If youve been missing the world of Alexandra BrackensThe Darkest Mindsseries, youre in luck.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When did you decide to return to theDarkestworld?
Ultimately, I felt very never say never about coming back, but wasnt about to make any promises.
Credit: Captured Moments by Rita & Company
It was always going to have to be the exact right story.
It felt like a natural way to continue the story without it being the original trilogy 2.0.
But, like I said, I felt ready to move on.
Hyperion/Disney Publishing Worldwide
So, it went on the backburner until early 2017, when it started poking at me again.
My original plan was to actually jump far into the future and leave the original cast behind completely.
Somehow, it just didnt feel right to me, and for once I actually listened to my gut.
What I had been envisioning as a reboot to the series felt almost too different.
What brought you to the time jump?
(Spoiler: A LOT.)
The only real con I found with the time jump was more of a challenge than a true con.
My goal with this story was to have everything feel somehow both recognizableandfresh to readers.
Yeah, in my dreams.
That peacekeeping force then stayed on to help stabilize the country through the intense pains of recovery.
Unfortunately, theres some major tension brewing.
More than that, though, I felt like Zu had the biggest potential arc ahead of her.
It has a different, lasting impact on her.
Zu struggled to find her voice inAfterlight.
InThe Darkest Minds, Zus trauma manifests in her choosing to remain silent.
Its her one small way she can feel in control of her otherwise uncontrollable situation.
This cover looks very different from the others in the series, right?
Im talking endless months of back-and-forth and trying out new ideas only to reject them and start from scratch.
I actually gasped when I saw the sketch for what ultimately became the final cover.
Ultimately, Zu makes the decision to be a symbol for something else entirely.
They and Zu make for a truly dynamic trio.
