This the third installment in our Heroes series, written by our own Robert Rhodes. The art is courtesy of Aiko Rudell.

One night, when I was a child, the Red God walked into my dreams. He laid his burning hand on my shoulder and led me to the borderland where the world of men and beasts ends and the lush vale of his kingdom begins. Together, we stood beside the river of death – a mamba of swift, dark water scaled with countless stars, one for each soul who has crossed between the worlds.

Take your sandals and drum, he said. Gather three stones and a hollowed gourd.  Walk east until the water roars and you weep from the scent of blossoms. There you will find a magician who intends the greatest of blasphemies. Face him and command him to turn from his path.

“But how can I? Why cannot you, my king?”

His eyes and ears are scabbed with unbelief. Now go.

Know, little ones, that many leaves of papyrus could barely retell my journey. But I am no chieftain’s scribe and can say only, without the gourd and sandals, I would have died before the fourth day. And without the pounding drum, I faced a slavery I will not describe.

On the thirteenth evening, I found a pool in the jungle’s heart. A waterfall roared like a lion’s great ghost, and the flowers beneath the trees were like those that brightened my mother’s hair – and the earth of her grave. The glade blurred into a dim, green cloud. Then through the cloud fell a guttering star.

The phoenix landed beside the pool. He bowed his withered head, and his wings trembled, the feathers glowing red and silver, hissing a sweet white smoke. Wisps of flame kindled on his wingtips, and he raised his beak and cried with such yearning I feared the sky would crack.

Suddenly the flames engulfed him, and the magician crept from the trees. He wore a loincloth of jackal fur and a cloak of woven vines. To his mouth he raised a flute of bone, and as he played, a cold wind parted the trees behind him, sweeping toward the mound of glowing ash.

I shouted and ran forward, throwing the three stones as one. One disappeared into the trees and one within his cloak, but one struck the flute from his lips, and the wind stopped. He laughed and raised it again. I leapt between him and the ash.

And I burned then as the phoenix screamed, reborn. But though the fire of the gods consumes, it does not destroy, and as the young phoenix perched on my shoulder like the Red God’s burning hand, I found I could command the magician even as I had been commanded. He fled into the jungle with blood trickling from his ears and eyes, and the phoenix soared, shining, into the night.

Bright little ones, remember – we, like the phoenix, are children of ash. Those who burn throughout the long, dark years will one day shine like the stars.

Like the stars of the river we should not fear.

Author’s note:  This piece first appeared, with minor differences, in the e-zine Gryphonwood under the title “Fire, Ashes, Stars” in the summer of 2005.

Shaman  © Robert Rhodes, 2010. All rights reserved.
art used with permission: “Shaman Portrait” by Aiko Rudell

Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones

Sometimes, when you’re rummaging around in the heap that the fantasy shelves can at times be, you find a gem. It’s a small, unassuming little thing, but all the more precious for being so unexpected. Diana Wynne Jones‘ Dark Lord of Derkholm is such a gem… Read the rest.

House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones

Had I realized that House of Many Ways was another sequel to Howl’s Moving Castle it would’ve ended up in my hands even quicker than it did. Nevertheless, it found its way there happily enough, allowing me another visit into my favorite of Diana Wynne Jones’ wonderful worlds… Read the rest.

Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson

… The best part about Which Witch? is of course the contest, in which the somewhat dim-witted witches of Todcaster attempt to impress their prospective husband and the other judges by performing acts of dark magic that don’t go according to plan… Not only is it all very funny, but there is an echo of familiarity to it all considering that Ibbotson draws upon real folklore and superstitions in order to shape the competition. This lends the story an unexpected depth and resonance… Read the rest.

The Singer’s Crown by Elaine Isaak

…. A book that’s written in a style that’s vague, wordy, and convoluted is not brilliant. It’s not good literature. It’s not deserving of patience or effort. Especially not in the case of The Singer’s Crown. Some such books have redeeming factors in the way of interesting characters or exciting action, or something, but this book? This book has nothing… Read the rest.

Majestrum by Matthew Hughes

… Majestrum is an entertaining and quick read. If you’re already a Matthew Hughes fan, if you enjoy Jack Vance style science fantasy, or if you’re looking for something a bit quirky and light, then I recommend Majestrum. If you’re only into traditional epic fantasy or sword & sorcery, or if you have no patience for a magniloquent writing style, look elsewhere. Read the rest.

Sorcerers of the Nightwing by Geoffrey Huntington

…  Geoffrey Huntington has a master stroke at representing youth and relationships realistically. Despite the somewhat clichéd setting of a dark-and-spooky-manor-with-thunderstorms-outside, Huntington manages to pull it off through his elegant writing, making it seem like a real place, fill of its own history. Overall, not utterly intoxicating, but certainly not boring, and as such I’m looking forward to reading Demon Witch.  Read the rest.

The Innkeeper’s Song by Peter S. Beagle

The Innkeeper’s Song is  a one-volume fantasy for mature readers that is by turns (or even simultaneously) lyrical and maddening. Lyrical because much of its language is, in contemporary fantasy, on par with only Patricia McKillip and Guy Gavriel Kay. Maddening because — despite the full-throttle beginning, intricately woven characters and a world made wondrous without a map or long descriptions but simply by names and prosaic brushstrokes — the promise of the beginning and middle absolutely fizzles to a all-but-incomprehensible anti-climax… Read the rest.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

… The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is positively jam-packed full of beheadings, monsters, witches, deaths and other terrors, all focused on a character that embodies the quintessential childhood fear: that of being lost and unable to return home… there are plenty of things of Baum’s creation that the movie left out… Read the rest.

Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley

I have been craving a real epic fantasy novel and Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley is exactly that — gods, diverse races, medieval setting, and plenty of warfare. What more could a lover of epic fantasy want? Well, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Ruckley also does a really good job of creating fascinating characters and plot… Fans of excellent epic fantasy shouldn’t miss Winterbirth. Read the rest.

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

… My Soul to Save is a quick read that moves along at a brisk pace, and it’s an OK book, but not as good as My Soul to Take. One disappointment is the romance. I still haven’t fallen for Nash. He’s a flatter character here than in the previous book, and he doesn’t do much to convince me that his feelings for Kaylee run deep. Sure, he’s angrily protective of her throughout the book, and the several scenes of makeoutus interruptus make it clear he lusts after her. But only in his rant to Addison, near the end, does he really seem to speak from the heart rather than from the id… Read the read.

Haze by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

… Longtime readers of Modesitt will quickly recognize several themes and elements that frequently pop up in the author’s works: a cerebral main character, lovingly detailed world-building, focus on environmental issues. There are several direct and indirect references to current political and societal issues, but also hints of a galactic history spanning thousands of years. That Modesitt Jr. can pull all of this off without resorting to endless info-dumps speaks to his considerable skill as a writer. Haze is an excellent standalone SF novel, and one I wouldn’t hesitate recommending both to longtime Modesitt fans and to anyone who isn’t yet familiar with the author. Read the rest.

The Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien

Tragic literature can be so beautiful that it deserves to be set to music. In this, the most poignant of Tolkien’s tales about the fragility of human existence, Tolkien shows how those who would be princes of men can so easily be ensnared by their pride. The Children of Húrin is at once a moral tale, but also one of oppression, as the reign of Morgoth, the first Dark Lord in Tolkien’s Middle Earth, is reaching the pinnacle of its power. This is one of the three great tales of the Elder days that Tolkien originally wished to publish together as The Book of Lost Tales, but the project was long abandoned in favour of other things… Read the rest.

Saffron and Brimstone: Strange Stories

… Overall, I enjoyed every single story in this collection and they showcase Hand’s astounding writing ability. She can be as technical and detailed as the story needs to be, yet she remains lyrical and mesmerizing throughout. She has also mastered the craft of characterization and knows when to be subtle… any of the stories in this book is easily a match for any other author’s short fiction. Saffron and Brimstone is definitely a must-have in any critical reader’s collection… Read the rest.

A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans

A Darkness Forged in Fire has an interesting mix of traditional fantasy elements: tree-connected elves, gruff dwarves, a shadowy villain arisen from the past, a quest combined with an Imperial Army with musket brigades, an “Iron” elf who isn’t quite so into nature, even a drunk pelican. Unfortunately, the mix of elements was the most original aspect of the novel, with its other basic elements such as plot and character too pedestrian to be all that compelling… Read the rest.

Jade Man’s Skin by Daniel Fox

….Thanks to mouth-watering prose, compelling characters, and an oriental-flavored backdrop, Daniel Fox’s Dragon In Chains was one of the better fantasy novels I had the pleasure of reading in 2009. Because of that, I had very high expectations for the sequel, Jade Man’s Skin, and the second volume in the MOSHUI TRILOGY delivers with another rewarding reading experience, albeit an experience that is very much like the one found in Dragon In Chains… Read the rest.

Horns by Joe Hill

… Horns once again finds Joe Hill at the top of his game, in particular his uncanny ability to examine humanity in all of its beauty and ugliness. This is done through fully fleshed out characters who readers can care for, sympathize with, or hate; piercing insights about love, sin or other topics relevant in everyday life; and the author’s keen and vivid descriptive abilities… Read the rest.

Spellbent

… Spellbent is dark enough that it won’t be for everyone…  Jaded urban fantasy fans should consider giving Spellbent a try. Snyder adds together a determined yet flawed heroine, fun secondary characters, a plot with tons of forward momentum, and one seriously creepy Hell, and the end result is a visceral, powerful modern-day Orpheus myth. Read the rest.

Blackbringer

… Laini Taylor has crafted something nice here. She’s got some great characters, first of all. I admit, I didn’t connect very well with the main character, Magpie, at first. She seems a bit like the typical “tough girl” appearing in fantasy these days (you know, the one who is the utter polar opposite of the “doormat”), at the beginning. But Taylor uses her story not only to develop Magpie, but to unfold and reveal her deeper layers… Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of Blackbringer and am really looking forward to Silksinger… Read the rest.

Welcome to the Jungle by Jim Butcher

If you’re a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellboy, or the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter comic books, then The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle will be perfect for you. Like those, Welcome to the Jungle boasts a fun mix of fast-paced supernatural action, humor and a dash of mystery/thrills. This graphic novel in particular is pretty tame in the violence/language department and is suitable for teen readers and above… Read the rest.

By Ruth Arnell

Fantasy is rife with sprawling epics, series that go on and on and on and…  In fact, Bill coined the acronym LRMMVSTLB to describe this phenomenon: the long-running massive multi-volume split-the-last-book epic series.  But sometimes, you don’t want to commit to a whole series.  Sometimes, you want a nice, stand-alone fantasy novel to enjoy for a few days, rather than a tome that is going to require a multi-year commitment.

So, dear readers, what is your recommendation for the best stand-alone fantasy novel you’ve read?

Leave a comment and we’ll enter you in a drawing to win Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass (isn’t that an awesome name?  I just want to say it over and over.  Seressia.  Seresssssia!) Or, if that book isn’t to your fancy, we’ll let you pick one out of our stacks.

The Paladin by C.J. Cherryh

The Paladin is a stand-alone novel set in the China of an alternative world. It’s more of an alternative history than a fantasy — there are no mythical creatures or magic here, although superstitions of both remain… The first part of the novel is worth reading, especially if you like realistic characters and Oriental culture. Beyond that, I can only recommend this book as a library loan… Read the rest.

Shroud of Shadow by Gael Baudino

… Overall, the book sunk me into a morass of despair while all the while making me want to throw up. I wanted to wash my brain out with soap afterward. (After I finished the book, I had to read some pages of something else before I could sleep.) Perhaps this is the effect Gael Baudino is trying to achieve… Read the rest.

The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes

… I’m thoroughly divided as to the sort of review I want to give The Somnambulist. On the one hand, despite some flaws, for most of the book, it was one of the most fun reads I’ve had in a while. On the other hand, the last 40 pages or so were just downright bad. I don’t mean simply disappointingly bad relative to the rest of the book, but off-the-rails, what-the-heck-happened, did- the-author-die-and-then-some-stranger-finish-the-book terrible kind of bad. Which leaves me with a dilemma… Read the rest.

Here’s a new project you might want to check out: SFFMeta.com. They have:

…reviews for more than 4000 Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror books from trusted critics around the world. Check out score averages and critic’s comments to help you find the best book for you.

You’ll find many of Fantasy Literature’s reviews quoted and linked there, plus review links from 23 other SFF review sites which have been hand-picked by Eric, SFFMeta’s founder. This is an extremely ambitious project. Best wishes, SFFMeta, and thanks for choosing FanLit as a “trusted critic” — we’re flattered!