by: Antony Soehner
Series: Prince Theo Saga
Genre: Epic Fantasy/High-Fantasy Adventure
Release Date: April 12, 2022
Publisher: Roll 15 Publishing LLC
Amazon | Paperback | Audible | Goodreads
Destiny will always test the greatest of leaders.
Theo never imagined life outside the king’s castle. But when the queen’s funeral reveals the king’s true colors, Theo must rely on his sister, her allies, and his friends to get him to safety. With the help of mercenaries and the native tribes of the plains, Theo must learn to face his destiny and open his mind to the diverse world he’s been thrown into.
I’m doing fantastic and enjoying the warm weather in Colorado! Thank you for hosting.
You’re welcome. Congratulations on the release of The Prince. What can you tell me about the story?
The Prince is a High-Fantasy Adventure and the first book in the Prince Theo Saga. It's a multi-layered story about a young prince named Theo who discovers the diverse, fantastic world around him as he escapes his abusive tyrant father, King George. He finds himself in the care of a native tribe thought to be the enemy and begins his long journey of growing and healing from the traumas he faced back home.
Tell me about the world you’ve created for the Prince Theo Saga.
Prince Theo’s world is the high fantasy realm of my dreams. Alive with many beings of all sorts, like Elves, Orcs, Halflings, and creatures such as owlbears, there’s a lot of unknown in the eyes of Theo and the readers. Part of Theo’s ignorance about the magical world he lives in comes from the complex systems of his father’s imperial conditioning and rule. In the first book, we get a small glimpse into the world of the Native Orc Tribes known as the Woya and Okota. These tribes are heavily influenced by the Native American traditions of the southern Rocky Mountains and Plains.
Tell me about Prince Theo himself.
Prince Theo is the son of the tyrant king, George the First, and the late queen, Maria. He is a young adult who is experiencing the overwhelming realization that his coddled upbringing was not what he thought it was. Even though, he can’t remember any of it to begin with. He’s starting to realize he was never given the tools to be prepared for the world and with his sister’s help, he’s having to learn and experience things either for the first time or all over again. Although on a journey of self-discovery, Theo likes to learn about those around him. He finds solace in hearing the stories and experiences of others he comes to meet. He’s lost in the world but slowly, he’s finding his place as a future leader.
Who are some of the characters readers will meet in this story, and the stories to come?
Two of the characters I’m very excited for readers to meet are Jeb and Nila. They’re a mercenary duo hired to help Theo escape the kingdom. Jeb is a charismatic bard who has a way with words while Nila is a blunt elf who tends to work as the muscle behind Jeb’s antics. I really enjoyed creating their yin-yang dynamic with Theo and somewhere they became much bigger characters than initially intended. I’m very excited for when book two comes out and readers get another side of Jeb and Nila’s complicated pasts. (There’s a teaser at the end of The Prince that eludes to what's to come with these two.)
They sound like great characters. How many books are you planning on having in this saga?
Currently, I am working on book four of the saga. Originally I only had plans for three maybe four books but lately, I’m starting to think we’re headed towards seven or eight. In the end, only time will truly tell. I’m hoping to see the end of Theo’s story before the end of the decade.
That’s definitely more than I expected. But it does lend to a lot of adventures. For me, what I love about epic fantasies is the adventure the author takes me on. You know that scene or chapter, where you’re glued to the pages? Can you tell me about one of those scenes or chapters from your book?
In the seventeenth chapter, “Man in the Mask,” everything clashes. Peace is broken, families are torn apart, and Theo comes face to face with the evil sorcerer tasked with bringing him home to the king. I’ve read, listened, and visualized the entire chapter over and over again since writing it in the spring of 2020. This chapter is the big turning point in Theo’s realization that the world is cruel and his father is ruthless. But what keeps me coming back to this specific chapter is the moment when Chief Ta’goda of the Woya tribe has to beg his daughter, Rhan, to leave with Theo. It's a tender, heartfelt moment amidst the chaos of battle and I love the small glimpse of humanity that tears through the barbaric attack around them.
Excerpt: “If you don’t go now, there won’t be a tribe for you to be chief of!” Ta’goda snapped. “This is not a command as your chief. I am begging you, as your father—” the words caught in the back of his throat, “please.”
Wow. That’s pretty powerful. Can you tell me about one of your favorite scenes, and why is it considered a favorite scene?
The scene at the end of chapter seven, “Alice and Olsdeyr,” is one of my favorites. I personally like to have a story that doesn’t rely heavily on romance but this small scene between Alice and Oli tugs my heart every time. I love it because it shows how far the consequences of protecting one’s family can go. There's a lot that is unspoken between them but the words they do get are like bits of hope scattered across a field of despair. They both are making a huge sacrifice for each other even though it means losing what matters most to them both.
Does The Prince end with a cliffhanger? And if so, why did you choose to end the story that way?
There is a cliffhanger at the end of the book, but it also is a resolution that closes the story for those who only want the standalone tale. I chose to leave everything on a cliffhanger because when I read, I love to speculate. If there’s an opportunity for more stories after the final page, I love to let my mind wander and imagine what happens next! For me, it's a no-brainer that when I write my own endings I leave the story open for readers to interpret and speculate so they can make my world theirs. There’s also a bonus for eagle-eyed readers when book two arrives, but until then, it’s only a tease.
Do you have an estimated release date for the second book in the Prince Theo Saga?
Everything depends on how this summer goes, but if it all goes well, Book two titled, “The Admiral” should come out in mid-April of 2023.
Antony, thank you so much for answering some questions for me.
“There’s no time for this,” Alice clipped, “you two are leaving the castle and then you’re leaving the kingdom. Ashti will get you to your first waypoint. From there she’ll explain the rest.”
“Your Highness—”
Alice placed a hand on Oli’s cheek. “In another life—” she choked on her words and tried to smile through the tears pooling in her eyes. “In another life, maybe I could have kept you by my side. But our destinies now lie in different directions.”
Oli swallowed hard. “I will see you again, cross my heart,” he promised her.
“I will count the days until we see each other again,” Alice said through the knot in her throat. “Your duty is to my brother and your friend,” She shook her head and swallowed hard. “You need to go. Get him out of—”
Oli leaned over and planted a kiss on Alice’s lips. It was quick and subtle. As Oli pulled away, Alice followed, trying to hold the moment as it vanished too quickly.
“When I return, my princess,” Oli began as he started shuffling the prince towards Ashti, “we will finish this moment.”
Without another glance, Oli, Theo, and Ashti ducked into the other room and vanished.
Alice turned towards the door where the banging persisted. She raised her hand and the iron trimming glowed white once again. The doors burst open and four Knights tumbled onto the floor.
Alice dropped to her knees and began to weep.
“Your Highness—”
Alice placed a hand on Oli’s cheek. “In another life—” she choked on her words and tried to smile through the tears pooling in her eyes. “In another life, maybe I could have kept you by my side. But our destinies now lie in different directions.”
Oli swallowed hard. “I will see you again, cross my heart,” he promised her.
“I will count the days until we see each other again,” Alice said through the knot in her throat. “Your duty is to my brother and your friend,” She shook her head and swallowed hard. “You need to go. Get him out of—”
Oli leaned over and planted a kiss on Alice’s lips. It was quick and subtle. As Oli pulled away, Alice followed, trying to hold the moment as it vanished too quickly.
“When I return, my princess,” Oli began as he started shuffling the prince towards Ashti, “we will finish this moment.”
Without another glance, Oli, Theo, and Ashti ducked into the other room and vanished.
Alice turned towards the door where the banging persisted. She raised her hand and the iron trimming glowed white once again. The doors burst open and four Knights tumbled onto the floor.
Alice dropped to her knees and began to weep.
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the interview, The Prince sounds like a great book for me to read and I like the cover! Thanks for sharing it with me and have a fantastic week!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your interview and book details, I have enjoyed reading this post and I am looking forward to reading The Prince
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for having me and hosting!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Thank you for answering my questions.
DeleteThanks for the great interview! The book sounds intriguing. Love the cover!
ReplyDeleteThe cover looks great. Sounds like a good story.
ReplyDeleteFantastic cover
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