One Taste of Euphoria follows a kingdom threatened by a criminal guild, a young woman unraveling the mysteries of her powers, and characters whose quests for justice, love, and happiness carry dangerous consequences. What inspired the idea behind this book?

This is the third installment in The Legends of Baelon series, so the inspiration for it really came from the storyline preceding it. The series builds on itself, with each book leaving the reader with a sense of satisfaction, but also a clear message that the story is not finished. 

How has Sibil Dunn’s evolution as the Wisperal allowed you to explore the tension between extraordinary power and emotional vulnerability?

Sibil’s evolution presented an interesting challenge because she’s exploring that tension herself, and the reader gets to go along for the ride. She’s young and emotional, but also strong-willed and capable, so she wrestles with being both at the same time. Complicating matters is her uncertainty surrounding the origin of her powers. Are they inherited from her mother? Do they stem from the mysterious plant, Euphoria? Or are they just a part of her natural maturation? Regardless, it’s fun to write about a character who has so many strengths, and yet is so emotionally vulnerable–you don’t often get to see that in real life.

In Carson’s pursuit of the Takers’ Guild, how did you approach the moral complexities of distinguishing justice from personal revenge? 

For a number of the protagonists (Rolft Aerns, Sibil and Tristan share the same dilemma) the pursuit of personal revenge is a strong motivator. But Marshal Carson tends to be more reasoned than most. His primary allegiance is to the crown and King Axil, and he uses that allegiance to help filter out his personal agendas. 

As the third installment in the Legends of Baelon series, how does One Taste of Euphoria deepen the consequences of earlier choices while introducing new conflicts?

Most of the characters in this story, protagonists and antagonists alike, have numerous opportunities to cut bait and “let well enough alone”. The fact that they continue to fish–whether that be due to greed or vengeance–almost always leads them into deeper waters. The more they invest in a particular pursuit, the harder it is to give the chase up and take their losses. Reynard’s pursuit of the gold is a classic example. Once it leads to the death of friends, he finds even greater reason to pursue it, because he can’t live with the thought they died for nothing.

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