Samuel DenHartog's Blog: The Road to 1,440 - Posts Tagged "dragon"

Greetings, intrepid explorers of the page!

Prepare to stitch your way into the heart of adventure with the newest gem in my "Grimm Imagination" series, "A Tiny Little Tailor." This tale is not just about the cut of the cloth but the courage that's woven into the very fabric of our hero's being. As you unfurl the pages, get ready to tread a path that zigzags through danger, dances with dragons, and proves that the mightiest hero need not be in the tallest package.

In this enchanting narrative, we meet a very short tailor whose sharp wit is his greatest weapon against thieves, giants, sorcerers, and even dragons. This diminutive hero teaches us that bravery knows no bounds and that true strength lies in the cleverness of one's mind and the boldness of one's heart. From tricking thieving bandits to capturing mythical beasts and outsmarting a vengeful sorcerer, our tailor stitches together a tale of adventure that will leave you spellbound.

So, grab your needle and thread, for we're about to weave through a tapestry of trials and triumphs where magic mirrors reveal more than just reflections and where a tiny tailor ascends to become a king revered not for the size of his stature but for the vastness of his heart and the sharpness of his intellect.

From the fabric of my imagination,
Samuel DenHartog

Hello, fellow magic lovers!

I have completed the third magical tale in the "Forge Your Own Path" series. "Apprentice to the Wizard" invites you into a world brimming with magic, mystery, and adventure. Here, you step into the shoes of a young apprentice, learning from a powerful wizard. Your journey begins with a mysterious invitation to a grand wizard’s tower, where each decision you make leads to unique paths and outcomes. Whether you delve into the secrets of ancient spells, confront mythical creatures, or explore hidden realms, every chapter offers a new twist and an opportunity to test your magical prowess. The power to decide your destiny lies in your hands, making each reading experience a new and exciting adventure.

Writing "Apprentice to the Wizard" has been an incredible experience. I created a world where young readers can lose themselves in wonder. I hope this book will inspire courage, curiosity, and wonder in every reader who dares to forge their own path in this magical world.

With magic in the air,
Samuel DenHartog

From the shadowed alleys of a bustling city to the untamed wilds of distant lands, Lyric’s story is one of survival, transformation, and the unexpected power of magic. A young thief hardened by years on the streets, she discovers a silver ring that changes everything. Bound to the ring is Thalara, a faery with her own secrets, whose presence introduces both possibility and peril. Together, they must navigate a bond forged by necessity, tested by danger, and steeped in the unknown.

In The Faery Ring, Lyric’s journey takes her from the only home she’s ever known into a world where every step forward leads deeper into the unknown. Pursued by the ruthless Lord Kael Dreven, who will stop at nothing to possess the ring’s magic, Lyric must summon every ounce of her wits and will to survive. As she learns to trust the enigmatic Thalara—and herself— she discovers that magic isn’t just about wishes—it’s about the power within to shape her destiny.

This story is deeply personal to me, not just as an author but as a storyteller drawn to themes of resilience and the human spirit. Lyric’s struggles remind us of the quiet courage it takes to face our fears, rise above our circumstances, and claim our own destinies. Her journey is a reflection of the ways we all navigate challenges, often finding our greatest strength when we least expect it.

Speaking of personal challenges, writing in the first person has been both a challenge and a learning experience for me. It requires immersing myself fully into Lyric’s world, capturing not just her actions but her innermost thoughts and emotions, to ensure her journey feels as authentic and compelling as possible.

So, whether you’re drawn to the mystery of the ring, the heart-pounding pursuit, or the bond between Lyric and Thalara, this is a story that promises adventure, wonder, and heart. I invite you to step into Lyric’s world—a place where the line between magic and reality blurs and every decision shapes a future as uncertain as it is full of potential.

Prepare to step into a world where alchemy and dragonfire intertwine, where the laws of magic and love collide in unexpected ways. At the heart of this tale is Nyssara Volen, an ambitious alchemist whose daring experiment binds her fate to Drakaryn Velkaar, the mysterious dragon prince. What begins as an accident soon spirals into an epic journey that will challenge everything they know about loyalty, power, and desire.

This story immerses readers in a dazzling realm of dragon courts, ancient prophecies, and treacherous alliances. As Nyssara and Drakaryn navigate their volatile bond, they must face enemies on all sides—those who seek to destroy them and those who would exploit their connection. Along the way, they uncover secrets that could either unite their fractured worlds or tear them apart forever.

Lushly detailed and brimming with passion, the book delivers a mesmerizing blend of high-stakes adventure and slow-burn romance. Readers will be swept into a journey filled with danger, courtly intrigue, and a love story that defies the odds. Nyssara’s strength and wit paired with Drakaryn’s fiery determination create a partnership as captivating as the world they inhabit.

If you’re looking for an escape into a beautifully imagined fantasy filled with heart-pounding twists and emotional depth, this is the perfect read. Let yourself be drawn into this unforgettable story of magic, love, and the choices that define us.

For over a thousand years, the story of Beowulf has endured—an ancient warrior facing creatures that test more than his strength. In this new retelling, I wanted to bring the rawness of that legend to the surface, not just through the famous battles, but through the silences between them. The Battles of Beowulf focuses on the man behind the myth, the monsters that haunt both land and mind, and the long reckoning that comes with legacy.

The book begins where it always must: in the golden hall of Hart, where joy has turned to dread. Grendel, drawn by the sound of laughter he cannot bear, brings slaughter each night. The terror is primal, and no one dares stand against him until Beowulf arrives from across the sea. What unfolds is not just a fight for survival, but a reckoning with the kind of power that isolates as much as it defends.

From the bloody floorboards of Hart to the haunted depths of a mere, and finally to the burning hoard of a dragon coiled in grief and gold, the battles grow heavier, slower, more final. Each confrontation strips something from Beowulf, even as it adds to his legend. The sword swings and victories are real—but they come at a cost that even he cannot outrun. These are not just physical trials, but moral ones, woven with loyalty, aging, and the slow ache of consequence.

What I hope readers find in these pages is not just a hero slaying monsters, but a man wrestling with what it means to be remembered. The violence is only one kind of weight. The real weight is in the choices, the silences, and the scars left behind.

Some stories begin with destiny. This one begins with a decision. From the first page, the reader stands in a place of ancient heat and silent wings, facing the legendary rite of passage known only as the Choosing. The dragons do not offer comfort. They offer possibility and risk. With every decision the reader makes, a new path opens, and an old one closes forever. The result is not just one story, but a living tapestry of what-ifs, triumphs, and catastrophes.

This book became a way to explore more than just fantasy adventure. It’s a look at power and trust, at what we sacrifice for freedom or companionship. No two readers will experience the same journey. Some may bond with a hatchling and grow through loyalty and patience. Others may pursue older, more dangerous dragons, or even turn away from the Eyrie altogether to chase forgotten truths buried deep beneath the mountain. No one path is right. But all of them demand you to make tough decisions.

The dragons themselves are forces of nature and personalities with wings. Some are fierce and noble. Others are distant, or even cruel. The bond between dragon and rider is central, but it isn’t guaranteed. It must be earned. Or stolen. The world is unforgiving, but it’s also full of wonder: caverns lit with ghost light, warfronts in the clouds, secrets bound in ancient fire. Every twist in the story offers a new lens on what it means to fly, to fall, and to rise again.

I wanted to create a book that felt alive in the hands of its reader, where each turn of the page carried real consequences. That vision became "Dragon Rider’s Journey," a forge-your-own-path fantasy that rewards courage, curiosity, and the willingness to leap into the unknown.