Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings

On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky waiting at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.

Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.

Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.

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Guest Post: Writing A Forbidden Romance

The quintessential component to any forbidden romance is, in my option, the stakes! They have to be high, so high you see no possible way these two people can be together without totally destroying their lives or the lives of the people around them. You need to feel the agony of their separation. You need to feel the yearning between them. You need to pine when they pine.

Sounds fun, right? Well, if your answer is yes, my book The Raven and the Dove might just be for you!

One of the reasons I adore the story of Tristan and Isolde is because of the impossibility of their love. It’s not just a princess yearning for someone other than her betrothed (a common trope). There are so many more layers keeping these two lovers apart. Two kingdoms are at war, and if the marriage falls through innocent people will die. King Mark is Tristan’s uncle, so giving into his feelings means betraying his family and someone who is like a father to him. On the other side, King Mark is kind—not an evil tyrant—so Isolde would never want to hurt him. Not to mention, getting caught would likely mean death. The stakes ARE SO HIGH!

Okay, you might be saying right now—Isn’t Tristan and Isolde a tragedy? Yes… Yes, it is. In this particular tale, the stakes are so high, maybe a bit too high, that everything goes to hell. BUT one of the nice aspects of a retelling is I get to make the story my own.

In my story, the bond between Lyana and Rafe is about more than a love potion. When they first meet, they’re forced to share their deepest secrets—each possesses forbidden magic—and in doing so, they’re able to be more vulnerable and honest with each other than they’ve ever been before. Being together means being free to be who they are, something neither of them ever imagined possible. But, of course, there are a few things in the way.

Lyana is betrothed to Prince Xander, a sweet and noble prince who happens to be Rafe’s half-brother. Betraying Xander would destroy Rafe. And for Lyana, following her heart would mean ruining a man who’s been nothing but good to her and a kingdom that’s done nothing but accept her.

That’s not all.

Did I mention that these characters all have wings and live on islands floating high above the clouds? No? Go with it. Because thousands of feet below, in a land enshrouded by fog, a king believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and he wants her for himself—no matter the cost.

Don’t worry—I won’t give away how it all comes together (you have to read the book!), but I think you’ll agree, the stakes are high, which sets the stage for a nail-biting forbidden romance. Now I just need to figure out how to let them live happily ever after…but that’s a problem for the sequel!

What do you think is the most important aspect of writing a forbidden romance? What are some of your favorite forbidden romances?

Kaitlyn Davis, a bestselling author with over a quarter of a million books sold, writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie. Publisher’s Weekly has said, “Davis writes with confidence and poise,” while USA Today has recommended her work as “must-read romance.”

To learn more about her contemporary romance novels, visit her Goodreads author page for Kay Marie here: https://www.goodreads.com/Kay_Marie

Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she’s not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found playing fetch with her puppy, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her–about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general–you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com

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