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Spellster Universe #0.6
Willow
Ylva, a young dwarven woman, is captured by the enemy and comes face to face with their most powerful weapon.
- GenresFantasyShort Stories
11 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2016
15 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Aldrea Alien
17 books189 followersMother. Animal lover. Vampire. Fangirl.
Aldrea Alien is a multi-award-winning, USA Today Bestselling, bisexual and genderfluid author from New Zealand. She writes fantasy romance of varying heat levels and sexualities.
She grew up on a small farm out the back blocks of a place known as Wainuiomata alongside a menagerie of animals, who are all convinced they're just as human as the next person (especially the cats). She spent a great deal of her childhood riding horses, whilst the rest of her time was consumed with reading every fantasy book she could get her hands on and concocting ideas about a little planet known as Thardrandia. This would prove to be the start of The Rogue King Saga as, come her twelfth year, she discovered there was a book inside her.
Aldrea now lives in Upper Hutt, on yet another small farm with a less hectic, but still egotistical, group of animals (cats will be cats). She still hasn't yet found an off switch to give her an ounce of peace from the characters plaguing her mind, a list that grows bigger every year with all of them clamouring for her to tell their story first. It's a lot of people for one head.
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Aldrea Alien is a multi-award-winning, USA Today Bestselling, bisexual and genderfluid author from New Zealand. She writes fantasy romance of varying heat levels and sexualities.
She grew up on a small farm out the back blocks of a place known as Wainuiomata alongside a menagerie of animals, who are all convinced they're just as human as the next person (especially the cats). She spent a great deal of her childhood riding horses, whilst the rest of her time was consumed with reading every fantasy book she could get her hands on and concocting ideas about a little planet known as Thardrandia. This would prove to be the start of The Rogue King Saga as, come her twelfth year, she discovered there was a book inside her.
Aldrea now lives in Upper Hutt, on yet another small farm with a less hectic, but still egotistical, group of animals (cats will be cats). She still hasn't yet found an off switch to give her an ounce of peace from the characters plaguing her mind, a list that grows bigger every year with all of them clamouring for her to tell their story first. It's a lot of people for one head.
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 16, 2019
Willow: A Spellster Short Story by Aldrea Alien is a fantasy fiction tale about a highly respected dwarf named Ylva—a hedgewitch of the High Circle—who has been captured by humans and brought to a castle in an attempt to crush her connection to nature, the essence of her being, like they have done to so many other dwarves before her. The short story encompasses the end of Ylva's journey from her homeland to the castle by boat, and the brief but highly emotional walk from the dock to the courtyard of the castle where she is confronted with an excruciating and soul crushing scene: the cruel enslavement of one of nature's most beautiful creations, now confined and corrupted in the most unnatural and dangerous ways.
Willow is more than just a bit of fantasy. This is, first and foremost, a work of literary fiction that harnesses fantasy into its story line. Aldrea Alien writes with superb eloquence that is unusual to find in the genre, evoking emotion through descriptions that are piercing....
The pier creaked, its wood, both dead and alive in the fresh water, had been left to scream in its half-submerged agony.
Both the narrative and story enchant, accomplishing this in a weighty and substantial tone throughout Willow's beautiful tale. This is not a light story, nor does it culminate into a frothy, auspicious finale. It grips and it holds, resonating for long after the last line is read. I have not read any other work by this author and even though my first foray is a short story, I'm inclined to see what Alien can deliver when given the opportunity to stretch her storytelling roots into a full length novel.
Very highly recommended.
Review written for Readers' Favorite.
Willow is more than just a bit of fantasy. This is, first and foremost, a work of literary fiction that harnesses fantasy into its story line. Aldrea Alien writes with superb eloquence that is unusual to find in the genre, evoking emotion through descriptions that are piercing....
The pier creaked, its wood, both dead and alive in the fresh water, had been left to scream in its half-submerged agony.
Both the narrative and story enchant, accomplishing this in a weighty and substantial tone throughout Willow's beautiful tale. This is not a light story, nor does it culminate into a frothy, auspicious finale. It grips and it holds, resonating for long after the last line is read. I have not read any other work by this author and even though my first foray is a short story, I'm inclined to see what Alien can deliver when given the opportunity to stretch her storytelling roots into a full length novel.
Very highly recommended.
Review written for Readers' Favorite.
May 5, 2017
This story story has a very intriguing storyline which will "hook" you right in. Ylva, a young dwarven woman, is captured by the enemy. We start her story on a boat as she is being led towards her capture's most powerful weapon. The author provides us with wonderful detail of the world we have been transported into. I just wish the story hadn't ended so abrupt.
November 25, 2024
4/5
It is kind of a sad fantasy short story where dwarf, Ylva, was captured and taken to the castle to break her connection to nature. There she sees a willow…
It was well-written and very easy to read.
It is kind of a sad fantasy short story where dwarf, Ylva, was captured and taken to the castle to break her connection to nature. There she sees a willow…
It was well-written and very easy to read.
June 13, 2017
Great reading by a wonderful author of many books. Kept my interest even though it was a short story
August 26, 2019
Seriously different. I really would like to see this story expanded into a novel.
May 22, 2020
This book caught my attention from the first paragraph.
I just wish that it did not end so quickly.
I am going to read this series because I am hooked.
I just wish that it did not end so quickly.
I am going to read this series because I am hooked.
June 16, 2018
Sad story
This was a very sad story. Thought it was well written and we'll thought out. Would like to read more by this author.
This was a very sad story. Thought it was well written and we'll thought out. Would like to read more by this author.
December 13, 2018
This was good even for such a short story
It pulled you in and left you wanting more
Was sad but also left you wondering what was next
It pulled you in and left you wanting more
Was sad but also left you wondering what was next
April 22, 2017
Intriguing storyline
My interest was captured quickly and until when the takes stop in "silence" . I want more. ....when is the sequel coming?
My interest was captured quickly and until when the takes stop in "silence" . I want more. ....when is the sequel coming?
January 3, 2017
This genre-bending short story unfolds itself gently until it springs its trap. I metaphorically walked into this blindly with no foreknowledge of the author or what she writes. Well-written and compelling and I'll say no more so you may enjoy the full power of the tale absent spoilers.
January 24, 2017
I think that this book is very good, and I would recommend this book for people of ALL ages.
This book is one of the best that I have ever read in my entire LIFE!
I give this book 5 STARS.
This book is one of the best that I have ever read in my entire LIFE!
I give this book 5 STARS.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
This short fantasy tale has an intriguing premise — a young dwarven woman named Ylva is captured by the enemy and must confront their most powerful weapon. The setup promises tension, world-building, and a test of courage, and to its credit, it delivers moments of intensity and heart.
That said, the story feels more like a snapshot than a full journey. The world is interesting but underdeveloped, and the pacing moves so quickly that there isn’t much time to connect deeply with Ylva or understand the stakes beyond the surface level. The confrontation itself is compelling, but it ends just as things start to get truly exciting.
In short: A decent fantasy concept with flashes of depth, but it could use more breathing room to fully immerse readers in Ylva’s struggle. Fans of bite-sized fantasy stories will enjoy it, but those looking for rich lore or emotional weight may find it a bit too brief.
This short fantasy tale has an intriguing premise — a young dwarven woman named Ylva is captured by the enemy and must confront their most powerful weapon. The setup promises tension, world-building, and a test of courage, and to its credit, it delivers moments of intensity and heart.
That said, the story feels more like a snapshot than a full journey. The world is interesting but underdeveloped, and the pacing moves so quickly that there isn’t much time to connect deeply with Ylva or understand the stakes beyond the surface level. The confrontation itself is compelling, but it ends just as things start to get truly exciting.
In short: A decent fantasy concept with flashes of depth, but it could use more breathing room to fully immerse readers in Ylva’s struggle. Fans of bite-sized fantasy stories will enjoy it, but those looking for rich lore or emotional weight may find it a bit too brief.
August 30, 2024
…Legend said that even in the most barren lands, the soil alone could, for a time, lend its strength to one in need.
Ylva is a young dwarven woman. She’s on a boat. In the lake. Being held prisoner.
As the vessel approaches the castle, they pass by Ylva’s village.
Ylva is “a hedgewitch of the High Circle.” She loves living in the forest, but Ylva has been in captivity for two weeks now.
The humans are taking her to an island: the Gilded Cage. It’s a prison, of sorts.
Ylva is able to sense vibes from nature; the trees and other plants show her evils of the past.
The willow tree has been “tamed.”
Something called The Silence is an ominous threat.
Rather mysterious for a work of its length, but also intriguing…until the gut-punch of a sad ending.
She’d show these earth-deaf heathens they could not break all of her people.
Ylva is a young dwarven woman. She’s on a boat. In the lake. Being held prisoner.
As the vessel approaches the castle, they pass by Ylva’s village.
Ylva is “a hedgewitch of the High Circle.” She loves living in the forest, but Ylva has been in captivity for two weeks now.
The humans are taking her to an island: the Gilded Cage. It’s a prison, of sorts.
Ylva is able to sense vibes from nature; the trees and other plants show her evils of the past.
The willow tree has been “tamed.”
Something called The Silence is an ominous threat.
Rather mysterious for a work of its length, but also intriguing…until the gut-punch of a sad ending.
She’d show these earth-deaf heathens they could not break all of her people.
May 30, 2021
3.5*
A very interesting concept that has little growth in some ways but not enough in others. I get that this is a small companion to the rest of the series but I feel a little lacking. I love the premise as well as the powers but don’t understand why any of it is happening. If I wasn’t told in the blurb she was dwarven I wouldn’t have known. I will be interested to see how this grows from here.
A very interesting concept that has little growth in some ways but not enough in others. I get that this is a small companion to the rest of the series but I feel a little lacking. I love the premise as well as the powers but don’t understand why any of it is happening. If I wasn’t told in the blurb she was dwarven I wouldn’t have known. I will be interested to see how this grows from here.
July 25, 2017
Well that was short and maybe because it was so short it is also confusing. I love the writers style but this is my first book and I have no clue what this was really about and what it may be from here forward. This may have been better if released after there was more background into what it is. As it is I am confused.
August 4, 2017
This might have been a good story if there had been more to it. As it stands it is not much for me to judge by , there was a very small content to go by. A girl is kidnapped by someone, goes on a boat ride to with her captors to a castle , basically the whole story the end. The writing was good, but not much of a story.
August 2, 2022
After reading a freebie from the author's newsletter, I purchased this short intro story, and, damn, this one hit me in the gut. Alien packed so much emotion into every word, and I could feel Ylva's devastation at what happened to her. I did find that part a little unclear, yet I still enjoyed reading this intense but short tale.
February 21, 2023
This is not a story. A story has a beginning, a middle and an end. Where's the middle? Where's the end?
The prose is good enough. The magic is interesting enough, but where's the story, and what makes this erotic? Come on Aldrea, give it up!
The prose is good enough. The magic is interesting enough, but where's the story, and what makes this erotic? Come on Aldrea, give it up!
July 21, 2017
More in the series, Please!
More in the series, Please! Aldrea Alien short story Willow has me wanting more. I need to know all! A fan.
More in the series, Please! Aldrea Alien short story Willow has me wanting more. I need to know all! A fan.
August 24, 2018
A Nightmarish Fantasy Short which appears to be an attempt to sell books in the series. Not enough story here to make an impression and like too many self-published works needs more editing.
September 9, 2019
An evil empire. A sole captive. A soul ripped asunder. Well written but I have no interest in learning more.
Haunting. Scary. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable.
Haunting. Scary. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable.
February 18, 2020
Very short story. Basically one chapter.
I really want to know how they did that. She seems strong enough to resist them. Tomorrow is a new day they will regret.
I really want to know how they did that. She seems strong enough to resist them. Tomorrow is a new day they will regret.
March 15, 2025
The writing in this very short story was good, but it wasn't developed enough for me.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews