Shadow Magic

Dec 22

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Shelby Oval Author Interview

Out of Embers and Shadows follows a woman navigating a fiery landscape in which rival nations are engaged in war as she simultaneously faces the truth about her past. Where did the idea for this novel come from?

In truth the idea stemmed from a long hike where I considered dragons and war. As we hiked both up and then back down a mountain in Slovenia I distracted myself from the grueling steepness by imagining dragons and the dynamics that would be at play if I had a dragon and others did not. Then I began to build a war around that idea and thus the Shadowfire series sparked to life.

How did you balance magic and its use throughout the story to keep it believable?

Magic is alive everywhere and for fantasy readers, I think it’s important to make it as a part of the characters as breathing is. Lora doesn’t just have shadow magic when she needs it, she feels the pulse of her power along her arms, in her very blood. She uses shadows that are already there and her magic dances with the flames from Emir or Garrison. Magic is not simply used; it is in every fiber of these characters’ being. I think having it that way helps to make the world more immersible and the magic more believable.

Lora is a memorable main character. What was the inspiration for her traits and dialogue?

I LOVE reading books that have strong female leads who are unapologetically themselves (Think Jude from Cruel Prince or Aelin from Throne of Glass). As I started really diving into the fantasy genre, I realized a lot of the female leads still leaned heavily on their male counterparts – either to train them or support them emotionally. I got tired of this so instead of searching for a book that had an already confident and highly skilled female lead – I wrote one!

Can you give us a peek inside book 2 in this series? Where will it take readers?

Book 1 is such a whirlwind and book 2 immediately picks up where book 1 leaves off. You follow Lora and Kalon as they grapple with their new “relationship” all while Lora is trying to rediscover herself while still running from her past. There are definitely more twists and turns in this one and I am excited to see how readers react to certain actions and revelations!

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon

War. Betrayal. And a bargain that could change it all.

In a world where the clash between rival nations ignites the flames of war, Lora finds herself thrust into a whirlwind of unexpected alliances and dangerous secrets. Forged with a singular purpose, she was meant to be the weapon that brings down the Shades’ greatest foes, the war-mongering Drakes.
But fate has other plans when Lora is captured by the very enemy she was trained to destroy. Desperate to escape, Lora is offered a bitter bargain: aid her enemies in their quest, and in return, she’ll be granted freedom from the relentless grip of war.

Lora must navigate the murky waters of trust and betrayal, where the boundaries between friend and foe blur with each passing moment.

If you’ve already sacrificed everything, what else is there to lose?

Dive into a realm brimming with magic, dragons, and unexpected twists in Out of Embers and Shadows. Perfect for fans of thrilling adventures like Throne of Glass and The Bridge Kingdom, this epic fantasy will whisk you away on a journey of bravery, betrayal, and the enduring power of friendship. This tale includes an enemies-to-lovers romance, an endearing found family, LGBT representation, a battle of good versus evil, a journey of self discovery, and so much more.

Join Lora as she embarks on a journey that will test her courage, challenge her beliefs, and ultimately define her fate. Prepare to be spellbound from the very first page — click now and lose yourself in the adventure!

Posted on December 22, 2024, in Interviews and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.

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