Demon Storm, Book Two
YA Fantasy
Release Date: 11/13/2022
Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing
Kari was dead—and then, she wasn’t.
But for the wolf-demon with lightning in her fists, resurrection is no reprieve from exile. After old witch Zina revives her, Kari must conceal her true nature better than ever before, lest her slayers find her breathing and put her down for good. And since she can no longer return to what she once knew, Kari finds herself adrift—in search of purpose.
She gets it when Zina entrusts her with the Lapis Anima, a gem imprisoning the soul of wicked woman, Raven. This brings her into conflict with Raven herself, who’s still very much a threat without her soul… and has devious plans in mind for Kari’s destructive abilities.
Will the wolf-demon succumb to Raven’s cruel temptations?
Or will Kari turn to an unlikely ally for help—the very man who killed her, one year ago?
Interview with Valerie Storm
How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your book?
So for Storm & Shadow, it began with watching Teen Titans. I loved Raven so much that I created a very similar character (in name and shadow-type powers, anyway). My friend helped me imagine a first scene for her (VERY different than what went into the final product; in that version, Raven used a flute to control a huge shadow wolf). From there, Raven developed into a consistent villain for Kari, someone who would make her question her morals. I think that is a strong theme in Storm & Shadow: if we can do great things to protect things or people we love, should we? Even at the risk of others’ safety?
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
My intent with Storm & Shadow was always to show the beginning of Kari’s toe-dipping into bad choices. This of course relies heavily on Raven (I’m going to talk about her a lot, lol) who first shows Kari the many paths she could take. From the feedback I received prior to release, I am VERY happy with how Raven has been taken and I’m totally confident going forward~
What was the hardest part of writing this book?
The hardest part…for a long time, there was just something that didn’t feel perfect with Book 2. I had no idea what it was, only that it was something in the center of the story. It was during rewrites that one character stepped up and told me (and Kari), quite sternly, that they were taking no more of our shit!
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
My FAVORITE thing writing in Storm & Shadow (and every book in the series, really), is the scenes with Raven. Every time she steps in, she takes control. I love her confidence and dastardly planning!
Were there alternate endings you considered?
Ohhh yes. The first ending of Storm & Shadow was VERY different. It involved more “friendship” with Raven and Kari, a demonic witch who wanted Raven dead (a character who no longer exists), and a final scene with Kiki…quite after the events of Birth of the Storm.
Can you share some stories about people you met while researching this book?
I’ve made a lot of close friends over the years perfecting Storm & Shadow. It was best sharing scenes and art of my characters, receiving excitement over Raven’s badassery and Kari’s moments of uncertainty. I don’t remember many specific stories about those people, but there was a #TeamRaven bit that had me rolling!
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
I always lean toward Young Adult Fantasy. They’re less dense and have that almost teen-like passion that makes me so excited!
About the Author
Valerie Storm was raised in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, she fell in love with everything fantasy. When she wasn’t playing video games, she was writing. By age ten, she began to write her own stories as a way to escape reality. When these stories became a full-length series, she considered the path to sharing with other children & children-at/heart looking for a place to call home.
Contact Links
Twitter @Valerie_Storm
Purchase Link
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