2025: a Bound by Thrones year

January 2, 2025December 30, 2024 ~ melbraxton

Winter moods are for reflecting. For me, this liminal season illuminates more than December holidays and the change in year. It’s an entire period of introspection, and while it took me time to put my thoughts together, I hope you’re ready for my 2025 update.

Let me start with a confession: 2024 was the first year I haven’t released a book since I began publishing, and honestly, I have no regrets.

2024 was more than my lack of publications. It was the year I dove into my why for writing, developed my voice, and cultivated a path toward my goals. Externally, 2024 might look like a pause at best (and a failure at worst) but I’m eager to show how I’ve grown behind the scenes.

Bound by Thrones (my fae trilogy) is in great shape. I’m kicking off 2025 by editing Book 2 (Secrets and Starlight, available June 21) into a publishable manuscript. I’ve also drafted Book 3, and it’s next-up for editing. In 2025, you’ll see the completion of this series.

Beyond 2025? There are more plans brewing, and I’ll share a few details with my newsletter crew on Tuesday, Jan 14. So if you would like to know more, be sure to sign up.

Just in case you needed further reason to join my monthly newsletter, this MerMay I’ll send out a free copy of The Wild Mermaid to all my subscribers. The Wild Mermaid is a thrilling story of self-discovery that I can’t wait to give a new home. I’ll share this and more over (like long-term plans for Illiam) over this next year.

All of that to say, please be gentle with yourself in this season of reflections and goal setting. What the world might see as a failed year might be the time you needed to ensure a magical future.

With all my best,

Mel Braxton

The Dragon Prince has Arrived

March 2, 2023 ~ melbraxton ~ Leave a comment

Cursed with the Dragon Prince is here! It’s all edited and shiny, and for a few days, I’ve made it available for free.

Free!? On a new book? Silly, I know. I do have my reasons…

This past year, I’ve made difficult medical decisions based on a condition I never wanted. This book is about that, in a messy storytelling way. It’s about the journey to freedom within entrapping circumstances.

I try to write books for you, my readers, but here’s my confession… I wrote Cursed with the Dragon Prince for me.

And to do that, I threw lots of storytelling convention out the window. The heroine is barren and her infertility is a huge part of this book. So I threw marketing conventions out the window too. I priced the book at 99c and set up a freebie campaign as fast as I could.*

I love this story and writing it helped me. I can’t predict what you’ll think of it, though I can hope it helps you find freedom too.

-Mel

*Huge thank you to everyone who preordered and purchased before I could schedule this freebie! Your support means so much!

Claim Your Freebie, Available through March 4

a dragons eye image licensed from depositphotos

fantastical volcano world in which dragon fae live, image licensed from depositphotos

an excerpt

She’s terrified.

And she has every right to be afraid—she’s human. Because of her species, she should be terrified of this entire island, my clan, and above all, me. My clan has not been kind to humans, and my bloodline has been the worst.

We are the dragon fae, created for life on these volatile lands by the isle herself, Wisp. A deity who has cursed our clan.

A curse only a human can lift.

Welcome to The Isles of Fae

July 7, 2022 ~ melbraxton ~ Leave a comment

It’s been a while. And there’s so much to say. The Isle of Fae is ready for reveal.

Where to begin. This project is the biggest thing I’ve attempted. I’m working on two series. There’s a breathtaking map I can’t wait to show you. This is a world brimming with romantic adventures.

Shadow & Smite is ready for an August release.

This is the first book in an epic quartet following the adventures of Ayla and Zayne. When I first plotted this project, I looked at my plan and thought “if I can pull this off I’m going to be so proud of myself.” And apparently, I am proud (and that’s a very scary for me to say before a release. But hey, I’m trying to trust myself.)

I can’t wait for this to reach you. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Shadow and Smite Cover — **“𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟.” —𝑍𝑎𝑦𝑛𝑒**

A necromancer holds the strings to my sister’s soul. By rescuing her, I’ll save the Shadow Court.

I have a plan. It’s a longshot, but it is the best I have. I’ll draw the attention of undead Shades. The Shades however pursue someone else: Ayla, a beautiful fae I dismissed too quickly. Turns out, there’s something special about her—I just don’t know what it is.

**“𝑆𝑜𝑜𝑛, 𝐼’𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑦.” —𝐴𝑦𝑙𝑎**

I’m on the run, fleeing to the Isles of Fae. As a part-fae bastard, I want to escape my past. Maybe I’ll learn the truth of my heritage or find the Firewolf I see in my visions. I’m going. And nothing can derail me—at least until Zayne ruins everything.

Because of him, I am branded by Shades. Now a gray blemish grows on my chest. With time, it will bind my soul, kill me, and raise me as an undead. I didn’t escape just to be slain.

Zayne has a remedy, one he will share—if we save his sister from a necromancer.

My options are limited, and I join his quest. Only I have secrets, and I don’t trust him. Yet every time he heals my brand, he touches my bare skin. With his palm pressed to my heart, I’m drawn closer to him.

There’s no denying the fire between us. Or the obstacles. As my brand and feelings grow, I realize escape was a terrible plan.

𝐴𝑢𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 | 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝐻𝑒𝑟𝑒