I’m so excited today to bring you an interview with Kaitlyn Davis, the author of The Raven and The Dove, which is hitting shelves on March 9th!!! This book is truly amazing, you don’t want to miss it!!

Keep reading to see Kaitlyn discuss writing advice, inspiration, and a little hint of whats to come in this series!

About The Raven and The Dove

Content Warning: Violence, Death, War Themes, Mental Illness, PTSD, Kidnapping/Abduction
Page Count: 506
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Release Date: 3/9/2020
Synopsis:

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 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!

Purchase on: Amazon | B&N |Indiebound | Book Depository (Hardcover) | Book Depository (Paperback)

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Read more to see my interview with Kaitlyn Davis, and learn about this amazing new epic fantasy!

Interview

Q: Hi Kaitlyn, I first wanted to thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! Do you think you could tell us about your newest book, The Raven and the Dove?

A: 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!

Q: The Raven and the Dove isn’t your first book- do you have a favorite book or series that you’ve written?

A: Oh my gosh, I could never pick! Every book I’ve written holds a special place in my heart, and every character owns a little piece of my soul. Each series is also completely different, so it’s difficult to compare them!

My Once Upon a Curse series are all fairy tale retellings set in a magical post-apocalyptic world. My Midnight Fire and Midnight Ice series are paranormal romances about vampires, vampire slayers, and magic-wielding titans. And my A Dance of Dragons series is an epic fantasy tale about three unlikely heroes battling an ancient reawakened evil. I also write contemporary romances under the name Kay Marie, which open a whole new cast of characters!

Q: What is the best writing advice you’ve received?

A: From my answer above you can clearly see that I write where my passion takes me, which is often to very different and unique fantastical worlds/characters. To me, that’s the most important thing. Writing can be a difficult business. Even with twenty novels and tons of amazing reviews under my belt, I still sometimes feel like an imposter. Self-doubt can be so overwhelming, not to mention bad reviews (which we all get!). However, if I’m writing a story I’m passionate about, all that noise becomes easier to block out. Write what you love. That’s my favorite advice 🙂

Q: The Raven and the Dove is a retelling of Tristan and Isolde. Was there anything in particular that made you want to retell this story?

A: I just love the story of Tristan and Isolde. It truly has it all—forbidden romance, competition, family relationships, clashing kingdoms, magic, and betrayal. I find the original story so inspiring, and since I haven’t seen too many retellings of it, I thought it would be something young adult fans would also love to read.

Q: The world of The Raven and the Dove is absolutely fascinating. What was your inspiration for it?

A: I’m honestly not even sure! The first part of this story I envisioned were the two main characters, Lyana and Rafe, and when I saw them in my mind, they had wings. I have no idea why, but I decided to follow that inspiration and go with it. The rest of the world unfurled from there, to include an entire floating avian kingdom based around different bird houses. Needless to say, I had so much fun crafting this unique and exciting world!

Q: In The Raven and the Dove, there are seven houses, each associated with a type of bird. Of the seven houses, which one do you think you would belong in, and why?

A: Ooh, tough! I think I would either belong to the House of Song, the home of the songbirds, or the House of Wisdom, the home of the owls. The songbirds pray to the god Erhea, the patron of love and family, so I think I would fit well with that house because I truly believe home is where the heart is. I can never get enough time with my family. However, the owls are the overseers of an ancient underground library, so I can also easily imagine belonging to that house, where my life would be devoted to books and learning.

Q: There are a few characters who get to share their point of view in The Raven and the Dove. Which character was the most fun for you to write?

A: Again, I don’t think I can choose! I’m terrible at picking favorites. 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. Every viewpoint brings something different to the story, and I absolutely loved living in each of their heads.

Q: Could you give us an idea of what to expect in the next book in the The Raven and the Dove series?

A: Well, the end of The Raven and the Dove is a bit of a cliffhanger (and by a bit, I mean, more than one ARC reviewer has emailed to tell me I ripped their heart from their chest…), so the sequel, The Hunter and the Mage, will pick up where the end left off. There will be more magic, more betrayal, and more romance. But the most exciting part for me has been expanding the view of the world. We explore more of the avian kingdoms, and at least one character spends most of the sequel in the mysterious world beneath the mist. I don’t want to give anything else away, but the end of this one will hopefully leave you in shock a second time!

About the Author

Bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name 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 indulging in some puppy videos, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family.

Find Kaitlyn on: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads, and her Website!

Time to turn my questions onto you!

Are you excited for The Raven and the Dove? Which house do you think you would belong in: Song, Wisdom, Whispers, Paradise, Flight, Peace, or Prey?

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