Looking for a book to spotlight this Thursday, I found the soon-to-be-released Inked in Blood and Memory by Allison Ivy. Containing elements of gothic horror, splatterpunk, romance, and fantasy, this book calls to you that it is said to wrap around you, the reader, and never let go. Let’s read on!
Features ⦁ Eat the rich ⦁ “Family is complicated” ⦁ Sapphic (f/f) romance ⦁ 2/5 spice level ⦁ Multi-POV ⦁ Vietnamese FMC ⦁ Plus size FMC ⦁ Mixed race FMC ⦁ FMC who wears glasses ⦁ New Year’s Eve Horror ⦁ Dark Academia ⦁ Estranged friends to lovers ⦁ Grownup "The Pagemaster" vibes Recluse Sophie Vanguard’s winter cabin retreat turns ominous when blue flowers mysteriously appear. They’re everywhere. On her front porch, in kitchen cabinets, and even on her pillow. It isn’t long before chilling whispers echo in the halls, and her journal repeats seven unsettling entries.
Enter the bloodied and beautifully eccentric Ly Thi Ren. Though Ren seems familiar, Sophie refuses to believe the girl’s insistence that they are trapped inside a book. In a land of fiction, truth and lies blur together, clear decisions are marred by doubt, and shared family trauma lurks just below the surface.
Can Ren and Sophie make it out alive? Or will they end up nothing more than words inked in blood and memory?
Warnings Contain Possible Triggers Including:
Swearing (Not overboard. Three or four F-words and three or four other words.) Gore/violence/body horror (not gratuitous and nothing sexual) one scene of the main character’s drug use (joint) Brief suicidal ideation Child endangerment Self-deprecation in terms of weight (one paragraph).
Inked in Blood and Memory is coming December 3rd, 2024
Allison Ivy writes under a pen name and grew up reading a book a day. She graduated from Penn State with a B.A. in English and a Creative Writing certificate. She currently lives in Connecticut and listens to far too many show tunes and DVD commentaries. The Dragon and the Double-Edged Sword is her first novel.
The cover has a dragon on it, so of course, I am spotlighting this book. All the Sacrifice of Shadows is the exciting next installment in the Starstorm series, coming November 13th.
All the Sacrifice of Shadows (Starstorm Series Book 2)
Expected Publication Date: November 13, 2024
Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Dragons
Features
Arranged Marriage Grumpy x Sunshine Shadow Daddy Morally Grey Very Spicy Dragons His Dragon Like Her Better
Synopsis
She was a storm of violent sunbeams and catastrophic rainbows. Marrying for love was never in the stars for Creslyn, as evidenced by her future husband. Drake is calculating, cruel, and wields a blade of death. By all rights, he should be terrifying. But something about him draws her in, his shadows call to the darkness she keeps locked away inside of her. She isn’t foolish enough to expect love from a marriage contract, but when they bind their vows in blood, Creslyn does the unthinkable—she claims Drake as her mate.
He was a monster of shadow and night, of death and destruction. Cursed since his first breath, Drake has only known power and a realm of shadows. But now he’s bound to a faerie whose heart bleeds for him, and his obsession with her only grows with each passing day. Unfortunately, his world of violence puts her life at stake. Not only is he still the Shadowblade Assassin, but unrest is brewing in Aeramere, and an attack on House Celestine confirms an ill-fated prophecy. War is coming. As Creslyn longs to find a way to break Drake’s curse and struggles to embrace her own darkness, Drake will be faced with a terrible choice—one that will only end in sacrifice. Secrets will be unearthed and their bond will be put to the test, because love might be enough for a hero, but it will never save a villain.
Content Warning: The book contains the following triggers.
⦁ Voyeurism ⦁ Foul language ⦁ Explicit sexual content ⦁ Attempted murder ⦁ Death ⦁ Blood ⦁ Brief on pages attempted SA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hillary Raymer is a fantasy romance author. She’s a wanderer, a storyteller, and believes in happily ever afters.
Hillary has always been a dreamer, and lucky for her, she turned those dreams into stories. She has an unfinished Bachelor’s Degree in English, because she ran off and married a Marine halfway through college. She has an affinity toward plants, loves flowers, and enjoys scoping out metaphysical markets for crystals. Wanderlust comes naturally to her, and she’s doing her best to instill the same wild and free values in her daughters. When not writing, Hillary can be found attempting to do yoga, buying more makeup she doesn’t need, or discovering small businesses on Etsy.
From the author of last year’s “Open the Casket.” This year, J.N. Eagles is back with Blood for Blood, a poetic story that will haunt you days after.
Blood for Blood
Genre: YA Poetry/ Supernatural
Cover Designer: @j20graphics
Synopsis
An older vampire secretly resides in a neighborhood, preying off those who hike in the nearby woods. One night, he becomes distracted by a second attack and allows his prey to escape. Following a trail of blood, he comes face to face with his old mentor who only wants revenge and to keep the vampire laws. His mentor will either kill or transform everyone he cares for into vampires. After being arrested and interrogated for a crime his mentor framed him for, can he escape the police station before the sunlight diminishes him? Can he save his great-grandson? Will he be able to convince a stranger, who thinks of him as a monster, to help him? He would do anything as long as he didn’t have to accept his final death.
Blood for Blood is achingly haunting! A story told in poetic prose, Eagles makes sure you turn the next page even though you don’t want to.
This book was so unique and beautiful all at once. Horrifyingly tragic, I was not sure I liked the trip Eagles was taking me on, but I loved it at the same time. The story is so incredibly good! It holds you and, with a gentle touch, yearns you to the end. This is true gothic horror reminiscent of the great Edgar Allen Poe.
This is a great story told in such a brave new way, and oddly, it works. I do not think the story could be told any other way. Eagles tells the tale of the vampire in poetic free verse poetry. It was offputting at first, but I soon felt at home in the Eagles’ style of storytelling. This book! I am still in awe and love. It’s on my favorite list of reads this year.
Thus, my rating is 5 out of 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J. N. Eagles currently lives in Alabama with her husband, daughter, two cats, and a flock of chickens. She runs a reading blog where she posts reviews about the books on her shelves, and she plans to write many books of poetry. She graduated from Athens State University with a Bachelor’s in English/Language Arts and graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Master of Arts in Writing. When she’s not reading or scribbling new stories, she’s enjoying the outdoors and working in her garden.
To learn more about Eagle and her other works, visit her Amazon page and follow Eagles on Instagram @j.n.eagles.author
Hunting for some spooky reads? In our spotlight today is the dark fantasy/ gothic horror THE CALL OF CHAOS by C.M. Aragon! This adult gothic horror fantasy is filled with secrets and mystery alongside witty banter, unlikely friendships, and a dash of romance. It’s perfect for fans of Rachel Gillig and Margaret Rogerson. Grab your candle, and let’s walk down the hall into chaos.
The Call of Chaos: The Lost Pantheon Book One
Expected Publication Date: October 10, 2024
Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Fantasy Horror/ Gothic • Gothic Horror Fantasy • Forced Proximity • Reincarnation • Plus Size FMC • Broody MMC • Found Family • Masquerade Ball
A curious librarian. The mysterious Duke she works for. With a broody winged companion and a book that could change the world. Rue Umberwick is a curious woman with a seemingly insatiable thirst for knowledge. When she lands her dream job as a personal librarian for the handsome yet aloof Duke of Penrith, she doesn’t think her life can get much better. But the Duke’s private library and gallery are more than she expected. A collector of mostly ill gotten and supposedly cursed objects, the Duke has entrusted Rue to keep his secrets. There is said to be a book containing incantations and rituals to bring upon the cataclysm that could destroy the world hidden among his collection. With the begrudging help of her disgruntled new winged ally Corvus, Rue finds herself tasked with finding the book and destroying it before it slides into the wrong hands. However, her unending well of curiosity pulls her into a world of chaos, upending her entire life as she once knew it. Can she complete her task before the darkness catches up to her? Or will she hold the responsibility of a cruel fate in her hands?
C.M. Aragon (she/they) is a dark fantasy and horror author with a love of all things spooky. Obsessed with the macabre from a young age (Thanks in part to their mother allowing them to watch Army of Darkness in third grade) they always dreamed of writing stories that created rich atmosphere with a pinch of humor and a dash of romance.
When she’s not writing or dreaming up her next big idea she can usually be found playing games with her wife or snuggling their two cats.
You can find them on most platforms under the name WorldsofAragon.
In celebration of the start of the spooky season, I bring you a dark and twisted treat this Thursday! DOLL FACE by the Queens in Dark Horror Romance C. Herbert and D.J. Krimmer. Coming out October 5th, this story is a dark retelling of the iconic stories of The Nightmare Before Christmas (specifically Oogie Boogie) and Coraline into a mash-up of spooky goodness filled with banter, chaos, and lots of spice.
Doll Face
Publication Date: October 5, 2024
Genre: Dark Romance/ Retelling/ Novella
Shall We Play a Game?
Amid the suffocating embrace of night,
I stumble upon him, a beacon of light.
The Boogeyman, a seductive terror,
Whispers haunting promises, cruel and fair.
Eyes that glint with otherworldly fire,
In his grasp, I’m consumed by dark desire.
A love twisted and sickeningly sweet,
Tangled in the depths of darkness, where nightmares meet.
Take a dash of Coraline and a heaping of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and you actually get something dark, twisted, and original. We are placed in the world of Dreadmore, ruled by the Spinster. When one of her creations betrays her, she banishes him to the lands of Nightmare to be eaten by the creatures that live there. Except he does not die. He rises to become The Boogie Man.
When a pretty doll named Blue fails to live up to Spinster’s expectations, she is banished to Nightmare, where she comes face to face with the Boogie Man himself. Blue should be afraid, as she has heard horrible tales about the Boogie Man. There is a man under the mask, though, and Blue is drawn.
While I am not a big fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and I haven’t even seen or read Coraline, I am a sucker for a fairytale retelling, and this fits the bill. I warned, though, that this is a seriously dark, twisted retelling coming with tons of trigger warnings (see below). All that aside, Doll Face is just a sweet romantic story with a touch of darkness and some Carolina Reaper spice scenes that could make Satan blush.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I found myself wishing for more depth in the story. The authors did a commendable job of filling in the gaps later on, but I still felt there was potential for further exploration. The way the story concluded, there might be more. Herbert and Krimmer, can we please have some more?
Thus, my rating is 5 out of 5 stars. It was a fun read.
Warning Book Contains: Adult Themes, Sexual Situations, Mental Abuse, Physical Abuse, Attempted Sexual Assault, Torture, Blood, Biting, Attempted Murder, Murder, Death, Detailed Sexual Scenes, Anxiety, Mention of Child Abduction and Death, Kidnapping, Stalking, Somnophilia, Emotional Abuse, Needles, Sewing of Flesh, Mention of Rape, Sexual Abuse, Trauma, Profanity, Sexual Harassment, Slut Shaming, Violence, Dubious Consent, Desecration of a Corpse, Masturbation, Mention of Blood Orgies, Verbal Abuse, Taxidermy, Light Bondage, Virgin FMC, Sodomy, Rough Sexual Interactions, Removal of Eyes, Emotional Addiction, Intrusive Thoughts, PTSD Characteristics, Sex Addiction, Gambling, Body Modifications, Toxic Relationships, Body Horror, Dead Bodies, Emotional Scars, Emotional Trauma, Attempted Strangulation, Abuse of a Deceased Animal, Sexual Manipulation, Emotional Manipulation, Lying, Shared Trauma, Panic Attacks, and a Cliff Hanger Ending
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
D.J. Krimmer
Crowned the Queen of Banter, DJ Krimmer is known through the community for her witty, smart mouthed characters. In real life she will often say her slogan is:
“Purposely Awkward, Accidentally Funny.”
It’s a slogan she takes very seriously.
When DJ isn’t making inappropriate jokes or hiding from the worst imposter syndrome known to writer-kind, she’s weaving contemporary romance stories filled to the brim with imperfect alpha-holes and witty females whose love conquers every hurdle thrown their way.
C. Herbert
Commonly known as Cyn (or graveyard mommy), C. Hebert is a multi-genre author who loves to paint a pretty picture, woven together with absolute chaos.
While most authors like to write happily ever afters, C. Hebert prefers to take her stories in the opposite direction, delivering darker tales with a hint of madness, tugging at your heartstrings.
She is a self proclaimed manic write who loves to constantly push herself to do more.
Newly released City of Mist and Ash has been caught in our spotlight today! This epic NA fantasy romance is set to be a series packed with barbed banter, shocking magic, epic romance, deadly battles, and amusing angst. Let’s check it out!
A sketch artist with a secret, a vengeful warrior, and a love to tear kingdoms apart. As a sketch artist with the city’s Golden Guard, Paisley is tasked with drawing crime scenes. She has spent years trying to avoid attention, but late one night when she’s returning home from a sketching session, the city of Golden Mist is attacked. Hiding from the violence, Paisley runs into Taner, a dark fae enemy warrior. They discuss the merits of her staying alive, but Paisley is able to escape with the aid of a cache of tools she hid long ago. Luckily she will never have to see him again.
The attack signals a new era in Golden Mist, one where the magical mist called the Convergence that protects the city is losing its power. For years the magic has protected not only the city, but the secrets hidden within it. Once the Convergence starts to weaken, more change than anyone bargained for follows. As the magical shield weakens, more secrets are revealed. The search begins for a powerful warlock heir who has been in hiding for many years. Both Taner and the Captain of the Golden Guard want the shatteringly powerful warlock found, and Paisley is assigned to help Taner in the search. The Captain holds the future of Paisley’s little brother over her head, and now her brother’s well-being is also tied to the dark fae warrior, her kingdom’s enemy and now her working partner and her only chance at protecting her family. All Paisley ever wanted was to stay hidden and keep her family safe, but as Golden Mist is attacked and the magical aura of the city crumbles, danger lurks around all corners, and from above and below. Betrayals are rampant, and it seems that no one can be trusted. As her world is shredded, Paisley will have to weave together a new fate from the ashes of her old life - if she survives. The Kingdom of Mythrend series follows Paisley, who has only ever had one rule: always run. A feisty fighter who has been forced to hide herself away for years, she must break that rule after she meets a mysterious dark fae warrior. As she works alongside her enemy she will face the consequences of claiming her power, and standing against a writhing evil.
I had the honor of receiving an advanced copy of this book back in August. Now it’s book release day, and I am letting loose!
An Immortal Threat (Fractured Gods Book 2)
Publishing Date: September 21, 2024
Genre: Fantasy, New Adult Fantasy
Synopsis:
Attempted assassination. Consequences from shattering a portal. Factions maneuvering to gain power. The dangers of this new world are closing in.
As a human in the elven court of Efalune, Keiro has spent the last few months adapting as quickly as she can to her new life as a princess. Tutors and festivities have distracted her from both the revelations about her family as well as her quest to find the next relic piece. Not to mention the pain she experiences every time she tries to open a portal.
But an encounter with members of Hidden Gate reminds Keiro just how unstable her situation is. There are those in the elven court who cannot accept a human wielding the Corvaal, while the humans of the Veiled Bastion want her and her magic returned to them.
Keiro’s only hope to gain control of her life again is to find the remaining relics and free Sahale. But doubts are festering as secrets build walls between them. Can she trust the imprisoned god?
Now, An Immortal Threat is book 2 in the Fractured Gods Series. I missed the bus on reading the first book. This is epic fantasy, so it’s kind of important that you read the first book. To my surprise, Kavanaugh did an excellent job, and I instantly felt welcomed into her world.
In An Immortal Threat, we pick up with Keiro, still adapting to her new life as the human princess in the elven court of Efalune. She is also the bearer of the Corvaal that hosts an imprisoned God, Sahale, whom she bargained with to help release. A life of diplomatic parties is Keiro’s life now. All while danger looms as others seek the power Kiero welds. Secrets get revealed, though, in this next chapter, as the secret human organization known as the Veiled Bastion has its own agenda. Trusts are shaken, and truths are revealed in this epic fantasy adventure that burns with trepidation.
Kanvaugh entices her readers with slow-burn world-building, which I think helped since I didn’t read the first book; I could still get to know the characters and become invested in them before Kanvaugh sped up the action later in the book.
Characters are my jam in books, and I loved Keiro’s character growth in this second book. Keiro is still a bit mediocre when we start the second book, but by the end, she is amazing! Transformed! Her growth was a chef’s kiss! Seeing a character grow with you as you read brings me joy as a writer and reader. It is a beautiful thing. Not all authors do this, especially in the case of Indie.
My only downside is that while I praised the slow burn pace, it hindered me in some spots. Still, when Kavanaugh gets to the climax, she does not disappoint.
Therefore, my rating is 4 out of 5 Stars.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Don’t forget to check out Book One in the Fractured Gods Series!
A voracious reader all her life, T. R. Kavanaugh has always been fascinated with strange, magical worlds full of different customs. She wrote stories for herself and her friends when she was younger and worked on her skills throughout her school years. She taught English in Japan for a year after getting her BA, worked in the public library system, and is currently an academic librarian. Her first book was published in March 2022. She is working on her upcoming projects with a mug of coffee and her calico cat, Asriel nearby.
It’s a book double feature today! Teaming with R&R Book Tours, we are gearing up for the upcoming release ofWithin the Embers, the second book in T.A. Reilly’s Scattered Destines series.
Within the Embers (Scattered Destinies #2)
Expected Publication Date: September 21, 2024
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Steam/Heat Level ● 2-3 🌶
Features
✨ A few explicit, open-door scenes ✨ One Bed w/ a Twist ✨ Found Family ✨ Who Did This To You ✨ Magic Training ✨ Sassy Banter ✨ Bonded Mates, sought-after answers are never as they seem.
When Kateya awakens with no memories in an unfamiliar land, she knows two things for certain: she’s in danger, and she’s traveled back in time . . . again. Only this time, icy darkness lurks in the sky, revealing how different things truly are.
All magic demands balance. Kateya’s memories begin to surface, haunting her with a past—tainted by dark magic—carved into her skin. As raging embers of magic begin to burn within her, the King of Avyon realizes she’s not only incredibly powerful, but a danger to everyone . . . including herself. Alliances become weapons of war.
Past and present collide and bonds are forged through passion and hatred, forcing Kateya to question everything she believed she knew about those she loved. She must learn to harness the power rising within her, while determining who she can truly trust. A fate written in the stars.
Harrowing truths are revealed that hold the power to not only alter the destiny of those prophesied but change the future of the Vanaiyer Realm. As Kateya fights for freedom, she realizes not all knowledge is power and magic can’t always change the inevitable—including the tides of war.
The darkness is creeping closer . . . will they be able to hold it off?
T.A. Reilly is an author of NA fantasy romance with equal levels adventure, time travel, and romance mixed in.
Reading came naturally to her at a young age, and the words began flowing shortly after that. She has traveled all over the world from a young age and is constantly counting down the days until her next trip! After graduating with a master’s in Professional Communications, she decided to pursue her lifelong dream… bringing time-travel to life on paper.
Currently, she and her husband call Florida home. In her free time, she loves rewatching Friends, going to the beach, and staying up too late lost in a good book.
Releasing September 20th, 2024, Song of the Dark Wood by Shelia Mastersonis getting the spotlight! A standalone gothic fairy tale fantasy romance that blends a fractured Red Riding Hood retelling with a hint of Hades and Persephone. This atmospheric, spicy, dark romantasy is perfect for fans of feminine rage, strong female friendships, unique magic systems, angsty romance, and ominous mysteries. This book will appeal to readers who enjoyed Rachel Gillig’s ONE DARK WINDOW, Rebecca Ross’s A RIVER ENCHANTED, and Hannah Whitten’s FOXGLOVE KING.
Song of the Dark Wood
Publication Date: September 20, 2024
Genre: Gothic/Fairy Tale Romance
Featuring
😍 He falls first 👻 Girls who see ghosts 🙅🏻♀️ Bodily Autonomy 😡 Feminine Rage: The Fairy Tale 🌳 Haunted Forest 🩸 Wound Tending 💀 Touch her and dye 🎶 Music based magic system 😠 A grumpy god of death 😈 He can make me worse > i can fix him
For centuries, the people of remote Ballybrine have kept the peace with their gods by sacrificing a Red Maiden to ferry souls from the Mother’s realm of the living, through the Dark Wood, to the Wolf’s realm of the dead. Soon it will be Rowan’s turn. Ripped from her family as a young girl, Rowan Cleary has been forced into a cloistered life learning to please the wolf and wield her spirit-enchanting voice. Though none of the previous maidens have survived their five-year term, Rowan is determined to beat the odds and protect the women who have become family to her. When a deathly blight breaks out in the Dark Wood, and the acting maiden is murdered, Rowan vows to strike a new bargain with the god of death to ensure her survival. The Wolf has always been someone to fear—even more so now that the townspeople blame him for the blight—but he’s far from the vengeful death god she expects. To unravel the mystery, Rowan must seduce the Wolf. Soon, the attraction between them grows into a relentless magical force, threatening to shatter the delicate balance between realms and unleash a darkness eager to swallow their world.
When she’s not writing fantasy romance novels, you can find Sheila Masterson practicing yoga, or curled up reading tarot or a book. She lives outside of Philadelphia with her fiance and way too many houseplants.
*Disclaimer* A thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for the ARC copy!
The Collection
Published: July 23rd 2024
Genre: Adult Fantasy Romance/ Paranormal Romance
Features
⦁ Loyalty
⦁ Found love
⦁ Protective MMC
⦁ Strong friendships
⦁ Hidden identities
⦁ Immortals
Synopsis
Once a year, a draw is held in the capital that requires four mortals from each town to be given over to Hell. The mortals are taken to Hell, where they will either become an immortal in one of the four courts or perish in the trials.
One mortal is sent to the vampire’s Court of Blood. One goes to the Court of Moon, court of the werewolves. A third is sent to the Court of Spell, with the warlocks and witches. And a final mortal, always a female, goes to the Court of Song, Court of the Sirens.
Twenty-three-year-old Kenna hasn’t had her name called since she became eligible five years ago. She knows in her heart that this year will be the year her world changes. But it isn’t her name that is called out for Collection; it is her best friend Sora’s.
Not willing to be without Sora, Kenna quickly follows her through the gateway to Hell before it closes. Not knowing which court Sora was Collected for, Kenna must brave all four as a mortal in order to find her friend. Lucky for her, she gains the help of an alluring stranger who holds more sway in Hell than she could have hoped for.
As their fates intertwine and her heart falls fast, Kenna learns navigating a foreign and dangerous land like Hell isn’t easy, and if she isn’t careful, it could cost her everything.
K. Kirchberger makes Hell look sweet in her debut adult fantasy romance, THE COLLECTION.
“THE COLLECTION” happens once a year in the town of Aevlin. A pact made long ago with the Devil keeps the mortal world safe from demons and immortal creatures. A pact where four young people are selected and brought forth each year to be given to Hell. Once there, they are tested in the trials to decide which of the four courts they become or die trying. Kenna feels it is her time this year, but when her best friend’s name is called, Kenna refuses to lose her friend and sneaks in through a hidden gate to Hell.
There is a price to pay when entering Hell, though, and Kenna offers her mortality, where she has six months to choose which immortal court to join to become or die. So she has six months to find her friend. Yet Kenna must gain an audience with each court prince to find out if her friend Sora got placed there, and a mortal in Hell is mighty tasty. When a chance encounter with a man leads Kenna to meet the Devil, Kenna is not afraid.
Kirchberger’s world-building makes you fall in love with this book. The way she reimagines the concept of Hell makes sinning not seem so bad. I loved her imagery. Like Kenna, I was starting to enjoy it there, highlighting beauty in darkness. I also love fantasy romance/ paranormal romance, and Kirchberger did not disappoint me. A slow simmer of a read, she keeps the juices flowing just enough that you have to read one more page.
While her characters were likable, I found them a bit saccharine. I wanted to fall in love with Kenna and Luc, but the romance in me has died. The younger me would probably be gushing right now. Kenna and Luc are sweet and okay. I also was able to predict the ending, but Kirchberger did throw in a wrench that I did not see coming and made me nearly drop my tablet. The book ends on a cliffhanger, but there is nothing on or in the book (trust me, I looked all over) that states this is book 1 of such in such. Will there be another book?! I hope so!
My rating is 4 out of 5
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As an avid reader with an appetite for anything fantasy, K. Kirchberger immerses herself in realms of magic and adventure. When not lost in the pages of a novel, she crafts her fantastical worlds, weaving tales that transport readers to captivating realms beyond imagination.