splinteredrealities

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Who Built the Sewer Under the Sorcerer's Tower?

Even in high-fantasy worlds filled with griffins, guilds, and glowing crystals, someone still has to shovel manure, maintain bridges, and figure out what to do with chamber pots. Magical communities need infrastructure just like mundane ones, but magic changes how these systems work, evolve, and are perceived. Waste Management in Magical Societies In medieval or early-modern inspired settings,…

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Calling All Fantasy Lovers

Over at An Enchanted Life, we’re looking for kindred spirits—people like YOU if… 📖 You love reading, watching, or listening to fantasy stories🐉 You secretly think dragons are misunderstood (and deserve a PR team)🦄 You daydream about befriending a mythical beast—perhaps a griffin, a dragon… or a battle-snail? 🐌⚔️🔮 You wish magic flowed through your veins (because let’s be honest, life would be…

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Fantasy Friday Chat: Endings!

As a writer, I can tell you, the beginning of a tale is an author’s best chance to make a good impression. We’re constantly told that we have to make that first sentence our very best. But sitting here, one day away from the end of August, I’m thinking more about the endings in our lives. The end of a month, a season, a life cycle, and the series I finished yesterday. The beginnings in our…

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Coming Soon!

An Enchanted Life is embarking on something new (for us) in September! We’ll be examining the theme of bravery in fantasy fiction, mythology and folklore within our chats, essays, and our Serial Saturday selection. (The Wounded Lion) And if that’s not enough, the week of September 22-29th is Hobbit Week! An Enchanted Life Buckle up, Friends, it’s going to be fun!

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Magical Herbs in Fantasy: A Gardener's Stroll Through A Magical Garden

What do lavender, mandrake, belladonna, and mugwort all have in common? All of them are staples in magical and mystical fantasy fiction, as well as ancient grimoires. In the world of fantasy, magical herbs are more than mere plants; they are the lifeblood of mystical practices, the catalysts of transformation, and the keepers of ancient wisdom. For gardeners and green witches alike, cultivating…

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Let's Talk About Legends...

Do you have a favorite myth or legend? Tell us about it!

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Fantasy Friday Chat: More Dragons!

#FantasyFriday One of my favorite fantastical creatures of all time is the dragon. I have calendars full of them, figurines, a tattoo, sketchbooks full of dragon sketches, and even a baby dragon garden figurine made of (very heavy!) cement. And of course, books and books full of stories about dragons. I’m most fond of the wise ones who want to live in peace. No dragon hunting, murdering knights…

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Fantasy Friday Chat: Dragons!

#FantasyFriday I remember being captivated by the art of Peruvian Boris Vellejo when I was younger. (I can’t believe he’s still alive and 83 years old!) But as I grew older, I wanted more than just barbarians and bare-chested women. These days, my artistic yearnings lean more toward Ann Stokes, her fantasy art, and of course her dragons. Do you have a favorite Fantasy artist? Who are they? Why…

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Fiction Drabble: Legend

It’s not easy telling a tale in 50 words or less. But I thought I’d give it a shot today, and share the result with you. In the heart of a dense, emerald forest, Lyra stumbled upon a wounded dragon named Zephyra. Her scales shimmered like moonlit silver. Bound by chains, Zephyra’s once mighty roars were now whispers of pain.  With nimble fingers, Lyra picked the locks, freeing the majestic…

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Fantasy Friday Chat: Plot Twist!

Today, I want to talk about plot twists. Those surprising, sometimes frustrating but always unexpected plot twists. Which fantasy novel’s plot twist took you completely by surprise, and why? What book was it? How did you feel about that plot twist? Did you enjoy it, or did you want to toss the book across the room? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for spending time with me today!

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Fantasy Friday Fiction: The Last Page

A short story about a dragon, the brave librarian who befriended him, and their shared love of stories. In the town of Eldridge, where the hills roll gently into the horizon and the nights are stitched with starlight, there is a library built of stone. The building, ornate and ivy-draped, stands as a silent sentinel at the edge of town, guarding the area’s rarest and oldest documents and books.…

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Plot Points #6 Is Out!

Plot Points 6 is finally out! Welcome to Plot Points, where I share fantasy-related media, books, non-fiction pieces, and various forms of entertainment that have caught my attention for one reason or another. If I share them here, know that I think they’re worthy of note. I’m always open to recommendations, so if there’s something fantasy-related (this includes books, podcasts, videos,…

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An Enchanted Life Check-In

I wanted to step away from our usual programming for a minute and share a couple of things with you. I’m so glad you’re here! I love having this small but mighty community where we can all hang out and talk about fantasy books, movies, games, and such. First, you know An Enchanted Life is my fantasy-themed newsletter, right? We talk about, examine, and poke at all kinds of fantasy content from…

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The Forgotten Origins of dragons

🐉 Unlock the Mysteries of Dragons: From Ancient Myths to Daenerys Targaryen! 🐉 Dive deep into the flames of history and emerge with the secrets of dragons! Our latest journey takes you across the sands of Egypt, through the legends of ancient Greece, and into the heart of Eastern traditions to uncover the origins of the world’s most majestic creatures. Are you fascinated by the lore of…

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Murder Among Mages: Episode 1

Elara stood at the streetlight waiting for it to change, staring in astonishment across the road. She could barely believe her eyes. She’d stood in this very spot just that morning and could have sworn on a stack of books that the sign for the library hadn’t been there then. In the heart of the bustling city of Denham, where the smoke of industry blended with the ash of broken dreams, Elara…

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Murder Among Mages

In a city where magic is both a gift and a burden, there exists a library tucked away in an opulent, ancient manor. Zimmerman House. Our protagonist, a mage named Elara, stumbles upon this manor after losing her mentor in a tragic magical accident. She is given the opportunity of a lifetime in exchange for silence and dedication to a woman claiming to be an ancient goddess. Their magical world…

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Can You Put Bravery On Sale?

Is there anything better than a book sale? Maybe a sale on tea, but I digress. For a limited time only, my sapphic Western, Undercover Justice, is on sale! Residents of a small dusty town are held fast in the grip of a controlling, cruel egomaniac. Those who try to leave are hunted down and killed. When a stranger comes seeking medical help, enforcers begin dying one by one. Only one person…