Interview with Kaitlyn Davis for The Raven and The Dove

The Raven and the Dove (The Raven and the Dove #1)

by Kaitlyn Davis
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Release Date: March 9th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings

Synopsis:

Four fates collide in this avian-inspired, epic fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo!

A princess longing to be free...

On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky waiting at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.

A bastard aching to belong...

Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.

Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart...

Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.

Three shocking betrayals. Two star-crossed lovers. One unforgettable journey. If you like fierce heroines, brooding heroes, forbidden romance, and action-packed magical adventures with twists you'll never see coming, don't miss The Raven and the Dove!

Can you briefly describe THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE and its characters?

The Raven and the Dove is an epic fantasy retelling of Tristan and Isolde set in an avian-inspired world. Picture aerial fight scenes, forbidden romance, elemental magic, masked balls, floating islands, and wings!

At the start of the novel, the characters are preparing for the courtship trials, in which the royal heirs compete to win their choice of mate. Lyana, the dove princess, yearns for freedom and sneaks out of her palace in search of adventure. She stumbles upon the raven prince who is locked in a death match with a dragon, but she soon comes to discover not everything is as it seems…

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

The story revolves around four main characters who are all so different and unique I could never pick between them! Lyana is the adventurous princess, dreaming of more than what's planned, in search of a purpose and longing to explore the world outside the confines of her royal responsibilities. Rafe is the brooding warrior, aching to find a place where he belongs, strong and loyal but lost in all the ways that matter. Xander is the noble prince, ready to sacrifice anything for his people, kind-hearted and determined, book smart but unsure of his own worth. There's a fourth main character, who I'll keep secret—her morally grey viewpoint was also a blast to compose.

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?

The story first came to me in an image (which later went on to become the basis for the cover!)—I saw a woman with white wings standing before a man with black wings as magic sparkled between them. I have no idea where the thought came from, really, but when I saw it, I just knew I needed to explore the new characters making home inside my mind. The rest of the world unfurled from there, to include an entire floating avian kingdom based around different bird houses, and the plot twisted into a retelling of Tristan and Isolde. 

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

I'm really not a musical person (and I'm horrible at picking one of anything), so I'd say, one part "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis, one part "Set Fire to the Rain" by Adele, and one part "Apologize" by OneRepublic…if that makes sense. 

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

I'll pick people for the main four! For Lyana, I would go with Lovie Simone. Rafe and Xander are nearly twins, so they could probably be played by one person, but I have two options anyway—Matthew Daddario and Noah Centineo (I'm obsessed with To All the Boys I Loved Before…and yes, it definitely influenced my choices!). And for Cassi, I'll say Naomi Scott.

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE? 

Well, the sequel, The Hunter and the Mage, is now available to pre-order… ;) JK! I'm a huge fan of young adult fantasy so I probably have too many recommendations, but some of my favorites are: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor, The Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce, Protector of the Small by Tamora Pierce, Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson (not YA, but amazing), and An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. 

If you prefer standalones, I just recently read The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow and Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson, and both were fabulous! 

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book? 

Self-doubt is definitely my biggest struggle! Even with twenty books under my belt, I feel like an imposter some days. Usually, when I first start a book I'm so excited to be writing these new characters, everything flows. But somewhere around the middle of the manuscript, those evil little questions creep in—Is this good enough? Will anyone want to read this? Is the storyline terrible? Are the characters horrible? The only way I deal with it is to push through. As I near the climactic scenes, everything starts to flow, and usually, during my first read through, I fall in love with the book all over again. But then you send out ARCs, and the self-doubt process begins anew… lol! It's a vicious, never-ending cycle, but it’s worth it. 

As a reader, what is the “one thing” that a mind-blowing story must have, in your opinion? 

Surprises! Obviously, I want to fall in love with the characters, I want to be wrapped up in the romance, and I want to be glued to the pages, but some books do all of that, and are still missing something for me. I love a good twist ending I never saw coming. 

What’s next for you? 

Writing the sequel! The Hunter and the Mage goes on sale in September 2020, so I'll be polishing up the manuscript over the next few months to get it ready. I'll also start working on book three :) Some of my favorite scenes are coming up in the next few books (ones I've envisioned since my initial brainstorming session years ago), so I can’t wait for people to read them.

Kaitlyn Davis, a bestselling author with over a quarter of a million books sold, writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie. Publisher's Weekly has said, "Davis writes with confidence and poise," while USA Today has recommended her work as "must-read romance."

To learn more about her contemporary romance novels, visit her Goodreads author page for Kay Marie here: https://www.goodreads.com/Kay_Marie

Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found playing fetch with her puppy, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her--about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general--you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com

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