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Wind Rider Chronicles #1.5
Into the Shadow Wood
This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN:
B01JHWYCB4
Once a proud member of the Sovereign’s prestigious personal guard, Einar has lost everything: his home, his Sovereign, and his purpose. Most of his closest friends have either been killed in battle or executed. His friend Nevon died trying to fulfill a dangerous oath…one that Einar disagreed with, but now feels honor-bound to take up in his stead. The quest plunges Einar into the depths of the dark and twisted Shadow Wood, testing the limits of his strength, his beliefs, and his sanity. What he finds in the Wood is far more ominous than anything he’d expected. If he’s not careful, Nevon’s fate might end up being his own.
Once a proud member of the Sovereign’s prestigious personal guard, Einar has lost everything: his home, his Sovereign, and his purpose. Most of his closest friends have either been killed in battle or executed. His friend Nevon died trying to fulfill a dangerous oath…one that Einar disagreed with, but now feels honor-bound to take up in his stead. The quest plunges Einar into the depths of the dark and twisted Shadow Wood, testing the limits of his strength, his beliefs, and his sanity. What he finds in the Wood is far more ominous than anything he’d expected. If he’s not careful, Nevon’s fate might end up being his own.
90 pages, ebook
Published August 1, 2016
8 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Allison D. Reid
13 books45 followersAllison D. Reid was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her love for medieval fantasy was sparked by the Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis, which fed both her imagination and her spiritual development. When at the age of thirteen her family moved to Germany, her passion for medieval history and legend only increased, and she found herself captivated by the ancient towns and castles of Europe.
Allison returned to the United States to study art and writing at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. She earned her B.A. under the tutelage of the well-renowned and prolific writer Andrew Salkey, a student of her other great inspiration, and the father of fantasy, J. R. R. Tolkien. After graduating from Hampshire College, Allison moved to Connecticut. There she got the opportunity to attend seminary and further explore her faith before returning to her home state of Ohio.
Allison now lives in the Miami Valley area with her husband and children. She continues to work on her first published series while taking care of her family, editing for other independent writers, and managing a home business.
Allison returned to the United States to study art and writing at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. She earned her B.A. under the tutelage of the well-renowned and prolific writer Andrew Salkey, a student of her other great inspiration, and the father of fantasy, J. R. R. Tolkien. After graduating from Hampshire College, Allison moved to Connecticut. There she got the opportunity to attend seminary and further explore her faith before returning to her home state of Ohio.
Allison now lives in the Miami Valley area with her husband and children. She continues to work on her first published series while taking care of her family, editing for other independent writers, and managing a home business.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 2, 2017
Book Review: Having read the two novels that are out of The Wind Rider Chronicles, I was quite excited when Allison announced that there’d be a short story continuing Einar’s journey, and even more delighted when she asked me to review the novella. Einar was my favorite character from Journey to Aviad, and this story takes up where that novel left off. So here’s a closer look.
Narration: 4 out of 5. There were a few moments when things felt repetitive, as Einar, in first person, provided information we’d need to remember from Journey to Aviad in order to appreciate the story, but for the most part, it was amazing. Einar is introspective enough to make hearing his thoughts and seeing his nightmares perfectly fitting, and he knows the woods well enough to where the descriptions of plants and underbrush fits…but it never gets overly technical. The focus is on what the characters are facing, emotionally and relationallly, and the narration keeps this in mind while providing a lush backdrop for the story.
Content: 4 out of 5. A short story is always a challenge when it comes to content, and there were times when I wanted to know more. I wish I could’ve experienced a few more conversations that were only summarized, but for the most part, the content was exactly what it needed to be, balancing the action of fighting off shadowy hounds and the deceptions of the wood with exploration, dialogue, and relational interactions between Einar, his commander, and his friend.
Characters: 5 out of 5. This is the best part of The Wind Rider Chronicles, and this short story really capitalizes on Allison’s strong cast. I enjoyed getting to know Einar’s commander and Alaric, who was a fun new character (at least, if we met him before, it was only in passing). The story revolves around the trio, but really explores the changes to Einar’s heart as he grows beyond being an angry young man to one with doubts, questions, and a small spark of hope.
Artwork: Subjective. The cover is a touch more pleasant-looking than my mental image of the Shadow Wood, but then, gloomy wooded nastiness might be hard to put on a cover and still be able to read the title. And I liked the sense of purpose you can see in the way Einar’s is moving forward through the woods, despite not being able to see where he’s going and what lies in the light blue gloom.
World-Building: 5 out of 5. There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the way Einar’s world works, but in this story, I felt like everything was fitting together and that we couldn’t really have added more to a work this size. We learned about who was behind Nevon’s death and gained further understanding of how the Circle works, even in exile, and we even got to see Einar’s ambitions and a bit about his past, all woven in to where it fit the story and didn’t feel like an info-dump.
Overall Response: 18 out of 20, or 4.5 overall. Though short, this is entirely enjoyable. Even if you’ve never read any of Allison’s other works, this story stands out as a coming-of-age (or at least, coming-closer-to-maturity and wholeness) story and a delightful adventure, full of medieval battle, dangers, and fantastical uncertainties. It’s easily one of the best short stories I’ve read in a long time, with a complete story arc and the feeling of having experienced a great deal more than the 132 pages it took up on my e-reader.
For more book reviews like this, click here.
Narration: 4 out of 5. There were a few moments when things felt repetitive, as Einar, in first person, provided information we’d need to remember from Journey to Aviad in order to appreciate the story, but for the most part, it was amazing. Einar is introspective enough to make hearing his thoughts and seeing his nightmares perfectly fitting, and he knows the woods well enough to where the descriptions of plants and underbrush fits…but it never gets overly technical. The focus is on what the characters are facing, emotionally and relationallly, and the narration keeps this in mind while providing a lush backdrop for the story.
Content: 4 out of 5. A short story is always a challenge when it comes to content, and there were times when I wanted to know more. I wish I could’ve experienced a few more conversations that were only summarized, but for the most part, the content was exactly what it needed to be, balancing the action of fighting off shadowy hounds and the deceptions of the wood with exploration, dialogue, and relational interactions between Einar, his commander, and his friend.
Characters: 5 out of 5. This is the best part of The Wind Rider Chronicles, and this short story really capitalizes on Allison’s strong cast. I enjoyed getting to know Einar’s commander and Alaric, who was a fun new character (at least, if we met him before, it was only in passing). The story revolves around the trio, but really explores the changes to Einar’s heart as he grows beyond being an angry young man to one with doubts, questions, and a small spark of hope.
Artwork: Subjective. The cover is a touch more pleasant-looking than my mental image of the Shadow Wood, but then, gloomy wooded nastiness might be hard to put on a cover and still be able to read the title. And I liked the sense of purpose you can see in the way Einar’s is moving forward through the woods, despite not being able to see where he’s going and what lies in the light blue gloom.
World-Building: 5 out of 5. There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the way Einar’s world works, but in this story, I felt like everything was fitting together and that we couldn’t really have added more to a work this size. We learned about who was behind Nevon’s death and gained further understanding of how the Circle works, even in exile, and we even got to see Einar’s ambitions and a bit about his past, all woven in to where it fit the story and didn’t feel like an info-dump.
Overall Response: 18 out of 20, or 4.5 overall. Though short, this is entirely enjoyable. Even if you’ve never read any of Allison’s other works, this story stands out as a coming-of-age (or at least, coming-closer-to-maturity and wholeness) story and a delightful adventure, full of medieval battle, dangers, and fantastical uncertainties. It’s easily one of the best short stories I’ve read in a long time, with a complete story arc and the feeling of having experienced a great deal more than the 132 pages it took up on my e-reader.
For more book reviews like this, click here.
November 22, 2016
Absolutely amazing. I was given an advance copy of this as a beta reader, and even before all the edits had been completed, it was an amazing and gripping story. I couldn't put it down!
January 6, 2018
This fast read adds great depth to the Wind Rider Chronicles world by showing the reader more about Einar and the Circle.
September 6, 2020
Review for “Into the Shadow Wood” by Allison D. Reid:
It’s the first novella in the “Wind Rider Chronicles” series written by fantasy Christian author, Allison D. Reid. The story focuses on Einar’s journey into the Dark Wood after parting ways with Elowyn in “Journey to Aviad”.
The author attracts her readers through her simple writing style that can be easily understood. The world she created is a mixture of scenes from the holy Christian books and fantasy, reviving old medieval stories and legends. Unlike the first book, this novella is told from Einar’s point of view thus allowing the readers to see the world through the brave warrior’s eyes.
As they journey through the Shadow Wood, the readers will learn that life experiences can either weaken or strengthen them depending on their amount of faith, determination and knowledge. Like in Einar’s case, there are times when we are filled with so much anger and despair that we lose hope and trust in others, even in the unseen.
Biblical references such as Daniel in the Lions’ Den and the Temptation of Christ are mentioned in the story. Allison reminds us that we are never alone and that help will always come to us in desperate situations. The forest is represented as good and bad since it shelters evil within, but can offer the necessary things to survive.
Inner strength, hope, despair, anger, friendship, letting go of the past and moving on, the fight between Light and Shadow, following our instinct, second chance, facing our fears and appreciating what we have are some of the few themes discussed throughout the story.
Together with J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, J. K. Rowling, Sophie-Audouin-Mamikonian, Richard H. Stephens, Emily Martha Sorensen, Laura Știrbu, Miruna Ursache, Georgia Lohan, Elena Kedros, Moony Witcher, Paula Harrison, Matt Haig, Chris Riddell, S. A. Patrick, K. M. Jenkins and B. K. Boes, Allsion D. Reid revolutionized the fantasy genre through her unique world and brought the holy books back to life.
I recommend this story to readers 12+ since there are some scenes that are scary for younger readers.
It’s the first novella in the “Wind Rider Chronicles” series written by fantasy Christian author, Allison D. Reid. The story focuses on Einar’s journey into the Dark Wood after parting ways with Elowyn in “Journey to Aviad”.
The author attracts her readers through her simple writing style that can be easily understood. The world she created is a mixture of scenes from the holy Christian books and fantasy, reviving old medieval stories and legends. Unlike the first book, this novella is told from Einar’s point of view thus allowing the readers to see the world through the brave warrior’s eyes.
As they journey through the Shadow Wood, the readers will learn that life experiences can either weaken or strengthen them depending on their amount of faith, determination and knowledge. Like in Einar’s case, there are times when we are filled with so much anger and despair that we lose hope and trust in others, even in the unseen.
Biblical references such as Daniel in the Lions’ Den and the Temptation of Christ are mentioned in the story. Allison reminds us that we are never alone and that help will always come to us in desperate situations. The forest is represented as good and bad since it shelters evil within, but can offer the necessary things to survive.
Inner strength, hope, despair, anger, friendship, letting go of the past and moving on, the fight between Light and Shadow, following our instinct, second chance, facing our fears and appreciating what we have are some of the few themes discussed throughout the story.
Together with J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, J. K. Rowling, Sophie-Audouin-Mamikonian, Richard H. Stephens, Emily Martha Sorensen, Laura Știrbu, Miruna Ursache, Georgia Lohan, Elena Kedros, Moony Witcher, Paula Harrison, Matt Haig, Chris Riddell, S. A. Patrick, K. M. Jenkins and B. K. Boes, Allsion D. Reid revolutionized the fantasy genre through her unique world and brought the holy books back to life.
I recommend this story to readers 12+ since there are some scenes that are scary for younger readers.
June 14, 2018
The circle, once protectors of the sovereign have been exiled and are currently living as renegades in the shadow wood, they are searching for the killers of Nevon their friend, and the relic he was on a quest to keep out of the hands of the shadow. Alaric, Einar and their commander are travelling through the woods searching for clues when they become terribly lost and the evil in the wood starts to mess with their minds. They start to doubt one another, lose trust and even fear one another and even knowing this was the wood's effect they had no control over their thoughts and dreams. The commander was a man of faith but Einar never believed until he faced real evil and terror, then he prayed but when his prayers were not answered in the way he thought they should have been he doubted Aviad once again. Till he realised that those who truly believed faced the harsh realities of life with dignity, courage and hope rather than the despair he felt when Braeden the evil necromancer seemed to be winning even after their battle with the trolls, in which both he and Alaric nearly lost their lives. So why did evil always prevail? Through his questioning Einar realised he was not giving up but giving in and that, that was the difference between believers and non-believers approach to life! In fact even when things looked darkest a new hope turned up for the circle in the form of a monk, a member of the Guardians of the Ancients, who made an offer to the circle, to aid one another in search of the relic which Nevon had been killed for and which could be the turning stone in the impending war against the shadow. Thus turning these brave men into protectors once again rather then the renegades they had been forced to become, giving them back their dignity and hope for a better future.
May 22, 2024
An interesting rabbit trail in the series
The main character of this book, Einar, was introduced in the first novel of the Wind Rider series. This novella picks up where that first book ended with Einar, his mentor and his best friend Alaric journeying into the dreaded Shadow Woods in order to find clues as to what happened to a member of their band who was attacked by wolfish creatures from the wood.
The previous two books were from the point of view of two young women, Morganne and Elowyn. This one is entirely from Einar’s point of view. it gives us a little bit more background on the agnostic archer who helped Elowyn in the first book of this series
Although I am not certain that this book is necessary to understand the events of the entire series, it does give some background information that may prove important and the next three books.
It is shorter than the first two, but no less intense. I actually devoured it in a day or two, because I could not put it down. It will be interesting to see how the author, Alison D. Reid, re-introduces the main character of this book Later in the series and what role he will play.
The main character of this book, Einar, was introduced in the first novel of the Wind Rider series. This novella picks up where that first book ended with Einar, his mentor and his best friend Alaric journeying into the dreaded Shadow Woods in order to find clues as to what happened to a member of their band who was attacked by wolfish creatures from the wood.
The previous two books were from the point of view of two young women, Morganne and Elowyn. This one is entirely from Einar’s point of view. it gives us a little bit more background on the agnostic archer who helped Elowyn in the first book of this series
Although I am not certain that this book is necessary to understand the events of the entire series, it does give some background information that may prove important and the next three books.
It is shorter than the first two, but no less intense. I actually devoured it in a day or two, because I could not put it down. It will be interesting to see how the author, Alison D. Reid, re-introduces the main character of this book Later in the series and what role he will play.
April 23, 2019
It is a story, that we missed from the 2 books, the story of Einar. You can’t really understand everything without the first book (Journey to Aviad), but I think it’s a good story. It was good to read, and it has a real end, but it can be continuing. I like it, it was Einar journey to find a purpose in his life. If you like when the main character is changing, develop, you will like it. It’s about friendship and trust. I liked it.
June 15, 2019
This companion story to the Wind Rider Chronicles is a well written allegory of a personal journey from skepticism to faith. It reintroduces a key character of the first Chronicle tale and makes clear reference to actions and events familiar to those who have read the Elowyn stories. This tale is full of dark references, and gives insights into the struggle between good and evil within the Sovereign's realm.
April 15, 2019
Into the Shadow Wood is a very intriguing book. The eeriness I felt after just reading the first chapter was so intense! The author has created a very vivid description of the Shadow Wood. I almost feel like being sucked into it myself. Great story! I look forward to reading more!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 23, 2019
Spin off of a series, read the other two first.
Good vs Evil, Light vs Dark. This book is a sort of allegory, Einar going into the Shadow Wood is comparable to trials and tests in our lives. Very interesting and a great continuation of the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Good vs Evil, Light vs Dark. This book is a sort of allegory, Einar going into the Shadow Wood is comparable to trials and tests in our lives. Very interesting and a great continuation of the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 1, 2021
We find out what happens to Einar
I liked this novella and how the author's narrative style shifted to suit the protagonist. It was interesting to see how Einar's faith develops and gain more insight into his past and his character. I really hope we see him again later in the series.
I liked this novella and how the author's narrative style shifted to suit the protagonist. It was interesting to see how Einar's faith develops and gain more insight into his past and his character. I really hope we see him again later in the series.
December 17, 2019
A great series of fighting against evil. It all seems hopeless when the evil is so dark and powerful; and weapons appear to be useless in defeating it. What is there left to do? Read the series to find out😁
January 11, 2023
faith of substance things hope for and the evidence of things not seen… have faith
The enemy comes to seek and destroy.. but by faith we will prevail.. this book teaches us to keep believing though it looks bleak… have faith regardless of how things look..
The enemy comes to seek and destroy.. but by faith we will prevail.. this book teaches us to keep believing though it looks bleak… have faith regardless of how things look..
March 30, 2019
A great continuation to the series. Each facet of the story is getting visited so there are no questions left unanswered. Loving it!
August 22, 2020
Amazing Companion Story!
I'm so glad for this book! I was worried about what became of Einar after he and Elowyn parted ways...a great story, and such a beautiful ending!!!
I'm so glad for this book! I was worried about what became of Einar after he and Elowyn parted ways...a great story, and such a beautiful ending!!!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews