Rusalka: A Supernatural Czech Fairy Tale - Paperback

by Odelia Floris (Author)

Based on Antonin Dvorak's opera Rusalka, which in turn was inspired by traditional Czech fairytales, this novelette tells of the water nymph Rusalka and her love for a human prince. A haunting supernatural love story suitable for readers of all ages.

With a look of deepest yearning, Rusalka reached out towards the sky with her tiny, pale hand. 'I want to leave the water and walk in the sun as a mortal!' She uttered this last word with trembling rapture. 'A mortal?' The Vodník was even more astonished. 'Yes, dear father, a mortal!' she cried, rising. 'It was you who told me: they have souls which are immortal, which rise up to heaven when they die!' The Vodník was sore troubled. 'Stay in the waters' embrace. Do not wish for a mortal soul! Mortal souls are full of wickedness!' 'And love!' Rusalka cried ardently, reaching her arms up as though calling it to the host of stars above too. 'By the eternal waters!' exclaimed the Vodník. 'Do you mean to say you love a mortal?'

Author Biography

Odelia Floris grew up in rural New Zealand on a diet of myths and fairy tales. From a young age she created imaginary characters and magical worlds. But rather than growing up and putting aside these flights of fancy as most do, she turned to art, painting and drawing as a teenager before taking to creative writing around the age of twenty-one. Her first novel, The Heart of Darkness, features a knight in rusty armour and a damsel determined to uncover his dark secrets. Beguile Me Not, a historical Romance set in colonial New Zealand, and The Little Demon Who Couldn't, a historical urban fantasy for children, followed. Her most recent book is In Want of a Wife, a Regency romance novella.

She always has at least to novels in progress and new story ideas keeping popping up faster than she can write them down. Odelia Floris has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Humanities, and qualifications in ecology, technical writing and journalism. She lives rurally on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. Her other passions include music, reading, nature and horse riding.