AgentHeyImNewHere

Queen's Thief Appreciation, Day 2: The Queen of Attolia -- the books/characters as things my friends and I have said

Its canon that elves can channel magic through singing (press f for finrod’s epic rap battle), and I was thinking about how an elf probably is able to use magic because of their immortal spirits. Then I was thinking that life-altering events, say, crossing the Helcaraxë, would probably have an effect on one’s immortal spirit, and thus would probably affect one’s magical abilities. Then I thought about how an elf might be able to deeply study and understand something (like ice) to the point where they can determine it’s Song.

That made me think of Fingolfin, leading his people across the ice and being forced to become colder, more brittle, in order to keep his people going and survive. Fingolfin whose sword is described as glittering with ice, whose sword was glittering with ice, a song he sang before battle to enchant his blade. Fingon who could freeze opponents with a chant before shattering them with his sword. Aredhel who would whisper songs to her arrows until the water in the air condensed around them and froze, freezing her opponents blood when they struck.

And of Maedhros, who stood aside during the burning of the ships and stared into the fire until he could hear it’s crackling in his dreams. Who endured the fiery whips of the Balrogs and the white-hot brands of the enemy. Who was reforged in the fires of Angband and came out ruthless and unrelenting. Maedhros calling forth fire on the end of his blade to sear his enemies, whose hatred glowed so hot some would swear they saw his eyes filled with fire while he enemies fled in fear.

Feanor:

Maedhros:

Celegorm:

Celebirmbor:

Fingolfin:

Fingon:

Aredhel:

Finrod:

Galadriel:

Celeborn:

Thingol:

Elwing:

Sauron, disguised as Annatar:

Ar-Pharazon:

Turin:

Bonus: Feanor & Morgoth:

Bonus bonus: Namo @ the Feanorians:

Also

Find all of them here

When RETURN OF THE THIEF made it to the Goodreads contest semi-finals as a write-in candidate, I was taken by completely by surprise.  For the first time, I made a post encouraging people to vote for my book in a contest and failing to make it to the finals did not dull my delight in the process AT ALL. The Hugo nominations are open and I've got the bit in my teeth now!

If you are a member of the 2020 or 2021 WorldCon, please consider nominating RETURN OF THE THIEF in any of these three categories for which I am pretty sure it is eligible: Best Novel, Best series, The Lodestar.

Attolis Eugenides Eugenideides

OH HELLO FRIENDS DID YOU MISS ME?

I’ve had this image in my head since Return of the Thief came out but I couldn’t get to it right away because after finishing the book I felt like I needed a lie down for about three months.

While this is more visually dramatic than what’s on the page, I wanted to capture the sense of the god running through Gen, along with a feeling of both power and teetering on the edge of control.

I also imagine this is a flash of what Irene sees, brief but powerful enough to almost undo her.

“I don’t understand why you don’t hate him,” said Attolia.

“The same reason you don’t and Sophos doesn’t, because of who he is,” Eddis said softly.

“And who is he now?” Attolia cried, and Eddis took the stricken queen in her arms, pulling her close to comfort her.

“He is still our Gen, Irene. He can bear his god a little while without losing himself.”