Q&A: Lauretta Hignett on Foils and Fury: “I don’t shy away from controversial topics like religion and politics.”

A Fun Fast-Paced Urban Fantasy

“While researching another series I discovered the pontianak, an Indonesian vengeful female spirit who eats the internal organs of evil men, often appearing as a pregnant woman who will never give birth. She was the perfect monster match for Sandy, a sweet, overworked young vegetarian mom who finds herself possessed by the pontianak. The odd-couple buddy comedy practically wrote itself.”

A raving fangirl for all things paranormal, supernatural, supernormal and fantastical, Lauretta Hignett writes fun Urban Fantasy, PNR and Superhero adventures with a dash of sweet romance and humor. A massive fan of quirky fiction, she loves a plot twist, hates cliffhangers, and always keeps her readers on their toes.

Her series Foils and Fury is a fun, fast-paced urban fantasy and paranormal cozy mystery series with a diverse cast including witches, shifters, vampires, sassy skeletons and, of course, vengeance demons.

Below, find out more about the books in the Foils and Fury series—and read our exclusive interview with author Lauretta Hignett. Lauretta tells Monster Complex about what drives her to write the Foils and Fury books, explains the unique angle for her urban fantasy, and reveals her pet peeves with what others have done with the genre.

Books in the Foils and Fury series

Oops I Ate A Vengeance Demon: Foils and Fury #1

Getting possessed by a demon wasn’t on my to-do list. I was just too busy for that sort of thing.

I had a fifty-hour work week, a hellraiser of a toddler, debilitating morning sickness and a husband who thought his only job was taking out the trash. I was at breaking point.

I don’t remember being possessed, or attacking Terry, or my local priest pulling the demon out of me and trapping her in a banana (with the help of a stranger, a badass girl who apparently wrangled supernatural creatures for a living.)

But the aftermath was wild. Terry promised he’d try harder, and give me more support.

He lied. And I broke.

So… I ate the banana. I absorbed the vengeance demon.

She’s a part of me now, sharing my body; we’re like two people in a car. Most of the time, I’m driving. Sometimes, I let her take the wheel.

She’s the rage of wronged women; the vengeance of the vulnerable, wild justice for the oppressed. She can hear bad thoughts, she can sense evil intentions. She can tell when someone wants to abuse their power, and she whispers their secrets to me.

She also eats the internal organs of evil people… which is a little awkward, since I’m a vegetarian.

Her methods might be a little blunt. And bloodthirsty. But she’s definitely got my back, and I need her help right now.

My best friend is being blackmailed. Someone’s gotten hold of Chloe’s nudes, and is threatening to send them to her whole contact list. Together, me and my vengeance demon need to find who did this, and help bring him to justice.

Hopefully, my kind of justice. The kind involving the police and a courtroom. Not the kind where I’m picking gristle and sinew out of my teeth for a week.

But you never know…

Oops I Ate A Vengeance Demon is book one in the Foils and Fury series, a fun, fast-paced urban fantasy and paranormal cozy mystery, with a diverse cast including witches, shifters, vampires, sassy skeletons and, of course, vengeance demons.

Content note for miscarriage, violence/gore, mentions of SA, occasional foul language.

Find book 1 Oops I Ate A Vengeance Demon on Amazon

Dancing With The Vengeance Demon: Foils and Fury #2

Having just escaped the clutches of her manipulative and abusive husband, Sandy’s finally settling into her new life in D.C. She’s got the perfect job, perfect friends, and the perfect home. Oh, and a perfectly bloodthirsty vengeance demon sharing her body, but Sandy’s doing an amazing job in keeping that little secret to herself.

But it’s going to be a secret she’ll struggle to keep.

A dark force is rising in Washington D.C.—a shadowy figure his followers call Lord Seth. Rogue vampires, evil magic-users and disenfranchised shifters are flocking to him, lured by his promises of power and justice, stoked by their violent misogyny. They call themselves the Blood Kings.

When Prue’s niece’s best friend is discovered comatose, unable to be woken after a wild sorority party, Sandy is determined to figure out what happened to her. Another victim surfaces, then another, and the brutally hot Detective Conrad Sinclair reluctantly asks for her help to figure out what is happening to these girls, and why they can’t be woken.

They’re going undercover, hitting the party scene of Georgetown, to gather information and find out who is drugging these girls. Sinclair is a little nervous about putting Sandy in danger.

Sandy is nervous that she’ll eat someone’s liver.

Can she keep Mavka a secret? Or will Sinclair find out, and feel honour-bound as the Enforcer to destroy her?

Dancing with the Vengeance Demon is Book Two in Foils and Fury, a fun, fast-paced urban fantasy series.

Content note for gore, violence, mentions of SA and drink spiking, occasional foul language.

Find book 2 Dancing With The Vengeance Demon on Amazon

Dating With A Vengeance Demon: Foils and Fury #3

A mysterious supernatural assassin is loose in D.C.—a man made of marble, hell-bent on murdering the most popular senator the country has seen in years. Can Sandy and Sinclair stop him in time before he unleashes complete chaos on the world?

And will they finally be able to go on a normal date, without Sandy’s bloodthirsty man-eating demon making an appearance like some sort of homicidal third wheel?

Yeah. Probably not.

Find book 3 Dating With A Vengeance Demon on Amazon

Dying For My Vengeance Demon: Foils and Fury #4

How can you catch a monster when you’re running for your life?

Conrad and Sandy are on the run, framed for every single vicious murder Lord Seth has ever committed. Not only are they being hunted by both the human police and some bloodthirsty rogue supernaturals, they’re forced to watch while Lord Seth gains the hearts and minds of the masses during his election campaign.

With the power of spin and suggestion, he’s got the whole country thinking it would be a great idea if women’s rights were dialled right back to the caveman days.

But when Sandy finds out who Lord Seth really is... she might have a chance to pull the human world back from the brink of total chaos.

The final instalment in the Foils and Fury Series.

Brace yourself for more twists and turns, more action, more suspense, and more cannibal puns than you can shake a severed finger at.

Find book 4 Dying For My Vengeance Demon on Amazon

Interview with Lauretta Hignett about the Foils and Fury series

Q: What inspired this series? Was there a particular hook or angle driving you to write the Foils and Fury books?

“My main source of inspiration for the series was actually me. Like Sandy, my main character in my Foils and Fury series, I was also an overworked, pregnant hairdresser with a toddler once upon a time.

“I often daydreamed of bloodthirsty revenge when my husband would get eight hours of sleep and complain that he was tired after work, when I’d spent twelve hours on my feet with whilst growing a tiny human inside of me.

“While researching another series I discovered the pontianak, an Indonesian vengeful female spirit who eats the internal organs of evil men, often appearing as a pregnant woman who will never give birth. She was the perfect monster match for Sandy, a sweet, overworked young vegetarian mom who finds herself possessed by the pontianak. The odd-couple buddy comedy practically wrote itself.”

Q: What inspires your unique angle for writing urban fantasy? (How are you different or compare with others in this category?)

“Let’s face it, the real world is often far more insane than any fantasy story I could dream up. I’m inspired by everyday issues and I don’t shy away from controversial topics like religion and politics, which I think makes me fairly unique (even though some reviewers would prefer I stay away from these topics!)

“Sexism and classism in particular are key themes in my Foils and Fury series, and although I put a overly-dramatic, funny fantasy spin on everything, there are still deep issues being addressed within my books.”

Q: What are your favorite things about urban fantasy?

“My favorite things about Urban Fantasy is seeing the fantastical right beside the everyday. While I have a deep passion for high fantasy, there’s something so relatable about not giving your real name to the barista at Starbucks just in case he turns out to be a troublesome fae.”

Q: What are some of your pet peeves with this genre that you’ve seen others do? (Books, movies, TV, wherever)

“The only pet peeve I have about the genre is the overuse of certain names, like the name Kate or Kat for the female MC. I would like to see the name Lauretta trending at some point, haha. The only other thing that bugs me in Urban Fantasy is when there’s time travel involved, but that’s only because time travel makes my head explode. My brain can’t cope with the variables.”

Q: What are the best ways that readers can connect with you or keep up with your author news?

“Connect with me!”

Website: https://laurettahignett.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurettahignettwriter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurettahignett/

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3Mqtnub

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