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Friday, May 26, 2017

Blog Tour- DARK BREAKS THE DAWN by Sara B. Larson An Interview & Giveaway!


Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for DARK BREAKS THE DAWN by Sara B. Larson! I adore Sara and this book and I can't wait for the next book!!

I have an interview with Sara to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!


Haven't heard of DARK BREAKS THE DAWN? Check it out!


Title: DARK BREAKS THE DAWN
Author: Sara B. Larson
Pub. Date: May 30, 2017
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 320
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Find it: AmazonB&NiBooksTBD, Goodreads
On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless.

But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn into the throne much sooner than she expected.

In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shapeshift, and rely on the alluring Lord Tanvir. But not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.

In the first book of a remarkable duology, Sara B. Larson sets the stage for her reimagining of Swan Lake -- a lush romance packed with betrayal, intrigue, magic, and adventure.

Now on to the interview!


Hi Sara! First I want to say welcome back to Two Chicks on Books! I freaking loved the DARK BREAKS THE DAWN and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! And I am so happy that you could stop by for a visit!

Thank you so much! I’m so thrilled you loved it and I’m so happy to be back!

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about the DARK BREAKS THE DAWN and the characters? 

DARK BREAKS THE DAWN is a fantasy reimagining of Swan Lake. There are so many complex characters in this story that I loved getting to delve into and write aboutincluding Evelayn, the Princess of Eadrolan (the Light Kingdom), Ceren, her best friend who is more like a sister to her, Tanvir who is the new High Lord of the Delsachts, and Lorcan, the Prince of Dorjhalon (the Dark Kingdom). All of these characters have strengths and weaknesses, many of which you’ll see in DBTD, but that will be revealed even more (and sometimes in VERY shocking ways) in the sequel, BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT.

How was writing it compared to the Defy series? Is it different writing a second series? 

Writing this duology has been a very different experience from writing the DEFY series. I was able to draft the three books of the DEFY trilogy very quickly, often in huge spurts of inspiration that lasted for hours. With DARK BREAKS THE DAWN and the sequel, I was dealing with quite a lot in my personal life, and found it much harder for that same creative passion to overtake me. This meant that both books took longer to draft than I had been used to, but it was a great learning experience for methat I can still write and create, even under less than ideal circumstances. 

Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

Not really. I think as authors, we are constantly observing and absorbing, but I have yet to consciously model a character after someone in my real life. But perhaps “stealing” bits and pieces here and there, yes. I think we all do that.

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

Besides Evelayn, my main character, I think my favorite was Lorcan. He is so complex and has such a difficult life. He demanded much more attention than I’d first anticipated giving him and actually threw me for some major loops in this book and the sequel. While it can be terrifying as an author to give a character “his head” so to speak, it is also exhilarating, and I can’t wait for everyone to get to know him.

What is your favorite passage/scene in DARK BREAKS THE DAWN?

I can never pick just one there are so many! And some are very spoilery. But one of my favorite scenes to write takes place in a cave, when Evelayn risks her life to go seeking something to help her stop the war.

What kind of research did you have to do for the story?

I did all sorts of different research, but one of my favorite bits of “research” I did was when I was lying in a hotel room, trying to rest while my kids watched Wild Kratts on PBS. It was an episode about spiders, and in particular how strong spider silk is. That episode sparked an idea that became an integral part of the plot in DBTD! You never know where inspiration (and research) can take place!

Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?

I’m terrible at picking just onebut some of my recent favorites are Rhysand (ACOMAF), and Anton (BURNING GLASS). Very different men, but both very swoon-worthy!

What inspired you to write YA?

I’ve always naturally gravitated to YA, as a reader and a writer. I love the urgency at this time in a person’s life, when characters are experiencing so much for the first timelove, death, independenceand when they are figuring out who they really are and want to be.

Lightening Round Questions

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

My TBR is a mile high! As soon as I finish editing BRIGHT BURNS THE NIGHT, I am currently dying to read FLAME IN THE MIST, THE STAR TOUCHED QUEEN, A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN, and my ARC of CRYSTAL BLADE!

What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?

I always end up in Gryffindor when I take the tests.

Twitter or Facebook?

Instagram. J I love pictures.

Favorite Superhero?

My mom.

Favorite TV show?

I don’t have a TOP favorite, but I did just binge watch How I Met Your Mother and Heart of Dixie while I was on bedrest (I needed light, fun shows to keep my mind off of things) and thoroughly enjoyed both.

Sweet or Salty?

Sweet. Unless it’s chips with salsa and guacamole.

Any Phobias?

I can’t stand the sound of napkins tearing, so I hate using paper napkins.

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

Believer by Imagine Dragons is my workout jam right now, and HandClap by Fitz and the Tantrums

2017 Movie you’re most looking forward to?

SO many! Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Wonder Woman are at the top of the list! And of course THE LAST JEDI!!!


Thanks so much Sara for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read DARK BREAKS THE DAWN! 

Thank YOU!



About Sara:
SARA B. LARSON is the author of the acclaimed young adult fantasy Defy trilogy: Defy, Ignite, and Endure. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t write booksalthough she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband and their children. She writes in brief snippets throughout the day (while mourning the loss of nap time) and the quiet hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in “the art of multitasking.” When she’s not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting of her sugar addiction.


Giveaway Details:


3 winners will receive a finished copy of DARK BREAKS THE DAWN. US Only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Tour Schedule:

Week One:
5/22/2017- Adventures of a Book JunkieInterview
5/23/2017- Here's to Happy EndingsReview
5/24/2017- Novel NoviceGuest Post
5/25/2017- A Dream Within A DreamReview
5/26/2017- Two Chicks on BooksInterview

Week Two:
5/29/2017- FiktshunReview
5/30/2017- A Backwards StoryGuest Post
5/31/2017- Mundie MomsReview
6/1/2017- Fiction Fare- Interview
6/2/2017- Owl Always Be ReadingReview

2 comments:

  1. I love the idea of a Swan Lake retelling. Dark Breaks the Dawn sounds great.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm curious about Dark Breaks the Dawn. Awesome review. Glad to be able to know this author. :)

    ReplyDelete

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