Dearest reader:
I spent my childhood engrossed in books; I found more magic in C.S. Lewis's wardrobes and Tolkien's forests than in the world around me. Fantasy isn't just escape—it’s home. When I read (or write) a story, I climb inside and shut the world out—if only for a little while.
Last year, a car accident jolted me out of stagnation. I decided to push myself—no more holding back. What began as a challenge to my (rather persistent) inner critic blossomed into something unexpected—a world that captured my heart and all my free time.
I’ve completed the manuscript for my first book, Valley of Humanity, and am now drafting the second book, Depths of Humanity. My series, The Arborian Rift, has been born.
In this series, seven fallen priests rule through cursed bargains while an ancient priestess clings to the last threads of sacred magic. Morality blurs. Heroes become villains. Lines are crossed. Each character carries their own story—sometimes, the smallest roles carry a big stick.
At its heart stands a smoldering cast of characters navigating treacherous politics, forbidden love, and a ceremony that determines the fate of every young woman. I've woven this world from my favorite paintings, music, and classic fantasy tropes—each with a dark twist that makes it uniquely mine. Let me take you by the hand and lead you through a world that will leave you breathless.
Sincerely,
Sistine King
P.S. Check out the ‘Explore’ tab for Spotify playlists, character inspiration boards, and world-building inspiration boards.
Favorite Books:
(I have many, so if a book makes it onto this list it is truly a favorite—I don’t use that word lightly! It’s like choosing a favorite child.)
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle. L. Jensen
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Longbourn by Jo Baker
The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Shout out to Mr. Darcy, the original broody love interest. Swoon.)
Out of the Silent Planet by C.S Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis
The Great Divorce by C.S Lewis
The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
ALL works by Edgar Allan Poe.
Honorable mention (guilty pleasure): Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Favorite quotes:
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.” - Anais Nin.
“God, let me think clearly and brightly; let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences, let me someday see who I am.” - Sylvia Plath.
"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." - C.S Lewis.
“It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish.” - J.R.R Tolkien.
“If you hear a voice within you say, 'You cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” - Vincent Van Gogh.
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." - Frank Herbert, excerpt from Dune (Litany Against Fear).