Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Synopsis:
A SERVANT blackmailed into becoming a princess’s decoy.
A BODYGUARD determined to keep her alive.
A PRINCE forced to execute his father’s brutal laws.
A PRISONER used to keep him compliant.
A WORLD on the brink of war.
In one horrible night, Clare goes from kitchen maid to royal decoy. She has three months to become the princess's perfect double so she can ensure her betrothal to an enemy prince. Desperate to survive, Clare throws herself into self-defense training, taught by her distractingly attractive bodyguard. The danger increases when a ruthless assassin begins stalking her, intent on ending the tenuous peace.
Across the northern mountains, Prince Grayson is his father’s ultimate weapon. He carries out the king’s harsh orders because the one person he cares about is his father’s prisoner. Grayson's silent obedience is tested when his father plans to exploit the marriage alliance between two of their greatest enemies. If Grayson submits, the blood of thousands will spill. If he resists, the girl who means everything to him will die.
The fate of Eyrinthia hangs in the balance. Some want peace. Some want war. All will be thrown into chaos.
Can you briefly describe ROYAL DECOY and its characters?
Thanks for having me, I’m excited to be here! Royal Decoy is set in the fictional, medieval world of Eyrinthia. There are two main storylines. The first follows Clare, a servant who is blackmailed into becoming a princess’s decoy. Her new life consists of being a target for assassins, dealing with castle politics, and learning all sorts of new skills (including self-defence, taught by the enigmatic and attractive Captain Bennick Markam). Clare must become the princess’s perfect double to help ensure the princess’s betrothal to an enemy prince.
The second storyline takes place in another kingdom and follows Grayson, who is the youngest prince of Ryden. He was raised in an epically twisted family and his role is to be an enforcer of his father’s brutal laws. His father, King Henri, controls Grayson because he holds prisoner the only person Grayson cares about: his childhood friend/girl-he-loves-but-can-never-admit-he-does, Mia. But there are some orders Grayson struggles to follow, even though his father is clearly testing him—preparing him for a role in the war King Henri plans to start.
Clare and Grayson may be in different kingdoms, but it’s pretty clear that one day they are going to meet and influence each other’s lives—for good or bad is up for debate :)
Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?
Hmm…That’s a hard question. I feel like it changes :) But right now I’d say Grayson is my favourite, because his story is just so compelling. He grew up in a nightmare, and yet he hasn’t been corrupted by his evil, sadistic family. He has a moral compass, and even though that can be a painful thing for him sometimes, it’s there. His resiliency amazes me. Also, the chemistry between Grayson and Mia is a tangible thing, and I’m a romantic, so I love that!
How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?
Several years ago I was working on a totally different project, and pieces for Royal Decoy started falling into place. I would jot the ideas down, and then try and concentrate on my other project, but, Royal Decoy just took over. Clare’s storyline fell into place first; I loved the idea of having a regular person be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and then suddenly be thrust into royal politics. I liked the idea of having my main character be the decoy, rather than the princess. I wanted to play with how she would adapt, how she would struggle, and how she would eventually find herself while pretending to be someone else. As her storyline took shape, other pieces came into play—including a terrifying assassin you won’t meet until book 2, and of course Grayson. Originally, I thought Royal Decoy would be a single POV story and that it would fill exactly one book. I even told my writers group that, and we still laugh about it, because Royal Decoy became so much more than that first vision. It’s a whole series with multiple POVs, and I think it’s a much more powerful story because of it.
If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?
I think I’ll cheat and give you two—one for each main storyline :). For Clare, I’d pick “Shake It Out”, by Florence and the Machine. For Grayson, I’d probably say “Breath”, by Breaking Benjamin.
If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?
I think I’d prefer to have unknown actors. I know that’s not a very fun answer :)
What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?
Strawberry lemonade on a beach feels like the perfect combo. If you’re like me and you don’t live near a beach, then a warm corner of the backyard also sounds nice!
Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish ROYAL DECOY?
So many books! “Kiss of Deception” by Mary E. Pearson is a fantastic fantasy that I feel has a similar vibe to Royal Decoy. Also, “Falling Kingdoms” by Morgan Rhodes, and “Winner’s Curse” by Marie Rutkoski. Some other favourites of mine are “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas, the “Lux” and “Origin” series’ by Jennifer L. Armentrout, and “The False Prince” by Jennifer A. Nielsen.
If you want to try another book from me, you can check out “Seers”, book 1 of my YA Paranormal trilogy; it’s got Demons, Guardians (not angels) and a girl who can see them, which of course puts her in the middle of an immortal war. Fun times :)
What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?
For me, the editing stage is probably the most difficult. It can be hard to get rid of parts you love, even if it’s better for the story, and it can be a painful process to polish scenes until they gleam. But it is also one of the most rewarding stages!
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on book 2 of Royal Decoy, and I’m also working on another book that will kick off an entirely new series, which I’ll be excited to announce more details about soon!
Heather Frost writes mostly YA fiction and has a soft spot for tortured characters, breath-stealing romance, and happy endings. She is the author of the Seers trilogy. She has a BS in Creative Writing and a minor in Folklore, which means she got to read fairy tales and ghost stories and call it homework.
