4.26.2014

A to Z Blogging Challenge: W is for Wraith



If you haven't heard of it, check out the A to Z blog and join in the fun.
Here at Untethered Realms, we're taking on the Challenge as a group. Each day, one of us will be sharing with you a fantastical creature that may be from one of our books, a favorite movie, or something we just came up with as entertainment.

Today we have...

W is for Wraith


Historically, Wraith was the Scottish word for a ghost or apparition, and usually seen as an omen. In more modern times, literature and movies have cast the Wraith as a more sinister and evil creature, often portrayed as a spectral figure in a cloak of darkness with glowing eyes. Probably the most well known example are the Nazgul, the ring-wraiths from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

Wraiths feature in my upcoming dark fantasy book Necromancer, publishing Summer 2014. Here's my description:

"The bones strewn about the floor collected themselves together with a hollow, rattling sound, pulling the ragged, rotten cloth with them. A cloud of dust and the stink of dry rot washed over me. The cowl of its robe fell across its skull, partly obscuring the baleful, blue orbs that pulsed in its eye sockets. A shadowy, transparent body coalesced around the bones. Non-corporeal talons slid silently from its finger bones, and two points of yellow light whirled around its head in a tight orbit, leaving a faint trail in the air. It throbbed with power."


That's what happens when you go digging around in ancient burial mounds... sleep well. :)

14 comments:

  1. Oooh. Sounds like some competition for the Nazgul. Who caused many nightmares when first I read LOTR.

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  2. I enjoyed your description of wraiths. The bones coming together reminds me of one of the Harry Potter computer games I used to play. Those things were hard to kill. LOL!

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  3. Nice description. It sounds like something I don't want to meet.

    ~Patricia Lynne~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, YA Author

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  4. I actually have two types of wraith in the book, and neither are remotely as nice as the Scottish version of the wraith. :)

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  5. I prefer the original wraith creature but I do love the wraiths from LOTR. Your description is very creepy and I can picture it so clearly-quite excellent!

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  6. As in "be careful where you put your shovel?" :) It sounds great!

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  7. Excellent description. I'll sleep okay... with a light on!

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  8. Excellent description. Fiction needs more wraiths.

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  9. I'm glad I'm reading this in the morning instead of last night before I went to sleep. :D Love the description!

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  10. Spooky. I look forward to your next book :)

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  11. Wraith just sounds spooky. It conjures images with just saying it. One of my fave words.

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  12. Fascinating! I'd have to run, though, if I saw it :)

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  13. Oookaaaay. Glad I'm not about to go to bed! Your wraiths sound pretty darn creepy!

    xx Rachel
    Favorite Book Covers: XVI vs X Isle

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