Irresistibly action-packed and full of lethal surprises, this stunning new fantasy series from Victoria Aveyard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Red Queen series, begins where hope is lost and asks: When the heroes have fallen, who will take up the sword?
We had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Victoria Aveyard about all things Realm Breaker, as well as writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Victoria! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Of course! Hi guys, I’m Victoria. I’m originally from a small town in Massachusetts but I live in Los Angeles now, where I get to work full time as an author and screenwriter. I’m a big fan of the beach, going to the movies, reading books with a nice view, and my dog, Indy, the love of my life. I moved out to LA to study film at USC, largely because it’s where George Lucas went, and Star Wars is one of the cornerstones of my personality, along with The Lord of the Rings. Currently I live with my dog and my fiancé, balancing work and pandemic life.
How is your 2021 going in comparison to that other year?
Even before the pandemic, I worked from home in my own office space, and I didn’t have a book slated to be published in 2020, so I got off relatively easy compared to most people. That said, my fiancé is an ICU doctor, so we did have a disinfecting station in the garage, and things were not easy. After frontline healthcare workers were vaccinated in December 2020, I definitely took a big sigh of relief. We made it through the LA surge and now, touch wood, Los Angeles and California seem to be doing everything correctly. We aren’t back to normal yet, but things are much, much better.
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!
I read Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine when I was 7, and that was electrifying. Both my first fantasy and the first book I really connected with and loved.
Your new novel, Realm Breaker, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Propulsive, epic, huge, desperate, fun
What can readers expect?
A gigantic world, a classic quest, a motley crew, a reluctant heroine, a villain with some good points, broken tropes, and some fun twists.
Where did the inspiration for Realm Breaker come from?
Clearly The Lord of the Rings is first and foremost. I love that series so much, but also feel like it doesn’t love me back, or have a place for anyone who isn’t a straight white man. I so wanted to be part of the Fellowship and this is my attempt to make a little room for others in the classic fantasy adventure. Realm Breaker was also very much enabled by the success of Red Queen, and I started by asking myself what I wanted to write and more importantly, what story was I searching for as a teenager? From there, Realm Breaker grew from the question – what happens when heroes fail?
What was it like building and creating a new world after your best-selling (and absolutely incredible) Red Queen series?
The challenge wasn’t in the writing itself, but the pressure of trying to live up a series like Red Queen. I got so lucky with that series and its reception, and of course, I want to keep my readers happy and entertained with whatever I do next. As a creative, you’re always in competition with yourself and trying to improve. That’s a heavy weight to carry.
Worldbuilding for me starts with a map (once I have the general concept and idea of a story). I go in with my parameters of what story I’m trying to tell, usually with some characters and plot in mind, and draft a map for that story to take place in. After the geographic map is set, you can start breaking down culture and politics, etc, which will also help inform pieces of your story and character. My challenge isn’t how to worldbuild, but how to stop. Eventually I have to pull myself out and start actually writing, and allow myself to figure some things out along the way. Or else the book itself will never get written.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring that we should keep an eye out for?
Oh so many. I really love the banter between Sorasa, a morally bankrupt assassin, and Dom, a noble immortal with very little knowledge of the human world. And the main character, Corayne, is my true love, a girl whose super power is her intelligence (and knowledge of maps). There are some setpiece scenes I adored writing, like a particular stampede through a desert canyon, or a tavern brawl that sets up our final crew, but I’m really proud of the quiet moments between characters as well. And of course, I love my big twist scene. I love the moments where everything goes sideways – and all I can think about is…the reader is going to hate me for this.
Now, Realm Breaker is set to be followed by another two installments. Can you give us a little tease about the next installment without teasing us too badly?
I think when crafting a series, escalation is the number one thing to think about. Your size, your scope, the emotional stakes and depth of character – each piece needs to get bigger as the series moves on. Every step needs to feel higher than the last. And that very much happens in Realm Breaker 2 and 3. I can also say the ending of Book 2 has been in my head for almost as long as the entire series, and I cannot wait to write it.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
Best: you can get an audience to believe one unbelievable thing.
Worst: If you don’t write every day, you’re not a writer and you will never finish anything.
What’s next for you?
I’ve got a lot of balls in the air, some I can’t talk about yet, but my focus now is on launching Realm Breaker and writing the sequel!
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Recent favorites include LORE by Alexandra Bracken, A SONG OF WRAITHS AND RUIN by Roseanne A. Brown, RULE OF WOLVES by Leigh Bardugo, and A THOUSAND SHIPS by Natalie Haynes.
