Character Name Guide [Archives]

For Len's Song, Episodes 1 to 7

Hey, subscribers!

One of our aims in telling stories from the world of the Vaporous Realms is to avoid alienating readers with an overwhelming number of unusual, difficult names or terms in invented languages. When we do make up names for things, they’re often compounds of English terms (like “spotted great-cat prowler” for a kind of leopard).

That said, it’s fantasy genre fiction, so weird names happen sometimes. Oops.

We thought it might be helpful to post a quick pronunciation guide for the handful of odd names that have appeared in the episodes so far:

Len, our grumpy protagonist = [LEHN] (rhymes with then)

Egwae, Len’s frenemy from the heaven-realm = [EGG-way]

Ghrem, Len’s dad = [HGHREM] (rhymes with them; when you get ready to pronounce the G, blow air gently through your mouth instead of “voicing” the letter)

Lae, Len’s mom = [LAY] (rhymes with hay)

Sceg, Len’s brother = [SKEG] (rhymes with peg)

Danoh, Len’s son = [DAN-oh] (Dan rhymes with pan) [DAHN-oh] (Dan sounds similar to dawn)

Kaeli Kaelii, RAFO (keep Reading And Find Out) = [KAY-lee]

Not too tricky, right?

Of course, if you really have your own pronunciation you prefer, who are we to stop you? And let’s face it, even we say Ghrem like Grim when we’re reading aloud. So we won’t be offended if you do, too.

Happy reading!

P.S.: When we’re done with Len’s Song, our next storyline will feature Kaeli. But you’ll see more of Len and Egwae, too!

And remember, if you’re a free (unpaid and non-gifted) subscriber on Substack, you can read several episodes for free (slightly earlier versions) on Kindle Vella.