Genre: Teen/Young Adult Fantasy Time Travel Romance
Publisher: Entangled Teen
These days, I’ve been killing it when it comes to letting people down. Now I’ve been kicked out of high school, arrested, and accepted into a remote, off-the-grid school owned and operated by an inscrutable billionaire tech guru.
Gray Wolf Academy is looking for a certain kind of student. Ones that no one will miss. Like me.
Then there’s Braxton. The beautiful, oddly anachronistic guy who showed up right when the trouble started. And he’s a total enigma—which means that I definitely can’t trust him, even if there’s something about him that makes me want to.
They all tell me I have a gift. A very rare gift. And Gray Wolf Academy wants me to learn it. To use it. Because if what they say is true, I have all the time in the world.
And that makes me the most dangerous high school student you’ll never know…
Purchase Stealing Infinity from:
(Affiliate Links Used)
The second I stepped through the doors of Gray Wolf Academy, my world disintegrated. Here, time is malleable. It can be manipulated, shifted. Changed. And for those of us who Trip—or travel through time—the possibilities are infinite and perilous.
Now my life is caught in the secrets of everyone around me. Arthur, the eccentric billionaire who rules this school. Killian, who could be the only honest person here…or the biggest liar. And Braxton, magnetic, gorgeous, and unfathomable. The only thing I trust about him is our electric connection.
Whether we’re Tripping through Renaissance Italy or thieving from a ball in Regency England, my life’s become a web of lies and strange truths. And beneath the surface is an elaborate puzzle, filled with cryptic symbols and priceless treasures scattered across history—all somehow connected to my strange ability to see through time.
But Arthur has a dangerously ambitious agenda. And if what my dad taught me is true, I’m not just a threat to everyone at Gray Wolf.
…I’m a threat to time itself.
Purchase Ruling Destiny from:
(Affiliate Links Used)
I discovered you with Stealing Infinity. Yes, I know, I’m late to the party, with you having over 30 published books. But that book and the Stealing Infinity series is just… WOW. For those who don’t know about the series, can you please tell them about it?
Stealing Infinity follows Natasha, a seemingly ordinary girl who’s sort of given up on herself. She’s skipping school, failing classes, and feeling totally uninspired by her life. But just when she thinks it can’t get any worse, she’s framed for a crime she didn’t commit, and the only way to clear her name is to attend Gray Wolf academy, a super-secret school run by the enigmatic tech mogul Arthur Blackstone.
Once she arrives, Natasha soon realizes that the usual subjects like algebra and history are not on the curriculum. Instead, students are being trained as time traveling thieves. However, Arthur has a different agenda for Natasha, one that hinges on her extraordinary gift, and it all begins in 18th century Versailles…
I think of Stealing Infinity as an exhilarating rollercoaster ride through a vibrant and mysterious world brimming with puzzles, art, numerology, magick, romance, time travel, adventure, and deception. Imagine The Da Vinci Code merging with the intrigue of Riverdale, with a dash of Oliver Twist and Outlander thrown in.
Can you tell us about some of the main characters in the series?
Because the relationship content is a bit more mature than my usual young adult books, the characters skew slightly older, ranging in age from 18-20 years old. And, in the spirit of full transparency, I’ll admit that when we first meet Natasha, the story’s protagonist, she bears a striking resemblance to my own experiences at that age.
Once a high-achiever, Natasha now finds herself in her senior year of high-school, caught in a downward spiral. Her home life is chaotic, she’s failing her classes, and she’s beginning to wonder if the world is conspiring against her. Sadly, this is where our paths diverge. Because while I found my way to living in Mykonos, Greece, which was amazing—Natasha ends up at Gray Wolf Academy—a shadowy school for time travelers where art, science, magick, and mysticism are revered. It’s exactly the kind of place I would’ve loved...or at least for a while anyway.
Without revealing too much, I’ll say that Elodie, Braxton, Killian, and Mason all have significant roles to play, and the relationship dynamics among all these characters is constantly shifting and evolving, leaving Natasha unsure whom to trust.
Full disclosure, when I saw the genre was time travel I was immediately like, “No. I don’t like time travel.” But I love the way you’ve written this series. How did you come up with the idea of having teenagers go back in time to steal things and potentially change the world?
Honestly, your reaction is exactly what I feared when I first started writing this one. Given the time travel element, I was worried it would be immediately pegged as science fiction, which might potentially alienate readers who don’t typically gravitate toward that genre. But in my mind, I see it more as a romantasy that just so happens to involve traveling through time. I mean, yes, there’s technology involved that enables the time travel, but it’s the inherent magical energy of Gray Wolf that makes it all possible.
As for the idea...after stepping away from writing YA for a few years, I was sure I’d moved on from it entirely. And yet, the idea for this book continued to haunt me. I kept thinking about what might happen if a seemingly ordinary girl was sent to a shadowy time travel academy—only to find herself at the center of a centuries old secret that’s destined to rock the entire world. Though I always figured I’d get around to writing it someday, it wasn’t until the 2020 pandemic when I finally got to work. And, as it turns out, writing Stealing Infinity provided the perfect escape from all the uncertainty and fear at that time.
The characters are one of the reasons I was glued to the pages of Stealing Infinity and Ruling Destiny. I really love their multi-layered complexity. Nat’s a survivor. She just wants to be friends with those around her and make the best of the situation she’s found herself in. Braxton has this charm that draws you in, but at the same time, he has demons that he’s facing. Killian has this lone-wolf vibe, but you have no idea if he’s sincere or not. Then Elodie comes across as a mean girl but really looks out for Nat. I personally don’t quite understand her. The series also has this mystery element to it, which keeps you on your toes as a reader. All of that is to ask…When you set out to write this series, did you know how it was going to unfold? Or were there some surprises for you?
You’re right about Natasha being a survivor. Her turbulent upbringing, marked by her father’s abandonment and her mother’s struggles, forced her to grow up way too fast. And because of it, she’s fierce, courageous, resourceful, and smart. But she’s also emotionally scarred, which makes her slow to trust, and reluctant to let anyone get too close. Honestly though, all of these characters have pretty traumatic backstories, so I think they’re all surviving and responding to the challenges they face according to their varying levels of emotional intelligence.
As for Braxton...well, seeing as how I’m always drawn to a romantic lead with a heavy emotional burden, he was exactly the sort of conflicted hero I love to write. As for Elodie and Killian... I think of them more as shapeshifters, outwardly beautiful and charismatic, but hard to truly know and even harder to trust. And while I don’t always approve of their choices, I can’t help but feel a degree of empathy toward them. Also, they’re a heck of a lot of fun to write!
When I was first drafting this idea, I approached it in the same way I always do. I had a general idea of where I would start and where I would finish, but the journey between those two points continuously morphed and evolved as the characters really began to take shape and fully reveal their true selves.
Stealing Infinity left readers with some questions and guesses as to what was happening. Ruling Destiny answered some of those questions but then brought about new ones. I have to say, when my thoughts were confirmed, it was a “YES!” moment. I was beyond excited. Do you know and can you tell me when the next book is coming out and what the title will be?
The third and final book is Chasing Eternity and it’s coming out on December 3rd, 2024- which also happens to be my birthday—how’s that for some fun numerology?! I have to say, completing this series was a bittersweet journey. I’ve grown so attached to the characters and the world of Gray Wolf Academy, and I already feel a sense of nostalgia for the various time-travel destinations it allowed me to explore.
I was excited to find out that you also write Middle-Grade books. I really want my kid to read Field Guide to the Supernatural Universe. What do you like about writing that genre?
Thank you so much for the Field Guide to the Supernatural Universe shout-out—it was an absolute joy to write! There’s a special magick in crafting stories for the middle grade audience. Probably because it allows me to reconnect with my inner 12-year-old self and delve into the sort of zany humor and adventure that often fades as we grow older.
Also, some fun news, I’m working on a graphic novel adaptation of Field Guide for Dark Horse comics, and the book has been optioned for television! There are some incredibly talented people on board for this project, and the series title will be Glimmerville, named after the fictional town where the book takes place.
And speaking of options, Stealing Infinity/Ruling Destiny/Chasing Eternity have been optioned by Valhalla Entertainment, the powerhouse team behind the Walking Dead franchise, which I’m super excited about!
Congratulations! I’m really excited to hear that. Here’s an interesting question. What do you think the characters from the Stealing Infinity series would say about you and how they feel about the way you have portrayed them?
Oh, how I love this question! Okay, honestly, I think Natasha and Braxton would be rather pleased with their portrayal, including the stuff they may not feel particularly proud of. I think they’d both realize that every action, whether positive or not, was just part of the journey to who they ultimately become.
As for the others...I think Killian would likely dismiss it as ‘a bunch of rubbish’ and then try to steer the narrative in a way that paints him in a more favorable light. While Elodie would outright reject her portrayal and insist on presenting her own version of events.
Okay. I’m going to make myself stop asking you questions now. I know you need to get back to writing. I can not thank you enough for sitting down with me. I appreciate this more than you know.
Excerpt from Ruling Destiny
For a handful of seconds, it feels so empowering to act like that, talk like that.
But that doesn’t mean I get what I want.
Because the blue-eyed man takes one look at my dagger and another at me, then breaks into a fit of unrestrained laughter.
Seriously, he stands right there before me and laughs in my face.
So, I do the only thing I can think of—I lunge.
Here, before the rows of dour-faced nobles encased in gilt frames—before the towering bookshelves overflowing with Captain Cooks, Jane Austens, and Sir Walter Scotts—I aim the lethal tip of my dagger straight for my enemy’s heart.
Only to be confronted by the gleaming blade of his much larger sword—a broadsword, it turns out—that I’d failed to notice until now.
“Seems you’re not as well trained, nor as well prepared, as you think,” he says, voice edged with the conviction of one who has all the proof that he needs.
My arm is stretched as far as it will extend, and still, there’s a notable gap between my blade and his chest.
While his own arm is casually, comfortably bent, his hand secured in the basket hilt, as the tip of his double-edged blade comes perilously close to piercing my throat.
I’ve made a terrible mistake. All this time, I’ve been worried about Mason when it’s clearly me who needs saving.
I stand before my nameless opponent, knees shaking as I force down the scream building at the back of my throat, knowing I need to keep quiet, keep a clear head. I can’t afford to let on just how terrified I really am.
If you’re going to pull your dagger, you must be willing to use it, Braxton once said.
Well, I was willing to use it. Still am, now more than ever. But seeing as how I can’t even reach my target, it’s become glaringly apparent that’s no longer an option.
So, I try another approach.
Dropping all pretense, I say, “So this is it? You slash my neck and leave me for dead in the study?”
His face breaks into a grin. But, more importantly, his blade remains pressed to my skin. “There it is,” he says. “Your true face. Tell me, Time Jumper. What year are you from?”
“I’m from 1813,” I say. “Just like you.”
“Lies,” he growls, prodding his blade deeper, poking a small hole in my flesh.
“What makes you say that?” I choke out the words, knowing I’m taking a risk by calling his bluff, but the more I can convince him to talk, the more time I’ll have to plan my next move.
“You don’t fit, you don’t blend, and you clearly don’t belong in this century,” he says.
Before I have a chance to respond, his eyes spark on mine as the tip of his blade slides clean across my throat.
Excerpt from Ruling Destiny, published with the permission of Alyson Noel.
For a handful of seconds, it feels so empowering to act like that, talk like that.
But that doesn’t mean I get what I want.
Because the blue-eyed man takes one look at my dagger and another at me, then breaks into a fit of unrestrained laughter.
Seriously, he stands right there before me and laughs in my face.
So, I do the only thing I can think of—I lunge.
Here, before the rows of dour-faced nobles encased in gilt frames—before the towering bookshelves overflowing with Captain Cooks, Jane Austens, and Sir Walter Scotts—I aim the lethal tip of my dagger straight for my enemy’s heart.
Only to be confronted by the gleaming blade of his much larger sword—a broadsword, it turns out—that I’d failed to notice until now.
“Seems you’re not as well trained, nor as well prepared, as you think,” he says, voice edged with the conviction of one who has all the proof that he needs.
My arm is stretched as far as it will extend, and still, there’s a notable gap between my blade and his chest.
While his own arm is casually, comfortably bent, his hand secured in the basket hilt, as the tip of his double-edged blade comes perilously close to piercing my throat.
I’ve made a terrible mistake. All this time, I’ve been worried about Mason when it’s clearly me who needs saving.
I stand before my nameless opponent, knees shaking as I force down the scream building at the back of my throat, knowing I need to keep quiet, keep a clear head. I can’t afford to let on just how terrified I really am.
If you’re going to pull your dagger, you must be willing to use it, Braxton once said.
Well, I was willing to use it. Still am, now more than ever. But seeing as how I can’t even reach my target, it’s become glaringly apparent that’s no longer an option.
So, I try another approach.
Dropping all pretense, I say, “So this is it? You slash my neck and leave me for dead in the study?”
His face breaks into a grin. But, more importantly, his blade remains pressed to my skin. “There it is,” he says. “Your true face. Tell me, Time Jumper. What year are you from?”
“I’m from 1813,” I say. “Just like you.”
“Lies,” he growls, prodding his blade deeper, poking a small hole in my flesh.
“What makes you say that?” I choke out the words, knowing I’m taking a risk by calling his bluff, but the more I can convince him to talk, the more time I’ll have to plan my next move.
“You don’t fit, you don’t blend, and you clearly don’t belong in this century,” he says.
Before I have a chance to respond, his eyes spark on mine as the tip of his blade slides clean across my throat.
Excerpt from Ruling Destiny, published with the permission of Alyson Noel.
The Stealing Infinity Series:
Stealing Infinity (Book 1) ~ Review
Ruling Destiny (Book 2) ~ Review
Chasing Eternity (Book 3) releasing December 3, 2024
Places to find Alyson Noel:
No comments:
Post a Comment
STOP!
Did you just copy and paste your previous comment? Please don't. Duplicate comments will be deleted.
Comments that include links to other sites, or names including links WILL BE CONSIDERED SPAM AND DELETED.