We chat with author Kate Golden about Half City, which follows a lone demon hunter who is recruited by a reformed demon to enroll at a private school for hunters like herself. There she must reckon with secrets from her deceased father’s past, her mixed feelings for a man she’s been taught to hate, and a series of mysterious attacks that threatens the lives of every student at Harker Academy.
Hi, Kate! Welcome back! We last spoke for the release of A Dawn of Onyx. How have you been and what have you been up to?
I’ve been great, just working away on this new trilogy that I am so thrilled about and enjoying the transition from high fantasy to urban fantasy!
Your latest novel, Half City, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Buffy attends Basgiath in NYC.
What can readers expect?
An action packed urban fantasy in a reimagined New York with a strong paranormal, enemies to lovers romance (a demon slayer and a reformed demon) all set in a dark academia college.
Where did the inspiration for Half City come from?
I was wrapping up my Sacred Stones trilogy (of which A Dawn of Onyx is the first book) and itching to write a fantasy book that was a bit more contemporary. At the same time, I was binging Buffy the Vampire Slayer and feeling so inspired by the way the show used Buffy’s “monster of the week” to tackle real coming of age struggles with such grace and humor. The idea was born from there!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved delving into Viv’s psyche. She’s a very dark and twisty FMC—she has a lot of self-loathing and self-doubt. She’s the black sheep of her family and she’s been through some pretty traumatizing things, hunting demons by herself for so many years. It was so cathartic to write her experience coming in to her own and finding her people. And the enemies to lovers romance, of course. That’s always deliciously fun.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
It’s always hard to start a new series. There’s so much world building to do and groundwork to lay and puzzle pieces to plant in service of the rest of the trilogy. When I get overwhelmed I try to tell myself that I just have to take it one step at a time. And that less is more!
Can you give us a little teaser for what’s to come in the Harker Academy series?
Well, this first book is going to follow Viv’s attending of this elite college for demon hunters. Of course, when she gets there, something isn’t quite right with the school, and she’ll have to work with this demon instructor and her new group of friends to get to the bottom of it. The second book will explore the consequences of what Viv discovers in book one, and ratchet up the tension in her already complicated love life. And the third… I can’t give anything away about that one yet, but expect plenty of creatures, spice, and rising stakes barrelling toward a big finale!
What’s next for you?
Well Half City comes out on 2/17, the second book, Cursed City, eight months later on 10/13 and the third and final book not too long after that. So I’m pretty entrenched in the Harker world at the moment. After this trilogy I guess I’ll have to watch another fantastic 90’s TV show to inspire something new!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
I can’t wait to read B.K. Borison’s AND NOW BACK TO YOU, as well as finally start the Red Rising series!! I have heard incredible things.
