DUL TANEN - Capital city of the Kingdom of Tacorn
DWALINGULF - Large logging town in the lower North
EHLE - Kingdom in the Southwest of Astye, known for its deserts and canyons of red dirt
ELFAYGUA - Town in Tacorn
FENSMUIR - City in the Kingdom of Ain
GAINESBURY - Small village in the Northern White Ridge Mountains
GELANON - Holiest day in the entire year, a winter holiday known for fasting, throwing minerals into fire to show colors for gods to see for blessings
GLOAW CRANA - Town in Nevandia on the Tacornian border
GRAVE’S END - Poorest neighborhood in Kellesar
GRELTA - The Northernmost and largest kingdom on Astye, cold and snowy most of the year
HAVENFIORD - Large town on the border of Grelta and Tacorn
HENIG - Kingdom in the Southeast, busy harbors and port cities
INIQUITY - Town of criminals, also known as the Den, the Nest, Vice, etc.
KAISHIKI - Capital city of the Kingdom of Syoto, home to the Nine Kingdom’s Library
KELLESAR - Capital city of the Kingdom of Nevandia
LAIMOEN - God of Destruction and War, Lirr’s partner
LIRR - Goddess of Creation and All Living Things & Fertility
LIRRSTRASS - Capital city of the Kingdom of Grelta
LISTAN - Small, sandy country off the continent
MIDDLE KINGDOMS - Name for the two middle countries on Astye–Tacorn and Nevandia
MOUNT ERA - Highest peak on the White Ridge Mountains
NEVANDIA - Kingdom in the middle of Astye, in a bitter forty-year war with Tacorn
NYDIAN RIVER - River that stretches East to South on Astye
OSTARA - Holiday honoring Lirr and the welcoming of Spring, offerings of flowers and food, candles cleanse away the dark and usher in the light
PARACASO - Town in Ehle
PEVEAR - Town on the outskirts of Tacorn, once the site of a bloody battle
RED LANDS - Nickname for the Middle Kingdoms–a land so covered in blood
SILKEHAVEN - Small town in the Northern White Ridge Mountains
SYOTO - Empire in the Southeast of Astye
TACORN - Kingdom in the middle of Astye, in a bitter forty-year war with Nevandia
THE BOGGS - Slum town in Tacorn
THE DALE - Farming neighborhood in Nevandia, outside Kellesar walls
UKRA - Country off the continent
VARANA - Empire in the Northeast of Astye
WHITE RIDGE MOUNTAINS - Large Northern mountain range made of obsidian rock
YEHZIG - Small, tropical isle off the continent
Acknowledgements
I can’t believe I’m writing one of these again. I’m so utterly grateful and lucky that I actually get to fulfill this life-long dream of telling stories. Publishing two books in one year is an insane amount of work, and I would never have been able to do it all if it weren’t for my supportive team of fabulous individuals.
I must begin again with my amazing editor Erin Young. Your advice is essential, and I thank you profusely for your detailed notes and genuine enthusiasm for the Dark Magic Series and my writing style. Thank you for pointing out my addiction to the em dash.
Thank you, Miblart, for yet another fantastic cover design. You always seem to know exactly what my vision is, and I appreciate your patience as I tweak things a thousand times.
Alec McK for the world map of Astye.
My critique partner Addison—you are a literal STAR! Thank you for reading “RL&BF” twice, editing with care, and believing in my story. Sometimes, I think you know my characters better than I do. You have a real talent for editing and writing, and I learn a lot from you every single time.
Kelsey, Kinsey & Timm, my fabulous beta readers—thank you for reading/editing both Books 1 & 2! I really appreciate the time you put into your feedback, and you all had such fabulous ideas to make the story better. It matters more than I can say.
Kate & Molly—thank you both for your constant years of friendship. I so appreciate your willingness to provide opinions on book titles and covers, and to cheer me on as I continue to pursue this strange career. Much love to you both!
To my family and friends for reading and reviewing Book 1, and now doing it all over again with Book 2. One day, you will be really tired of reading my books, but I appreciate that you haven’t yet reached that point. Your support means everything!
Lastly, thanks again to you, dear reader, for falling in love with Marai and Ruenen. I wouldn’t be publishing “RL&BF” so quickly after “B&B” if you all weren’t begging for Book 2 as soon as you finished Book 1. Your beautiful review comments make me tear up, and my heart genuinely wants to burst with joy. I’m so touched that people are connecting to these characters and their stories. Thanks for supporting this indie author!
Also By J. E. Harter
See where it all began in…
“The Butcher and the Bard”
Book 1 in the Dark Magic Series
