In the Realms of Gold: Five Tales of Ysthar

Tales from Ysthar

by Victoria Goddard

Five stories set in a world not altogether dissimilar to our own, resonant with myth and magic and friendship. These are standalone tales associated with Till Human Voices Wake Us.

Contains:

"Scheherezade": On the thousand and first night of Scheherezade the Storyteller’s marriage, things do not go at all as she had hoped—nor do they end as she had expected.

"Rook": The Prince of the Fairies is just out looking for mischief. That's not what he finds.

"Inkebarrow": William Shakespeare takes a wrong turn going beyond the fields he knows—and in the Black Bull of Inkebarrow, he finds a turn from history to magic.

"Blue Moon Over Pincher Creek": Tyler's an ordinary high school student in Pincher Creek, Alberta. On the last weekend before school starts, the night of a blue moon in August, he finds something strange in the back acres behind the wind farm past his father's ranch.

"Not Far From the Tree": The world is full of unexpected stories. For Nora, hers is intricately tied with the old apple tree next to the village green. They say Eve fell to the temptation of an apple, but for Nora and her brother Charles, the apple just might be a vehicle for grace.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Anthologies

71 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

I walked across England in 2013, fulfilling a long-held dream. I'm currently the sexton of an Anglican church in Nova Scotia, which means I am keeper of the keys and opener of doors (and shutter-off of alarms). I have a PhD in medieval studies from the University of Toronto, looking at poetry and philosophy in the works of Dante and Boethius -- both the poetry and the philosophy come into my stories a great deal (and occasionally the Dante and the Boethius).

I like writing about the ordinary lives of magical people on the other side of the looking glass ... and the extraordinary deeds of ordinary folk, too. Three of my favourite authors are Patricia McKillip (especially 'The Riddle-Master of Hed' trilogy and 'The Bell at Sealy Head'), Connie Willis ('Bellwether' and 'To Say Nothing of the Dog,' which latter would make my top-ten books on a desert island), and Lois McMaster Bujold ('The Curse of Chalion' and its sequels).

Reviews

[Elentarri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five beautifully written stories. I am definitely tracking down other novels by this author.

~Scheherezade - (4/5) This is good. A very suitable conclusion to the usual story of Scheherezade and her 1001 nights.

~Rook - (5/5) A fairytale character study of the Prince of Faerie, who may have found an unlooked for friend.

~Not Far From the Tree - (4/5) Musings, apples and family.

~Blue Moon over Pincher Creek - (4/5) Decisions, decisions. A fun little story involving blue Aurochs from Faeryland.

~Inkebarrow - (3.5/5) William Shakespeare gets lost on a field trip to inspect a new farm, and wonders into a strange pub. "Exit, he thought. Pursued by a bull."

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

This compilation consists of snap shots of background information on the supporting characters in "Tales from Ysthar." Goddard plays on the historical background of real people and mythical ones. It is obvious she likes to have fun with literature in general.

The publishing dates of Goddard's works do not necessarily follow the chronological timelines of her stories. "Ysthar" while in the same Nine Worlds as "Lays of the Hearth-Fire" is pretty much a separate saga. "Greenwing & Dart," show in a cameo of "Lays," but their stories are separate. Again in the same worlds. I read the two main novels of "Lays" right off and have been bouncing around the other stories on a whim. So far, for me, it seems to work.

To continue to repeat myself, Victoria Goddard is a polished story teller.

[Fernanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 estrelas

achei ótimos os contos e como cada um se conecta com o lord of ysthar, honestamente não sei se é recomendável ler antes ou depois de till human voices wake us

“I have betrayed you with no man,” she said, knowing full well that while that was the truth it was true also that she betrayed him with every thought, every word, every story where she measured him against tinker, tailor, soldier, fool, and found him wanting.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five short stories, charming in themselves, that also add some backstory for some of the characters in Till Human Voices Wake Us.

[Joe Kessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Within the context of author Victoria Goddard's Nine Worlds fantasy saga, Ysthar is another name for Earth, and so these five stories take place in what's seemingly a version of our own reality -- albeit one that the protagonists discover is rather more magical than they had expected. Theoretically, this 2020 collection is intended as a followup prequel to the 2014 novel Till Human Voices Wake Us, as its entries all in some way or another connect to characters from that larger piece. In practice, however, it's a pretty standalone work, and for newer readers, I'd actually recommend checking out this one first. I personally found the longer title to be somewhat aimless, and I think I might have liked it better had I been more invested in the cast from their early appearances here going into that experience.

On the other hand, returning audiences will be able to spot a unity linking these disparate tales that might elude newcomers, which is the common presence of a certain otherworldly figure throughout. He goes by various names or no name at all within these pages, but he's recognizably the same hero from the novel, out upon his duties as Lord of Ysthar (a cameo role I prefer to his moping about as the lead). But whether he and the others are known to you already or not, this is an engaging ensemble of spells waiting just around the corner from normal life and an apt addition to the wider series mythos.

[Content warning for domestic abuse, incest, and rape.]

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[Sharondblk · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories provide background and context for the characters in Till Human Voices Wake Us. I read that one first, but now I have a better understanding of Robin, and what Will Shakespeare and Sheherazade were doing wandering around modern London. I kind pf want to reread Human Voices now that I understand more.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable collection of fantasy short stories, set before (and sharing characters with) Till Human Voices Wake Us. I suppose I got more out of this reading it after THVWU, but I especially liked the glimpses we saw here of Robin(!) and Scheherazade and I think having that background on Robin especially might have lent his scenes in THVMU more weight. But then that's what rereads are for, eh? :+) Of these, I most enjoyed "Rook" and "Not Far From the Tree."

[Varadia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I just dislike the Ysthar stuff? I bounced off Til Human Voices Wake Us, too. Or maybe the super powerful dudes aren't as interesting to me as like. Circe. But so much of this is repetitive or mood invoking or stops just as something interesting beyond painting a feelings-picture might happen. I cannot.

[Kathryn Baron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scheherezade **½
Rook ***
Not Far From The Tree **
Blue Moon Over Pincher Creek **½
Inkebarrow **½

These small tales are mostly set in our world. They carry shared knowledge - but not necessarily shared perception. I imagine they work for the author better than anyone else. Not bad. But they don't catch my imagination and set it alive they way her other tales from the 9 worlds do.

[Queen Talk Talk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short stories to read while commuting.

Five stories of Fairy unconnected by character or time. Each is complete and engaging. Choose wisely, not all stories end well for the human.

[carol mammano · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Realms of Gold by Victoria Goddard

Subtitle, Five Tales of Ysthar. Five short stories, familiar yet not, maybe I read something like this once upon a time. As always, the author does not disappoint

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great stories of Ysthar

Stories of Raphael’s meetings with various folks, and the story of how Will ended up in fairyland. They’re fun, short, and give some interesting hints.

[lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

short stories! they were both short, and stories (shocker).
i love every glimpse i get into this universe so i loved these too

[Zimmerea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not super interesting with the exception of Robin's story. All felt like they finished too soon save Shakespeare's, which could not end fast enough

[Steven desJardins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories are fairly slight, but add context to characters I have already seen in Till Human Voices Wake Us and make me want to re-read it.

[Kat Mayerovitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five lovely vignettes from the same world as Till Human Voices Wake Us. There's very little plot, but they add beautiful depth to the world and the characters.

[Sohang Chopra · Rating 3 out of 5]

these stories are ok, but each is way too short, and not enough involvement of Raphael

[Yvette Barncastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at some characters from Till Human Voices Wake Us. Very short.