In order to make things easier on myself with this new world, I’m releasing blog entries about Hazel’s and Killian’s world. I’ll link back to them in the Urban Fantasy book section, and I’ll occasionally update them/add new information, so keep an eye out for them on the website. Today, we’re going to take a look at Wizards!
Wizards are humans born with the ability to pull wild magic through their bodies and transform it into a form that they wish, though it mostly has to stay in an elemental form–like fire, water, air, electricity, etc. While there are humans that specialize in other types of magic (in example, seers, who can see bits of possible futures) that technically fall under the umbrella of being wizards as they are magic-wielding humans, the actual term wizard is applied only to humans are only able to use elemental magic. (Meaning unlike Fae, a wizard can’t cast hypnosis, use glamours, etc.)
Because they are essentially magic humans, wizards are considered the weakest of magical society despite their strong streak of magic. This is mostly due to the role modern wizards have taken on. Previously they were key players in wars, but wizards have ceased studying most forms of combat magic due to supernatural society turning away from wars and anything that would cause massive casualties/excessive bloodshed.
Wizards live together in a House, which is named after the family line that established it. The House possesses powerful magic of its own, and a special bond with the Adept–the leader of the wizards who have sworn oaths to the House. Houses will grow/shrink according to their bond with the Adept when the Adept “Ascends.” Ascension is the official ceremony that bonds the House and Adept together with the use of a signet ring–the conduit between the House and Adept that allows them to communicate and improves the Adept’s the ability to cycle magic through the House.
Wizard Houses have different focuses and talents. One House might be more prone to academic pursuits, while another focuses more on political power. Regardless of their focus, the House shapes itself to suit the needs of the wizards that live in it. Wizards typically congregate to the House that best suits their end goals–in example, a peace-loving house over one that has the tendency to be used as a policing force.
Wizards may leave their old House and swear their allegiance to a different House–provided they submit the proper paperwork and follow the correct registration procedures. However, the majority of wizards remain in the house they are born into. Wizard frequently wear their House colors or coat of arms on their clothes, and their magic matches the House as well. For example, all House Medeis wizards have blue magic, because House Medeis’ colors are blue and gold.
Wizards who have sworn oaths to a House don’t necessarily have to live there–this is especially true for larger/more popular Houses who have more members than they do space–but it is a fairly unusual practice.
It is worth mentioning that due to the magic in their blood, wizards smell horrid to vampires, who might normally be tempted to drink from an unwilling wizard because consuming wizard blood grants the vampire immunity to that wizard’s magic. However, the magic in a wizard’s blood with smell so horridly to a vampire that they are unable to partake, unless they come to trust the wizard, which will make the scent of their blood change. Even that doesn’t guarantee a vampire can safely drink the blood of a wizard, however, because unless the wizard in return trusts the vampire, the magic will make the blood taste rancid and the vampire won’t be able to swallow.
I resisted reading the first story about vampires because I don’t really like those kind of stories…but I like your writing. I was pleasantly surprised by the two books and am looking forward to book 3. I really like how you take a fairy tale and twist it so that it comes out totally new and fresh, ex. Rumpelstilskin and Cinderella and the Cornel.
I actually didn’t read the MBRC series for the longest time because I’ve never liked vampires. But when I finally did, it got me hooked on GOOD urban fantasy books. They have so much awesome potential! Sadly, apart from Kitty’s books I’ve only found two other UF series so far looked clean enough to try, so when MF came out, I was super excited! And it did not disappoint!
Okay, I have a question. In that last paragraph, you said that if a vampire drinks a wizard’s blood, it makes them immune to “that” wizard’s magic. That seems incredibly specific and not incredibly useful to only be immune to ONE wizard, especially since the only way to successfully down it is for there to be mutual trust in which case the vampire shouldn’t even need to fear that wizard.
In which case, it would make more sense for the consumption of wizard blood to make vampires immune to ALL wizard’s magic and therefore the “that” could just be a typo and I’m reading into this way too much…
Also, I caught the blatant donkey reference in Forged and the fact that she had now gone to TWO “balls” and that there has been a “reunion” with her parents. And, I know you hinted that her great-aunt was supposed to be her fairy godmother, but frankly, it’s looking more and more like the “godmother” is actually the Paragon…
I look forward to the third book and how Killian gets her to forgive his manipulation. Hope you guys don’t go too insane while quarantined and that may you always have GOOD toilet paper!
Can’t wait to see how this information is used in the next book! I have a feeling that last paragraph was particularly “worth mentioning…”
I love your stories K.M Shea! I originally didn’t think much of urban fantasy, but I gave it a try and I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT! Keep writing awesome stories! 🙂
I can’t wait to learn more about Fae! I’m wondering if the Paragon is a bit like Merlin- faking his elderly appearance. He has a young personality, and since he talks about a predecessor, I can totally see him being some sort of powerful fae teenager. (We’ll see if I’m right.) Either way, he’s more amicable than Athelas from the CB series (the only other UF fae I’ve had much exposure to). I look forward to seeing more of him!
Woops! Didn´t mean to send it twice!
Thanks for the infor Kitty! Which creatures will you give information on next? Vampire, fae, or werewolves? Would love to know!
Werewolves are up next! 🙂 And then fae are the following week! Buwhaha!
Thanks for the info!
Wow! you dig so deep in topic while writing kitty . Also I am super excited for Magic Redeemed quite a bit questions have been in my mind after reading Magic Forged .
Thanks! 🙂 This is actually a more simplistic world than Angelique’s/Timeless Fairy Tale’s world.
That one is…something.
I hope you find all of this interesting, though! I do worry that you guys will find this sort of info dump boring, ahhaha.
It is definitely not boring! I love learning more about the worlds I read about. I think it is a sign of a good writer if he/she knows more about the world than can be put in the book. It really helps make the story feel like it is part of something bigger. I love reading as much about a world as I can find. I’m one of those people who read the appendices at the end of Lord of the Rings almost every time I read it. I love finding other writers who can’t help telling about the rest of their world!
That is super informative. Thanks kitty! Keep up the good work.
Thanks Kinshuk! <3 I hope it's a fun distraction!