Sunday Castle Festival (2025 - 20): fantasy, science fiction and horror
The “Steelhearts Heroic Fantasy Anthology”, by The Brothers Krynn and M. B. Heywood, continues on Kirkstarter, so you can still get one of the offers or just contribute to the project… They are publishing one of my stories:
Story 5: "Knight of the Golden Armour" by Mercedes de Santiago
Fairytale fantasy playing to historical and traditional sensibilities. Also, there's a wizard, because we couldn't not have a wizard somewhere.
If you don’t get the entire mail, click here to read it. Believe me, this mail is really long…
From now on, the List will be organised in alphabetical order, one Sunday from A to Z and the next from Z to A. That way I will give the same publicity to everyone linked.
A) Fiction:
I) Fantasy: (in alphabetical order, from Z to A):
We are receiving here a new addition
. She is writing the diary of Eiry, with this presentation, Chapter 1 Punished by Petalbright: “It started with one of the silly circle ones—everyone holding hands and spinning in loops while the fiddles played like they were being chased by bees. I nearly tripped twice, and Elara kept laughing and pulling me along. But by the second song, I wasn’t thinking so hard. My feet just… moved. The lights spun, and the petals rained down from the storyteller’s canopy, and it felt like I was inside a dream that smelled like candied apples. I had the best time. has written a story titled The Pearldiver’s Adventures, which is divided in 5 chapters. The first one, titled Night of the Black Ships, is an introduction to the story: “Given the superstitious nature of most sailors, Molo found these claims unsurprising, but he wasn’t truly sure whether he believed those stories or not. Before tonight, he wasn’t even sure if he ever really believed in the Black Ships, simply because he never put much thought into it. Regardless of what he thought then, he certainly believed the tales now. How could he not when a pair of black frigates emerged from the inky blackness of night’s darkest hours to assail him?” have a very interesting podcast and today I am linking their special about their Steelhearts Anthology: “I think it was better to do it all self-published rather than a vanity publisher. Hybrid deals are good for some people, but I don't think this was the right fit. In hindsight, it would have cost me too much. This crowdfund, though, I like that it's about other people. It's about other writers rather than our own projects”. is beginning a new serial, The Mage Hunter. We can already read Chapter 1: “‘That’s the smell you want to focus on, don't get distracted by the burn, that will always be there. The pleasant scent can tell you the form of the conjuring and something about the practitioner,’ Cassida Rane jumped. The floorboards buckled and cracked beneath him as he landed in the dirt three foot below the suspended floor. 'I knew it,' he coughed in a plume of grit and dust. 'This was no child feeling his way around for the first time, this was an experienced practitioner.'“
I’m adding also to this Festival
that is publishing here her novel Awen Rising. Chapter 1 to 3 are published in the same link: “She had awakened at daybreak and knew the duke was in danger. The tea leaves had given confirmation. Later, as Awen bathed in the pool, his gaunt features appeared in the reflection of the clear water. She’d gazed into eyes the color of steel, and a knowing had come upon her: this man would unite nations and take all she held dear.”
I’m also linking a very poetic story from
titled “Whispers of Moonlight”: “Night-blooming jasmine unfurls its petals like a prayer written in porcelain. It releases perfume so intoxicating it summons moths from miles away. They dance in spirals, their wings catching fragments of starlight, weaving patterns that spell out ancient incantations in a languages older than words”. I feel like fairies are going to appear flying around: has continued her story, Obsidian and Flame, with ch 4 Midnight: “Arddun’s heart pointed. He’d won! She clasped her hands to stop from bouncing in delight. She didn’t dare reveal that she sided with Panawr over the other royal siblings, couldn’t show that vulnerability or be exploited for it. The sharp verbal knives of palace life had taught her that, and she understood now why Panawr kept a cold exterior”. Looks like the guy is not very comfortable with her… The Curiosity had its consequences… though I doubt they are what Arddun wanted. But we are very early in the story and… everything can happen… has published the new chapter, 27, titled The Gate of. his serial Death Whispers: “The glowing liquid hissed like angry fire snakes, eager to burn the world. I smeared the potion over the first four balls. As soon as liquid touched iron, the metal shivered in eager anticipation, then turned reddish-black, like Hell’s own fist.” Don’t mess with Doctor Pedro Sangre!
Then we have
’s The Inheritance. I am reading Ch 2 this week with a very uncomfortable presence: “Beneath the sheet was a table covered with miscellaneous items, mostly war memorabilia, which his father had been fond of. Everything from weapons, to medals and awards. He picked up a hoplon discolored with verdigris, and began scrubbing it with his rag. Out the corner of his eye, he spied a large black spider sitting atop another of the covered mounds near the wall. He spun to face his silent guest, catching barely a glimpse as it slipped behind its linen perch”. That spider doesn’t sound like a Friendly Guest…
I’m really liking the spicy romance story of
’s One Hundred Refusals, now on ch 20: “Nobody shall touch this woman. Indeed, she is Queen Geminaris, kidnaped by King Olor, to replace her with princess Pearl, his spy,” said Ash. Though disguised as a servant, he was a true Lord protecting his Queen. He pulled out his sword, shielding Gema, his green eyes shining like furious emeralds”. No, I don’t like this kind of stories as a rule but this one is really funny!
I’m also reading
, Law and Order (not the TV show!). Chapter 1, part 2 is titled “A family reunion”: “Arm in arm, both women walked across the dock, heading toward Balgair and Delilah. “Doesn’t he look yummy in that uniform?” The taller woman said with a mischievous flash in her blue eyes. “Balgair Eriq Moeldr, if you don’t kiss me, you’ll regret it,” the redhead stated, a similar flash in her green eyes. When she saw the flash of hunger in Balgair’s eyes, she drew in a deep breath, yelped as he enfolded her in his arms, and pulled her in for a kiss that stole her breath away”. Looks like we have more romance in the fantasy stories here…
I have also read with great amazement the great story by
Golgath and Islvan, dragon included: “ “Ilsvan, we are in danger.” Golgath shifted into another position since his leg has fallen asleep. Ilsvan had been surprised to learn that dragons’ limbs could fall asleep when Golgath had first mentioned it many decades ago. He sniffed the air and listed to birds singing before saying anything else. Golgath could only speak in Ilvan’s head, and Ilsvan had told him his voice was deeper than one might expect”. Great story!
Chapter 2 of
’s Bellageist: Chains of the Demigod is about the killing of the dragon and the consequences of that enormous deed: ““I did not slay it alone,” Nyl said as he worked. She looked again at the beast: three knight’s lances and more than a hundred arrow shafts protruded from its scaly hide, along with two-dozen sword cuts. “It would have been impossible without help. We once numbered thirty-eight… How many of us survive?”
I have also read Brian Helming’s The Lives of Velnin, now on Chapter 29, Shifting Alliances… “"I bear greetings from Mardus, Imperator of the regional forces of the Dark Empire and former governor of the Black Citadel," he declaimed. "Men of Tarmel: you have impressed the Dark Empress Soraina with your prowess and strength. You alone of all your region does the Empire wish to ally with. Should you be their ally, you may keep your independence. They will help rebuild your city. They will help add to your territory. With the strength of your fleet and the might of their army, together you shall rule this region as partners. What say you?" Can you really trust the Dark Empress to be an ally? Hmmm...
has also published the next chapter of his epic fantasy story, The Haunting of Guaritori Dolco, Ch 39, “Attempting to rebalance”: ““We must reexamine the prophecies of Nyx,” said Hera. “She gave us three requirements to meet in order to save this plane. ‘Paradoxes must be resolved. Iskios must willingly become a member of Olympian society. And Guaritori must die.’ We have satisfied the first and second. Only the third remains.””
I’m also linking
’s The Solstice of Shagth: “Neither foresight, wisdom, nor prudence had befriended Horthar Iterund, however. They had each pursued him on several occasions, and he proved unfortunately nimble. Rubbing his hands together, he felt that the cold of the second winter bit more than it should. If his eyes and skin did not deceive him, he thought the pale light was doing some biting too”.
We have to congratulate him for being #29 Rising in Fiction.
Alucard is presenting his new audiobook, The Living Light: From Gods to Ashes: “These are the tales of the old earth, set in the year 1541 of the Skier calendar, circa two and a half million years BCE by current reckoning. The known world and its major powers exist in an age of contentment and complacency. Decadent cultures persist amid the fruits of their forebear's industry and genius.”
II) Sci-fi and horror:
has begun a new adventure, Dread Paws. I am begining with Ch 1 with the interesting title “Deployment”: “Elite formation, said the commander of the 3rd Captain Karenski, just before he died. Taz’aran stormtroopers were equipped with one of their Imperium’s most devastating short range beamguns, the RBG. Otherwise known as the “Taz’aran Messenger”, it was a rapid beam gun, largely inaccurate at longer ranges, but monstrously effective up close and personal. Few light troops could withstand the combination of red hot particle-beams and a rain of assault grenades. To make matters worse, these stormtroopers wore armored suits with integrated engines and grapplers, which made them extremely mobile”.
I have also read Chapter 6 of Sci-fi story by
’ Warp and Wood titled Pодной Mир (Rodnoy Mir): ““I almost stayed behind,” she said. “I came because of you. Unlike the rest of us, you found something on Pervoye. You found healing in Laika, and I thought maybe that’s what I needed. I almost changed my mind and told Dr. Popov I’d take a damn dog, but I didn’t. I refused the dog because I didn’t want to heal. Healing meant letting go, and I couldn’t do that. The only thing I wanted was to be alone and to remember until the poisoning took my mind.””
The chapter 5 of the story Sugar and Spice and all things nice by
“She didn’t go the front way. Someone manned the desk all night; technicians worked in the front corridor labs. But Andromache’s eyes were always open, and numbers stayed with her like friends. Around the side of the Incubatory, by beds of irises, was a service entrance with a keypad. When she was a six-year on garden duty, men came and went, tapping out the number six-six-three-five-four-nine, over and over.” , a new addition, has an interesting story that everyone should try. I’m linking the chapter 1, Life on Gujetta Er can be quite pleasant if you work hard and never give up: “According to legend, the Travelers, a mysterious humanoid species, possessed the power to travel across great distances in space at will. That’s how the inhabitants of Gujetta learned about life on other Er. Then, hundreds of years ago, the Gujetta council banished the Travelers for committing crimes so atrocious no one dared speak of them”. has also published the next chapter of her sci-fi serial, The Lighbreaker of Orpheus, now on Ch 20: “The human population overtook the planet with a parasitic persistence, and voracious speed. The planet was in need of an iron fist to rule over all the opportunists digging every unsupervised patch of the land for precious metals. The Government rised, and ruled Orpheus ruthlessly, until resistance gave them the first blow. The Rebels were a band of ragtag space-warriors, fighting for justice. They didn’t stand a chance against the Government’s special GHOUL forces. Until the Rebels found some influential friends outside Orpheus, who had their eyes set on the precious planet. Thus, the war began, and it went on tearing the planet apart until a small event, that would turn the tides, and give way to a new power waiting patiently for its time to emerge.” has written an Egyptian themed story titled The Last Hour: “The slaves are building my pyramid, a monument of stone to my greatness. My mummified shell will lay in this womb of stone, filled with my worldly possessions-awaiting Osiris, to take me to the after life.” Short but hard for the old Pharaoh.
Another Sunday that
is going to tell me that this is not Sunday Castle Festival but Monday Castle Festival🤷🏻♀️. Anyway, he has now written the last chapter of this installment of the Moon Sea Marauders: “What we did take from Marshal Point, however, were the bearings along which the privateers had left, and the Poseidon set off in pursuit. The lunar night was approaching, fourteen days of night caused by the moon’s celestial dance around our homeworld, and the prospect of frigid weather, stygian darkness and the stark isolation of the uninhabited North now lay before us. Our course took us north by north-east, and we left the Sea of Serenity on the last day of sunlight.”
III.) Other links:
My own contribution: as it’s not fantasy related but crime related, I am linking it here: “that night, he turned on the TV and, in the cultural section of the news, they announced that the big blue diamond that the famous singer had worn when she was given the Oscar for best song, hanging from her neck, would be on display for the next few months in a museum in his city. The hunt, the danger, the difficulty... came together and the tingling returned. He thought that if he rested for a while he could overcome the urge to go back.”
The Jewel Thief
This is a translation of one of the literary challenges I have made this year. For the Spanish story, click here.
The Man Behind the Screen: Sword & Saturday, Week 76 - Heroes of the Summer.
Asteria Geisterblum (very, very recommended!), as every Sunday, recommends interesting readings for all of us. Thanks for including The Jewel Thief this week!
Also I am linking this great cartoon via
:
As always, I am saying goodbye with a bit of music:
Have a great week! 👻
Buy me a coffee. ☕️
Thank you so much for the mention!
What a surprise! Thanks for the mention.