Meet the character: IRA

About the Character: Ira Trogon Amador

Pronunciation: Eye-rah

City of Residence: Theatis, Corlan

Kingdom of Origin: Corlan

Status: Crown Prince of Corlan

Keep reading for a Q&A with the author of We Outlawed Bloodlines, Vic Massey.

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What’s the first thing you can tell us about Prince Ira?

The crippling weight on his shoulders.

What do you mean?

I’ve had a lot of early readers tell me how much they actually hate Ira for his actions toward Solis, and I don’t blame them for how they feel. Ira is very driven, but also under way too much pressure to obey the job he has been tasked with: hunting down and capturing the Woodland Bandit. No interaction between Ira and Solis has ever been pleasant, but they do both respect ancient promises and laws of the world. It was the only reason Ira had allowed Solis to walk free, even when his grip was on her arm. Solis’s greatest strength is one of Ira’s greatest weaknesses. The forest. Solis knows the woods like the back of her hand. Ira doesn’t. So long as she stays in the forest, he fears he will never be able to bring his hunt to an end, and bit by bit, it eats away at him, causing more problems not only for himself but the people around him.

Why doesn’t Ira just give up his hunt if he fears he won’t succeed?

He can’t. Nor can I tell you why. Ira may be Crown Prince, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t without a leash. In fact, he envies those without such titles, simply because they are free to choose their own paths. His path has been written out for him since the day he and his twin sister were born. To be king one day comes with guarantees, sacrifices, and responsibilities Ira tries to be accountable for … but he’s often cut off from those who hold power over him. A tactic that was used to sprout an uncontrollable anger deep inside him.

Does Ira’s anger ever get in the way of things?

All the time. The lack of control Ira has over his own life often causes him to lash out at the people closest to him, whether that’s his twin sister, Demerrea, or his best friend, Bron. More than once, his anger has blinded him to the point that he’s hurt someone. Bron has been a victim of this several times, though Ira is much more controlled around Demerrea, who tends to bring out a calmness in him. That is until she leaves and takes that calmness with her., and Ira can’t understand why that is. Most people in the castle keep away from him, especially slaves and servants. Even the citizens of Theatis know it’s best to avoid him and the trouble he comes with. And he hates it. How is he supposed to be the future king Corlan needs him to be if everyone thinks him an incapable child? And maybe he is. But that doesn’t have to be what defines him.

What does Ira want throughout the story?

Each character is fighting for something different, but at the end of the day, all six of them want some variation of the same thing. Freedom from the lives they live. Solis wants freedom from being hunted, Paxem freedom from drowning in his guilt, and Ezek freedom from the unbearable weight of not knowing himself. Concordia is fighting for her literal freedom, and Ira wants the freedom to be his own person. To strive for a greater life for himself and for his kingdom. However, such change takes a courage Ira doesn’t know if he has. But the freedom from oppression his kingdom needs won’t come without it.

Is Ira the fifth member of Solis’s family of outlaws?

No. Solis has her own family, and Ira has his. Though, how the two families and separate worlds collide with each other … is far more entwined than either Ira or Solis could ever dare to believe. The same goes for our next and final POV of We Outlawed Bloodlines, Princess Demerrea.

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Stick around for more posts about the rest of Solis's newfound family: Paxem, Ezek, Concordia, and Demerrea.

WE OUTLAWED BLOODLINES

An Epic Fantasy Novel Coming Soon

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