Catherine Doyle on Romance, Twists, and Writing The Rebel and the Rose
Catherine discusses crafting the long-awaited reunion, writing fated love, and meeting the challenge of a second book
Sweeping romance, dangerous secrets, and a kingdom full of intrigue make Catherine Doyle’s The Rebel and the Rose a spellbinding sequel to The Dagger and the Flame. As Seraphine and Ransom reunite in grand palaces, magical universities, and dazzling villages, readers can expect banter, passion, and plenty of jaw-dropping twists. In this Q&A, Catherine discusses crafting the long-awaited reunion, writing fated love, and meeting the challenge of a second book.
The first book ended with Seraphine embarking on a new journey, and readers have been desperate for her reunion with Ransom. How did you decide when, where, and how that long-awaited moment would happen?
I thought about this a lot because I wanted their reunion to feel just right, and not too soon. I also wanted the moment they reunited to be in entirely new territory, rather than up in the mountains where Sera finds herself at the start of book 1 or down in the catacombs, which we already see a lot of in book one. The Summer Palace felt fitting because it’s out of both of their comfort zones. Now that the king is involved in the affairs of both Orders, it makes for a setting that is both grand and dangerous. This inspires a new kind of rippling tension, which makes for an exciting reunion… !
The romance in this book is achingly beautiful—and undeniably sexy. Do you think Sera and Ransom are your favorite couple to write so far? What makes their dynamic so special for you as an author?
I love writing Sera and Ransom, because they never hold back with each other. They spar, they make up… they make-out. Their banter is so enjoyable to write because it’s underpinned by a deep, fated connection that adds an air of romance to all of their interactions (even when they’re sniping at each other).
We were introduced to so many new places and regions in the kingdom in this book. How did you decide what sort of location to depict for Seraphine and Ransom’s journey?
The kingdom of Valterre is loosely based on 19th century France. Since Fantome is very much a magical version of Paris, I wanted the other places on their journey to feel familiar in the same way. Since I love dark academia, I had to include the Appoline University, an ancient venerated place of learning that adds a dreamy atmosphere to the start of their journey. Later on, the village of Marvale, with its twinkling fairy lights, street music and red windmills, is loosely inspired by the Moulin Rouge.
The Rebel and the Rose is packed with twists and surprises. Did you map out all of these big reveals when writing the first book, or did some developments emerge along the way?
When I start out, I always have some twists tucked away in my back pocket, but inevitably, as I write, more will pop up. My favourite thing to do is hide a shocking twist behind a very obvious twist. So, the reader is so busy congratulating themselves on figuring out the first twist, they’re completely bowled over by the second one.
“Second book syndrome” is a common fear for sequels but this book completely avoided it. What was the most fun part of writing it, and what was the most challenging?
The City of Fantome is the fourth trilogy I’ve written, so I am well used to tackling that looming second book. I’ve always relished the challenge. Since most of the main characters and settings are already established in book two, it allows for more scope in terms of world-building and plot creativity. And it’s always exciting and encouraging to know that there are already readers out there, who have welcomed your characters into their hearts, and are now waiting on tenterhooks to read more about them!
Without spoiling anything, what can you tell us about the next book? Where are you in the writing process?
I can tell you that the first draft of book 3 is written. It has a really cool title, which is going to make for an incredible final cover. As the end of the trilogy, all I can say is, it’s going to be epic.
