CURSED BY THE DAWN

In Dream by the Shadows (2025), Esmer Havenfall fell in love with Erebus, the Shadow Bringer, and freed him after 500 years of imprisonment, reshaping the truth of who he really was. As Shadow Weavers, Esmer and Erebus must now help the Seven—immortal Weavers who rule the Dream Realm—by defeating the demon king Raelion and stopping Corruption from destroying the world. Armed with the strength of their shadow magic and a willing legion of dreamers, Esmer and Erebus accept the Seven’s request and prepare themselves, their followers, and their realm for battle. But the quest for freedom and light brings terrible challenges, including mind control and heartbreaking betrayal. This story with a gothic atmosphere and white-presenting leads focuses on the price of power and how corruption destroys a society, starting with its most vulnerable members; many readers will notice parallels with contemporary social and political challenges. The relationship between Esmer and Erebus reveals a balance of power; each one’s determination to save the other is a sign of their all-consuming love, which at times leaves readers breathless. Similarly, the tension over power is explored in the setting: Darkness and light do battle, while all along they need to work together.