Rika used to be cursed. She used to hold the frozen ice of
winter in her, because she decided to take a chance on the
wrong person. Now, the curse has been lifted and she is
content to hide away in her desert. That is, she is content
until fate, or a meddlesome friend, pushes her to meet the
human she's been eyeing for a year, while at the same time,
other faeries are stirring up trouble around her. Rika can't
hide anymore, not from them or her past.
DESERT TALES is a companion to the Wicked Lovely series, a
series that I have always loved. As a fan of both them and
Melissa Marr's writing, DESERT TALES does not disappoint.
Rika is an ex-faery with a serious cold shoulder. She is
independent and quiet and still hurting from her past. Her
character immediately pulls you in. Her potential to be a
tough, kick butt leader is evident, and you want to root for
her from the first chapters. Alongside her character is the
clever, sneaky fox faery Sionnach who keeps you on your toes
as to whether or not he is good or bad. He quickly became my
favorite character in the story with his witty dialogue and
his tough love attitude.
With Rika, Sionnach, a few old characters from the Wicked
Lovely books, and a few new characters, the
relationships in
DESERT TALES are fantastic. The dynamics of whose side each
faery and human is on and what their true purpose is is
engaging and suspenseful. The level of surprise this story
throws out makes it a quick read and with all the elements
of exciting characters and wonderfully questionable
relationships, DESERT TALES is at heart just a completely
awesome story. The ending suits the story arc perfectly, and
it leaves you feeling at peace with the characters and where
they are.
For any fans of the Wicked Lovely series or for any
readers
looking for a good faery/action/romance story, this
definitely is worth reading (more than once).
Return to the world of Melissa Marr's bestselling series
and
discover how the events of Wicked Lovely set a different
faery tale in motion. . . . Originally presented as a
manga
series and now available for the first time as a stand-
alone
novel, Desert Tales combines tentative romance, outward
strength, and inner resolve in a faery story of desert
and
destiny.
The Mojave Desert was a million miles away from the plots
and schemes of the Faerie Courts—and that's exactly why
Rika
chose it as her home. The once-mortal faery retreated to
the
desert's isolation after decades of carrying winter's
curse
inside her body. But her seclusion—and the freedom of the
desert fey—is threatened by the Summer King's newfound
strength. And when the manipulations of her trickster
friend, Sionnach, thrust Rika into a new romance, she
finds
new power within herself—and a new desire to help
Sionnach
protect the desert fey and mortals alike. The time for
hiding is over.