Mai Corland blew us away with our May 2024 GSFF choice, Five Broken Blades. In this first instalment, we’re introduced to five killers from across the Yusan kingdom tasked by a mysterious employer to utilise their skills to kill the corrupt king. But the kings of Yusan are invincible - protected by a crown gifted by the gods to keep them alive as long as they wear it - and King Joon has worn it night and day since his last assassination attempt, rarely seen in public places.
With a group consisting of a poison maiden, hitman, thief and disgraced prince, each person has their own agenda with this assassination attempt and their own secrets to keep. Though it’s impossible for them to fully trust each other, they need to work together to survive a mission that could kill them all.
The team at Goldsboro absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the upcoming sequel. While we wait for 2025 to come around with Four Ruined Realms, Mai Corland answered some of our questions about Five Broken Blades and a teaser about where we’ll find our favourite liars next.
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1. With the novel being told from multiple perspectives, which character's voice was your favourite to develop?
I loved developing Royo's (the strongman) voice in both his expression and the way he views the world. He is a street thug, well aware of where he falls in the classist system of Yusan, and yet he brings his own set of skills to the group.
2. Which character's voice was the most difficult to develop?
It was a struggle to develop Tiyung’s voice in that I needed to ensure a nobleman sounded distinct from Euyn and Mikhail, and yet still had personality. He is also the character who changed the most from the first draft of the story.
3. In your author's note, you mention that a lot of Korean myth, legend, and culture inspired the world - was there anything in particular you were drawn to and wanted to weave into the book?
I was born in Seoul, but adopted by an American family, so researching Korean culture and history has particular interest to me. The Festival of Blood was a real historical event, as was the existence of a rigidly stratified society in ancient Korea. I loved bringing in the food and pulling in some of the gods while putting my own spin on the myths, such as adding the magical relics. Korea, having been three kingdoms, conquered, and divided, has a fascinating mix of legends and multiple variations of stories. I wanted to replicate a place that was once distinct nations but united long ago—that land became Yusan.
4. When writing the book, which element came to you first - the characters or the world?
The characters were first. I started with Sora (the poison maiden). Ancient poison maidens actually existed in India and I found myself wondering what they must have lost to acquire their immunity to poisons. Sora and the book as a whole is an exploration of what is lost to gain power. I also wanted to give Sora my disability, so she has hearing loss on her left side acquired a few years prior. Once Sora existed, I considered why an assassin would be needed, what kind of world it would be, and who else would be involved in this plan. My editor and I brainstormed on the rest of the untrustworthy but determined cast along with the realms and politics that drive them.
5. With the plot twists nearing the end of the book, what can you tell us about Four Ruined Realms being as spoiler free as possible?
I like to say Five Broken Blades ends on a big hook as the mission itself is complete and the falling action is resolved. In Four Ruined Realms our liars and lovers are going to a new land… all but one character who is locked in Idle Prison. Khitan is a completely different place in appearance, rule, and custom than Yusan. Readers can expect a significant increase in action and danger, new and old enemies and allies. Some relationships are strengthened, others break apart. I can say I think the ending is more epic than Five Broken Blades.
