Kingdom Journals YA fantasy WOTW – Theron
I did debate for a bit about giving Theron a WOTW week slot. He’s not an MC of any books in the series. But, he does play a lead role, so I felt he should have his own day. Theron first appears in the Kingdom Journals series in Kingdom of Embers. Like the MC, Alena (Uh-lee-nuh), Theron is a vampire-witch hybrid. And he may be the only other vampire-witch hybrid in existence.
The name Theron means hunter and I carefully selected it when creating his character. It’s kind of ironic that his half-brother’s name is Hunter. But Theron is a true hunter, he loves the hunt and the kill. Sounds a little dark for a YA fantasy, right? But, let me start at the beginning.
We first meet Theron when Alena is introduced to him. Alena’s mother Anne sets them up on a date. We assume that Anne wants her daughter to know another vampire-witch hybrid being. Theron is sexy and smooth, wild and care-free, compared to Alena. He relishes in being a powerful being and takes full advantage. This is polar opposite to how Alena approaches her life. She’s been raised to be cautious and she takes it seriously. Because in their world, vampire-witch hybrids are forbidden. And if anyone in the vampire community discovered her mother sired such a being, things would not end well for any of them.
Alena is attracted to Theron and all his swagger. But as she has also just met Hunter, is torn. Theron is quick to show his affection for Alena, gifting her a necklace. But Theron, being the true hunter that he is, takes matters into his own hands when a student at Alena’s school bullies her. In this scene we see the first glimpse of Theron’s true colors. He wants Alena and he craves power.
These two purposes drive him throughout the series as he joins his father, Thanatos, and grandmother, Sonia, in taking control of the witches. He truly becomes a nemesis to the trinity. Alena holds to the tenet throughout the series that he can be saved. As we never hear Theron from his perspective we can never be sure of this. Hunter insists that his brother only has malicious goals.
Even at the end of the series, we are not assured of this one way or the other. I don’t want to give away too much but it leaves you wondering. Is Theron the victim of his family’s control or is he aligned with them? I’m excited his character lives on in the follow up series, the Realm Chronicles, that finds the fae of Middle Earth battling creatures bred by the evil spirits living in the dark and desolate Lower Earth that houses Sheol, i.e. hell.
If you’re ready to dive into Theron’s world you can start with the first book of the young adult urban fantasy Kingdom Journals series, Kingdom of Embers. If you want to start from the beginning, beginning, you can catch a glimpse of Sonia’s genesis in the free short story, Of Witches and Vampires. Or if you love fae fantasy, check out, To be a Fae Queen.
Funny, I wrote more about Theron than I thought I would. Every story needs a great villain, don’t you think? I’m excited to develop his character as the Realm Chronicles series continues with To be a Fae Guardian, due out in spring of 2022.
Happy reading and happy listening (because the complete Kingdom Journals series is also on audiobook)!
Tricia
P.S. If you’re new to my work, welcome! You can read two FREE short stories, a romance and intro to To be a Fae Queen,Perfectly Tuned and/or Titania Rises by signing up for my newsletter here.