The constant cloud cover formed the lowest layer of the Cap, a protective barrier between Gray City and the rest of Alternia. The Cap had many faces but only one function—to keep magic out of Gray City. 

The Honesty of Wings

I’m currently working on Book Two of The Corvid Legacy. Book Two (no, I don’t have a title yet) picks up right where The Honesty of Wings ended, and you’ll get to explore more of Alternia’s territories and meet new characters—there just may be a feisty bat-winged girl among them. My goal is to release in 2025 followed by a novella that will sit between books two and three.

Until then, scroll down to get to know the main characters a little better. You can also get early access to new and exclusive content by signing up for my newsletter here.

And definitely check out Story Aesthetics. I had fun playing with all the lovely pictures on Pinterest and created some pretty cool aesthetics for The Corvid Legacy series.

Meet the Characters

  • Rya

    An aspiring ballerina whose oldest friend is a gargoyle

  • Bray

    Son of the Sea Witch with the uncanny ability to detect hidden jewels deep in the ocean

  • Vale

    A Corvid whose wings of gold keep him grounded when he just wants to fly

Rya

Rya was six-years-old when Trudy and Luke Mackey adopted her, and eight when her little brother, Connor, joined the family. Until then, she’d resided at the Tuttlefield Children’s Home and delighted in her daily visits with Fallon, her own personal gargoyle guardian. Together, they soared the skies above Gray City, zig-zagging between buildings, weaving between the towers of Sky Bridge, or skimming the waters of The Horn River (Mistress Tuttlefield tsk-tsked whenever she came home soaking). When she moved to her new home, Fallon became a permanent resident on the rooftop.

As a child, she loved to accompany her father to the Knowledge Center, where he was Curator, and visiting the (almost) life-sized dioramas of the six territories of Alternia. Even as a teenager, she still loves to visit, her favorite exhibit being the Green where the trees are nearly as tall as a skyscraper and winged human-hybrids soar through the sky. She hopes to visit one day, though the idea of leaving the Gray, her home, comes with some trepidation. It is said people change outside the protective charms of the Cap. Magic happens. The idea both thrills and frightens her. But her father regularly visits the Green and occasionally other territories without harm, after all, only those with silver in their blood are at risk of transforming to their cursed forms. Not knowing anything about her origins, the idea she could be cursed plays at the back of her mind. 

But mostly what’s on Rya’s mind is ballet. She started ballet lessons in the orphanage and formerly joined a ballet school when she was nine. Her best friend, Cass, who lives two floors down from her is also a very talented ballerina, and they are in constant, but friendly, competition for the lead roles (Cass gets most of them). Rya hopes to be picked up by a touring company and dance across the realms (providing she is not cursed!).

Her favorite place to end the day is on her rooftop. So if you’re ever in Gray City and looking for Rya, your best bet is to look up!

Bray

Bray has the best of both worlds – living in the underwater city of Atlantica and spending summers up top on Black Coral Beach. Fins below, feet up top! He loves his merrow life--racing through the water, riding wild waves, exploring sea caves--but he also enjoys the feel of the sun on fresh skin, riding his horse, and, of course, Jubilee, the biggest party of Blue Point island. Every summer, merrow and humans gather to celebrate the beginning of Migration when nearly all merrow leave Atlantica to spend the summer on land. Sunshine, sand, and lemonade!

But, growing up as the son of the Sea Witch hasn’t been all it’s cracked up to be. You’d think being the first male child born to a Sea Witch, would make Bray pretty special, maybe even powerful. The exact opposite. Other than an uncanny ability to sense and discover new jewel stones in the mines, he has no magic at all. Nada. Zip. Zero. Yet, he still holds the thinnest thread of hope that he’ll become the next Sea Witch. At least he did until... well let’s not spoil things now.

Bray’s biggest love is Gem, the Sea King’s daughter. He and Gem grew up together--playing hide and seek at Shipwreck Park, enduring exceedingly boring royal ceremonies (some of their greatest pranks were born then), playing jellyfish dodge (Gem never got stung, but for Bray, it was often a painful game). And the amount of times they got into trouble. Well, it seemed they were always getting in trouble. Especially when Gem and her friends pretended to be sirens and lured a young human girl into the waters. They weren’t allowed to see each other for a month after that incident. It was the longest month of Bray’s life. 

As far as Bray is concerned, all he needs is the freedom of the ocean, the warmth of the sun, and Gem. And maybe a little magic.

 

Ah! The life of the merrow! 

Vale

Vale has questions. So many questions. Like why was he left on Duchess Zorinna’s doorstep when he was a baby? Will he ever be able to fly again? Is his biological family still out there somewhere? 

Each of his siblings could ask that last one as well. They’re all adopted, and are as different from each other as can be. His older sister, Myth, is the last known of her kind—a pure Golden One. Head-to-toe gold and with the annoying trait of always getting to the truth. It is literally impossible to lie to her. His younger sister, Ivory, is a delicate Dragonian child, flitting around on gossamer green wings. She talks constantly. All. The. Time. She also cries a lot, but he and Myth are working on a cure for that curse. And his little brother, Blayze, is a fiery-headed child with tiger-like eyes and the uncanny ability to hide in plain sight. Then there is their mother, Duchess Zorinna, who wields the power of gold at her fingertips. But as different as they all are, they work. They are family, and he couldn’t imagine his life without them. Still, he has questions.

Mostly, Vale hangs out with his Fae buddy, Fritz, who spends more time in Lux Village than the faerie realm. They are well-known among the local drinking establishments, and more often than not find themselves in some sort of trouble. Like the time Fritz glamoured them so they could sneak into the Battian compound. Of course, that had ended somewhat dangerously when their glamour wore off. But still… good fun.

Vale plans to get his questions answered, and his first step is to ask, no demand, that his mother stop golding his wings. Every layer adds weight, and not just to his feathers. The last time he flew, his wings were as blue-black as any Corvid’s. He was six and may have had a little too much fun spooking the unicorns. For a long time, he thought the Duchess was punishing him with her gold, but turns out she’s trying to protect him. That begs another question.

Protect him from what?