Kiera Azar on Magic, Court Intrigue, and Her Debut Thorn Season
Kiera Azar’s debut Thorn Season has everything we want from a fantasy
Kiera Azar’s debut Thorn Season has everything we want from a fantasy. With lush world-building, layered court intrigue, and a complex magic system, the novel follows Alissa, a Wielder forced to hide her forbidden abilities while navigating the treacherous world of royal power plays. To celebrate the release, Kiera shares the inspirations behind her magic system, the importance of female solidarity, and why writing Alissa’s journey felt so personal.
Thorn Season is an incredibly ambitious debut—with lush world-building, layered politics, and a complex magic system. Why did you choose this story as your first novel?
Thorn Season was inspired by a dream I had about a magic-Wielder born into a family of Wielder Hunters, so the concept felt very fully-fleshed in my mind even before putting pen to paper. I ended up infusing Alissa’s story with everything I’ve always loved to read about: political intrigue, intricate power plays, and a heroine who knew how to navigate the treacherous world of a royal court.
The concept of spectres is such a fascinating element of your magic system. What inspired this idea, and how did you decide on the rules and limitations for how magic works in Thorn Season?
The general characteristics of a Wielder’s power developed quite naturally through my early drafting. But it wasn’t until later in the revision stages that the full qualities of a spectre really fell into place; Alissa’s own character arc ended up having an impact on how the magic system manifested. For example, since she was constantly having to contain her power, that self-confinement began presenting as a physical ache—and this tied in very well with her state of being constantly in the midst of painful personal struggle.
Alissa’s struggle to hide her Wielder abilities (which she totally shouldn’t have to!) has readers on edge. Why did you choose to explore that tension?
From the start, I was very intrigued by a character who had to hide her forbidden power, especially while upholding a high-profile public image, as I felt that it spoke to real-world instances of self-suppression and the persistent balancing act that many people have to maintain in order to survive in unjust circumstances. I very much enjoyed getting to write the moments in this story where Alissa was able to explore and embrace all the facets of her true self.
Court intrigue always makes for an exciting read. Which aspect did you enjoy developing more—the magical system or the political power plays within the court?
I really enjoyed developing both of these aspects in different ways. I loved exploring all the relationship dynamics amid the tense political backdrop of the world because it made for some very exciting secrets, reveals and character moments. But getting to explore Alissa’s relationship with her own power was particularly satisfying, and really helped me discover who she was on a deeper level.
In court settings, female friendships are often portrayed as competitive. Thorn Season breaks that mould by giving us strong, supportive dynamics. Why was it important for you to include those relationships?
Creating these supportive dynamics within the world of Thorn Season felt very natural to me while writing because they felt naturally reflective of the powerful, protective, and uplifting female friendships we see in the real world. Alissa is cynical by nature, and suspicious of everyone she meets, but I love that the young women in her life are instrumental in breaking down her preconceived notions of her kingdom.
Readers are loving the romance—slow burn, high tension, and even some calling it a “love square”! Have you seen the reader discussions about this, and what was your approach to balancing romantic drama with everything else going on in the story?
I loved exploring the different dynamics between Alissa and the young men in her life, particularly because all the candidates for her affection end up representing vastly different ends of the scale in terms of Alissa feeling trapped by her circumstances versus feeling as though she has the freedom to choose her own path—a theme at the core of the book. Without giving too much away, I definitely see only one true romantic thread within the story, and I had so much fun navigating the peaks and troughs of that relationship as the larger plot unfolds.
Everyone is buzzing about the sequels. Can you share where you are in the writing process and what readers can expect (without spoilers, of course)?
I’m so excited for readers to see Alissa navigate her new circumstances in book 2, which I’m currently writing! Expect more characters with secrets, more exploration of Alissa’s power, and (of course) more yearning.
