Hi Melissa,
– Thank you for joining us here at YALC. We would love you to introduce yourself?
Hello! I’m Melissa Poett, the author of The Enemy’s Daughter, A YA romantasy that was just released in the UK in August.
– Can you give our readers an overview of your YA novel The Enemy’s Daughter?
The Enemy’s daughter is a dystopian reimagining of the story of Tristan and Isolde, woven with a little bit of magic. It’s set 37 years after civilization crumbles, and because of the loss of technology it has a very medieval feel to it, with swords and bows and arrows.
It follows a young healer and an elite soldier—sworn enemies in a decades-long conflict—who become bound by a mysterious magical connection. To help their people, they must wield it against each other to unlock the secrets that will tip the balance to win the war. But there is one thing neither of them prepared for: their weakness for each other.
– And, if you had to do it in just 5 words or less, what would they be?
Dystopian Tristan & Isolde with magic.
– Who is your favourite character to write and why?
My favourite would have to be the FMC, Isadora, because she goes through such a transformation throughout the story. In the beginning, she’s a quiet and tender-hearted girl with maybe a dash of rebellion that she keeps on lockdown. Then along comes Tristan, an elite enemy soldier, and Isadora suddenly has to step into all the things she’s never allowed herself to be, like being brave, outspoken, and willing to fight back.
– How does your version of Tristan and Isolde differ from the traditional myth?
The Enemy’s Daughter is not a strict retelling, and that was intentional. I like to think of it as a reimagining built around the key pillars of the medieval legend, such as the enemies-to-lovers arc, the poisoning, and the love potion. But it was also important to me that the story branch out in new directions. One key difference is that it’s set in a dystopian world. I loved how it allowed me to echo the medieval spirit of the original legend (by having bows and arrows and swords) while placing it in a modern yet ruined world.
– Why did you choose to tell the story from Isadora’s point of view? Did you ever consider writing some of the story from Tristan’s perspective?
I’m usually a huge fan of dual POV, since it allows me to explore the story from different angles. But for this story, it felt necessary to let the world unfold entirely through Isadora’s eyes. Her journey is the story. That said, the magic system that ends up connecting Isadora and Tristan’s mind does reward us with glimpses of Tristan’s POV.
– What did you enjoy writing about the magical bond?
I loved writing every part because there was so much delicious tension to play with. The magical bond trope is already amazing on its own, but here it’s tied to an enemy boy Isadora is forbidden to love, with trust as the key to unlocking his deadly secrets. Getting to write them as they danced on that dangerous edge was incredibly fun.
– Beginning your story, did you outline the book in detail or discover it as you wrote?
Generally, I’m a detailed outliner who allows for some room for exploration as I write, and this book was no different. It’s important to me that all of my books have twists, be fast paced, and have an explosive ending, so I do take the time to plot it carefully. That also helps a lot with having to rewrite it more times than necessary. Usually.
– Was there a scene that you found challenging to write either technically or emotionally?
Figuring out how much to explain about what happened to the world before the story starts was something we added and cut more times than I can count. In the end, we kept that part of the world-building light, because explaining why the world was bombed didn’t really change or add anything to Tristan and Isadora’s story.
– If The Enemy’s Daughter had a soundtrack, what song would play during Isadora and Tristan’s first meeting?
That’s a tough one because the scene is so intense. The two of them meet on the battlefield, with Isadora realizing she has to find a way to stop this elite enemy soldier on his way to murder her father. So I’m going to go with a song that gets your pulse racing and doesn’t have words: Run Baby Run by 2WEI and Ali Christenhusz.
– Do you have any plans to continue Isadora and Tristan’s story in a sequel or expand the world in a spin-off series?
Yes! Book two is on the way in 2026—likely late summer or early fall. This time, the spotlight will be on Ryland, Tristan’s cousin, whose story will unfold through a brand-new medieval legend. I’d describe it as a connected standalone, where you’ll see some familiar faces, meet plenty of new ones, and dive back into the same magic system (with lots of epic romantasy, of course!).
– Where do you write?
I’m a writer who needs a lot of quiet to think, so my preferred spot is in my office.
– What made you want to get into writing? Was there a specific book you read which inspired you?
I really fell back in love with books around the YA hay day of the 2010s. Huge books like Shatter Me, Divergent, and even Twilight, were exploding. Not long after, I started expanding my love of reading to explore writing, too.
– What is your favourite genre to read?
I love fantasy, romance, dystopian, and contemporary books, both in YA and adult. But I’m always open to other genres.
– Have you read anything brilliant recently?
I’m working my way through Tahereh Mafi’s This Woven Kingdom series. So good!
– Where can our readers find you on social media?
Instagram is where I’m most active, but I can also be found on Facebook and Threads.
– Finally can you give us your favourite quote from a novel (it can be yours!)?
I love this line from All This Twisted Glory, by Tahereh Mafi: “But don’t you see—if I let fear keep me from doing what is right, I will always be wrong.”