In the following email interview about her new novel The Sins On Their Bones (paperback, Kindle, audiobook), writer Laura R. Samotin talks about how not seeing someone like her in fantasy stories led her to write this queer, Jewish, dark fantasy novel with a heavy romantic subplot, which is the first of a two-parter.
To start, what is The Sins On Their Bones about, and what kind of a world is it set in?
The Sins On Their Bones is the story of two ex-husbands on opposite sides of a civil war over the same throne, with a daring spymaster caught in the crossfire.
It’s set in a Jewish-normative world based on Eastern Europe in the late 19th century, because that’s where my family is from.
Where did you get the idea for The Sins On Their Bones?
Growing up, I was a huge fantasy fan, but I never got to see myself in books unless it was as a Holocaust victim or a character triumphing over antisemitism and punching Nazis. (Or, worse, being caricatured as a goblin running a bank and constantly counting coins.) Those stories are important — I mean, not the goblin ones; those are awful — but I wanted something more basic; to feel that as a Jewish kid, I could also be the one going on the quest or finding a whole entire world hidden in my closet. If Aslan the lion could be Jesus, I could write a book where everyone was a Jew.
Beyond that, I was inspired by the kinds of political fantasies with strong romantic themes that I love to read; fanfiction and my favorite tropes; and one particular scene in the first season of Netflix’s Shadow And Bone where Kaz and the Darkling meet in an alley, and my traitorous brain went “what if they kissed, and then tried to kill each other?”
The Sins On Their Bones has been called a queer, Jewish, dark fantasy story with a heavy romantic subplot. But how romantic does it get? Like, will someone who’s dead inside find it too mushy, or is that not going to bother me, I mean them?
I would argue that even people who are literally dead inside can enjoy a mushy romance (see: my villain in the book, Alexey).
But yes, Bones revolves around a central romance, and if that’s not your thing, it might not be the book for you.
The Sins On Their Bones is your first published novel. What writers, or stories, had the biggest influence on this story, and how you’re telling it?
I was really inspired by writers like Leigh Bardugo, Katherine Arden, C.S. Pacat, Hannah Whitten, Madeline Miller, Lanai Taylor, and Ava Reid. I hope that if readers are fans of those authors, they will also enjoy mine.
What about non-literary influences; was The Sins On Their Bones influenced by any movies, TV shows, or games? You mentioned Shadow And Bone.
I was heavily influenced by that show’s excellent vibes. I also borrowed some of the aesthetics of The Great on Hulu, which is set during the time of Catherine The Great.
And what about your enormously large felines? What influence did they have on The Sins On Their Bones? Also, how big are we talking about? Are they the size of lions, are they bigger than Godzilla, or are they just like Grudge on Star Trek: Discovery?
Thank you so much for asking. I think is the most important question anyone could possibly ask me.
Bertie and Tory are two very large brother and sister ragdoll cats. They have a lot to say, which they usually transmit by stepping on the keyboard. I think one or two typos that Bertie, in particular, introduced actually made it to the version of the manuscript that my editor read.
When we’re talking size, Grudge on Discovery is a great comparison. She’s a Maine Coon, which, along with ragdolls, are the largest of the domestic cats. Unlike Grudge, though, I think they would have a fit if they had to go to space. They’re very much indoor cats who abhor transportation of any kind.
Bertie Samotin, Tory Samotin
Romantic fantasy stories are sometimes stand-alone stories and sometimes they’re part of larger sagas. What is The Sins On Their Bones?
Bones is book one of a duology. The second book will have a title reveal soon, and will be published in May of 2025. Boneswas originally written as a stand-alone, but I was enormously lucky that the Random House Canada team saw a larger story there, and agreed to publish two books set in Novo-Svitsevo. The story of the first book wraps up by the last page, and book two picks up about a year later to conclude the story of Dimitri and his court.
So, is there anything else you think people need to know about The Sins On Their Bones?
It’s a dark fantasy, so before reading I encourage people to check out the content warnings available on my website.
Finally, if someone enjoys The Sins On Their Bones, what fantasy novel of someone else’s would you suggest they read next, and why that one?
Everyone should check out K.M. Enright’s Mistress Of Lies, coming August 13th, 2024 from Orbit. It’s a twisty, dark, queer romantasy that’s full of political intrigue. It caught me in its grasp and didn’t let me go.
