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Jelena
Humans have forgotten the old ways, and no longer respect nature as they once did, or ask before taking what they want. They’ve forgotten about nature spirits, and the strength of the bond a dryad shares with their tree.
When an excited family come to the woods to choose their Christmas tree, and end up choosing the Frazer Fir to which Jelena is bonded, they make no attempt to warn her to find herself a new tree. Now all Jelena can do is watch in tearful dismay as her tree is cut down and taken away; feeling its pain through their shared bond as though it were her own.
Distraught and in pain, Jelena can do nothing to save her bonded tree. But she doesn’t have to share its fate; there’s a chance she can save herself. Will Jelena find the inner strength to survive the experience, and bond with a new tree before it’s too late? Or will she follow her bonded tree to the place where spirits are reborn?
*NOTE: this story – while not overly violent or graphic in nature – is not your average cheerful holiday story, so may not be suitable for younger or more sensitive readers.
When an excited family come to the woods to choose their Christmas tree, and end up choosing the Frazer Fir to which Jelena is bonded, they make no attempt to warn her to find herself a new tree. Now all Jelena can do is watch in tearful dismay as her tree is cut down and taken away; feeling its pain through their shared bond as though it were her own.
Distraught and in pain, Jelena can do nothing to save her bonded tree. But she doesn’t have to share its fate; there’s a chance she can save herself. Will Jelena find the inner strength to survive the experience, and bond with a new tree before it’s too late? Or will she follow her bonded tree to the place where spirits are reborn?
*NOTE: this story – while not overly violent or graphic in nature – is not your average cheerful holiday story, so may not be suitable for younger or more sensitive readers.
ebook
Published December 13, 2021
About the author
Victoria Zigler
62 books234 followersVictoria Zigler is a blind vegan poet and children's author. Born and raised in the shadow of the Black Mountains of Wales, UK, she moved away from Wales three times: once to spend six months living in Alberta, Canada, the other times to spend a few years living near Hastings on the South-East coast of England, UK, each time returning to Wales. Now she lives in Wales again, along with a West Highland White Terrier named Lilie, a Cavapoo named Logan, a Hermann’s Tortoise named Artemis, and her Canadian husband, Kelly.
Despite spending far too much time in hospital, and eventually losing her sight to Congenital Glaucoma, Victoria - or Tori, if you prefer - has been writing since she knew how, with no plans to stop any time soon. She has a long list of publications to her name, including several poetry collections, a whole load of children’s stories, a story in the sci-fi and fantasy anthology Wyrd Worlds II, three poems in the Poetry Treasures anthology, and a poem in the Stand Together charity anthology. Plus, Tori’s Hermann’s Tortoise, Artemis, was featured in both the Magnificent Pets Coloring Book For Children and the Magnificent Pets Mandala Coloring Book For Adults.
Vegan due to both a love for animals and dairy allergy, as well as an Eclectic Pagan, Tori describes herself as a combination of Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter books: Hermione’s thirst for knowledge and love of books, combined with Luna’s wandering mind and alternative way of looking at the world. She has a wide variety of interests, designed to exercise both the creative and logical sides of her brain, which she dabbles in at random depending on what she feels like doing at any given time, and is most likely to be found playing with her petkids, involved in calls with the ACB Community, curled up somewhere with a cup of tea and a book, working on some kind of craft project, or trying to keep one step ahead of those pesky typo fairies while writing her own books.
Despite spending far too much time in hospital, and eventually losing her sight to Congenital Glaucoma, Victoria - or Tori, if you prefer - has been writing since she knew how, with no plans to stop any time soon. She has a long list of publications to her name, including several poetry collections, a whole load of children’s stories, a story in the sci-fi and fantasy anthology Wyrd Worlds II, three poems in the Poetry Treasures anthology, and a poem in the Stand Together charity anthology. Plus, Tori’s Hermann’s Tortoise, Artemis, was featured in both the Magnificent Pets Coloring Book For Children and the Magnificent Pets Mandala Coloring Book For Adults.
Vegan due to both a love for animals and dairy allergy, as well as an Eclectic Pagan, Tori describes herself as a combination of Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter books: Hermione’s thirst for knowledge and love of books, combined with Luna’s wandering mind and alternative way of looking at the world. She has a wide variety of interests, designed to exercise both the creative and logical sides of her brain, which she dabbles in at random depending on what she feels like doing at any given time, and is most likely to be found playing with her petkids, involved in calls with the ACB Community, curled up somewhere with a cup of tea and a book, working on some kind of craft project, or trying to keep one step ahead of those pesky typo fairies while writing her own books.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 6, 2023
Jelena is a delightful and poignant story about a tree dryad whose bond to her Frazer Fir tree is broken when a family of humans select it for their Christmas tree. The author's beautiful writing shows Jelena's pain and loss when she is left without her tree which she knows is dying as it's been cut.
Interesting parallels are drawn between the pleasure of the human family who are delighted with their choice of tree and Jelena's loss as the fir's tree dryad. The humans are not bad, they are just ignorant of the implications of their actions.
The story is engaging and has a happy ending. Reading it to or with children will provide plenty of opportunities to discuss the impact of human activities on the natural world and ways of minimizing negative repercussions.
Interesting parallels are drawn between the pleasure of the human family who are delighted with their choice of tree and Jelena's loss as the fir's tree dryad. The humans are not bad, they are just ignorant of the implications of their actions.
The story is engaging and has a happy ending. Reading it to or with children will provide plenty of opportunities to discuss the impact of human activities on the natural world and ways of minimizing negative repercussions.
January 2, 2023
A wonderful short story following the lovely Jelena, a dryad and her bond to nature. I loved reading this book, I will also be producing it as an audiobook at the end of February! Keep an ear out!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews