Mallory Dunlin

Hi there! I'm Mallory Dunlin, and I write dark fae romance that probably shouldn't be read in polite company. (But let's be honest - those are the best kinds of books, right?)

I never expected to become an author, much less one who writes about morally questionable fae royalty and their human conquests. Growing up in small-town Minnesota, I was that weird kid who spent recess scribbling stories in notebooks instead of playing kickball. My teachers were... concerned, to say the least, when my stories kept featuring kidnappings and dangerous magical creatures. But hey, at least I was creative!

After getting my degree in Classical Literature (yes, my parents were thrilled about that career choice), I spent five years working as a library assistant. Between shelving books and helping patrons find their next read, I kept coming back to the dark folklore and fairy tales that had captured my imagination as a kid. The original versions - you know, the ones where people actually got hurt and magic had real consequences. Not the sanitized Disney versions.

When I finally worked up the courage to write my own story, 'Crowned by the Fae King' poured out of me like I was possessed. I wrote most of it during my lunch breaks and late at night, fueled by way too much coffee and a playlist that was 90% Florence + The Machine. (My neighbors probably thought I was crazy, pacing around my apartment at 2 AM muttering about fae politics.)

My books aren't your typical fae romance. I write about the dangerous side of magic - the ancient, wild kind that doesn't care about human morality. My fae aren't sparkly winged creatures who grant wishes. They're the ones who steal humans away to their mines, who play deadly games with mortal lives, who see humans as fascinating pets at best. And yet... somehow you'll end up falling for them anyway. (I'm not sorry about that, by the way.)

'Crowned by the Fae King' is just the beginning. I'm currently working on more stories set in this world, exploring different courts and the humans unfortunate (or fortunate?) enough to catch their attention. Each book stands alone, but they're all connected by threads of dark magic, political intrigue, and the dangerous allure of immortal beings who definitely shouldn't be trusted.

When I'm not writing, you can find me wandering through used bookstores, collecting vintage fairy tale editions, or trying to convince my cat that my keyboard is not her personal bed. I live in a tiny apartment that's basically a library with a bed in it, and I wouldn't have it any other way. (Though I could probably use fewer coffee mugs. Seriously, they're taking over.)

What can you expect from my books? Morally grey (okay, sometimes straight-up dark) fae royalty, humans who discover their own power in unexpected ways, steam that'll fog up your e-reader, and plot twists that'll keep you up way past your bedtime. Fair warning: my characters don't always make good choices, but they make interesting ones. If you're looking for sweet, gentle fae romance... you might want to look elsewhere.

I love connecting with readers on Instagram and in my Facebook reader group, "Mallory's Dark Court." Come join us if you want to chat about forbidden magic, dangerous royalty, and why the fae in my books are absolutely not boyfriend material (but we love them anyway).

Thanks for reading! And remember - if you hear music in the woods or see lights dancing at midnight, probably best to run the other way. Unless, of course, you're ready for an adventure...

(P.S. - No fae were harmed in the writing of my books. Humans, on the other hand... well, they signed up for it.)