A Slow Parade in Penderyn: An Epic Fantasy Novella (The Dryad’s Crown, Book 1) by David Hopkins

Street urchin turned assassin, Silbrey escaped her life of violence by rushing into marriage and motherhood. But to keep her family safe, she must return to the city that once feared her and confront the cruel guildmaster who raised her.

Silbrey discovers there is much more to her past, beyond the familiar cobbled streets of Penderyn. What begins as a fairy tale transforms into an epic adventure about love and loss—and a woman with a strange connection to the natural world.

“In his series opener, Hopkins writes graceful and sinewy prose that vividly describes action, emotion, and inner life.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Overall, this is a welcome, inventive, humane fantasy, set at the scale of a single fascinating life.” — BookLife

“A fantastical yet deeply human tale filled with love, betrayal, and magic.” — Alison Kimble, author of Strange Gods