Sunday Castle Festival (2025 - 21): fantasy, science fiction and horror
It’s somewhat hot here… so it’s difficult to concentrate at the central hours of the day as happens every Summer…
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.
A professional proofreader is also finishing correcting the Spanish version of “The Legend of Sinardia I: The Attack on Sinningen”. I prefer to release it a bit later but that it is well corrected, than publishing it but with Errors.
I also have to make an announcement, now that we are getting closer to Summer holiday time. So the Festival will NOT be published from July 13th (last Sunday when I will publish it for now) to September, 21st when it will be published again. I don’t know what new things it will bring, but, well, I have not thought about those, so why bother…
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. Today it’s from A to Z. ALso, I am sorry but last Sunday I forgot to mention some people whose posts I linked. I will say it accordingly. Let’s go!
A) Fiction:
I) Fantasy: (in alphabetical order, from A to Z):
(linked last Saturday but I didn’t mentioned him) has written a story titled “A duel for the Fair Maiden’s heart”. The duel it speaks about is a very interesting one:writes about the Northmen’s origins in his own story: “Sklal, a very real deity of Aath in the Times of Darkness, formed the Northmen when the One began to pull him, and the other gods, back into Aath. Each of the gods wanted their presence to remain upon the face of the planet, and so Sklal made the people of the north as he was.” Curious! continues that great mythological story, The Haunting of Guaritori Dolco. This week I have read Ch 40, Clashing Shadows: “As if Cronus’s attacks were not enough, Tartarus pressed forward, bending the silver aura that surrounded us. If that shadowy pressure continued, our defenses would soon crack like an eggshell. Between Tartarus’s attacks and Cronus’s, I couldn’t see how the defenses would hold together for more than three minutes at most.” This man always maintains the intrigue till the last minute… (linked last Saturday but I didn’t mentioned him) has continued his story, The Lives of Velnin. This week I have read chapter 30, Third Life, Second Proposal, after the Dark Empress has told him she wants to marry him… So what about Princess Aloree? I think you will know if you read it… “His nervousness pleased me—no doubt rumors of my father's plan to marry me off to the Dark Empress and help her conquer the other kingdoms if their military help was not forthcoming had begun to take hold. I suspected getting their aid finishing off the Dark Empire's forces would not be so difficult this time around. He whispered to his staff and motioned me forward. Soon I entered the ballroom, and was announced as Guest of Honor, Hero of the Battle of Soppressatas, and Prince of Tarmel. There was some applause, and the eyes of a number of the maidens present rested upon me with interest. As I descended the stairs, a girl I vaguely recognized blocked my way”.“Cil had gone pale from loss of blood, and her right leg was stiff and locked up. One himself seemed worse for wear and tottered drunkenly, using only his blind strength to keep her pinned, as unsteady fighters often do. Perhaps that blow to his head had been worse than it looked. Whatever the case, concussion or no, One had the advantage. He now began pressing Cil down, crushing her into the corner where wall meets floor, giving her no room to move, her own weapon being used against her”.
I have also read
‘s Chapter 3 of his “Bellageist: Chains of a Demigod”. I have specially liked this: “She sat again to study herself closer. A symmetrical face stared back at her. Red-colored aristocratic brows capable of a high range of expression crested large, almond-shaped light brown eyes. While aesthetically pleasing, she disliked how her full lips and button nose gave her a childish look. She tested a smile on herself and thought it charming, if a bit too playful for her tastes”. Great fusion of Fantasy and Sci-Fi in this chapter. has begun a new story, titled An Old Wives Tale. He has published Chapter One: “She didn’t seem to believe him. Michael shrugged and let it pass. They both loved each other and Michael intended on asking for her hand in marriage soon, so it wouldn’t benefit either to make a big deal out of nothing. He’d talk to her about come morning. Galin, however, had yet to ask the princess Lily, who was now back in her own kingdom, if she would marry him. And daily it felt, Galin received letters as long as books, to which he replied in kind. He would be wed to Rosie before Galin was wed, Michael vowed.” I see problems in the horizon…
I have also read Chapter 1, Part 3, of
’ story Law and Order . A rather spicy chapter: “Brandyn coughed, “I don’t think that will be necessary.” He smiled, ceding the point to the duo. “Suite number three is available.” He reached above his head and pulled a key from a peg. “Enjoy the suite,” he shook his head. “But try not to break the furniture.” He handed the key to Amelia.” is this week’s new addition with his story Valley of the Old Gods. I have begun reading the story in an Spartan world, if I am not mistasen… You can read Chapter 1 here: “Standing at the right hand of his king, Ardysseos stifled a groan at the garishly dressed man’s obsequious words. Like the rest of the hoplites arrayed around the king’s royal chamber, he was clad in nearly full battle kit: a linothorax, intricately reinforced with bronze scales, strapped to his upper body; bronze greaves attached to his shins; a xiphos short sword hanging at his side; and a crimson cloak hooked to his breastplate, its blood red folds cascading from his shoulders. King Theodoros appeared to guess at the annoyed disposition of the captain of his Throneguard, for he gave Ardysseos a brief, disapproving glance before returning attention to his guests”. has written ch 21 of her story One Hundred Refusals: “Ash’s narrow Snakeling sword danced through the air shining like a swift strike of lightening. It cut the throat of the King of Birds in a fine red line, as it seemed, but the wretched man fell unto the floor gurgling blood, and a few seconds later he moved no more.” Read till the end: a great end to a very spicy fantasy story.
This week was also the time to read
’s Chapter IV of his story An Inheritence: “Leaping from the bed, he scrambled for his flint-and-pyrite; in his haste, he knocked it off the table, onto the floor. He dropped and began to scramble around in the dark; he felt all around, but had no luck. While scouring the spot where he thought he heard it land, Stripe came over to assist, but only got in the way. In utter frustration, he gave up searching and made a mad dash out of the bedroom – he would get some fire at the hearth”. has continued the story of Doctor Pedro Sangre. A really recommended great story… The last chapter is #28: ““Yes, Primrose,” I corrected. “I promise I’ve saved some for me. That’s what is in the smaller pot tucked next to the still. I didn’t take yesterday’s dose because I was distracted over getting the measurements correct for young Garvin.” Then I shrugged with my best, innocent smile. “We doctors make horrible patients.””
I am also reading the new story of
titled “Obsidian and Flame”. The chapter I have read today is #5, Onyx: “Panawr nodded. :Because he ate your Goddess cakes, he and his family are ill-fated, and the caer is doomed to fail.: Not that he had noticed any signs of it. Except for the being that had attacked him, never to be seen since. Except for his dreams. He rubbed at his beard. :This is another reason I must become the Esteemed. I need to save him and … and everyone”.
You can also check her new projects here.
has written a short poetic short story, titled The Jasmine Breeze: “Now Mei understood. Each sip released whispers of mountain breezes, ocean gusts, and the gentle exhale of sleeping dragons. The tea leaves danced in patterns that mapped invisible currents flowing through the shop's cramped corners”.
From
you can read chapters 4 and 5 of her novel “Awen Rising”: “As a water dragon, Ooschu’s duty was to guard the sea portals. There were three other Keepers—an earth dragon, an air dragon, and a fire dragon. But as time went on, even the Keepers had succumbed to sleep.” has released Chapter 2 of his new story, The Mage Hunter: “Ascalon leaned in, 'The Grand Master's dead, Vice Master Tiberius has yet to call an election. The Chapter Commanders are debating whether they can remove the Vice Master from office for violations of the Code. An election should be immediate, there's fear of...' Ascalon clipped his sentence and backed away.” Great worldbuilding! have written a great piece, half fantasy, half horror, titled “The Greatest Orc Epic of All Times: Golgarothiad Ch V: The Downfall of Kingdoms & Heroes”. Of course, if you have orcs, you are going to have horror… “The fall of the neighbouring city and the resultant week-long blood bath, that made it impossible to traverse through the city, without slipping on blood, or the remnants of corpses. Filled people with horror, for decades, until Pelagius had the entire city’s remains burnt, then a large temple dedicated to Hades and the souls of the fallen built there. The great temple, was black and rectangular as all Dorisian temples are, and with bronze columns supporting the thirty-meter high roof. Painted black, in mourning for the fallen, it was decreed that constant prayers had to be given by four-thousand papas and five thousand hiereiai, for the souls of the men and women who died there”.
From
’s writings, I am reading and sharing now The Peardiver’s Adventures. I have read chapter no. 2 this week, The Beasts of Boggart’s Boneyard: “The rotted skeleton of an old corsair, claimed to be the flagship of Bolton’s most hated rival, Skeleton John Brüstel, remained skewered on the rocks next to the Bay’s sea gate. The Highfather only knew how many years it was stuck up there. Its wooden frame had long baked in the dry sun, and though it stayed dark where the water still soaked it, the rest had turned pale and gray. The old corsair was both a landmark and a warning, easily visible from the sea and just about any spot in the town. To those outside, it warned not only of the dangers of the rocks, but the fates of those fool enough to try and attack the well defended port”.
I have also read
’s Chapter 2 of The Diary of Eiry, titled The Book Worth every Bronze: “I asked about Frostbitten Hearts. It’s the one where the princess is supposed to be sacrificed to the Cold Winter Weaver. But instead of dying, she ends up melting his cursed heart with the power of love and secret embroidery skills. I need it. Desperately.”
II) Sci-fi and horror:
has an interesting short sci-fi story titled Angels of Fire with a very curious environment: “The jungles on Mucrasa were purple, not green, and the scientists were still trying to figure out exactly why. A chlorophyll mutation was the suspected culprit, but nothing had been proven yet. Everything that was green on a normal human world, was purple here instead. Even the locally produced algae nutrient derivatives were purple, which had made for some surprised comments from the jägers after their first day eating local rations. Apparently the purple did not digest well in humans, and remained purple even when it left your system again”. wrote some days ago a really chilling story, A Cut above the Rest: “As if by fate I come across a quint looking barbers shop, the familiar red and white post stands proudly outside, representing blood and bandages. A sign displaying the name of the owner and his trade swings slowly in the chill wind like a gibbet above me.” has continued her story titled “THe Lighbreakers of Orpheus”. I have read the last chapter, no 21: “He followed Doc Benton, and Derek to the Vulture05. Every move Mark made was heavy, and exhausting; he had gotten used to the freedom of his own body belonging to him, not the Rebels. Yet the suit, and the biomechanics amplified his strength, his resilience, and the sharpness of his perception. The darkness was back, and his thermal vision as well. His brain analysed the information he perceived in every painful detail.”
You can also check her Q&A live here.
I’m also reading
’s If I ruled the world: this week I have read chapter 2, "Life on Gat Er can be wonderful, as long as your Dependable remains on their throne": “The guards pressed Klado ahead, leaving Mille alone with her captures. They tied her hands behind her back, using only the tips of their fingers. It was as if they were afraid to touch her skin. Had they never seen someone like her? Her skin, flushed pink by three moons that reflected a distant sun, was nothing like theirs. Like Klado, they had no skin pigment at all”.
Of all
’s stories, I am reading is Sugar and Spice and All Things nice. It’s a story that make you reflect about what he is writing. I’m now on Chapter 7: ““I don’t find that you’re in a position to argue,” she said coolly. “At the moment, I have the girl and the evidence of wrongdoing on my staff. If you wish the girl, and do not wish to speak with my security and the militia, we must come to an agreement.””
I’m reaching the final chapters of
’s Warp and Woof. I am now reading ch 7: “In a ghostly reflection on the cockpit’s transparent bubble, she saw Dmitri unstrap himself and leave through the hatch in the back. She thought to wish him a good night but said nothing. Other conceits distracted her. The grass was not all they’d encountered, for there had also been Warp and Zasha’s projected selves.”
If you like sci-fi, you should check
’s SUbstack. I am now reading Dread Paws’ Chapter 2: “Perhaps the deftest of them, Mice’s paws danced across the Danube’s computer console with such speed, that untrained sentients would not be able to even understand exactly what the gray-furred bunny did. Squinted behind his goggles, a pair of chocolate-brown eyes screened lines of data, picking up errors in the reprogramming and correcting these on the fly. Had he not done this, the Taz’arans in orbit might have either beamed them out of existence or they’d be bombed into slag by GAV craft.”
III.) Other links:
My own contribution this week is… a tale based in an Spanish mythological figure, the Martinico, a kind of “duende” (mixture between a house elf and a goblin). In Sinardia, this kind of beings (there are several of them) are called duenxies (a mixture between duende and pixies). I have to proofread it still… Sinardia I is being so hard to correct and to make the maps…
Martinico, Martinico, when are you going to help me? (Translation to English)
Si tu lengua es el español, puedes leer el cuento original aquí.
You can also check
’s notes and ‘s list of recommended readings.Some Videos to finish… The first is about writing female characters:
And then some medieval music… inspired in StarWars. The first is a variation from the Clones Theme, as if they were medieval knights:
And lastly, I am leaving you the best (for me) of StarWars medieval music:
Have a great week… And we will be meeting again next Sunday/Mercedes Monday (by
)…Buy me a coffee. ☕️
(Perdona si mi español está un poco oxidado--hago lo que puedo 😅) ¡Muchísimas gracias por mencionar y enlazar mi lista de lecturas recomendadas! Me hace muchísima ilusión ver cómo estos espacios siguen creciendo y conectando a quienes amamos la fantasía, la ciencia ficción y el terror. 🖤
Many thanks! Great collection of stories.