526 ratings | 24 reviews | avg rating:4.25

David’s Year In Books

David’s 2025 Year in Books

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David Dodds

Goodreads Author

Born

in Sunderland, The United Kingdom

Website

http://www.DavidDoddsAuthor.com/

Genre

Magical Realism, Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy

Member Since

November 2017

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David Dodds has been writing all his life. From short stories, written as a child on an elderly typewriter, via editing a university newsletter, he progressed to writing both fiction and non-fiction for a broad range of magazines and blogs, as diverse as Practical Wireless, Sailplane and Gliding and various wildlife and conservation publications.

When he progressed to novel-writing he combined his love of history and mythology with magical realism, set in the dark wynds and closes of Edinburgh. His first novel, Touchpaper, the first in the Parallel Realm series was published in 2024. The second, Wyrm-galdr was published in late 2025.

David lives in a former railway workers cottage in the Scottish Borders with his wife Rona, a small and opini ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

David Dodds I don't really have a mysterious life, if I'm honest. The question of who ate the last slice of pizza is rarely difficult - usually me! But family his…moreI don't really have a mysterious life, if I'm honest. The question of who ate the last slice of pizza is rarely difficult - usually me! But family history can throw up some fascinating mysteries - each old letter or document we uncover ofter provides more questions that answers.

I recently inherited a box of documents about my grandfather, Alfred Dodds. Both my father and grandfather waited to marry and have children, so there's a 77 year gap between my grandfather's birth date and mine, which means Alfred lived in a very different world to me and yet I never knew him. What was he like?

Alfred was born into a well-heeled glass-making family in Gateshead and he was brought up in a world where transport required a horse or a steam train, when lighting was usually by gas and when communications involved either a hand-written letter or a telegram.

When millions of men were dying on the Western Front during World War 1 he was nowhere to be seen, and now I know why. He spent 1916 in a sanatorium in Switzerland, being treated for Tuberculosis. This is a horrible respiratory disease that killed or disabled many, but was under control in the UK before I was even born.

Alfred must have recovered from TB, because he rose to be a manager for Barclays Bank before retiring during World War 2, but there must have been lasting effects. There are various records of his athletic prowess before he caught TB, but a photograph from the 1920's shows him posing in a heavy overcoat, alongside a football team. That must surely have been frustrating for him.

Alfred died in 1964, at the age of 76. He lived a whole life and is genetically very close to me, and yet I only have brief snippets about him and can never truly know him. Now that's a mystery.(less)

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If you could travel to any fictional book world, where would you go and what would you do there?

David Dodds Oh, this is a tricky question - there are so many! I'm especially fond of Ben Aaronovitch's 'Rivers of London' series, but if I lived there I might be…moreOh, this is a tricky question - there are so many! I'm especially fond of Ben Aaronovitch's 'Rivers of London' series, but if I lived there I might be unaware of the hidden world of magick, which would be very disappointing.

Perhaps Andrew Caldicott's 'Rotherweird' trilogy. These have such a deliciously vivid and quirkly world: like ours, but slightly different, in ways that delight.

I could play safe with 'Harry Potter' of course. Who hasn't secretly wished themselves in that world? But I enjoy historical novels too and, with my love of the Anglo-saxon world, being dropped into one of Bernard Cornwell's 'Last Kingdom' books would be a wonderful experience.

If I'm truly honest with myself, I wrote 'Touchpaper' (and the sequel I'm currently writing) for myself. I have tried to bring together all the different elements that make me sit up and read faster when I read a book, so of course it's a world I would love to be immersed in for real.(less)

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Combine Editions
David Dodds’s books

Average rating: 4.35 · 82 ratings · 68 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	Touchpaper (Parallel Realm, #1) 4.25 avg rating — 63 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wyrm-galdr: The Parallel Realm Book 2 (The Parallel Realm series) 4.68 avg rating — 19 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

4 posts
David Dodds's Blog

What's coming next?

With 'Wyrm-galdr' published and getting a good response I'm now starting work on book 3 in the 'Parallel Realm' series, as well as some shorter pieces that fit between the books.

Would you like to join my ARC team and gat a free Advanced Review Copy (ARC) of book 3? If so, sign up on Booksprout now.
https://booksprout.co/reviewer/team/6...

If you'd like to stay up to date and receive extra content Read more of this blog post »

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Published on December 09, 2025 06:46

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David is Currently Reading

David Dodds is currently reading

The Ghoul On The Hill (The Hipposync Archives Book 2)

by D.C. Farmer (Goodreads Author)

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Aug 20, 2025 11:50AM

David Dodds is currently reading

The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language

by Mark Forsyth (Goodreads Author)

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May 29, 2025 06:28AM

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David’s Recent Updates

David Dodds made a comment on Nadine’s review of Wyrm-galdr: The Parallel Realm Book 2 (The Parallel Realm series) " Thanks Nadine! Book 3 is on its way. "
Feb 02, 2026 04:07AM · see review
David Dodds liked Nadine's review of Wyrm-galdr: The Parallel Realm Book 2 (The Parallel Realm series): "Perversely I've been putting off starting this one as I had an inkling I'd devour it and then have to wait months for book 3. The inkling wasn't wrong - this is fast becoming one of my favourite fantasy series."
Feb 02, 2026 04:07AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wyrm-galdr by David Dodds. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wyrm-galdr by David Dodds <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David Dodds made a comment on PalenMisha’s review of Wyrm-galdr: The Parallel Realm Book 2 (The Parallel Realm series) " Thanks very much! Don’t worry - we’re not finished with Mama Harbinger yet! "
Jan 28, 2026 07:07AM · see review
David Dodds liked PalenMisha's review of Wyrm-galdr: The Parallel Realm Book 2 (The Parallel Realm series): "I enjoyed reading about Drew and his surrounding found family in this solid second entry to the series. It picks up right where the first book left off and the story kept me interested all the way. I was sad Mamma Harbinger did not make an appearance" Read more of this review »
Jan 28, 2026 07:06AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wyrm-galdr by David Dodds. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wyrm-galdr by David Dodds <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David Dodds and 1 other person liked Gordon Blitz's review of Touchpaper: 'Parallel Realm' Book 1 (The Parallel Realm series): "In the cobblestone streets of Edinburgh, Touchpaper we meet Drew Macleod, who somehow gets drawn into a supernatural underworld that appears to exist alongside the real world. I found it a little confusing but eventually was won over by the world bui" Read more of this review »
Jan 18, 2026 12:51PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Touchpaper by David Dodds. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Touchpaper by David Dodds <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David Dodds and 2 other people liked Stefanie Verhelst's review of Wyrm-galdr: The Parallel Realm Book 2 (The Parallel Realm series): "This 2nd book is even better than the first one! You don’t necessarily have to read them in order, but still it’s best for the ultimate experience of the story! Spellbinding and action packed story that had me on the edge of my seat! The characters a" Read more of this review »
Jan 11, 2026 01:40PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wyrm-galdr by David Dodds. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wyrm-galdr by David Dodds <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David Dodds rated a book it was amazing Touchpaper (Parallel Realm, #1) by David Dodds (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I'm the author of this book, so I'm cautious what to write here! I'm proud of 'Touchpaper' and of the editor, proof-reader, beta-readers and designer who helped me ready it for publication. The rating I've given it is the current Amazon rating (4.6). ...more
Dec 25, 2025 05:06PM · 3 likes · like · see review
David Dodds joined the group Get Honest Book Reviews without Review Swaps
Dec 22, 2025 01:34PM · like
David Dodds made a comment on Rise-JK’s review of Wyrm-galdr: The Parallel Realm Book 2 (The Parallel Realm series) " Thanks for the review - really useful thoughts for me to work on. Best wishes, David "
Dec 14, 2025 12:25PM · see review
David Dodds made a comment on Kira Erickson’s review of Wyrm-galdr: The Parallel Realm Book 2 (The Parallel Realm series) " Hi Kira. Thanks for reading and reviewing both books. I'm really glad you enjoyed them. DD ...more "
Dec 14, 2025 12:24PM · see review