The realm’s worst monster might turn out to be your truest friend.
That was the idea behind Harpyness is Only Skin Deep. And the friendship (and later romance) that blossomed therein, now spans five novels. I’ve had people ask, why harpies? After all, everyone knows dragons, why not just use a dragon? Aside from the fact that I love featuring lesser-known fantasy creatures in my stories, harpies come with a delightfully dark reputation. In contrast to dragons, they are almost universally portrayed as evil in works of myth and fiction. Calling a woman a harpy is a severe insult. In D&D they are classed as ‘chaotic evil.’ In some ancient Greek myths they are literally a punishment from the gods against the unfaithful. But within that idea was the seed of an interesting question. If they punish the unfaithful with all their fury, how would they respond to someone who shows them compassion and integrity?
And that was the start of Tales of Arvia. There are other things that drew me to harpies, of course. The duality of them incorporating both ferocious and beautiful physical features. The way a culture would have evolved without hands. The challenges of a relationship where one partner lacked hands. The forbidden friendship/romance aspect. And quite a few more. Why not read for yourself?
Harpyness is Only Skin Deep is available in eBook, paperback, hardcover, and now audiobook!
Kindle ebook (Kindle ASIN: B082Z44YDG)
Paperback (ISBN: 9781678882334)
Hardcover (ISBN: 9781078783361)
Audiobook is available in over 40 global outlets, including Spotify, Kobo, Google Play, and Nook. Listen to an audio preview here. If you subscribe to Spotify Premium, you can listen for free!
On the mythic world of Arvia death comes on swift wings
Though if you’re exceptionally lucky, so do cuddles
Unassuming human Darin yearns with every fiber of his being to be that grand hero from countless books and games. When given the chance for a one-way trip to the fantastical world of Arvia, he quickly realizes he’s terrible at it. Yet the qualities he’s always undervalued—quick-wittedness and empathy—save his life when he encounters the fierce harpy Rinloh.
Harpies: worst of the monsters, ferocious, cruel, and unrelenting. Yet her friendship with a hapless human adventurer shows Rinloh the best in herself.
Harpyness is Only Skin Deep kicks off the adventures of Arvia’s unlikeliest heroic duo, blending heart-pounding adventures with humorous and heartfelt cozy moments. If you’re ready to laugh, to cry, and to cheer for the underdogs, Tales of Arvia is ready for you.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing. If so, fair reviews are extremely helpful.
Goodreads page is here
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