The Dark Legend
by Phoebe Ravencraft
Released: Sep 26, 2023
Genre: Fantasy
Why this book and why now?
I’ve loved James Bond movies for most of my life. But I don’t love 007’s sexism and misogyny. And I feel like there are a lot of us sapphics who’d love to see a female Bond-type character, who isn’t saddled with that baggage.
I also feel that, as much as we’re seeing more femme-led fantasy in literature and streaming, there is a dearth of material with a strong, lesbian lead character, whose sexuality is a part of her character. Wren Xavier is not a token sapphic girl. She’s a capable secret agent, she has magic powers, and she acts on her attraction to women. I want my fellow sapphics to be able to see themselves in the role of hero in fantasy literature and to not see that being used as a device. Wren lives in a world where no one blinks twice that she’s gay. They only care how capable she is. That’s a world I want to live in.
Would you and your main character(s) get along?
I think Wren would drive me crazy. As one of the supporting characters puts it, she’s a chaos agent. She enters a volatile situation and starts stirring the pot to see what happens. I’m kind of the opposite in that regard. I like to observe and assess and carefully plan my actions. Wren flies by the seat of her pants. But she gets results, and that’s why she keeps getting promoted. She’s one of the top operatives for Her Majesty’s Shadow Service — much to the chagrin of her handler.
What TV show would your main character(s) most likely binge watch and why?
Well, this is a traditional fantasy world, so she wouldn’t have Netflix. 😉 But if she could watch modern television, she’d probably enjoy SHADOW & BONE on Netflix for all the political intrigue, overwhelmed underdogs, and battles against sinister darkness.
One of your main characters is planning a romantic night. Tell us about it.
The main love interest in the novel, May, is a planner/organizer and a romantic at heart. She would plan a starlit dinner with some of Wren’s favorite foods. Knowing Wren is a connoisseur of wine and food, it would be a several-course meal with new things to try along with old favorites. Every wine would be perfectly paired. After dinner, they would take a long walk, before making love somewhere comfortable.
Wren, on the other hand, would be befuddled by all of this. Her idea of the perfect R&R is drinks with friends. A big romantic feast in her honor would confuse the daylights out of her! LOL!
Publishing a book is a huge accomplishment and it’s time to party! Choose a celebratory beverage for one of your main characters to toast the release of your new book.
In the book, Wren falls in love with an elven wine called freschina. It’s light and airy, and it always seems to take the heat and misery from the day. If she were throwing this party for me there would be a LOT of freschina. 😂
What song does your character put on to start your book launch party?
“The James Bond Theme” — Wren is a 007-style agent in a traditional fantasy world with elves and magic. Of COURSE she’s going to play Monty Norman’s iconic theme!
