Magic and Lore › 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…

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…

The Secrets of Whispering Pines: How a Story Found Me

Kristine Starling October 27, 2024 December 30, 2025Blog, Debut Novel

a fantasy of mystery, magic, and self-discovery

There has been an update to this post. You don’t always go looking for a story. Sometimes, the story finds you. A Story That Beckons The Secrets of Whispering Pines wasn’t something I planned, not at first. It wasn’t the result of years of outlining, of carefully constructed plot points and deliberate world-building. No, it started the way the best things often do: quietly. A spark, barely there, a flicker at the edges of my mind. It was a class assignment, nothing more. A simple exercise, the kind you do and forget. But some ideas don’t fade. Some ideas sink…

The Fascinating Allure of Dragons

Kristine Starling July 5, 2024 December 30, 2025Analysis, Blog, Opinion

Dragons have captivated the human imagination across various cultures, each interpreting these creatures in uniquely fascinating ways. In Europe, legends of dragons are immortalized in stories such as Saint George’s heroic conquests or the cunning dragon Smaug in J.R.R. Tolkien’s revered The Hobbit. Journeying to the East, one finds a strikingly different visage of the dragon: here, they are revered as wise and benevolent spirits intertwined with nature and the cosmos, symbols of prosperity, and bearers of good fortune. The mysterious allure of dragons bridges our worlds and weaves together the diverse fabric of human stories. What is it about…