United by fate. Bound by secrets. Burned by betrayal.As the runaway daughter of the tyrant King Rodden, a powerful nineteen-year-old witch Estrid lives a life of furtive exile. She will do anything to escape the iron-clawed grip of her father and his blood-soaked reign, even if it is her birthright.
But Estrid’s solitude is fractured during a hunting trip in the Dark Forest, when she stumbles upon a wounded, ethereal being unlike any she’s seen before. The Fae is golden-haired, rippling with power, and dressed in the finery of a wealthy lord. Even weakened and bleeding, he’s the most beautiful—and deadliest—creature she’s ever encountered.
But Estrid isn’t the only one harboring a secret identity. The Fae’s arrival could threaten the freedom she’s fought so hard for and the kingdom she loves.
Forgiving Darkness is the first epic installment of the seductive dark fantasy romance duology, “Binary Souls.”
I love the world-building of fantasy. When I was working a hectic corporate job, reading contemporary books set in today’s world didn’t give me the escape that I needed. They weren’t helping me switch my brain off to work and relax. I wasn’t sleeping properly, and I got bored quickly.
Fantasy enabled me to detach myself from my job. Those whirling thoughts that would keep me awake at night stopped. I could sleep, because reading fantasy meant my brain was distracted. It was thinking about those far-flung places where there are magical systems that determine what kind of world it is. There are different species that have different laws and rules to abide by—all of these things you had to build in your mind from the words on the page.
Now, add the romance part, and your brain builds the characters and their relationships. The steamy, sexy scenes and interactions are just as detailed as the world around them. Referencing your own experiences, your mind is drawn into replicating what those interactions would feel like. A soft hand caressing your cheek. Warm lips kissing the nape of your neck. Fingers tracing your skin until they reach that point of excitement. All the feelings of those interactions are built in your mind.
Combine the fantasy world-building elements and the intimacy of romance, and it’s a hell of a combination to write. I might one day decide to do something contemporary (I actually have an idea I’m working on), but for now, my chosen genre to write is fantasy romance.
Cat moved to Middle Earth (known informally as New Zealand) at the age of twelve. The moody, romantic landscape inspired her passion for fantasy novels and would go on to shape her own fiction writing, setting the scene for lush worldbuilding, dark characters, and satisfying plot twists.Every morning, at 5 a.m., long before her rambunctious household has risen, Cat pours a cup of coffee and gets to work. When she isn't writing and editing, she's lost in the stories of her favorite authors like LJ Andrews Penn Cole, and Jennifer L. Armentrout. For Cat, only one thing trumps the magical alchemy of reading, and that is crafting new portals of escapism in her own stories.
If you'd like to escape with Cat and hear about exclusive up-and-coming adventures, characters, and treats, join her newsletter via her website or her readers group on Facebook. Otherwise, follow her on Instagram or TikTok for general fun and shenanigans.
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