
About the Book
Book: Illuminary (The Sceptre & the Stylus Book One)
Author: Chawna Schroeder
Genre: YA Fantasy inspired by A Little Princess
Release date: April 8, 2025
Glimpse the past, illuminate the future.
Yosarai Patican dreams of becoming an illuminator in a country that
values art above all else. A lofty goal that finally seems within reach
when she earns a position at the prestigious Academy of the Seven
Arts. Although Yosarai loathes to leave behind her quiet country
life, she travels to the capital, determined to live up to her mother’s
fame asone of Indel’s greatest artists.
Prince Xander never planned to become king. Indeed, he never wanted
to become king. But when his father dies suddenly, he is thrust into the
middle of coronation preparations—and assassination attempts. With
everyone around him in increasing danger, Xander decides to hide in
neighboring Indel until the time for him to be crowned king arrives.
Posing as an inventor struggling with aesthetics, Xander enlists
Yosarai’s aid as part of his cover, but soon he suspects she knows more
than she should. But when danger threatens and secrets are exposed,
entering a competition reputed as cutthroat may be the only way for them
to protect everything they hold dear.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Chawna Schroeder
loves exploring the wonder of God through the intersection of
imagination and faith. When she isn’t reading or writing, she may be
found practicing piano, reading biblical Greek or Hebrew, preparing for
the Bible study she teaches, or working onone of her handwork projects
while enjoying a movie.
More from Chawna
Why I Love “A Little Princess”
Illuminary begins a fantasy trilogy loosely inspired by A Little Princess.
This classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a book I’ve read
almost annually since I was a preteen, with some years containing two or
more readings. It is a story that never fails to enchant me no matter
how often I read it, and it carries for me the same magic that Anne of Green Gables has for many other girls.
Yet unlike Anne, who endears herself to almost all who meet her, the young heroine of A Little Princess,
Sara Crewe, is known to be a somewhat divisive character—the kind you
either adore or hate the moment you meet her, much like the characters
within the story itself. So, what draws me back to this young
protagonist again and again?
The reasons are many. I love her imagination, her intelligence, her
ability for the perfect comeback, her courage in the face of horrifying
circumstances, her uniqueness—all characteristics that I’ve tried to
endow upon the heroine of Illuminary to some extent.
But I think the thing I hope my heroine in Illuminary emulates
most is Sara’s unshakeable character. For Sara is a principled young
lady, and no matter what is thrown at her, she holds onto those
principles without wavering.
Often in literature, it seems like the good, principled characters,
when they are faced with great difficulty, end up struggling with their
principles, debating whether they are good or worthwhile. In some
stories, those characters even outright reject those principles for a
time.
While these are good and needed stories to tell, sometimes they are
portrayed as the only accurate arcs for such characters—as if characters
holding onto their principles and maintaining their integrity is
somehow unrealistic. A charge originating, I suppose, from those too
sweet, too perfect characters found in morality tales.
Yet while such characters of integrity and principle might be rare,
Scripture shows us that hard times don’t have to shake one’s principles
or undermine one’s integrity. Both Joseph in the book of Genesis and
Daniel in the book bearing his name exemplify this kind of life. And we
see this same principled integrity in Sara Crewe.
It is not that she is some perfectly sweet heroine. Sara has a
temper, struggles with some uncharitable thoughts toward others, and
even misjudges another character terribly. Nor does she fail to grow.
The Sara at the end of the story is definitely a more mature,
thoughtful, and understanding girl than the one who began the tale.
But the core essence of her character—her politeness, generosity, and
compassion as summarized by her wish to act like a princess—does not
change in the story. The core characteristics that make Sara Crewe, Sara
Crewe, are unshaken. They may grow and expand with the character, but
these essential attributes characterize her throughout the entire story.
Even in her darkest moments she holds fast to them.
That is both hopeful and encouraging. For we all will face hard and difficult times. A Little Princess
doesn’t deny that reality. Rather, it says that those hard times don’t
have to destroy us and that holding onto one’s integrity, one’s faith,
is possible.
For me, that is what makes Sara Crewe and A Little Princess truly magical—and what I hope will make Illuminary magical for its readers.
Blog Stops
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 29
Artistic Nobody, April 30 (Author Interview)
CeCe Reads and Sings, April 30
The Lofty Pages, May 1
Wishful Endings, May 2
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 3 (Spotlight)
Simple Harvest Reads, May 3 (Guest Review from Mindy)
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 4
Guild Master, May 5 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 6
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 7
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 8
Inklings and Notions, May 9
Fiction Book Lover, May 10 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, May 11
Labor Not in Vain, May 12
Giveaway

To
celebrate her tour, Chawna is giving away the grand prize of a 2.5” x
9.5” poster of Psalm 46:5 and 10-11 illuminated by artist and
calligrapher Timothy Botts, a signed copy of the book, a $25 Amazon gift
card, a glass stylus, and 5 bookish stickers!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54208