I never thought I would be typing out a thank-you page. I always said that people like me don’t get chances like this. And if it weren’t for the people below, I would still believe that.
First and foremost, I need to thank Erin Kinsella. When you think about the mundane events that lead you to your greatest moments, it’s easy to believe in fate. When Erin stumbled on my call for beta readers, I had no idea it was going to spark a friendship and collaboration that would last years. This book was an incoherent mess that others had given up on, and if it wasn’t for her, you wouldn’t be reading it today. She’s a beacon of light and support in the online writing community, and I am so very fortunate not only to get to work with her every day, but to call her one of my closest friends.
Long before I was taking writing seriously, Jessica Brown was reading my work. She spent countless hours writing ridiculous fanfiction with me when we were teens, and she was the first person to read this story when it was in its very first draft. Without her enthusiasm, I would’ve let the story die there. We’ve been through so much together, more than our share, and without her decades of friendship, I’d be lost.
To my partner Vincent Vanloo, who never once made fun of me for sitting in a corner obsessively reading books about Gods and myths and ancient magic. He listened to countless monologues about horse gestation, cauterization, and poisonous flowers. I even dragged him to a strange pagan festival and after all this, he somehow felt safe sleeping next to me at night. I couldn’t have completed this project without his support and the blind acceptance that this was exactly what I needed to be doing.
I owe so much to the dozens of people who beta read my work and championed this story online. There are so many of you, more than I can name, and I am so very grateful for the time and love you’ve put into this project. Thank you to each of the members of the Discord groups The Write Life and Publishing Pals who were not just supportive, but who went above and beyond to show me kindness. Thank you to Lyra Wolf and Genevieve Gornichec, who have been so welcoming and kind as I’ve dipped my toes into the Norse writing space. Thank you as well to the members of the Street Team, the ARC readers, and to all the people who have been cheering me on for the last few years.
Thank you to my family. To my mother, who always did whatever it took to make sure we were safe and taken care of, and who taught me how to survive, no matter what. To my sister, who never gives up on anyone and has so much love to offer the world. To my father, who inspired me with his love of reading. None of us ever takes the easy road anywhere and it was through you that I learned the value of hard work, kind words, and doing the right thing.
To the reader, thank you. I don’t know you, but you’re here and I appreciate you being here. This book isn’t a kind book, and it’s not for everyone. It was born out of hardship and a need to explore what lurks in the shadows. If you’re here because you connect to that somehow, because the shadows feel like home, welcome. I hope you’ve felt seen.