The Cursed Heart
Enter a world of wonder and magic in our newest VIP book, The Cursed Heart. But be wary, as mortals often fall prey to these strange and captivating creatures…
We're ready to embark on our newest adventure! What wonders can we expect to see?
Kathleen: Claimed by the dark and alluring ruler of the Moon Court, will you find a way to escape the world of Fae... or let yourself fall under its spell?
Are there any new characters and mythical creatures we should be on guard against? Or those we should, y’know, lower our guard for?
Emi: If I had to pick my absolute favorites, it'd have to be either Radiance, the charming and powerful ruler of the Sun Court, or Longclaw because... well, she's a bear in a bonnet and apron. What's not to love?
Jessie: There is a very cute puffball bird who may or may not have captured my heart while reading the book. Leaf is the best birb. I would definitely advise players to be wary of who they trust though.
Kathleen: Few things are what they seem, and even the one person who's sworn to protect you from harm might be a danger to you in other ways. It's rare to find anyone in the land of Fae with intentions that are completely pure (except Longclaw. She's a perfect muffin).
With thrilling new characters and a world full of magic, what can't you wait for our fans to experience?
Kathleen: I adore the collectable system we came up with for this book. It fits the genre so beautifully, and the ART, omg. It's the best.
Tom: I have to agree with Kathleen, the collectible system is really clever and was so much fun to create the art for!
Emi: Our outfits are absolutely gorgeous. I mean, we've got gowns and vests made of flowers and stained glass! It's so much fun when you can just think outside the box because your designs don't have to be realistic. That's what magic's for!
You all have gone above and beyond with the art! I have to know, what was your favorite part about creating this world?
Kathleen: I really struggled with the interior design of the Moon Palace, trying to figure out how to make THIS moody fantasy castle different from all the other moody fantasy castles I've written about over the years. Then one day we were like, "Oh, we take all this gorgeous overgrown garden stuff and bring it inside, like the forest is trying to swallow the palace whole."
*Mwah* Delicious symbolism.
Tom: Everything in the Fae world is touched by magic, so in designing their environment we had to think about how magic would affect everyday objects and to what degree. Trees, rocks, mushrooms, animals, even the sky all look slightly different than they do in the mortal realm... and some not so slightly. That was a lot of fun!
Emi: The dynamics between the main character and Kieran. They're both incredibly stubborn and constantly butting heads, leading to moments where I would laugh out loud... and a few other ones that made me swoon.
Jessie: I really loved our conversations when it came to planning the character moment and collectible art. I specifically kept thinking about how much we could pull the charm and small magical qualities of Studio Ghibli, but mix it with our dark fantasy fae world.
We're ready to enter the world of Fae! By the way, what is your favorite fairytale or Fae-adjacent story?
Kathleen: Surprising probably no one, I'm a massive nerd for fairytales (especially ones starring a clever kid on a dangerous quest). My favorite might be The Seven Ravens, but I also have a major soft spot for Momotaro and Jack the Giant-Killer.
Emi: My favorite fairytale would have to be Beauty and the Beast. I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers. But I also have to give a shout out to Jim Henson's Labyrinth here, a wild, fun, and ridiculous film that helped make me the writer I am today. Also it's got David Bowie.
Tom: I don't think it received the praise it deserved, but I really enjoy Ridley Scott's Legend. The movie feels equal parts like being inside a snow globe and a fever dream. And Tim Curry is the devil, enough said.
Jessie: My favorite Fae romance series is hands down The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning. It's got all the twists and turns, a will-they-won't-they romance, some spice, and a great cast of characters. As for fairy tales, I really enjoy The Three Billy Goats Gruff. My mom used to read it to me all the time as a kid and I still have a huge soft sport for the story.
Ah, these stories sound interesting! Last but not least, do you have any final words for our players?
Kathleen: Be polite to old crones in the woods, don't chase after strange lights, and for heaven's sake, follow the talking animal's instructions.
We appreciate the advice and cannot wait to explore the world you've created! And to you, fans, thanks for reading our Inside Choices blog. Enjoy The Cursed Heart, launching Wednesday, April 27!
<3 The PB Community Team