Welcome to my tour stop! I'm thrilled to be sharing an interview with Author
KayLynn Flanders today!! Check that out and enter the tour giveaway below...
Untethered
(Shielded #2)
By KayLynn Flanders
YA Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook, 464 Pages
July 20, 2021 by Delacorte Press
Summary
For fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Furyborn comes the thrilling sequel to Shielded about a world in a deadly magical war and the newly crowned king and feisty princess who must defeat the deadliest of foes before there's nothing left to save.
Although King Atháren's sister, Jennesara, saved Hálendi from the Gray Mage, the reprieve came at a steep price--the life of their father. Now Ren rules over a divided kingdom, with some who want him dead, and a Medallion that warns of worse trouble brewing in the south.
As second born, Princess Chiara is the perfect Turian royal--perfectly invisible. She longs to help restore peace on the Plateau, but with no magic and no fighting skills, she doesn't stand a chance against a mage. So when a member of the Turian royal family goes missing and Chiara finds a clue about the rumored resting place of the mages' long-lost artifacts, she decides it's time to be seen.
As Ren's and Chiara's paths cross, they find the depth of the mages' hold on the Plateau is more powerful than anyone suspected, and that they must learn to trust themselves, and each other, before the mages retrieve their artifacts and become too powerful to ever defeat.
(Affiliate links included.)
Interview
I think (and I’m sure you’ll agree) that if readers haven’t read Shielded yet that they should, but for those who are new to the series, what would you like them to know?
I do recommend reading Shielded first, but here are some key points to start off with. There are evil, ancient mages loose on the Plateau, and everything is hanging by a thread. Hálendi suffered a bigger loss than we thought with Leland’s betrayal, and Turia is now unwilling to trust those that they should be able to rely on. The choices made by the main characters will have a widespread, lasting effect on the fate of the Plateau.
Would you tell us more about the main characters from Untethered?
Ren has been working toward becoming king his whole life, yet now that the opportunity is here, it came at a great cost and it’s nothing like he expected. His kingdom is in tatters from the general’s betrayal, and it seems like every choice he makes is the wrong choice.
Chiara longs to be useful, to make a difference, yet she’s always overlooked. She knows she doesn’t have magic or any skill with a sword, but she wants to do something to protect her kingdom and family.
Which character do you most relate to and why?
I put bits of myself into both Ren and Chiara, but I think I relate to Chiara more. I’m quiet like her, and I’ve been learning more and more how powerful kindness can be.
What advice would Chiara and Ren each give about navigating their world?
It depends on if you ask them at the beginning of their journey, or at the end. But Chiara would tell you to give people the benefit of the doubt and ask for help when needed. Ren doesn’t trust as easily, and would tell you to use your wits to get your way on your own.
How was writing this second book different from the first?
With the second book, there were more expectations involved—both my own, and my readers’. I’d never written a book knowing people would read it, and it’s easy for that fact to get into your head and stifle confidence. So I tried to focus on the story, on creating something I loved and was proud of, and though I didn’t have five years to write Untethered, I think it’s an awesome book, and a great companion to Shielded.
What was a book that taught you something, a book that made you cry, a book that made you laugh and a book that made you swoon?
There are more than just these, of course, but here’s what came to mind. Six of Crows taught me the proper use of flashbacks. The book that made me cry most recently was Moment of Truth by Kasie West. I laughed a lot reading the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter, and swooned with Edenbrook by Julianne Donaldson.
What’s something you enjoy doing when you’re not reading or writing?
I love playing volleyball and traveling, even if it’s just a quick road trip!
What are you working on next?
My current work in progress is another YA fantasy with an enemies to lovers romance, about a cursed boy trying to save his sister, and a girl who has to stop him if she wants to save her village.
Other Books in the Series
Shielded
(Shielded #1)
By KayLynn Flanders
YA Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 352 Pages
YA Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 352 Pages
July 21st 2020 by Delacorte Press
Summary
For fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Furyborn comes a thrilling new fantasy about a kingdom ravaged by war, and the princess who might be the key to saving not only those closest to her, but the kingdom itself, if she reveals the very secret that could destroy her.
The kingdom of Hálendi is in trouble. It's losing the war at its borders, and rumors of a new, deadlier threat on the horizon have surfaced. Princess Jennesara knows her skills on the battlefield would make her an asset and wants to help, but her father has other plans.
As the second-born heir to the throne, Jenna lacks the firstborn's--her brother's--magical abilities, so the king promises her hand in marriage to the prince of neighboring Turia in exchange for resources Hálendi needs. Jenna must leave behind everything she has ever known if she is to give her people a chance at peace.
Only, on the journey to reach her betrothed and new home, the royal caravan is ambushed, and Jenna realizes the rumors were wrong--the new threat is worse than anyone imagined. Now Jenna must decide if revealing a dangerous secret is worth the cost before it's too late--for her and for her entire kingdom.
Read my review here.
(Affiliate links included.)
About the Author
KayLynn Flanders has a degree in English Language and editing, and has been a freelance editor and book designer for over twelve years. Her debut novel, Shielded, was published by Delacorte Press/PRH, with the sequel, Untethered, forthcoming. KayLynn and her family live in Utah between some mountains and a lake, and she is directionally challenged without them. She loves reading, writing, traveling, and volleyball, and thinks there’s nothing better than a spur-of-the-moment road trip.
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