More gorgeous character art

If you follow me on Insta, Threads, Tiktok, or Facebook, you’re already seen these since I post there regularly and I’m not as great about updating my blog. But, I had to make sure to share these gorgeous art commissions for A CURSE OF BEASTS AND MAGIC, book one in the new Beautiful and Beastly series.

“Almost every culture speaks of ancient, hidden lands. This is one of them.”

I’m OBSESSED with this art of the secret, dragon-ruled realm of Orion in A CURSE OF BEASTS AND MAGIC. Art by the incredible Candice Slater. Here’s a snippet this is illustrating:

In the distance, I saw a city awash with lights. Dark water completely surrounded it. The city was a dazzling mixture of modern and medieval, with skyscrapers nestled tightly against gothic-looking castles. Three towers loomed over all the other buildings, and yes, the towers were in that distinct, off-kilter formation that mimicked the stars on Orion’s belt.  Dragons flew above it, their huge forms backlit by lightning that turned the sky daytime bright before darkness swallowed it back up again. The dragons looked as if someone had slapped gargantuan wings onto a T-Rex. And dear God, the city’s rivers. They lined the streets much like waterways lined the historic city of Venice, except these rivers twisted up and through the city, somehow impervious to gravity. The rivers thinned out the higher they went, too. The ones near the tops of those three towers were barely a sliver, while the ones at the base surrounded the city like a twisty, sparkling sea.

Next up is the stunning art by the incredible @art.bymikki on Insta. The only thing hotter is the scene it’s illustrating in A CURSE OF BEASTS AND MAGIC, where the fake dating starts getting very real:

Remy caught my wrist. Hot velvet tantalized my palm as he pressed a kiss into it, all the while staring at me as if he were imagining his mouth were somewhere else.

I ruffled my fingers through the back of Remy’s hair. It was like stroking a raven’s feathers, and when his mouth slid lower, bathing my wrist with heat over a spot I hadn’t even known was sensitive before, my gasp wasn’t for any potential onlookers. Those hot, silken lips made me forget that I was supposed to be acting.

Remy steered us against the nearby wall. His arms barricaded me on either side, creating our own little alcove. I put my hands against his chest, feeling the muscles that his elegant suit only hinted at. Then I let them spread out so I could feel more of him.

His gaze flared.

I couldn’t look away. My heart started hammering. Why had I ever thought his eyes resembled something as cold as jewels? They were the blue gleam inside every fire, and right now, I wanted to be burned to the ground by what was inside them. How had I lost control so fast? This was only supposed to be an act!

A CURSE OF BEASTS AND MAGIC, when Beauty IS the Beast, and he’s the Witcher-like Warden who’s supposed to rule her…or destroy her. Releasing May 26th. Preorder the deluxe special edition with sprayed edges, a map, and stunning endpapers, from Barnes&Noble, BooksAMillion, IndieBound, Bookshop, Walmart, Target, #ad Amazon,* or your favorite book store. *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases through this link.

✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Fake Dating
✨ Morally Grey MMC
✨ Touch Her and D!e
✨ Portal Romantasy
✨ Spicy Scenes

And, if you missed my prior post, I’m going on tour for the release! Come see me at these events:

May 17th 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Gold Coast Book Fair 
Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY
Sunday, 1:30pm – 2:30pm, Spellbound: Where Romance Meets Fantasy panel.
Signing to follow, hosted by Theodore’s Books. Special early release day copies of A CURSE OF BEASTS AND MAGIC will be sold. 
More event details here.

May 26th,  6:30pm   
Barnes and Noble Arboretum
Charlotte, NC
In conversation with author Alyssa Dar for the launch event of A CURSE OF BEASTS AND MAGIC
Event details here.  

June 7th, 2026
The American Writers Festival
Chicago, IL
Sunday 11:00am Panel and signing at Chicago Public Library
Panelists: Naima Simone, Alexis Saarela, Jeaniene Frost. Moderator: Sara Benincasa
Event details here.

June 13th, 12pm
Barnes and Noble Magnolia Mall
Florence, SC 
Signing with Jeaniene Frost, Melissa Marr, and Alyssa Day
Event details here.

June 20th, 2pm
San Marco Books and More
Jacksonville, FL
Signing with Alyssa Day, Jade Presley, and Jeaniene Frost
Event details here.

July 11th thru 12th
Columbus Book Festival 
Columbus, OH
Saturday: 10am, SPEED MATCHING, followed by a signing.
Saturday: 1pm, SPIRITS, SPELLS, & SWOONS panel, followed by a signing.
Sunday: 12pm: THE BEAST INSIDE panel, followed by a signing. 
Event details here.

September 10th – 13th
Twilight Forever Festival 
Forks, WA
Special Guest authors Jeaniene Frost and Melissa Marr
Event details here.