We chat with author AdriAnne May about Exquisite Ruin, which is a darkly romantic reimagining of the Minotaur myth, a sorceress and a demon are entwined in sensual battle to escape a deadly maze and reclaim their freedom.
Hi, AdriAnne! Welcome back! How have the past few years since we last spoke for Beyond the Black Door?
Hi – thank you! It’s so lovely to chat again! And, whew, I’ve been busy the past few years. I’ve written three more YA standalone fantasies (two of which are out and the third is forthcoming), and an adult fantasy romance duology, the first of which is Exquisite Ruin!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
When I was a small kid I started making up stories and telling them to people as if they were true. My mom gently informed me this was, in fact, lying, and if I wanted to make up stories, I could be an author and write books. So I started making my own books with stapled paper and pictures before I even knew how to write, using scribbles only I could decode, and I went from there. Thanks, Mom!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Redwall series by Brian Jacques
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Your latest novel, Exquisite Ruin, is out March 25th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Mysterious, dangerous, sexy, tense, and healing.
What can readers expect?
A sorceress with no memory wakes up in a sinister labyrinth alongside a daemon who hates her, but despite their animosity the two must work together to overcome their past filled with passion and betrayal to make it out alive. It’s a dark and twisty journey both through a maze and a relationship fraught with tension.
Where did the inspiration for Exquisite Ruin come from?
I’ve always wanted to tell a story set in a labyrinth, but with main characters who couldn’t escape each other at the same time. During Covid lockdown is when the idea really solidified for me – perhaps fittingly!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed Pogli (the best-boy chimera), because he was such a bright relief from the tension and darkness even for me as the writer – as much as I hope he is for the reader!
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Learning how to write spice was perhaps my biggest challenge, since this is the first time I’ve done so and I really didn’t want it to be cringy. I read a lot of romance books to see how the experts did it.
What’s next for you?
Lady Dragon, my next YA fantasy, comes out August 26th this year, and Divine Descent, the sequel to Exquisite Ruin, comes out in February of 2026!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
Like many, I can’t wait to read Katabasis by R.F. Kuang, The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig, and Alchemised by SenLinYu.
