Marva Dasef

Biography

Born in Eugene, OR and a grad of the UofO, I still made a success of my life by constantly changing jobs and cashing in miserable 401K earnings. Finally, I decided to hell with it. If I'm going to be poor, I might as well be a writer.

Where to find Marva Dasef online

Where to buy in print

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Books by Marva Dasef
Fantasy, mystery, science fiction, tall tales. A little something for everyone.

Series

The Witches of Galdorheim
Follow the adventures of Kat, the teen witch, and her half-vampire brother, Rune, as they confront evil shamans, giants, sea serpents, has-been goddesses, elemental spirits.
The Tales of Abu Nuwas
Rest for awhile in the bazaar and listen to Abu Nuwas relate the tales of fantasy and adventure. Are they true or not? Only Abu Nuwas knows for certain.

Books

The Compleat and True History of the Witches of Galdorheim
Series: The Witches of Galdorheim. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 162,550. Language: English. Published: August 13, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Contemporary, Fiction » Fantasy » Contemporary
After 10 years in print as individual books, the Witches of Galdorheim saga is now presented with every word of of the four books and one short story comprising the entire series. This is it in all its radiant glory. NOTE: Compleat is an archaic spelling of Complete. See Izaak Walton's "The Compleat Angler."
Blood Ties Tested (Book 4 of the Witches of Galdorheim)
Series: The Witches of Galdorheim. Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 22,180. Language: English. Published: March 18, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy, Fiction » Fantasy » Contemporary
Unfortunate events lead a half vampire boy into indulging his vampire side, leaving him with regret and sadness. Can dear old Dad help him forgive himself?
Lemons and Other Kid Tales
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 3,790. Language: English. Published: May 16, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Animals » General
Three stories for kids of all ages. LEMONS: Karen is horse crazy. One day, it seems like everything is going wrong. She's determined to make lemonade out of the lemons. ONE FINE DOG: Pete, the sheep dog, knows his business is to protect his flock. He'll do anything to make sure the sheep are safe. A PRACTICAL CAT: Boots is living the good life, but the Bigs won't let her out!
The Tales of Abu Nuwas 2 - Faizah's Destiny
Series: The Tales of Abu Nuwas. Price: $1.59 USD. Words: 43,750. Language: English. Published: April 1, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Adventure
The village magician has gone missing. His students search for him, but are caught up in a war between the forces of light and dark. The magician's best student, Faizah, is chosen by Anahita, the goddess of light, to lead the humans into battle on the side of good. Can a simple farm girl stave off Armageddon?
Scotch Broom (Book 3 of the Witches of Galdorheim)
Series: The Witches of Galdorheim. Price: $1.59 USD. Words: 48,480. Language: English. Published: November 6, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Contemporary
Kat expects to have a great time on her graduation trip to Stonehenge. However, from the moment she leaves the witches’ arctic island, Galdorheim, she gets in nothing but trouble. Her younger half-brother tries to horn in on her trip, she gets lost in the magical Otherworld realm, is led astray by a supposed friend, then she has to confront a Scottish goddess who’s fallen on hard times.
Midnight Oil (Book 2 of the Witches of Galdorheim)
Series: The Witches of Galdorheim. Price: $1.59 USD. Words: 47,420. Language: English. Published: November 6, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy
Kat is a nervous wreck waiting for her boyfriend's first visit to her Arctic island home. He doesn't show up, so she's sure he’s given her the brushoff. When she learns he’s disappeared, she sets out on a mission to find him. Things go wrong from the start. Kat is thrown overboard during a violent storm, while her brother and his girlfriend are captured by a mutant island tribe. The mutants hold
Bad Spelling (Book 1 of the Witches of Galdorheim)
Series: The Witches of Galdorheim. You set the price! Words: 46,190. Language: English. Published: November 6, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy, Fiction » Fantasy » Contemporary
(4.00 from 1 review)
Katrina’s spells don’t just fizzle; they backfire with spectacular results, oftentimes involving green goo. A failure as a witch, Kat decides to run away and find her dead father’s non-magical family. But before she can, she stumbles onto why her magic is out of whack: a curse from a Siberian shaman.
Missing, Assumed Dead
Price: $1.59 USD. Words: 45,020. Language: English. Published: June 5, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Women Sleuths
When Kameron McBride receives notice she’s the last living relative of a missing man she’s never even heard of, the last thing she wants to do is head to some half-baked Oregon town to settle his affairs. En route, she runs afoul of a couple of hillbillies in an accident that doesn’t seem . . . accidental. Kam has to reveal the town's secrets before she ends up missing, assumed dead herself.
Spellslinger - A Witches of Galdorheim Story
Series: The Witches of Galdorheim. You set the price! Words: 9,130. Language: English. Published: March 30, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Short Stories
What does a teenage half-warlock, half-vampire do to have fun? Why build an old west town on a glacier in the Arctic. There he can play at being the good guy sheriff up against mean old Black Bart.
Ultimate Duty
Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 60,850. Language: English. Published: January 31, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Space opera
Born into endless servitude, Remy takes her only out: join the military arm of the repressive government. She discovers a secret. Her own family is involved in rebellion. As her heart pulls her toward Phillip, the leader of the rebel group, she finds herself questioning where her loyalties truly lie. Now she must choose. Sworn duty or blood ties?
Mixed Bag II
Price: $1.59 USD. Words: 35,670. Language: English. Published: April 20, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author
(4.00 from 2 reviews)
All the great stories from Mixed Bag plus ten more. Science fiction, horror, fantasy, romance, literary, humor: A little something for every taste.
Mixed Bag
You set the price! Words: 24,590. Language: English. Published: February 21, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author
(4.00 from 1 review)
A little science fiction, a bit of fantasy, plenty of humor, and some really shocking horror. These are tales to suit any mood. All stories in this book were previously published in on-line or print publications. The author is re-issuing the stories since an editor somewhere liked them enough to publish them in the first place.
The Tales of Abu Nuwas - Setara's Genie
Series: The Tales of Abu Nuwas. Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 50,030. Language: English. Published: January 2, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Fairy tales & fables, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Fantasy
(4.50 from 2 reviews)
Abu Nuwas sits in the bazaar telling stories to the passersby he can tempt to pay. When Najda, a poor girl, offers him a packet of spice for a story, Abu Nuwas launches into a tale about a girl named Setara and her genie. As did Scheherazade before him, he leaves the girl hanging in the middle of each yarn to keep her coming back for more.
Eagle Quest
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 38,220. Language: English. Published: April 20, 2010 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Adventure
(4.50 from 2 reviews)
A Vision Quest turns deadly when four friends confront eagle poachers in a wildlife refuge.
First Duty
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 39,460. Language: English. Published: October 11, 2009 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction
(4.00 from 1 review)
Nyra Hutchings, a young woman born into a life of servitude on a repressive factory planet, is desperate for a different life. When she's accepted into the Space Service, run by the organization that enslaves her planet, she discovers the truth behind generations of rebellion. Now, she must decide what to believe, where her first duty lies, and fight for more than her life against impossible odds.
Tales of a Texas Boy
You set the price! Words: 34,690. Language: English. Published: September 8, 2009 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » General
(4.50 from 2 reviews)
Little Eddie tells some almost true Tall Tales set in West Texas of the 1930s. Guess what's true and what Eddie fudged on. Was it about the bear? Cage McNatt's prize sow? The skunk in the cornpatch? Guaranteed for a chuckle and maybe a tear here and there.

Smashwords book reviews by Marva Dasef

  • ...The Twain Shall Meet on May 12, 2010

    I recommend j guevera's novelization of Mark Twain's return to the world of the living as he's carried to earth riding Halley's Comet. Set in 1986 Key West, I'll take j's word for the Key scene (never been there). His interpretation of what Samuel Clemen's would be like if he did return to the world was spot on. I'm a Mark Twain fan and have read most (all?) of his books. Using direct quotes from Twain and well-interpreted extrapolations on what Twain might say if he came back, j created an entertaining and interesting 'what if'. j has an easy, very readable style. His narrator, Reid, is a "t-shirt" salesman (note: pot dealer) who becomes a Twain fan through direct association with the great American author over a month while Reid introduces Twain to such modern concepts as nude bars, Disney World, modern politics and events. Well done!
  • Ether on April 24, 2012

    I enjoyed this story quite a bit. I have to really like a book to continue reading despite so many errors. Ms. Williams: Please look up the homonyms. You mixed up passed and past several times. The bad stuff out of the way, this is an inventive plot and well-written (ignoring typos and not-quite-right words). The MC, Daniel, was likeable and reacted as a real person might in the strange situations he finds himself in the world of Ether. Matter of fact, all of the main characters were well-drawn and had distinctive voices, something that is often lost with secondary characters. Despite the typos, I'd still recommend the book as a worthy edition to the non-epic fantasy genre.
  • The Marconi Men on Dec. 03, 2012

    I'm not sure I would have liked this book as much as I do if it were about a fictional event. Since the Titanic is very real, Ms. Cockroft's account of the events focusing on a few real characters was very well done. The Foreword warns that some parts are fictionalized, but wasn't the movie Titanic exactly the same. Real people died on that ship and a few real people lived to tell about it. I very much liked the story being based on the telegraph operators (the Marconi men) because historically we know who they were and we also have evidence of the actual messages sent. This lends so much reality to the story, it was quite fascinating.
  • Monster Is in the Eye of the Beholder: Report of the Anthropological Expedition to the Planet Known as Kal-Fa on March 27, 2013

    This is an excellent book. Note that I rarely give 5 stars to anything so I'll have some wiggle room on a review. Prf. Oliva and her xenoanthropological team are secretly invited to Kal-fa. Why the secrecy? The entities of Kal-fa are considered to be the spiritual guides of the Chu-nesians, the people who live in the same system, but the next planet inward. What they find there startle, enchant, and disturb the team. The two women, after their initial shock at the nature of the Kal-fas (not sure if this is the plural) proceed with their studies of the low-tech folk. A third member of the team doesn't get over his shock, but, instead, sinks deeper into a loathing of the Kal-fas. To tell you why here would be too huge of a spoiler. Lorinda Taylor presents a unique situation in the encounters between humans and aliens. Presented in the form of the Proceedings to investigate what had occurred on Kal-fa. Much of the transcript is based on personal journals of the team. This allows for a unique multiple POV presentation, especially interesting because the personal journals are spotty and incomplete. I was fascinated from beginning to end. This is a wonderful novelette well worth your time. Ms. Taylor's background as a librarian and teacher must be partly why her story seems as well-researched as if the Kal-fas and Chu-nesians were real rather than the highly imaginative output of her imagination.
  • The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head: Volume One: The War of the Stolen Mother on Nov. 20, 2013

    This is the first volume in a series following the labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head, a warrior of the Shshi race of intelligent termite-like people. It is set on an alien (to humans) world described in an earlier multi-volume novel covering the discovery of the world by humans. In the first book, the point of view is primarily that of Kaitrin Oliva, a human linguistic anthropologist who decodes the Shshi language. This next multi-volume novel has no humans, only the termites. It's an epic tale told as if narrator Di'fa'kro'mi the Remembrancer is dictating it to his scribe long after the events of the story. This is an effective means of narration because it allows for asides and personal thoughts of Di'fa'kro'mi about the story. I found it amusing when Di'fa comments how he used a bit of literary trickery to describe events happening elsewhere. That is, Di'fa invents a point of view shift. Clever of the author to come right out with it before I made a note about the "POV SHIFT!" Ms. Taylor uses multiple literary devices to get around some of the obstacles a termite might have recording a story for others to read, not just listen to in the oral tradition of the Remembrancers. This novel is steeped in earth mythos from the role of Di'fa as the Homer of the Shshi to the obvious comparison of Ki'sh to both Ulysses and Hercules of Greek myth, the war with Troy, and a lot of other references I probably missed. It's a really long first volume, but I'm almost getting used to Ms. Taylor's monolithic multi-volume novels. You certainly get plenty of words for your 99 cents (the price may have changed) and all of them quite necessary to the story. I will always have a problem with the names and the other con-lang (constructed language) features, but this one is footnoted for the most part. As for the names, there's a handy cast of characters and places at the beginning of the book. What did I love about the book? Lots. The epic sweep of the story (and this is only the first volume of Ki'shto'ba's travels). The warrior is as knightly and honorable as any of King Arthur's court. The brotherly love between Ki'shto'ba and his twin brother, A'zhu'lo (highly unusual in the termite world) is touching and real. I quite enjoyed the antics of Za'dut the trickster outcast who just can't keep his claws off others' property. While playing the clown, he turns out to be quite clever and, at his heart, cares as much for the companions as any of the others. I think what I want to say is that this novel is deeply and touchingly human although the termite practices are entirely unhuman. The concepts of honor, love, grief, fear, jubilation, caring are all there and I truly believed them. Well done, very well written, squeaky clean grammar and spelling. Ms. Taylor has made me a fan of the termites even if I can't always remember who's who with the secondary characters. I didn't have a problem remembering the companions who travel on this epic journey.
  • The Blessing of Krozem on Jan. 22, 2014

    This short story from the Termite Writer is a complex book in few words. I've been thinking it reminded me of a famous SF author from way back in the 60's, but I can't think of who it is, so I'll write the review without (alas) the reference to famous writer I wanted to use. Essentially, this story is a "be careful what you wish for" tale. The usual excellent writing is what I've come to expect from Lorinda Taylor. Hey, the short is free. It won't be a waste of your time.
  • The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head: Volume Five: The Wood Where the Two Moons Shine on Nov. 26, 2014

    Okay, if you haven't started with Volume 1 and worked your way through to this 5th volume, you'll have no idea what it's all about. Stop reading the review right now. Go to Amazon or Smashwords and start at the previous two-volume book, "The Termite Queen, Vol. 1" or at least at "The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head, Vol. 1" which picks up events after the first book. While an excellent addition to the epic tale of heroic alien termites, I wanted a little more to highlight Ki'shto'ba's quest's end. As the first volume of the story of Is’a’pai’a's search for the golden (fleece) fungus, it's a smooth transition into the young warrior's quest. Yes, this is an imagining of Jason and the Argonauts. Most of the characters in the Greek myth are present and accounted for. But this doesn't need to be a deed for deed, character for character retelling. Some aspects of the Jason myth are impossible. For example, Medea as Jason's wife just won't fit into the story of neuter termite warriors. I suspect a Mother (queen) termite will stand in for Medea at some point. Am I complaining that the epic adventures of Hercules (Ki'shto'ba) and Jason (Is'a'pai'a) are utilized as the basis for the termites' tellings? Not at all. I went to my Dictionary of Mythology to remind myself of the human equivalents to the termite heroes and deeds. My only problem throughout the series is the con-lang (constructed language) Ms. Taylor has created. It's an impressive feat. On the other hand, it's reading a story with all the names and lots of other words are written in Urdu or Finnish. Hard to remember who is who and what is what. I got used to the main characters' names, but new characters and words introduced along the way didn't stick quite as well. This makes the book difficult to read without breaking immersion. The imaginary "translator" of the termite language text, could easily have said "Since the names are difficult, I will substitute more familiar (or shorter) terms to stand in. Please see the Appendix (yes, there is one) as needed." Thus, Ki'shto'ba would be called Kip or Kish, Is'a'pai'a could be Ike or Isa. I would definitely be easier to read. The difficulty of maintaining immersion because of the con-lang dropped a star off the rating. In all other ways, I highly recommend both series. I look forward to reading Isa's continued quest for the golden fungus in volume 6.
  • The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head: Volume Six: The Revenge of the Dead Enemy on Dec. 19, 2014

    So you think you can't empathize with a giant termite? We've had many insectoid and arachnid heroes in literature. Consider "Charlotte's Web." If you didn't get teary-eyed when Charlotte died, then you must have a heart of stone. Other stories empathetic toward multi-legged creatures: Ant Bully, It's a Bug's Life, Bee Story. I'm sure there are others. I don't usually seek out books about bugs, but I could come up with these examples in a few seconds. So, what about the entire epic journey "The Labors of Ki'sh'toba: Volumes 1-6?" I have previously reviewed 1-5, not to mention the 2-volume "Termite Queen" saga. I liked them...a lot. I continually complained about the difficult names, places, and concepts with the conlang (constructed language) of the Termite world. Too many apostrophes and a bunch of other punctuation I have no clue how to pronounce. I will complain no more. I still can't pronounce 90% of the termite language, but I can visually recognize the names of the main characters. All have become familiar and lovable in their own ways. Di'fa'kro'mi, the Remembrancer (story teller) is quite an adept author considering he had to invent a written language in which to tell the tales. I know, the real Remembrancer is Lorinda Taylor, but she is such a wonderful writer, I was immersed in the stories as if they were really told by Di'fa'kro'mi. As I did when first reading "Charlotte's Web," I wept over the death of some of my favorites throughout the entire six volumes. I cried for termites? Yes, I did, and I'm not ashamed. The entire tale of Ki'shto'ba and his labors (modeled on the Greek Hercules myth) is hard to get into, but an epic worthy of the difficulty of the journey. I completely and thoroughly recommend the entire six volumes. But you might want to start with the Termite Queen books to allow yourself to ease into the idea of termite heroes.
  • PumpkinEater on Aug. 08, 2018

    All the Maven the Fairy Godmother books are a delight to read. This one is a set of three short stories about Maven's duties. I do notice the more books there are, the more in-depth view of Maven's Fae world becomes. You're seeing familiar action, personality, and so on, but you always learn something new about the world. I recommend all Maven books as 100% tasty.
  • Adventures of Silicon Jones on Aug. 13, 2018

    Silicon Jones is a departure, but only a little from her Maven the Fairy Godmother books. The world setting is the same, but Jones is only a visitor rather than a resident of the Fae world. I recommend reading it to anyone following the Maven books. While it's an outlier, it is still set in Charlotte's wacky and fun concept of the world of fairy and godmothers. I find them all delightful, but I'd rather read about Maven than Mr. Jones. The three little dragons were hilarious. I enjoyed that story of the three the most. Now a spinoff of the kid dragons would be a great direction to take into the Fae world. Maybe Maven has to grant a wish to the triplets. Now that'd be a book I'd definitely read. Note that 4 stars is "I liked it" not a slam in the slightest. It just didn't fill my cup of tea as well as Maven does.