Wyrm-galdr

My name’s Drew Macleod and I can use galdr. You’d call it magic. I’m slowly developing my skills with the “help” of Archer. He’s a grumpy git, but he’s the last remaining daemon, so who else is going to protect Edinburgh from all the bad stuff out there? The angelii? Don’t make me laugh. If people had any idea what was going on out of sight they’d wet themselves and the angelii are as powerful as half-drowned kittens. So it’s down to Archer and I to fend off maras, sceadhus, shades, ælves and all the other nasties out there. There’s Garm of course, but as he manifests as a small, scruffy dog his help is limited to sarcastic advice. Thank heavens for Alyssum and Traggheim, herbalist and dweorg artisan respectively. And Jamie, the best mate I accidentally dragged into all this with me.

Wyrm-galdr is the second book in the popular parallel realm series. This original and imaginative series allows a quirky cast characters to lead us into a hidden and dangerous world. The contemporary setting and the richness of the characters holds attention in fast-paced and witty writing, full of plot twists and quirky details.

Reviews for 'Touchpaper' (Book 1)

"With its fun interpretation of urban fantasy tropes, humor, coziness, real Edinburgh history, elaborate world-building, formidable foe's, and fleshed out characters, Touchpaper is an absolute delight full of heart, surprises, and the occasional adorable dog fart." (Reedsy Discovery)

"One of those rare reads that stays with you long after you've put it down" (Facebook review)

I have been writing all my life. From short stories, written as a child on an elderly typewriter, via editing a university newsletter, I progressed to writing both fiction and non-fiction for a broad range of magazines and blogs, as diverse as Practical Wireless, Sailplane & Gliding and various wildlife and conservation publications.When I progressed to novel-writing I combined my love of history and mythology with magical realism, set in the dark wynds and closes of Edinburgh. My first novel, Touchpaper, the first in the Parallel Realm series was published in 2024. The second, Wyrm-galdr was published in late 2025.​I live in a former railway workers cottage in the Scottish Borders with my wonderful and creative wife Rona, a small and opinionated dog and an elderly one-eyed cat. Now retired from work as a bat ecologist, when not engaged in writing or small-dog-wrangling I help Rona with her successful plant nursery. I also enjoy flying gliders over the beautiful Scottish Borders and am privileged to train new pilots, in my role as a flight instructor.