I love fantasy adventure stories, the action, the conflict, the cliffhangers. Historically, fantasy stories include some type of prophecy. In The Lord of the Rings the prophecy centers around the return of the King of Gondor. In the Harry Potter stories, he is the “chosen one.” All the prophecies in these stories can be associated with religion and deal in some manner with the relationship between gods and humans.
You can find prophecy in any kind of story however it is more prevalent in fantasy stories where authors draw on ancient tales and myths, from Beowulf, The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, to The Odyssey and even the Legend of King Arthur.
There is a purpose to prophecy in both fantasy and religion. The prophet reveals sin and encourages repentance, call the people to repentance. Most fantasy has the same purpose:
· The Odyssey warms of the consequences of Odysseus not returning home
· The King Arthur Legend shows the path to the throne and warns against sin
· The Silver Chair warns against disobedience
· The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe tells of the coming of Aslan
After scattering prophecy throughout Game of Thrones, George R R Martin said ‘Prophecies are, you know, a double edge sword. You have to handle them very carefully; I mean, they can add depth and interest to a book, but you don’t want to be too literal or too easy…’ Even great storytellers acknowledge how difficult it is to write a prophecy.
Here are ten of the best fantasy books involving prophecies (as listed in Goodreads). Full disclosure… I have not read all of these. David Eddings, Terry Brooks, and Robert Jordan are three of my favorites. Most of these are high fantasy. I included The Da Vinci Code because it was on Goodreads’ list. Finally, I did not include the titles with which you may be more familiar: Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, or The Chronicles of Narnia. They definitely belong on your list. I wanted to give you ones you may not know.
1. The Belgariad by David Eddings - Garion is an orphan being raised by his aunt and crazy grandfather. But he is part of a prophecy that spans centuries and soon he is pulled into a quest to destroy the evil Torak and restore goodness to the land. An important book in the history of the genre.
2. Dawn of Prophecy by David Eddings - Long ago, the evil God Torak fought a war to obtain an object of immense power - the Orb of Aldur. But Torak was defeated and the Orb reclaimed by Belgarath, the sorcerer. Garion, a young farm lad, loves the story when he first hears it from the old storyteller. But it has nothing to do with him. Or does it? For the stories also tell of a prophecy that must be fulfilled - a destiny handed down through the generations. And Torak is stirring again...
3. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan - Legend fades to myth, and even the myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.
When The Two Rivers is attacked by Trollocs-a savage tribe of half-men, half-beasts- five villagers flee that night into a world they barely imagined, with new dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light.
4. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - Classic Greek mythology is mixed with modern adventure in this brand-new, action-packed series. After learning he is a demigod, Percy Jackson is sent to a summer camp on Long Island, where he meets the father he never knew--Poseidon, God of the Sea.
5. The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown – While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.
6. The Romanoff Prophecy by Steve Berry - Ekaterinburg, Russia: July 16, 1918. Ten months have passed since Nicholas II’s reign was cut short by revolutionaries. Tonight, the White Army advances on the town where the Tsar and his family are being held captive by the Bolsheviks. Nicholas dares to hope for salvation. Instead, the Romanovs are coldly and methodically executed.
7. Running with the Demon by Terry Brooks - Eight centuries ago the first Knight of the Word was commissioned to combat the demonic evil of the Void. Now that daunting legacy has passed to John Ross—along with powerful magic and the knowledge that his actions are all that stand between a living hell and humanity's future.
8. Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher - For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies—elementals of earth, air, fire, water, wood, and metal. But in the remote Calderon Valley, the boy Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans’ most savage enemy—the Marat horde—return to the Valley, Tavi’s courage and resourcefulness will be a power greater than any fury, one that could turn the tides of war...
9. Redwall by Brian Jacques - “The medieval world of Redwall Abbey—where gallant mouse warriors’ triumph over evil invaders—has truly become the stuff of legend.”—Seattle Post-Intelligencer
10. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them and won by them.
OK. So, my Kindle is a bit fuller. Do you read fantasy stories? With prophecies? Which stories are your favorites?
Title: Donald – Sons of Sagamore
Author: Ruth A. Casie
Genre Medieval Romance
Publisher Dragonblade Press
Book Blurb
They surrendered their hearts only to find it would cost him his life for her to succeed.
Andrea Ricard, an inquisitive scholar of antiquities travels with her uncle to help him with his trade business. When she finds her mother’s family name on a piece of a map associated with the location of a rare relic, she is compelled to find it. Nothing will get in her way to unearth its secrets.
Donald MacDougall Tyler Eden has enjoyed carefree life, but over the last year he has found satisfaction working with his brother Hugh, who has a successful investment business. He has forged a close relationship with one of their business partners, Andrea’s uncle. On a visit to Hugh, Donald meets Andrea and is smitten. When Andrea finds that an antique in Hugh’s collection contains another piece to her mysterious map she is more determined than ever to find the relic. Donald is drawn into her adventure and volunteers to accompany her on her quest.
Andrea has only told Donald half-truths for fear he would not join her. The relic is surrounded by mystery and prophecy. A disgraced soldier with hopes of repairing his relationship with the king has found out about the relic and is just as determined as Andrea to secure it for himself.
Andrea and Donald’s belief in what’s right as well as each other will be tested on a journey filled with adventure and hardships as they race across the vineyards of the Champagne region in France, up the east coast of England to an ancient church in Bamburgh.
Can Andrea and her MacDougall warrior resolve the mystery, face the prophecy, vanquish the villain… and find their happily ever after.
Excerpt:
They had traveled about an hour when Donald turned and looked past her down the trail.
She turned quickly to see what caught his attention and scanned the area as best she could.
She came up next to him. He said nothing. They kept going.
“I felt it, too. Someone is watching us,” she said.
“I think you are overtired and imagining things. If someone was following we would have heard them tramping in the woods or horse’s hooves on these stones. No. There is nobody about. There’s a clearing up ahead. We can stop there.”
They coaxed the horses off the trail to the clearing. While Donald took care of the horses, she went for a bit of privacy.
She came to the bushes and froze at the sound of a low rumble. She slowly turned her head. Her heart leapt into her throat. A wolf with its teeth bared crouched close enough for her to see the spittle dripping from its muzzle.
“Rea.”
She dare not call out. The wolf’s eyes were locked on her.
“Rea, where are you?”
Keeping her head still, she glanced for something to protect her. She found nothing.
Out of nowhere there was a high-pitched whistle.
The wolf turned toward the noise. Donald raced at the animal.
The beast forgot about her and took off for Donald. The animal leaped at him and knocked him down.
The wolf growled and snapped. Donald rolled and got to his feet. Standing his full six-foot three-inch height, he yelled, threw his arms wide, and came at the wolf.
The wolf bared its teeth and hunkered down ready to spring.
Donald was not put off. Was the man crazy, screaming and lunging at the beast? The wolf sprang at him, but he was ready. Donald caught the wolf by the shoulders and kept the animal at arm’s length.
The wolf, on its hind legs, snapped at Donald and tried to bite his arm, but only got a taste or two of his tunic.
Donald kicked the animal’s underbelly over and over until the beast cried out and tried to get free. But he would not let go. The beast needed to be convinced it wasn’t a match for the man. Donald kept kicking until the wolf finally wrenched itself free. Donald stalked the animal as it backed away. Each time the wolf snarled, or growled, Donald came at him.
Cowering, the wolf backed away from him. Still Donald pursued him. The animal still cringing raised its head snarling and growling. Donald rushed the beast. Finally, the animal turned tail and took off back into the woods yelping.
Donald hurried back to Andrea and took her into his arms.
“I’m not hurt,” she said. “Again, you’ve come to my rescue.”
“It is my destiny.” He put his arm around her as they went back to the horses.
“We must leave. This wolf was old and alone. We don’t want him to come back with his friends.”
“Stay close to my side and don’t stop, no matter what you see or hear,” Donald said as they mounted up and raced full out down the trail.
While they rushed down the trail the incident played over in his mind. He was sure the wolf would fulfill the prophecy the sword will fail.
Seeing Andrea defenseless, at the wolf’s mercy, tore at him. Whatever threatened her would have to get through him first. He would always be there for her, with her, or die trying.
They came out of the forest, the horses lathered and breathing hard. He glanced at Andrea. She was made of strong stuff for certain. Her face showed determination. Out of immediate danger, he slowed from a full gallop to a canter and continued the ten miles into Calais stopping only when necessary to rest the horses.
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Releases early October
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Author Biography
RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author of historical swashbuckling action-adventures and contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages. Her stories feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. She lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/ marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now—writing romance. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures. For more information, please visit RuthACasie.com or visit her on Facebook, @RuthACasie, Twitter, @RuthACasie, Instagram RuthACasie, or Pinterest RuthACasie.
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