The actual origin and meaning of what was once thought to be an ancient Chinese curse—“May you live in interesting times”—is still under debate, but certainly the phrase itself suggests some fascinating potential story lines. That’s even more the case when the world the reader is entering takes place is clearly part of our history…and yet not. Alternate histories such as those written by Harry Turtledove can reveal some intriguing possibilities of what might have been, but what I have always found fascinating as well—and have tried to do in my own novel, Black City Saint—is see how our world turns when fantastic elements such as magic becomes as inherent a part of our history as anything.

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