Fantasy Worlds › Kristine Starling

The Wizard and the Raven: Power Changes Hands, but Never its Price

Kristine Starling November 10, 2025 January 4, 2026Blog, Creative Writing, Literature

I enjoy fairy tales that feel like warnings. With this story, The Wizard and the Raven, I set out to capture that mood: something lyrical and eerie, something that reads like it’s been told before, and will be told again. The Wizard and the Raven explores longing, transformation, and the price we pay to become someone—or something else. I wrote it for readers who love dark fairy tales, enchanted objects, and the horror of repetition. Blurb: On a dark and stormy night, a raven perches on a rotting branch. His eyes are fixed on an old tower. But he is…

The Last Unicorn: Why This Fantasy Classic Still Matters

Kristine Starling February 15, 2025 December 30, 2025Analysis, Blog, Literature, Opinion

“The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone. She was very old, though she did not know it, and she was no longer the careless color of sea foam but rather the color of snow falling on a moonlit night. But her eyes were still clear and unwearied, and she still moved like a shadow on the sea.” Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn There are stories that entertain, stories that thrill, and then there are those rare few that burrow into the soul, leaving marks that never fade. The Last Unicorn is such a story…

The Legacy of Dragons: Myth, Meaning, and Magic

Kristine Starling February 9, 2025 December 30, 2025Blog, Opinion

There are creatures of legend, and then there are dragons. The beasts of fire and sky, the lords of ancient hoards and prophecy. To speak their names is to summon something old, something primal, a force woven into the marrow of our collective mythos. I have always loved dragons, though I cannot say whether I long to ride one or to be one. There is power in them, a terrible, breathtaking majesty that sets them apart from all other creatures. They are fire and shadow, sky and fury, their wings vast enough to eclipse the sun, their eyes old as…

Words of Wisdom from Middle-earth: Reflections on Love, Valor, and Light

Kristine Starling December 17, 2024 January 4, 2026Blog, Literature, Opinion

The Lord of the Rings has held a special place in my heart for many years. I’d like to share a few of my favorite quotes from the masterpiece. This quote reminds me that even in the midst of darkness, there is still beauty and goodness to be found. It speaks to the resilience of love and hope. For me, it’s a gentle reminder to seek out the light, even when the shadows feel overwhelming, and to cherish the moments of joy that make life so profoundly meaningful. This sentiment is echoed beautifully in Galadriel’s words from The Fellowship of the…