- "He didn’t force her to join the faeries here, but he was her friend - her only friend. Until Jayce..."
- ―Rika
Desert Tales by Melissa Marr was originally published as a three volume manga series. It was later expanded into a full length novel with focus on previously mentioned characters whose stories she felt compelled to elaborate upon. It takes place between the events of the main novels Fragile Eternity and Radiant Shadows. It is told from the perspective of Rika.
Synopsis
The Mojave Desert was a million miles away from the plots and schemes of the Faerie Courts - and that is 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.
Cover
The cover image was taken by Mark Tucker, the gentleman who has photographed all of the covers for the Wicked Lovely Series. At this time, the names of the model nor the editor for the image have been released to the public.
Trivia
- The three volume manga series consists of Desert Tales: Sanctuary, Desert Tales: Challenge, and Desert Tales: Resolve.
- In February 2023, HarperCollins Publishers LLC reverted the rights to Desert Tales and Faery Tales and Nightmares to Marr. The novel is set to receive a secondary release as an ebook, hardcover, and paperback with new imaging.
- In April 2023, Marr announced her intentions to expand upon the novel in her secondary release.
- As the original novel was written as a direction expansion of the manga, there were many details that were omitted given it they would expand beyond the original setting. The secondary release will include these details.
- The two versions will be considered canon.