Notorious Virtues: Alwyn Hamilton and a 1920s Heiress Fantasy

About this episode

Alwyn Hamilton discusses her fantasy work inspired by the 1920s and the challenges of writing with multiple perspectives.

Today on Mythmakers, we welcome author Alwyn Hamilton, who has crafted a gripping fantasy that mingles Grimm fairy tale tropes with a sleek, 1920s-inspired world on the brink of disaster. In this episode, Alwyn joins Julia Golding to discuss her path to publication and how she connects her series to build a richly expanding universe. Together, they explore the challenges of writing with multiple points of view and reflect on what the 1920s can reveal about our own moment in time. Discover Alwyn’s recommendations for recent fantasy titles as the conversation turns to magic systems, before finally ending on a lighter note—join the debate as to which fantasy world would host the most stylish party. Tune in to see if you agree with their pick! Discover more of Alwyn's works, and follow her social accounts, at https://www.alwynhamilton.com/ (00:04) Introduction to Alwyn Hamilton and Her Work (03:08) Harry Potter and Shared Reading Experiences (04:34) Removing Parents in Children’s Stories (05:08) Introducing The Notorious Virtues (08:00) Reversing Tropes and Exploring Adoption Narratives (11:00) Challenging Characters Through Unfamiliar Virtues (12:20) The 1920s…

People in this episode

Host: Julia Golding

Guest: Alwyn Hamilton

Topics covered

• fantasy literature
• 1920s influences
• writing challenges
• multiple perspectives
• magic systems
• social commentary

Keywords

• Alwyn Hamilton
• 1920s fantasy
• Grimm fairy tales
• writing process
• magic systems
• social issues in fantasy

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Harry Potter, The Notorious Virtues

More episodes of Mythmakers

• Galahad and the Grail: Malcolm Guite Is on a Quest · May 7, 2026 · 53 min
• Nursery Toys, Their Fantastical Journeys and Which Is the Best Cinematic Universe · April 30, 2026 · 59 min
• Casting, Colbert and Contracts: Big News of Lotr Films and the Best Way to Get a Book Contract · April 23, 2026 · 1h 11m
• The Call: Peadar Ó Guilín, Irish Fantasy and the Nature of Fairy Stories · April 16, 2026 · 39 min
• Mammoth Rider: SJ Poyton's Long Road to Publishing · April 2, 2026 · 31 min
• Celebrating King Arthur on Tolkien Reading Day · March 26, 2026 · 33 min