Magorian and Jones

The Fire Before Summer: Beltane in History and Fantasy

/ Contemporary Fantasy, Fantasy, Taylen Carver

Beltane, the ancient Celtic fire festival marking the beginning of summer, once stood as a powerful turning point in the year—a night of bonfires, fertility rites, and thinning veils between worlds. Though largely forgotten today outside neo-pagan circles, Beltane still echoes through Celtic-inspired fantasy, where it often serves as a moment of magic, transformation, and looming consequence. In this post, we explore the origins of Beltane, how it was celebrated, and why it continues to shape modern fantasy storytelling—including its pivotal role in The Rivers Ran Red and other Celtic-influenced works.

Barbie, of All Things

/ Contemporary Fantasy, Fantasy, Taylen Carver

“For all the orcs, angels, hobgoblins, and water leapers running around, so much of the tension in Magorian & Jones boils down to this: how easy it is to lose track of what it means to be human—and how hard it is to earn it back.”

When Magic Goes Too Far: Spells That Got Way Out of Hand

/ Fantasy, Taylen Carver

Magic is the ultimate tool for bending reality to your will—until it bends back. If there’s one thing fantasy has taught us, it’s that no one (not even the most brilliant sorcerer) fully understands what magic is capable of. And when magic misfires, it doesn’t just fizzle out politely. No, it explodes across the landscape, rewrites reality, or (if you’re really unlucky) accidentally invites an ancient god to crash on your couch.

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