Danielle’s Comments (group member since May 19, 2014)

Danielle’s comments from the Danielle L. Jensen's Reader Group group.

Mi-Mi wrote: "I am so excited to read Warrior Witch! I just really hope that I am satisfied with all of the answers we're given. I really want to know more about the Royal Family's past and everything!

Trollus..."

Hi Mi-Mi
You will absolutely get more information about Tristan's family, especially his father! Thibault is a complicated guy!

Abby wrote: "1. That all the characters I love stay alive and for a happy ending, I need a happy ending haha

2. I think I kinda did expect something along the lines of that. I was sympathetic to her but even t..."

Hi Abby,

I'm noticing a trend of people wanting a HEA!

Tristan definitely wanted the curse broken at that point, although he is still deeply afraid of the consequences. He realizes now that circumstances for his people are going to go drastically downhill if they aren't freed, and as much as it means putting humans in danger, he's will to do that to save his kind.

Summaries Continued...

Chapter 56
As soon as the swing is lowered Cécile runs to find Tristan. She hears a gunshot and expects to feel the shock of Tristan’s injury or death, but there’s nothing. He is furious and afraid, but she knows he’s unharmed. Using their bond, she finds the room where Anushka is keeping him, but knows that she needs to find out what’s going on before she barges in. She goes out the window of the neighboring room, and when she looks in she sees Sabine has been shot and Tristan is chained.
She makes her way through the window with magic. Tristan senses her presence, and tries to keep Anushka talking. She reveals that Cécile will continue to perform with Julian by her side, but that Genevieve will die tonight, which confuses both Tristan and Cécile. Anushka goes to finish Sabine off, but Cécile steps into the room. She tries to convince Anushka to spare Sabine and end the curse, but she will have none of it. Anushka mocks Tristan, and when he asks her why she broke the mountain to bury Trollus, she laughs. She tells him the mountain was destroyed by the trolls’ mining and their greed, and when he refuses to believe her, she casts a spell to reveal the memory to Cécile.
The memory opens in a garden. Cécile is in Anushka’s body. She is with King Alexis and they are talking about their relationship. Anushka worries about being caught but the King tells her not to worry, especially not about his wife. She asks if he loves the Queen and he tells her he doesn’t, he only loves Anushka. They continue to talk about how Alexis is missing his birthday. Anushka’s vision goes down to her belly and Cécile realizes that she is pregnant. When she asks Alexis what they should name the baby, he is distant and doesn’t seem to care about the name. Before they can talk further a horrible sound fills the air. Alexis grabs Anushka as the mountain collapses over them.

Chapter 57
Cécile comes back for a moment, but then Anushka plunges her back into another memory. Anushka has had the baby, a girl named Lily. She is taking care of her and tells the baby Alexis will come and take care of them. The next memory brings Anushka and the baby to the streets. There is carnage everywhere, and when she finds Alexis he refuses to name his daughter because she is a half-blood. He tells her to go back inside because it isn’t safe for her. The next memory is of Anushka in the house with Lily. At this point Cécile knows she is showing her these memories because she wants her to hate the trolls too. The city is in shambles and there are many dead. Food and water are being rationed; there isn’t even water to bathe with. Anushka hears Alexis outside her home and she lets him in. She and Cécile both notice that he is clean from bathing. He tells her that he is moving her to the palace for her safety. When she asks the real reason, he tells her that the Princess’s wet nurse has died. He needs Anushka to feed the Princess. Anushka tells him that there isn’t enough for both Lily and the Princess. He says she needs to make it work.
The next memory is of Anushka in the nursery. She is feeding the Princess while ignoring the cries of her own hungry baby. One day Queen Lamia comes to visit her. She tells her how much she despises Anushka’s relationship with the King. She has always wanted to hurt Anushka, but she hasn’t, because the King said he will not live without her. Then she tells Anushka that there are some punishments worse than death. Anushka hears a soft crack and bones break: the Queen has killed Lily.
Cécile is brought to another memory. Anushka is demanding that the King punish his wife. He asks her what is he supposed to do. If he harms his wife then he will harm himself. Anushka tells him that when they reach the outside again she wants to be the first one to walk in the sun with him, because it will shame Lamia if he publicly chooses Anushka over her. The King agrees, and Anushka plans her revenge.
The last memory is of Alexis pushing aside the last rock blocking the passage out of Trollus. She lies and tells him that she loves him. When Anushka steps out into the sun the memory fades and Cécile is back in the room.

She asks Anushka how she could steal the bodies of her own blood and Anushka tells her she has to so she can remain immortal. Cécile tries to argue with her, but she begins the spell to make Cécile’s soul leave her body. The spell doesn’t work because of her bond to Tristan. Anushka is shocked that the trolls have allowed the two to be bonded.
Cécile takes advantage of Anushka’s moment of surprise to free Tristan. After a brief struggle, Cécile has Anushka trapped and she is ready to kill her. Anushka begs for her life and Tristan tells her he won’t kill her mother. Cecile tells Tristan to release Anushka. As soon as he does, Anushka reaches for the pistol. Cécile is faster, however, and she stabs her twice. Before Anushka dies, she tells Cécile that if the world burns, its blood will be on Cecile’s hands.
Anushka is dead and Cécile races over to Sabine who is still bleeding from the gunshot wound. She uses a spell to heal her. She tells Tristan that everything Anushka said about the mountain breaking was the truth. Cécile starts to contemplate what will happen now that Anushka is dead. She wonders if she has ruined the world. Suddenly there is a shriek outside, and Cécile is filled with fear. The trolls aren’t the only creatures that have been released into the world.


Chapter 58
Tristan and Cecile rush out of the castle and into the courtyard. Tristan takes a sword and goes out to fight the dragon, while Cécile stays back and watches with her brother, who still disguised as Aiden. Tristan kills the dragon, which turns into snow once it is dead. Then the horns of Trollus blow – the trolls know the curse is broken.
Tristan walks back to where the Regent is standing with the rest of the human nobility. He tells him that he is a Prince of Trollus and that his father, the King, will be preparing to take back control of the Isle. The Regent accuses him of being a forerunner, but Tristan tells him that he’s here to fight with the humans. He wants everyone to live in peace. Tristan tells them that they are not fighting for dominion over the Isle or for their own sovereignty. When the trolls come, the humans will be fighting for only one thing – survival. The horns of Trollus fill the air once again. The trolls are coming.

If you want to get started on WARRIOR WITCH, you can read the first two chapters here: http://www.alexalovesbooks.com/2016/0...\

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 46
Tristan and Cécile decide to ride to Goshawk’s Hollow rather than back to Trianon. Tristan is concerned about Cécile, who blames herself for what happened to Élise and Pierre. On their way, they veer off the trail until Cécile finds the location of the last marker on her spelled map – a grave she believes to be her grandmother’s. She questions why the woman, who supposedly hated her father and the farm, was out here.
After an awkward introduction, Cécile goes inside with her grandmother and sister, leaving Tristan with her father, Louie her father. They have tense words, and Tristan agrees to tell him everything that has happened, which he does as they finish up the farm chores. Once he is finished, Louie says he wishes he had taken Genevieve from Trianon, that maybe he could have saved her. When Tristan asks why she didn’t leave, he tells him it was because of her mother’s disappearance. She had always wanted to come to the Hollow but something changed her mind. Tristan wondered if her sudden desire to stay in Trianon has something to do with Anushka.
During the night Cécile sneaks into Tristan’s room. As they talk, they hear someone outside. There is a trunk that has been left in the barnyard. Cécile stands in the doorway with her father while Tristan approaches the trunk. Filled with trepidation, Tristan opens it.

Chapter 47
The ground shakes as Tristan opens the lid, the snow melting all around them as his anger and magic warm the air. Her father holds Cécile back, but she rushes forward when she recognizes the cloak. Élise’s eyes are lifeless and Tristan says she is here because the curse doesn’t care about corpses. Tristan is furious and Cécile can feel his rage. Angoulême’s name has been scratched into the lid. Tristan wants revenge. The bond makes Cécile feel everything he does and she lets the rage flow into her, making her want vengeance.

Chapter 48
Tristan and Cécile race back to Trianon, forming a plan as they ride. Tristan will go to the masque and Cécile will stay with her mother, as Genevieve is Anushka’s target. When she arrives home, the maid tells her that her mother has already left for the masque, which concerns Cécile deeply. Knowing she needs to keep up the act in order to trap Anushka, Cécile starts to get ready to go to the castle. But before she can do anything, soldiers arrive to tell her that Lady Marie demands her presence.
She tries to compel them to leave, but they don’t move. She notices the rowan berries pinned to their uniforms and remembers, too late, what Chris had learned about the charm known as witch’s bane. She realizes that Anushka once again is in control of the situation.

Chapter 49
Sabine arrives at Tristan’s hotel room furious that she wasn’t allowed into the castle with the rest of the opera crew. Chris acknowledges that this is Anushka cutting Cécile off from her friends, which incenses Sabine. Determined to protect her friend, Sabine tries to leave but Tristan asks her to stop so he can tell her the plan. He explains that Cécile’s hypothesis about the alignment of the full moon and solstice was confirmed, meaning that Anushka will go after Genevieve tonight. As well, Angoulême knows Anushka’s identity and plans to kill her as part of his bid to put Roland on the throne. Tristan wants to beat him to it and kill Anushka himself, as he believes the risks to his people are too high to do otherwise. After, he hopes he can take the throne and keep his people in check.
He explains that Cécile’s father intends to warn those living in the Hollow. He also tells Sabine and Chris that he will give them the coin they need to catch a ship to the continent if they wish to flee. Sabine refuses to go and leave Cécile behind and Chris won’t leave either. They want to help Tristan. He gives Sabine a knife and tells her that he will need a date to the ball. He also tells them that there is one more person he needs to talk to before he sets the plan in motion.

Chapter 50
The soldiers take Cécile to the castle, where she is brought to a private room to prepare for the masque. Everyone is wearing a sprig of rowan, and the maid tells her they are for the solstice and it would be bad luck to take them off. She continues to get dressed when Lady Marie enters the room.
Marie tells Cécile that she’s been brought to the castle because they couldn’t risk her not showing up for the party. She also tells Cécile to drop the pretense that she doesn’t know what’s going on. Cécile demands proof that her mother is well, and Marie tells her that she’ll see Genevieve when Anushka wills it. If Cécile cooperates and doesn’t interfere with the ritual, Anushka will allow Tristan to live. Cécile argues, then concedes. She has snagged a red hair that was stuck to Marie’s shoe, which is all she needs to find her mother.
Chapter 51
Tristan and Sabine enter the party. They run into Aiden who says he wishes to speak with them privately. Tristan leaves Sabine in charge of their plans, then goes into a private room with Aiden and Fred.
Tristan explains that Lady Marie has been harboring Anushka, and that he wants Aiden’s help to capture and kill the witch. Aiden says he won’t fall for this trick because it would mean setting the trolls free. Tristan tells him he’s right, but he also explains why it is inevitable. Either Tristan will kill her and take the throne or Angoulême will. He explains that if he were on the throne at least both races could have a chance to coexist peacefully. Aiden doesn’t trust him and tells Fred to kill Tristan, but this conversation was set up by Fred and Tristan, a ploy to get Aiden to reveal his true colors. Fred says that if trolls are going to be set free then he’d rather they be under the rule of Tristan than Angoulême. He asks Aiden to give him his clothes.

Chapter 52
Cécile uses the hair to cast a spell, first asking the magic to show her Genevieve. Nothing happens, so she asks it to show her Anushka. An unclear image appears in the flame, but she can hear her mother singing. Then she hears Lady Marie speak, and the voice that responds is her mother’s. But what her mother says reveals her to be Anushka herself.
Cécile is stunned by the revelation. She knows that she should tell Tristan Anushka’s identity, but all she can think of is what happened to Esmeralda. She isn’t willing to let the same happen to her mother without trying to find another way to stop her first. But she knows she can’t leave Tristan blind, so using his name, she warns him that one of their friends is foe. Then she is called to the stage.

Chapter 53
Tristan is still with Fred when he hears his true name. He waits for Cécile to finish telling him Anushka’s identity but she stops. Worried, Tristan refocuses on disguising Fred as Aiden..
Tristan asks why Fred dislikes his mother so much, and Fred tells Tristan about when he first came to Trianon. At first, he admired his mother. But then he noticed that every time he tried to go home something would interfere. His horse would go lame or he would get sick. He started connecting these occurrences to Genevieve. Then she started asking for him to bring Cécile to Trianon. The more he refused to help her, the more threatening she became, so he moved to the barracks but things still kept happening. His story gives Tristan more insight into Genevieve’s character, and a sneaking suspicion that she is Anushka begins to form in his mind. But he doesn’t understand how it is possible given that Genevieve’s birth and early life was so well documented – it was impossible for her to be five hundred years old. Tristan hears Cécile’s voice again after the story. She tells him to be careful because one of their friends is foe. Going back to the ballroom, he starts to wonder if it’s time for him to put his other plan into action.
As Tristan is watching the performance, he notices the trance everyone falls into as Genevieve sings. He can see her bewitching power. He is still trying to figure out what Cécile meant with her warning when the performance ends. Sabine has still not returned, and he is torn between keeping an eye on her and keeping an eye on Genevieve. The decision is made for him when Genevieve comes out into the audience.

Chapter 54
Cécile listens to the performance from back stage. Sabine tries to talk to her, but she is held back by guards. When her mother finishes she walks over to Cécile. Now that she knows Genevieve is Anushka, the pull of her promise to the king is so strong that she has to refrain from trying to kill her. Cécile asks her to stay in the audience while she sings.
When she goes out onstage, but it’s a struggle to perform. She sees Sabine in the audience and realizes, too late, that her friend recognized Anushka’s mask and knows who she is. Sabine begins moving towards Tristan, obviously intent on telling him the truth, and Cécile can’t help but want to stop her. But she remains on stage singing. At the end of her performance, she sees movement in the audience. No longer caring if it ruins the performance she looks and sees that her mother has disappeared and that Tristan is rushing out of the theater. Sabine goes after him.

Chapter 55
Tristan’s focus is on Genevieve, though he can’t help but notice Cécile’s talent. But he also senses from her that something has gone terribly wrong. Genevieve is close to the exit and he sees the door open behind her. Someone reached for her, and he sees the flash of a blade. He runs out of the ballroom in pursuit.
As he is running, he hears Sabine call his name, but he doesn’t stop. Running through the corridors, he finds Genevieve staggering towards him, her neck bloody. She pleads for help. Sabine arrives and tells him to get away from Genevieve because she is Anushka. Tristan hesitates, wondering for an instant if Sabine is the friend Cécile believed to be foe. Anushka takes advantage of his hesitation and cuts him with the steel claws of her costume, binding his magic with her spell. Before he can attack her, Anushka grabs Sabine and puts a pistol to her head. Julian arrives and points a gun at Tristan, and Anushka has them go into a room. Inside, Anushka orders Sabine to chain Tristan. When Sabine refuses, Anushka shoots her.

Fun Facts!

Chapter 46 – This chapter served a couple purposes. One, it allowed Tristan to meet and get to know his wife’s family, which I felt was important. It demonstrated to him what Cécile was putting at risk by breaking the curse. Two, it allowed the reader a bit of an emotional break after all the action in Trollus, which I felt was necessary given what would come next.

Chapter 47 – In STOLEN SONGBIRD, Élise doesn’t go down into the mines with Cécile and Zoé because she’s afraid of confined spaces. It looks suspiciously like Angouleme knew about that fear…

Chapter 48 – Rowan is an important plant in mythology, and it is often known as witch’s bane for its power to ward of witches. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowan (there is a mythology section)

Chapter 49 – I went back and forth on whether I wanted to add in the plotline of Angouleme knowing Anushka’s identity, but in the end, I wanted that last thing to tip Tristan toward the realization that the curse is going to be broken, one way or another.

Chapter 50 – The Isle’s human society is much more patriarchal than the trolls, but I liked subverting that by putting knowledge and power in Lady Marie’s hands rather than the Regent’s. That’s one of the reasons why she is a named character and the Regent isn’t.

Chapter 51 – This is Fred’s moment of redemption, and also the beginning of his plot arc through WARRIOR WITCH.

Chapter 52 – A LOT of people criticize Cécile for not telling Tristan Anushka’s identity the moment she learns it. That’s always bugged me, because can you really blame her? She remembers what Tristan did to Esmeralda when he thought she was Anushka (punched a fist sized hole through her chest with magic), and I think it’s a valid fear that he’d do the exact same thing to Genevieve. She’s had only moments to process her mother’s true identity. I think most people in the same situation would also hesitate, their minds working in overdrive to figure out what to do next.

Chapter 53 – When I was working out how to use Cécile’s voice as part of the plot of WARRIOR WITCH, I used this scene.

Chapter 54 – I love the tension of this moment. How hard would it be to sit on a swing and perform with all this going through your head? Trying to think and sing with everyone staring at you…

Chapter 55 – I had a few reasons for creating tension between Tristan and Sabine, but giving him a reason to suspect that she was the friend who is the foe was one of them. Without that little distraction, I think Tristan would probably have seen through Genevieve/Anushka’s little ploy and captured/killed her right then.

Chapter 56 – Do you remember how I told you that Forsaken Mountain was inspired by a real mountain that broke in half? Well popular opinion is that it was mining activities that brought down that mountain, just like the trolls mining for gold brought down their mountain… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_S...

Chapter 57 – Lamia is a figure in Greek mythology with much association with the death of children, which is why I chose that particular name for the troll queen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamia

Chapter 58 – How I imagined the horns of Trollus sound: 2.16 or so into the clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UayQi...

Swag mailing issues…
So here is the scoop. I included super cute buttons in my first batch of swag mailings, which was apparently more than the postal service could handle, even when I paid the small package rate. Lots of them are not making it into your hands, and no one is angrier about that fact than I am. If you are in Canada/US and have not received your swag, send me an email. If you are international, please give it another few weeks, then send me an email if you haven’t received anything. I’m super sorry for the headache ☹ HOWEVER, if you are one of the winners of a signed copy of Warrior Witch, I mailed off the books today.

This week's question thread will be the last chance to win a signed copy of WARRIOR WITCH!

Sign up for the Skype chat is live! I’ll post the sign up link for the May 14 call on April 28th at 10pm ET.

May 7 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Discussion Questions

1. What are you hoping for from WARRIOR WITCH?
2. Did witnessing what happened to Anushka make you sympathetic toward her? Was it what you expected? Did it change your opinion about whether the trolls deserved to be freed or not?
3. In your opinion, did Tristan want Cécile to kill Genevieve/Anushka?
4. In your opinion, did Cécile kill Genevieve/Anushka because it was what she wanted to do or because of the compulsion of her promise to the King?
5. What do you think is going on in Trollus at the end of the novel? Who is in control?

Shreya wrote: "1. When it comes to sex scenes, I don't really mind them (personally I skim them than read them) but in YA novels, I like it when the author describes what goes on before the deed and the reactions..."

Hi Shreya

Don't forget to send Penny your contact information for the copy of Warrior Witch that you won!!

Ellie wrote: "1. I like a good make out scene and then a fade to black hahaha. I don't want it TOO explicit, but something hot and steamy? *covers face*

2. I LOVED Tristan and Chris's relationship! One recent f..."

Ooooh, I have The Winner's Kiss, and I really need to read it before I accidentally read any spoilers. I hear it has a fantastic ending!

Brittani wrote: "1. Hmm. Sex in YA can definitely be tricky. I just usually prefer to actually KNOW that it has happened. Like, I don't need details or anything, so a fade to black is okay with me, I just actually ..."

Hi Brittani,
I think The Raven Cycle has one of best group of friends in YA. I love Blue and the boys, and I'm really looking forward to diving into the Raven King.

Erika (The Nocturnal Fey) wrote: "1. I agree with Brittani. I prefer that I just know it happened. Maybe make it more romantic and passionate prior to the ACTUAL scene, but not too explicit like those in NA novels. Some of my favor..."

Hi Erika,
Yay! Glad Hidden Huntress hit your favourite passionate moment list :)

Nicole wrote: "1. I prefer it to be not too explicit but also not completely out of screen. I think that for it to be explicit it would have to be a book I would expect that of, which was not the case of the Male..."

Hi Nicole,
I agree that the level of detail given during intimate moments needs to fit with the rest of the book. These novels don't contain much adult content (graphic sex/violence/swearing), so it wouldn't really have fit if I'd written in a Fifty Shades sort of scene ;-)

Ashley wrote: "1. Well, I feel like the sex scenes I read in books are always quite tame in comparison with some of the fanfics I’ve read... I don’t really mind how it’s handled – if it’s a fade-to-black, more on..."

Hi Ashley,

" I don’t really mind how it’s handled – if it’s a fade-to-black, more on the PG-13 side, or if I’ll need to erase my browser history" I just spit coffee on my computer that made me laugh so hard!

I like your points on characters having free will to make their own choices – that it wasn't necessarily up to Cecile whether Pierre or Elise sacrificed themselves for what they perceived was the greater good. And being close to a protagonist ALWAYS seems to be a risky proposition ;-)

This deleted scene was originally in HIDDEN HUNTRESS just before Tristan and Sabine go inside the castle for the party.

(This hasn't been through editorial, so please forgive any errors or discontinuities with the published novel)


I drummed my fingers against my knee, watching the city pass by as the carriage sped through the city streets. More than half my life had my life had been dedicated to plans that were predicated upon my people remaining cursed, and none of it mattered anymore. Now I had only a matter of hours to come up with a plan for the exact opposite circumstance: me willfully freeing my people. Not just a plan, but plans for every possible variation of events. A reaction for every action my enemies took. I needed to think like my father, and I felt woefully unequipped.

The trolls were one thing. I knew them, and to certain extent, I could predict their actions. But I’d also be unleashing the fey, and they were a wildcard like none other. Worse yet, I’d be unleashing them on the longest night, and tomorrow was the first day of winter. The Isle would be firmly in her grasp, and she would not wait long to come for the payment she was owed.

The Queen of Winter had saved my life, and for that she could demand almost anything from me and I’d be powerless to refuse. There was no predicting what it might be, but there was no doubt in my mind that it wouldn’t be something I wanted to give.

The carriage slowed to a stop on the bridge leading up to the gates of the castle. It was studded with steel, and a dull band of the metal circled the walls themselves. A structure built centuries ago when the humans still remembered how to defend themselves. It was a forgotten art, which was why I’d sent Chris riding through the night to the Hollow with instructions my kind had never willing given to humans. I hoped they would listen to him.

The door to the carriage opened, the face of a liveried guardsman appearing. “Good evening, monsieur,” he said. “I must ask to see your invitation.”

Extracting it from my coat pocket, I handed it to the soldier. He glanced at the card, started to hand it back, then hesitated. Stepping back from the carriage, he held the card so that the torches hanging on the gate illuminated it. His jaw flexed slightly, but he stepped back to the carriage and handed me the invitation. I tensed, but all he said was, “Enjoy the celebration, monsieur.” He nodded at Sabine. “You as well, mademoiselle.”

A dozen lords and ladies in finery were exiting carriages ahead of us, and I greeted those I’d met, watching for any reaction that would indicate they knew more than they should. But they only smiled and laughed, the scent of wine already on their breaths and their eyes bright. Sabine took my arm, and I led her up the sturdy steps of the squat castle. I was about to step over the threshold when a wave of stench hit my nose, repulsion sending me staggering back a pace.

“What’s wrong?” Sabine asked.

“I’ve never been to the castle before,” I said quickly, trying to ignore the urge to back away from the entrance. “Thought I might take a look before going in.”

She frowned and stepped aside to let the other revellers pass. “It isn’t much to look upon, is it? I’ve always wondered why the Regent of old insisted on building something so painfully ugly.”

Painful was correct. The whole blasted structure was filled with forged steel, and I suspected going inside was going to make me feel as though I was enclosed within a steel box. “Defence?” I muttered, eyeing the building with naked distaste.

“Against,” she lowered her voice, “the trolls?”

I shook my head, knowing I could level the building in a matter of moments. “I think the Regent of old knew something the current Regent does not.” Well played, Anushka, I thought to myself.

Karim wrote: "1. I think it depends on the plotline a lot of the time. Some stories I’ve read would have been better if it had been a bit more explicit but then the suspense of it also made it that much better. ..."

Hi Karim,
Tristan definitely wanted to know what it felt like to be a normal young man without a thousand responsibilities. He's lived his whole life entirely focused on playing a high stakes political game, and he (maybe a bit selfishly) wants a night or two where he isn't focused on all of that. He wants to have fun.

Abby wrote: "1. Usually when it comes to those scenes, I prefer the middle ground. I like when authors build it up, but when it comes time to the actual explicit thing they skip over that part and then write th..."

Hi Abby,
I think you're right about what Tristan was thinking. The conversation with Aiden really drove home how much danger his people were in. It was one thing to want to keep them contained when he believed he could protect them, but he's understanding that to do so is impossible. There are too many threats, from both within and without, and he's decided, whether he cares to admit it or not, that the curse needs to be broken.

Kelsea wrote: "Ohhhhh yay first comment!!!

1. This is a hard question! I think it really depends on the book and the author's writing style. I did really like how you gave us some details but didn't make it too..."

Hi Kelsea,
Haha, the carriage scene with Chris is actually my dad's favourite scene in the book. A bit of comedic relief ;-)

Ellie wrote: "1. It's pretty important for me to have romance in a novel/ series. But it definitely doesn't have to be a main focus. But I do enjoy a good slow burn romance

2. I was a bit sympathetic, but I thi..."

Hi Ellie,
One of the things I wish I could've done more of was spending time on Tristan's reactions to the world. I put in as much as I could, but the pace is on the uptick at that point, so I couldn't put in a scene where he wandered around to check things out. Which made me sad, but such is the life of a novelist.

Fun Facts (That I forgot to post!! Oops)

Chapter 36 – Have you noticed that both Tristan and Cécile never hesitate to snoop through other people’s stuff?!

Chapter 37 – Chris remembers Tristan’s trouble with bright light and uses it to his advantage in Warrior Witch

Chapter 38 – Everything I want to say about this chapter is a spoiler for the ending! So Cécile’s lie about where she was during the summer she spent in Trollus is that she was in Courville, the only other city of size on the Isle other than Trianon and Trollus. A fact not many people remember is that Marc is the Comte de Courville ☺

Chapter 39 – The Hotel de Crillion is one of the oldest luxury hotels in Paris

image:


image:


Chapter 40 – I knew I wanted a chapter with Tristan out on the town pretending to be a young rich human boy, but my first few tries involved him being at functions where Cécile was performing. What I found was that having her there always put the focus on their relationship, and what I really wanted was Tristan to have one night of being “normal”. One night where he’d do all the things he would’ve done if he wasn’t a prince, wasn’t a troll, wasn’t leading a revolution, and wasn’t hunting down an immortal witch. And that’s how this chapter was born.

Chapter 41 – Likewise with this chapter, I wanted the two of them to have a night where they could pretend to be a normal couple falling in love. This is actually their first real date, and I liked having Cécile primping with her best friend beforehand, then her focus being on kissing and handholding and maybe making out with him later that night. One night when they got to forget who they were and what they were trying to accomplish. Not that it lasts long.

Chapter 42 – This chapter was one of the most vivid scenes in my mine before I started writing Hidden Huntress. It’s an important one, because it is really the resolution of the romance plot arc of the story. It’s the moment where their ceases to be meaningful conflict between them, and as a result, is one of the last scenes in the series where their romance is a major focus.

Chapter 43 – One of the things that frustrated me the most about the Anushka immortality plot was figuring out a way they could predict that the night of the masque was THE NIGHT that wasn’t super obvious. Stumbling across real world data on the simultaneous occurrences of solstices and full moons was a huge moment for me, because it was such a cool way to solve the problem.

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Chapter 44 – AND the solstice/full moon idea gave me a reason to go back to Trollus. I KNEW I needed Cécile to spend some time there, so having her need the advice of Pierre was a good way to get her to go back.
Chapter 45 – Lessa isn’t dead. Not even close.

Shreya wrote: "1. I am a fan of romance. A big fan at that. So when a story has a romantic plot line, or at least some themes of romance within the book, I consider that to be a huge plus. However i do still read..."

Hi Shreya!
Such fantastic answers!!
Yes, Cecile's timing was a bit harsh (I might have planned it that way, haha), because Tristan was having a really epic moment seeing his people come together. A moment where he believed that his dreams might come to fruition. And then Cecile jerked him away from that. As much as it needed to happen, she couldn't have called him away at a more heartbreaking moment.