Jon Cronshaw's Blog, page 8

⚔️ Forged in Blood Released, Free Guild Shorts & What I’m Watching | Author Diary – April 4, 2025 📚✨

This week, I’m excited to announce that Forged in Blood is now available! It’s always a great feeling getting a new book out into the world.

I’ve also been working on some new Guild of Assassins short stories, which are now available to download for free at joncronshaw.com/guildassassin. If you’re enjoying the series, these are a great way to dig deeper into the world.

On the viewing front, I watched Adolescence on Netflix—a gritty, intense drama that I highly recommend if you’re in the mood for something powerful and thought-provoking.

Thanks as always for following along!

The post ⚔️ Forged in Blood Released, Free Guild Shorts & What I’m Watching | Author Diary – April 4, 2025 📚✨ appeared first on Jon Cronshaw.

🚀 Hunters Draft Done & Three April Book Launches! | Author Diary – March 28, 2025 📚✨

This week, I finished the draft of Hunters—a gritty Space Western I’ve really enjoyed working on.

I’m still undecided on what to do with it long-term, but for now, it may stay as a Patreon-only project.

April is shaping up to be huge, with three book launches on the way:
Forged in Blood (Guild of Assassins, book 2) – April 4
Wyvern’s Shadow (The Ravenglass Throne: Part Two) – April 12
Blade of Sorrows (Guild of Assassins, book 3) – April 17

I also wrote a couple of Guild of Assassins short stories, which I’ll be sharing on Patreon over the coming weeks.

Plenty of exciting content on the way—thanks for following along!

join patreon for free.

The post 🚀 Hunters Draft Done & Three April Book Launches! | Author Diary – March 28, 2025 📚✨ appeared first on Jon Cronshaw.

Fantasy and Real-World Politics: The Connection Between Power and Magic

Political fantasy has grown in popularity over the past decade.

Audiences are drawn to its complex characters, intricate plots, and high-stakes power struggles.

Beyond the dragons, magic, and medieval settings lies something deeply familiar.

Fantasy often mirrors the same power dynamics that shape our own world.

When crafting The Ravenglass Throne series, I found myself drawing parallels between fantasy politics and real-world systems of power.

Sometimes, this was intentional.

Other times, it was entirely subconscious.

The Veiled Critique: Fantasy as Political Commentary

Fantasy has long served as a way to examine real-world issues from a safe distance.

By shifting political conflicts to imaginary realms, authors can explore sensitive topics without directly challenging existing power structures.

This tradition dates back to works like Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and continues in modern political fantasy.

In The Ravenglass Throne, the struggle between noble houses after the king’s assassination reflects historical succession crises.

Baron Gerlach’s manipulation of evidence to frame House Darius echoes real-world propaganda tactics.

Political operatives have always used misinformation to discredit their opponents.

By placing these dynamics in a fantasy setting, readers can recognise familiar patterns.

The fantasy backdrop allows for critical examination without the emotional weight of real-world conflicts.

The ravenglass corruption spreading through Ostreich serves as a metaphor for institutional decay.

Just as real institutions can be corroded by self-interest, prejudice, and abuse of power, the kingdom’s magical foundation faces an existential threat.

Many refuse to acknowledge the crisis—until it is nearly too late.

Three Faces of Power: Military, Knowledge, and Diplomacy

Political scientist Joseph Nye distinguished between hard power (military and economic coercion) and soft power (persuasion and influence).

In The Ravenglass Throne, these ideas manifest through the three royal sisters.

Irmin: Hard Power

Irmin embodies military strength and direct action.

She believes in confronting threats head-on.

Her leadership reflects the enduring importance of military force in politics, both in fantasy and reality.

Yet, the series also explores its limitations.

Even the sharpest sword cannot cut through corruption, mistrust, and divided loyalties.

Elana: Soft Power

Elana represents diplomatic influence and strategic alliance-building.

She understands that perception often matters more than reality.

In both fantasy and modern politics, power frequently operates through narrative control and relationship management rather than brute force.

Her visual impairment reminds us that those underestimated by traditional power structures often develop alternative ways to wield influence.

Adelinde: Structural Power

Adelinde reflects knowledge as power.

She embodies what political theorists call structural or institutional power—the ability to shape the systems that others must operate within.

Her research into ravenglass and its corruption represents how specialised knowledge can reveal vulnerabilities and opportunities.

These three approaches to power highlight a crucial truth: real-world leadership is rarely one-dimensional.

The most effective rulers combine multiple forms of influence.

Just as the three sisters must learn to unite their strengths, successful leaders adapt their methods to different challenges.

The Political Economy of Magic

Fantasy often treats magic as a mystical force, detached from economic and political concerns.

In The Ravenglass Throne, I wanted to explore how a magical resource would inevitably become a source of political and economic power.

The control of ravenglass in Ostreich mirrors how access to oil, rare earth minerals, or water shapes political leverage in our world.

Those who control these resources wield immense influence.

Those without access remain vulnerable.

The Guardians’ knowledge of ravenglass mirrors the way technical expertise translates into political authority in modern society.

The corruption spreading through the ravenglass network reflects concerns about environmental degradation and resource depletion.

Just as real-world nations face the consequences of overusing finite resources, Ostreich’s leaders must confront the dangers of assuming their magical foundation is limitless.

Identity Politics in Fantasy Realms

Modern political discussions often revolve around identity—race, gender, class, and privilege.

Fantasy frequently reflects these dynamics while offering a space to reimagine them.

In The Ravenglass Throne, the question of whether a woman can inherit the throne mirrors real-world debates on gender and leadership.

Elana’s visual impairment challenges assumptions about disability—both in fantasy and modern society.

The different perspectives of wyverns and humans highlight how political systems often fail to account for all affected groups.

These elements are not decorative additions to make the world feel realistic.

They are central to the story’s exploration of power, legitimacy, and who gets a voice in political decisions.

Fantasy settings allow readers to reconsider their assumptions about leadership, representation, and privilege in an indirect but meaningful way.

The Personal as Political

Fantasy and real-world politics share one fundamental truth.

Power structures are ultimately shaped by personal relationships, loyalties, and betrayals.

Behind every major political shift—whether in Ostreich or our own world—lie individuals with complex motivations, ambitions, and fears.

The sisters’ strained relationship after their father’s death reflects how personal grief shapes political decision-making.

Baron Gerlach’s ambition and Lord Darius’s concern for appearances mirror the self-interest that drives political figures throughout history.

Even the bonds between wyverns and riders serve as a metaphor for how relationships shape our understanding of the world.

By exploring these interpersonal dimensions of power, fantasy reminds us that political systems are not just abstract institutions.

They are animated by real people, making choices based on values, survival, and strategy.

This recognition does not simplify politics.

It complicates it—because it demands an acknowledgment of the full humanity of everyone involved.

Why Political Fantasy Matters

In a time of increasing political polarisation, fantasy offers a shared space where readers can explore complex political questions.

It allows discussions of power without triggering the defensive reactions that often arise in real-world debates.

When we recognise fictional power struggles as reflections of real-world dynamics, we gain fresh perspectives on issues that might otherwise seem insurmountable.

Like all political fantasy, The Ravenglass Throne offers more than escapism.

It serves as a laboratory for examining power—how it works, how it corrupts, and how it might be wielded more justly.

By journeying through Ostreich’s political crisis alongside the three royal sisters, readers are invited to reflect on their own relationship with power.

How do we seek it?

How do we use it?

How do we react when others wield it?

The best political fantasies do not simply recreate real-world power structures with added magic and monsters.

They help us imagine alternatives—new ways to govern, resolve conflicts, and distribute influence.

At a time when many real-world political systems face unprecedented challenges, this imaginative function of fantasy may be its greatest strength.

The Ravenglass Throne continues with monthly novella releases. Join Irmin, Elana, and Adelinde as they navigate the treacherous politics of a kingdom on the brink of collapse.

The post Fantasy and Real-World Politics: The Connection Between Power and Magic appeared first on Jon Cronshaw.

The Ravenglass Throne Personality Quiz: Which Sister Are You?

In the Kingdom of Ostreich, three royal sisters must navigate the aftermath of their father’s assassination.

Each takes a different approach to power, leadership, and survival.

As readers journey through The Ravenglass Throne series, many find themselves drawn to one sister in particular.

Some see reflections of their own strengths, values, and ways of tackling challenges.

Which sister would you be?

Are you a sword-wielding commander, a knowledge-seeking scholar, or a silver-tongued diplomat?

Let’s explore each sister’s unique traits and discover where you might fit in the fractured kingdom of Ostreich.

Irmin: The Warrior’s PathKey Traits

Direct, action-oriented, protective, loyal, disciplined.

Strengths

Physical courage, tactical thinking, decisiveness, unwavering determination.

Challenges

Impatience with politics, tendency to see situations in black and white, difficulty trusting others’ methods.

If you’re drawn to Irmin, you likely believe in facing problems head-on.

You value clarity, direct action, and physical solutions to challenges.

While others debate, you take action, convinced that movement is better than stagnation.

Like Irmin, you may struggle in situations that require subtlety or compromise.

You prefer honesty over political games and grow frustrated when others hesitate or fail to see the obvious solution.

Your wyvern partner would be Berthold—powerful, action-driven, and fiercely protective.

Together, you’d be on the frontlines, hunting conspirators and defending the kingdom from its greatest threats.

You might be Irmin if you:Are the first to volunteer when action is needed.Value directness and honesty above diplomacy.Trust your instincts and physical abilities.Grow impatient with those who hesitate.Are fiercely protective of family and principles.Adelinde: The Knowledge SeekerKey Traits

Analytical, curious, perceptive, detail-oriented, innovative.

Strengths

Pattern recognition, research skills, deep knowledge, intellectual courage.

Challenges

Being overlooked by others, tendency toward isolation, difficulty simplifying complex ideas.

If Adelinde resonates with you, you likely seek to understand the hidden mechanics behind problems.

You believe that knowledge is power, and true solutions come from deep understanding rather than quick fixes.

Like Adelinde, you may struggle to make others see the importance of your insights.

Your ability to connect the dots gives you a unique perspective, but it can sometimes leave you feeling isolated.

Your wyvern companion would be Gisela—thoughtful, perceptive, and attuned to details others ignore.

Together, you’d work to uncover secrets and dismantle threats at their source.

You might be Adelinde if you:Research extensively before making decisions.Notice patterns and connections others miss.Value understanding why something happens, not just what happens.Struggle to explain complex ideas in simple terms.Believe knowledge has value beyond immediate practicality.Elana: The Diplomatic BridgeKey Traits

Perceptive, strategic, empathetic, patient, adaptable.

Strengths

Reading people and situations, long-term planning, building alliances, turning enemies into allies.

Challenges

Being underestimated due to her visual impairment, balancing ideals with compromise, maintaining trust in shifting alliances.

If you identify with Elana, you likely excel at understanding people and navigating complex social dynamics.

You see power in relationships, alliances, and careful negotiation.

Like Elana, you might be underestimated by those who fail to see the strength in your approach.

You understand that sometimes the path to victory is not through battle, but through patience and persuasion.

Your wyvern partner would be Velten—steady, perceptive, and adept at manoeuvring through political challenges.

Together, you’d build the alliances necessary for lasting peace.

You might be Elana if you:Excel at reading people’s motives.Prefer solving problems through diplomacy and negotiation.Think several steps ahead in political situations.Find strength in what others might see as limitations.Value lasting solutions over quick victories.The Royal Wyverns: More Than Mounts

In The Ravenglass Throne, being a royal sister means more than just having a title.

It means sharing a profound bond with a wyvern companion.

These magnificent creatures aren’t just mounts—they’re intellectual and emotional partners.

They balance their riders’ weaknesses and enhance their strengths.

Berthold’s fierce protectiveness tempers Irmin’s recklessness.

Gisela’s broad perspective prevents Adelinde from becoming too lost in details.

Velten’s steady presence helps Elana navigate treacherous political waters.

Which wyvern would you bond with?

Do you resonate with Berthold’s strength, Gisela’s intellect, or Velten’s quiet wisdom?

A Kingdom Needs All Three

No single path—warrior, scholar, or diplomat—is the “correct” one.

Ostreich needs all three perspectives to survive.

As Witz, the royal wyvern, tells the sisters:

“The diplomat sees the fractures in our alliances. The warrior hunts for enemies in shadows. The scholar unravels mysteries too long ignored.”

Each sister holds part of the truth, and only by working together can they hope to save their kingdom.

This reflects our own world, where the most successful teams balance different approaches.

Perhaps you primarily identify with one sister.

Or maybe you see parts of yourself in all three.

Take the Quiz: Which Ravenglass Throne Sister Are You?1. When facing a challenge, your first instinct is to:

A) Take immediate action.
B) Research and analyse before responding.
C) Consider who might help solve the problem most effectively.

2. Your greatest strength is:

A) Courage and decisive action.
B) Intelligence and pattern recognition.
C) Understanding people and building relationships.

3. Your colleagues or friends would describe you as:

A) Direct and reliable in a crisis.
B) Thoughtful and insightful.
C) Diplomatic and strategic.

4. Your ideal solution to a problem would be:

A) Quick, effective, and decisive.
B) Thorough, addressing root causes.
C) Balanced, considering all sides.

5. Your biggest challenge tends to be:

A) Patience with slow decision-makers.
B) Explaining complex ideas simply.
C) Knowing who to trust.

Results:

Mostly A’s: You’re most like Commander Irmin. You take action and fight for what’s right.

Mostly B’s: You’re most like Scholar Adelinde. You seek deeper understanding and uncover hidden truths.

Mostly C’s: You’re most like Princess Elana. You excel at diplomacy, negotiation, and strategy.

Mixed Results: You may be a blend of all three sisters, adapting to situations as needed.

Share Your Results!

Which Ravenglass Throne sister resonates most with you?

Are you drawn to Irmin’s warrior mindset, Adelinde’s analytical brilliance, or Elana’s diplomatic skill?

Or are you a mix of all three?

Comment below and let me know!

If you haven’t yet entered the world of The Ravenglass Throne, the first novella, Shattered Kingdom, is available now on all major ebook platforms.

New novellas release monthly, following the sisters as they uncover a conspiracy that threatens their kingdom’s future.

Happy reading!

The post The Ravenglass Throne Personality Quiz: Which Sister Are You? appeared first on Jon Cronshaw.

Would You Kidnap Someone for a Good Book Review?

Buried Lead  follows Olivia Brooks, a brutally honest literary critic with millions of followers who trust her every word.

But when Olivia reluctantly agrees to meet Clara Bennett—a desperate author convinced her novel deserves attention—she gets far more than tea and conversation.

What starts as an awkward encounter quickly descends into a chilling scenario ripped straight from Clara’s manuscript.

Olivia soon realises she’s trapped inside the very thriller she’s supposed to review.

Now, authenticity won’t just determine her reputation—it could mean the difference between life and death.

A gripping psychological thriller about obsession, power, and the dangerous lengths people will go to for validation.

You can read Buried Lead for free right now on my Patreon page.

Happy reading!

Jon

The post Would You Kidnap Someone for a Good Book Review? appeared first on Jon Cronshaw.

🐉 Draft Complete! Launches Incoming & Staying Focused | Author Diary – March 21, 2025 📚✨

This week, I wrapped up the draft of Dragon Squadron (RAF Dragon Corps), and I’m thrilled with how it’s turned out.

But with three book launches on the horizon—Wyvern’s Shadow (The Ravenglass Throne: Part Two), Forged in Blood, and Blade of Sorrows—my focus now shifts to prepping those releases.

In this episode, I reflect on the many open projects I’ve got on the go and the importance of staying focused rather than jumping into something new (no matter how tempting!).

It’s time to clear the decks before taking on the next big adventure.

read Dragon Squadron.

The post 🐉 Draft Complete! Launches Incoming & Staying Focused | Author Diary – March 21, 2025 📚✨ appeared first on Jon Cronshaw.

Wyvern Lore in The Ravenglass Throne: A Unique Approach to Dragon Rider Fantasy

When I began creating the world of The Ravenglass Throne, I wanted flying mounts that weren’t simply dragons with a different name.

I wanted creatures with their own distinct biology, psychology, and cultural significance.

Wyverns, often overshadowed by their more famous draconic cousins, provided the perfect foundation to build upon.

The Wyvern in Historical Lore

Unlike the traditional Western dragon, which has four legs and wings, the wyvern has always been depicted with only two legs.

Throughout medieval European heraldry, wyverns symbolised strength, endurance, and protection.

The word “wyvern” comes from the Middle English wyvere or wiver, which derives from the Old North French wivre, ultimately linked to the Latin vipera, meaning viper or serpent.

Heraldic wyverns were often shown with bat-like wings, a reptilian body, and a barbed tail.

They were considered lesser dragons, frequently serving as sentinels or guardians rather than the monstrous adversaries of legend.

While dragons hoarded gold and fought knights, wyverns were protectors, marking borders and warning of danger.

This guardian role particularly appealed to me when developing the wyverns of the Ravenglass Universe.

Rather than existing as monsters to be slain, these creatures would form the backbone of the Kingdom’s defence—both literally and figuratively.

Wyverns vs. Dragons: Defining the Differences

In developing the wyverns of The Ravenglass Throne, I wanted to ensure they were distinct from traditional dragons.

Key Differences:Physical Structure – True to heraldic tradition, wyverns in my world have only two hind legs rather than four. Their bipedal stance affects everything from how they land to how riders mount them.No Fire-Breathing – Unlike most dragons, Ostreich’s wyverns do not breathe fire. This forces both the creatures and their riders to rely on alternative strengths and strategies.Size and Scale – While impressive, wyverns are significantly smaller than the mythical dragons of legend. This makes them more practical as mounts but less overwhelming as apex predators.Intelligence – The wyverns of The Ravenglass Throne possess a different kind of intelligence. Rather than the cunning, speech-capable minds often attributed to dragons, wyverns display sharp intuition, heightened spatial awareness, and an acute sensitivity to emotions.

These differences help establish wyverns as a unique category of magical creature rather than just “dragons-lite.”

The Psychic Bond: A Modern Fantasy Innovation

One of the biggest departures from traditional wyvern lore in The Ravenglass Throne is the psychic bond between rider and mount.

This element draws inspiration from contemporary fantasy, such as Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series and Robin Hobb‘s Realm of the Elderlings, rather than medieval mythology, where deep human-animal connections were rarely explored.

In creating the ravenglass network that strengthens these bonds, I wanted to explore several key themes:

The vulnerability that comes with deep connection.The balance between individual identity and shared consciousness.The potential for corruption in even the most sacred relationships.

This psychic link transforms wyverns from mere mounts into true partners, each with their own perspectives, desires, and motivations.

It also creates a unique social structure where relationships extend beyond simple human hierarchies.

Wyvern Culture in Ostreich

I wanted the wyverns of The Ravenglass Throne to have their own culture, separate from human society.

They maintain distinct hierarchies, traditions, and a unique perspective on history—one that does not always align with human interests.

Witz, the royal wyvern, exemplifies this dual existence.

Though deeply connected to the royal family, he retains his own agenda and understanding of the Kingdom’s needs.

Sometimes, this means contradicting or challenging his human counterparts.

This cultural complexity prevents the wyverns from becoming mere exotic accessories to human drama.

They have stakes in Ostreich’s future, which sometimes align with humanity’s goals—and sometimes do not.

Wyvern Biology and the Magic of Ravenglass

In developing wyvern biology, I wanted a system that felt both magical and grounded in natural laws.

The connection between ravenglass and wyvern physiology provides this foundation.

Instead of fire-breathing, Ostreich’s wyverns have evolved alongside ravenglass deposits, developing biological systems that resonate with this rare substance.

This resonance allows for the psychic bonding that defines rider-mount relationships and forms the backbone of the Kingdom’s power structure.

It also raises high stakes when the ravenglass network becomes corrupted.

The physical symptoms of this corruption—dulled scales, erratic behaviour, weakened flight capacity—manifest the unseen damage to the magical system that sustains them.

Wyverns as Metaphor

Beyond their role in the world’s mechanics, wyverns in The Ravenglass Throne serve as metaphors for several core themes in the series.

1. Trust and Vulnerability

The rider-wyvern bond represents both the power and the risk of making oneself vulnerable to another.

2. Institutional Corruption

The ravenglass network’s degradation mirrors the slow corruption of once-trusted institutions, often unnoticed until it reaches a crisis point.

3. Balance of Power

The relationship between humans and wyverns reflects larger questions of power dynamics, interdependence, and the tension between control and partnership.

By developing wyverns as complex beings rather than traditional monsters or simple steeds, I’ve aimed to create creatures that feel both familiar to fantasy readers and fresh enough to support new storytelling possibilities.

Why Wyverns?

Wyverns provided the perfect balance for The Ravenglass Throne—creatures with enough mythological resonance to feel at home in fantasy, but with enough flexibility to reinvent and deepen their role.

Their bipedal form, inability to breathe fire, and unique psychology all serve both worldbuilding and thematic purposes.

They aren’t just dragons with fewer limbs—they are their own distinct species with their own place in Ostreich’s complex ecosystem of power.

As the series continues, the nature and significance of these creatures will only grow, as will our understanding of the ravenglass network that binds them to their human partners—for better or worse.

Discover the world of wyverns and their riders in The Ravenglass Throne series, with new novellas releasing monthly on all major ebook platforms.

The post Wyvern Lore in The Ravenglass Throne: A Unique Approach to Dragon Rider Fantasy appeared first on Jon Cronshaw.

Cultural Resonance: Creating Believable Traditions in Fantasy Worlds

When I began crafting the Kingdom of Ostreich for The Ravenglass Throne series, I knew the traditions would need to feel as real as the characters who inhabited it.

After all, cultures aren’t just backdrops—they’re living frameworks that shape how people think, act, and perceive their world.

The most compelling fantasy worlds don’t just have magic systems and political structures; they have birthdays and funerals, harvest festivals and coming-of-age ceremonies.

They have traditions that characters either embrace or rebel against.

The Power of Traditions in Fantasy Worldbuilding

Every culture, whether real or imagined, is built upon invisible scaffolding.

This scaffolding consists of shared beliefs, historical events, environmental pressures, and the accumulated wisdom (or folly) of generations.

In Ostreich, the relationship between riders and wyverns shapes everything from military hierarchy to social status.

The ravenglass network that strengthens these bonds isn’t just a magical system—it’s the foundation of an entire way of life.

When creating your own fantasy cultures, ask yourself what forces have shaped your world’s development.

Is it the presence of magic?

Environmental extremes?

Contact with non-human species?

These foundational elements should ripple through every aspect of your world’s traditions.

Rituals That Reveal Character

The most effective cultural traditions in fantasy aren’t just colourful details—they’re opportunities to reveal character through adherence or resistance.

Consider how the white mourning robes in Ostreich reflect the Kingdom’s beliefs about death and the afterlife.

This tradition doesn’t just add visual interest; it creates moments where characters must confront their grief while maintaining public composure.

When developing traditions for your world, think about the emotional burden they place on your characters.

Does your warrior culture expect stoicism in the face of loss?

Does your merchant society celebrate wealth with elaborate gift-giving rituals that strain poorer families?

The tension between cultural expectations and personal feelings creates fertile ground for character development.

The Lifecycle of Traditions

Traditions aren’t static—they evolve, fade, and sometimes experience revival.

In the Ravenglass universe, the ancient warnings about corrupted ravenglass were deliberately obscured, creating a dangerous gap in cultural knowledge.

This erasure forms part of the central mystery and highlights how traditions can be manipulated for political ends.

When building your fantasy cultures, consider the lifecycle of their traditions.

Which customs are new, perhaps responding to recent events?

Which are ancient but changing in meaning?

Which have been lost or suppressed, and by whom?

The history of a tradition often proves as interesting as the tradition itself.

Embedding Economic Realities

Believable fantasy cultures reflect economic realities in their traditions.

In Ostreich, the military’s reliance on wyvern riders creates an elite class with specific privileges and responsibilities.

This isn’t just worldbuilding window dressing—it’s a power structure that drives the plot.

Ask yourself what your fantasy world produces, consumes, and values.

How do these economic factors manifest in cultural traditions?

Are certain materials considered sacred because they’re rare?

Do seasonal work patterns create festivals around planting or harvest?

Economic foundations make fantasy cultures feel grounded rather than arbitrary.

Tradition vs Innovation: The Eternal Tension

Every society experiences tension between tradition and innovation, between those who preserve the old ways and those who push for change.

This conflict creates natural fault lines for storytelling.

In The Ravenglass Throne, this tension emerges in the debate over succession—should the Kingdom follow tradition and choose a male heir, or adapt to circumstances and accept female leadership?

This question divides characters along ideological lines that transcend simple “good versus evil” dynamics.

When crafting your fantasy cultures, build in these points of internal tension.

What traditions are being questioned by younger generations?

Which customs have become hollow performances rather than meaningful practices?

Where do pragmatists and traditionalists clash?

These conflicts provide rich territory for nuanced characters who can’t be easily categorised as heroes or villains.

The Language of Cultural Identity

The words we use shape how we think, and this principle applies doubly in fantasy worldbuilding.

Unique terminology doesn’t just add exotic flavour—it reflects how your fantasy culture categorises and understands the world.

In Ostreich, the specific terminology around ravenglass—its properties, its uses, its corruption—reveals a society that has built its identity around this mysterious substance.

When developing your fantasy cultures, consider creating terminology that reflects their values and preoccupations.

What concepts are so important they have multiple words to express subtle distinctions?

What metaphors dominate their language?

These linguistic details can convey cultural values more effectively than pages of exposition.

The Alchemy of the Familiar and Strange

The most resonant fantasy cultures blend the familiar and the strange in proportions that feel both accessible and wondrous.

Too familiar, and your world feels derivative.

Too strange, and readers struggle to connect emotionally.

In The Ravenglass Throne, familiar elements like sibling rivalry and court politics mix with the unique magic of wyvern bonds and ravenglass corruption.

This creates a world that readers can understand emotionally while still experiencing the thrill of discovery.

As you craft your own fantasy cultures, look for this balance—traditions that echo our world’s diverse histories while transforming them into something new.

The strongest fantasy traditions aren’t invented from nothing; they’re alchemical combinations of human experiences reimagined through the lens of the impossible.

And that’s where the magic really happens.

The Ravenglass Throne continues with monthly novella instalments. Discover the political intrigue, magical corruption, and unbreakable bonds of sisterhood that readers are calling “utterly captivating” and “a fresh voice in fantasy.”

The post Cultural Resonance: Creating Believable Traditions in Fantasy Worlds appeared first on Jon Cronshaw.

Why We Love Rider Fantasy: The Power of Magical Connections

There’s something primal about the fantasy of bonding with a magnificent winged beast.

Perhaps it’s the ancient longing to experience flight, to see the world from above.

Or perhaps it’s the yearning for a companion who understands us completely, whose loyalty transcends the limitations of human relationships.

Whatever the root of this fascination, the rider-mount relationship has evolved dramatically throughout fantasy literature, reflecting our changing values and understanding of partnership.

From Beasts of Burden to Bonded Companions

In early fantasy literature, dragons and their kin were often little more than magical horses—mounts to be tamed, controlled, and utilised.

They served as living vehicles, impressive but ultimately subservient to human will and ambition.

Think of the dragons in McCaffrey‘s early Pern novels, impressive but essentially domesticated, or the flying beasts in pulp fantasy that existed primarily to make their riders seem more impressive.

These relationships reflected humanity’s historical view of animals as resources rather than beings with their own agency.

But just as our understanding of animal cognition and emotional complexity has evolved, so too has the portrayal of these magnificent creatures in fantasy.

In more sophisticated modern interpretations, including my Ravenglass Throne series, wyverns and dragons possess distinct personalities, independent thoughts, and genuine emotional lives.

The bond between rider and mount has transformed from ownership to partnership, from dominance to mutual respect.

The Psychology of the Bond

What makes the rider-mount bond so compelling is its unique blend of the physical and metaphysical.

In the most resonant rider fantasies, the connection transcends mere telepathy or practical partnership.

It becomes something deeper—a sharing of souls, a blending of identities that remains distinct yet unified.

In The Ravenglass Throne, I’ve explored this through the ravenglass network that amplifies the natural connection between wyverns and their riders.

The bond becomes not just a personal relationship but part of a larger tapestry connecting the entire Kingdom.

This evolution reflects our growing understanding of interconnectedness in the real world, the recognition that no relationship exists in isolation.

Each pairing affects the larger community, creating ripples that extend far beyond the individuals involved.

The Political Implications of Bonded Creatures

As rider fantasy has matured, authors have increasingly engaged with the political implications of these powerful bonds.

Who gets to be a rider?

What privileges does this status confer?

How does having an elite group with access to flying, fire-breathing companions affect power structures?

The most thoughtful modern rider fantasies recognise that such extraordinary capabilities would inevitably shape societies in profound ways.

In Ostreich, the military advantage of wyvern riders has created specific hierarchies and tensions, while the threat of corrupted bonds threatens the Kingdom’s very foundation.

This political dimension adds complexity to what might otherwise be simply a fascinating magical system.

It forces characters—and readers—to consider questions of responsibility, privilege, and the potential for abuse of power.

The Corruption of Sacred Bonds

One of the most interesting developments in modern rider fantasy is the exploration of what happens when these sacred bonds become corrupted or broken.

In earlier works, the bond was often presented as unbreakable, a perfect union that could withstand any challenge.

But contemporary fantasy recognises that all relationships, even magical ones, can face threats both external and internal.

The corruption spreading through the ravenglass network in my series represents the vulnerability of even the strongest connections.

It raises questions about trust, about the fragility of systems we take for granted, about the constant maintenance that any relationship requires.

This exploration of imperfect bonds reflects our modern understanding of relationship complexity and the work required to maintain healthy connections.

From Individual to Communal Identity

Perhaps the most significant evolution in rider fantasy has been the shift from focusing solely on the individual pair to examining how these bonds form communities and cultures.

Earlier works often centred on the exceptional rider-mount pair, set apart from society by their unique connection.

More nuanced modern approaches, including The Ravenglass Throne, consider how multiple bonded pairs create networks of relationships, traditions, and shared experiences.

The wyverns in Ostreich don’t exist in isolation—they form their own social structures that parallel and intersect with human hierarchies.

This complexity better reflects our understanding of real-world animal societies and creates richer, more believable fantasy worlds.

The Future of Rider Fantasy

As we look to the future of this subgenre, several exciting developments seem likely to continue.

We’ll likely see more exploration of non-Western cultural influences on rider relationships, moving beyond the predominantly European medieval framework.

Questions of environmental impact and responsibility will become increasingly central, reflecting our real-world concerns about humanity’s relationship with nature.

The psychological aspects of the bond may be explored with even greater sophistication, perhaps incorporating our evolving understanding of neuroscience and consciousness.

And most importantly, the notion of consent and choice within these bonds will continue to be examined, reflecting our changing values around autonomy and partnership.

The Ravenglass Throne series attempts to push in these directions, while acknowledging its debt to the rich tradition of rider fantasy that came before.

Beyond Simple Wish Fulfilment

The most compelling rider fantasies have always been about more than simply fulfilling the wish to fly on dragonback.

They explore what it means to truly know another being, to communicate beyond words, to share a connection that transforms both parties.

They ask questions about power, responsibility, and the nature of trust.

They examine how extraordinary abilities might shape societies and individuals.

In my own work, I’ve tried to honour this tradition while pushing into new territory.

The wyverns of Ostreich aren’t just magical steeds—they’re fully realised characters with their own perspectives, desires, and fears.

Their bonds with human riders create both strength and vulnerability, both privilege and responsibility.

Because the most enduring fantasy doesn’t just help us escape reality—it helps us understand it more deeply.

And what could teach us more about connection, trust, and partnership than the ancient, evolving dream of soaring through the skies on the back of a magnificent winged companion?

The Ravenglass Throne series continues with monthly novella instalments, exploring the complex bonds between wyverns and their riders in a kingdom teetering on the edge of collapse. Available on all major ebook platforms.

The post Why We Love Rider Fantasy: The Power of Magical Connections appeared first on Jon Cronshaw.

🐉 Expanding Dragon Squadron & Exciting Book Releases! | Author Diary – March 14, 2025 📚✨

This week, I’ve been deep in Dragon Squadron (RAF Dragon Corps), and what started as a novella has now evolved into a full novel!

I’m currently 16 chapters in out of 24, and the story is shaping up beautifully—I’m absolutely loving where it’s going.

In publishing news, Shattered Kingdom (The Ravenglass Throne: Part One) is now released, and Forged in Blood is officially up for pre-order!

It’s been a busy but exciting time, with lots of new stories heading your way.

Looking forward to pushing ahead with Dragon Squadron and getting these books into readers’ hands!

The post 🐉 Expanding Dragon Squadron & Exciting Book Releases! | Author Diary – March 14, 2025 📚✨ appeared first on Jon Cronshaw.