Looking for more clean young adult fantasy books to enjoy? Want to get a glimpse into an author’s head? Then read on! This month’s author interview features the lovely E.J. Kitchens and her book Wrought of Silver and Ravens.
About E.J. Kitchens
E.J. Kitchens loves tales of romance, adventure, and happily-ever-afters and strives to write such tales herself. When she’s not thinking about dashing heroes or how awesome bacteria are—she is a microbiologist after all—she’s enjoying the beautiful outdoors or talking about classic books and black-and-white movies. She currently has seven published novels and many short works, all adventure-romance stories set in fantasy worlds, with many more begging to be written. She is a member of Realm Makers and lives in Alabama.
Wrought of Silver and Ravens
A lonely young man with more than one secret to keep gets swept into a world of danger, curses, and found family in this thrilling clean fantasy retelling of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.”
Seven princesses. Seven dragon lords. A nightly dance of magic and fire.
Princess Thea of Giliosthay is a Realm Walker. Betrayed by a trusted guard, her rare gift of enchantment is used to curse her brother and trap herself and her six sisters into a nightly dance with dragons in a secret Realm. The Realm’s prince has the ability to take and twist her magic for his own purposes, and Thea fears what those might be. For when one dances with a prince, a kingdom might be at stake.
Athdar Owain is a hunted wanderer, one determined to keep his secrets and the treasure he carries safe at all costs. When he rescues Giliosthay’s prince from raiders, he’s rewarded by being forced into the king’s elite Silver Guard. While this gives Athdar a temporary home and some protection from those hunting him, it also makes him responsible for the young prince and the seven enchantress princesses—all of whom are cursed.
Athdar alone can save them, but to trust enchanters is to risk exposure. And Athdar isn’t sure where his loyalties lie.
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I love “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” fairytale primarily because of watching Faerie Tale Theatre (affiliate link) as a child, but also because it’s not commonly redone like the classic Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty stories. So when I saw that Wrought of Silver and Ravens took this theme, I snapped it up. However, I waited awhile between the purchase and actual reading and completely forgot that this was a fairy tale retelling. I love when a story is so creative that it takes me awhile to realize (or in this case, remember) the original fairytale that it references. This retelling is brilliant because it takes place in a rich, developed fantasy world with a fascinating magic system. The interplay between enchanters and “half-magics” had me intrigued from the very beginning, and the sinister plot against the princesses’ magic really brought the old fairytale to life in a new and satisfying way. The intrigue was non-stop from page one, drawing me into the mystery of these characters with so much to hide and so much they wish to share. With incredibly likable characters and delightful interplays between them, this book made for a clean and compelling read with the lightest touch of allegory to beam in hope and goodness. Plus, it’s set up for a sweet romance and greater exploration of the mysterious magical creatures in the sequels, which I look forward to reading also!
Find Wrought of Silver and Ravens on Amazon (affiliate link)
Interview with E.J. Kitchens
Now that you have a first glance at the book, let’s go deeper with the author about her experience.
1.) What do you love about Wrought of Silver and Ravens that made you want to share this book with the world?
The characters! I love the characters—Athdar, Galen, Bane, Murray, and others. All the struggles they’ve overcome plus all the fun interactions they have. The magical lion cubs and beautiful, ancient-like world were fun too.
2.) What fuels your passion to write?
I believe writing is the talent God gave me to touch the world. It’s my “work.” As such, I have to be faithful to write and write well. I’d also like to earn money from doing what I love, as everyone who works should.
3.) What was your path to publication like? (Did you pursue an agent, go direct to a publisher, or decide to indie publish? Why?)
I spent a couple years trying to get an agent and go the traditional publishing route while also learning about indie publishing. I love trying what I’m learning, so when it seemed my first book didn’t fit the traditional market, I went indie. It’s been hard but fun. I’d still like to be hybrid (both indie and traditional) though, since both have benefits and would let me reach more readers.
4.) Do you make your living as an author? What other work or hobbies do you have?
Sadly, I do not make a full-time living as an author. Maybe one day. I am a biologist.
5.) How do your personal beliefs/faith system shape your writing?
My books all have a Christian worldview, so there is hope and my characters try to live lives that would please God. Sometimes things I have learned also show up in the books. I don’t set out usually to teach a certain message, but sometimes things come up naturally through the characters’ lives. Characters are “real” people in their world, so it’s only natural they also have the struggles and lessons that I and others face that Scripture helps us through.
6.) What interview question do you wish someone would ask, and how would you answer it?
Hmm. How does being a redhead affect your life? It used to bring a lot of comments from strangers in the grocery story, and so many people associated me with my hair color that I actually remember wondering if meeting a color-blind person would cause an identity crisis. Who was I if not “the redhead”? That didn’t happen (the identity crisis), but, more seriously, being a redhead does give me a weird sense that more people notice me than actually do. So many people have commented that they spotted me from a distance (using me as a beacon to find who I was with) or remember me because of my hair that I am surprised when people don’t remember me. Having red hair also makes me very irritated at stories with impetuous, temperamental or otherwise stereotyped redheads. I like to add redheads in my stories that aren’t stereotypes.
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Many thanks to E.J. Kitchens for sharing her experience and her book with us! You can find out about her other books and accomplishments at www.ejkitchens.com. Plus, you can get her free story at https://www.ejkitchens.com/newsletter-signup/. Don’t forget to grab your copy of Wrought of Silver and Ravens on Amazon (affiliate link). Check out the links below for even more clean YA fantasy books to enjoy!
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Author Interview Series:
Carrie Anne Noble, The Mermaid’s Sister
Tara Grayce, Lost in Averell
Ariel Avelar, Influent
H.L. Burke, Ashen
Constance Lopez, Of Stormlarks and Silence
E.J. Kitchens, Wrought of Silver and Ravens
Ashley Bustamante, Vivid
L.A. Thornhill, The Prophetess of Arden
Sharon Hinck, Hidden Current
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