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Winter's Orphans
The Shadow Fae Trilogy, Book One
At the dawn of the Industrial Age, the kingdom of Niune is ruled by the Seelie Court-half-human faelings descended from seelie fae. Sworn to the forces of light, the Seelie Court is dedicated to the destruction of all who bear the taint of unseelie fae blood.
Mina Cole is an indentured worker—a factory slave. She has lived her entire life ignorant of her fae heritage, until at last a moment of terror reveals the winter magic that has lain dormant within. Now that her power is awakened, the hunters of the Seelie Court will not rest until they have slain Mina and all who stand with her. Her only hope of survival lies in the hands of man crippled in both body and spirit.
One terrible night thirty-five years ago, Duncan RiDahn lost both his lover and the use of his legs to the Seelie Court. Into Duncan's web of regret comes Mina, whose dark power both alarms and attracts him. For Mina wields a terrible magic that may ultimately prove a greater threat to the faelings of Niune than all the hunters of the Seelie Court combined.
2002 Fantasy EPPIE Winner
2001 Fantasy Dream Realms Winner
Web Weaving Award for Excellence
Reviewer's Choice Award
Fallen Angels Recommended Read
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Watch the Video—Read the Book
About the Author
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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. Her first published novel, Winter's Orphans, was the recipient of the 2001 Dream Realm Award and the 2002 Eppie Award.
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Reviews
 5 Angels! Recommended Read! Elaine Corvidae cleverly depicts the subtle distinction between responsible power and selfish indulgence. Winter’s Orphans gripped me from start to finish. I fought with and for Mina as she grapples with herself and the cruelties of life. Elaine Corvidae’s gift of capturing the "human spirit" and revealing it in a tale of shame, hostility, reconciliation and devotion is a rare and exquisite gift that few writers possess. —Dena, Fallen Angel Reviews
"Winter’s Orphans has a well drawn cast of characters, a vividly created setting as real as any I’ve had the pleasure to read, and a solid plot filled with action that rolls along with the speed and precision of well oiled machinery. " —Glenda Woodrum, author of the Desert Moon Trilogy
"Delightful fairy tale." —Harriet Klausner, The Best Reviews
4.5 Stars! "This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, with an unusual heroine who must face long odds and her own dark side as, layer by layer, hard truths are revealed and the battle toll mounts. It's a story of friendship and sacrifice, personal power vs. equality and basic rights, misery and oppression vs. startling beauty and magical glamours." —Shannah Biondine, Timeless Tales
5 Stars! "Full of action, and with captivating secondary characters, WINTER'S ORPHANS held me enthralled until the last page. The growing love between Mina, the beautiful unseelie, and Duncan, who is crippled and confined to a wheelchair, is deftly woven. The descriptions of the city are beautifully done, indeed, the background plays almost as important part as the characters in this story. I hightly recommend WINTER'S ORPHANS – it transported me to another world and gave me a extraordinary glimpse of magic." —Jennifer Macaire, Sime~Gen
"Wondrously written, "Winter's Orphans" is one of those true gems where not all you think you see is real, and has more than its fair share of delicious plot complications...In this regard, the book becomes like watching a master magician. Yet at no time are the deductions and beliefs of the characters irrational or unreasonable. As each veil of secrecy is lifted, as each truth unveiled, the reasons become clearer for even the falsest of assumptions. All of which makes the reality behind what is happening even more devious." —Robyn Sondra Wills, Alternate Realities Webzine
"WINTER'S ORPHANS is a superb ORIGINAL dark-ish fantasy with a great romantic subplot. Mina, the heroine, is gutsy, flawed, cocky and sincere. Duncan, the hero, is intense, dedicated and torn...It's a tale of dark magic, of age- old revenge and totally original world-building in Corvidae's setting of Niune...I loved the book." —Linnea Sinclair, Paranormal Romance Reviews, Award-winning author of FINDERS KEEPERS
"Winter’s Orphans bewitched me from paragraph one and didn’t let go until I had finished the last page, craving more. Filled with magical powers, secrets, friendship, love, and betrayal, it is one of the most enthralling books I’ve had the pleasure to read. I very highly recommend this book and thoroughly understand why it has won so many prestigious awards." —Elaine Hopper, Knowbetter.com
Corvidae keeps us involved with colorful descriptions...and the...relationship between Mina and Duncan. —Joel Van Valin, Whistling Shade
Despite its bleak landscape, however, WINTER'S ORPHAN is also a tale of triumph, of hope, and of courage... A powerful tale marvelously told, WINTER'S ORPHAN comes very highly recommended. —Cindy Penn, Word Weaving
"Elaine Corvidae has created some of the most amazing characters I’ve met in a long time...I enjoyed watching Mina struggle with her newfound power; her internal battles are written with fantastic insight to the human soul. Mina’s battle with her fae power is a mirror for anyone who has struggled to discover her own inner strength." —Shelley Hannah, Absolutewrite.com
"4 1/2 Stars...No light and airy fantasy this...Well done Ms. Corvidae..." —Lisa Ramaglia, Scribes World
"WINTER’S ORPHAN (sic) grabbed my attention from the start. The fast-pace, chilling creatures, and lively dialogue captures the reader and takes them to a whole new time and place." —Tracy Farnsworth, The Romance Readers Connection
"The dark streets of Dicken's London hits fantasy head-on...." —Stephen Smith, Crescent Blues
"...The characters and plot conform to no existing standards...the author has chosen to forge her own unique type of fantasy and she has done so brilliantly...There is intrigue and betrayal here, there is texture to the world and the people inhabiting it, all in all it should greatly satisfy the fantasy reader." —Steve Mazey, The Eternal Night
"***** 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! ***** " —Detra Fitch, Huntress' Book Reviews
"There is no way that any reader who discover Winter's Orphans is going to be able to put it down...I read this book in one sitting, and ended up rereading it again within a week." —Danielle Naibert, The Book Reviewer Site
"Winter's Orphans is for those who like their...fantasy on the dark side." —Hilary Williamson, Bookloons
Excerpt
There was a fire raging in the distance. Flames threw an unnatural glare into the sky, as if hell had risen to earth and lurked just over the horizon. A fire engine clattered by, foam flying from the horses' flanks and bells clanging in alarm. People yelled and ran about in confusion, and onlookers and curiosity-seekers clogged the streets. Power rolled over the city, buffeting Duncan like waves against a swimmer.
Sweat dripped down his face and into his eyes, but he didn't take his hands off the wheels to wipe it away. He had been awakened suddenly in the middle of the night. There had been a sort of presence with him for a moment, which had quickly passed on, like something huge and dark moving past him in deep water. Still, it had been there long enough for him to recognize it and taste its musky darkness on his tongue.
Mina.
After that, all hell had broken loose. Spikes of power had come to him from a distance, warning of some violent conflict. Desperately frightened for his students, he had dressed hurriedly and flung himself out into the night, straining the muscles in his arms in his hurry to reach them.
That was when he had seen the fire.
He was getting close to the heart of it now. Skidding around a corner, he braked hard, yelping in shock as a Hound tumbled past him. Its golden blood leaked from a dozen wounds, but it snarled and fought still. Janine ran after it, shrieking like a mad thing. Duncan hurriedly flung ice at the Hound's flank; startled, it spun, and gave Janine the opening she needed. When it was dead, she looked at him, and an odd grin stretched her face.
"Janine, what are you doing?" Duncan demanded. His heart was pounding from exertion, and he began to wonder whether it would hold out. "What's happening?"
For a moment, she hesitated, frowning. "I...I...I have to fight. I have to kill them."
"Why?"
She shook her head, then turned and sprinted back in the direction of the fire. Shaking hard, Duncan followed her into a maelstrom.
The conflagration had begun in a warehouse, undoubtedly set off by seelie power. Flames had leapt to surrounding businesses, until several blocks had been engulfed. Firefighters pumped water from their engines, but it was a losing battle. Heat smote Duncan's skin and cinders stung his eyes. Squinting against the blaze, he made himself invisible to the firefighters and followed Janine down a street walled in by flame.
In the center of it all, a massive struggle was going on. His students fought ferociously against more Hounds and Knights than he had seen in thirty years. For an instant, he remembered that terrible night when Aerin had died, and his heart wrenched inside of him. Desperate, he scanned the scene before him, sorting through individual struggles to find some explanation behind the battle.
Bryan staggered through the smoke, holes showing in his shirt where sparks had burnt through. He looked wild and half-scared. Grabbing Bryan's sleeve, Duncan repeated his insistent query.
Bryan stared at him as if emerging from a dream. "It…I...I was lying in bed," he said uncertainly. "And I woke up, and I realized that I had to go out and find the Seelie Court. I had to destroy them." He frowned, puzzled. "I don't understand why I thought that."
Dreadful realization froze Duncan's limbs, pinning him in place. He had convinced himself that Mina was no dyana because he had not wanted her to be one. He had put aside the evidence from the mill fire, determined to have proof.
Determined not to believe.
"Where is Mina?" he shouted, shaking Bryan hard. Bryan blinked like a sleepwalker and pointed dumbly down the street, in the direction of the most intense fighting.
With a furious oath, Duncan shoved his student aside and set off into the heart of the inferno.
Bodies littered the street. Most of them belonged to Knights and Hounds, but not all. Duncan navigated around them as best he could, trying not to look too closely. Yells and battle-screams rang out from somewhere in front of him. He bowed his head against the smoke and doggedly followed the sounds.
She stood framed against the flames, standing over the body of a Knight. Her staff was in her hands, the ends sizzling with golden blood. Dark shadows leapt around her like some sort of anti-flames, or icy fire. Her short, spiky hair was in disarray.
"Mina!" Duncan shouted desperately.
She turned slowly towards him. She was smiling a cold predator's smile, and her teeth looked small and sharp. Her eyes were utterly black, all white and color lost from view. Power unfolded from her tangibly, like dark wings. She had never looked so utterly inhuman. She had never looked so beautiful.
The breath stopped in Duncan's throat. For an instant, he wanted nothing more than to say: To hell with it, and put aside all the human cares that chained him. He wanted to follow her, to lose himself in her, to forget about every other concern except for her. It was as if something in her said: I am everything that you have ever wanted.
And every molecule of his being replied: I know.
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