Author Interview

Author interview with romantasy writer Rebecca Parcha

From retelling Little Red Riding Hood in a childhood writing class to crafting fierce, magic-wielding heroines who defy the patriarchy, romantasy author Rebecca Parcha has always known the power of a good story. Inspired by literary icons like Virginia Woolf and modern romantasy trailblazers like Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca blends old-world symbolism with bold, emotionally rich narratives that champion strong female leads and challenge societal norms. In this interview, she opens up about her writing rituals, literary influences, and what it means to create work that not only entertains, but empowers.

In Fangs of Fate, Tate Aaralyn walks a dangerous line between predator and prey—an executioner of justice in the human realm and a conflicted vampire in the Glenn, where her hunger feels like a curse. When a disciplinary hearing forces her into service with the guara, Tate must confront dark truths, a mysterious bond with a powerful vampire named Aether, and her own evolving power. Meanwhile, Chance Dale, the president’s son and her former lover, uncovers a sinister threat rising within the vampire world. As their paths cross again, both must decide whether love is their salvation—or their undoing.

Q: What/who were your early literary influences, and how do you think their writing has shaped you as a storyteller today?
A: I love Virginia Woolf. I’m a huge fan of A Room of One’s Own. Her short stories are also amazing. To me, getting to study her and her life in college was one of my favorite parts of various literature classes. Beyond her, I’d say Hemingway, Poe, and George Lillo would also be up there as far as influential favorites within cherished prose and plays. There’s also the Brothers Grimm and Anne Saxton who I also have a great appreciation for.

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How to bury a husband—and the patriarchy: A review of The Best Way to Bury Your Husband

What do you get when you mix a cast-iron skillet, four fed-up women, and a global pandemic? A page-turner that asks whether murder might sometimes be the most reasonable option.

The cover of The Best Way to Bury Your Husband by Alexia Casale
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Alexia Casale’s The Best Way to Bury Your Husband is a dark comedy with claws—and a heart. It opens with Sally, a woman who kills her abusive husband with a skillet and finds herself surprisingly calm about the corpse. Her kids are grown and out of the house, so her main concern isn’t about custody—it’s about what comes next. How do you dispose of a body? And what do you do when you realize you’re not the only woman in town asking that question?

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The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff: A Darkly Hilarious Tale of Justice and Sisterhood

What if the worst rumor about you turned out to be the best thing that ever happened? That’s the wickedly clever premise of Parini Shroff’s debut novel, The Bandit Queens. This book is a wild mix of dark comedy, razor-sharp social commentary, and a thrilling tale of justice—one that will have you laughing even as it tackles deeply serious issues.

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Geeta, our protagonist, has been living under a cloud of infamy for years. The village whispers that she killed her no-good husband, and while the truth is that he simply vanished, she finds that the rumors work in her favor. No one dares harass her, pressure her to remarry, or cheat her out of money. But soon, the women around her start thinking, “If Geeta got away with it, maybe I can too.” Suddenly, she finds herself in the uncomfortable position of being a murder consultant—whether she wants the job or not.

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Why Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is the historical novel you need to read

What if I told you that a woman’s fight for agency in 15th-century China mirrors struggles women still face today? Lisa See’s Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a beautifully immersive historical novel that transports readers to 15th-century China, offering a rare and fascinating glimpse into the life of a woman physician. Inspired by a real historical figure, Tan Yunxian, this novel provides a story rich in cultural detail, deep friendships, and the persistent struggle for women’s agency within the confines of a patriarchal society.

The cover of Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
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I don’t often read historical fiction, but when I do, I’ve found that stories set in China tend to focus on the brutalization of women. While those narratives are important, it was refreshing to encounter a story in which the female protagonist is not constantly subjected to violence. Of course, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women does not shy away from the reality that, in 15th-century China, women were still regarded as property, their lives dictated by the expectations of men. However, the novel offers a nuanced exploration of how women navigated these restrictions, particularly through the lens of medicine, female friendships, and quiet forms of defiance.

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Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney: A thriller that keeps you guessing

Some thrillers keep you hooked with breakneck pacing, while others lure you in with a slow burn that seeps under your skin. Alice Feeney’s Beautiful Ugly does both. This is the kind of novel where you tell yourself, “Just one more chapter,” only to find yourself still turning pages deep into the night. With a mix of tension, unreliable narration, and a chilling atmosphere, Beautiful Ugly cements Feeney’s reputation as the Queen of Twists.

The cover of Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
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The novel follows Grady Green, an author whose life falls apart when his wife, Abby, disappears without a trace. One moment, he’s on the phone with her, listening as she pulls over her car. The next, she’s gone—her car abandoned by a cliff, her phone still inside. A year later, Grady is drowning in grief and writer’s block when he flees to a remote Scottish island in hopes of rebuilding his life. But his fragile reality shatters when he sees a woman who looks exactly like Abby. From there, the novel spirals into a tangled web of memory, identity, and revenge.

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Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano: The funny mystery that asks the right questions

Have you ever fantasized about taking justice into your own hands—especially when the system seems designed to fail women at every turn? If so, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano might just be the wickedly fun, laugh-out-loud escape you need.

The Cover of Finlay Donovan is Killing It
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Cosimano delivers a fresh, fast-paced mystery with a side of dark humor, following the misadventures of Finlay Donovan, a struggling novelist and overwhelmed single mom. Between her looming book deadline, her ex-husband’s antics, the loss of her nanny, and a hair-related emergency with her four-year-old, Finlay’s life is already teetering on the edge. But when she’s mistakenly assumed to be a contract killer while meeting with her agent at Panera, she finds herself in over her head—way over her head—in a real-life murder plot.

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Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix – A feminist horror that fumbles the landing

I stopped reading books by straight white men a few years ago, but somehow, this one slipped through—and at first, I thought it might just prove me wrong.

I’ve made a conscious effort in recent years to diversify my reading list, moving away from the straight white male authors that had dominated my bookshelves for so long. It wasn’t until I pulled this book from the stack that was my last library haul that I realized Witchcraft for Wayward Girls was written by a white man. My knee-jerk reaction was to put it down, but it was my only unread book on hand, so I decided to give it a chance.

And at first? I was all in.

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The thriller that blew me away: A review of One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole

I am not easily impressed, so don’t take it lightly when I say that Alyssa Cole’s One of Us Knows is arguably one of the best thrillers I have ever read.

The opening of this novel is nothing short of electrifying. Imagine coming to consciousness on a wooden dock with no memory of how you got there. Your primary personality has been dormant for six years, and in that time, your headmates have taken over your life. The world around you has changed dramatically—having endured a global pandemic and political upheaval—and now, you’re being whisked away to a job on an isolated island, where things immediately feel… off. And then, as you begin to settle in, you realize that the house you’re supposed to care for is an exact replica of the castle that exists within your inner world. How could anyone *not* be hooked after reading that?

There are thrillers that grip you, thrillers that surprise you, and then there are thrillers that completely redefine your expectations of the genre. Alyssa Cole’s One of Us Knows is that kind of book. Fresh, utterly compelling, and impossible to put down, this novel takes every tired trope and reinvents it into something wholly original. I don’t say this lightly: this is literally one of the best thrillers I have ever read, if not the best!

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Book Review: This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wells

Do you just love watching bad things happen to bad dudes? The big guys like Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Aziz Ansari, Andrew M. Cuomo, (and hopefully someday Donald Trump) are toppled publicly for all to see. But what about the everyday bad guys—the nobodies who use and abuse those who don’t have the power or the platforms to make their voices heard? In This Girl’s a Killer, Emma C. Wells introduces readers to Cordelia Black, a pharmaceutical rep by day and an unapologetic dispenser of justice by night. Set against the sultry, morally gray backdrop of South Louisiana, the novel delivers a character-driven thriller that’s as sharp and polished as its protagonist’s designer wardrobe.

This Girl’s a Killer by Emma C. Wells

Cordelia Black isn’t your typical serial killer. Or, as she would vehemently argue, she’s not a serial killer at all. To her, “Karma” isn’t just a concept; it’s her calling. Her targets are meticulously chosen—men who have evaded justice for their heinous crimes. And though the evening news might paint her as a monster, Cordelia’s actions feel like a balm for those who crave retribution in an unjust world.

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