We chat with author A. K. Caggiano about Eclipse of the Crown, which is the epic third book in the Villains & Virtues series, following a not-so-evil-anymore demon lord and the baroness responsible for his change of heart who finally must confront their feelings for each other, but how can they admit their attraction when the world is ending?
Hi, Ashley! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi, Nerd Daily! I’m a fantasy romcom author (or an author of “romcomtasy,” if you’re nasty) who loves cats, cute stuff, spooky stuff, stuff that’s simultaneously cute and spooky like opossums, and staying inside.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I knew I wanted to tell stories very early on. I went to preschool at my local library and books became my best friends, so I thought, wouldn’t the world be even better with more of them?
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: A book on raising kittens called, appropriately, Kittens. (I don’t know if this is the answer you want, but I distinctly remember being 3 years old and OBSESSED with this book until I could pronounce every word in it.)
- The one that made you want to become an author: Kristy’s Great Idea (a la The Babysitter’s Club)
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects
Your latest novel, Eclipse of the Crown, is the third installment in your Villains & Virtues series and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Three imps in a trenchcoat. (Credit: sewcakey on Instagram. I asked my readers to help me with this one!)
For readers who haven’t picked up Villains & Virtues, what can readers expect?
A silly, swoony good time following the edgiest “bad guy” and a mysterious, bubbly “thief” on a quest to simultaneously destroy and save the realm. It’s got everything you love about romantasy including an excruciating slow burn, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously until the sexy parts—then it gets downright ridiculous.
And for those who have, what’s to come in Eclipse of the Crown?
Eclipse picks up moments after the end of Summoned to the Wilds and explores Yvlcon, the annual villain conference where Damien and Amma grapple with their shared romantic feelings, a theme that follows them as they complete their journey across Eiren, bumping into an eccentric soothsayer, a cave full of sycophantic goblins, and an evil ex. There’s also an eclipse, as the title implies, but like, don’t think too hard about the mechanics of having two moons because it’s a fantasy book, after all, and you just gotta trust me.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?
Finally completing Damien and Amma’s character arcs was extremely satisfying, but bringing Xander back throughout this book was probably the most fun. He’s of course awful, but he’s inspired by his nemesis to be a tiny bit less bad, and figuring out exactly how he would play into the finale was one of the best challenges in Eclipse—I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do with him, but I’m thrilled with how it all shook out. Also, the gobbies were my absolute favorite thing to write.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was just that I wanted it to be good, you know? It’s not unique to this book, but hoping that you’re creating something satisfying and touching and honest, especially when you’re writing “the end,” always weighs heavily. Unfortunately, I don’t think that desire is really overcomable, and it probably shouldn’t be, but getting to a point where you can say, “All right, I’ve done all I can” is a challenge on its own. You have to accept that perfection is impossible (and probably boring), and every story is a chance to do better, but you won’t get that next chance until you decide you’re done with your current project.
What’s next for you?
V&V has two spinoffs set in the same world but not featuring Damien and Amma, so I’m not quite finished with Eiren yet (Delphine’s sister gets her own tale and Xander gets his happy ending too)! I’m also currently working on a portal fantasy duology about a put-upon woman from our world who gets transported to a fairytale-inspired land full of silly magic, stupid princes, and an infuriating magician trapped in a tower.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
My most recent new read that I loved was Heather Fawcett’s Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter, and I also reread C.M. Nacosta’s Morning Glory Milking Farm and found it as friendly and cozy as the first time. When Margaret Rogerson announced Knight Eternal I may have cried for joy! I’ve also got MK Lobb’s The Dark in Her Veins and Laura Winter’s Trick and Tangle on preorder, and I’m basically slapping my desk everyday demanding they arrive ASAP.
