Ever since I was little, I’ve been fascinated with various historical societies, but particularly that of medieval Europe. The ebb and flow of political strife as well as the gradual creeping advancement of technology in an era too-often deemed “the Dark Ages” sparked a passion in me that led me to pursue a degree in history. Prior to my studies, I had the opportunity to travel to Norway, where my love for the medieval era was ignited as my family toured the dipping green fjords and walked the burial mounds of kings long past. I aim now to tell their stories.
In a land shared by Elves and Humans, traitors wait to descend on a fragile kingdom, and one family is caught between two worlds.
With her marriage mending the ancient divide between Elves and Humans, Nara Crawforde knows a thing or two about political prowess. From the moment the queen’s crown touched her head, Nara learned she had to be willing to sacrifice everything for the good of her kingdom. Now, unrest is brewing in Lahan. Despite her uncle's claim that the enemy lies in the rival land of Grunid, Nara fears the real threat lurks within her own family.
Cornwell’s The Winter King immerses readers in a thrilling Arthurian adventure, set in a medieval world.
The author is especially talented at describing accurate settings, such as castles and landscapes. Real historical figures are seamlessly woven in with figures of legend, adding depth to the story as Cornwell’s knowledge of medieval society takes form through evocative prose.
The Winter King more than lives up to the standard I hold for medieval-based fiction.
Uther, the High King of Britain, has died, leaving the infant Mordred as his only heir. His uncle, the loyal and gifted warlord Arthur, now rules as caretaker for a country which has fallen into chaos - threats emerge from within the British kingdoms while vicious Saxon armies stand ready to invade. As he struggles to unite Britain and hold back the Saxon enemy, Arthur is embroiled in a doomed romance with beautiful Guinevere.
Aside from the gripping descriptions of the medieval setting, what sets the Assassin’s Apprentice apart is the humanity of its characters. I always like to advocate for the realness of characters, even in plot-driven stories.
As a reader, I need to be able to connect with the humanity of the characters I encounter. This novel’s protagonist is a flawed and relatable hero whose struggles and triumphs feel truly real. Likewise, the supporting cast, from nobles to servants, are complex characters. This pleases me as a reader and inspires me as an author.
Voyager Classics - timeless masterworks of science fiction and fantasy.
A beautiful clothbound edition of Assassin's Apprentice, the first book in the critically acclaimed Farseer Trilogy.
In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma.
Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals - the old art known as the Wit - gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if…
Kristen Britain’s Green Rider is an adventure that takes place in a carefully crafted medieval world.
What’s notable is the way Britain integrates medieval culture and tradition into the story. From the honor code of the Green Riders to the standard of loyalty and virtue, the novel is steeped in values commonly held in the medieval era. This adds authenticity to the story.
The series also introduces ‘fantasy flair’ in the Eletians, a group of people I could closely associate with the Elves in my own book.
It's a race against time to save her country, but it could cost her life . . .
Karigan G'ladheon always seemed to be getting into a fight, and today was no exception.
But as she trudged through the forest, using her long walk home to contemplate her depressing future - and the expulsion it was bound to hold - a horse burst through the woodland and charged straight for her. The rider was slumped over his mount's neck with two arrows embedded in his back. Wherever his horse was taking him, he would be dead before they got there.…
Tanith Lee’s Wolf Tower takes readers through a detailed medieval world.
The novel is filled with accurate and realistic descriptions, from the customs of medieval court to the harsh realities of life in feudal society. The unique yet historically grounded setting is brought to life through vivid prose.
Throughout the novel, Lee carefully weaves in medieval cultural details, giving readers a sense of the era’s customs, beliefs, and hierarchies. This is a book that captured me. I was completely immersed in the world Lee created and felt a cozy nostalgia for beloved fantasy books of the ‘90s.
Cladi, a sixteen year old orphan, and handmaiden to cruel royal family, is looking for a chance at freedom, and thinks she's found it when she helps a hansome and mysterious prisoner escape, but uncovers a conspiracy plot in the process, and must act quickly to avert it. 25,000 first printing.
Tales Before Tolkien is a collection of stories that give readers a glimpse of the modern fantasy genre’s historical roots. It is edited by Douglas A. Anderson, who provides helpful commentary on the stories and their historical context.
Many of the stories are set in the medieval period, and Anderson does an excellent job of contextualizing the stories within their historical background. He looks at how such stories reflect the values and beliefs of the medieval period, and how they often diverge from how we tend to perceive the medieval era today.
This book served as a personal reference for me when writing my own fantasy series as I pondered medieval setting.
Terry Brooks. David Eddings. George R. R. Martin. Robin Hobb. The top names in modern fantasy all acknowledge J. R. R. Tolkien as their role model, the author whose work inspired them to create their own epics. But what writers influenced Tolkien himself? Here, internationally recognized Tolkien expert Douglas A. Anderson has gathered the fiction of authors who sparked Tolkien’s imagination in a collection destined to become a classic in its own right.
Andrew Lang’s romantic swashbuckler, “The Story of Sigurd,” features magic rings, an enchanted sword, and a brave hero loved by two beautiful women— and cursed by a…
I’m an old guy. I say this with a bit of cheek and a certain amount of incongruity. All the books on my list are old. That’s one area of continuity. Another, and I’ll probably stop at two, is that they all deal with ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances—those curveballs of life we flail at with an unfamiliar bat; the getting stuck on the Interstate behind a semi and some geezer in a golf cap hogging the passing lane in a Buick Le Sabre. No one makes it through this life unscathed. How we cope does more to define us than a thousand smiles when things are rosy. Thus endeth the lesson.
Nine Stories Told Completely in Dialogue is a unique collection of narratives, each unfolding entirely through conversations between its characters. The book opens with "God on a Budget," a tale of a man's surreal nighttime visitation that offers a blend of the mundane and the mystical. In "Doctor in the House," readers are plunged into the emotionally charged moment when an oncologist delivers a life-altering diagnosis to a patient. The collection then shifts to "Prisoner 8086," a story about the unlikely friendship that blossoms between a prison volunteer and a habitual offender, exploring themes of redemption and human connection.
The heart of the book continues with "The Reunion," a touching narrative about high school sweethearts reuniting, stirring up poignant memories and unspoken feelings. "The Therapy Session" adds a lighter touch, presenting a serio-comic exchange between a therapist and a challenging patient. In "The Fishing Trip," a father imparts crucial life lessons to his daughter during an eventful outing, leading to unexpected consequences. "Mortality" offers a deeply personal moment as a mother shares a cherished, secret story from her past with her son.
The collection then takes a romantic turn in "The Singles Cruise," where two individuals find connection amidst shared stories on a cruise for singles. Finally, "Jesus and Buddha in the Garden of Eden" provides a satirical, thought-provoking encounter in the afterlife between two spiritual figures. The book concludes with "The Breakup," a nuanced portrayal of a young couple's separation, told from both perspectives, encapsulating the complexities of relationships and the human experience.
Nine Stories Told Completely in Dialogue is a unique collection of narratives, each unfolding entirely through conversations between its characters. The book opens with "God on a Budget," a tale of a man's surreal nighttime visitation that offers a blend of the mundane and the mystical. In "Doctor in the House," readers are plunged into the emotionally charged moment when an oncologist delivers a life-altering diagnosis to a patient. The collection then shifts to "Prisoner 8086," a story about the unlikely friendship that blossoms between a prison volunteer and a habitual offender, exploring themes of redemption and human connection.
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