In the Shadow of an Obsession is a reimagined fairy tale filled with potions, magic, and true love, but even fairytales traverse dark roads and face scary monsters. While Jessamine’s story is a romance that focuses on that happily-ever-after, it doesn’t preclude her (and others in her story), and thereby the reader, from facing some very real and possibly disturbing obstacles. It is important to share what could possibly be triggering for those who wish forewarning. If you don’t want to know, please stop reading here.
The Fareview’s mother, Scarlett, has been lying to her family. While her lies have been told with good intentions, they have resulted in a loss of power and choice for each of her grown children, unaware of her duplicity. One unintended consequence is the abduction of Jessamine Fareview by a man claiming to be her father. Using magic to keep her captive, he forces magic on her person and others without their consent. He uses mental and emotional manipulation and torture against an emprisoned non-human being include gaslighting, trickery, and emotional manipulation, and physical control. While none of it is glorified or explicitly described, this story touches upon loss of agency, entrapment, abduction and torture. Please note, that given the fantasy elements, there are some dark creatures with frightening intentions depicting violence.
None of these situations are graphically highlighted, but sometimes the allusion is enough.
What is explicit, however, is over the course of the story there is strong language, graphic sex (consensual), poisoning to intend death, and even death. Please rest assured that I have done my utmost to care for the various characters (and my readers) in the narrative scope of these situations. My hope is that all scenes are presented with that in mind and we journey to the happily-ever-after.
Thank you so much for being willing to take a chance on In the Shadow of an Obsession. I hope you love Jessamine’s and Johesha’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it and that this heroine and hero are exactly what you hoped for when you picked up this story.