It’s possible that when you saw “cozy dark,” your first thought was “how can a book be both cozy and dark at the same time?”

It’s a fair question, and not one I’m going to dismiss with some vague, “It just can.”

I’ve been trying to define what I write for a while now. There are authors out there who stick to one very specific genre, and it’s easy for them to say they’re an urban fantasy author or a space opera author, but I write across many subgenres of fantasy and science fiction. Yet, there are things that my works have in common, and I was trying to describe what I write, but nothing fit.

My books feature mature characters who know the world and might be disillusioned by some aspects of it, not youngsters figuring out the world on their first adventure. The worlds are full of monsters, dangerous magic, and violence.

But I am not a grimdark author.

My books also feature friendships in which characters don’t lie to or betray each other. I love writing banter, the friendly kind rather than competitive. There’s hope, loyalty, and happy endings.

But I am not a cozy fantasy author.

I take from each what I need to tell my stories, and then I make them my own.

That’s why when a reader described the mood of Sanguine Scenario as “cozy” and “dark” at the same time, it finally clicked. I write dark books softened by cozy elements, thus “cozy dark” sounded perfect to describe it, and I decided to use it, even if it might be confusing at times (and I definitely don’t write “dark cozies”).

Do all my books fit that label perfectly? No. Each of my stories is different, and it doesn’t boil down to the various subgenres I tackle. Some might be darker. Some might be more hopeful. Each is, I hope, unique. But as an umbrella term, cozy dark seems to describe my fiction quite accurately and bridge both my fantasy and science fiction works too.

So if you’re not fond of the merciless grimdark but cozy books are a bit too mellow for your taste, welcome to my worlds. Make yourself comfortable and pick a book, any book (though starting with any of my book ones is advised: see the reading order guide).