Maggie Blackbird

Today, award-winning author Haley Cavanagh is guesting. She’s talking about her latest release, Shadowed Skies, a young adult sci-fi fantasy romance. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

“His mountain solitude shattered. Her lab prison escaped. Together they’ll find refuge or die trying.”

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Worldbuilding in Shadowed Skies: Dystopia, Science, and Survival
One of the most thrilling parts of writing Shadowed Skies was crafting its world—a dystopian landscape where science, survival, and the fight for freedom collide. This post takes you behind the scenes into the worldbuilding process, from the dark origins of the Evol-humans to the dangers that lurk in the remnants of civilization.

A Post-Apocalyptic Landscape
The world of Shadowed Skies is a haunting reflection of a society that once thrived but was torn apart by its own ambition. Decades before the events of the novel, a catastrophic viral outbreak known as the Scourge decimated the global population. In response, governments experimented with human genetics, hoping to create a new breed of super-soldiers—Evol-humans—who could withstand extreme conditions and combat the disease. But when the threat passed, these enhanced beings were deemed unnecessary, hunted, and imprisoned for their blood and abilities.

The Science Behind the Evol-Humans
At the heart of Shadowed Skies is the idea of genetic manipulation. Scientists spliced avian DNA into humans to give them heightened senses, superior endurance, and most notably—wings. While intended to serve as elite operatives in hostile environments, Evol-humans became a feared and persecuted group when their existence threatened the natural order. The novel explores the ethics of experimentation and the fine line between progress and exploitation.

The Refuge: A City of Control
One of the last human strongholds, Refuge, is a walled city governed by fear and desperation. Those within its steel barriers live under strict rule, exchanging their freedoms for security. The city’s elite control access to food, medicine, and technology, while the lower classes struggle to survive. Meanwhile, outside the city, the wilderness belongs to those who have been cast out, including River Shaw and other Evol-humans.

The Mountains: A Place of Survival and Solitude
For River and others like him, the Wasatch Mountains provide the only real sanctuary. The high altitudes and rugged terrain make it difficult for human patrols to track them. However, survival is never guaranteed—wild animals, treacherous weather, and dwindling resources present a constant challenge. This setting plays a crucial role in River’s development, shaping him into the hardened survivor readers meet in the novel.

A World on the Brink
In Shadowed Skies, the world is a powder keg waiting to explode. Tensions between humans and Evol-humans are reaching a breaking point, and those who have been oppressed for decades are no longer content to hide. The novel doesn’t just explore physical survival—it delves into the emotional and psychological resilience required to endure in a world that sees you as less than human.

Final Thoughts
Worldbuilding is the backbone of any great dystopian novel, and Shadowed Skies is no exception. From the science behind Evol-humans to the stark contrast between the city and the wild, every detail helps create an immersive experience for readers. I hope this glimpse into the world of Shadowed Skies excites you for the journey ahead!

What’s your favorite aspect of dystopian worldbuilding? Let’s discuss in the comments!

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Title: Shadowed Skies
Series: N/A
Author: Haley Cavanagh
Genre: YA Clean Dystopian SciFi Fantasy Romance

Hunted for their blood. Fighting for their future.

River
He’s the last of his kind, a winged warrior hidden in the mountains. River Shaw has lost everything: his sanctuary, the only shield from a world that fears and hunts him. When Delene, another of his kind, crash-lands into his life, wounded and on the run, his solitude is shattered.

Delene
She’s a fugitive with a secret, escaping the clutches of dark forces that took everything from her. Delene Fairborne’s flight to freedom leads her to River and the spark of a bond neither can deny.

In a landscape scarred by betrayal and danger, River and Delene must navigate their growing feelings and the sinister scientist who will stop at nothing to harness their power. Shadowed Skies is where love takes wing, hope soars, and destiny entwines. Dive into a world where every heartbeat is a rebellion, every glance a promise, and every flight a taste of freedom.

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I wake to a muscular, silent figure looming over me, his wings casting unnerving shadows. Intelligent dark eyes scrutinize me from his smooth, brown face framed by cropped black hair and raven quills. He’s been around the block.

My guard shoots up. I’d stand, but my body’s too weak from the climb. “Your nest, huh? Sorry, I didn’t see your name on it.”

“It’s carved right over there.” He points past me to the rockface. My eyes travel over the stone, where he’d etched River in craggy letters. The carved name is so tiny I didn’t notice. “Now you’re supposed to tell me your name. That’s how this goes.”

I blink. “Delene Fairborne. Listen, would you mind if I––ow,” I scrape against the wall and suck air through my teeth. I clamp my eyes shut.

“Are you okay?”

I shrug the blanket off, and my injured wing flops lamely near my shoulder.

River’s eyebrows lower, and he comes closer. “Let me look.”

He stows his serrated hunting knife, presents empty hands, and crouches to examine my injury. “Relax. I won’t hurt you. Let’s see the damage.” He’s gentle, avoiding the wound and handling my feathers softly. He lightly touches the bandage.

“Dr. Lytle runs the Stockade, the underground bunker and lab where the humans imprison and experiment on our kind. His men hunted me down and shot me with a crossbow as I tried to escape. The wound is still healing––I changed the bandage earlier, but without a spare set of clothes, I had to tear strips off my pants to re-dress it.”

“Hmm.” He examines the back with a frown. “There’s an exit wound.”

“Yeah, I pulled it out.”

“Well, that was stupid of you. You could have died if those goons pierced a blood feather.”

My temper flares. “Oh, as opposed to leaving it in. I’d rather take my chances, thanks.” My voice is hostile, though I’m grateful for his help. I still don’t know who he is or what he wants, and my mother warned me to be on my guard.

River sits back on his haunches, sighs, and meets my eyes. “Doesn’t look good. How long have you been here, kid? A day or so?”

“I’m no kid. I’m seventeen.”

“Well, I’m eighteen. So, you’re a kid.”

“By what, a few whole months?” I snicker. “Okay. If a kid free-climbed in the pitch-black up a hundred-foot cliff to get here, I guess I’m a kid.”

After examining the wound, he says, “The damage looks fixable. Let’s clean this well to prevent infection.”

“I’ve cleaned the wound.”

“Clean deeper,” he admonishes. “I don’t have antibiotics, but I’ll try to get some. Or at least honey. Honey heals.”

He hesitates before retrieving water, then takes a rag from his pouch and soaks the cloth. With the knife still in hand, he comes closer. “Look … You seem all right, but I’m a lone wolf. I operate solo. You have a target with a big ‘X’ on your back. I feel bad for you. I do. But you know how it is with our kind.” He gives me a blatant look, so here’s your cue to leave.

“Gee, I’d kindly vacate the premises, but I can’t fly.”

He rubs the back of his neck, agitated. “The valley’s full of drones. And they’ve got at least a dozen soldiers combing the forest.”

“I’m sorry.” I shift my eyes down. “You never asked for any of this.”

“None of us did,” he waves me off. “The soldiers are here. I’m screwed either way.” He pauses and assesses me. “Stay the night. Then after that, I’m sorry, but you need to find somewhere else to hide.”

The night might be all I need. “Thank you.”

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Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother. She was awarded the League of Utah Writers 2020 Silver Quill Award for Retaliation, the second novel in her Oceanstone Initiative series.

Haley is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path.

Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.

Follow Haley: Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | Bookbub | Amazon | Goodreads

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