Arvia: Heart of the Sky (Tales of Arvia #3) by D.H. Willison

 

Blurb

It takes great courage to stand against a ferocious mythic monster.

It takes far greater to stand WITH one who’s at her most vulnerable.

Tremors rock the land. Wild magic and creatures from the abyss ravage a formerly bountiful forest, while a creeping magic ailment spreads among the harpies. A fragile peace between harpy and human teeters on the brink.

Darin and Rinloh, oddest couple in all the land. They must become the oddest of heroes to save the land.

Heart of the Sky. A charming blend of whimsy, terror, and a lot of heart.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Arvia: Heart of the Sky is the third book in the Tales of Arvia series and best enjoyed having read the previous books. The author does include a little section at the beginning with a synopsis of what happened previously and I have to say that I smiled all the way as it was so witty and lighthearted. This fits the general feel of the series overall; charming, witty and lighthearted. The story is heartwarming even when the characters are in over their heads fighting scary monsters as the villagers and the harpies form an unlikely alliance to defeat a shared threat. The fragile friendships and bonding that take place between the villagers and the harpies make this a very relatable story.

I loved the humour in the book and the harpies are the source of much of it. They have an endless repertoire of slights and insults that they hurl at each other as terms of endearment. They play tricks on one another and they love a challenge.

I found myself reading through this book very quickly as the writing is so smooth and the story fast-paced. There isn't a dull moment in Arvia!

It would be terrific to see this series made into animated movies.

Heart of the Sky is out now. AMAZON

About the Author

D.H. Willison is a reader, writer, game enthusiast and developer, engineer, and history buff. He’s lived or worked in over a dozen countries, learning different cultures, viewpoints, and attitudes, which have influenced his writing, contributing to one of his major themes: alternate and creative conflict resolution. The same situations can be viewed by different cultures quite differently. Sometimes it leads to conflict, sometimes to hilarity. Both make for a great story.

He’s also never missed a chance to visit historic sites, from castle dungeons, to catacombs, to the holds of tall ships, to the tunnels of the Maginot Line. It might be considered research, except for the minor fact that his tales are all set on the whimsical and terrifying world of Arvia. Where giant mythic monsters are often more easily overcome with empathy than explosions.

Subscribe to his newsletter for art, stories, and humorous articles (some of which are actually intended to be humorous).