PHOTO PROMPT © Lisa Fox
She was one of only few capable of seeing through the weave. Dark magic stained this place. She travelled past tree after tree, only now seeing the pattern in the clumping of the trunks. She removed her gloves touching a trembling hand to the bark and heard the screams of horror, thrown straight into a vision. Families running, desperate to escape. Singles, the elderly and children, so many children before the magenta wave hit freezing them into these shapes. So many.
More than ever, she was determined to save them. Her hands glowed as righteous anger brought her magic out.
This is a Friday Fictioneers prompt
you can read more FF prompt responses here
Word Count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
—are shrines like this all over the planet. That’s what my automated travel guide tells me. It hasn’t steered me wrong yet. The information on weapons is a bit sparse. Still, shrines like this one are to gods I’ve never heard of. I’m doing my best to visit all of them before my trip is complete. I have several more weeks here… weeks! Do you know how long it takes to travel from one side of this planet to another? They are soooo primitive here, I love it. This data cube will arrive after I get home. Still, how amazing—
This is a Friday Fictioneers Pormpt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word Count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
About the book:
A merchant’s daughter who yearns for adventure gets more than she bargained for when she falls for a broodingly handsome stranger in this saucy romantasy from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars. As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevere’s path has been predetermined: marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her family’s station, and live quietly as a lordling’s obedient wife. But Guinevere longs for a life unbounded by expectations, for freedom and passion and adventure.
Those distant dreams become a sudden reality when her caravan is beset by bandits, leaving her guards slain and Guinevere stranded alone on the dangerous Amber Road. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the aloof half-orc who saved her during the attack.
Unlike Guinevere, Oskar’s path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all that’s left is a long, lonely walk to a land he’s never seen to find family he’s never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him down – even if the spark between them sizzles with promise.
Despite his cold exterior, Oskar is brave and thoughtful and unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met. And while Guinevere may be sheltered, she brings out a softness in him that he has never dared to feel before. As the flames of their passion grow, they realize that soon they’ll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance.
Written by Sunday Times bestselling author Thea Guanzon at the behest of Critical Role’s Jester Lavorre, Tusk Love brings the most romantic story on Exandrian bookshelves to life.
My thoughts
It’s a book that started as a joke, in a role playing scene where the game master (during a live role playing dungeons and dragons game) was asked what kind of books are to be found in a smutty bookshop. As always, Matt Mercer, the GM for Critical Role delivered a hilarious throwaway book synopsis and from there magic was born.
Every Critical Role fan will thoroughly enjoy this book, but it will become a fan favourite I’m sure for general romantasy fans too. There’s romance, smut, orcs, magic, betrayal, lies, hope and an adventure for the ages. There is so much to love here. Romantic tropes galore of course, but also a story of first love with a powerful yet repressed heroine discovering her own magic and autonomy and the accidental hero thrown into an adventure he doesn’t want to go on. The world of Exandria is beautifully brought to life by the authors and I hope there are many more of these tales to come. A terrific read. I want more.
About the book
In Criminal Cove: Home for Retired Supervillains, notorious villains find themselves confined to a high-tech, domed facility designed to keep their powers in check. Among them is Doc Shock, once a terror to New York City, now a frail yet cunning prisoner grappling with his own rusting body. Through the eyes of Morgan Windshill, formerly known as “The Tormentor,” we delve into the secretive world of aging supervillains, uncovering hidden agendas, unexpected alliances, and the haunting regrets of a life spent in pursuit of power. This darkly compelling tale weaves together interviews, classified documents, and first-hand accounts, painting a vivid picture of the line between heroism and villainy. As past misdeeds collide with a desire for redemption, the inmates of Criminal Cove navigate their twilight years, forever tethered to a world that fears and reviles them. Discover the untold stories of the villains who shaped history and now face their ultimate reckoning.
My thoughts:
Okay so this one was a surprise that just keeps giving. Brutal, visceral, violent… a story that looks into what happens to your classic super villains once they are captured. In particular, to those that grow old and are sentenced to life in prison. It’s a story about aged care for superpowered bad guys. Author SF Sowter delves into dementia, senility, loss of autonomy, insanity and physical degradation in the elderly in a way that is, at times, hard to stomach. But he also explores the reality of supervillains… what happens to the good guys and the bystanders when supervillains and superheroes battle in public… people get hurt… and bad guys don’t pull their punches. People die in this book. Brutally. But if you love a good take on a story about superheroes and supervillains then this one is for you.
It’s a story where the good guys are not always good and the bad guys are not always bad and the blending of the two. There’s also an interesting take on how easy it is for super powered persons to fall on either side of the law – for good reasons and bad. What publicity and politics does to a hero – how it shapes their motivations and morals, and how easily a morally gray person can fall when a super power is introduced. There is also commentary on how those who are hoisted high on a pedestal can fall hard. And what happens to self identity as the body fails but the mind is still active. There is a lot in this book to enjoy – but beware, the violence is graphic. But for those who love a great fight sequence / battle scene, this book has it in spades. A great read.
About the book
A collection of science fiction short stories and articles. Some of these have been previously published but there is a wealth of new material written for this book. There is serious SF and funny stuff as well. So something for everyone unless you love Westerns and Romance. Not a lot of either of them, so forget what I said about something for everyone.
My thoughts:
Short on time? Want a read that will stay with you long after you put the book down? This collection of short stories is perfect for a pick up put down transit read. (I know because I read it on my daily commute). Stephen Higgins has written an excellent collection of short stories with a strong science fiction focus. Some will make you laugh, some will leave you pondering the meaning of reality and some will make you go “huh?”
I loved it and recommend this one if you like a good sci fi short read.
PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson
The dawn of a new day.
Everything was silent. No bird song. No wind. No underlying hum of electricity.
Nothing.
Nothing but silence.
No one breathed the still air. No one felt the cold. The planet was empty.
The sun breached the horizon and rose into the sky bringing light to the darkness.
All living creatures… were gone.
The planet was silent.
It was wrong… but there was no one there to notice it. No one there to save it.
Something had shifted in the dark. Something had awoken. Something had devoured.
The sun set and darkness fell once more.
This is a Friday Fictioneers prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
It was announced online.
They were the best band in the world.
Their costumes a spectacular mix of visual effects and prosthetics. Green horns, gray skin, large eyes and sharp teeth.
The kids loved the lyrical nonsense accompanied by flares and holographic light swirls. The middle aged loved the clever puns, rhymes and social commentary. The elderly loved the sway and swing of the sounds and crisp voices twanging heavily with emotion.
None realised they heard different music. It didn’t matter. They were number one in the charts. In reality they were bored aliens looking for excitement. They found it.
This is a Friday Fictioneers prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook
The chair beside her was empty.
It hadn’t been enough time.
They were supposed to be together forever.
They’d arrived on this planet, escaping the long tentacles of the law and taken on these earthly forms only ten turns ago. They’d made it to freedom. But these earthly forms were brittle, weak. They should have had more time. It wasn’t fair.
She could feel this body wasting. It wouldn’t be long before she followed. At least they would be together again.
A sharp point pierced her back. “Found you,” came a dark whisper in her ear.
Not long at all.
This is a Friday Fictioneers Prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Yvette Prior
It was an ode. A shrine.
A shrine to what?
People of another planet. One long passed.
We wondered what it was a shrine to?
Vehicles? Landmasses? Did they have these sweepy, bulbous shapes with long skinny necks? Where were the legs?
Sound we were told.
Sound? How strange. The objects didn’t make any sound from what we could tell. We stood there until a strange, white skinned, flabby creature waddled up. He swept water from his sunken eye sockets. “Such beautiful music. It was art. Life itself. I miss it.”
Bored and a little creeped out we wandered away.
This is a Friday Fictioneers prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz
The tiggy game between the siblings began when Kellie grabbed Daz’s hat and took off over sticks, twigs, shrubs and rocks, nearly twisting an ankle, hearing the bellow of her brother chasing after her. She stumbled to a halt. Daz caught up, his grumbles halting as he took in what she spied in the brush.
“What’s it doing here?”
“Dunno.”
“Remember them lights the other night.”
“Looks like it’s been years.”
“Portal maybe? Rip in time?”
“We hid the travel gun after we de-aged. No one could follow us.”
They stared in silence, then walked back, lost in dark thoughts.
This is a Friday Fictioneers Prompt
You can read more FF prompt responses here
Word Count: 100
© Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. All Rights to the works and publications on this blog are owned and copyrighted by Solothefirst & Laurie Bell. The Owner of this site reserves all permissions for access and use of all documents on this site. NO AI TRAINING: Without in any way limiting the author’s [and publisher’s] exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to “train” generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.
Rambles, writing and amusing musings 