Let me share my secret from the beginning. Elijah and Monica are at the centre of it all. They are bold, they are loud, and they unsettled me so deeply in my own skin that I could no longer ignore them — I had to start writing.
When I finally decided to bring my characters to life, one image kept replaying in my mind: a luxurious SUV parked in front of a florist shop. That split second changed everything. I knew my characters were powerful, but I didn’t yet realise how powerful.
I began writing The Path to Dark Love (Book 1) in parallel with The Weight of Dark Love (Book 3), but soon I realised Monica and Elijah were consuming me. After eight chapters, I had to pause Book 3 to focus solely on Book 1.
When I returned to it, Monica rejected some of the earlier chapters, they no longer felt like her. She demanded changes until I used my author’s “superpower” and deleted two full chapters. Only then did she relent, and we agreed the story was finally hers again.
As the book unfolded, something unexpected happened: I fell in love with Elijah. Truly, completely. I knew from the beginning that Monica and Elijah were the heart of my universe — because of that florist shop image, and because of all the side stories branching from them — but I never expected to fall for my own creation. I find it both hilarious and humbling.
At its core, this story was born from a universal need: self-acceptance.
It took me almost 40 years to learn this lesson for myself — that I should love and accept myself in my truest form. To not expect, demand, or break myself to fit others’ expectations. That I'm my own best friend. To be kind to myself.
I hope, dear reader, that you learn this too — if not from my books, then from your own experiences. We are all just trying our best. No one has it all figured out. We all struggle in our own ways.
Elijah and Monica’s story is dark, unhinged, and obsessive, but it is also about truth without apology. I hope, as you walk through their world, you discover a piece of your own acceptance reflected back at you.
From my heart to yours,
Karina V.
I trust you know your triggers before you proceed. Please ensure you read and understood all the triggers as this book touches on very sensitive subjects and can be disturbing for some readers.
The book is recommended exclusively for 18+ !