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Women Pushing Back
Bound in Flames follows a young woman whose long-buried magic rears its head during a moment of fear and fury as she copes with her particularly brutal life. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
The Savage Hearts series has been taking shape in my head for nearly ten years. I wanted to explore the darker side of an oppressive kingdom, specifically what happens when a single religion is allowed to control politics and power, and how easily that leads to cruelty being justified as righteousness.
I also wanted to flip a familiar fantasy narrative. In this world, humans are the villains, while the “monsters”—the orcs—are largely peaceful, and once lived in harmony with them and their magic before the war. At its core, the series is about resistance, especially women pushing back against systems designed to control and silence them. Each book follows a different FMC who represents a different way of fighting oppression, and despite not being warriors, they continue to stand for what is right.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
The setting was actually fairly solid before I ever put pen to paper. A lot of my early thinking focused on how magic would manifest differently for humans and orcs, and how those differences shaped where and how each culture settled.
The Wild Lands became a space where I could fully embrace the raw and untamed side of the magic system, which naturally led to questions about economics, trade, and survival. From there, I sketched a map, planned trade routes, and used the geography itself as a storytelling tool. I’m a complete nerd when it comes to worldbuilding, so figuring out how everything fits together was honestly my favorite part.
From there, it was a matter of working through where I wanted to have this story start. The initial story that I saw in my head is actually 3rd in the series! I had to back it all the way up to tell the important beginnings of this world.
What was the inspiration for Cleo’s traits and dialogue?
I was getting tired of fantasy heroines who are barely out of their teens, always knew the right thing to do, and were somehow always victorious. I wanted to write a story for me, to create a character where readers sit inside Cleo’s fear and uncertainty as her magic spirals beyond her grasp. She’s 26, anxious, and carrying trauma that seeps into everything she does. Her power is unpredictable at times, and every time she reaches for it, she knows she doesn’t have any control over the consequences.
Her sass is also her armor. It’s the shield she uses to hide her anxiety and keep the world at arm’s length. But around Dex, that edge softens, her defenses dull, and she allows herself to be seen. Even terrified, even knowing her future is uncertain, Cleo chooses to stand with the orcs and protect those she loves. I wanted to remind readers that bravery isn’t the absence of fear. It’s being terrified and choosing to act anyway. Trauma is real, and it’s something I know personally. I wanted to write a character shaped by it, but not defined by it—and to give readers who relate a place to belong.
Where will Book 2 take readers? When can we expect to see it released?
Kneel in the Ashes releases June 1st, 2026, and takes readers deeper into the Wild Lands and deeper into the rot at the heart of the kingdom. When Rowan saves an orc from Ostelan Knights, she’s pulled into the middle of a brewing war, but this time on the opposite side. Trained by the Church of the Silver Hand in her youth to be a weapon, Rowan was meant to become a monster in the name of righteousness, but she ran instead. 11 years later, she’s seeking redemption for the cruelty carried out in the Church’s name, and vengeance for everything they stole from her childhood.
The book expands the world, revealing the motivations of the Ostelan Crown and the Church, and how deeply corruption has poisoned the kingdom. Each installment in the series offers a different female perspective on life under oppressive rule, and how even the smallest action can turn the tide of war.
No masters. No mercy. No surrender. Welcome to the rebellion.
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When Cleo is rescued by Dex, a ruthless orc chieftain of the Blackfoot Clan, she’s thrust into a world ruled by savage loyalty and primal power. For centuries, the humans and orcs have been locked in brutal war after the Ostelan Crown broke the ancient treaties, driving the orcs into hiding. Now, Cleo’s untamed magic is the key to saving the orcs—but it also tempts her with a darkness she may not escape. As her power grows and her bond with Dex deepens, she faces an impossible choice: choose to fulfill the prophecy, sacrificing herself, or surrender to the seductive magic and risk everything to be with the one she loves.
Dex has vowed to protect his people at any cost, even if it means using the woman fate has bound to him. But Cleo’s fire stirs something primal in him—something far more dangerous than war. As tensions rise and the stakes grow higher, Dex must decide whether his duty to his clan outweighs the undeniable pull of his heart.
Bound in Flames
Bound in Flames follows Cleo, a young woman trapped in a brutal life until her long-buried magic erupts in a moment of fear and fury. Her escape pushes her into a violent world shaped by prejudice, power, and ancient conflict, and her path soon crosses with Dex, an orc chieftain who is far more dangerous and far more compelling than she expects. The book blends dark fantasy with intimate character work, vivid trauma, and a slow-burning bond that blossoms amid cruelty, captivity, and war.
I was pulled into Cleo’s pain in a way I didn’t expect. The writing hits hard. The author doesn’t flinch from the ugly parts of Cleo’s life, and that honesty hooked me right away. The scenes of abuse are raw. What kept me going was the spark beneath it all. Cleo’s voice has this stubborn edge that refuses to die, and I found myself rooting for her even in the worst moments. The worldbuilding unfolds through emotion rather than long explanations, and I liked that. It felt natural. It felt lived in. And the moment her magic breaks free felt huge.
The introduction of Dex adds a shift in tone that I didn’t know I needed until it arrived. The banter between them carries a bite. It feels risky and strangely warm at the same time. Dex has this mix of humor, menace, and quiet conviction that drew me in fast. Their chemistry doesn’t rush. It simmers. The writing leans into that slow build, balancing danger with curiosity in a way that made me grin even as the situation around them stayed grim. I liked how the story lets them challenge each other. There is a sense of two people learning their power in a world that wants them crushed. Some moments made me laugh. Some made my chest tighten. The blend felt messy and human and honestly pretty addictive.
I walked away thinking about the bigger ideas running under the story. Power that comes at a cost. Survival in a world built to break you. The strange tenderness that can bloom between two people who have every reason to mistrust each other. The writing doesn’t hide its darkness. It leans right into it. But it also offers hope in these sharp, glowing little shards. I felt that more strongly than I expected. It made the whole experience land with a weight that surprised me.
If you enjoy dark romantic fantasy with emotional depth, brutal stakes, and complicated characters who fight for themselves even when the world tells them not to, this book will hit the spot. Readers who like morally gray heroes, slow-burning tension, trauma-to-power arcs, and a world that feels rich with conflict will get the most out of it. It is intense, bold, and highly recommended.
Pages: 366 | ASIN : B0F16V46X6
Emotional Free Fall
The Scald Crow follows a Canadian news anchor who loses her job and the last of her family, leading her to move to Ireland to claim an inheritance from a man she has never met. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I knew I wanted the story to be set in Ireland—it’s a place that pulses with history, myth, and an atmosphere that feels almost otherworldly. But I also wanted a protagonist who had a compelling reason to go there and never look back. That’s where Calla came in. She’s a Canadian news anchor who loses not just her job, but the last of her family. That kind of emotional free fall gave her the perfect motivation to uproot her life and start fresh. The idea of her inheriting something mysterious from a stranger in Ireland just clicked—it opened the door to secrets, magic, and self-discovery. It was the setup I needed to launch her into a world where reality and myth collide.
In many contemporary coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
Absolutely. I spent ten days in Ireland with my family, and every location mentioned in The Scald Crow is a place I actually stood. The cliffs, the pubs, the winding roads—all of it left an imprint on me. But it wasn’t just the landscape. It was the people. Bits and pieces of the locals—their warmth, wit, and mystery—found their way into my characters and dialogue. So yes, there’s quite a bit of me in this story. It’s woven with real moments, real places, and the kind of magic you can only feel when you’re truly present somewhere that stirs your soul.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One of the most important themes for me was bringing to life the magic of the land, the folklore, and the people. Ireland is rich with stories that feel older than time, and I wanted that deep-rooted sense of myth and wonder to pulse through every page. I was drawn to the idea that the land itself holds memory and mystery and that the people—whether mortal or magical—are deeply connected to it. Exploring how place shapes identity, and how folklore can both haunt and heal, was at the heart of writing The Scald Crow.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
In the next book, Resurrection, Calla journeys into the otherworld and meets the magical family she never knew she had—including twin sisters who are opposites in every way and a father with a dangerous glint in his eye. As old powers awaken and a ruthless prince threatens the realm, Calla discovers abilities she never imagined—shifting into other beings in moments of fear. Meanwhile, Colm must reach back through bloodlines and legend to save her, even if it costs him everything.
The future of the series? Let’s just say the veil between worlds is growing thinner… and not everyone who crosses it will return the same.
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Colm fled from Clonmara seven long years ago, but now it’s his father’s birthday, and the clan has gathered to celebrate the ould one. Each day brings back the memories that ruined him.
Saoirse dwells in the shadows of a lost love, unwilling to move on and unable to forget. The crystals say one thing, but the cold, hard truth tells another.
Ciarán walked away from the woman he loved for the fun, for the craic. He didn’t realize that one rash decision would impact the lives of so many, least of all his own.
Four broken hearts, brought together by the thread of love.
The Scald Crow
The Scald Crow doesn’t waste time with hand-holding. Author Hanna Park kicks you straight into the Irish bogs, car troubles, and uncanny vibes before you can even unpack your suitcase. It’s a ride—mud-splattered, magical, and way more emotional than you’d expect.
The story follows Calla Sweet, a Canadian news anchor who crashes—literally and figuratively—into the Irish countryside. She’s reeling from a career implosion, haunted by a mysterious ability to foresee death, and tangled up in an inheritance from a man she’s never met. What follows is a trippy, slow-burn unraveling of secrets, fae folklore, and personal reckoning, all soaked in atmosphere thicker than a pint of Guinness.
Calla’s voice is hilarious, sharp, and often heartbreaking. One minute she’s cracking jokes about bog stench and bees, the next she’s reliving trauma or spiraling into a vision. The tone swings wildly—and that’s the beauty of it. Hanna Park writes like she’s sitting across from you at a pub, telling ghost stories between pints. Sometimes poetic, sometimes blunt, always immersive.
Then there’s Colm O’Donnell. Former military, current tree farmer (ish), and the brooding mystery man you didn’t ask for but definitely needed. He’s got secrets. Big ones. The tension between him and Calla hums through the pages—not in a cheesy rom-com way, but in a “this could get really messy” kind of way. And it does.
What makes this book stand out isn’t just the Irish folklore—it’s the way Park blends it into the everyday. Faerie beliefs, ancestral ties, and supernatural tinges creep in slowly, almost casually. You’re never sure if you’re in a fantasy or just reading the most magical slice-of-life novel ever written. Either way, it works.
The pacing’s a little uneven at times. Some scenes go on longer than they probably should, especially in the quieter middle sections. But the dialogue sparkles, the emotional weight lands, and the sense of place is absolutely nailed. By the time the last page rolls around, you’re left wanting more—in a good way. It’s the first in the Beyond the Faerie Rath series, and you’ll be itching to follow Calla deeper into the rabbit hole.
The Scald Crow is a moody, magical, and wonderfully weird debut that sneaks up on you. It’s not about saving the world—it’s about finding your place in it, even if that place happens to be at the edge of two worlds.
Pages: 260 | ASIN : B0DS3TKLDM
Demon’s Faith
Demon’s Faith, by Jasmine Wallace, is a gripping supernatural romance that revolves around Cyrus, a demon bound to his sister Lena and dealing with deep insecurities, and Marcus, a cambion demon struggling with his own feelings of betrayal and protectiveness. Together, their story navigates the realms of Hell, complex emotions, and personal redemption. Throughout the novel, we see them caught between past traumas, present responsibilities, and the ever-growing intensity of their feelings for one another. Their journey is not only about finding love but also about battling inner demons, quite literally and figuratively, as they try to prove their worth in the tumultuous setting of Hell.
One thing I loved about the book is its raw emotion. Wallace doesn’t shy away from delving into dark, heavy themes like worthlessness, betrayal, and abuse, especially in the character of Cyrus. You can feel his pain, and when he speaks, it’s so revealing of his struggles with self-worth. It’s heart-wrenching to see a character so consumed by these feelings, and Wallace does a fantastic job of making you feel every bit of it. This vulnerability is one of the core strengths of the book. Another standout element is the intensity of the romance between Marcus and Cyrus. Their relationship is far from perfect; it’s tangled in both past wounds and present obligations, but it’s incredibly real. The moments where Marcus battles his own desires, especially when reflecting on the temptation Cyrus presents, are written with such passion that you can’t help but get sucked into their whirlwind. While I appreciated the deep dive into character development, there were moments when I feel the plot’s pace seemed to slow a bit, especially when the focus shifted away from the primary tension between Marcus and Cyrus to other demonic politics.
Demon’s Faith is an intense and emotional ride. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy complex, flawed characters and don’t mind darker themes in their romance. This book would appeal especially to fans of supernatural romance who want a story that goes beyond just love and dives into the messy, painful journey of healing and self-acceptance. If you’re into a story that hits hard emotionally but also delivers on steamy, passionate scenes, then this is the book for you.
Pages: 417 | ASIN : B0CK9MHHCS
A Forbidden Relationship
Demon’s Choice follows a demon in human form who finds himself intensely attracted to a human waitress despite the idea of a human/demon romance being ill-advised. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My husband and I were rewatching Supernatural for possibly the fifth time, and the season where Dean becomes a demon, however short-lived that was, made me wonder how a demon would react if their loved one was threatened. Dean as a character is very protective of his family, and the thought occurred to me that as a demon this characteristic could be magnified. This went on to consider how a demon would react if their loved one ending up being the sacrifice used to summon them.
But I didn’t want to just repeat stories I had read where the sacrifice was merely sent to the demon and they end up sparing the sacrifice’s life with a new deal. I wanted it to be something that stood out, that pulled on heartstrings from the beginning. The only way I could see that being done was to turn the sacrifice into a blood ritual, meaning the sacrifice would already be dead on the demon’s arrival. Obviously, with this being the love interest that would bring the story to a very abrupt end before it even begun. That in turn birthed the creation of boundlings, sacrificed souls that agree to live on to serve Hell. From that, I delved into creating a full world with intricate lore for how Hell functioned, and how each demon served a purpose.
The relationship between a demon and a human developed naturally from that. Demons are immortal and serve a very specific purpose in the expansion of Hell. If humans knew about them, that would greatly hinder their work, so logically demons that operated on Earth had to be secretive. And everyone loves a forbidden relationship.
Your characters are richly developed, making readers want to get to know them. What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
Ambrose was my favourite character to write in Demon’s Choice. He is a character that has lived in my head for I’m honestly not sure how long anymore, but he never really fit into a story until now. When the concept for Demon’s Choice came to me, I knew instantly he was made to fill the shoes of the main male character and love interest. The story itself focuses on Lena’s journey, but it is through the patience, support and love that Ambrose provides her that makes that journey possible.
However, one character that gave me the greatest challenge was Cyrus. Not because he was difficult to write, or that I didn’t enjoy developing his character, but because he wanted to be the focus of any scene he was a part of. I am a firm believer that our characters are real to us and Cyrus absolutely proved that to me. I frequently had to have conversations with him to tone his attitude down, to the point where I promised him the second book in the series so he would get his time to shine. And boy, did he.
In fantasy novels it’s easy to get carried away with the magical powers characters have. How did you balance the use of supernatural powers?
Before delving into the power systems of Hell, in a rare moment of actual planning, I wrote out how each power manifested. The different kinds of elemental power I wanted to introduced and how they interacted, or counteracted, with each other. Self-healing was a necessary for some demons, but much like with sports, some are better at it than others, and some cannot harness this ability at all. This was helped by introducing demonic rankings, creating lower and higher-level demons, all with varying ranging of abilities and powers. The key was simply to be consistent, and to refer back to my lore as and when needed.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
The purpose of the series is to build to the actual Apocalypse. Book 2, Demon’s Faith, focuses on Cyrus and Marcus, characters introduced in Book 1, and their developing relationship as they support and serve Lena in her new role. Likewise, the following books will focus on different couplings, but all driving towards the same goal. Bringing about the Apocalypse.
The final book in the series will be told from four perspectives or one character from each of the preceding books. It will be the ultimate end and culmination of all previous narratives. All will be tested more than they ever have been, and not all will survive. It’s the end of days after all.
I also plan to have a number of spin-off novellas, features characters we have met along the way, but that have no real bearing on the main storyline. Giving me the opportunity to continue living in my world of demons.
Sacrificed to a demon she finds herself thrown into a world where she is the centre of attention, completely dependent on the man she longs for. Others now covet her and her growing power, seeking to tear her apart from the only person who has truly cared for her. The one she chose to be with.
Can she find the strength to save both her and her heart?
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Demon’s Choice is a supernatural romance with some dark topics. It contains content and situations that could be triggering for some readers.
Demon’s Choice
In a world where the supernatural and mortal realms intertwine, the line between love and danger is perilously thin. In Demon’s Choice, by Jasmine Wallace, Ambrose, a demon in human form, catches sight of Lena, a small-town waitress, and feels an unshakeable and intense attraction that’s entirely new to him. As Ambrose grapples with his dual nature, a critical question looms: Can he control the darkness within, or will it lead them both to ruin?
Welcome to a tale of fantasy romance where the forbidden becomes irresistible, and the rules of the natural order are bent. Despite centuries of wisdom and caution from his immortal existence, Ambrose cannot suppress the feelings Lena awakens within him. Their union defies the natural order, and his demonic essence threatens the very fabric of their bond. Yet, the allure of Lena’s warmth and grace proves too powerful to resist, stirring emotions he had long believed dormant. Ambrose and Lena’s journey will test the limits of love, trust, and the fragile balance between two worlds destined to collide. Wallace masterfully weaves vivid, intricate details that transport readers into the tense atmosphere surrounding the main characters. She brilliantly captures intense moments, inviting readers to dive in and explore the emotional complexities of romantic relationships.
From the moment I picked up Jasmine Wallace’s story, I found myself instantly immersed in the captivating narrative and empathetic characters. For fans of the supernatural genre, Demon’s Choice is a perfect blend of supernatural romance with themes of tension, conflict, and more. You’ll be hooked from the first page, eagerly anticipating what comes next.
Pages: 434 | ASIN : B0CFR7KWQ9
LITERARY TITAN 