Blog Tour Part #2 - Darcy Guest Post: Haevyn and the Consequences of Emotional Cost

As part of the tour Darcy has kindly written us a post about her new book.

Thanks very much for having me here at Booked Up to talk about my Humanotica series which is published with Samhain Publishing.

First, a couple of definitions about the series. Humanotic: A blend of human form with machine operation and technology. Humanotica: Darcy’s scifantasy stories dealing with humanotic characters and the tone of the stories threaded with a very sensual/erotic/erotica tone. You can find out more about the terminology of this world at www.humanotica.com.

Today, I’d like to talk a bit about the emotional aspects of Haevyn. Emotion and how the characters deal with stress and frustration is at the core of the stories in the Humanotica series.

In Quentopolis women have been relegated to secondary status in many cases. Women, the working class society, lead a very difficult life. The Elite are treated more as pampered dolls, cosseted and spoiled, to be seen but not heard, with some similarity to that experienced in the 19th century. Yet, as with any society, there are some who do not tow the line, who break from this suffocating sort of bondage.

There are women–some surviving by their wits and intelligence, some by courage and an adventurous spirit–these are women who strive to break free. Some, like Silver from the first book in this series, end up paying a high price, including human and personal freedom. For some, such as the courtesan madam, Violette Goldswan, they wield their power through different, more shadowy avenues. And some, like Haevyn Breina, will attempt to rise through the more public ranks, clawing their way to a position where they have a chance of gaining societal acceptance as an equal, and gaining respect in the more demanding arena of this male-dominated society. None of this is accomplished without emotional cost. None of these women face and accept the challenges of this rather brutal society in quite the same way. For Haevyn, the rewards are worth the steep price. She does not back down from doing what must be done.

In Quentopolis, sexual relations and sexuality are very open and accepted parts of this society. For some it is about pleasure, for some it is a tool to rise through the ranks. Sex is used for negotiation; it is also a shared bond between friends. And it is also an art form, highly prized by a nobility class known as the Dominatae.

Haevyn Breina is of the Moondown Water District working class. Her parents were killed in a factory fire, leaving the care of her younger brother, Bhrett, in her hands. Responsibility came to her at a young age and she accepted it, along with every hardship and payment that security demanded. She gave up her virginity to a higher purpose and though it left her bruised and battered, she has never regretted her choices. When a brand new arm of the Regulate opens up to females, she jumps at the chance, even though strictly speaking the Compsociate Branch is considered by many to be simply a finely labeled government sanctioned army of courtesans in service to the upper Regulate officers. Haevyn accepts the challenge determined to rise within the ranks, but it is not without additional damage to her psyche.

Her lover and friend, Grisha, has served as her anchor, her “calm, safe haven” throughout her life. A simple fisherman, he is far distanced from the machinations of the political arena. But Grisha, more wise than Haevyn realizes, knows there is more that his lovely, wounded lover needs than the warm of his loving arms. He knows very well how close to the edge she really is. But so is his other lover, an expatriate Orictan warrior by the name of Entreus.

In any world an emotional cost must attach, though all creatures deal with trauma differently. Some will splinter, some will rise to meet the challenge of adversity and fashion it into their strength. Some bear an anger or rage–they try to ignore or funnel through some other channel. Entreus funnels his rage and frustration through the illegal Cockrage events. Haevyn tries to bury her anger beneath a veneer of tightly-held control. Grisha knows this about each of them and has a sense of their needs.

How these three people adapt, grow, and hopefully heal is at the emotional core of this story. The journey is complicated by a very dangerous and deadly enemy to the city-state whom they must battle.

This is the world of Humanotica. Find out more about “Haevyn,” the second book in the Humanotica series, available in March from Samhain Publishing.

Thanks for letting me share a little about this series.

Darcy Abriel Bio:
Darcy Abriel delights in the stories that flirt with the dark side of emotion and passion. Going back to the days of Saturday Night Chiller Theaters, series such as Twilight Zone and the Outer Limits, toss in a dash of Alfred Hitchcock and these are the stories that have always fascinated Darcy. That edgy sense of danger that leaves one tingling. Be it a roller coaster ride, a Dracula movie, or a good erotic horror read at the darkest slice of night. Visit the dark side with mystery and passion, eroticism and tingling fantasy. Explore what makes your heart pump faster, your blood run hotter, and the adrenaline surge. Darcy always looks forward to hearing from her readers and she may be contacted at darcy@darcyabriel.com . Don't forget to sign up for her newsletter, Torrid Tidbits, at http://groups.yahoo.com/AdriannaDane_DarcyAbriel-TorridTidbitsNewsletter.

Links:
Purchase link: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/haevyn-p-6704.html
Darcy’s website: http://www.darcyabriel.com
Darcy on Twitter: @Darcy_Abriel
Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/DarcyAbrielAuthor
Darcy's Blog: http://darcysnocturnalwhispers.blogspot.com/