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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
An Accusation
Planet of the Rapes follows fighter pilot Major Olivia Freeh into a high-stakes mission where a mysterious alien object challenges humanity’s understanding of the cosmos—and itself. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’m sure it’s no surprise that Planet of the Apes planted the seed of this story. The 1968 film had a tremendous influence on my formative years, not just watching the movie but its constant presence in popular culture. I wanted to write something to express that influence. “Rapes” was an obvious rhyme for “apes,” but I wasn’t sure that title would lead to a story I wanted to write. Then I thought of the famous, shocking twist at the end of the movie, of Charlton Heston on the beach screaming out his heartbreak and rage. That moment was a condemnation of nuclear arms proliferation, and I realized my story could be a condemnation too. “Planet of the rapes” isn’t titillating or salacious. It’s an accusation.
Even so, I didn’t follow through with the idea at first. The title was too harsh, too ugly. Even for me. Then came the US Presidential Election of 2024. I watched in horror as my country failed to learn from the past and continued to lurch, zombie-like toward becoming the worst version of itself. In the many years since I’d first thought of the title, the real world had moved closer to a “planet of the rapes” instead of further away. I decided harsh and ugly things needed to be said after all.
Major Olivia Freeh is an interesting and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
First and foremost, Olivia is angry. With her fiery red hair, she is the personification of the anger many of us feel right now. And rightfully so. She is mistreated from the first paragraph. Justified as it is, her anger often gets the better of her. She lashes out in ways that are sometimes amusing, sometimes counterproductive. I had hoped to give her a chance to release some of that anger as the story went on. When she is able to take positive action, rescuing herself and others, it gradually eases her fury. And eventually, Olivia finds someone who needs her, which convinces her to allow herself to need another person in return. She finds peace in that relationship which I think was missing in her life even before this story began.
Olivia is also strong. This is true literally and figuratively. She’s athletic and fit but also has the determination to not give up when obstacles block her path. She would have needed both to succeed in her military career and even more to endure this latest adventure. She isn’t the toxic kind of “strong” either. She sees others suffering and suffers too.
She isn’t perfect, of course. Olivia is someone who takes herself very seriously. She’s a pilot and considers that the best thing a person could be. She values knowledge and intelligence but has little time for topics she isn’t already an expert in.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Misogyny and toxic masculinity are obviously major themes in the book. I had hoped to draw a straight line connecting Olivia’s mistreatment in contemporary times – being underestimated, devalued, and discarded – with the dystopian nightmare to come.
I also wanted to say that looks can be deceiving. You have to look past appearances to see the truth. Like all women, Olivia is constantly judged based on her appearance. Her strength and skills are underestimated at every turn. But I also wanted to turn that around, and show that sometimes appearances are intentionally deceptive. Olivia is brought to live in a magnificent palace, gaudy and ornate on the outside but rotting and ruined on the inside. She sees that wealth, piety, and social standing are a carefully constructed facade concealing greed, corruption, and hate. Likewise, a bully depends on the appearance of strength to get what they want but cowers in fear when someone finally stands up to them. Ironically, this book itself is something other than it might first appear.
Finally, this is a story about the stubbornness of love. Like a persistent weed, love can spring up where you’d least expect.
How did you approach balancing technical aerospace details with accessible storytelling for readers?
I tried to find the balance by giving out technical details on a need-to-know basis. Getting the full technical specs of the experimental space plane all at once would overwhelm a reader, not to mention it would be boring as hell. Instead, I would dole out technobabble as things came up in the story. The details are more relevant to the reader at that point and more digestible. This also stopped me from including a bunch of technical information that didn’t really have any purpose in the story. I also worked on the assumption that qualitative data would be more well-received than quantitative data. For example, rather than saying something like “8 million pounds of thrust” I said “more thrust than a Saturn V rocket.”
It’s also helpful to have an editor to watch your back on that stuff. Getting other points of view makes a big difference.
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Astronaut Olivia Freeh wants nothing more than to repair her spacecraft and get back home. Before she can, however, Olivia is kidnapped, sold into slavery, and forced to serve the son of a wealthy businessman. Even worse, things here are not as they seem. Long-buried secrets from the planet’s past reveal the ultimate villain is frighteningly close to home.
Can Olivia escape this brutal patriarchy? Or will she do the most unexpected thing of all – fall in love?
If you enjoy erotic romance combined with science fiction adventure, are a mature adult, and believe rapists belong in prison not the White House, this story is for you.
LITERARY TITAN 