In this fantasy thriller, four teens charged with murder and the illegal use of magic band together to devise the ultimate jailbreak, perfect for fans of Six of Crows and How to Get Away with Murder.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Astrid Scholte about her latest YA book release, League of Liars, along with writing, 2022 book recommendations, and more.
Hi, Astrid! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a young adult author based in Melbourne, Australia with a love for all things fantastical. My debut novel, Four Dead Queens, came out in 2019 and was an international bestseller. My second book, The Vanishing Deep was released in 2020 and my latest novel is League of Liars. When I’m not writing, I’m working in film and TV production and daydreaming about my next Disneyland visit.
How has the first two months of 2022 been for you?
Very busy! I’ve been in the midst of promo for League of Liars with lots of interviews, posts and planning for events. The months in the lead up to a book’s release are always the most exciting, and nerve-racking!
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I’ve loved telling stories ever since I learned how to read and write and have wanted to be a published author for as long as I can remember. When I was fourteen, I decided I wanted to be published by eighteen, which seemed like an achievable goal at the time. But it wasn’t until my early twenties that I finished my first manuscript and starting my journey to getting published.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book I remember reading is Possum Magic by Mem Fox, I can’t remember which book made me want to be an author as I’ve wanted to be one for so long!, and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials made me fall in love with fantasy as a teenager.
Your new novel, League of Liars, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Magic, murder, mystery and mayhem!
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a reluctant hero, courtroom drama, enemies to allies, dangerous illegal magic, a rag tag crew, morally grey characters, twists and turns, and the ultimate heist.
Where did the inspiration for League of Liars come from?
I was brainstorming ideas for my third book and I wondered what kind of cases the Inspector from Four Dead Queens would work on next. This led me to thinking about Four Dead Queen’s villain (no spoilers!) and what kind of prison they would be held in. I also love true crime documentaries, such as The Staircase and Making a Murderer, and I thought it would be fun to combine “true crime” in a fantasy world with magic. And that was how League of Liars was born!
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed writing Jey’s point of view. He’s witty and charming (at least he thinks so!) and often acts as the comic relief of the group. Writing scenes with Jey were always so much fun as I never knew what he would say next!
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
The worst advice would be that you need to write every day – you don’t!
The best advice I’ve received is to write the book you want to read.
What’s next for you?
I have a few secret projects in the works, which I can’t talk about yet, but hopefully I can announce more soon!
Lastly, do you have any 2022 book recommendations for our readers?
I really enjoyed Beyond the End of the World, the sequel to Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. It’s a beautiful blend of fantasy and science fiction.
