Author to donate sales of feminist fantasy to Girls, Inc.
Politics, revolutions and sisterhood in European-inspired
historical debut
NASHVILLE – The battle for the throne of Karkov commences in
this epic feminist fantasy from debut author Dale Griffin. “The Last Lion of
Karkov” (March 14, 2023, Books Fluent) dives deeply into the worlds of its
characters, creating an epic fantasy debut that amplifies the hardships of politics,
the sacrifice of love and the enduring bond between two sisters.
Using his experiences traveling across Europe and his
passion for developing complex and endearing characters, Griffin’s epic
features twin sisters who must fight for their rightful place in a
male-dominated world. And in honor of the sisters within the story, he also
plans to donate a portion of sales of his book to Girls, Inc., an organization
that believes in empowering young girls to be independent and bold.
For royal twin sisters, Jillian and Natalia, there’s nothing
that can come between them. Natalia is set for marriage to another kingdom and
Jillian prepares to take up the throne as the first Lioness of Karkov. Raised
to be warlords and rulers, Jillian’s path to the throne is met with opposition
when the old warriors bring forth a male rival. Jillian must fight for her
rightful position on the throne, but things change when she starts to develop
feelings for her challenger. As destinies are altered and nations are spun into
turmoil, Jillian and Natalia must reckon with the consequences of love and war.
For fans of Guy Gavriel Kay and Tamora Pierece’s Lioness
series, “The Last Lion of Karkov” will give readers two new feminist icons to
root for and suprising twists to linger in the mind well after reading.
“The Last Lion of Karkov”
Dale Griffin | March 2023 | Books Fluent | Epic fantasy
Paperback, 9781953865601, $22.99/$16.99
Ebook, 978-1-953865-61-8
About the author
DALE GRIFFIN is a historical fantasy writer releasing his
debut novel "The Last Lion of Karkov" in March 2023. Griffin
considers himself a traveler and a writer as a result. Married to his best
friend and travel partner, the two explore Europe as frequently as possible.
Inspired by those journeys, Griffin uses his experiences to influence his
imagined worlds and the memorable characters who dwell in them.
An interview with Dale Griffin
Q.
Jillian and Natalia are deeply developed characters in this story. Could you go
into what it was like to create these characters and the work it took to evolve
them throughout the story?
A.
I wanted to create twin sisters who were subjected to the same cruel upbringing
yet emerged from their circumstances with completely different personalities.
Natalia’s character evolved more over the revisions than Jillian’s.
Despite some readers finding Jillian too
quick-tempered and unfair, my thoughts are that she is the direct result of her
childhood. Natalia, being a person who puts others before herself, should be
considered the enigma. Early drafts did not portray her as spoiled during her
youth, but I preferred to show her evolve into a proper heroine, with her love of
Jillian being the reason.
Q.
The story is set in a European setting despite being an epic fantasy world.
What went into creating the world Jillian and Natalia live in?
A.
Europe — its people, its landscapes, its cities, and its history —
inspires me to write. I set out on writing the Euro-inspired story without
knowing what the reader would think about my imaginary places obviously being
taken from real places. Luckily, early readers found that it helped them
picture the setting, so I fully embraced the method and ran with it.
Q.
As a male author, what was your motivation to write a fantasy story focusing on
two women fighting in a patriarchal society?
A.
My favorite characters are feisty female protagonists who refuse to
conform to what is expected of them. With Jillian in particular, I created a
near-insurmountable obstacle to overcome and unleashed a ferocious lioness to
attack it.
Q.
You must have also drawn a bit from real life. Can you tell us a bit about what
parts inspired your real life?
A.
It’s easier to write about what you know. I was riding horses by the age
of 4, which helped to write a book set in this period. My engineering degree
was part of the inspiration for Lorenzo. Most importantly, my wife provided
many influences throughout the book.
Q.
You also plan to donate sales of your book to Girls, Inc. What is your
motivation there and how do you believe this connects to the story?
A.
It’s what Jillian and Natalia would want — to support girls in becoming
bold and independent women.
Q.
What do you hope readers gain from the story?
A.
I hope that I created characters who will linger in the thoughts of
readers between readings and well after completing the book.
Q.
Are you working on any additional projects?
A.
Yes, I have outlined a new book in a similar style where the lands are
inspired by Scotland and Northern England, including their rivalry. A druidess
is taken from her Highlands homeland to serve a Scottish-like ruler trying to
preserve his title of king. But also, the continued “Last Lion of Karkov” story
with the threat from the Desert Lion is never far from my thoughts.
This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned
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