Hi Kiera,
– Thank you for joining us here at YALC. We would love you to introduce yourself?
Hi, thank you for having me! I’m Kiera Azar, the author of Thorn Season.
– Can you give our readers an overview of your YA novel Thorn Season?
Thorn Season follows the story of Alissa, a Wielder of a forbidden power called a spectre. In Alissa’s kingdom, Wielders have always been Hunted, and she herself was born into the family of Wielder Hunters. When her secret is threatened, Alissa joins the glittering royal court, where the risk of exposure is higher than ever, and where she becomes entangled in a web of intrigue and political schemes.
– And, if you had to do it in just 5 words or less, what would they be?
Scheming Wielder navigates treacherous court.
– Who is your favourite character to write and why?
I always find this question so difficult to answer, because I could definitely find a reason to name every single character! But for now, I think I’ll go with Erik. He’s so fascinating to explore, particularly because of his volatile nature. It’s always exciting to be writing a character who acts in ways you sometimes can’t predict.
– If Thorn Season had a theme song, what would it be?
Dream Girl Evil by Florence + The Machine.
– What moment in Thorn Season are you most excited for readers to experience and why?
There are so many moments I absolutely love, but a standout has to be the ballroom scene around the three-quarter mark. It’s such an intense and critical moment for our main characters, and one of my favourites to re-read.
– How did you find building the world for Thorn Season, were there any elements which you struggled with?
I hugely enjoyed building up the political landscape of the world, as well as exploring the magic system—particularly Alissa’s relationship with her own power. I did a lot of research while trying to figure out how best to express that power, which I’d been previously referring to as “magic.” My most memorable ah-ha! moment during the revision process came about when I discovered a phenomenon called a Brocken Spectre, and realised that “spectre” was the perfect fit!
– What inspired the kingdom of Daradon?
I was serendipitously watching Reign at the time of my Thorn Season brainstorming phase, and I was so enamoured by the dazzling, dangerous royal court setting that I realised I wanted to set Alissa’s story against the backdrop of a royal court. I adored creating a glittering world full of schemes and secrets, as well as a heroine who knew how to navigate that viciously thorned society.
– If you could step into Daradon for the day, what would be the first thing that you would do while there?
I love this question! I would take a sunlit stroll past all the jewel-toned houses of Vereen, then go and buy lemon cakes from a Verenian bakery (Alissa’s favourite dessert!).
– What magical ability from your world would you want for yourself and why?
I would love to Wield a spectre. I think it would make rearranging my bookshelves a lot easier!
– Is there a character who surprised you and grew in ways you didn’t plan while writing?
Garret was very different when I started writing Thorn Season, presenting more as a fearful, faint-hearted character. That initial version of him didn’t even make it through the first draft of Act 1! The moment I realised that I needed to push him more towards a place of moral ambiguity, the rest of the story clicked into place.
– Why are the Hunters so afraid of the Wielders?
There’s a quote in the book which I think encapsulates this: “Power was only deemed dangerous when it couldn’t be commandeered by those in authority.”
– Who do you think would win in a fight, a Hunter with no magic or a Wielder with no training?
Even an untrained Wielder would have more raw power behind them, but since a Wielder’s power is linked to their emotion, they might not possess the same brutal efficiency as a Hunter while in battle. So I think it could go either way depending on the Wielder in question.
– Where do you write?
I write at my desk, usually with a coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon/evening!
– What made you want to get into writing? Was there a specific book you read which inspired you?
Growing up, I always told myself stories, but those stories only ever existed in my head. When I had the dream that inspired Thorn Season, I felt that this particular story was worth transferring from my mind and onto paper. I began writing this book just for myself, and I’m still so amazed at how far it’s come since then!
– What is your favourite genre to read?
I grew up devouring YA fantasy, and it’s still my absolute favourite genre!
– Have you read anything brilliant recently?
My two most recent reads were The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire by Anna Fiteni and Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray. I absolutely adored them both, and highly recommend!
– Where can our readers find you on social media?
I’m on Instagram at @kiera.azar
– Finally can you give us your favourite quote from a novel (it can be yours!)?
I have so many favourites from so many books, but one that comes to mind is a quote from Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park: “We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be.”