Herne is unique amongst the fay in that he doesn’t have two faces; he is the same both before and after Calgraef. He is also attendant to King Midhir and King Melwas, though Herne is a bestial creature more like the objects of his master’s hunts than the master himself. He crawls on all fours like a predator and has a horned hart’s skull for a head. Of all the fay, he is the most frightening.
Tom isn’t sure how much Kings Midhir and Melwas know about his relationship with the queens. But the kings know something and Herne is like any good servant: he wants to please his master. And he sees endangering Tom as a good way of earning the goodwill of the Faerie King. * * *
Herne is known as the hunter in traditional folklore and is often said to lead the Wild Hunt. I wanted to keep the hunter’s spirit for my interpretation of Herne, but I also wanted a darker face to him. A lot of the fay in The Fey Man are sophisticated, so Herne was a great opportunity to create something more of a monster. A piece of art really inspired me: Elkhorn by Brom. That grubby, animalistic feel was just perfect for Herne.
Armies march, dragons scorch the skies, and those who yet remain free hatch a desperate plan. They place their faith in the one man they shouldn’t: Thomas Rymour. He may be the prophet who cannot lie, but Tom only cares about finding the hidden realm of Faerie.
Elfs, dwarfs, Faerie creatures, dragons, magic, and quests. You’ll find it all in The Fey Man, the first book in the Realm Rift Saga.
Will Tom satisfy his compulsion? Can he break free and help save the world? Or do the creatures of Faerie have their own plans?
“The Fey Man immerses the reader in a compellingly conceived alternative realm created with a powerful sense of character and place.” – Brian Sibley, writer of The Lord of the Rings BBC Radio Drama
★★★★★ “This is one of the best epic fantasy books that I have read.”
★★★★ “As a study of a man in the throes of addiction, or maybe withdrawal…[Thomas Rymour] was particularly well drawn.”
★★★★★ “I smashed through this quickly as it's a real page turner and enjoyed it thoroughly. The setting is familiar enough that entering it is enjoyable and welcoming and at the same time novel enough that you care about the characters and the plot.”
