Gender: female
Places of residence: Indiana, USA
Education: PHD, Biology
Occupations: Professor
Short biography: C.S. Marks has often been described as a 'Renaissance woman.' The daughter of academic parents, she holds a Ph.D. in Biology and has spent the past two decades teaching Biology and Equine Science. She is currently a Full Professor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in west central Indiana.

She began writing shortly after the untimely death of her father, who was a Professor of American Literature at Butler University. A gifted artist, she has produced illustrations and cover art for all three books. She plays and sings Celtic music and a few examples of her songwriting may be found within the pages of 'Fire-heart.' She enjoys archery, and makes hand-crafted longbows using primitive tools.

Horses are her passion, and she is an accomplished horsewoman, having competed in the sport of endurance racing for many years. One of only a handful of Americans to complete the prestigious 'Tom Quilty' Australian national championship hundred-mile ride, she has described this moment as her 'finest hour.'

She has been happily married for nearly three decades. She and her husband, Jeff, share their home with ten dogs (predominantly Welsh Corgis) and five horses. They live deep in the forest, where there are miles and miles of trail riding to be had.
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Elfhunter (Tales of Alterra, the World that Is.#1)… by C. S. Marks

I first didn't think I'd like this book due to its serious tone, but the story and characters grew on me. Granted, the book itself has some formatting problems such as characters talking within the same paragraph and some paragraph breaks that didn't belong, but this is otherwise a solid read for readers who want a LOTR-like story with a simple plot and endearing characters. Just don't expect much levity.

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JasonHubbard | 3 other reviews | Jan 12, 2022 |

Elfhunter (Tales of Alterra, the World That Is) by C.S. Marks

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher
Reviewer: Bailey

Elfhunter is an epic tale of a headstrong She-Elf named Gaelen and her cousin Nelwyn who discover slain elves in the woods, prompting them to track the killer. They, alongside some friends met along the way, go on a journey in hopes to exact vengeance upon an entity that calls itself ‘Elfhunter’ and whose only purpose is to exterminate the Elven race. Will the band of heroes succeed?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked that it had a mildly complex vocabulary and that the action in the story started straight away. The plot moved along at a steady pace and never seemed to drag, in my opinion. It is a fantasy book, so it is a bit long, which I found to my liking.

The book switched perspectives at time throughout the book, which helps give you insight into the backstories of many of the characters. I liked this aspect, as it gave the opportunity to get to know the characters on a deeper level, thus making them more relatable. I found aspects of several characters that I could relate to, making the book more enjoyable. For example, I could relate to Gaelen’s stubbornness and the fact that, although she acts tough, she does have a soft side.

I would definitely recommend this book to any high school student or adult who enjoys fantasy novels, as well as middle schoolers with a higher reading level. Being a teenager myself, I feel that it is a fantastic book for teens or adults to get into, provided they don’t mind the length.

… (more)

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momgamerwriter | 3 other reviews | Jul 17, 2013 |

The Fire King (The Alterra Histories) by C.S. Marks

This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaways.

I have not read C.S. Marks' other work yet, about the world of Alterra. But it is a well written classic book and a complete story. I really can see myself sitting beside a fire under the sky and listen to its unfolding slowly.
Why it feel like Classic myth/Folklore?
- The main characters are usually gods, supernatural heroes and humans
- Define the fundamental worldview of a culture by explaining aspects of the natural world and delineating the psychological and social practices and ideals of a society.
- one of the foremost functions of myth is to establish models for behavior. As it is not the job of science to define human morality.
- Eliciting and supporting a sense of awe before the mystery of being
- initiate the individual into the order of realities of his own psyche, guiding him toward his own spiritual enrichment and realization
- Has a latent meaning which evoke a strong emotional response due to the widely understood themes and motifs - Hubris in our case

The only problem I had was with Fealani character which was somewhat a very week female character.

And this is why I recommend this book for all ages.… (more)

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yahalomi65 | Feb 27, 2013 |

Elfhunter: A Tale Of Alterra, The World That Is by C. S. Marks

Elfhunter, Marks writes in the acknowledgments, is inspired by Tolkein. Her book's world- building is similar, but this is a book set firmly in the world of elves. Of the primary four protagonists, three of them are elves. But in this novel a lot of time and care is spent on the different types of elves. Gaelen and Nelwyn, the first two we meet and the ones we get to know best, are female Wood-elves, who are very capable hunter/ scouts . That's an aspect of Elfhunter I liked very much. That they are female is not remarkable in the novel itself, to me, these were exemplary characters.

Also special is the attention paid to the villain. He is evil, a serial killer, bent on killing all elves. While I never felt sorry for him, he is made understandable, even somewhat tragic by this talented author.

This is a very dense book, written with care and it should be read that way as well. This isn't a light fantasy to consume in a day, it's a thoughtful and complex novel. It's also a quite rewarding book. I recommend it highly.… (more)

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anyanwubutler | 3 other reviews | Mar 16, 2009 |

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