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Savage Realms Monthly #3
Savage Realms Monthly, March 2021
Sword and Sorcery Fans Rejoice!
Pick up the latest issue of Savage Realms Monthly and fill up on stalwart heroes doing battle with the forces of evil in this epic collection of short sword and sorcery fiction. This month brings you an exciting crop of stories, including the first in Brad Younie's magical world of Sharkam, an H.P. Lovecraft inspired piece by the talented David. J. West, and another adventure featuring Redgar the barbarian and his mysterious young charge, Natali. Don't miss the latest issue of Savage Realms!
"Fantastic Sword and Sorcery Action!"
"I hope for a long future for this fun monthly magazine."
"If you need your fix of larger than life, sword wielding hero’s and damsels in distress, look no further!"
Fans of Robert E. Howard, Lin Carter, Clark Ashton Smith, and Karl Edward Wagner will love this new fantasy fiction adventure magazine.
Pick up the latest issue of Savage Realms Monthly and fill up on stalwart heroes doing battle with the forces of evil in this epic collection of short sword and sorcery fiction. This month brings you an exciting crop of stories, including the first in Brad Younie's magical world of Sharkam, an H.P. Lovecraft inspired piece by the talented David. J. West, and another adventure featuring Redgar the barbarian and his mysterious young charge, Natali. Don't miss the latest issue of Savage Realms!
"Fantastic Sword and Sorcery Action!"
"I hope for a long future for this fun monthly magazine."
"If you need your fix of larger than life, sword wielding hero’s and damsels in distress, look no further!"
Fans of Robert E. Howard, Lin Carter, Clark Ashton Smith, and Karl Edward Wagner will love this new fantasy fiction adventure magazine.
- GenresFantasySword and Sorcery
77 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 8, 2022
Third time's a charm? Well, this month Savage Realms returns with three new stories by authors Willard Black, Brad Younie, and David West. This issue does not disappoint; all three stories are very traditional and very enjoyable.
This issue begins with an author I am wholly unfamiliar with: Brad Younie. His story, The Snake of Sharkam, introduces us to the master assassin Tamuk, the Snake of Sharkam. Tamuk has been employed to find and free the daughter o a noble who has been kidnapped by a sorceress. Tamuk is no slouch, but even he is unprepared for the consequences of this night's work.
Brad Younie does a fine job penning a brief story including theft, inventive magical items, and an ending on par with some of my favorites. While nothing new, it's well done.
David West is the author of the second story, Stygian Black. Raiders attack a caravan leaving a single survivor. This survivor recounts a tale of a hidden treasure in a ruin. Honor among thieves is fine but man has a tendency to let his avarice go unbridled.
This was another brief foray which left me to wonder if there was more to these characters and world out there by Mr. West. The consequences and events at the story's close would make the reader believe so, or at the very least eager to seek out what happened next.
The final story, Iron Colossus by Willard Black, brings us another adventure of Redgar and Natali. Being chased across the desert by mercenaries, hired by the nefarious Ivashek, Redgar and Natali are running out of options. Seeking sanctuary in a ruined city, both parties discover that they are not alone. And that the clash of steel on steel has dire consequences.
Willard Black is becoming the star and main draw to the magazine. His continued storyline incorporates many of the things that make traditional sword and sorcery so appealing. Nothing new, but a damn fine read none the less.
Remember that Savage Realms keeps the door open for submissions and that fans sometimes make the best authors. Who better than someone who loves the medium? I cannot wait to read your story within these pages.
This issue begins with an author I am wholly unfamiliar with: Brad Younie. His story, The Snake of Sharkam, introduces us to the master assassin Tamuk, the Snake of Sharkam. Tamuk has been employed to find and free the daughter o a noble who has been kidnapped by a sorceress. Tamuk is no slouch, but even he is unprepared for the consequences of this night's work.
Brad Younie does a fine job penning a brief story including theft, inventive magical items, and an ending on par with some of my favorites. While nothing new, it's well done.
David West is the author of the second story, Stygian Black. Raiders attack a caravan leaving a single survivor. This survivor recounts a tale of a hidden treasure in a ruin. Honor among thieves is fine but man has a tendency to let his avarice go unbridled.
This was another brief foray which left me to wonder if there was more to these characters and world out there by Mr. West. The consequences and events at the story's close would make the reader believe so, or at the very least eager to seek out what happened next.
The final story, Iron Colossus by Willard Black, brings us another adventure of Redgar and Natali. Being chased across the desert by mercenaries, hired by the nefarious Ivashek, Redgar and Natali are running out of options. Seeking sanctuary in a ruined city, both parties discover that they are not alone. And that the clash of steel on steel has dire consequences.
Willard Black is becoming the star and main draw to the magazine. His continued storyline incorporates many of the things that make traditional sword and sorcery so appealing. Nothing new, but a damn fine read none the less.
Remember that Savage Realms keeps the door open for submissions and that fans sometimes make the best authors. Who better than someone who loves the medium? I cannot wait to read your story within these pages.
October 28, 2023
Willard Black's "Iron Colossus" and Redgar are spectacular, both author and barbarian delivering stellar performances once again. Overall another fun issue with other well-told (though predictable) S&S tales.
February 22, 2022
Here it is...The 3rd issue in the ongoing new SAVAGE REALMS MONTHLY. And 3 new stories (1 a continuing serial).
THE SNAKE OF SHARKAM by Brad Younie - Tamuk, Master Assassin, also known as the Snake of Sharkam gets a little more than he bargained for when he attempts to rescue a young maiden from a witch holding her captive in the Black Tower.
STYGIAN BLACK by David West - An agreement between thieves and magicians is only as good as the potential advantage and gain for both. But there are other things waiting in the dark for the one betrayed.
IRON COLOSSUS by Willard Black - the 3rd entry in the continuing story of Redgar the Hathor and the priestess Natali who he has sworn to protect. With their pursuers closing in, the two fight their way through the desert to a long-forbidden lost city. Soon it becomes a question of who will end their flight...their pursuers...or the city itself!
This was the strongest of the first three volumes for me. The stories were entertaining and have what fans and readers have come to expect from a S&S genre of adventures. Willard Black's continuing series - while todate has been a good one - took a step up in this chapter and was a great chapter.
The proofreading and copy editing that seemed to be a little spotty in the beginning has seemed to find its footing as the various minor issues in the first two volumes were pretty clean.
THE SNAKE OF SHARKAM by Brad Younie - Tamuk, Master Assassin, also known as the Snake of Sharkam gets a little more than he bargained for when he attempts to rescue a young maiden from a witch holding her captive in the Black Tower.
STYGIAN BLACK by David West - An agreement between thieves and magicians is only as good as the potential advantage and gain for both. But there are other things waiting in the dark for the one betrayed.
IRON COLOSSUS by Willard Black - the 3rd entry in the continuing story of Redgar the Hathor and the priestess Natali who he has sworn to protect. With their pursuers closing in, the two fight their way through the desert to a long-forbidden lost city. Soon it becomes a question of who will end their flight...their pursuers...or the city itself!
This was the strongest of the first three volumes for me. The stories were entertaining and have what fans and readers have come to expect from a S&S genre of adventures. Willard Black's continuing series - while todate has been a good one - took a step up in this chapter and was a great chapter.
The proofreading and copy editing that seemed to be a little spotty in the beginning has seemed to find its footing as the various minor issues in the first two volumes were pretty clean.
October 19, 2021
Another installment of Savage Realms, it was still thoroughly enjoyable though probably a touch less so than the previous two. Once more I really like that their is a continuing story and I hope this will be a trend this collection continues in the future. “Iron Collusus”, being that story, was my favorite from this collection. Each story Redgar and Natali become better defined characters. The action, adventure, situations, and descriptions are as always at the top of their game, and though there is some word repetition and some grammar errors here and there what writer hasn’t had such occur occasionally? Looking forward to the next installment and wondering where it will all lead-wonder if Natalie’s ‘sorcery’ will be the big evil in the end? Here’s hoping they both survive. “The Snake of Sharkam” was enjoyable albeit probably not to memorable. There was at least one “oh really” moment where the tower was right there and I was sort of left wondering if settings and scenery in this tale was at a premium or something? And then there was the matter of one inconsistency where *spoiler* where it was emphasized that the sorceress could NOT do any magic at the time and then in retrospect it was revealed that she had apparently done a body swap-by the internal rules of the story this shouldn’t have been possible unless we had an unreliable narrator then? *end spoiler* overall, however, that’s over thinking matters, and with magic, who knows or cares to much? Shrugging off some of the inconsistencies of the story logic we are left with a fun story with one good twist towards the end. “Stygian Black” was one of those stories that to be honest I didn’t really enjoy that much, though I suspect that was just me. It is a little Arabian nights like with competing villains. I don’t know, I just couldn’t really get into this one very much.
May 1, 2021
The third issue of Savage Realms Monthly. Another month another batch of fun S&S tales. Nothing in this volume stands out as much as the first two issue, so if you’re new to the magazine I’d start with an earlier issue, if you enjoyed the first two check this one out. It’s worth the asking price.
Thoughts on each story below.
The Snake of Sharkam - Some really cool magical item ideas here and a nice twist at the end.
Stygian Black - This one did not click with me. It was cool to do the Arabic setting, and there are some cool ideas here, but it just didn’t seem to flow well. There was no author interview at the end. The editor mentioned the author had come down with Covid-19 while doing the final edits, and that’s why there was no interview. Hope he is well.
WIllard Black returns with Iron Colossus. It’s solid, and if you liked his stories in the first two issues, you’ll dig this.
Thoughts on each story below.
The Snake of Sharkam - Some really cool magical item ideas here and a nice twist at the end.
Stygian Black - This one did not click with me. It was cool to do the Arabic setting, and there are some cool ideas here, but it just didn’t seem to flow well. There was no author interview at the end. The editor mentioned the author had come down with Covid-19 while doing the final edits, and that’s why there was no interview. Hope he is well.
WIllard Black returns with Iron Colossus. It’s solid, and if you liked his stories in the first two issues, you’ll dig this.
January 7, 2022
Savage Realms Monthly is a fun series of snappy sword and sorcery tales written in the thunderous, cutthroat style of the classics like Conan, Fafhrd, Kane and Elric. It's nice to read between long epic fantasy sagas that can take several weeks to read. These anthologies can easily be read in a single sitting. Good old fashioned fun.
January 28, 2023
Can't believe how good these are
Really love the old Conan stories so was very happy to find this little gem. As well as being great stories they're also providing some great ideas for my d&d group.
Really love the old Conan stories so was very happy to find this little gem. As well as being great stories they're also providing some great ideas for my d&d group.
February 20, 2023
Another great Installment!
I have truly enjoyed this "magazine." It harkens back to the old days and Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine. It is awesome that this genre is making a comeback.
I have truly enjoyed this "magazine." It harkens back to the old days and Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine. It is awesome that this genre is making a comeback.
January 24, 2024
Short Stories
This book is like the previous two, it has short stories and the continuing story of Redgar and Natali.
Recommended for others that like fantasy sword and sorcery and that have read the previous issues.
This book is like the previous two, it has short stories and the continuing story of Redgar and Natali.
Recommended for others that like fantasy sword and sorcery and that have read the previous issues.
November 27, 2021
"The Snake of Sharkam" by Brad Younie 3/5
"Stygian Black" by David West 2/5
"Iron Colossus" by Willard Black 3/5
"Stygian Black" by David West 2/5
"Iron Colossus" by Willard Black 3/5
November 21, 2022
Super good.
April 13, 2023
Just good fun .
October 27, 2023
Book 1 - Book 2 - Book 3 - Book 4 - Book 5 - Book 6
THE SNAKE OF CHARKAM by Brad Younie - A fair degree of action and violence, but towards the end, I wasn't sure if I was to cheer for the protagonist or not, or if the twist end was a comment against heroism.
The cursed Black Tower near the Garden of Azurbakshan in Sharkam appears to have 3.5/5
STYGIAN BLACK by David West - There is the potential for a rich history here, ancient horror, but all the characters seem to be servants of the dark, with light being on the horizon and fading away. Told well but I didn't cheer for anyone.
The harsh desert environment sees Avi's raiders 3.5/5
IRON COLOSSUS by Willard Black - Willard's ongoing tale has been a great adventure to read, watching two unlikely cohorts trek through a sword-and-sorcery environment. I enjoyed the temporary addition of Theobold Scout to their plight and wonder if Mr. Black would write separate adventures for Scout (or even Brom from a previous installment).
Ivashek's Keshite mercenaries have caught up with Redgar and Natali, dogging them 4.25/5
THE SNAKE OF CHARKAM by Brad Younie - A fair degree of action and violence, but towards the end, I wasn't sure if I was to cheer for the protagonist or not, or if the twist end was a comment against heroism.
The cursed Black Tower near the Garden of Azurbakshan in Sharkam appears to have 3.5/5
STYGIAN BLACK by David West - There is the potential for a rich history here, ancient horror, but all the characters seem to be servants of the dark, with light being on the horizon and fading away. Told well but I didn't cheer for anyone.
The harsh desert environment sees Avi's raiders 3.5/5
IRON COLOSSUS by Willard Black - Willard's ongoing tale has been a great adventure to read, watching two unlikely cohorts trek through a sword-and-sorcery environment. I enjoyed the temporary addition of Theobold Scout to their plight and wonder if Mr. Black would write separate adventures for Scout (or even Brom from a previous installment).
Ivashek's Keshite mercenaries have caught up with Redgar and Natali, dogging them 4.25/5
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews