by Ransom Stephens
Short-lived, hopeful tales of worthy knights, wizards, and druids emerged from every festival and fair. Crazy rumors of renegade princes and princesses popped up now and then, usually following the narrative of one old myth or another. A favorite involved peasants kissing toads and being transformed into royalty, but most of the gossip followed the usual theme: orphans and bastards, in out-of-the way villages unaware of their lineage, being manipulated by unsavory halflings. The Book of Bastards is a rollicking, riveting tale. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll sing! You’ll need a drink.
San Francisco Writers Workshop 