A flash of lightning illuminates the darkened sky above the great black castle perched precariously on a cliffside. Guests enter through the massive iron gates, dressed in their very finest finery.

I stand on the dais, where the thrones have been pushed aside to make room on the platform for the evening’s prestigious event and guests. Great hearths stand on either side of the room, casting a warmth and light throughout the room that is augmented by torches flickering gently in their wall sconces. 

“Thank you again for hosting,” I say to King Stiorne and Lady Fiora, characters from my very own Minstrel’s Song series. “I am truly grateful. It is delightful to have my own characters willing to host the awards tonight.” We are standing to one side, near one of the crackling hearths. “I know it was short notice, but the villains… er… guests insisted that I find them a properly luxurious and grand location for their ceremony this year.”

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60 Nefarious Villains descended on my home over the past week.

Thanks for that.

I am currently hiding in my closet, trying not to make much noise. These people are bad news, friends, and when they ask for seconds, they don’t just raise their dishes and say something like, “Please, mum, can I have some more?” No. They threaten torture and painful deaths and all my loved ones.

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Hear ye! Hear ye!

The longest-running Fantasy Book Character awards are returning this September for their 11th year in a row!

For those new to the blog and the Silmaril Awards, who may be scratching your heads in confusion… the Silmaril Awards are a prestigious process whereby fantasy book characters are nominated by their readers and then voted upon by the masses into the Silmaril Hall of Fame.

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