An Introduction to The White War

When any new blog takes its first little steps out into the big, hungry forest that is the internet, it can feel as though its papa is talking to himself (and perhaps he is!).

But instead of wallowing on the sidelines of the fantasy world, stepping softly about the fortress walls for fear of waking sleeping dragons (you know what they say about that), it's probably best to try and scale the grand stone walls of the castle with little more than a rope and grapnel, with a bundle of determination stuffed in a knapsack. 

Presently I'm writing the novel that's been clawing at the grey squishy stuff in my head for years, desperately seeking release. Unfortunately, it has transformed into something of a gargantuan beast, having been kept under lock and key for umpteen years, whilst I've been toiling away pretending to be an academic, when really what I wanted to do, was let this thing run free. 

The novel is by no means finished, but neither is it a blank page with a title and good intentions. It's currently sitting somewhere in the awkward middle, neither here nor there, occasionally rolling onto its back for a belly rub when it's feeling lonely, otherwise running about in circles like a thing possessed, just waiting to become words on a page. Since this blog is about the project itself, and not about why it's not finished already, I won't go too deeply into the evils of my time at University, writing for a degree wherein genre fiction is not only regarded with a surprised, arched eyebrow, but also a small titter when your back is turned. Essentially the beast was tamed and instead of pure roaring fantasy with bells on, it became a purring mess that liked a snooze in the midday sun. 

It finally began to shake off the cobwebs, yawning widely, when I took another route (read as, chose a different genre) for my Masters Degree, and let the beast slowly awaken. That's where we are now: my beast and I are ready to make this happen (whatever, "this" is!). 

As a plot, The White War has been solid for a very long time. The summary of the story would go as follows, if presented as a synopsis: 

The White Kingdom, a varied realm of humans, flanked on both sides by the kingdoms of the elves and fae, has always known that its single weakness is also its greatest strength: it's Lady. Kalvina is the Living Goddess of the White Kingdom, a tangible deity whose power has protected and nurtured the realm since the Creator moved on, leaving the world he'd craft in the hands of his immortal children. 

Though the Lady rules with kind firmness (so say those who love her), there are factions who would see her expelled, those who consider her as a meddlesome obstacle on the true path that the realm should walk towards. Protected by her own power of foresight, Kalvina dwells in a glorious palace whose towers breech the clouds, and there her mortal soldiers pledge their lives to her service. 

Greyan Xar'hail—half-elven, half human—is one of these soldiers. A major in the White League, outranked in his regiment only by his father, Greyan is more than happy to spend his life away from his native Ijmaviska. All Ijmaviska holds for the half-elf is a constricting life as a noblewoman's son, whereas in the human White Kingdom at his father's side, he may serve the Lady in peace, honouring too the elves' Living God—Kalvina's brother—with his gesture of alliance. For Greyan all is well. 

Until, that is, news of an ancient god-slaying weapon reaches the keen ears of the White League; a weapon that could take their Lady from them and plunge the kingdom into chaos. More troubling still, whisper of this evil has drifted from the West, from the ever-peaceful lands of the secretive fae. And that's not all; tense rumours of a resurrected cult linger about the darker passages of the realm, rumours linked to a handful of bodies and talk of monstrous creatures that prowl the winter darkness. 

With his father acting strangely, a shadow of himself, and the Lady under threat, Greyan has his hands full, let alone when he receives a letter he's been dreading for years: a summons back to Ijmaviska, for reasons undisclosed. 

The colour of the White Kingdom is about to change as a darkness rolls in, a darkness that threatens to stain the realm blood-red.

 

As with any fantasy novel there's much more to it than what the synopsis promises, but I feel this gives a nice little taste of it to whet the appetite. 

There will be elves and fae; two races that I want to cast in new moulds and give a sizeable chunk of time in the spotlight alongside the customary humans. Dark magic, white magic—and grey magic too, for that matter! 

There will be horribly monstrous, yet delectably cool creatures; ones that you'd stare in awe at if you saw them frolicking past in the forest, and those that can rip your face off at thirty paces. Add a generous helping of politics and religion, with ample backstabbing on both sides, coupled with that old fantasy guilty pleasure—romance—and The White War is set to be something I can stand there and grin proudly at upon its completion. That is, until I delve into the sequel, and begin the dark journey afresh (fun, isn't it?).

In the next update, I'll be sharing a map of the world in which The White War is set as cheap ploy at piquing interest further—and come on, who doesn't love a good map? I'll also be talking more about my depiction of elves and fae. 

Keep checking back for an assortment of articles, reviews and general blog updates on everything from my work, to anything else in the genre circle that grabs my interest. In addition, I'll be posting about my involvement with the Ranting Dragon team, and more about my article writing for Fantasy Faction.