Much like the precious gems that lend their names to its kingdoms, Kate Golden’s Sacred Stones trilogy is a treasure to behold. Its heroine, Arwen Valondale, is a diamond in the rough, one who doesn’t understand the power she holds until she’s taken prisoner by an enemy king. Over the course of the series, as Arwen realizes her true potential, she develops an unexpected romance with the king she expected to despise, Kane Ravenwood. Readers can’t get enough of their electric chemistry — and Kane can’t get enough of Arwen.
Now, as she wraps up Arwen and Kane’s story, Kate prepares to take readers on new adventures, this time in a world closer to our own but with a fantastical edge. Join us as Kate talks us through building the unique world of the Sacred Stones trilogy and the compelling relationship between Arwen and Kane — and offers a sneak peek into her upcoming release, Half City.
About the Author
Kate Golden is the USA Today bestselling author of the Sacred Stones trilogy. She lives in Los Angeles, where she works in the film industry developing movies with screenwriters and filmmakers. When she isn’t telling stories, Kate is an avid book reader, puzzle addict, and game night enthusiast, which she hosts with her husband and puppy, Milo. You can find her on Instagram at @KateGoldenAuthor and on TikTok at @Kate_Golden_Author.
Thanks for joining us, Kate! Let’s get started.
For readers who are new to your work, how would you describe the Sacred Stones trilogy?
The Sacred Stones follows a girl with secret healing abilities who gives herself up to a wicked king in order to protect her family. Initially, she is kept as his prisoner and forced to heal those in his keep, but as the series develops, she and the king end up working together to save the fate of the continent. The trilogy is an enemies-to-lovers, dual POV, slow-burn, captive romance with all the swooniest tropes: “who did this to you,” forced proximity, “touch her and die,” hurt/comfort, villain gets the girl, MMC jealousy, and even a masquerade ball!
The world of the Sacred Stones trilogy is rich with history, ancient magic, and political tension. What inspired the creation of this world, and how did you go about developing its lore?
I’ve always loved stories with multiple kingdoms that each have their own distinct personality, aesthetic, weather, fashion, etc. A Court of Thorns and Roses is, of course, a great example, but even Avatar: The Last Airbender was an influence! I knew I wanted to craft a world that was segmented in this way, and gemstones felt like an interesting avenue that I hadn’t seen done before. My mom used to take me to the Natural History Museum, and my favorite section was always the Rare Gems. I was blown away that nature made all these incredibly colorful, glittering things, each with specific properties and uses throughout history… It felt like a good place to start!
Can you tell us a bit about your main character and the challenges she faces at the start of the series?
Arwen is from a small town in the kingdom of Amber, which is best known for its harvest and farmland. When we meet her, she’s taking care of her younger sister while her brother has gone off to war and her mother is dying of an unknown illness. But Arwen has a secret — she’s had mysterious healing abilities since birth. When she’s captured by the king of Onyx Kingdom and taken prisoner, he puts her abilities to use healing the soldiers in his keep, but Arwen is determined to escape and find her way back to her family.
Romance and rebellion intertwine throughout the series. How did you balance emotional intimacy with the larger stakes of revolution and power struggles?
This is always the trickiest part of writing romantasy — the necessary balance. I had the most success when I focused solely on character development. In each scene — whether it was Arwen learning to wield a sword or the moment she and Kane get trapped in a wine cellar together — I tried to build on a larger, fundamental character story. This helped the politics, intimacy, and fantasy worldbuilding flow into a more cohesive, seamless rhythm.
What do you think makes a romance in a fantasy series feel grounded and authentic, even in the midst of magical and political chaos?
For me, the answer is banter. Or maybe, to be more sophisticated, I’ll say chemistry. At the end of the day, that’s what makes an unputdownable romance of any kind. The chemistry between your two leads, whether they’re on a first date or offering advice in a tough moment or playing strip poker with a criminal kingpin (spoilers for book two, sorry!), is going to be what grounds your characters in something every reader can relate to. We all know what it feels like to talk to someone who feels like the only person on Planet Earth, let alone in the room.
Were there any characters or plotlines that surprised you as you wrote? Perhaps someone who took on a bigger role than expected, or a twist you did not initially plan?
Oh man, YES, but I’m scared of giving away spoilers. I’ll just say that there’s someone who I was CERTAIN was going to die by the end of the series that just refused to, and someone else who I was sure would make it who didn’t (I was as heartbroken as everyone else, I promise!). And lots of other small moments like when you’re sure your characters are going to go to this inn, or this brothel, or this prison but your MMC has become the kind of person who would never do that without doing something else first and you have to rewrite your entire outline for these made-up people who have become so real to you that they have some (very forceful) opinions!
There are some intense, high-stakes scenes throughout the trilogy. Is there one in particular that was especially difficult for you to write?
Well, I famously hate writing action scenes (I say famously as if anyone knows this, though I guess now they do). So, I’d say the hardest ones for me were the fight scenes that were very swordplay-focused. Creature scenes (like the spider-lady, or the chimeras) or chase sequences are easier because they feel more colorful somehow, but anything that’s all about lunging, parrying, and feinting is kind of the bane of my existence.
At its core, what do you hope readers take away from the Sacred Stones trilogy, both thematically and emotionally?
I set out above all else to write a story about courage. I’ve had panic disorder since I was nine, which is a very intense-sounding way to say not only do I have panic attacks, I have a phobia of having panic attacks (which is super-duper fun). Often, the worst part about the disorder is feeling like a chronic coward. Before I got some truly life-changing cognitive behavioral therapy, I missed out on many experiences out of fear. So when I wrote an FMC with the same anxiety disorder I had, I wanted to tell a story about how her fears were actually what made her brave. That courage is doing the thing that scares you, not never being scared in the first place.
The biggest irony is that something about the experience of writing this journey for Arwen (and therapy, again, shout out to THERAPY) has actually given me more relief from my anxiety than I’ve ever had in my life. So I guess the message of both the books and my own personal experience is that we are capable of a lot more than we think, and that anyone can be brave.
Your Harker Academy series is a highly anticipated new project, with its first book, Half City, releasing next year. What can readers expect in terms of tone, worldbuilding, and overall atmosphere compared to the Sacred Stones trilogy?
Ok, buckle up, because I am so excited about this one: Half City follows Viv Abbot, a demon slayer living in a gritty, glittery urban metropolis. She works by day as an assistant at a Smithsonian-type museum, thinking she’s all alone in this demon-hunting pursuit, until one night she’s recruited to an elite demon-slaying college by none other than a reformed demon himself. As far as tone, I’d say it’s on par with Sacred Stones — equal parts romance and fantasy, but maybe a bit darker and a bit snappier. Viv is very different from Arwen. She’s scrappy and lonely and violent. Since the book is in her POV, that definitely affects the tone.
As far as worldbuilding, what’s nice about Half City is that it’s modern. Which means I got to employ all my favorite pop culture references and technology (cell phones!) that I was forced to do without in Sacred Stones. Atmospherically, I’d say if Sacred Stones is like ACOTAR meets Plated Prisoner, Half City is like Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Fourth Wing, but set in Gotham City. Does that make sense to anyone but me?
Thanks again to Kate for speaking with us! Keep up with her work through her website, Instagram, and TikTok — and don’t forget to check out the Sacred Stones trilogy!
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