Who's willing to make the sacrifices needed to control the desert? Will Rika choose between Jace and Keenan? Lovely artwork. ( )

Summary: The former Winter Girl Rika, like all of the fairies that live in the desert, are independent, unsworn to any fairy court. Rika - head-over-heels for her new human boyfriend Jayce - is more than content to let her friend Sionnach keep order amongst the desert fey. But then Sionnach is hurt and Keenan, the Summer King, comes calling to demand their fealty, and Rika must decide where she really stands.

Review: I don't know how Melissa Marr does it. Court politics and subtle political maneuvering are rarely my favorite subjects, whether we're talking about fairy courts or historical human ones. Fairy politics is pretty much the only thing this story contains, which would ordinarily be a bad sign, but once again, Marr handles it brilliantly and even makes me care. It didn't hurt that Donia is far and away my favorite character in the main Wicked Lovely novels, so the plight of a former Winter Girls is enough to grab my attention by itself.

I don't particularly care for the artwork, though. Manga is just not my thing; I find it hard to tell the characters apart, especially those with the same hair color, and the big eyes and pointy chins make everyone look like a girl. Still, the story interests me enough that I'll continue to put up with the art style. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Not independent, either of the first volume of the Desert Tales comics or of at least the first book in the Wicked Lovely series, but for fans of Marr's, the comics are a fun addition. ( )

Rika is starting to enjoy her relationship with Jayce, the male mortal. However, that relationship is being threatened by various factors: Shy is injured by Maili, Keenan is getting insistent on her accepting his help, and being manipulated by various fey to be a contender for ruler of the desert. How will she deal with everything?

A very interesting sub-story of the Wicked Lovely world, and cannot wait for the ending. ( )