In this episode you'll hear a short story from Kelly N. Jane with a mysterious cast in a dying world. Rule of Primes is narrated by Karyne Norton.

Important Links:

The Author: Kelly N. Jane's website

Check out her previous episode:

Realm of Sea Castles by Kelly N. Jane

The Narrator: Karyne Norton's website

Instructions on how to subscribe to the podcast

Find the full show notes on our website.

In this episode you'll hear a short story from H.S.J. Williams filled with bromance and elves. King and Knight is narrated by Paeter Frandsen.

Important Links:

The Author: H.S.J. Williams' website

Kings of Aselvia by H.S.J. Williams

Illuminare by Bryn Shutt

The Narrator: Paeter Frandsen's website

Instructions on how to leave a review for the podcast

Find the full show notes on our website.

Karyne (00:00:07) - Hi fantasy readers. This is Karyne Norton, your fellow book binger, and you are listening to the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast where you can test out a new fantasy story every single week to find your next favorite author.

Today's story is part two of a fun and whimsical Nutcracker retelling, so if you haven't listened to part one, be sure you do so before continuing with this episode. The story is written by E.J. Kitchens, who lives in Alabama and is a member of Realm Makers. She's published several novels and short works, all adventure romance stories set in fantasy worlds, and has many more begging to be written. She's also the author of the non-fiction Pen to Print, A Beginner's Guide to Self-Publishing.

Stick around to the end or check out today's show notes to see where you can find more from Elizabeth. For now, please enjoy A Spell's End: Part 2 by E.J. Kitchens.

Karyne (00:01:09) - A Spell's End: Part 2 is read by Karyne Norton. Due to copyright, the full transcript of the story cannot be included here.

Karyne (00:36:26) - I hope you enjoyed listening to A Spell's End: Part 2 by E.J. Kitchens, narrated by Karyne Norton. If you want to read more by Elizabeth, go to ejkitchens.com to find more of her books. You can still sign up for her newsletter to snag a second Nutcracker retelling with a whole new spin on the story since we still have a couple more days before Christmas.

If you're interested in being a part of the Finding Fantasy Reads volunteer team, I have information about the available roles in the volunteer application form, which you can find at findingfantasyreads.com/volunteer.

For those of you who will also be celebrating Christmas, I pray that you have a wonderful holiday with lots of friends and family and great memories, and in the midst of all that goodness, I hope you're able to slow down and take the time to contemplate the magnitude of the Word becoming flesh so that we could have a restored relationship with God.

Thank you all for listening, and happy reading!

Karyne (00:00:07) - Hi fantasy readers. This is Karyne Norton, your fellow book binger, and you are listening to the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast where you can test out a new fantasy story every single week to find your next favorite author.

Today's story is part one of two, and in honor of Christmas being around the corner, it's a fun and whimsical Nutcracker retelling. It's written by an author we featured before who actually won the 2024 Most Played Episodes Award for her steampunk fantasy story, Dawnbringer, so I already know you all love E.J. Kitchens' stories. Elizabeth loves tales of romance, adventure, and happily ever afters, and strives to write such tales herself. When she's not thinking about her stories or traveling to far-off places, she's enjoying the beautiful outdoors and talking about classic books and black and white movies.

Stick around to the end or check out today's show notes to see where you can find more from Elizabeth. For now, please enjoy A Spell's End: Part 1 by E.J. Kitchens.

Karyne (00:01:19) - A Spell's End: Part 1 is read by Karyne Norton. Due to copyright, the full transcript of the story cannot be included here.

Karyne (00:45:04) - I hope you enjoyed listening to A Spell's End: Part 1 by E.J. Kitchens, narrated by Karyne Norton. If you want to read more by Elizabeth, go to ejkitchens.com to find more of her books. If you sign up for her newsletter while you're there, you'll actually get a different Nutcracker retelling, so you can get even more Christmasy feels.

If you're interested in making a financial donation to the podcast to help keep it running, go to findingfantasyreads.com/donate. All donations go directly towards podcast expenses, like hosting fees, editing services, and advertising, allowing us to record more fantastic stories for you.

Thank you all for listening, and happy reading!

Karyne (00:00:07) - Hi fantasy readers. This is Karyne Norton, your fellow book binger, and you are listening to the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast where you can test out a new fantasy story every single week to find your next favorite author.

You'll want to stick around for today's story if you like young heroes, dragons, and the faintest of Christmasy vibes. It's written by Nicole DragonBeck, who claims to be part dragon and part hobbit. She's a lover of dragons, coffee, and chocolate, and is a provider of magical diversions and portals to new worlds, also known as a fantasy author. She also enjoys cooking and listening to music, and can often be heard fiddling on a keyboard or guitar.

Today's narrator is Paeter Frandsen, host of Christian Geek Central. Stick around to the end or check out today's show notes to see where you can find more from both the author and the narrator.

For now, please enjoy The Boy Who Cried Dragon by Nicole DragonBeck.

Paeter (00:01:11) - The Boy Who Cried Dragon is read by Paeter Frandsen. Due to copyright, the full transcript of the story cannot be included here.

Karyne (01:07:50) - I hope you enjoyed listening to The Boy Who Cried Dragon by Nicole DragonBeck, narrated by Paeter Frandsen of Christian Geek Central. If you want to read more by Nicole, go to dragonbeckbooks.com to find more of her books. Next month, the seventh book in her series, Guardians of the Path, releases, so I'll add a link in the show notes to the first book in the series called First Magyc, so you can start reading now and be all ready for that seventh book.

If you enjoyed listening to Paeter narrate the story, you might also enjoy listening to his audio dramas at spiritblade.com or his podcast, Christian Geek Central, where he discusses movies, video games, and all things enjoyed by self-proclaimed geeks from a Christian worldview.

If you're all caught up on podcast episodes or if you're in the mood for something longer, make sure to check out my other podcast, which is a serialized audio book for my debut novel, Blood of the Stars. Paeter and I are narrating the series, so if you enjoy listening to us on the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast, I think there's a good chance you'll enjoy listening to the audiobook as well. You can find it on all the same podcasting platforms under Blood of the Stars, or you can listen on my website at karynenorton.com/audio. And along with the rest of the sites mentioned in this episode, I'll have direct links in the show notes.

Thank you all for listening, and happy reading.

Karyne (00:00:07) - Hi fantasy readers. This is Karyne Norton, your fellow book binger, and you are listening to the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast where you can test out a new fantasy story every single week to find your next favorite author.

Today's story has intrigue, heists, and dragon eggs. It's written by Jessica Deen Norris, who grew up playing with Ninja Turtles as much as Barbie dolls. She was born and raised in Louisiana and still lives there with her husband and five children. Their hearts for adoption led them to adopt their youngest son from China, who was born blind, but hasn't let that slow him down. As a former junior high and high school English teacher, she's now living out her dream of being an author. Stick around in the end or check out today's show notes to see where you can find more from Jessica.

For now, please enjoy Behind the Shadow Knight's Mask by Jessica Dean Norris.

Karyne (00:01:06) - Behind the Shadow Knight's Mask is read by Karyne Norton. Due to copyright, the full transcript of the story cannot be included here.

Karyne (00:31:46) - I hope you enjoyed listening to Behind the Shadow Night's Mask by Jessica Deen Norris, narrated by Karyne Norton. If you want to read more by Jessica, go to jessicadeennorris.com to find more of her books. Make sure you sign up for her newsletter while you're there so you can get the e-book copy of this story, as well as a coupon for her store. I'll have a direct link in the show notes.

We've got some Christmasy episodes coming up, but I also know a lot of people will be looking for more. So if you have a friend who's looking for Christmas stories to listen to, make sure you send them to the podcast. I'll go ahead and throw some easy sharing links in the show notes for our previous Christmas episodes. That way you can share them with your friends or listen to them yourself.

Thank you all for listening, and happy reading!

Karyne (00:00:07) - Hi fantasy readers. This is Karyne Norton, your fellow book binger, and you are listening to the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast where you can test out a new fantasy story every single week to find your next favorite author.

You'll want to stick around for today's story if you like apprentices, friendship, and magical mistakes. It's written by H.L. Burke, who has an addictive personality and jumps from one fandom to another. Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek have all taken their turns, but because of that, she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture. She married her high school crush who is now a U.S. Marine, so she's moved multiple times in her adult life. Home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.

Today's narrator is Paeter Frandsen, host of Christian Geek Central. Stick around to the end or check out today's show notes to see where you can find more from both the author and the narrator, as well as how to enter this month's giveaway.

For now, please enjoy Jericho and the Magician's Daughter by H.L. Burke.

Paeter (00:01:20) - Jericho and the Magician's Daughter is read by Paeter Frandsen. Due to copyright, the full transcript of the story cannot be included here.

Karyne (00:58:27) - I hope you enjoyed listening to Jericho and the Magician's Daughter by H.L. Burke, narrated by Paeter Frandsen of Christian Geek Central. If you want to read more by H.L. Burke, go to hlburkeauthor.com to find more of her books. This particular story is from a Fellowship of Fantasy anthology called Mythical Doorways. I'll have a link in the show notes so you can check it out.

If you enjoyed listening to Paeter narrate the story, you might also enjoy listening to his audio dramas at spiritblade.com or his podcast, Christian Geek Central, where he discusses movies, video games, and all things enjoyed by self-proclaimed geeks from a Christian worldview.

This month we are running a giveaway with four wintery audiobooks and a three-month Audible subscription. So if you want a chance to win, go to findingfantasyreads.com/giveaway to enter.

And if you want weekly reminders when new episodes come out, as well as deals on audiobooks, new releases, and freebies from our featured authors, make sure you sign up for the newsletter at findingfantasyreads.com/newsletter. You'll also get a bonus blooper episode, which I actually need to make a new one. I have collected so many bloopers, and it would be sad if they went unheard. It just keeps getting pushed to the back burner, so if you're wanting another blooper episode, you guys need to pester me so I know it's something worth moving up on my never-ending to-do list.

Alright, if you missed any of those links, they will be in the show notes like always. Thank you all for listening, and happy reading!

Karyne (00:00:07) - Hi fantasy readers. This is Karyne Norton, your fellow book binger, and you are listening to the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast where you can test out a new fantasy story every single week to find your next favorite author.

Today, you get four stories instead of one, because we're featuring some Havok flash fiction from Beka Gremikova. Beka writes folkloric fantasy and science fiction from her little nook in the Ottawa Valley, Ontario. Her passions include traveling, folklore and myth, and nerding out over anime, manga, and the Legend of Zelda. When she's not reading, writing, or drawing, she can be found climbing mountains and slaying monsters, in the virtual realm, of course. In real life, she prefers cuddling cute animals and eating delicious foods of all kinds. This first story has a mix of humor and horror, as a young girl goes up against a gorgon. Please enjoy Perdita Danville, Gorgon Slayer by Beka Gremikova.

Karyne (00:01:14) - Perdita Danville, Gorgon Slayer is read by Karyne Norton. Due to copyright, the full transcript of the story cannot be included here.

Karyne (00:08:38) - I hope you enjoyed listening to Perdita Danville, Gorgon Slayer by Beka Gremikova, narrated by Karyne Norton. You're going to notice a bit of a trend with all of these stories touching on darker sides of fantasy, but while the last one held more humor, this next one carries loss and grief mixed with threads of hope. Please enjoy Viper's Den by Becca Gramakova.

Karyne (00:09:06) - Viper's Den is read by Karyne Norton. Due to copyright, the full transcript of the story cannot be included here.

Karyne (00:16:42) - I hope you enjoyed listening to Vipers Den by Beka Gremikova, narrated by Karyne Norton. This third story addresses grief once more, but it returns to a bit of the humor and adds in some mystery. Please enjoy Magpie Boy by Beka Gremikova.

Karyne (00:17:04) - Magpie Boy is read by Karyne Norton. Due to copyright, the full transcript of the story cannot be included here.

Karyne (00:24:37) - I hope you enjoyed listening to Magpie Boy by Beka Gremikova. This last one is probably my favorite because it's a mermaid story with an eerie melancholy feel. Please enjoy The Mercy of the Currents by Beka Gremikova.

Karyne (00:24:59) - The Mercy of the Currents is read by Karyne Norton. Due to copyright, the full transcript of the story cannot be included here.

Karyne (00:33:22) - I hope you enjoyed listening to The Mercy of the Currents by Beka Gremikova. If you want to read more by Beka, go to bekagremikova.com to find more of her books. Her next book, The Edge of a Knife and Other Stories, will be releasing at the end of the month. It's for fans of dark fantasy and science fiction with a healthy balance between tragedy and hope, and a side-helping of sweet, swoony romance. I'll have the pre-order link in the show notes.

We're currently booking for February and beyond, which is hard to believe because it feels like we just started Season 3. So if you have a short story you'd like to hear featured on the podcast, whether it's your own or someone else's, you can go to findingfantasyreads.com/contact to find the application form for authors or to recommend a story as a reader on our contact form.

And don't forget about this month's giveaway, where you can win four audiobooks and a three-month audible subscription. You can enter at findingfantasyreads.com/giveaway. Thank you all for listening, and happy reading!