Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Alexandra Kennington to HJ!
Hi Alexandra and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Drown the Bones!
Please summarize the book for the readers here:
Drown the Bones is a new adult romantasy about a devout princess who is trying to solve the murder of her twin brother. In the process, she decides to use forbidden magic to raise his ghost and ask him what he saw that night…but she gets the wrong ghost on accident! Now, she’s stuck with the ghost of an enemy prince and they’ll have to work together to solve the mystery.
Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:
I have a couple that I really like.
“Love surpasses any boundary. Even one made by deity.”
And then of course we can’t forget—“You’re so pretty when you hate me.”
Please share a few Fun facts about this book…
- The title of the book hasn’t changed at all since I first came up with it! Once I had it, I knew it was perfect for the book. And luckily for me, my publishing team agreed!
- I listened to a lot of Noah Kahan’s music while writing this book, and it really inspired the more gut-wrenching scenes.
- My ultimate goal with this book was to include everything I love in it—queer characters, plus size representation, enemies to lovers, found family—and I think I managed it. It’s part of why I love this book so much.
What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?
Merridan hates Phoenix at first, but finds him intriguing because of how differently they think. When she starts to realize that everything she’s believed is wrong, he’s always honest with her about it, but he doesn’t make fun of her for being misled either. More than anything, she wants to be chosen first. And Phoenix always chooses her first.
Phoenix is drawn to Merridan from the moment he sees her. He really likes that she challenges him and that she’s so stubborn. She’s willing to fight for what she loves and what she believes in, and he admires that about her.
Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?
There’s one scene that had me emotional while writing it! In the scene, Merridan is forced to endure a penance by her family and the Diviners. Phoenix can only watch, helpless to stop it while she’s going through it.
Snippet:
“Merridan.”
Phoenix’s voice was soft and shaky, but there was a razor-sharp edge to it. Enough to motivate me to raise my wet gaze to meet his. He extended his hands, and I knew that if he had a physical being, he would be cupping my face in his palms. “Merridan, look at me. Don’t look anywhere else, look at me, understand? I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere—”
Readers should read this book….
If they enjoy ghost boyfriends, unique magic systems, and lots of slow-burn yearning, then they should definitely pick up Drown the Bones!
What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?
I’m currently working on edits for my book that comes out in summer 2027. It’s called The Minotaur Project, and it’s a sapphic sci-fi horrormance! It’s different than anything else I’ve written, but it still has the things my readers know me for—enemies to lovers, queer characters, and a fast-paced, action-packed plot.
Thanks for blogging at HJ!
Giveaway: 1 finished copy DROWN THE BONES by Alexandra Kennington to US resident
To enter Giveaway, please share this post on your Socials and Leave a comment below to this Q: If you could raise any ghost, who would it be?
🎉 Giveaway Rules 🎉 ✨ Must be 18 years or older to enter. ✨ MUST leave a comment answering the giveaway question. ✨ Bonus Entry:Share this post on your social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and drop a comment below letting me know you've shared it. ✨ Winner(s) will be selected at random. ✨ No purchase necessary—just enter and cross your fingers! ✨ If you win, I'll need your full name and mailing address to send your prize. This information will be shared with the author, publisher, or publicist solely for prize fulfillment purposes. ✨ Giveaway closes 3 days from the date this post is published.
Book Info:
As the younger twin, Merridan has never minded being the “spare” to the Rothian royal throne. She knows her brother, Von, will be an excellent king, and she’d rather devote her time to the Goddess, faithfully using her magic to send deceased spirits from the holy lake to the Afterworld.
When the unthinkable happens and her brother is murdered, she is certain their rival kingdom, Nova, is to blame. After all, they worship a false deity and use their magic to toy with necromancy. But when the Goddess halts the investigation of Von’s death, Merridan takes matters into her own hands, performing a forbidden Novian ritual to attempt to speak to her brother’s ghost.
The last thing Merridan expects is to raise the wrong ghost. Now she’s bound to Phoenix Darragon, the arrogant crown prince of Nova—who was murdered the same night as Von. The prince makes Merridan a deal: if she takes his spirit to Nova to be resurrected, he will help her find her brother’s killer.
But uncovering the truth about the murderer means discovering Phoenix’s secrets, too. As the attraction between Merridan and the prince becomes undeniable and the threat of war builds, she must decide whether finding the truth is worth its cost if it means her beloved relationship with the Goddess is changed forever.
Book Links: Amazon | B&N |
Meet the Author:
Alexandra Kennington writes adult and young adult fantasy and science fiction novels. She lives in Utah with her spouse and child. When she’s not knee-deep in a world of her own creation or reading a book with the enemies-to-lovers trope, you’ll find her obsessing over Star Wars or sharing writing advice on TikTok.
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