'Shadows of Faith' by Laurel Biles
Fantasy: Series
A young Elfling ranger must accept her destiny - to wield her sword, The Talon, against its nemesis, the Shadow Blade.

'A Swordid Affair' by Jeff Lin
Fantasy: Short Story
Beware the talking swords - they aren't always as friendly as they seem...

'The Selkie and The Blacksmith' by Chris Rosenbaum
Fantasy: Short Story
The blacksmith ever keeps his secrets, but Ryan has one more than most...

'A Different Excalibur' by Anat 'Charis' Goldflam
Fantasy: Poem
What purpose does a weapon serve in legend? What purpose the hero?

'Axe in the Stone' by Lisa Anne Prior
Fantasy: Short Story
The end of an age waits, imprisoned in stone, in a faerie grove.

'The Soulblade' by Brittany 'Autumn RiverRose' Cali
Fantasy: Short Story (part of series)
Forged in pain and memory, the sword that is Katiana's destiny is bound to her in this story.

Thank you to everyone who recommended stories this month, even those that didn't make the final cut. We thoroughly enjoyed reading them and we just wish we'd had room to include them all.

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Brandie Minchew is a starry-eyed believer in fairy tales, world peace, and justice for all.

Submission Information We're looking for tales of mystique and wonder. Our October theme is "The Orient". We have certain guidelines for recommending. Be sure what you recommend not only follows the rules of Elfwood, but that it has also been spell-checked, and the writer shows a basic understanding of grammar. We're looking for the best of the best, so spelling and grammar are important. That said, just fill out the form below, and answer all of the questions. If a field is left blank, we're just as likely to ignore your rec. Your Name: Your Email Addy: Story Title: Author's Name: Wyverns' Url: Genre: Sci-fi/Horror/Fantasy/Other Type: Poem/Stand Alone/Series/Unfinished Reason for Recommendation: Send the email to , and please, put 'recommendations' or 'recs' somewhere in the subject. Questions can also be sent to that address, if you put 'recs question' or 'recs questions' somewhere in the subject line, or use our contact form.