In the poverty-stricken villages of northern Adruimor, survival comes at a price—and sometimes, that price is your child. Fourteen-year-old Rellius failed to stop his mother from selling his little sister to the Snatchers, a brutal trafficking caravan that deals in flesh under the Empire’s blind eye. Haunted by guilt and driven by rage, he leaves everything behind to track the caravan’s trail across frozen roads and hollowed-out towns. When he meets another young girl destined for the same fate as his sister, Rellius knows he has to save her. But the world doesn’t care about promises made by starving boys. And in The Gilded Empire, no child is ever truly safe. Set before the events of Thorns of Fate, this dark fantasy prequel explores the weight of impossible choices, the cruelty of survival, and the ember of resistance that even the youngest can carry. This is not a light or comforting read. It contains themes of child trafficking, systemic poverty, emotional abuse, and harsh language. It does not romanticize these things. It calls them what they are. If you’re here for gritty fantasy, broken characters, and a world that hurts but still offers sparks of resistance, you’ll find yourself right at home. Want to read it for free? Sign up for Miranda's newsletter on her website and get instant access.

Thorns of Fate is the haunting first installment in The Thornforged Chronicles, a dark fantasy saga of survival, alchemy, and the cost of becoming a weapon in someone else’s war. Rescued from captivity as a child, Elora is brought to the Miros Institute by Tehvan, who raises her as his own and shields her from the Institute’s harsh realities. While others endure cruelty under the ruthless dictatorship of Headmaster Thorn, Elora’s privileged upbringing enables her to focus solely on her education and dreams of becoming an Empire Alchemist. But when the safety Tehvan has provided is abruptly torn away, Elora is thrust into the oppressive life her peers have always known. For years, Master Thorn has waited for this moment, eager to tear her from Tehvan’s shadow and mold her into a weapon for his own personal vendetta. Now Elora must find the courage to stand against those who seek to break her in body, mind, and soul. But is survival worth it if the price is losing her humanity? Perfect for readers who love: Emotionally raw, character-driven fantasy Oppressive magical academies Found trauma Enemies in positions of power Fans of The Poppy War, Nevernight, and An Ember in the Ashes Read at your own risk. This story doesn’t ask if you’ll break, it asks what you’ll become once you do. Check the author's website for content warnings.

Releasing Oct 7th, 2025! Some scars are carved into flesh. Others into fate. Elora must navigate a world that demands strength from wounds not yet healed. Hunted for what she is becoming, and unsure who to trust, she’s forced to confront the feral power inside her or be consumed by it. Dark, visceral, and unflinching, Scars of the Unbound is a story of reclamation, resilience, and the terrifying power of choice.

She wants his death. The Empire fears their voices. Elora believes that if Thorn falls, the nightmares will end. That vengeance will quiet what still claws inside her. But the other apprentices have chosen a different path. They are not asking for peace. They are taking back their names. Their stories. Their power. And the Empire was never prepared for the truth. The explosive conclusion to The Thornforged Chronicles. Revenge is only the beginning.