The Realm of Ruin Q&A with readers and Carson

Q What inspired the idea of The Realm of Ruin being both a prison and functioning society where families can exist?

A I found that most prisons have their own types of societies within. So, it only made sense that, with enough people being banished to The Realm of Ruin, they'd form a society of their own. And with no guards or laws to guide them, they simply went back to what they knew, which for most people, was normal society.

Q The concept of memory-erasing masks is powerful. What deeper message were you trying to convey about identity and trauma?

A For starters, I'm a fan of the Death of the Author' philosophy. The readers deeper meaning is more important then the deeper meaning I envisioned. However, one of the main purposes of the masks was to give the characters more agency. They were trapped in The Realm of Ruin due to their past mistakes. Some may choose to forget their past and start over fresh. Others may feel like their past has made them who they are today and it would be weak to hide from their mistakes, they prefer to learn and grow from them. For Nyla and Yevian they chose to try and make it work.

Q Wilbur chooses to wear a mask almost immediately. What does that say about human nature under extreme stress?

A I like to imagine that it means less about human nature and more for Wilbur's character. When given choices, people won't all choose the same option. Nyla wouldn't wear a mask because she is used to having the world against her. Wilbur takes the mask because he isn't used to the pain and pressure, and is willing to take any sense of relief he can get. Yevian holds onto his mask as an option, if things ever get so bad for him that he needs an escape. Rather than human nature, it demonstrates that different people will make different choices through their lives

Q Why did you choose to have characters change their names, but keep their memories in the guild, instead of fully resetting like others?

A The in-universe explanation is simple-Dice believes that people need to learn from their mistakes, so Dice opposed the masks. The masks prevent one from learning from their mistakes. However, Dice believes in fresh starts. Especially in the guild, so the name change is a symbol of starting again.

Q Nyla (Arrow) and Yevian (Jester) react very differently to exile. What do these differences represent?

A Ultimately, it's a difference in their attitudes. Yevian refuses to give up on his life and focuses himself to look on the bright side of things. Nyla isn't quite as eager, but she's no stranger to being abandoned and alone. Based on their past experiences and attitudes, they react in their own ways.

Q How did you develop the character of Dice as a leader who is both relaxed and deeply strategic?

A We learn a great deal more about Dice as the book goes on. Dice has experienced so much and is fearless. I formed Dice in my mind, then asked myself 'What would Dice do in this situation?'. I tried to portray Dice as a person, rather than a set of personality traits.

Q The environment of The Realm of Ruin changes drastically (desert, snow, forest) what is the logic or origin behind this unstable world?

A One of the main purposes is to show the reader how polluted this world has become. Dozens, maybe hundreds, of different magical systems have been sent to Ruinstion, and the planet has been changed because of that. The shifting of environment is a way to showcase that the planet can no longer function around the normal laws of physics.

Q Are the monsters in The Realm of Ruin purely random, or do they have a deeper origin or purpose?

A From a writing perspective, the monsters are mainly created practically. The Blaze Ape is a creature that is dangerous, but also one where Arrow can showcase her archery skills, so it couldn't be heavily armored. Other monsters fill similar roles. I tried hard to make each encounter fresh and unique enough to showcase the variety of creatures that The Realm of Ruin hosts. As for in-universe, they're mostly just random monsters that different wizards teleported to Ruination since that was easier then fighting them to protect their realm.

Q Cloak seems emotionally restrained compared to others, what drives his personality and worldview?

A We learn a great deal about Cloak throughout the book. Cloak was born on The Realm of Ruin and he carries a great deal of pain from his past family relationships. And the fact that he has out lived most of his friends and feels a responsibility to protect them.