Blog Tour: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown (Character Interview+ Giveaway!)

Item: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
Author: Kaity

Posted June 7, 2020 by Kaity in Book Tours, Giveaways, Interviews / 0 Comments

Happy Sunday and welcome to my stop on the A Song of Wraiths and Ruin blog tour!! Today I have an interview with Malik and Karina themselves to share with you! Read on to find out more about their worldview, follow the rest of the tour, find out more about Rosie and her book, plus enter to win some A Song of Wraiths and Ruin swag!

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
Published on June 2, 2020 by Balzer + Bray
Genres: YA, Contemporary, Thriller
Pages: 480
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For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts Malik’s younger sister, Nadia, as payment into the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal—kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia’s freedom.
But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated; her court threatens mutiny; and Solstasia looms like a knife over her neck. Grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic . . . requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition.
When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a course to destroy each other. But as attraction flares between them and ancient evils stir, will they be able to see their tasks to the death?

What would you wish for if you had three wishes?

Malik: Honestly, I don’t think I’d wish for anything. In all of the stories my Nana told me growing up, misfortune always fell on those who made wishes for things they weren’t meant to have. But if I knew the wishes came with no hidden cost, well…I’d wish for a new home for my family, one where we’d be safe from the Sentinels. I’d wish that my mothers and sisters would always stay happy and healthy. And I’d wish for…a friend. For my last wish, I’d wish for someone who

Karina: Only children believe in making wishes, but I’ll humor you. First I’d wish for a pony made of pure silver. I don’t need the pony or the silver, but it would amuse me. Next I’d wish for more hours in the day, so that my dear steward Farid could rest for once (and thus perhaps stop yelling at me for not taking my lessons seriously.) And for my last wish, I’d wish for–for my father and sister to live once more.

How would you spend your perfect day?

Malik: My perfect day would be spent sitting in the lemon grove on my family’s farm with my family. We used to do that a lot, but these days there is too much work to be done for us to gather as we once did.

Karina: On stage, of course. I’d perform all day, and then when I got bored of performing, I’d spend the evening receiving all kinds of gifts and praises from my adoring fans. Perhaps I’d even throw a feast if I was feeling particularly generous that day.

Do you see the glass as half full or half empty?

Malik: I try to stay grateful that my glass has any water in it at all. There are some people who don’t even get a glass.

Karina: Why should I settle for half of anything? The glass should be completely filled every time.

What is your favorite memory?

Malik: My younger sister’s first word was my name. That had been a hard year for us, as my father had left not long after she was born, so we were all struggling just to make sure we had enough to get by. But I was playing with her and she yelled my name suddenly. No one else heard it, but I’ll never forget that moment. That was the first time in a long time I felt like everything was going to be alright.

Karina: Years ago, my sister and I snuck out of our lessons, and we roamed free for hours before anyone even noticed. Our parents were the first ones to find us, but instead of making us go back, we all hid in my mother’s garden for the rest of the day. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mother laugh more than she did that day, and she certainly hasn’t laughed that much since….I try not to think about it. The past is the past for a reason.

Where would you most like to visit?

Malik: Arkwasi has always sounded nice. I’d like to visit the lake there, and maybe visit their famous floating markets. Oh, but I could never afford it.

Karina: I’ve always been fascinated by the Snowlands, and perhaps one day when I’m queen I can join an excursion down to study more of the secret hidden there. But for now, there is no way my mother or Farid would ever let me leave Ziran.

How would you describe yourself?

Malik: Oh, um, I’m no one special really. I’m…somewhat tall? Almost? Or, more like, I’m not short? Ah I’m sorry, that doesn’t answer your question at all. I’m just…normal. I’m myself. Is that alright?

Karina: I’m exactly what you see. I’m the princess. One day I’ll be queen. I’m my mother’s daughter. That is who I am. That is who I’ll always be.

Roseanne “Rosie” A. Brown was born in Kumasi, Ghana and immigrated to the wild jungles of central Maryland as a child. Writing was her first love, and she knew from a young age that she wanted to use the power of writing—creative and otherwise—to connect the different cultures she called home. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and was also a teaching assistant for the school’s Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House program. Her journalistic work has been featured by Voice of America among other outlets.

On the publishing side of things, she has worked as an editorial intern at Entangled Publishing. Rosie was a 2017 Pitch Wars mentee and 2018 Pitch Wars mentor. Never content to stay in any one place for too long, Rosie currently teaches in Japan, where in her free time she can usually be found exploring the local mountains, explaining memes to her students, or thinking about Star Wars.