Author: Madeline Crane

Fantasy writer, tabletop gamer, wearer of hats.

Song of the Week

Bring Me the Horizon, “Follow You”

Happy Monday! The storms are rolling in here. I’m hoping for a break in the humidity when they pass.

What hasn’t passed is the movement: there are still protests happening in my city and across the country, though media attention has moved on. If you’re in the US, you can contact your representatives at every level. Ask them to defund the police. Say you’ll remember their responses when the next election rolls around.

I’ll be back on Wednesday with what should be the last chapter of Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea. I’m so excited to bring this story to a close. Next week, I’ll be talking about the future of the blog and some upcoming projects. (There may one day be a continuation of Frost-Cold Sea. The reasons why will be clear after this week’s chapter.)

Take care of yourselves, and have an excellent week.

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XXVI

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea cover image: a wide, still river with forested mountain peaks rising on either side, underneath a clouded sky.
In which our heroes confront the great worm.

Table of Contents

Weight bore down upon me. The broken earth cut into my flesh. Were it not for the pain, I would have thought I had perished, crushed beneath the rock. Absolute, impenetrable darkness pressed in all around. 

Continue reading “Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XXVI” →

Song of the Week

Lacuna Coil, “Senzafine” (Acoustic Version)

Happy Monday!

Willow Ford (@thefarbackroom), one of the authors featured on this post, now has a release date for The Fadian Experiment! The book will be available for download August 22, 2020.

I will be back on Wednesday with what I believe will be the penultimate chapter of Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea.

There will be lots of events happening this weekend in the ongoing fight for Black liberation and against police brutality. You can visit sixnineteen.com for more information.

Keep fighting the good fight.

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XXV

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea cover image: a wide, still river with forested mountain peaks rising on either side, underneath a clouded sky.
In which there is a confrontation with a god of war, and the ritual ends at last.

Table of Contents

Another shake rumbled beneath our feet, but the approaching figure did not stumble. I placed myself between the door and Khalim. We waited, hardly daring to breathe, as the footsteps echoing in the darkened corridor came nearer and nearer. Beyond the arena’s walls, weapons clashed and barricades were shattered as Reva’s miners confronted the city’s soldiers. I prayed to whatever god might be listening that they would be safe, and keep the Ascendeds’ forces from our backs. 

I stood between Jin and Jahan, and each had his sword at the ready. The air hummed and shimmered between their blades. I could almost hear the magic contained within. I felt a lingering fear in the knowledge of the power of these weapons, as much as I was grateful for their presence. If one could kill a god, what would it do to me, should I find myself on the wrong end of it?

Continue reading “Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XXV” →

Song of the Week

Janelle Monáe, “Cold War”

Monday comes around again. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.

Here are some Black writers and creators you can check out and support this week and in the future!

If you’re looking for some escapism, I’ll be back on Wednesday with a new chapter of Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea. Sometimes, it’s nice to think about a world where evil can be defeated with a magical sword.

Keep fighting the good fight.

Blackout post

Instead of posting a black square, I’ve decided to use my small platform to promote some Black writers.

Here are some cool people I know from Instagram:

Sarah Faison, @sarahfaisonbooks. Her new book, Welcome My Love, releases on 6/7! You can find out more here: www.sarahfaisonbooks.com

Sam Zamor, @sam.zamor. He’s working on a fantasy book that involves dragons and parallel worlds.

Yolanda at @theauthorpreneur_: author, inspirational speaker, and team building coach.

Chanekka Pullens, @elevationforall: author, editor, web designer, and poet. More at www.mindelevationforall.org.

Natasha Oliver, @natasha_oliver_author. Author of The Evolved Ones series. Book One is called Awakening and you can find it and more information at natashaoliver.com.

Willow Ford, @thefarbackroom. Dark fantasy and history, cartomancy, and a new book, The Fadian Experiment, coming out this summer! More at thefarbackroom.com. ETA: the release date is August 22!

Feel free to recommend me more Black creators (writers especially) this week! Self-promotion encouraged!

Song of the Week

Hozier featuring Mavis Staples, “Nina Cried Power”

It’s Monday.

Black lives matter–they have value, and should be cherished, today and all days. Property can be replaced. Human beings can’t.

I’ll be back with the next chapter of Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea, where saving the people from a tyrannical system is as simple as sword-fighting a god, on Wednesday.

Stay safe.

ETA: Activists have asked that white creators uplift the voices of Black people instead of their usual content this week, so the next chapter will be available next week. Please see this post for some awesome creators I know, and feel free to recommend me more.

Anti-racism resources: bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES, www.ally.wiki

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XXIV

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea cover image: a wide, still river with forested mountain peaks rising on either side, underneath a clouded sky.
In which our heroes return to the arena under very different circumstances.

Table of Contents

The city still stood, and was recognizably itself, despite the fires that lit up its streets. Reddish light fell over the plain as the sun rose, casting the landscape in a bloody hue. There was a brief reprieve from the earthquakes, the aftershocks rippling under our feet, but for how long Phyreios would remain standing, I did not know. Aysulu’s horse stood with its legs planted wide, anticipating another shake.

“Oh, no,” Khalim whispered beside me. “No, no, no.”

He must have recognized the horror before him. He had seen it, and walked hundreds of miles to prevent it, and yet there it was, just as it had appeared in his nightmares. 

Continue reading “Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XXIV” →

Song of the Week

Sam Brookes, “Numb”

Happy Monday! I hope you are enjoying some sunshine. Here in the Frozen North, we had spring for about a week, and it seems to be summer now.

I will be back on Wednesday with another chapter of Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea. Our heroes have returned to Phyreios for a final confrontation, but there will be obstacles in their path.

We have a new router! Which means better Internet speeds! I may try to stream something, maybe Friday? I’ll post an update if I do.

Have an excellent week.

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XXIII

Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea cover image: a wide, still river with forested mountain peaks rising on either side, underneath a clouded sky.
In which a god appears, and our heroes return to Phyreios for the last time.

Table of Contents

“You must not tarry. Gather your leaders.” 

The person who stood before me was not Khalim. Though his appearance had not changed—I had become accustomed to seeing the light of his magic shine from his eyes—it was clear that he had become someone else. He stood perfectly straight, a warrior’s posture. The voice that came from him was deep and booming. I had heard it earlier that day, when the lance of light had fallen from the sky and turned the assassin who meant to kill me into ash, and I had heard it once before, in the arena. It had stilled the crowd that had nearly overwhelmed Khalim, quieted them into order. I had been bewildered then; now, I was afraid. 

Continue reading “Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea: Chapter XXIII” →