Cane23

Now I HAVE TO see it! @Topher Lydon please send me the photo! 🙏

Unfortunately, I can't see it again...but, after this: He is a novelty," Tomas corrected smoothly, sitting back on the bench and stretching his long legs out. "The entire Vanguard is a novelty. A pack of traumatized, scarred mercenaries squatting in a ruined castle, pretending they understand the nuances of high nobility because the King threw a title at their Warlord out of pity. They lack refinement. They lack culture. They lack... breeding." ...I'll enjoy watching him squirm in the mud!

If I remember well, @Topher Lydon said no Ibelins in this story!

Your questions are all spot on... I actually have to think about the answers! 😊 1) What made me come back to a story? Mostly recommendations from fellow readers, or comments from members whose literary taste I know is similar to mine. I'll admit it - sometimes I even check the comments on the last chapter (shame on me! 😄). 2) As for @Topher Lydon, how did I end up reading his stories? He's been one of the most prolific active authors on GA for quite some time. It was impossible to miss his daily chapter updates, so I'd been meaning to start reading his work for a while. I read his first story, Return of the Sun, some time ago and loved his English humor so much that I decided I wanted to read more. But with so many stories and new chapters appearing every day, I never knew where to start. The opportunity finally came with his new series, Charlie Vs.... A brand-new story, great humor, and although it's not my favorite genre, it captivated me immediately. So now I'm hooked on his Silver Boar saga... and I'm hoping it never ends. 3) At the beginning of my GA membership, I spent a lot of time "surfing" around, looking for new stories. It was mostly binge-reading. I generally don't read unfinished stories or those that have been on hiatus for a long time. These days, I'm following so many authors that, unfortunately, I don't have much time to discover older stories and binge-read them. I had to check my reviews to see what the last one was. It turned out to be Blame It on the Eggnog, a Christmas tale by @andy cannon. I was drawn to it because it was a funny, modern gay take on A Christmas Carol by Dickens. Before that, I read The Luxorian Fugitive by @Mann Ramblings. Two things came together there - my sci-fi phase and my Premium membership! 😊 Finally, one of the best ways to discover new authors and stories is the annual SA competition. It's a wonderful opportunity to enjoy works by authors I might not have chosen to read otherwise. As for your last question - yes, that has happened to me. Sometimes I start reading a story because the summary sounds really promising, but I just can't get into it and end up stopping. On the other hand, there have also been times when a story wasn't really my thing, but I kept reading until the end to support the author.

I suppose it's both good and bad. On one hand, the recognition has put Atreus in the spotlight, but on the other, it's reassuring that Lord Hascal now has a legitimate heir.

He is still young and easy to manipulate. Yet he's surrounded by fiercely loyal people, and after all, he's his father's son!

Congratulations to the veterans too!

My 3-year GA anniversay is on August 28th. Congrats to us all, now @BendtedWreath ...out with a story!

Summaries are the first thing I read before deciding whether to start a story. An unimpressive summary has caused me to miss some great stories in the past. After the summary, I always check the reviews - they can be very helpful. Of course, I'm not talking about authors I already follow. As for question 2, the last story I started reading was The Vanguard of the Silver Boar by @Topher Lydon because it's part of his Crusades series, which I follow almost obsessively. It's an amazing read

Both choices are excellent. They have different authors and distinct styles, but each is well worth your time. Since you've chosen @CasualWanderer82, I'll just say this - with his novels, it's not simply about reading...it's about the experience. Enjoy!

...and can be mean!

So, it's not the son - it's the grandson, born in exile! Raithion has earned Wolfe's acceptance, and even more importantly, his respect and trust.

Richard and Atreus' reunion at Royal visit being like:

I like this line because it shows that Darien values his son more than material possessions, even something as precious as a weapon brought back from the Crusades. It sends a powerful message - "You (my son) mean more to me than any treasure."

THIS 👇 IS WORSE THAN THIS 👇 🤣😂🤣

But if Darien was adopted by the late Lord Haskal and inherited his title of Baron, wouldn't he also have inherited his lands and castle?

Ranching... yes, I should know the difference, but sorry - it's all just agriculture to me!

OH. MY. GOD!!! I really didn't expect this - what a revelation! We could suspect that Alexis' behavior might have its roots in childhood trauma, perhaps even involving her father... but the involvement of the highest official in the FBA? What an incredible plot twist! @JJQuinn - you are an amazing author! The horror of this revelation doesn't end with Alexis. How many more victims have there been over the years? Even now, while they're interrogating Alexis, where is the FBA director, and what is he doing?! I can understand how Alexis' twisted mind transformed her into such a brutal and cruel avenger, but why didn't she destroy James Caldwell? Or was she building a larger net to catch him?

"Lost in the Sand" is the fourth book in an epic saga set during the First Crusades. It works both as a sequel and as a standalone spin-off, focusing on Prince Ishan's destiny after the fall of Jerusalem. As a group of lovable misfits' journeys toward freedom, they encounter danger, adventure, and unexpected friendships. At the heart of the story are an ordinary Spanish soldier - Seb, mistaken for the Lord of Ibelin and his lover, Prince Ishan, an amnesiac struggling to rediscover his past. For fans of The Silver Boar Saga, this novel offers a touching epilogue to Erik/Ishan's extraordinary life - as a prince, mage, amnesiac, and even an unforgettable goat husband. A warm, adventurous, and rewarding addition to the series.

It's a small world... and the farming world is even smaller! Even without recognizing the surname, it was obvious that Taggert knows farming inside and out... as a true professional!

Back from the trip, and what do I see? A cliffhanger!!! 😱 Did knowing that Ishan survived help Darien at least a little with his conscience and, in turn, with his healing?

I did expect a bit of a warmer welcome, though. Wylan probably doesn't want to overwhelm Amneziak, given their memory loss.

I really thought Erik had been led to his brothers. What a relief it was when Wylan showed up!