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A Curse or a Gift
Apadora Rising follows a young prince thrust into impossible battles and choices, wrestling with magic, loss, and the burden of leadership. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My inspiration stemmed from a blend of mythology, real-world history, and the profound emotional complexities of growing up under pressure. I have always been drawn to stories where young leaders are forced to grow up too quickly. In this case, it is where the weight of the crown is more curse than a gift.
I tried to explore what would happen if a teen were suddenly responsible for many lives, a kingdom, and the fate of magic itself. The story grew out of that tension: the clash between destiny and personal choice, the cost of leadership, and the emotional toll of loss at a young age. Magic in this world became a metaphor for potential—beautiful, dangerous, and unpredictable—just like the prince’s journey
In many coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
Authors always leave pieces of themselves in their stories, and Apadora Rising is no different. For me, it was the group of friends. Barrett and his friends reflect the bond I shared with my own friends during my youth. The way they support each other, challenge one another, and stay loyal even when everything around them is falling apart—it all came from real experiences. We faced our own battles, not with swords or magic, but with life, and that kind of friendship leaves a mark. Writing their dynamic was one of the most natural and heartfelt parts of the book, because it came from something very real.
Can you tell us where the book goes and where we’ll see the characters in the next book?
Book #3, The King’s Ascent, takes a darker turn as the series moves toward its climax. With the stakes higher than ever, Barrett and his friends will face overwhelming odds, uncover a traitor hidden in plain sight, and fight to prevent their city from collapsing into despair under the Bureau’s tightening grip. Every lingering question will finally be answered.
As with the previous books, the friends’ lives are filled with tough choices that will test their loyalties. The journey concludes with heart, sacrifice, and an emotional farewell that will hopefully stay with readers long after the final page.
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Declaring all magic forbidden, the Bureau brands Barrett and his allies as enemies of the realm. As the friends prepare to flee, a ghostly vision of Alesta appears, begging for rescue. She is imprisoned by Apadora, a malevolent force long confined to the Outerworld.
Apadora, the embodiment of ancient evil, has waited centuries for her chance to return. As her release draws near, the very fabric of the western lands is threatened. Now, Barrett and his companions face rival factions as they race to find the key to either bind or unleash her.
Orphaned, homeless, and hunted, the exiled prince must choose between reclaiming his kingdom or restraining the evil tide poised to sweep across the western lands.
The Ruinous Curse: Apadora Rising
Apadora Rising follows Barrett, a young prince thrust into impossible battles and choices, wrestling with magic, loss, and the burden of leadership. Alongside a close-knit band of companions, he faces treachery, uncertain alliances, and forces greater than he can control. The book pulls readers through lands filled with dragons, sorcery, betrayal, and grief, all while exploring the cost of destiny and the question of what it means to be a leader.
This was an exhilarating coming-of-age fantasy novel. The pacing swung wildly from sharp, fast-moving battles to slow, emotional moments that lingered, and I found myself invested. The author’s style is bold and unafraid to lean into melodrama, though it matched the intensity of the world he built. I often admired the way he layered tension on top of grief, particularly in Barrett’s mourning of his father. Those passages hit hard. The banter often lightens the mood of this otherwise high-stakes adventure story.
I was surprised by how often I cared deeply for the characters. The fragile loyalty between friends, the burden Barrett shoulders, and the flickers of vulnerability woven into big, fiery scenes gave the story its heart. The dragons, too, were written with such presence that I caught myself smiling whenever they appeared.
Apadora Rising is a book best suited for middle-grade readers who crave high fantasy drenched in feeling, who don’t mind a bit of melodrama with their magic, and who want to lose themselves in a sprawling tale of loyalty, sorrow, and stubborn courage. Apadora Rising reminded me of Eragon by Christopher Paolini, with its mix of young heroes, dragons, and the weight of destiny pressing down on every choice. If you’re the kind of reader who wants dragons soaring, kingdoms falling, and friendships tested to the breaking point, this one’s worth your time.
Pages: 319 | ASIN : B0CDHHK6SR
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