Fantasy's Champion - A. E. Marling

Last night I finished A.E. Marling's "Brood of Bones"

I was utterly enchanted.

Utterly.

I have not been so enthralled by a book since my first reading of Patrick Rothfuss' "Name of the Wind"

(and you all know how much I adore his stories)

Seriously.  The story seems to start slow, engulfing the reader in a confusing yet fascinating world where we don't know the customs, the people, religions or anything.. and they are not the norm... okay, some concepts are tried and true and I've seen weaver of fate gods and goddesses before, these things you think you have encountered before all have little twists, making them unique to themselves.

 It might start slow, and you might find yourself wondering and wishing you had some background to the world, but you don't need it right off, really.  Relax.  Read.  It will all come to you in time.  Some through the storytelling and others (which I really like) you get to deduce on your own.  I'm not talking about hard deductions or things you have to really THINK about, just tidbits that add up and grow and finally, with a thought, and perhaps a sleep on it you realize... ooooh... NEAT!!

By the end I was laughing and tears.

Simply a well written, creative fantasy story.  A little romance, a little impending doom, a little mirth, some seriously cool magic, and a heroine to fall in love with. Not only is this indie title well written, it is well edited and gorgeously finished...

 SRSLY.... how cool is this cover art!

So.  Have I piqued your curiosity?  I hope so.  Go get it off Amazon (yeah I know, April is actually encouraging ebooks off Amazon... but I don't know anywhere else you can get it) it is only 99 cents.  It is worth so very much more, and I would dearly love to give the author more cash.

Here is a link to make it easier for you to comply...

A.E. Marling on Amazon

While in the process of putting my review up on Goodreads and tumbler I wound up doing a little research on this author, and you know what I discovered?  He is a champion for fantasy!  He has a fabulous blog, well worth the reading HERE, along with blurbs and such about his other books.

I'm off now to go buy everything I can.  I had other plans for today, but I've decided I'm going to spend a good chunk of it reading this

Another gorgeous cover, right?  Made me go in search of the artist...

Her name is Eva Soulu.  You can see her stuff here...

Eva's Deviant Art Gallery

Right.  Off to read, yo.

Why are we here?... I mean Welcome!

My boysies.

My Beloved Airman.

For 25 years I dedicated my life to their care and feeding.

Now The Man is retired and happily ensconced in a civilian job he loves. 

 Both manchilds have moved away and are busy and happy in their own lives.  

But what becomes of the Momma?  

THAT.  Is the question of the hour.  If you ask her husband, he will tell you she should do anything that makes her happy... a very sweet and lovely sentiment, but not very helpful.  Or is it?

The last boy went off to school the end of summer last year.  Since then I have been sorting books and household goods for storage, finding and moving house, dealing with our first Christmas alone, and suffering/through/enjoying an overdue visit home for Bubba.  Now I find myself with far more time on my hands than I have ever had before.  The little cottage we are in takes a small amount of maintenance, Bubba's suits go to the cleaner and he is actually very self sufficient so I am left with most of a day to do that which I want... which means, I spend a lot of time on the couch, surfing facebook and watching television.

I'm tired of that.  Now is the time for Me.  Now is the time to pull out that project book with pages of ideas that I have been keeping for "when I have the time"... because you know what?  I have the time!

So.  If you are so inclined, follow me on this journey of life after... well... life.  

I currently have two embroidery projects in frames, several illuminations on my slope, two short stories in different steps of completion and a new found love of Artist Trading Cards.  Let's see what I can accomplish and where it will take me next, shall we?

Me and my captain, back to just the two of us again.