Category Archives: Novels

Lowelia Larson, by Leo Black

Posted on April 24, 2017 by dubiousbyhabit

Lowelia Larson, by Leo Black “Where force is necessary, there it must be applied boldly, decisively, and completely. But one must know the limitations of force; one must know when to blend force with maneuver, a blow with an argument.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Medieval Fantasy, Novels | Tagged adventuresses, bastard swords, breastplate, brigandine, Feast of Fates, lady soldiers, leather armor, Leo Black, light armor, longswords, Lowelia Larson, mercenaries, novels, travel attire | Leave a comment

Book Review for Of Fire and Stars

Posted on November 26, 2016 by dubiousbyhabit

Quick review for Audrey Coulhurst’s Of Fire and Stars. (Illustration by the always awesome Nate Hallinan.) Smart, brave heroines: check. Girl-love: check. Murder-mystery that threatens to spark a war: check. I’ll try to keep from being too spoiler-y, but I … Continue reading →

Posted in Medieval Fantasy, Novels | Tagged adventuresses, archers, Audry Coulhurst, book reviews, caster robes, casters, cavalrywomen, character art, fiction, illustration, mages, Nate Hallinan, novels, Of Fire and Stars, riding apparel, short bows | Leave a comment

Viarralissa

Posted on October 22, 2015 by dubiousbyhabit

“Her majesty? Yes, I suppose I do know her better than anyone. Let’s see, she loves swimming, riding, archery, smutty adventure stories, and a good glass of wine. By the time she was twelve she’d read probably every book in … Continue reading →

Posted in My Stories, Novels | Tagged ancient armor, dresses, Elissa, First Empress, Greco/Roman armor, handmaidens, hoplite armor, linen cuirass, linothorax, my stories, Queen Viarra, warrior queens | 1 Comment

Sisters of the Oak and Crow, by Camila Vielmond

Posted on July 25, 2015 by dubiousbyhabit

Esce and Raevna, by Camila Vielmond “[L]oyalty to an ideal can vary in its intensity, but loyalty to money never changes. That’s why mercenaries are better fighters.” —Prince Kheldar of Drasnia I’ve been following Camila’s Tumblr and DeviantArt accounts since … Continue reading →

Posted in Medieval Fantasy, Novels | Tagged adventuresses, art, bastard swords, breastplate, businesswomen, Camila Vielmond, chain mail, digital art, Esce, healers, herbalists, knives, layered armor, medics, medieval fantasy, medium armor, mercenaries, novels, padded armor, plate armor, Raevna, soldiers, travel attire | 1 Comment

Eowyn, by Suzanne Helmigh

Posted on May 6, 2015 by dubiousbyhabit

Eowyn, by Suzanne Helmigh “There she won the greatest fame of any warrior by standing over the mortally wounded King Théoden and fighting the Witch-King, the lord of the Ring-wraiths.” —From Tolkien: a Dictionary, by David Day Woot! Welcome, folks, … Continue reading →

Posted in Gaming, Medieval Fantasy, Novels | Tagged art, breast plate, cavalry armor, cavalrywomen, chain mail, Eowyn, fighters, gothic armor, heavy armor, layered armor, longswords, Lord of the Rings, Lord of the Rings Card Game, medieval fantasy, novels, plate armor, plate mail, shield-maidens, soldiers, Sophisticated Games, Suzanne Helmigh, warriors | 5 Comments

Sophie McGillicuddy, from Renegades of Destiny, by Ted Z. Mintz

Posted on October 11, 2014 by dubiousbyhabit

Sophie McGillicuddy, character by Ted Z. Mintz “WAR, n. A by-product of the arts of peace.” —Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary I ran across Ted’s story and characters here recently, attempting to find the original artist for an uncredited concept … Continue reading →

Posted in Novels, Science Fiction | Tagged Adam Kop, Alex Pascenko, art, battle armor, commando units, commandos, concept art, Corrina Roberge, infiltrators, light armor, modern armor, novels, pistols, Renegades of Destiny, science fiction, soldiers, Sophie McGillicuddy, swords, Ted Z. Mintz, Tekka-Croe | Leave a comment

The Temporary Wizard, by Joe Shawcross

Posted on August 16, 2014 by dubiousbyhabit

The Temporary Wizard, by Joe Shawcross Though I’ve not read S.G. Rogers’s The Temporary Wizard of Locklynn, I’ll admit that I like Joe’s illustration of protagonist Ilene McMillan far better than the actual cover art. The hyper-photogenic model with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Novels, Period Fantasy | Tagged caster robes, casters, Joe Shawcross, mages, magic, novels, period fantasy, SG Rogers, Temporary Wizard, The Temporary Wizard of Locklynn, travel attire, wizardry | Leave a comment

Queen Viarra, by Adelruna

Posted on July 20, 2014 by dubiousbyhabit

Queen Viarra, by Adelruna “There are people who want me dead for no other reason than they’d rather be in charge themselves. Every decision I make, no matter how fair and just, will result in someone I’ve never met praying … Continue reading →

Posted in Novels, Period Fantasy | Tagged Adelruna, ancient armor, ancient history, art, bronze armor, confident redheads, digital art, First Empress, Greco/Roman armor, hoplite armor, infantrywomen, linen cuirass, medium armor, military leaders, novels, Queen Viarra, soldiers, spears, warrior, warrior queens | 6 Comments

Choices of One Cover Art, by Daryl Mandryk

Posted on May 31, 2014 by dubiousbyhabit

Choices of One cover art, by Daryl Mandryk Admiral Parck: “You must understand that one of Mara Jade’s most subtle weapons has always been her talent for irritating people. Irritated people don’t think clearly, you see.” Mara Jade: “Or maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in Novels, Science Fiction | Tagged art, confident redheads, Daryl Mandryk, digital art, infiltrators, Jedi, Jedi Knights, knights, light armor, lightsabers, Mara Jade, novels, science fiction, special agents, Star Wars, Timothy Zahn | Leave a comment

Widdershins, by Jason Chan

Posted on August 13, 2013 by dubiousbyhabit

Cover art by Jason Chan Widdershins adj. in a direction contrary to the natural one. —Dictionary.com I’ve been mildly in love with this novel cover by Jason Chan ever since I saw it on Pintrest a while back. The image … Continue reading →

Posted in Novels, Period Fantasy | Tagged Ari Marmell, art, burglars, digital art, Jason Chan Art, leather armor, light armor, novels, period fantasy, rogues, stealth, subterfuge, Thief's Covenant, thieves, Widdershins | Leave a comment