How Dark Romance Taught Me About Light and Hope
Welcome to the blog!
I'm so glad you're here. If you're new, I'm Shalana Battles—romance author, indie publishing enthusiast, and lover of all stories where light finds its way through the dark. Today, I'm sharing something a little personal about why dark romance speaks to me so deeply, and what writing my newest book taught me about hope, love, and survival.
I've been a dark romance reader for years. While I love many genres and have favorites scattered across all kinds of stories, there's something about dark romance that has always resonated with me on a level that's hard to explain. Maybe it's because, sometimes, the brightest places are found in the dark.
When I started writing Heart of a Killer, I knew I was stepping into the darkest world I've written yet. It's not "super dark" compared to the broader dark romance genre—it still leans mild by most standards—but for me, it was a personal leap. It was the first time I really pushed my own comfort zone as a writer. And it was scary.
Writing darker elements isn't just about crafting danger or high stakes. It's about revealing a different side of yourself. It's about showing readers the places your mind wanders when you think about pain, survival, and love that doesn't look clean and neat. And that's terrifying. It's giving people a glimpse inside your head—your hopes, your fears, your beliefs about what love can survive.
There's a strange kind of comfort in fictional obsession. In love that is so powerful, so consuming, that nothing—not even the ugliest parts of life—can stop it. When you've experienced real loss or trauma, dark romance can offer a reflection of that pain. It doesn't shy away from the truth that life can hurt. It doesn't pretend healing is easy. But it does remind us that survival is possible. That even in the darkest places, love can find you. That sometimes, the broken pieces are the ones most worth saving.
For me, writing dark romance isn't about glorifying pain. It's about finding hope inside of it. It's about telling myself—and my readers—that no matter how deep the darkness feels, there is light to be found. There is love. There is survival. There is strength.
Heart of a Killer taught me that stepping into the dark doesn't mean giving up the light. Sometimes, it means finding it for the first time.
About Heart of a Killer:
Cassius Ashenheart was born to kill. Raised by a ruthless uncle, he became a machine—an enforcer feared across the underworld. His mission? Take down Spider, the human trafficking ring embedded in the highest levels of power. But when Lindy’s accidental text reaches his newest burner phone, Cassius finds something he can't let go. He should ignore her. He doesn't.
Lindy spent her life avoiding men like Cassius. She craves quiet. Safety. Control. But when Cassius saves her from an attack, she finds herself trapped in his world. His wife. His obsession. And the more she glimpses the man behind the monster, the less she wants to leave.
If Cassius fails, innocent lives—including Lindy's—will be lost. If Lindy walks away, she’ll lose the only man willing to burn the world down to keep her safe.
Heart of a Killer is a dark, obsessive romance featuring morally gray antiheroes, high stakes, and a heroine who must decide if she's willing to embrace the darkness for the man who would burn the world down for her.
Stay connected! If you want to keep up with release dates, bonus content, and get first looks at the next book I’ll be publishing, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter!
Thanks for being here and supporting these stories. I can't wait to share even more with you!
