Knight of Nights: A Coin of Love Romance
by Karin Kallmaker
Released: Apr 28, 2023
Genre: Historical Romance
Why this book and why now?
Within a few months of each other in the late 90s, Emma Thompson was on the cover of Vanity Fair in chain mail and armor. And Xena premiered. Throw in Joan of Arc, Eleanor of the Aquitaine (who rode in armor and reportedly bare breasted during the Crusades), and all the sci-fi with great women playing the role of knights and protectors, and this book feels like it’s been in my head nearly all my life.
The Coin of Love series gave me a framework to create these terrific women and bring them together, with a medieval setting as real as research could make it. Did these women exist? I hope so!
What is a significant way your book has changed since either the first draft or the way you thought it would turn out when you first had the inspiration?
It wasn’t until I was fully immersed in the unfolding story that I realized how closely this time period matches the one we’re living through. Science denial, for one thing. Fear of “the other” including “the other’s” music, food, and language. Control the women and stamp out all knowledge of how she can control her own fertility.
With that rising sense, I shaded some of the narrative to make those parallels more obvious without derailing the romance. Their love and future turns on the simple question: can they survive the way the world is together? Can we?
What’s your main character(s)’s favorite book and why?
Lady Kirstine’s favorite book is of fables she reads aloud to children in the castle. It’s in Latin so she translates it on the fly into her husband’s language. She never had the time to manage a translation so others who don’t know Latin could enjoy it.
Skyra’s favorite audiobook is whatever epic romantic poem Kirstine sings while playing her harp.
Aside from the obvious food and shelter, what 3 things would your main character want with them if they got stranded away from civilization, and why?
Skyra of Stane has pledged to her ending to keep Kirstine safe, and she requires her axe and shield to do so. Anything else is unnecessary but should Fortune offer more she would accept it.
What song does your character put on to start your book launch party?
Knight of Nights includes a complete party playlist at the end! Starting off with the roof-raising, rhythm monster plainchant “Orzchis” by Jocelyn Montgomery. And there’s nothing like a good lament sung a capella by Lisa Gerrard to lift everyone’s spirits. What’s a party without a good cry?
Kidding aside, the party does take off when the drums of Mediaeval Baebes’s “Pearl” rock the castle, followed by the pipes and fiddles of “Valborgsbal” by Raun. Music of the era that survives is mostly sacred, but frequent festivals were not about prayer, and every family had more than one person who played more than one version of pipe, fiddle, drum, or harp.
Skyra and Kirstine always start with a lively number for anyone to join in playing with circle dancing for all. When folks get tired it’s time for a round of ale and a sad, beautiful story. Then, back to dancing!
