Elaina J Davidson
Biography
Reader, poet, mom, partner, chef, gardener, cat lover, Mahjong player, friend, blogger, music fan and, yes, writer. A restless South African, who lived in Ireland for a few years, resided in majestic New Zealand until recently; back In Cape Town...until my feet find another path...
Gathering of Rain is the first Tale from the Path of Shades and is about RAIN being gathered to become something greater than he initially suspects. How did Rain’s journey come to light? Sitting in the classroom, I paged through a book on Alchemy, a dictionary of terms. I wish I could now recall the author, to thank her for the proverbial light bulb moment. I do recall the 14 steps to alchemical perfection she listed, and those steps caused me to grab pen and paper...and also form the basis of the quest for Rain in Gathering of Rain.
There's more, of course!
1. Gathering of Rain
2. House of Valla
3. Shades of Shadow
4. The Sunless One
5. Glittering Darkness
6. Netherworld
7. Walker of Realms
8. Animated Spirit
9. Sacred Space
10. Avior's Door
11. Time’s Timekeeper
12. Sirens in Stone
Enjoy the journey!
Where to find Elaina J Davidson online
Books
Shadow and Sage II
by Elaina J Davidson
Price: Free! 4690 words.
Published on September 9, 2011. Fiction.
Sages’ sayings and sage suggestion from the shadows of souls. Words are tales.
Netherworld
by Elaina J Davidson
Price: $2.99 USD. 179110 words.
Published on September 8, 2011. Fiction.
Torrullin returns to Valaris...to a war already fought. This time he will battle his conscience. This time he will battle his own son. Brother is set against brother, husband against wife, and ancient enmity will return to stir oath and prophecy into the crucible of war.
Where is the light? Will darkness be victorious? Has the earth they walk upon become a netherworld?
Glittering Darkness
by Elaina J Davidson
Price: $2.99 USD. 225990 words.
Published on July 27, 2011. Fiction.
An ancient map, a strange prophecy...and anyone who speaks of it, dies. A new enemy enters the Valla arena, but this one is an ancient as time, and must be unleashed in a forbidden place. An ancient map points the way.
The Sunless One
by Elaina J Davidson
Price: $2.99 USD. 143390 words.
Published on July 10, 2011. Fiction.
Valarians prepare for winter. Many died in summer, more will succumb to the cold. Only the heat of hope sustains them now. While waiting for the opportune time to strike, to finish what he started, Margus secretly begins a different kind of campaign...
Shadow and Sage
by Elaina J Davidson
Price: Free! 4450 words.
Published on April 17, 2011. Fiction.
Sages' sayings and sage suggestion from the shadow of souls. For those who see a tale in an excerpt.
Shades of Shadow
by Elaina J Davidson
Price: $2.99 USD. 145680 words.
Published on December 9, 2010. Fiction.
Two mighty armies of darkness will become one. They operate in darkness, in the shades within shadows.
House of Valla
by Elaina J Davidson
Price: $2.99 USD. 156600 words.
Published on November 21, 2010. Fiction.
The ruling House is almost extinct. How, therefore, does a Valla recognise the blood for the future? By the blue flame of trebac. Kinfire.
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Smashwords book reviews by Elaina J Davidson
- Shrouded Secrets
on April 05, 2011
Shrouded Secrets is firmly in the YA category, from home situations between siblings and figures of authority to the daily school routine. Throw in a strange vacation, and you have the interest of your reader...but when that strangeness spills over into ordinary life, you have a tale worth following. I have to insert here that ‘Shrouded Secrets’ is a great title- it certainly grabbed my attention.
The story is good. A world that exists in the dark matter surrounding us, much like Earth...with a few tweaks. A boy able to step through the thinning to help Earth, and a boy from our world able to wield the power of that other place. And a supporting cast both otherworldly and ordinary.
However, I feel Shrouded Secrets needs a little tweaking itself. It reads (to a fellow writer) like a first draft, when we make the mistake of inserting too many adjectives and extra words. There is as well a sense of formality many YA readers may not identify with. The pace is a little slow. From my perspective, I would like to see Shrouded Secrets undergo a thorough edit...and then the tale will shine bright.
- The Iron Admiral: Conspiracy
on April 13, 2011
How to describe Iron Admiral? Sci-fi? Absolutely. Romance? Yep. Adventure? Another yep. This is a quick read (the kind you pick up...and then don’t put down until done!), fast-paced with loads of action and changes and scenery.
Iron Admiral is also cleverly constructed, the details of other worlds, politics and races woven throughout to create a synergy of backstory and tale that never feels contrived (I am somewhat in awe of that!). World descriptions are good, with everything the reader needs without resorting to huge chucks of words. The plot is excellent, from weapons trading and a nasty virus to the shenanigans of politicians and two races in conflict. I am very impressed by Greta van der Rol’s writing style: she uses minimal words to say much and really pulls it off.
Characters are believable. Allysha is a likable heroine and seriously clever. Saarehn is the kind of man we like to read about- strong and capable, but also enigmatic. The lesser characters are colourful, some downright dastardly- but we like that!
I got to the end of Iron Admiral...and wanted to find out what happens next...and that is always a good sign. Can’t wait to read the next one!
