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A Post-Magical Society
In Dawn of Chaos, a woman who possesses the unique ability to control an ancient weapon sets out to dethrone a nefarious queen. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Dawn of Chaos is the second book in The Sapeiro Chronicles trilogy. In the first book, A Forgotten Past, the story is quite simple: it’s the story of a girl who wishes to remember her past, recover her memories, and understand why she is a threat to those in power. In Dawn of Chaos, the stakes are much higher. Sora now has a better understanding of her power, and why it makes her dangerous.
In both books, power and the acquisition of it play a huge role in the storyline: the queen wishes to gain as much as she can, while Sora, who naturally is powerful, regrets having so much. When I was first planning this series, I really liked the idea of a post-magical society, where power had been diluted through the generations. I also really liked the idea of each book building on the other, of the journey becoming more dangerous as time passed.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
Yes, and that’s something I was very proud of. In Dawn of Chaos, Sora in particular undergoes a series of internal struggles. She is placed in a role where she never saw herself as being, nor wanted. And yet what choice does she have? I think her struggle makes her a more interesting heroine. I really wanted her to think deep and hard about the ramifications of either of her choices.
There are also a lot of characters in the book, with different threads of the storyline told through their point-of-views. One of the main challenges was making sure that each character had their own voice, to make it evident that they were their own person.
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?
I love writing twists! Though a couple did sprout up organically, most of them were planned, way back even when I was still working on the first book. I’m doing the same while working on the next in the series.
Can fans look forward to a third installment of this series? If so, can you give us a peek inside the next book?
Absolutely! I am currently working on the third and final book in the trilogy. I’m aiming for a spring 2024 release, but that will depend on how fast I can write! I can’t go into too many details, so as not to spoil it.
However, in this third installment, the story follows on the heels of the closing events of Dawn of Chaos. The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been before, and the very existence of Sapeiro is in jeopardy. Sora will need to delve into the continent’s past to see if she can find a weapon suitable to defend those she loves from the shadows that would strike them from the map.
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Against all odds, Sora Rosewood has recovered her memories and survived multiple attacks on her life. Not only that, but she’s allied herself with the Sanctuary, a rebel force dedicated to freeing Sapeiro from Queen Amana’s corruption. While Sora works to become the weapon she needs to be, her sister, Lenka, is busy strategizing on a way to overthrow the queen without bathing the continent in blood of the innocent. Whether she likes it or not, Sora has become part of something greater than herself. But as her power grows, so does her unease at wielding it.
Can she become the hero Sapeiro needs her to be? And more importantly, does she want to?
Dawn of Chaos (The Sapeiro Chronicles Book 2)
Dawn of Chaos (The Sapeiro Chronicles Book 2), by Tiffany Lafleur, is a captivating addition to the fantasy genre, drawing readers into a vividly crafted world where Sora Rosewood’s unique status as the only spirit hopper unfolds into an intricate narrative of power and rebellion. The novel is set against the backdrop of Queen Amana’s intense pursuit of Sora, driven by a mix of fear and intrigue towards Sora’s powers. The plot intensifies as Sora’s sister, Lenka, uncovers secrets about The Sentinel, an ancient weapon long thought destroyed, and reveals that Sora possesses the unique ability to control it. This discovery propels Sora to join forces with the Sanctuary, a group committed to dethroning the queen and restoring fairness in the realm.
Lafleur’s novel is not just a fantasy story; it’s an immersive experience. It welcomes both newcomers and series veterans with a skillful recap of previous events, ensuring a smooth entry into the narrative. The book shines with its intricate magic system and imaginative world-building. The inclusion of spirit hoppers, alongside other mystical entities like wind and fire users and metal benders, enriches the narrative tapestry, distinguishing Dawn of Chaos in the fantasy literature landscape.
At the heart of the novel is Sora Rosewood, whose character development is portrayed naturally. Lafleur’s detailed descriptions and imaginative prowess vividly bring to life the fantasy world, from its grand cities to enchanting forests. The narrative’s pace is well-balanced, with unexpected twists that keep the reader engaged. Beyond its fantastical elements, the book delves into complex character arcs, political machinations, and moral dilemmas. The diverse and well-developed characters add depth to the plot, particularly with the realistic portrayal of the consequences of losing a limb, adding a unique dimension to the story. The novel’s ability to maintain a swift pace throughout its considerable length, culminating in a cliffhanger, leaves readers anticipating the next installment.
Dawn of Chaos (The Sapeiro Chronicles Book 2) stands as an exemplary work for fantasy readers. Its blend of enthralling storytelling, richly crafted characters, and immersive world-building makes it a standout choice for those venturing into the realms of fantasy literature.
Pages: 515 | ASIN : B0BZXMYR98
Coming to Terms with Her Power
A Forgotten Past follows a woman who discovers a powerful ability within her that attracts the attention of some dangerous people. What was the inspiration for the setup to this thrilling story?
I’ve always been really fascinated by magical systems. Is magic learned, inherited? How does one become more powerful? When I was planning the story, I really wanted to make it original in how magic worked within society. In Sapeiro, magic was passed down through the generations, from the great sorcerers. Everyone has a touch of magic: weather prediction, mild healing abilities. But Lily discovers she has more than the rest.
So that’s where the story started: in a land where everyone has abilities, some have more than most. Lily will need to find out why hers seems more dangerous than she’s been led to believe, and she’s going to have to decide how she reacts to the news.
Lily is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind her character development?
Lily is obviously the heroine in the story, and A Forgotten Past centers around her journey of self-discovery. I wanted to make Lily a really well-rounded character, and so she faces two main conflicts. The first one is her coming to terms with her power, and the second is her coming to terms with her identity. She doesn’t want to be a hero, and she certainly doesn’t want to be at the center of the conflict that’s sparked due to her power. A large portion of the book deals with her struggle to accept what’s happened, and the losses that came with it.
What were some themes that were important for you to capture in this story?
In A Forgotten Past, I really wanted to focus on Lily’s growth as she discovers her true identity and the circumstances that led to her forgetting in the first place. I also wanted to play with the theme of fate. Her power may make it seem as if she was destined to achieve greatness, but Lily doesn’t want that kind of recognition. She wants to be normal, and remember who she is and where she is from. Unfortunately for her, ‘normal’ is way behind her.
Another theme I wanted to focus on, and one that will be prevalent throughout the series, is the notion of power, and how far some go to attain it, collect it, and take it away from others.
This is book one in the The Sapeiro Chronicles. What can readers expect in book two?
In Book 1, the story focuses on Lily, and her growth as a character. She has several inter-personal conflicts that she needs to work through by the end of the narrative. In Book 2, the story gets bigger: Lily will feel more secure with her newfound power, and will gain a better understanding of why she’s found herself in the crosshairs of so many different powerful forces at work. She’s found allies, but the weight of the expectations being placed on her are crippling. So whereas the story in book 1 focuses on Lily and her internal struggle, book 2 focuses on what her power means for Sapeiro. We’ll learn more about the history of the land and how the magical system works.
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Or so she thought.
When she was a child, Lily had washed up on the riverbank near Basolt, with no memory of who she was. Taken in by the couple who found her, she was raised as their own, alongside their new baby.
Years later she does something extraordinary. And word spreads of a new Spirit Hopper, someone who can enter into and control not only beasts, but people. Someone who can change the land of Sapeiro. Someone who supposedly died years before.
The rumors catch the attention of those who would control her power. Those who would use Lily for their own purposes, no matter how many lives it costs. They set their plots to capture her in motion.
But Lily discovers there is at least one group who might hold the key to her real identity. One group who would protect her. But trust does not come easily for Lily. And her would-be saviors have secrets of their own.
A Forgotten Past
![A Forgotten Past (The Sapeiro Chronicles Book 1) by [Tiffany Lafleur]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51QSGOdQu5L.jpg)
Twist and turns galore! A Forgotten Past: The Sapeiro Chronicles by Tiffany Lafleur is a must-read for all fantasy lovers! Lily, a skilled Beast Whisperer, can’t remember her life before washing up on the banks of Basolt as a child. One day while Lily is outside, she witnesses local villagers being chased by an angry Forest Bear. Lily tries to use her beast whispering powers to distract the bear but ends up discovering she has a highly coveted skill worth killing for! Chaos ensues; will Lily make it out of this mess alive! A Forgotten Past is one wild ride!
I’m still processing all that happened in this novel! Lafleur is a brilliant writer with many strong points. Her ability to write strong female characters that always upstage their male counterparts is astounding! Even better is her ability to describe the atmosphere and surroundings! A Forgotten Past is complex story that explores many different ideas.
The characters in the novel are all well developed and seemed really fleshed out. Author Taffany Lafleur’s ability to build a character’s story arc organically and have it feel authentic is amazing. Although the way I imaged characters looking didn’t really line up to the way they were described, but it could just be my imagination was on a different track.
I relished in Lafleur’s atmospheric descriptions! When she described Basolt’s town square, I felt as if I was there! She pays close attention to detail when writing descriptions. She describes structures intently; if they’re aged, what they’re made of, even what they smell like! It creates an immersive experience!
It was a delight to read about strong female characters! Women were the focal point of this story. Often in a popular fantasy books, authors will make the main female characters the sidekick to lackluster male characters. Lafleur has created powerful women within her intriguing story and does every woman in the world justice with this story!
I hope the author covers more of the history of Sapeiro in later books. Throughout the novel, I had an itch to learn more about the land’s history because it seems like we’re only scratching the surface of a compelling back story, and I want to know more about the original sorcerers.
A Forgotten Past: The Sapeiro Chronicles is an epic fantasy adventure that will be difficult to put down.
Pages: 281 | ASIN: B08BN8HK2F
LITERARY TITAN 