Unblemished by Sara Ella
Why I Write Flawed Characters + the Official Unblemished Curated Playlist
Welcome to a series I’ve decided to call Sara Ella’s Library—a place where I’ll share about what I write, and maybe even some of my favorite reads as well. To kick off this series, I thought I’d start with where I started—my debut novel, Unblemished.
About Unblemished
Eliyana can’t bear to look at her own reflection. But what if that were only one Reflection—one world? What if another world exists where her blemish could become her strength?
Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a birthmark covering half her face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her like he does: normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.
But one night her mother doesn’t come home, and that’s when everything gets weird. Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, legal Guardian. Add a hooded stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you’ve gone from weird to otherworldly.
Eliyana soon finds herself in a world much larger and more complicated than she’s ever known. A world enslaved by a powerful and vile man. And Eliyana holds the answer to defeating him. How can an ordinary girl, a blemished girl, become a savior when she can’t even save herself?
Why I wrote Unblemished
My favorite Disney film as a kid was Beauty & the Beast. I remember seeing it on the big screen for the first time. My grandmother took me, and we’d missed the first ten minutes or so. After the film was over, she paid for us to watch it again, just so I could see the opening I’d missed. It was just as magical the first time as it was the second (and third, and twentieth, and by now probably 100th or more).
I’d always wondered, though . . . what if the Beast hadn’t transformed into a human? What if he’d remained a hideous monster? Would Belle have stayed? Would she still have loved him for who he was on the inside—a changed prince who had become kind and gentle? I knew the answer, of course. For, as the Enchantress in the film warned:
It was this very idea that sparked my idea for Unblemished. As someone who has struggled with insecurities over my appearance since childhood (I was teased for being too short, for wearing glasses, for never quite losing my baby squish, for having hair on my arms . . . you name it), I wanted to write a story that would refelct the truth of God’s Word—a truth I wanted so desperately to believe to my core.
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.”
1 Peter 3: 3–4 ESV
Putting belief into action can often be the most difficult aspect of faith. Do I believe what God’s Word says about true beauty? Without a doubt. Do I always feel it’s true when I look in the mirror or see photos of myself? Not always. I’m working on it, even in my fourth decade of life.
Writers often write to process their current season of life. When I wrote Unblemished and the sequels in that trilogy, I was struggling a lot with identity. I wrestled with my faith, and much of what was going on in my life at the time felt as if it was crumbling all around me.
And so I wrote. I wrote about a girl who hid from her reflection, like I had so much of the time. I wrote about a girl who’d lost her mom—a loss I’d experienced while writing the first draft. I wrote about a girl who couldn’t see past her reflection to the strengths she had inside. I wrote about darkness and light and the choices we make and the power that kisses hold.
Oh, and a side note, there’s also a love triangle. I know opinions are divided on that one, but I stand by it. The triangle fits the story, I promise! But if you detest this trope, you may want to check out my other books, like Coral, The Wonderland Trials, or Glass Across the Sea.
In the end, I would say Unblemished is really about identity and finding it apart from ourselves, what we look like, our talents, our strengths, our weaknesses. Identity is found in Christ and the Truth of His Word. This is why I write flawed characters. Because, once upon a time, Christ in His perfection chose to humble Himself as a man and die to cover the sins of the world. When we are weak, He is our strength. All glory goes to Him. Our flaws and shortcomings are a reminder of our humanity—a humanity He took on to save us and give us happily ever after with Him.
In the Unblemished trilogy, two elements war against one another. The Void (the darkness/emptiness) and the Verity (the truth/light). The main characters in the story—Eliyana, Joshua, and Ky—often wrestle with the choices they make, and as a result, they see that they have a choice to choose between the Void and the Verity. Which do they choose in the end?
I suppose you’ll just have to read the trilogy to find out. 😉 And, if you’re a fan of bookish playlists, keep scrolling to download the 20-page curated playlist I created for Unblemished—complete with book quotes, author commentary, and more!
Unblemished is a YA Urban Fantasy Romance, and the first in a trilogy. It’s available in Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, and Ebook. Purchase your preferred format from your favorite retailer, or request it at your local library.
Praise for Unblemished
“Engaging and suspenseful debut . . . superb worldbuilding.” — Library Journal, starred review, Debut of the Month, October 2016
“. . . this engaging and suspenseful debut urban fantasy features superb world building and a tightly paced story line. Reading groups will find plenty to discuss concerning self-image, the nature of good vs. evil, and the power of the marginalized to change the world.” — RT Book Reviews, 4.5 stars, TOP PICK!
Lyrically-written and achingly romantic—Unblemished will tug your heartstrings!” — Melissa Landers, author of Alienated and Starflight
“Unblemished had me from the first chapter – mystery, romance, and mind-blowing twists and turns that I SO did not see coming! The worlds Sara Ella builds are complex and seamless; the characters she creates are beautifully flawed. Readers are sure to love this book and finish it, as I did, begging for more!” — Krista McGee, author of the Anomaly trilogy
“Unblemished is an enchanting, beautifully written adventure with a pitch-perfect blend of fantasy, realism, and romance. Move this one to the top of your TBR pile and clear your schedule, you won’t want to put it down!” — Lorie Langdon, author of the Amazon bestselling Doon series, Olivia Twist, and Gilt Hollow
“Self-worth and destiny collide in this twisty-turny fantasy full of surprise and heart. Propelled into a world she knows nothing about, Eliyana learns that the birthmark she despises is not quite the superficial curse she thought it was—it’s worse, and the mark comes with a heavy responsibility. Can she face her reflection long enough to be the hero her new friends need? With charm and wit, author Sara Ella delivers Unblemished, a magical story with a compelling message and a unique take on the perils of Central Park.” — Shannon Dittemore, author of the Angel Eyes trilogy and Winter, White & Wicked
“A breathtaking fantasy set in an extraordinary fairytale world, with deceptive twists and an addictively adorable cast who are illusory to the end. Just when I thought I’d figured each out, Sara Ella sent me for another ride. A wholly original story, Unblemished begins as a sweet melody and quickly becomes an anthem of the heart. And I’m singing my soul out. Fans of OUAT and Julie Kagawa, brace yourselves.” — Mary Weber, author of the Storm Siren trilogy and To Best the Boys
The official Unblemished curated playlist was created exclusively for paid subscribers. Consider upgrading to a paid membership if you haven’t already. Your support allows me to continue creating bonus content, writing workshops, and more!
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Ever After in Progress with Sara Ella to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.