The Sleeping Key

A young woman discovers dark powers lie beneath her nightmares and that her life—and love—depends on her defeating her demons in this dark romantasy.

Fey Masterson can’t escape the darkness lodged in her mind. Awake or asleep, she’s consumed by an anxiety that’s wreaking havoc on her life. The paralyzing dread has stolen everything from her, leaving her yearning for a life of solitude.

When she enrolls at a remote art institute deep in the Redwoods, Fey believes she’s finally found sanctuary. Her nightmares only grow more intense, however, as a menacing beast stalks her throughout. Her sole balm is the powerful bond she feels with her mysterious mentor, Cillian, whose strange magic, familiar green eyes, and sharp tongue all have her questioning her desire to be alone.

But as the two begin to fall more deeply for each other, a new threat arises. It seems a baneful witch seeks to unleash an army of monsters into the world, confirming Fey’s greatest fear: her harrowing dreams are becoming a daunting reality . . .

Now, Fey must wield ancient magic and prove herself capable of slaying these wicked enemies. Because if she loses her battle against the mighty demon who haunts her, the consequences could be dire not only for her and Cillian but the entire mortal world.

Tropes include: forbidden love, hidden magic, secret identity, mentor/mentee, and fated mates.

The Sleeping Key is a dark fantasy romance containing graphic scenes of a violent nature. It discusses mental health themes that some readers may find triggering. Additional subjects include emotional abuse, mentions of self-harm, torture, suicidal ideation, and parental neglect. It is intended for mature readers.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Sleeping Key is a work of fiction that contains scenes surrounding therapy and navigating Fey’s mental health journey with anxiety, depression, and nightmares. The Sleeping Key and the scenes therein are not intended to be used as a means to self-diagnose or to be used as a guide in navigating one’s personal journey with mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out to a licensed medical professional. Reaching out for help is a true act of bravery and self-love. Your mental health matters! <3 Gemma