This fantastical sequel to This Dark Descent (2023) continues to explore intrigues in Enderlain.
Arielle, Mikira, Reid, and Damien navigate the kingdom’s complicated politics while dealing with their own strained relationships and discovering the true history and power of forbidden Kinnish magic. Mikira and her famed golem horse, Atara, join her old friend and rebel, Talyana. The two girls conspire with the Enderlain resistance to gain control of their kingdom and return power to the people. Arielle remains with Damien, but their relationship soon becomes contentious due to secrets and betrayals. Reid, ever the pacifist, is caught in the middle. Now that Arielle knows that the immense power she wields isn’t from her Racari, or book of magic, but rather from being possessed by a Heretic (one of the “enchanters who caused the Cataclysm”), she endeavors to rid herself of the spirit at any cost.
Written in alternating points of view that follow the third-person perspectives of Arielle, Damien, and Mikira, this story picks up directly from the end of its predecessor. Unfortunately, the busy plot is somewhat confusing, and the many secondary characters and tangled relationships are difficult to keep straight. That said, the narrative eventually arrives at a satisfying conclusion that’s sure to please readers who enjoyed the earlier entry.
A high-fantasy duology closer that’s lovingly steeped in Jewish folklore and is sure to satisfy returning fans.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kalyn-josephson/our-deadly-designs/
Spellbinding fantasy meets Jewish Mythology!
Mikira, Damien, Reid, and Ari have growing problems in Enderlain. The community is searching for the lost heir while Damien seems to be pushing his friends away. Mikira is interested in joining the rebels, Reid keeps scientifically investigating enchanted cells, and Ari struggles to control her building power that’s becoming even more dangerous. The friends seem to be going their separate ways while they try to find their own paths. A darker force is growing in Enderlain. Will the group pull together and fight or be defeated separately?
Likes/dislikes: The dynamics of the relationships are so different from the first book of this series. Even with their struggles, the characters learn to appreciate each other more. The story takes a different turn from what the series originally had but character development is still good.
Mature content: PG for kissing.
Language: PG-13 for 17 swears, no f-words.
Violence: R for bloody deaths.
https://hugsandkissesforbooks.com/2024/08/01/our-deadly-designs-by-kalyn-josephson/
Geeks Out Chats with Kalyn Josephson:
First of all, welcome to Geeks OUT! Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Thank you so much for having me! My name is Kalyn Josephson, and I’m a young adult and middle grade fantasy author located in California, where I live with two little black cats who tend to feature in my stories. Max from Ravenfall is inspired by them!
As a writer, what drew you to the art of storytelling and to speculative fiction?
I’ve just always loved getting lost in magical worlds. Creating them is my favorite part of being a writer, and it’s why I’m so drawn to speculative fiction. I didn’t realize how much I’d love writing YA fantasy until I gave it a try, but the mix of humor and heart that makes up the work really drew me in.
How would you describe your writing process?
Methodical—I have a pretty nailed down process that involves a notebook for each novel, an outline, and a whole lot of whiteboard brainstorming.
Growing up, were there any stories in which you felt touched by/ or reflected in? Are there any like that now?
So, so many. The ones that really stuck with me usually had some sort of animal component, and definitely a bit of magic. There’s been a recent flux of Jewish fantasy in speculative fiction lately that has been amazing to see and has really stuck with me, such as The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid and The Ghosts of Rose Hill by RM Romero.
As a writer, who or what would you say are some of your greatest creative influences and/or sources of inspiration in general?
The first author who comes to mind is Laini Taylor, whose novel Daughter of Smoke and Bone inspired me to try writing a book of my own. But largely my inspiration comes from movies and TV shows!
What are some of your favorite elements of writing? What do you consider some of the most frustrating and/or challenging?
My absolute favorite element of writing is worldbuilding. That initial rush of brainstorming and developing a new magic system is what always ignites a new book for me. The most challenging I’d say is pacing, as after reading a book twenty times, it can be difficult to tell how it flows!
Many authors would say one of the most challenging parts of writing a book is finishing one. What strategies would you say helped you accomplish this?
Breaking it down into manageable pieces! This is why I actually enjoy outlining, because I can easily say, ‘Today I am going to write this scene or chapter’ instead of being daunted by the whole book before me. It also helps with decision fatigue, in that by having things already decided, I can focus on the writing itself rather than deciding what needs to happen next.
Aside from your work, what are some things you would want others to know about you?
I am an avid baker, anime-fan, and collector of journals I’m too afraid to actually use less I ruin them.
What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet but that you wish you were asked (as well as the answer to that question)?
Oo I’ve always wanted to talk about the IP properties I’m interested in writing for, which are intellectual properties like Star Wars that authors write books for. I’d love to do something for Scooby-Doo or Supernatural, or pretty much any animal-related Disney movie (think Robin Hood or Aristocats). Basically, if it’s got animals and magic, or magic and mystery, count me in.
What advice might you have to give for other aspiring writers?
Find other writers who are at the same stage as you to connect with. Community is one of the most important parts of this journey, which is often isolating and very difficult. It helps to have someone who understands the industry and what you’re going through!
https://www.geeksout.org/2024/09/04/interview-with-kalyn-josephson-author-of-hollowthorn/
Kalyn Josephson is a NYT Bestselling author who currently works as a Technical Writer in the tech industry, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. She currently lives in California with two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an ever tinier owl). She is the author of the Ravenfall series, The Storm Crow duology, and the This Dark Descent duology.