Stones of Power by M. D. Grimm

On August 19, 2019 by Jaye

Hey, everyone! Today we’ve got a guest post from M. D. Grimm, author of the Stones of Power series! Enjoy!

Good day to you! Thank you so much for joining me! I want to thank Reviews by Jaye for hosting me today. I am here to promote not only my latest release “Lapis Lazuli: Forgotten and Remembered (The Stones of Power #7)” but “The Stones of Power” series in general. I’m trying to get some love and attention for this series I am truly proud of and hope to finish in the near future.

To help celebrate, I thought it would be fun to have one of my characters interview the other. So Aishe will be interviewing Morgorth. Let’s see how that goes, shall we?

***

AISHE: Good day and welcome to all of you! This is—

MORGORTH: Stupid.

AISHE: Hush. Don’t be rude. This is Aishe of the Ravena tribe interviewing the dark mage Morgorth. Thank you for joining me.

MORGORTH: This. Is. Stupid.

AISHE: I have some questions for you, and I would appreciate it if you could answer them honestly.

MORGORTH: Fine.

AISHE: Favorite color?

MORGORTH: What now?

AISHE: It’s a simple question. What’s your favorite color?

MORGORTH: Ah. Red?

AISHE: Are you asking me if it’s red?

MORGORTH: I don’t know. Why are we doing this? Fine, fine, don’t give me that look. Let’s go with… green. I’ll go with green. You’re eyes are green.

AISHE: And your favorite animal?

MORGORTH: By the Mother’s Bosom. I don’t have one.

AISHE: Top five then?

MORGORTH: You’re impossible. Let’s go with payshthas, wichtln, boygles, dialens, and ludkis. Happy?

AISHE: No mages?

MORGORTH: I hate mages.

AISHE: You are a mage.

MORGORTH: Your point? You know why I don’t get on well with my own kind.

AISHE: Yes, but the lovely folks reading this might not.

MORGORTH: They all want me dead. That reason enough?

AISHE: Yes, well…. Let’s move on. What’s your favorite part about being a mage?

MORGORTH: The power.

AISHE: Anything else?

MORGORTH: My home. I made my castle mostly with my magick, interweaving and intertwining enchantments through the stones to protect it. It was hard and I barely slept for the year or so it took me to do it, but it was so worth it. And I used my magick in Vorgoroth, my forest, to connect all its living creatures to me, which includes the trees.

AISHE: And your minions?

MORGORTH: Especially my minions.

AISHE: Tell me about them.

MORGORTH: Why? You already know them.

AISHE: Morgorth, play along.

MORGORTH: Ugh. Fine. The boygles reside in my castle and keep the place clean as well as offering another layer of protection. They’re vicious little thugs that enjoy dyeing their clothes red with the blood of their kill.

AISHE: I still find that so gross.

MORGORTH: Yeah. Blagh. Then there are my wichtln. Grekel is the alpha of Vorgoroth’s pack and my lieutenant. He keeps an eye on things when I have to leave and makes sure not to let too many folks travel through. I have a reputation after all. Wouldn’t be good to have people think I’ve gone soft.

AISHE: Oh yes, we wouldn’t want that.

MORGORTH: I can hear your sarcasm.

AISHE: Well, I wasn’t trying to hide it.

MORGORTH: Are we done yet?

AISHE: Don’t be so impatient.

MORGORTH: I’m not impatient, I’m annoyed.

AISHE: We’re doing this as a favor.

MORGORTH: I don’t know why I owe her any favors.

AISHE: Who else would be willing to tell your story? You’re not exactly the friendliest guy around.

MORGORTH: Won you over with my moodiness, didn’t I?

AISHE: Oh yes, because sulkiness is so attractive.

MORGORTH: I don’t sulk!

AISHE: You do.

MORGORTH: Well… you pout.

AISHE: Hey! I do not!

MORGORTH: It’s kinda cute.

AISHE: I don’t pout.

MORGORTH: You’re doing it now. Don’t glare at me, baby, I might get ideas.

AISHE: And I might stick an arrow in your—”

MORGORTH: Whoa there, watch yourself. What other questions do you have?

AISHE: Oh? You want to play along now?

MORGORTH: I’d rather answer your stupid questions than get an arrow in my wherever.

AISHE: If you don’t watch it I’m going to slap you.

MORGORTH: Sweet talking will get you everywhere.

AISHE: Why Grimm puts up with you, I have no idea. Hunter’s Bow, I don’t know why I put up with you.

MORGORTH: (laughs) Yes you do. She loves me. You love me. Now what are your other questions?

AISHE: What’s your best childhood memory?

MORGORTH: Seriously? I don’t have… wait. Escaping my deranged family and my bastard father, and then coming back later and setting our house on fire. That was awesome. But I have to say that calling my magick to me wins that award.

AISHE: Let’s see, what other…. Oh! Before I forget—have you contacted Olyvre about our big day yet?

MORGORTH: Shhh! Grimm didn’t want spoilers for the latest book.

AISHE: What? I didn’t say anything.

MORGORTH: Sure you didn’t. And yes, I have. We can discuss the details later.

AISHE: Right. Sorry. I just didn’t want to forget to ask.

MORGORTH: You really are impossible.

AISHE: And I’m all yours so deal with it.

MORGORTH: Oh, I’m dealing with it, baby.

AISHE: Don’t give me that look. I’m trying to concentrate!

MORGORTH: Aishe, this is stupid and a waste of time. I got better ideas for us.

AISHE: Hunter’s Bow! It’s not stupid and not a waste. Don’t do that! You know I can’t say no when you do that.

MORGORTH: Why do you think I’m doing it?

AISHE: She’s going to be mad at us.

MORGORTH: She’ll understand.

AISHE: Interview over folks! Thanks for joining us! Bye!

***

Well, that derailed quickly, didn’t it? *snort*

If you want to see more of Morgorth and Aishe, be sure to check out “The Stones of Power” series. You can find books 1-7 at both Smashwords and Amazon.

I am currently working on the second book to my “Saga of the Bold People” and finishing up a (low) fantasy trilogy, as well as outlining for a couple of other future projects. So many WIPs, so little time!

Thank you so much for joining me and may dragons guard your dreams!

M.D. Grimm

Warnings: abusive childhood, violence, torture (sometimes off page, sometimes not), trauma

Series Blurb:

Lord Morgorth is a dark mage on the planet Karishian. His peers consider him a villain, but there is more to him than they choose to understand. Cursed by a dark destiny and tormented by painful memories of the past, Morgorth struggles to find his place in the world. Far from innocent, Morgorth has teetered between embracing his destiny and fighting against it his entire life. A decision that is made easier when Aishe comes into his life.

Aishe is a creature of the forest, a warrior and healer. He has the moral compass that Morgorth needs, and Morgorth gives Aishe the companionship he craves. Together, they forge ahead, weathering the storms and fighting the enemies fate puts into their paths.

However, their greatest enemy is not a living being, but gemstones infused with deadly power. They are addictive, seductive, and completely treacherous. Morgorth hates them and is determined to find and imprison all of them.

But he soon realizes they are keys to a greater power. He learns his destiny is not all he thought it was. And an even greater enemy stirs in the darkness.

Enter the world of “The Stones of Power.”

Ruby: Lost and Found (book one)

Lord Morgorth is a dark mage on the planet Karishian. He’s considered a villain by his peers and relishes the title, having embraced the role early in his life. However, not all of his actions are necessarily villainous.

Despite owning several of the Stones of Power—gemstones infused with powerful magick—he doesn’t use them, preferring to keep them hidden away and out of destructive, power-hungry hands. He hates them more than anything. So when a sorcerer gets a hold of a major stone, Morgorth has no choice but to go after him. But, to his irritation, he is not alone. Aishe is a dialen whose tribe was massacred by the sorcerer, and is now on a mission of vengeance. The attraction is instant between them, but Morgorth keeps his distance. Because of a traumatic childhood and a deadly destiny, he has no desire for emotional complications. But Aishe’s very presence challenges Morgorth’s resolve.

Not only does Morgorth admire Aishe’s strength and intelligence, but he begins to see Aishe as a friend. As their hunt continues and their time together lengthens, their bond deepens, as does Morgorth’s fear. If he becomes the monster that destiny claims he will be, will he hurt Aishe? Will he harm the one person who sees right through him? Who accepts him wholeheartedly? Determined to not let that happen, Morgorth keeps Aishe at a distance. But when Aishe is kidnapped by the sorcerer, what will Morgorth do to get him back?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4WCKF2/

Amazon print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1544166257/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/701995

Peridot: War and Peace (book two)

Morgorth is considered a villain by his own people and known as the Dark Mage of the North. But now all he feels is light and love as he pursues a budding relationship with Aishe, a dialen of the Ravena tribe. Morgorth hardly believes his good fortune. He has allowed Aishe into his home, into his bed, into his heart. He laughs more, smiles more, and feels happier than he ever has before.

He should have known such bliss never lasts.

The Council of Mages, the ruling body over all mages on Karshian, knows he has Rambujek, a major stone of power—a stone won from an evil sorcerer. They also know his destiny—to become the Destroyer. Fearful, they send two emissaries to take the stone from Morgorth, using whatever means necessary. This includes tricks, threats to those under his protection, and the threat of war. A war Morgorth knows he would never survive.

Conflict soon arises between him and Aishe. Their tenuous relationship is put into jeopardy, their very beliefs about themselves and their love is put into question. Morgorth doubts if he should keep Aishe in his life. He doesn’t know if he can protect Aishe from his enemies. Or from the monster he might become.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XFG4T1F/

Amazon print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546858660/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/708461

Amethyst: Bow and Arrow (book three)

Every story has more than one point of view.

As the mate to the Dark Mage Morgorth, Aishe has learned a lot about magick, love, and himself. He tries to find a home with Morgorth, to be accepted into his world; to survive in a world full of magick, treachery and deception. But all the while he struggles to keep a secret about his past and their intertwined destinies. Despite all the obstacles thrown at both of them, Aishe is determined to stay by Morgorth’s side, no matter what the future brings – even if that future turns dark with death should Morgorth embrace his grim destiny.

But when Morgorth leaves with his mentor to collect another stone of power, Aishe is left behind. It is then that a surprise attack comes and Aishe, determined to protect and defend his new home, decides to take the invaders on by himself. It might prove to be too much for him to handle… especially when he learns the one who leads the invaders is a mage.

The third book in the “Stones of Power” series allows us a glimpse inside the mind of Lord Morgorth’s better half, a dialen named Aishe: his motivations, his personal sorrows, and his struggle to find a place to call home.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XZZDQ3J/

Amazon print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546977864/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/715607

Agate: Then and Now (book four)

Time travel. For mages, it violates their number one rule: what the Mother has written, let no one unwrite. The Mother writes the destinies of the creatures on the world of Karishian. If her writings were undone, it is feared that Creation itself could be undone. The Dark Mage Morgorth takes this rule to heart, but there are others who do not.

Morgorth is about to claim a stone of power when it is stolen from him by a female mage he hasn’t seen in decades. As they struggle for the stone, she activates it, and Morgorth is unwillingly plunged into another time and another place. It isn’t long before he realizes what time he’s found himself in and there are a few familiar faces.

Most notable is a much younger version of Aishe. His mate.

Living with a tribe who will be massacred, caring for a young lad who will become his mate, and fighting a battle against a mage who can travel from past to future at a whim; Morgorth’s life has never been easy but now he must contend with the will of the Mother. Unable to change the future and the tragedies of Aishe’s life, he must decide what his role in his mate’s past will be, and ask himself one vital question: how does one defeat time?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XZYDWQZ/

Amazon print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1547286482/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/715609

Emerald: Good and Evil (book five)

Home. Family.

Those words often invoke a sense of love and comfort. But for the dark mage Morgorth, they mean hate and pain. As the seventh son of a seventh son, many believe Morgorth’s destiny is to become the Destroyer. His father embraced such a future and trained Morgorth through torture and fear to become his weapon. Morgorth managed to escape his father’s cruelty, but not the nightmares that still haunt him. For many years he’s lived with the stain of his father’s savagery, but now he must confront his nightmares head-on.

His father has found a stone of power.

Morgorth must return to his land of birth, to the memories he’s tried his entire life to suppress. Aishe is determined to help Morgorth defeat his inner demons, but he knows he might not be enough to save Morgorth from embracing his darkness. They know it will be a fight to the death and know Morgorth won’t be the same if he survives. With Aishe by his side, Morgorth hunts for his father, and finds answers to questions he never dared to ask—and must live with the truths they reveal.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XZNS5B6/

Amazon print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1547286822/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/715642

Carnelian: Dreams and Visions (book six)

Lord Morgorth is haunted by dreams of his father. Although Morgorth killed him, his father’s presence and brutality won’t completely die. But now he has more to worry about—in the form of the Council of Mages’ inquiry into the duel between Morgorth and an elder of the council. Morgorth expects sabotage and prepares accordingly. He fears for Aishe’s life, knowing that the best way to sabotage the inquiry is to eliminate the witnesses. He sets into motion a desperate plan that, though it will protect Aishe, could put a strain on their relationship not easily removed.

Yet the true danger lurks unseen, and it will take all of Morgorth’s skill, strength, and devotion to Aishe, to save his mate from the hold of a foe Morgorth has yet to tangle with: a dream demon. Now Morgorth must throw aside caution, restraint, and fear if he is to save the one most dear to him. He must call upon the power of the one thing he hates more than even his father: a stone of power.

But even if he manages to save Aishe, his mate’s experiences in Dreamworld—at the mercy of the dream demon—have changed him forever and could shatter their bond irrevocably.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071KJ5RC3/

Amazon print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1548466158/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/730540

Lapis Lazuli: Forgotten and Remembered (book seven)

A bond they thought couldn’t be broken…

Lord Morgorth, Dark Mage of the North, has never felt so far away from his precious mate as he does now. Still reeling from the events of a month before, Aishe struggles to come to grips with what the dream demon did to him while pretending to be Morgorth. For his part, Morgorth is haunted by the chilling vision the Mother sent him while he traversed Dreamworld—a vision where he kills the one most precious to him. Due to that knowledge, he knows he must choose his magick or his mate.

A choice with devastating consequences…

When Morgorth goes missing, Aishe must search for him, frightened that he has lost his mage forever. In his heart he knows they were meant for each other and refuses to allow his own horrid memories to tear them apart. But when he finds Morgorth he is stunned to realize that Morgorth doesn’t remember him. In fact, in Morgorth’s mind, he is a young lad named Lazur.

Sometimes the most well-known truth is the greatest lie…

For his entire life, Morgorth always knew his destiny was to become the Destroyer of his home world. His birthright as the third seventh son of a seventh son guaranteed such an outcome. Everyone told him so—except his mentor, Master Ulezander. Morgorth will learn that his mentor has been keeping the greatest secret of all: his true destiny.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TZQJ8DF/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/947353

Author Bio

M.D. Grimm has wanted to write stories since second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things actually, but not that!). Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!).

After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English, (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?) she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier.

Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain, (or else what’s the point?) finding their soul mate in the process.

Author Website: https://www.mdgrimmwrites.com/the-stones-of-power-series

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001710645622

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=md+grimm

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/m-d-grimm/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/M.D.-Grimm/e/B00I0KZMY6/