Uncommonly Verdant: An Arborous & Amorous Fairy Tale
Daria Vernon
“His vines were limned with the sheen of recent rain, and the fine roots that sprouted from his shoulders glowed white against the new sun…”
To ALTHEA, the mark she was born with is harmless, but to the denizens of her nameless village, it is an omen that will shatter their centuries-old truce with the forest and the vile sprites that inhabit it. When their crops go dry, all fingers point to her, and the cult that brokers peace with the forest sees to her ritual demise…
SILVANUS, guardian of the forest, is a prisoner to his woods—having lost all sense of time as the centuries of his reign begin to blur. That is, until he discovers a sacrificed woman in his glade and uses his wending vines to stitch her wound and resurrect her. In her, he discovers a mutually shunned soul and knows her sacrifice to be unjust. Yet, a dangerous ember in his chest warns that all is not well in his woods…
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UNCOMMONLY VERDANT is a 15,500 word novelette/novella short read. It's a sensual, dark fairytale fantasy that features on-the-page intimacy with a viny forest guardian. It explores some darker elements—cults, deadly creatures, ritual sacrifice—but concludes with an HEA.
Get Thee Off My Lawn
Daria Vernon
APRIL NIGHTINGALE wants the best for her swans, Gerald and Daphne, which is why she won’t rest until they mate for life. It would have happened by now if not for Gerald’s absurd penchant for the neighbor’s pond. But when April trespasses on the Derring lawns to reclaim her fowl, a fouler surprise awaits… As does a tall, handsome neighbor who can’t hold back his laughter at her folly.
LEOPOLD DERRING was not expecting this today: a swan thief in his pond. Trespassers are not much tolerated, but this one’s story is too amusing not to hear. And her gap-toothed, mischievous grin? Too enticing. But being her rescuer for a day was never going to be enough, and her swan—Gerald, was it?—might be the very thing to lure her back.
GERALD THE SWAN does as he pleases and paddling about on the Derring pond pleases him very much. Unfortunately for him, the twits who “own” his ponds are incapable of declaring affection through any means but swan theft and are in need of a graceful pawn.