Spring Tyde

The Dryad's Cede #0.5

by K.C. Simos

Chastain is a dryad who has spent decades alone in the meadow where her chestnut tree grows. When Freddie stumbles across the meadow one day, an unexpected friendship develops between the lonely dryad and the ten-year-old little prince. This is the story that led to the legend of the Dryad's Cede.

42 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2019

About the author

K. C. Simos is the author of middle-grade series 'The Dryad's Cede', and YA trilogy 'Ambrosia Chronicles'.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over four hundred years ago, a story began that would affect the lives of generations to come. Chastain is a wood nymph, a dryad, who shares her heart with a great chestnut tree in the middle of a meadow. Far from the neighboring forest, she often feels distant from her kin and spends her time appreciating the natural beauty around her. One day, a young boy finds his way to the base of Chastain’s tree and quietly spends his time unknowingly in her presence. After several visits, the two officially meet and forge an unforgettable friendship.

The prequel to Kindled Embers, the first in the Dryad’s Cede series, this short story explains the origin of the kingdom’s most prized possession. Though the story itself is short in length, its depth and beauty are reminiscent of the fairy tales it was inspired by. Mentions of magic, nature fairies, and far away kingdoms give the story the feeling of a forgotten fable, especially as it teaches several meaningful lessons in an accessible way.

Beautifully descriptive language gives readers a clear sense of the locations and emotions described in the story. The bond between Chastain and Prince Frederick is rich, transcending their individual backgrounds. As in many fairy tales, this story reflects the fact that it is those who are true of heart who are most deserving of life’s bounty.

Though this is a piece of the Dryad’s Cede series, Spring Tyde can easily be read on its own. Elegantly presented and memorable, this story is just the right length for its intended purpose. Readers who enjoy fairy tales, especially those by Hans Christian Andersen, will appreciate this reimagining and look forward to reading the other installments in this series. This is a delightful and well-written story for teens and adults of all ages.

I received a copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.

[Julia (Pages for Thoughts) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The short story of the friendship between Chastain and Prince Freddie in Spring Tide was beautiful, and I loved how the story spanned many years over the developing course of their relationship. While the ending is sad, it is also serene and sweet of how Chastain's legacy lived on. The ending also has an "aha!" moment, as it put some of the events in the first book, Kindled Embers, in greater context. I do wish that I had read Spring Tide first.