All about the novel A Heart of Onyx Flame

Who is Lina Ravenhill?

Lina Ravenhill lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Ben. Lina writes messy, funny, and action-filled paranormal romance, fantasy, and suspense. Vampire romance, dragon quests, and witches are simply more fun to write than the plain, normal stuff.

What is A Heart of Onyx Flame?

Step into a world where the line between predator and prey is blurred.

At the mysterious Shifter Academy, where hidden desires and forbidden secret reign, a young human girl finds herself entangled in an alluring and dangerous alliance with a brooding, enigmatic fellow student.

As their passions ignite and unearth ancient prophecies, she must navigate the treacherous halls of power and learn that love might be the most perilous transformation of all in a world of unfathomable darkness.

What is the Aforetime series?

Anna’s position as a new forest witch is a great honor, and a chance to show what she is capable of.
But, when she finds herself in Gora, an ancient, mysterious castle, she is not sure that she is right for the job.

As Anna learns more about Gora’s inhabitants, she begins to wonder if she can trust anyone at all – including Hadeon,
the dangerous and handsome master of the castle, who appears to have a dark secret.

When she dives deeper into the mysteries of Gora, she uncovers a carefully crafted web of lies and black magic.
To save her friends, Anna embarks on an adventure that will lead her down a path of betrayal, deception, and forbidden love.
Aforetime is a dark vampire romance about adventure, self-discovery, and the power of true love.

Interview

What was your inspiration for a Heart of Onyx Flame?

I was inspired to write a dark academy book because of my own experience going to school. I often did not fit in. I was confused by the balance of powers and had to learn how to deal with not so friendly classmates. Also, I wanted to describe how one person can change the climate of the whole group by lifting them up or dragging them down. A Heart of Onyx Flame is also a sweet romance about the first love and fighting for someone who is truly worth it.

 What was your inspiration for the Aforetime series?

I was inspired by dark and mysterious Slavic folklore. I was always fascinated by the fairytales and beliefs that people used to have, and the relationship with the spiritual world.  Aforetime is a story about finding your place among others, and it is about love that can conquer anything.

What drew you to writing?

I thought about some creative way to tell stories and could not find any for a long time. In 2022 something clicked, and I started writing.

What are your favourite parts of writing fantasy?

I absolutely love the fact that I can make any world, any magic system I can think of. The possibilities are endless.

How did you choose which character to center the story around?

I think about the main character first and then the story comes up around him or her.

What was your process for writing a Heart of Onyx Flame?

Because Onyx Flame is a spin off, I had to go back to Aforetime and read every line where Bohdana was mentioned. I tried to imagine myself having her personality traits. I watched martial arts and tried to envision the mental state of a warrior. The way they talk, the way they interact with others. Details are very important.

What is your approach to world and character building?

I definitely need to know how things work, I imagine every possible detail and I need to be sure that everything works well. If I use something magical, I need to write all possible restrictions and use it well. I hate when authors use magic as a tool to patch up plot holes. Same thing goes for my characters, I want to like them and I want to know what they would do in any possible situation, they have to be consistent.

How would you describe a Heart of Onyx Flame in five words?

Sweet agony of first love.

Did you have a favourite moment in the book to write?

My favorite moment in Onyx Flame was the scene in the library, when Cian examines Bohdana’s romance book.

What was your favourite book growing up?

I really liked Alexandre Dumas. The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo

Do you have a favourite genre to read?

I like action, sci-fi, and fantasy.