Snakes, Spies, and Subterfuge: In Conversation with V.L. Bovalino and Hannah Kaner

It is the year of secrets, spys, and scheming in Fantasy, and we're over the moon to be celebrating the very pick of the bunch. Join us as we welcome V.L. Bovalino (Second Death of Locke, Not Good For Maidens) and Hannah Kaner (Godkiller) to answer questions around all things vengeance and espionage, with some very complicated romantic relationships along the way!

The Thief and the Traitor Bride:

A ruthless spy. A deadly mission. A thief who could ruin it all.

Nore Gordon is a woman of many talents: she can speak a variety of languages, disguise herself in plain sight, and has made a name for herself as a successful wine merchant. But unbeknownst to those closest to her, it is all a front for Nore's true role as the favoured spy of the Lindle crown.

Tasked with infiltrating enemy lands in search of a powerful relic, Nore is forced to engage the services of a great thief. Unfortunately, the only person for the job is her estranged husband Caspian. Both Nore and Caspian bear the scars of the disastrous end of their marriage, but if they are to survive their deadly new assignment, they must pose as a happily married couple to avoid detection.

As danger closes in, Nore finds herself tangled in a web of lies and deceit-and though Caspian is at the centre of it all, she may not hate him as much as she once did. But Caspian has betrayed her before, and trust can be far more deadly than deception.

A Snake Among Swans

For the queen to rise, the swans must fall.

Tilde has always heard the whispers of the kithwood, the voices of her ancestors speaking through the mysterious forest of her homeland.

But now both the kithwood and her kingdom are in danger.

For Tilde is the only surviving heir of a conquered land. To unite the people and finally stop the bloodshed, she marries the ageing warlord, King Liran. Her duty is to bind their nations and bear him a son.

But the swan king's court is dangerous. Tilde is a threat to the claim of Liran's older sons, who will do whatever it takes to remove her, to the princess Elise who has only ever known loyalty to her family, and to the priests who own them all.

Yet none of them know that Tilde is a snake in their midst, with allies on her side and dark, forbidden power of her own. She wants her kingdom back, and she will sacrifice everything to claim it.

About V.L. Bovalino

V. L. Bovalino is the pseudonym of Tori Bovalino, the author of three YA horror novels, including My Throat an Open Grave, and editor of the Indie-bestselling anthology, The Gathering Dark.

She is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and now lives in the UK with her partner, cat and puppy. Tori loves scary stories, obscure academic book facts and impractical oversized sweaters. She can be found on Instagram @toribovalino.

About Hannah Kaner

HANNAH KANER is the author of Godkiller, Sunbringer and Faithbreaker, all three #1 Sunday Times Bestsellers.

She has been shortlisted for the Hugos, Locus, British Book Awards and British Fantasy Awards, as well as Longlisted for the Glass Bell award. Her work has been translated into 15 languages.