Utshav

Hey there! I'm Utshav, and I write dark fantasy romance that explores the messy, beautiful tangle of fate, forbidden magic, and souls bound by forces they never asked for. (Yes, I know that's oddly specific. Stay with me here.)

Let me tell you how I stumbled into writing - it wasn't exactly a straight path. Growing up in a traditional South Asian family, I was supposed to follow the "sensible" route. You know the one: engineering, medicine, maybe law if you're feeling rebellious. But stories kept haunting me, especially the ones that lived in the shadows between mythology and romance. The tales my grandmother used to tell me about ancient magic and star-crossed lovers? They never really let me go.

I spent years trying to be "practical" while secretly filling notebooks with fragments of stories about warriors and mages, forbidden bonds and dangerous promises. Finally (after way too many cups of chai and some serious soul-searching), I decided to stop fighting it. Turns out those late-night writing sessions weren't just a hobby - they were my calling.

My debut novel, "Soul Forged" (coming in 2025), is really my love letter to all the complex, morally grey characters I've always been drawn to. It's the story of Lyra and her warrior-executioner (talk about complicated relationships, right?), bound together by a magical act that should have killed them both. I love exploring those impossible situations where duty crashes into desire, where the "right" choice might actually be the worst one, and where redemption comes at a price that changes you forever.

When it comes to my writing style, I don't believe in pulling punches. My characters are going to bleed, they're going to make terrible decisions, and they're going to face consequences that would make your typical romance hero break out in a cold sweat. But I also believe in the power of hope in darkness - that's where the real magic happens. (And yes, there will be actual magic too. Lots of it. I'm not subtle.)

I write the kind of stories I always wanted to read: rich with cultural elements that don't usually make it into mainstream fantasy romance, full of characters who are unapologetically complex, and woven through with magic systems that aren't just window dressing. If you're looking for neat, tidy happily-ever-afters where everyone makes good choices... well, I might not be your cup of chai. But if you want stories that will grab you by the throat and won't let go until the last page? Pull up a chair.

When I'm not writing (or procrastinating on writing by creating extremely detailed magic system rules that may or may not ever make it into a book), I'm probably reading everything I can get my hands on, experimenting with fusion cooking that sometimes works out better than others, or trying to convince my cat that my keyboard is not, in fact, the most comfortable spot in the house to nap.

To my readers: thank you for joining me on this journey. "Soul Forged" is just the beginning - I've got so many more stories burning to be told, more impossible romances to explore, and definitely more magical mayhem to unleash. Fair warning: I love hearing from readers, and I'm always ready to chat about books, writing, or why enemies-to-lovers is objectively the best trope (I will die on this hill).

If you're ready for stories that mix cultural mythology with dark romance, that aren't afraid to walk the line between light and shadow, and that promise to take you on an emotional journey you won't forget - welcome to my world. Just remember: in my stories, the magic always comes with a price, the love is never simple, and redemption is never guaranteed.

(P.S. - If you spot any Easter eggs from South Asian mythology in my books, yes, they're intentional, and yes, I get way too excited when readers find them!)