Winter's Orphans [Paperback]

Elaine Corvidae (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 22, 2001

A slave-woman trying to work off her contract finds her life in danger when she makes mysterious things happen.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A new, depressing world, yet so interesting you dont want to leave it until youve read the very last page. -- Lisa Ramaglia, 4 1/2 Stars, Scribes World

A powerful tale marvelously told, WINTER'S ORPHAN comes very highly recommended. -- Cindy Penn, WordWeaving Award for Excellence

This one goes on my "Keeper Shelf" to be reread many times. Keep your eye on author Elaine Corvidae! -- Detra Fitch, 5-stars - Huntress Book Reviews

About the Author

Elaine Corvidae has worked as an office assistant, archaeologist, and raptor rehabilitator. She is currently earning her Masters degree in Biology at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. She lives near Charlotte, NC, with her husband and three cats.

Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: Novelbooks (October 22, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931696934
• ISBN-13: 978-1931696937
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,116,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When I'm not busy wandering the worlds of my imagination, I live near Charlotte, NC, with my very understanding husband and several cats. In addition to writing, I've worked as an administrative assistant, archaeologist, and wildlife rehabilitator. I recently completed my Masters degree in biology.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not An Orphan Anymore, May 7, 2002

By 

Ashley Ladd "Ashley" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winter's Orphans (Paperback)

This is a fabulous book!

I don't know that I ever met a more unlikely heroine or hero, and yet they were strong, appealing, and had me rooting for them to triumph.

I was sucked into this alternate world so deeply I expected faes and faelings to jump out at me while I was enthralled in its grasp. This story gave me a whole new perspective on the fairy kingdom and made our own industrial era come vividly alive.

I highly, highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers and lovers of romance. This book is going on my keeper shelf and it will definitely not be an orphan anymore.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best fantasy books I've read!, May 7, 2002

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winter's Orphans (Paperback)

Mina Cole thought she was just another indentured factory slave. But in rare moments of rage or terror she could feel something snap inside her and incredible things happened. Mina had been an orphan for years and the only person in the world who cared about her was Abby, her best friend. Both worked long hours in a factory for small wages in hopes of someday paying off their Contracts of Indenture, a place to sleep, and perhaps one meal a day. But it all changed during a moment of fear. The iron indentured collar Mina wore could no mute the waves of magic Mina released and the Hounds were sent out to hunt her.

Duncan RiDahn used to be a nobleman. Now he was but a crippled old man in a wheelchair who begged for money, squatted in an abandoned theater, and was Mina's only hope of survival. Duncan felt the shock wave of Mina's power and knew the evil Queen Rhiannon would send out the Hounds. He and one of his students, Bryan, rescued her and began to teach her.

The Fae (faery) were usually human-like, but came in two different types. The Seelie could control fire and air, heat and light. The Unseelie could control earth and water, cold and night. Mina was half human, half unseelie. Duncan taught her how to use her powers to hide from the royal family and survive. The royal family was seelie and thought they had either killed at the unseelie or turned them into Knights and Hounds. With Mina's presence felt, the hunt was on for her and all the unseelie faelings feared being found.

But Duncan knew more about Mina than he told. Mina was not only unseelie, she was a dyana! Her magic was more powerful than any other. If Mina ever willed it so, she could control the minds of all the unseelie faelings for her use, and she could create dark things to kill! She was dangerous to everyone! But Duncan's love for Mina refused to let him kill her, no matter what!

***** It gets no better than this! Like all good books, this one started out in the middle of excitement to hook me quickly. The author created characters that I could easily sympathize with and care for. I got so deeply involved in the story that I was startled whenever reality intruded upon my reading! That shows amazing writing talent! This book is destined to win awards, Readers! This one goes on my "Keeper Shelf" to be reread many times. Keep your eye on author Elaine Corvidae! Highly recommended! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Original - A Definite Keeper, May 15, 2002

By 

Linnea Sinclair "www.linneasinclair.com" (Naples FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winter's Orphans (Paperback)

Set in a dark, early industrial world where magic is common, WINTER'S ORPHANS follows the life of Mina Cole, slave, factory worker and, unbeknownst to herself, a woman of tremendous fae powers. A series of disastrous events trigger these powers, and Mina is forced to search for a mentor before the Court discovers and kills her.

Her mentor is Duncan, an older man, a cripple. He lives hidden in an abandoned theatre, training rogue 'unseelie fae' - those exiled because of their fae heritages.

But Mina isn't the only one with a dark secret. Duncan has one, too. Their ignorance of each other's almost gets them killed, and their world, destroyed.

Corvidae develops the relationship between the two, not only as student and teacher, but as lovers, with some of the most intense and moving scenes I've ever read. When the two are on the same page, the paper is fairly electric.

WINTER'S ORPHANS is a fabulous fantasy novel with a strong romantic plot. But it's truly Mina's story, in many ways, her quest. A definite keeper and well deserving of the awards it's won.