Welcome, friend! October new releases mentioned Echoes of the EtherStone and I am excited to bring you this interview with Lucy A. McLaren. I have hosted her many times through the release of new books and I am honored to celebrate her excursions in gothic fantasy. Let’s take a look at what the book is about first:
Echoes of the EtherStone
Someone is murdering people in Alpinside.
It began with young women, then couples and families, all from the Workers’ District. Dubbed the “Scrubbers’ Stalker” by the press, the killer has created an environment of fear among the poor, and gossip among the wealthy.
When Ellana is attacked, her younger brother stabs the man in the back, allowing for their escape. While deciding on what to do next, they are confronted by the wealthy Lord Estamore and forced into his employ—though Ellana vows to find out why their father was killed.
Elizabetha, the daughter of Lord Estamore, is focused on her upcoming wedding and has little time for teaching Ellana the intricacies of being her new lady’s Companion—but when she learns of Ellana’s encounter with the Stalker, Elizabetha promises to use her time and resources to solve the mystery and unmask the killer once and for all, no matter the cost.
Get to know the author: Lucy A. McLaren
Hi Lucy! It is a pleasure to have you back on Armed with A Book. To start us off, can you tell my new readers a little about yourself?
Thank you so much, Kriti! It’s a pleasure to be back on your awesome blog. My name’s Lucy A. McLaren and I’m a dark fantasy writer (and professional counsellor). I tend to explore darker themes/issues as well as mental health struggles within my stories, as I am passionate about utilising storytelling not only to process my own feelings but to provide an outlet for readers too.
Your new gothic fantasy marks a shift from your previous series. What drew you to this darker, more atmospheric genre?
It does, and that’s a direct reflection of my own reading patterns. I’ve been drawn to reading far more gothic and horror stories, and I think that’s because of everything happening in the world at the moment. So, it seemed a natural progression to write something in that vein, too. Echoes of the EtherStone is a dark, gothic fantasy story inspired by the Jack the Ripper murders. I wanted to write a story exploring the idea of the killer being controlled by a god in an oppressive patriarchal society—and what it would look like for the killer to be stopped and the society to be deconstructed in the process.
Were there any ideas or themes you weren’t able to explore in your previous fantasy series that found their place in this book?
I think there are actually quite a lot of similarities between Echoes of the EtherStone and my dark fantasy series, The Commune’s Curse, such as patriarchal and religious oppression and grief. However, there are differences too—the biggest being the exploration of classism within a society that prioritises those born into wealth far and above those born into the working class. The two main characters Ellana (El) and Elizabetha (Beth) are from opposite ends of society but end up joining forces to investigate the murders. The story looks at how their contrasting experiences growing up has influenced who they have become and how they see the world.
What challenges—or freedoms—came with stepping into a standalone after writing an established world?
I would say it’s mostly freedoms, haha. Writing a series is always going to be more complicated and in-depth. I’ve not finished my series yet—I’ve got the final book to write and know that will be a challenge to step back into the world to wrap everything up.
In a standalone book like Echoes of the EtherStone, I was able to relax somewhat knowing that everything would be concluded in one book and there would be nothing to still be resolved in future stories (though the ending does leave some questions unanswered, I would hope readers still feel satisfied and able to fill in the gaps themselves). Saying all that, I’d say a challenge of writing a standalone is perhaps the limitation of writing everything into one book—setting up the world, outlining the inciting incident, introducing the characters, getting the story moving and concluded within a limited wordcount. But I managed it quite well… I think, anyway!!
Gothic fantasy is known for its mood and setting. What inspired the setting of this novel? Was there a real-world place or aesthetic that guided your imagination?
The setting was inspired by Victorian London, but with a fantasy twist (magic, steam carriages, worship of gods known as the EtherFather and EtherMother). For the stomping ground of the killer (known as the Scrubbers’ Stalker), think dark, cobblestoned, gas-lit streets, twisting alleyways and dark corners where it’s all too easy to hide, to watch, and wait. Then we have the contrasting settings within Alpinside: El’s home (the Workers’ District) and Beth’s home (the Noble District), with the dilapidation of the home’s the worker’s compared to the decadence and grandeur of the nobles’ homes.
What elements did you feel were essential to include to make the story gothic—whether emotionally, visually, or thematically?
Good question! I would say the exploration of darker emotions (especially in the chapters within the viewpoint of the killer, which are interspersed throughout) is one of the key elements of the story—grief and loss and “madness”. There is mystery and suspense in the guise of the murders (some of which have taken place already at the start of the book, some of which happen during the course of the story) and the unknown identity of the murderer. Visually, as mentioned above, there’s the decadence and grandeur of the homes of the nobles juxtaposed against the rot and misery of a failing city.
Did you incorporate haunted houses, foggy forests, cursed artifacts—or anything else deliciously creepy?
The cobblestoned streets I’d say are the most obvious “creepy” element, especially as we largely see them through the viewpoint of the killer as he stalks his victims. The rest… I’m not sure I can say without giving spoilers, ha! Let’s just say, all is not as it seems.
Can you introduce us to the protagonist?
The two protagonists, as mentioned, are El and Beth. El is 18, has a younger brother called Ren, and starts the story discovering the body of their father—who has been murdered, apparently by the Scrubbers’ Stalker. Beth is 18, too, but lives a life far removed from El’s. She starts the story discovering her betrothal to Lord Ashford Branton, the most eligible bachelor in Alpinside. But their lives soon collide and the two end up deciding to investigate the murders in their city—even as it becomes clear that doing so will reveal far more horrifying truths than they could ever have anticipated.
Were there any books, movies, or media that helped you get into a gothic headspace while drafting?
Definitely! As I mentioned earlier, the story was inspired by the Jack the Ripper murders—and, most specifically, the book The Five by Hallie Rubenhold (highly recommend). Films like Crimson Peak and Dracula helped me to envision the aesthetic. Books I’ve read more recently (but which still helped me when editing Echoes of the EtherStone, and in just generally getting me in a gothic mood in readiness for marketing my book) include The Butcher’s Daughter by David Demchuk and Corinne Leigh Clark, Carrion Crow by Heather Parry, and The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell.
Are there any underlying questions or ideas you hope readers sit with after reading?
Well, my hope is that this book, dark as it is, provides a level of hope around societal change—and that no matter how entrenched beliefs and oppression may seem, there are means by which those cycles can be broken.
What can longtime fans of your earlier work expect from this new book—and what might surprise them?
Long-time fans will notice the same character-focused way of writing I always adopt (because I am first and foremost interested in sharing the experiences and innermost thoughts/feelings of them with readers). What might surprise them—probably the darker themes explored and some of the gorier descriptions. This is a story about a serial killer, so expect some difficult scenes around that.
What do you hope readers feel when they turn the final page?
Eager to read on, to uncover the truth of the killer’s identity, and to root for El and Beth in their investigation!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Do feel free to follow me on social media (IG is my main one – @lucy_a_mclaren) or sign up to my author newsletter if you’re interested in staying updated about Echoes of the EtherStone as well as future releases! Sign up at my author website (https://lucyamclarenauthor.wordpress.com).
And thank you for the chance to share my work, Kriti! 😊
Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me and share with my readers.
Thanks for joining us! Add this book on Goodreads. It is available wherever books are sold!
Check out excerpts of The Commune’s Curse below:
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