By Caitlin Taylor So
I was lucky enough to connect with bestselling author of several Asian American books Katie Zhao to discuss the sequel and final installment of the epic fantasy duology, Descendants of the Zodiac. Zhao’s highly anticipated novel, Zodiac Legacy, is out now (as of October 7).
Zhao expertly intertwines her Chinese heritage and Western upbringing to craft a world enriched with magic, dark academia, and diverse layered characters. With all this, it’s no surprise that BUST summarized the first book, Zodiac Rising, as “the epitome of what fiction should be.”
If you’re ready for a story set in a secret, magical boarding school, tucked in the dark underbelly of Manhattan, mixed with the devastating influences of the Chinese zodiac, you’re in the right place.
Read my conversation with Katie Zhao below and get your hands on Zodiac Legacy today!
CAITLIN TAYLOR SO: The release of Zodiac Legacy marks your tenth published novel. How has your writing process evolved with each book? Has it varied depending on each one? Does the writing get easier the more stories you write?
KATIE ZHAO: Most of my books have followed a similar writing process that gets more streamlined with each new book. I started out as a pantser, mostly writing my stories on the fly with no clear plan, but I quickly realized the most efficient way for me to write on deadline is with an outline, so now I’ve become a plotter. I definitely think that the writing gets easier the more practice I get because my voice and style get more established, but not every book is the same or follows a similar structure. Sometimes there are still books that surprise me with how difficult or different they are when I actually sit down to write them. For example, Zodiac Rising and Zodiac Legacy were my first forays into writing multi-POV fiction, and it took some time to get used to jumping around different characters’ perspectives.
CTS: As a middle-grade and young adult fantasy author, how would you differentiate between the genres besides where the books can be found in the bookstore? How do you find transitioning from one to the other in terms of world-building and character development?
KZ: I’d say the voice and themes differentiate middle grade and young adult the most. The middle-grade voice tends to read younger, funnier, and very to-the-point and sincere, whereas I feel like the young adult voice tends to be older and more serious. For example, the silly jokes I sometimes like to write in my middle-grade novels would definitely not fit in my young adult novels. I also think the themes in young adult tend to be more mature, darker, and grittier, whereas middle-grade novels—while they can also tackle darker themes—tend to carry more optimistic themes and focus on young characters finding their place in the world. The world-building in my young adult novels tends to be more detailed, and I also like to intertwine the world-building with deeper thematic notes that often involve political intrigue, whereas I feel like the world-building in my middle-grade novels can be a little less complex but more imaginative and expansive. In terms of character development, in middle grade I find that I tend to focus more on family and family dynamics and how they interact with character development, whereas in young adult that development happens more through romance.
CTS: Prior to writing the Descendants of the Zodiac duology, you had already published two fantasy series and two dark academia thrillers. Did you always intend to write a story that combined these genres? How did your previous books influence your approach to this series?
KZ: When I got the idea for Descendants of the Zodiac back in 2018, there were no dark academia elements in what I envisioned. However, when I was mapping out the world-building, I felt that it was natural to add a boarding school to the story, with houses that go along with the twelve zodiac animals. My background in writing two young adult dark academia novels, while contemporary, definitely created a natural segue to crafting a dark academia element in this fantasy duology as well.
CTS: What is it about the Chinese zodiac, and Chinese mythology as a whole, that reveals so much about humanity? What’s your Chinese zodiac, and how closely do you identify with the traits associated with that animal?
KZ: The Chinese zodiac has always fascinated me because everybody gets a zodiac, and the animal associated with said zodiac has specific traits that are supposed to correlate with the personality traits of the people born in that year. Growing up, I would often go to Chinese restaurants where they would use Chinese zodiac–themed place mats, so I’ve always thought of it as a part of Chinese mythology the Western world is very familiar with; it was a no-brainer to incorporate it into the world-building of this duology. I think the themes in Chinese mythology tend to reveal a lot about humanity in general, with many lessons on good vs. evil, the importance of filial piety, etc. My Chinese zodiac is the boar, and I identify with the traits of intelligence, honesty, and diligence.
CTS: In the acknowledgments of Zodiac Rising, you cite the GQ article “The Great Chinese Art Heist” as inspiration for the Descendants of the Zodiac duology. Where do you usually find writing inspiration, and what has been the most unlikely inspiration source so far?
KZ: My writing inspiration can come from anywhere and everywhere, but typically I’d say I get inspired by what I read and watch—either other books and movies or real-world news (like the GQ article referenced above). The unlikeliest source of inspiration so far is probably sports anime, which helped inspire my middle-grade novel Last Gamer Standing—the gaming tournament arc is influenced by the tournament arcs I’ve watched in several sports anime.
CTS: I love it when fantasy books include intricate maps and detailed glossaries. In Zodiac Rising and Zodiac Legacy, I was pleasantly surprised to find full portraits of the main characters paired with their names, notable quotes, Chinese names, zodiac house, supernatural designation, and their roles in a heist. Can you tell me a bit about how these came to be? Did you review multiple illustration drafts, and how did you help decide on the final character design?
KZ: So this was all handled through my wonderful publisher! My team found an illustrator, the talented Cathy Kwan, to create character cards for the opening pages. I sent Cathy detailed physical descriptions of each character along with their traits so she could decide how to pose them. I then reviewed a few illustration drafts she did and approved the final illustrations. As for writing the different distinctions for each character, i.e., Chinese names and roles in the heist, it was my editor’s idea to create those descriptions, and I wrote them.
CTS: You juggle several points of view in the Descendants of the Zodiac books. How did you make sure each perspective felt distinct and necessary?
KZ: It wasn’t easy to create seven different POVs and keep each one feeling unique and necessary to the plot. In revisions, my editor and I focused on crafting a unique voice and motivation for the characters. Each of them struggles with their own problems, and they have their own reason for undertaking the heist mission in Zodiac Rising. The story could not be told without each of their POVs—keeping that in mind helped me hone in on giving each character an indispensable role not only in the heist but also the story overall. To help me really get into each character’s head, I would revise by focusing on all the chapters in one character’s perspective, then move on to the next character’s chapters, revising in chunks like that.
CTS: New York City as a setting in Zodiac Rising and Zodiac Legacy feels very intentional and alive, and as a born and raised New Yorker, I love being able to easily visualize the places mentioned and imagine my home in complete disarray. What are your favorite go-to spots around New York City that you find yourself in time and time again? Were you able to write this book in New York City, and if so, how did that influence and enhance your writing?
KZ: I think it’s obvious enough from the book that I’ve personally spent significant amounts of time in Chinatown and Koreatown in Manhattan, where large chunks of Zodiac Rising take place. I’d say Chinatown and Koreatown are my top two go-to spots; I’ve also spent significant amounts of time in Central Park, also briefly a setting in the book, because I used to live in the Upper West Side. Most of the book takes place in Lower Manhattan, which makes sense because I’d say it’s where I’ve spent most of my twenties in New York City. I was able to write the book in New York City, which was very helpful because I was so immersed in the settings that are described in the book. It was easy to wander around Chinatown and imagine magic and mystery hidden around every corner.
CTS: What can readers expect from you next after Zodiac Legacy?
KZ: I’ve been working mostly on some romance and romantasy young adult and adult fiction. So while I don’t have any plans to write any novels that are as fantasy-focused in the near future, I am sure there will be more contemporary fantasy from me one day, as it’s probably my favorite genre to write. But for now, readers who enjoyed the romance in the Descendants of the Zodiac duology will be able to look forward to romance-focused stories from me in the future!
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Katie Zhao is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned a BA in English and political science in 2017 and a master of accounting degree in 2018. She is the author of the Descendants of the Zodiac duology, Dragon Warrior series, How We Fall Apart, Last Gamer Standing, and the Winnie Zeng series. She’s a passionate advocate for diverse representation in literature and media. When she’s not reading or writing, Katie can be found listening to music, singing her heart out at karaoke, or wandering the streets of New York City trying to find magic around every corner.
Purchase Zodiac Legacy here.
Born and raised in Queens, Caitlin Taylor So is a Chinese-Vietnamese writer who is passionate about prioritizing and amplifying marginalized voices. She graduated from Emerson College with a degree in publishing and marketing. Her writing can be found on Business Insider, PopSugar, WebMD, Medscape, The New Absurdist, and Her Campus Media.