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. 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. That dark, animalistic face comes to the fore in The Northern Wastes as he leads the hunt for Thomas Rymour.
The dark secrets of Faerie are revealed. Immortal and invincible, there is no fighting them.
But there are magical relics in the uncharted north that could save them. But the path won’t be easy, and it’s littered with forgotten peoples and horrifying creatures long left buried beneath the mountains.
And while Tom is thrilled to learn Katharine is pregnant with his child, he’s foreseen her death.
Can Tom challenge the immortal fay? The malice in the mountains? Destiny itself? Find out in The Northern Wastes, the third book of the Realm Rift Saga.
★★★★★ “A great tale with many characters and a smooth flowing tale with twists and turns which were unexpected.”
★★★★ “Kelly’s world building continues to be superb, creating a setting in which you feel completely immersed, with a history and lore you get to learn as the story progresses.”
