245. What is Medieval Fantasy? | Squire of Truth with Jill Williamson

Fantastical Truth

What if the future king’s squire and a struggling songstress teamed up to solve a medieval murder? Jill Williamson debuted her first fantasy, By Darkness Hid, in April 2009. Since then she’s written many dozens of books across fantasy, sci-fi, and teen-spy genres. Now she is returning to the Blood of Kings world for Squire of Truth, released last week, and joins our podcast.

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Mission update

• Two new articles have focused on Brandon Sanderson’s latest book
  • The Stormlight Archive Recites a Credal View of Morality, Josiah DeGraaf
  • Brandon Sanderson’s New Fantasy ‘Wind and Truth’ Summons a Postmodern Cringestorm, A. D. Sheehan
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Backstory: Jill Williamson

Jill Williamson is an award-winning fantasy and science fiction author of over two dozen books including the Blood of Kings trilogy, which won two Christy Awards, an Epic Award, and received two Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror listings in VOYA magazine.

Jill writes fantastical adventure stories for all ages. A storyworld first novelist, she takes a tiny gem of an idea and turns it into a full world with maps, history, and complex cultures. She infuses purpose and hope into her stories and is known for writing realistic characters who embark upon epic adventures of survival and self-discovery.

Jill has also penned several books on the craft of writing fiction. She teaches at writers’ conferences and blogs at Go Teen Writers , one of Writer’s Digest’s “101 Best Websites for Writers.” Jill lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children. To learn more about her novels, visit her at JillWilliamson.com.

• JillWilliamson.com
• Facebook @jwilliamsonwrites
• Instagram @jill_williamson_author

Did you know?

• All six of Jill’s classic Speculative Faith articles are now restored at Lorehaven!

1. How did Jill create a new medieval fantasy world?

• Reviewing the Blood of Kings origin starting with By Darkness Hid (2009).
• This also unearths the roots of the modern Christian fantasy movement.
• Blood of Kings and its sequels/spinoffs have grown into a larger universe.

2. What ideas make up the term ‘medieval fantasy’?

• Perhaps this is the oldest fantasy genre, going back to Arthurian legend.
• Common images: castles, kings, knights, horses, serfdoms, and wizards.
• Some stories are heavier on the medieval and lighter on magic elements.

3. Why do readers still love medieval fantasy tales?

• These stories feel rooted in the past, like lost records of real history.
• Readers love the human drama and intrigue of royalty, knights, orphans.
• We also love the idyllic Arthurian king-figure who reminds us of Christ.

What’s next from Jill?

• Next up: Lord of Winter (with Andrew Swearingen) releases this April
• Then two more volumes, each with a debut coauthor, will release each 2025 quarter
• This may lead to more stories and series that are set in the Blood of Kings world

Com station

Would you want to live in a medieval fantasy world? Or just visit?

Caden Gillon as been enjoying “scary ghost stories” this season:

I’ve been listening to Lorehaven every episode since October, and I already have a few favorites.

I really enjoyed episode 233, which talks about the difference between evil and the appearance of evil.

Episode 235, about the scariest stories about aliens among us.

Episode 236, about scary stories exposing human sin.

Episode 238, about dystopias, I really enjoyed.

And Episode 242, about whether we should read newer fantasy or not.

I’m really enjoying the podcast!

Next on Fantastical Truth

Once there was a family of three geeky little bears who decided to read this strange new genre called science fiction. The first reader, the traditional and wise Papa Bear, opened his 600-page hardcover showing rivets on the cover, read two chapters, then rumbled approval. “This science fiction is hard!” said he. The second reader, the curious and considerate Mama Bear, opened her 220-page paperback that featured rocket ships in the background behind a swooning couple, then read only a few pages before sighing. “This science fiction is soft!” said she. What did they read? And what is the difference?