We chat with author Z.R. Ellor about No Better Than Beasts, which is a dark and captivating new take on the beloved Nutcracker story, perfect for fans of folklore, cursed kingdoms, fraught romance, and fairy tales with sharp teeth.
Hi, Z.R.! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! I’m Z.R. Ellor, a nonbinary fantasy author from Washington, D.C.. Writing has always been my passion, and I also love to travel.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I spent a good deal of time on my own as a child and books were always a refuge for me. I loved reading, but felt like I could never see myself in the books I read. The queer characters I encountered were never given center stage—or, even when they did, their lives were clean and perfect in a way that didn’t reflect my experiences. I wanted to write books where queer characters could struggle and be messy in a way that reflects the real traumas queer people experience, but to also show those characters as worthy of healing and love.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Hobbit
- The one that made you want to become an author: A Game of Thrones
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The one I’m writing right now
Your latest novel, No Better Than Beasts, is out October 15th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
A queer villain love interest
What can readers expect?
No Better than Beasts is the story of two siblings, Nabik and Drakne, who attempt to escape their abusive older brother by taking opposite sides in the war between the Rat King and the Nutcracker Prince. Traveling through a cursed kingdom that slowly changes people into animals, they find love, danger, and a chance to mend their broken bond.
Where did the inspiration for No Better Than Beasts come from?
When I read Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, I was inspired by how she used traditional fairy tale elements to tell a story with real-world weight. I loved The Nutcracker as a child and returning to it as an adult let me discover all new elements and themes of the story I could use to inspire this retelling.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Drakne is one of my favorite characters. She’s survived some terrible things, and it’s taken a harsh toll on her—I wanted to write someone who isn’t a ‘perfect’ victim, who is messy and has rough edges, who makes terrible mistakes, but is still painfully human.
This is your YA fantasy debut! What was the shift like going from writing contemporary to fantasy?
Fantasy is the genre I’ve always wanted to write, and I started writing No Better Than Beasts even before I’d sold May the Best Man Win. So it felt like a homecoming of sorts, and it came very naturally. Blending so many different elements of fantasy and folklore was an absolute joy, and my hope is that, one day, the readers I wrote it for will discover it.
What’s next for you?
I’ve written in a number of genres, but fantasy, especially with queer characters who have survived abuse, is my main focus. It’s vitally important for me to tell stories where people who have lived through experiences like what Nabik and Drakne face can see themselves as heroes and as worthy of love, and I’m going to prioritize doing just that. I also want to write series, because I craft stories and characters with multiple parts in mind, so my goal is to find a way to do just that.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
I think the best book I read this year has been Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki. It’s beautiful, quirky, and heartfelt. I love how cleverly she blends the mundane and fantastical in a way that enhances both.
