‘It was both my love for fantasy books and my love for Wales that made me want to write’

Talya Honebeek discovers how author Anna Fiteni has rooted her romantasy novel in Welsh mythology

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WELSH author has opened up about the inspiration behind her new romantasy novel. Anna Fiteni, who grew up in Cardiff, is the author of The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire, a dark fae romantasy, perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas and Holly Black.

Inspired by Welsh mythology, the novel follows Sabrina Parry, a young girl living in a small Welsh mining town who must support her family by holding onto her job and attempting to marry her sickly sister Ceridwen off to a man rich enough to look after her. So when Ceridwen suddenly vanishes into the woods, Sabrina must venture into Eu Gwald, the fairyland, to bring her sister home.

Speaking to the Western Mail, Anna revealed how her Welsh upbringing inspired her to write the novel, which was published by Electric Monkey, an imprint of Harper Collins, earlier this week.

“I think the foundations of this book were first laid way back in 2016 when I went to university and I was quickly informed that I pronounce tooth, Primark and saucepan ‘wrong” she explained. “It was my first personal experience of what I'd been told all my life; Wales and England are not the happiest of neighbours.”