A Oxford bookshop is preparing to welcome a writer marking the next phase of her publishing career.
Amy de la Force will appear at Bad Girl Books on September 17 to unveil the second installment of her romantic fantasy series, Fated for Hael.
The work, titled A Crown of Blood and Magick, represents the continuation of a narrative that has garnered international recognition since its inception.
The transition from corporate executive to full-time author followed two decades spent establishing herself within the creative sector.
Prior to dedicating herself to literary pursuits, she served as executive creative director, having built her expertise across nearly twenty years within digital marketing.
During the global health crisis, she balanced part-time professional responsibilities with raising a young child, yet managed to expand her department’s annual revenue by more than 750 percent, subsequently earning promotion to associate director the following year.
Despite evident career accomplishments, a sense of professional dissatisfaction lingered.
The passing of her mother prompted fundamental reflection regarding personal aspirations.
At the age of forty, she departed from her executive position to commit fully to authorship, a ambition first recognised during university studies in creative writing but deferred in favour of stable employment.
The decision yielded rapid results.
Within nine months, she obtained representation from a literary agent and secured a contract for three books.
Her debut release, A Kiss of Hammer and Flame, achieved notable commercial success, earning placement among Penguin Random House’s most anticipated science fiction and fantasy releases for autumn 2025 and reaching the top position on Kobo’s romance bestseller chart.
The novel has since been distributed across more than forty nations.
Her newest publication diverges from conventional genre conventions by commencing its narrative at a point where comparable works typically conclude.
The protagonist, Cahra, having ascended to sovereignty and discovered romantic fulfilment, confronts an impossible dilemma requiring her to choose between preserving her realm and protecting the individual she loves.
The narrative interweaves elements of courtly politics, prohibited romance, and supernatural themes, appealing to readership drawn to works such as Sarah J.
Maas’s series, The North Wind, and comparable titles exploring dark romantic fantasy.
Literary recognition followed her breakthrough, with a shortlisting for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize in 2024.
The hardback edition of A Crown of Blood and Magick is scheduled for release on September 17, 2026.
The forthcoming event will afford admirers the opportunity to engage with the author directly as she continues developing her established series.