Jennifer Estep is joining us today to talk about her novel, Tear Down the Throne. Here’s the publisher’s description:
How would you feel if you were falling for your greatest enemy, all while trying to save your kingdom from ruin?
In the second book in the Estep’s new Gargoyle Queen series, crown princess and clever spy Gemma Ripley is determined to stop an enemy from using magical tearstone weapons to conquer her homeland. Her quest for answers leads her to a trade Summit between the various kingdoms, and among the other royals in attendance is Queen Maeven Morricone of Morta and her son, Prince Leonidas—Gemma’s charming and dangerous nemesis. Gemma knows that Maeven always has a long game in motion, and sure enough, the cunning queen invokes an arcane tradition that threatens the fragile truce between Andvari and the other kingdoms. Despite her best intentions, Gemma once again finds herself thrown together with Leo and battling her growing feelings for the enemy prince. When a series of deadly attacks shatters the Summit’s peaceful negotiations, Gemma realizes that someone wants to tear the royals down from their thrones—and that this enemy just might succeed.
Set 15 years after the events of the popular Crown of Shards trilogy, TEAR DOWN THE THRONE features many fan-favorite characters and shines light Gemma’s fierce, determined nature. Romance and fantasy blend perfectly into a sweeping, action-packed adventure that fans of Victoria Aveyard, Sarah J. Maas, Amanda Bouchet, and Ilona Andrews are bound to love.
What’s Jennifer’s favorite bit?
JENNIFER ESTEP
Greetings! My name is Jennifer Estep, and I’m the bestselling author of the Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy books.
Thanks so much for hosting me on the blog today. I appreciate it!
This is a scene from Tear Down the Throne, book #2 in my Gargoyle Queen adult epic fantasy series. The book focuses on Gemma Ripley, a princess who moonlights as a spy and is trying to get to the bottom of a deadly plot against her kingdom.
This scene takes place fairly early in the book. Gemma and her beloved gargoyle, Grimley, have just been through an intense battle when they come across Leonidas Morricone, a prince from another kingdom. Gemma and Leonias first met as children, and their families and kingdoms have always been enemies.
Why did I pick this scene? Well, in Capture the Crown, book #1, Gemma went undercover in Leonidas’s palace, and she ended up being captured and badly wounded. Gemma feels like Leonidas used and betrayed her in order to help his mother, Queen Maeven, hang onto her crown, and she is still really hurt and angry about everything that happened.
Gemma is attracted to Leonidas, and the two of them have similar mind magier magic. But Gemma also feels like she can never trust Leonidas to put their relationship above his duty to his family and his kingdom. So in this scene, I really wanted to bring out all of Gemma’s conflicting feelings about the prince. Her lingering anger at his betrayal, her frustration that their families and kingdoms are always going to come between them, her attraction to and feelings for him even though she knows it will only end in heartbreak.
I love enemies-to-lovers romances, and Tear Down the Throne is my take on that. The book also features:
- A fierce heroine
- Epic battles
- An evil queen you love to hate
- Gargoyles (obviously!)
I hope everyone enjoys getting to know a little more about Gemma and Leonidas and their adventures and romance in Tear Down the Throne. Happy reading!
LINKS:
Tear Down the Throne Universal Book Link
BIO:
Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.
Jennifer is the author of the Galactic Bonds, Section 47, Elemental Assassin, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, Mythos Academy, Mythos Academy spinoff, Black Blade, and Bigtime fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.
