Kiern. Sequence of Clan Leadership: Bronchet < Pierrell (Border Wars) < Gismond, who became ArchClans in 576 < Sandoire < Gauthier, who became ArchClans in 536 (Saldoran’s Revolt) < Odette (killed in battle during Saldoran’s Revolt) < year 494 clan split with the clan that becomes Rochein < Hellost < Alaric < Carrock, founder.
  • Charanaise. Clan Mater in 635.  Green with Gold / Earth and Fire.  Magister Piers.  Fae comeis Tolki Regnant de Thettis.  Sequence of Clan Leadership: Charanaise < Gerrault < Teobolt (Border Wars) < Ysador < Lisandre (Saldoran’s Revolt) < Giraud, who became ArchClans in 488 (killed in battle during Saldoran’s Revolt) < de Bohune < Brielle, who became ArchClans in 463 < year 461 clan split with the clan that becomes d’Aulnois < Telfourd < Pherginda, who became ArchClans in 439 and founder.
  • d’Aulnois. Clan Pater in 631.  Council of Five member.  Green with Silver / Earth and Air.  Magister Niels.  Fae comeis Silmar Heim de Veirnt. Sequence of Clan Leadership: d’Aulnois < Bourdonnée (Border Wars) < Phergenie < d’Arcy < Horchadt, became ArchClans in 497 (Saldoran’s Revolt) < Aelwine < Guimalle, became ArchClans in 467 < year 461 clan split with the clan that becomes Charanaise < Telfourd < Pherginda, became ArchClans in 439 and founder.
  • Drakon. Clan Pater in 596.  Council of Five member.  Black with Gold / (unacknowledged Chaos and) Fire.  Magister Brandt.  Fae comeis Huron Talenn de Ysagrael.  Sequence of Clan Leadership: Drakon < Reivel, who became ArchClans in 578 (Border Wars) < Bronn < Tanneal, who became ArchClans in 514 (Saldoran’s Revolt) < Yvgny < Draiven < Brandt, who become ArchClans in 449 < Gerhardt, founder.
  • DuCian. Clan Pater in 627.  Red with Silver / Fire and Air.  Magister Rowan.  Fae comeis Vatar Regnant de Chardyss.  Sequence of Clan Leadership:  DuCian < Valmont < Raigneur (Border Wars) < Alysse < Telfor < Sebastien (Saldoran’s Revolt) < Léonor (killed in battle during Saldoran’s Revolt) < Anselm, who became ArchClans in 474 < year 463 clan split with the clan that becomes Brantimor < Chamisse, who became ArchClans in 451 < Thibaut, founder.
  • Galfrons. Clan Pater in 610.  Council of Five member.  Grey with Silver / Water and Air.  Magisters Eléonore and Talbot.  Fae comeis Dagorr Sigis de Fanault. Sequence of Clan Leadership: Galfrons < Chambaud (Border Wars) < Harailt, who became ArchClans in 555 < Rombreaux (Saldoran’s Revolt) < Ferrant < Melisande < Jacinthe, joined as second generation after Carrock’s death in 426.
  • Letheina. Clan Mater in 613, became ArchClans in 624.  Blue with Silver / Water and Air.  Magister Raigeis.  Fae Ruidri comeis Talenn de Ysagrael.  Sequence of Clan Leadership:  Letheina < Saigeis, who became ArchClans in 596 (Border Wars) < Morted < Sygny (Saldoran’s Revolt) < Maltroit (killed in battle during Saldoran’s Revolt) < Romert < du Cyre, who became ArchClans in 444 < Raigeis, founder.
  • Metallin. Clan Pater in 616. Council of Five member.  Black with Silver / Air.  Magister Tallost.  Fae comeis Aegethr Bourne de Chardyss.  Sequence of Clan Leadership:  Metallin < Sholeina < Garnier (Border Wars) < Nellost < Piers, who became ArchClans in 524 (Saldoran’s Revolt) < Enjoux (killed in battle during Saldoran’s Revolt) < d’Ivrons, who joined the Enclave in the 3rd generation, 461.
  • Perrault. Clan Pater in 606.  Council of Five member.  Brown with Gold / Earth and Fire.  Magisters Cosmée and Oralia and Jules.  Fae comeis Sullin Bourne de Chardyss.  Sequence of Clan Leadership:  Perrault < Griselt (Border Wars) < Aherin (Saldoran’s Revolt) < Horst (killed in battle during Saldoran’s Revolt) < Denis < Journet, joined as second generation after Carrock’s death in 426.
  • Rochein. Clan Mater in 624.  Yellow with Black / Earth and Air.  Magister Seir.  Fae comeis Menos Heim de Veirnt.  Sequence of Clan Leadership:  Rochein < Giraud, who became ArchClans in 613 < Euphemie (Border Wars) < Montaigne < Harcourt < Tredennit, who became ArchClans in 520 (Saldoran’s Revolt) < Costaigne (killed in battle during Saldoran’s Revolt) < year 494 clan split with the clan that becomes Bronchet < Hellost < Alaric < Carrock, founder.

ArchClans Leadership < Letheina, 624 < Giraud, 613-624 < Saigeis, 597-624 < Reivel, 578-597 (Border Wars) < Gismond, 577-578 < Guyot, 566-577 < Harailt, 555-566 < Evraud, 541-555 < Gauthier, 536-541 < Piers, 524-536 < Tredennit, 520-524 < Tanneal, 514-520 < Horchadt, led during Saldoran’s Revolt, 497-514 < Giraud, killed during Saldoran’s Revolt, 488-497 < Anselm, 474-488 < Guimalle, 468-474 < Brielle, 463-468 < Chamisse, 451-463 < Brandt, 449-451 < du Cyre, 443-449 < Pherginda (last remaining of the original founders), 439-443 < original five founding members—Carrock, Gerhardt, Pherginda, Raigeis, and Thibaut—ruled by consensus from 382 to 439.

Current Aged Sages (61st Iteration of the Council of Five): 1st = Perrault, 2nd = Galfrons, 3rd = Drakon, 4th = d’Aulnois, and 5th = Metallin.

Current Faeron Septs

  • The Maorketh, sometimes called “the Kiern Alaisa”. Maorketh Alaisa Grieze de Kiern.  Called the Chief Sister.  Her ward (bonded mate) is Ivers, a wizard of Clan Letheina of the Enclave.  Her palace is at the Harrows in the North.
  • First Sister, the Fanault Alviss. Maore Alviss Sigis de Fanault.  Her palace is at Dagomer, on the east by the sea.
  • First Brother, the Ysagrael Tiraz. Maorn Tiraz Talenn de Ysagrael.  Scree, the rocky and forested slopes leading down from Petrosse, is the location of his palace.
  • Second Sister, the Ciele Vyrthandi. Maore Vyrthandi Oran de Ciele.  Petrosse is the rocky mountains on the Faeron border.
  • Second Brother, the Chardyss Vidar. Maorn Vidar Bourne de Chardyss.  The vale between the mountains is called Moutelle.
  • Third Sister, the Veirnt Skuld. Maore Skuld Heim de Veirnt has her palace at Eiron, the green valley.  Her ward is Romert of Clan Letheina of the Enclave.
  • Third Brother, the Thettis Harte. Maorn Harte Regnant de Thettis, whose palace is located at Bermarck, the forested area.

Wyre Pack in the Enclave

Prime: Martel

Secunde: Arctos

Terce: Lupe

Quartos: Egil

Quintus: Onoldt

Sextus: Voldt

Septimus: Pannoth

Octavus: Ulven

Nones: Freki

Decimus (killed on the way to Mont Nouris)

The Females

Prime: Clemayya

Secunde: Jhennanni

Terce: Volnikka

Quartos: Gerrinna

Quintus: Hibbissi