Dear (potential) reader,

I’m thrilled that this book has made its way to you! It means so much to know it’s in the hands of someone who loves stories as much as I do. I’ve always had a soft spot for the romantasy genre. Give me high-stakes magic, enemies to lovers, or slow-burn romance set against the backdrop of chaos - I adore it all! And that’s where this story began …

The original spark for A Wish So Deadly came from my obsession with the tournament trope. I wanted to write about a thrilling competition with a twist. Rather than relying only on head-to-head fights, the trials also pit competitors against the island itself. Dangerous beasts and brutal terrains become just as treacherous as any rival (and sometimes far less fair).

Whilst drafting this book in early 2023, Taylor Swift’s Anti-Hero was everywhere, and it’s probably no coincidence that both of my main characters live firmly in that space. Talia and Taron steal, lie and enter the tournament under false identities, working for a wicked Soulreaper whose ambitions would cast them as villains in any other story. I loved leaning into this 'henchman perspective' and exploring whom we choose to root for when the lines are blurred, and how much we are willing to forgive when love and desperation collide.

At its heart, A Wish So Deadly is about the dangerous things we do for the people we love. But it’s also about sea monsters, cursed magic, an infuriatingly brooding boy, and a girl who experiences the darker emotions of the world through taste and smell, often at the worst possible moments.

I hope this story sweeps you away, and I can’t wait to hear what you think! Please do leave a review on your preferred platform :)

All my best, Marilize Loxton

P.S. Remember, legends are never forged without a little ruin…