#12 V.L. Bovalino: Nostalgic YA Fantasy, Queer-Normative Worldbuilding, and the Art of Yearning

The Everygirl Book Club interviews best-selling author V.L. Bovalino about The Second Death of Locke and her new novel, The Thief and the Traitor Bride, which follows Nore Gordon, a spy forced onto a mission with her estranged husband. In “Read Receipts,” Bovalino shares her current reads, recent 5-star reads, and upcoming books she's excited for. She discusses formative influences like Kristin Cashore’s Fire, inspirations ranging from Game of Thrones to The Queen’s Thief, and how her PhD on secondary-world worldbuilding shaped her approach to storytelling. Bovalino recounts her publishing journey, explains the “year of the lady knight,” recommends immersive romance-forward fantasy and historical romance, and talks craft choices including Nore’s non-warrior strengths, shifting perspectives on Grey and Keir, and queer-normative worldbuilding.

00:53 Surreal Success Stories

02:27 Read Receipts Segment

02:43 Current Read Gothic Fantasy

08:59 Formative YA Fantasy

13:09 Influences and Romantasy Roots

16:24 PhD Worldbuilding Deep Dive

21:31 Early Drafts and Evolution

23:00 Publishing Journey Highs and Lows

28:57 Lady Knights

32:53 Reader Prescriptions

44:24 Nore As Unusual Heroine

51:03 Grey And Keir Reframed

55:21 Queer Normative World

01:02:31 Tropes With Fantasy Twist

01:05:37 Building Politics And Magic

01:15:39 Book Three Tease And Stakes

01:18:49 Crafting Romances With Yearning

01:22:49 Subgenre Debate And Farewell

Books Mentioned

• The Second Death of Locke by V. L. Bovalino
• The Thief and the Traitor Bride by V. L. Bovalino
• The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig
• The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
• Once Was Willem by M. R. Carey
• A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
• Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
• The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera
• Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera
• This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
• Fire by Kristin Cashore
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
• Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore
• Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore
• The Selection by Kiera Cass
• Matched by Ally Condie
• The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
• King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
• Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
• Uprooted by Naomi Novik
• The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
• Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia by Orlando Figes
• War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
• For My Lady's Heart by Laura Kinsale
• The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
• Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
• Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri
• Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race
• The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann
• The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
• The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
• The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
• The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri
• The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs
• Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
• Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn

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