This post was originally published on Audible.com.
Australian author Lynette Noni is no stranger to complex world-building—after all, she’s gifted us listeners with series such as The Prison Healer and The Medoran Chronicles. To celebrate the release of Shadow Reaper (hailed as “This year’s must read YA fantasy” by Rebecca Yarros), Noni shares a bit about her approach to creating fantasy worlds, her favorite tropes, and what she’s excited for in the audiobook.
Katie O'Connor: Congratulations on the launch of Shadow Reaper. What’s your favorite metaphor to describe your approach to world-building?
Lynette Noni: Thank you so much! To borrow a metaphor, you know how Shrek tells Donkey that ogres are like onions because they have layers? That’s how I approach my world-building—like it’s an onion (or a cake!) that I unveil step by step (or layer by layer, using this metaphor) the deeper we get into the story. Nobody likes an info dump when it comes to world-building, so I find that this layered approach helps make unfamiliar fantasy worlds and magic systems easier to digest.
What was your originating idea for this story?
The main inspiration for Shadow Reaper came from one of those “shower thoughts” moments when, out of nowhere, an image popped into my mind of an attractive guy leaning against a wall looking like he was waiting for someone. The casualness of his pose intrigued me because, in the mental image, he was in what appeared to be a dungeon cell, yet he seemed completely unfazed by his situation.
I immediately wanted to know more: Who was he? Why wasn’t he worried about being locked away? Who was he waiting for? And why? Those questions marinated in my brain and I worked backwards from there.
We are here for the enemies-to-lovers storyline in this duology. As an author, what are your favorite tropes? And are they different from what you love as a listener?
Ooooh, good question! I’m a mood reader so my favorites change daily (reading and writing), but the found-family trope is one that I will always love. I’m also a big fan of a slow-burn romance with lots of tension and banter, which is probably why I had so much fun writing those things into Shadow Reaper!
You have three incredible performers on this audiobook. What are you most excited for listeners to experience in Shadow Reaper?
Honestly, I’m probably most excited about listening to it myself! I was sent a lot of auditions to choose between, and despite the overwhelming talent, I knew my top picks instantly from how perfectly they captured the narrative voices of their characters. I was absolutely thrilled when I learned that we were able to lock in my three favorites—Abigail Reno, Alex Knox, and Imani Jade Powers—and I truly can’t wait to hear how they bring the book to life!
