Escape. That had been Max’s goal since the day he and his little sister, Lucy, had been torn from their mother and sold to a new master. One day magic—something humans had stifled long ago—returns, and all Elder are given the mysterious command to travel to the unheard-of Land of Green and Gold. Max and Lucy plan their escape as well.

Night comes, and everything goes wrong. To Max’s horror, Lucy is randomly selected to be beaten by the humans—a warning to those Elders considering flight. Max is forced to leave Lucy behind and escapes with his friend, Mary. They embark on a journey to learn their magic and find their way back to family–to Lucy.

Unfortunately, lack of magical knowledge is not Max’s only obstacle; a cold-raking fear of the taskmaster hunts him. The taskmaster’s hunt creeps into his nightmares and disconnects him from the shadows he should be able to control. And no magic means no way to save Lucy. As the nightmares grow worse and the arrival of a serial killer further complicates things, Max fights to grow in his powers and overcome the hunting fear. He will save Lucy. Even if it costs him his life.

Now for our interview with Wolf.

CC: I’m excited to introduce you to my readers, Wolf. Would you mind telling them a little bit about yourself?

W: Hey there! My name’s Wolf. I’m a sylph–got gray feathery wings and magic that’s compatible with the element of wind and all that. I lead a group of fugitives called Moonlight Band and mentor the newbies on how to use their magic.

CC: Leaders have great power in stories, especially when they become mentors to others. So what is it that you want as a leader? Is there anything standing in your way?

W: I…I made a mistake a couple years ago. It sounds kinda stupid now that I’m saying it out loud, but I’ve been looking for books on resurrection magic. Which probably doesn’t even exist, but so much was lost since the Great War, so maybe it’s possible? I guess I’ve also taken up the task of teaching the new fugitives how to use their magic. The biggest obstacle to that, other than them knowing next to nothing, is that a dangerous serial killer has been seen in the area. I’m worried he’ll target us specifically.

CC: Oh, a leader who is looking and searching for answers to things lost long ago . . . and a leader who also has to worry about a dangerous serial killer getting in the way. Books on resurrection magic have me wondering . . .

How would you describe your relationship with God? 

W: God? I assume you mean the Great Elder. I don’t know. It’s complicated, I guess. That teacher I mentioned–Kenami? Yeah, she hated him. My mom did too. Something about him being the reason we lost the war. Haze gave me some different insights not too long ago, though. Haze follows him–says the Great Elder even guided him to find me, if you can believe it. I think I’m starting to believe it too.

CC: That’s hard when you have people in your life who hate someone or something and try to pass that hate onto you, then you learn there is a different perspective. It challenges you in ways you never thought possible. Your whole world gets turned upside down. I imagine through the course of this series you may find out a great deal about this Great Elder . . . and maybe his plan for you.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

W: My childhood was very different from most people’s, including Elder (my own people). Instead of a typical enslavement after the war, my family was forced to fight other Elder for the sake of entertainment. I was young and didn’t really understand all that, but I liked the recognition and really wanted to become the sole Champion of the ring. And it did happen. But I wish it didn’t. I’d…rather not elaborate if that’s cool.

CC: We all have our secrets and things we feel ashamed of. No need to continue on with that now, but I’m sure readers will find out eventually. Speaking of childhood:

If you had time to read a book, what would you pick up and why? 

W: Most of my reading has been grammar lessons with my teacher, Kenami, but she did let me read a few books she’d hidden during the war. I think I would like to read Ankgïr uun la Sanji-Garha again. Or in the common tongue, Ankgïr and the Violet Cave. It’s about this warrior who stumbles across a strange cave that houses a different kind of magic–one that is wild and unpredictable. I’ve always liked the main character and how brave he is.

CC: Those brave characters can really be an inspiration to us during our hardest times. And sometimes those hard times are created by difficult characters. 

Who is the most difficult character for you to interact with in the story?

W: Ah, that would be Haze. Another sylph like me–but with red wings. And double my age. He’s a great guy, but he makes me face a lot of hard truths. And I hate that he’s always right.

CC: Ha! Those people in our lives that speak the hard truths are both amazing and awful at the same time. They are critical for helping us grow, but growing can be so painful.

What do you think about love and marriage? Do you have a particular love interest in mind? 

W: You know, I’ve never actually thought much about it. I think it would be nice to have a girlfriend. Right now I’m kinda living vicariously through this couple who just joined my band. They claim they’re not dating but they seem close. Veeery close. And I saw the look of jealousy on the guy’s face when Spark made the girl laugh. I’m calling it now–they’re gonna end up together.

CC: Oh, sounds like there might be a bit of a romance in this challenging world you live in. I hope it turns out well in the end.

If there is one thing you could tell the reader, what would it be?

W: Power is a dangerous thing. Certainly helpful, yes, like needing to stop a serial killer or finding the confidence to face your fears. But just as easily as it can help, it can also corrupt. So be careful and make sure you have good people in your life to keep you accountable.

CC: Those are wise words. No wonder you are a leader. Now before wrap up completely, I have one last question for you.

Which part of the roller coaster would you ride in: the front, middle or back? Why?

W: Hah, this is a fun question. I think I’d be right up front screaming my head off. I’ve never been on a roller coaster before, but it sounds amazing.

CC: I’ll let you set up front while I watch from the ground! LOL I used to love them, but motion sickness has made it a less-than-pleasurable experience over the years. 

Readers, thanks for tagging along in learning about this new YA Fantasy world coming to you one day in the future. If you were interested in Wolf’s and Linnae’s story, follow her on social media and be sure to sign up for her newsletter, where you can also grab some freebies, like a collection of exclusive character interviews from the novel.

Readers: If you read fantasy, what elements do you enjoy most?