Hi everyone! I'm so thrilled to be a part of the blog tour for The Broken ones, a prequel to The Malediction Trilogy by Danielle L. Jensen. Today on the blog I have an interview with Danielle! I'm also hosting an Instagram giveaway for a copy of the book which I'll link below so don't forget to enter!
The Broken Ones
(The Malediction Trilogy #0.6)
by Danielle L. Jensen
June 6, 2017
250 pages
250 pages
Goodreads Summary:
A prequel to the USA Today bestseller and Goodreads Choice finalist Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy).
Below Forsaken Mountain, a revolution stirs with the aim to overthrow the tyrant king of Trollus, and Marc is the right hand of its leader. It’s a secret more than one troll would kill to possess, which is why he must keep it from everyone, even the girl he loves.
Since a tragic accident revealed her affliction and ruined her sister’s chance at the throne, Pénélope is an anathema to her father, the Duke d’Angouleme. Deeming her life worthless, he gives her one chance to survive: find proof that the boy she loves is a leader in the sympathizer revolution.
Marc and Pénélope must navigate the complex politics of Trollus, where powers on all sides are intent on using them as pawns, forcing them to risk everything for a chance at a life together.
Except being together might be the greatest risk of all.
Below Forsaken Mountain, a revolution stirs with the aim to overthrow the tyrant king of Trollus, and Marc is the right hand of its leader. It’s a secret more than one troll would kill to possess, which is why he must keep it from everyone, even the girl he loves.
Since a tragic accident revealed her affliction and ruined her sister’s chance at the throne, Pénélope is an anathema to her father, the Duke d’Angouleme. Deeming her life worthless, he gives her one chance to survive: find proof that the boy she loves is a leader in the sympathizer revolution.
Marc and Pénélope must navigate the complex politics of Trollus, where powers on all sides are intent on using them as pawns, forcing them to risk everything for a chance at a life together.
Except being together might be the greatest risk of all.
Author Interview
1. What is it like returning to the world of Trollus to a time before the main trilogy took place?
Sooooo good! Trollus was my favorite setting in the trilogy, and I loved going back there and describing it from a different set of eyes. Nearly all the characters will be familiar to readers (Pénélope and Marc’s parents are the only new faces), and I really enjoyed exploring their younger, somewhat more naïve, selves. One of the fun extras my publisher is including in the novel is a character guide, which includes descriptions of all the characters in the trilogy, as well as the correct French pronunciations of their names. A little fact, though: as an English speaker, I often use the English pronunciations rather than the French, so no one should feel like they are doing it wrong ;-)
2. With The Broken Ones being a prequel, what was the hardest part writing this book knowing the ending?
The fact that I knew the ending didn’t making writing the novel difficult, because I always have a good idea of how my books are going to end. What was more difficult was that the majority of readers would know how it ends. That made it all the more important that what happened between the first and last pages be unexpected. My goal, when writing The Broken Ones, was for readers of the trilogy to wonder if they really know how things turn out.
3. What was the most enjoyable part for you writing Marc and Pénélope's story?
Many of the plot arcs in the trilogy begin before page one of Stolen Songbird, and I really enjoyed setting them up and exploring them. I hope when readers come across them that they have “aha!” moments where they put two and two together – where they see how little things that happened to Marc and Pénélope have a big impact on Cécile and Tristan in the trilogy.
4. Can you describe your emotions while writing The Broken Ones? Did you go through stages?
Sooooo good! Trollus was my favorite setting in the trilogy, and I loved going back there and describing it from a different set of eyes. Nearly all the characters will be familiar to readers (Pénélope and Marc’s parents are the only new faces), and I really enjoyed exploring their younger, somewhat more naïve, selves. One of the fun extras my publisher is including in the novel is a character guide, which includes descriptions of all the characters in the trilogy, as well as the correct French pronunciations of their names. A little fact, though: as an English speaker, I often use the English pronunciations rather than the French, so no one should feel like they are doing it wrong ;-)
2. With The Broken Ones being a prequel, what was the hardest part writing this book knowing the ending?
The fact that I knew the ending didn’t making writing the novel difficult, because I always have a good idea of how my books are going to end. What was more difficult was that the majority of readers would know how it ends. That made it all the more important that what happened between the first and last pages be unexpected. My goal, when writing The Broken Ones, was for readers of the trilogy to wonder if they really know how things turn out.
3. What was the most enjoyable part for you writing Marc and Pénélope's story?
Many of the plot arcs in the trilogy begin before page one of Stolen Songbird, and I really enjoyed setting them up and exploring them. I hope when readers come across them that they have “aha!” moments where they put two and two together – where they see how little things that happened to Marc and Pénélope have a big impact on Cécile and Tristan in the trilogy.
4. Can you describe your emotions while writing The Broken Ones? Did you go through stages?
My most consistent emotion is probably one you wouldn’t expect: curiosity. While I knew on a high level what would happen in the novel, much of what made it unexpected was digging deeper into the story to discover new things for myself. The Duke d’Angoulême, in particular, was a character whose headspace I spent a great deal of time in. One of my editor’s comments when he read the novel was that he hated Angoulême even more than he did before, which pleased me greatly. I take great pride in his villainy.
Of course, there are a few scenes in the novel that are very heart breaking, and those were tough to write. It was one thing to summarize them in the trilogy, and quite another to put myself in Marc and Pénélope’s heads and actually experience certain events. More than a few tears were shed on my part!
5. Did you learn anything new (about the books, yourself, your fans, etc.) that you didn't before writing this prequel?
I learned lots of new things about the world I’d created, which was a bit unexpected given that I was going back to the beginning. It always amazes me how connections between events and characters come together – it often feels like this is a world that actually exists, and I’m delving into a real history, rather than something my imagination is fabricating.
6. What is the one word you'd use to describe your books? Why?
I’m going make use of my English degree and say: peripeteia. It’s a Greek term that refers to a reversal of the protagonist’s circumstances or fortune, typically from good to bad. Aristotle defined it as "a change by which the action veers round to its opposite.”
Danielle's also running a preorder campaign where you'll receive awesome swag if you submit your preorder information so make sure you check out the details right HERE!
Of course, there are a few scenes in the novel that are very heart breaking, and those were tough to write. It was one thing to summarize them in the trilogy, and quite another to put myself in Marc and Pénélope’s heads and actually experience certain events. More than a few tears were shed on my part!
5. Did you learn anything new (about the books, yourself, your fans, etc.) that you didn't before writing this prequel?
I learned lots of new things about the world I’d created, which was a bit unexpected given that I was going back to the beginning. It always amazes me how connections between events and characters come together – it often feels like this is a world that actually exists, and I’m delving into a real history, rather than something my imagination is fabricating.
6. What is the one word you'd use to describe your books? Why?
I’m going make use of my English degree and say: peripeteia. It’s a Greek term that refers to a reversal of the protagonist’s circumstances or fortune, typically from good to bad. Aristotle defined it as "a change by which the action veers round to its opposite.”
Danielle's also running a preorder campaign where you'll receive awesome swag if you submit your preorder information so make sure you check out the details right HERE!
Danielle L. Jensen is the USA Today bestselling author of The Malediction Trilogy: Stolen Songbird, Hidden Huntress, and Warrior Witch.
Giveaway
Head over to my Instagram account for details on how to enter :)
I've heard great things about this author and her books :) Lovely interview! Thank you for sharing, Eileen :D
ReplyDeleteBrittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles
I hope you pick it up Brittany! It's a series that'll always be close to my heart <3
DeleteLoved this interview! ♥
ReplyDelete<3 <3 <3 YOU!
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