Ariana Irendale

Hey there! I'm Ariana Irendale, and I write dark paranormal romance that probably shouldn't be read in public (unless you're really good at hiding your reactions). Fair warning: I have an unhealthy obsession with putting my characters through emotional hell before they get their happy ending.

Writing wasn't my first career choice—I actually spent years working in occult bookstores and collecting way too many crystals while trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Turns out, all those late nights reading grimoires and studying magical lore weren't wasted time after all. They just became research for the stories that were brewing in my head.

I wrote my first book, "This Will Be Over Soon," because I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if a witch's familiar decided to play matchmaker. (Spoiler alert: chaos. Lots and lots of delicious chaos.) The story of Magnus and my fierce witch protagonist wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it down. What started as a simple unrequited love story quickly spiraled into something darker and more complex, because apparently I can't write anything without adding a healthy dose of angst and magical mayhem.

When I'm not torturing my characters (lovingly, I swear), you can find me wandering through dusty occult shops, attempting to keep my own familiars (aka two very opinionated black cats) from knocking over my coffee, or adding to my embarrassingly large collection of tarot decks. Yes, I actually use them for character development. No, I won't tell you how many I own. (It's a lot. Like, intervention-worthy lot.)

My writing style? Think dark romance meets magical realism with a side of "oh no, they didn't!" (Spoiler: they did.) I love exploring the grey areas between good and evil, especially when it comes to love. My characters aren't perfect—they're messy, complicated, and sometimes make terrible decisions. But that's what makes them real, right?

What can you expect from my books? Strong magical elements, morally grey characters who probably need therapy, slow-burn romance that'll make you want to throw your e-reader (please don't), and endings that make the emotional torture worth it. I promise there's always light at the end of the tunnel, even if the tunnel is really, really long and possibly filled with demons.

I believe romance should be both an escape and a mirror—something that takes you out of your everyday life while still reflecting the real emotions and struggles we all face. Just, you know, with more magic. And possibly the occasional demon. (Okay, frequent demons. I have a type.)

When I'm not writing, I'm probably reading (dark romance and grimoires, obviously), trying to perfect my coffee-brewing ritual (it's basically magic at this point), or hanging out with my amazing readers in my Facebook group, The Irendale Coven. Yes, we talk about books, but we also share terrible witch puns and debate which crystals are best for writer's block. (Amethyst, fight me.)

To my readers: thank you for joining me on this crazy journey. Your messages about staying up way too late reading, crying over Magnus and his witch, and demanding more books make all the late-night writing sessions worth it. (Though my cats disagree—they think 3 AM is for attention, not writing.)

I'm currently working on my next book, which may or may not involve a grumpy demon lord and the witch who accidentally summons him. (Okay, it definitely does.) Stay tuned for more updates, and remember: magic is real, love is complicated, and sometimes the best stories start with a catastrophically bad decision.

Want to keep up with my latest releases, get sneak peeks at upcoming books, or just watch me ramble about magic and romance? Follow me on Instagram (@arianairendale) or join The Irendale Coven on Facebook. I promise to keep the familiar pictures to a reasonable amount. (My cats made me say that—they're lying.)