The hero of The Ruby Kiss is a nightstalker. In my Magic Knot fairy world, this means he is a black, human-sized fairy with wings, and a vampire! He has been a major secondary character in the first two books in the series, and he’s had a tough ride, so it was time I gave him his own happy ending.
When I wrote The Magic Knot, the first in my fairy series, I never intended Nightshade to play such a major part in the books. He started life as the villain’s sidekick, but as soon as he appeared on the page, he took on a life of his own. This scary winged man, who I’d intended to simply be a threat to the heroine, turned out to be far more than that. His tragic past gradually came out. He ended up changing sides and working with the hero and heroine to make up for the bad things he had done.
I received more emails from readers asking about Nightshade than about any of the other characters. His popularity surprised me!
He still had some issues to deal with in book two, The Phoenix Charm (he was in love with the hero!). But by the end of that story, he was ready to move on and find a heroine of his own.
When I first started dreaming up a heroine for Nightshade, I knew she had to be an unusual woman, a strong woman. He has always been attracted to strength and power, which is why he went after men. So Ruby is not your normal heroine. She is stubborn and feisty, and although she’s not your classic, kick-ass heroine, she is not afraid to stand up to the villains and tell them what she thinks of them and try to outwit them.
Ruby is Scottish, and in this installment of the series, the couple spends most of their time in the Scottish Unseelie fairy court. They get tangled up with the Seelie/Unseelie fairy court politics, and Ruby’s unrealized power makes her a desirable asset. This puts her right in the middle of the power struggle.
I had a lot of fun creating the Scottish fairy courts and the characters who populate them. The book draws on both Celtic and Norse mythology with a touch of Arabian in there as one of the main secondary characters is a djinn, who first appeared in The Phoenix Charm.
In The Ruby Kiss, Nightshade finally lays his demons to rest and realizes what it is he really needs to make him happy—and that is Ruby!
I love reading about all types of mythology, and I’ve drawn on Celtic and Norse mainly for The Ruby Kiss. That said, my favorite mythology to read about is that of India. The Hindu gods and the stories that surround them always fascinate me. I have pictures of Krishna over my desk for inspiration! Do you have a favorite mythology that always makes you pick up a book?
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I love reading about seemingly bad guys that change sides. Nothing is ever pure black or pure white…gray areas exist in us all. It’s interesting to find out back story…you never know what happened because of decisions made or circumstances that existed… it all comes together to make an interesting character.
Between The Magic Knot and the Phoenix Charm, I fell deeply in love with your world. Enough that I even let a friend borrow my books to read them. I wanted to have another person to love the world as I do.
Nightshade is so different than your average characters, so I can see his popularity. Hey I like him too! I do hope the characters from the past books make an appearance and I can’t not wait until The Ruby Kiss! I’ve been anticipating this since Phoenix Charm!
I find the creatures in your book interesting. I want to meet your nightstalker because in part it’s a vampire (my favorite paranormal creature) and part something else.
A change of heart when shown the truth that makes for a lively read. I can’t wait!
I enjoy mythology especially celtic, but throw other cultures in as well and it works for me.
I’m glad Nightshade is getting his own story. Bad guys turned Hero are a tribute to the power of love & redemption
Great review, Sandy. This series sounds absolutely delicious! I’m putting it on my Christmas wish list today and Santa better come through…or else.
I’ve been reading this series since it came out, so I would love to add this one to my collection! I’d love to see how Helen turns a villain into a hero.
Hi Debi, I agree that it is all shades of gray. I love taking seemingly bad guys and showing a reason for their actions that people can understand, even if they still don’t agree with what the character did.
Hi Raonaid, I’m delighted you have enjoyed the other two books in the series. I hope you find The Ruby Kiss lives up to expectations.
Hi Na S, It’s strange. When I dreamed up Nightshade, his being a vampire was important, but he seems to have grown past that during the three books. He turned out to be so much more!
Hi Lisa, thanks for stopping by to read my guest blog!
Hi Liz, I enjoy Celtic mythology too. I am surrounded by it where I live in the English Westcountry. There are Celtic crosses all over the place and many local stories that are Celtic in origin. I started with Celtic, but then other mythologies seemed to get drawn into the story as I developed the world.
Hi Sandy, I agree. Sandy did a great review of the story. Glad you like the sound of it.
Helen
Hi Margay, glad to hear you have read the rest of the series. Hope The Ruby Kiss lives up to your expectations.
Helen
I love when secondary characters get their own book.Especially ones that go from bad to good.
Can’t wait to read his story.
Hi elaing8, thanks for stopping by to read my guest blog!
Helen
I should have said this first. Thank you to Sandy M for having me as a guest today. And thank you for the wonderful review of The Ruby Kiss.
Helen
Wow, Helen, now I have to go buy your books! These stories sound awesome. And I love it when characters from one book show up in the next books. I never got that NY thing about not carrying over our best characters! Craziness. 🙂 They’re like real people. We can’t just abandon them. IMO 🙂
Hi Regina, I also love to follow the same characters through a series. They end up being like old friends. Thanks for stopping by to leave a comment.
Helen
My pleasure, Helen! Thank you for a terrific series of books. Love them all!
Wow! Your books sound incredible.
I am a huge fan of unusual heroes; sometimes even those that some may find to be too ‘gamma’ than the alpha that they look for.
Definitely putting these up as my wishlist
Hi Maldivianbookreviewer, If, as your name suggests, you are in the Maldives, then I am jealous! I’m looking out the window at good old British rain. Thanks for stopping by to check out my guest blog.
Helen