#fantasyblog

🧙‍♂️ TAP TAP TAP… 

Is this loud glowing box thing working?

A-HA! I see the little blinky light blinking. That means it’s working, yes? No? Too late—I’ve already started.

Welcome to Zosimos Says So!

A blog. A brain spill. A magical cry for help. An overly long scroll of things I find important even if no one else does.

I am—brace yourself—

Zosimos the Eccentrically Enchanted, Unofficial Alchemist of the Wizard Coven, Twice-Banned Mushroom Merchant, and Grand Commander of the Disappearing Sock Society.

You’re welcome.

🐸 Who the frog am I?

Some folks call me a menace.

Others call me completely unqualified.

Still others just shriek “NOT AGAIN!” and dive into hedges.

That’s fine. I’m here anyway.

And now I have:

A keyboard.

A wand.

And a frog.

OH, FROGGY FROGS!

They are both vile and cutesy-cute at the same time!

They make delicious morsels—for breakfast, lunch, second breakfast, tea time, and funerals.

They are also slippery little demon meatballs, and when I try to catch one as it hops away, well…

DAMNED.

STUPID.

FROGS.

Don’t ask.

🧠 What is this blog? What will I do with it? Will there be snacks?

Great questions! Shut up and I’ll answer:

Behind-the-scenes mayhem from Pazzaria Productions

Spark the Flying Frog sightings (and recipes, maybe)

Insight into our books: The Spellbook, The Legend of the Lost Rose, Elyndor and whatever else the elves haven’t stolen yet

Magical merchandise highlights! (Some of it even legal!)

Secret future project leaks that I probably wasn’t supposed to post but OOPS

Enchanted food, wizard fashion, why my left shoe talks at night, and…

Wild theories about whether Spark is a savior… or a snack

✨ Why should you read this?

Because:

I once turned a tax form into a goose (accidentally).

I’ve got insider knowledge on Pazzaria’s magical universe (or at least strong opinions).

I might drop mystery spell codes or forbidden coupons.

You love chaos. And frogs. And the chaos of frogs.

🧪 Blog Subtitle Suggestions I Rejected:

“Definitely Not Cursed”

“Chronicles of a Wand-Wielding Moron”

“Oops! All Magic!”

“I Shouldn’t Have Eaten That Glowstick”

📜 Closing Nonsense

So stay tuned, my twitchy little toadspoons!

I’ll be posting spells, secrets, and strangely accurate predictions (like: “Tomorrow, someone will sneeze.” Told you.)

This blog is now cursed blessed with my presence.

Until next time—

I remain (somehow),

Zosimos the Eccentrically Enchanted

The wand is fine. I’m the problem. 🧙‍♂️🐸💥

I’m here to support face to face!!!

Make sure you’re honest!!!!

Feel free!!!!

The High Realms is the galaxy-wide territory where most of The Arcanum takes place. It’s the ruling seat for all known monarchies dynasties that exist within the Known Universe.

There are three Great Dynasties in the Realms, and each controls a highly influential part of the galaxy.

House Barnum

House Caesar

House Lucarion

House Barnum rules the Southern High Realms, known for its rolling green hills, hot weather, ancient traditions, and peace. Their governing planet is Zeltog, home of the Rhashi Eli'hah. Their Monarch is King Kyron. They’re ancient, absurdly rich, and terrifyingly influential. But even they don't understand what’s about to be unleashed. Some believe this House may be the one to birth the Dreamer...

House Caesar rules the Western High Realms, the biggest of them all, known as the Capital of Market, specifically the market of drugs and recreation. Keepers of nearly eighty percent of all known drug stockpile, the empire is built not only on wealth, but on the suggestion of permanence. The governing planet, which is the highest governing planet in all of the Empire, is called Imperion Prime—a reign that has endured for over 90,000 years. House Lucarion does not rule over any specific realm. They are the weakest of the trio, only noted as influential for their deep roots as the richest Slavers in all the Capital. They are popular because it's shocking to the public that they have found a way to enslave people. They are the only monarchy that still does it. They have become subject to many myths and dark legends. Are they in cohorts with demons and darkchildren? Does the Duchess practice dark magicks? Do they use the likeness of Man in their A.I. Machines? Only the gods know.

The Empire does not remember who they conquered. They don’t even know what came before them. What remains of the Old World is hidden, or scrubbed clean by the royal archivists, or burned. No one in the Capital truly knows how the Empire began, only that there were many Crusades and battles against an ancient government that's been long forgotten.

WHEN THE FAITHFUL READER BEGINS,

Welcome to the Hallowed World, an enigmatic realm teeming with an array of peculiar creatures, among which the Demi-Wyrms stand as intriguing denizens. These worm-like entities, reminiscent of infernal beings, carve their existence as modest inhabitants of the world's intricate web of life. While they may dwell lower on the food chain, do not mistake their unassuming position for insignificance, for their paths are fraught with danger for any who dare to cross them. In fact, the larger specimens of Demi-Wyrms command a respect that manifests as a cautious distance.

These creatures, bound to primal instincts, exhibit a connection to the Elemental Aspects that define the essence of the Hallowed World. Yet, their identity extends beyond mere elemental influence; they embody a fusion of ravenous scavenger and cunning predator. Their dual nature often manifests in an unsettling dance between survival and predation, as they navigate the intricate tapestry of existence.

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega Novel Book One) Patricia Briggs Purchased

(This review may contain spoilers)

I feel like my opinion on this book is going to be very unpopular.

First off, I did read the Alpha & Omega companion novel that takes place immediately before the start of this book and I have no idea how some people have read only Cry Wolf and been fine? The companion novel feels like such an integral part of the story that I am surprised it isn't automatically included in the first book or even considered as the first book of the series instead of Cry Wolf. I suppose you could manage it, but the events of the companion novel get mentioned a lot within the first half of the book.

As for the characters, Anna clearly has some growing to do as she takes more of a passive role in this book. Which is not surprising given her background. So I expect through-out the books she will come into more of her own. I think Anna’s passivity is part of the reason I have a hard time with the chemistry (or lack there-of) between her and Charles. Through both the companion novel and Cry Wolf, I felt like their relationship was forced. With neither of them knowing much about the other and Anna regularly tip-toeing around Charles, it seemed the only thing driving them together were their wolves (and the fact that Charles was the only decent male she’d met in 3 years). Which - while convenient, does not immediately translate to chemistry between the two characters. 

Which is why I also had a problem with how quickly Anna and Charles slept together and tried to solidify their matebond. The timeline of them knowing each other wasn’t so much a problem as that in combination with Anna stating in the companion novel that she didn’t want to have sex because of her history of sexual abuse. Anna had to call on her wolf to be able to sleep with Charles, and once her wolf was gone, she was no longer comfortable and the relationship between her and Charles was awkward again. Then at the end of the book, their bond was solidified without them even having sex. So what was the point?

All I’m saying is, it took longer than a week for Mercy and Adam to sleep together after she was assaulted, and Anna was repeatedly brutalized over 3 years. 

The first half of the book felt very slow with not much happening at all. I think it was meant to be a chance for Anna and Charles to build chemistry, but as I stated before, I wasn’t feeling it. And once things started to pick back up, the multiple points of few ended up ruining the mystery and anticipation instead of building it up. The reader finds out through a certain character pretty early on who exactly the antagonist is, what they are doing, and generally how they are doing it. Leaving little to no questions for the reader to try and figure out before you are even 60% through the book. The only POV that added any mystery was Walter, whom I think was one of the best characters and brought more personality out of Anna then anyone else had in both books.  

The fight scenes were not as gripping as I might have expected. Patricia paints this very vicious and monstrous view of werewolves and emphasizes it through internal pack abuse against women and lower wolves, and yet the fight scenes feel lackluster in comparison. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat, wondering what might happen next, or surprised by some ingenious move. The fights are over fairly quickly and lack any drama for fanfare. Which is fine, I guess. It is just different from the monstrous depiction Patricia seems to want to set. 

Overall I thought the book was fine. I know I did a lot of complaining above but it was a decent book and I can see how it appeals to people. Just not to me. I don’t think Patricia’s writing is for me, unfortunately, as I have picked up her Mercy Thompson books in the past but ended up dropping them a few books in. The covers for both series are just so pretty and I wish I liked the books more than I do. Maybe I will read the next book in the Alpha & Omega series, but who knows. 

The concept of the ‘Sky Leviathan’ is born from the intersection of deep-sea mythology and boundless aerial fantasy, presenting a creature that completely defies natural law. This is not merely a whale, but a truly colossal, iridescent feathered being that swims through the endless expanse of the sky, high above a surreal emerald seascape. ### A Spectacle of Impossible Majesty The creature’s form…