Rachel Benson

Hey there! I'm Rachel Benson, and I write dark fantasy romance that'll probably keep you up way too late (sorry not sorry about those under-eye circles). If you're looking for safe, comfortable reads where everything works out perfectly... you might want to keep scrolling. But if you love getting lost in dangerous magical worlds where the line between right and wrong gets deliciously blurry? Pull up a chair.

I've always been that weird girl who was more interested in the villains than the heroes. While everyone else was swooning over Prince Charming, I was wondering what made the Evil Queen tick. (And honestly? Her castle aesthetic was way better.) Growing up in the Pacific Northwest probably didn't help my gothic tendencies – there's something about all those misty forests and moody coastlines that just screams "write something dark and magical."

My journey into writing wasn't exactly straightforward. I spent years working as a librarian, secretly scribbling story ideas between shelving books and helping people find their next great read. The stories in my head kept getting darker and more complex, full of morally gray characters and dangerous bargains with supernatural beings. I finally decided to stop fighting it and embrace my love of writing the kinds of books that would definitely get me some concerned looks from my former library colleagues.

My debut novel, "Bound by the Midnight Crown," is really my love letter to all the elements that make dark fantasy romance so addictive – forbidden magic, deadly bargains, and the kind of attraction that's probably really bad for you but feels so right. When I created Aria Donovan, I wanted a heroine who was both compassionate and clever, someone whose healing abilities would put her in direct conflict with the darker forces she encounters. (And yes, those darker forces are incredibly attractive. I don't make the rules.)

I love building worlds where magic has a price, where ancient powers lurk in the shadows, and where love can be both salvation and destruction. My characters typically find themselves caught between duty and desire, making choices that will either save or damn them – sometimes both at the same time. There's usually blood magic involved (because regular magic is so last century), complicated family dynamics (the more dysfunctional, the better), and romance that burns slow but hot.

When I'm not writing, you can usually find me wandering through old bookstores, collecting weird antiques that probably have cursed histories, or trying to convince my cat that my keyboard is not, in fact, the most comfortable spot in the house. I drink way too much tea (Earl Grey, hot – yes, that's a Star Trek reference, and I'm not ashamed), and I have a terrible habit of starting new book projects at 2 AM when I should definitely be sleeping.

To my readers: I promise to always give you stories that challenge and excite you, characters who are beautifully flawed, and endings that feel earned – even if they're not always happy in the traditional sense. I believe in the power of darkness to illuminate truth, and in love's ability to both heal and destroy. My books aren't for everyone, and that's okay. They're for the dreamers who aren't afraid of a little nightmare, for the romantics who know that sometimes the most powerful love stories are the ones that make us bleed.

I'm currently working on my next book (no spoilers, but there may or may not be ancient curses and questionably ethical immortals involved), and I love connecting with readers on Instagram and TikTok. Fair warning: my social media is a chaotic mix of book updates, writing memes, and pictures of my possibly-possessed cat.

If you're ready to step into worlds where magic is dangerous, love is complicated, and happy endings come with a price, I'd love to take you on that journey. Just remember to keep the lights on while you read – you never know what might be lurking in the shadows.

And yes, I absolutely do have a collection of crystals on my desk while I write. They probably don't do anything, but they're pretty and they make me feel magical. Don't judge me.