A Tale of Two Thieves
(A Villainous Affair: Book One)
Welcome to the world of A Villainous Affair, a sensational steampunk romance saga about villains and heroes, rich and poor, science and justice, and the breathtaking power of love.
The tale begins with an unlikely pair of thieves who cross paths on one fateful day in a poverty-stricken metropolis….
Once upon a time in Victorian London, lowborn thief Ruby Darling rescues Nathan Harlow, a gentleman fugitive inventor on the run from his murderous uncle. Nathan must prevent his groundbreaking aether device from falling into the wrong hands, while Ruby craves wide-scale social reform to help the country’s destitute people. To ensure mutual success, they strike a deal—her protection in exchange for his technical wizardry to achieve her goal of conquering England.
But Ruby has one condition—their partnership will end as soon as they overthrow the Crown. With millions of lives at stake, she can’t let friendship or romance derail her mission. Nathan agrees even though he's already hopelessly in love with her. A new identity will help shield him from the authorities, so he proposes a fake marriage. Impressed by his sensible idea, she agrees.
Ruby is dirt poor, so first they need to amass a fortune and build a criminal empire. Meanwhile, the League of Vigilance—a citizen anti-crime force led by the intrepid, poleaxe-wielding Eleanor Marson—is on the hunt to capture Nathan and return him to his uncle's evil clutches.
The stage is set for a thrilling adventure as Ruby and Nathan Darling embark on a fantastical journey to gain unrivaled power in the underworld and beyond. Yet navigating their unconventional relationship proves just as challenging as their wildly ambitious mission, with many treacherous waters ahead of them.
Here's a taste of what else A Tale of Two Thieves has to offer:
Rescue romance. Grumpy, cross-dressing bodyguard protagonist. A sunshine main character who is a shining example of positive masculinity. When scientists succumb to the dark side. "Chosen One" trope—with a twist. Innocent cohabitation. Competence kink. Be gay, do crimes. How many things are wrong with Queen Victoria's England? Let Ruby count the ways.
Slumming it in the rookeries. Brains and brawn. Fish out of water main character. Wrong-side-of-the-tracks protagonist. Witty banter and juvenile bickering. One of our main characters is an orphan. Height difference. Underground bare-knuckle boxing with a story element so scandalous it can't be included in this description. There's only one bed—and it's in a brothel.
A Villainous Affair is a serial story in novel form with several point-of-view characters and best read in order. Books 1-3 end with a cliffhanger. Happily Ever After guaranteed.
The Wizard of Aether
(A Villainous Affair: Book Two)
The fantastical adventure resumes as aspiring supervillains Ruby and Nathan Darling continue their journey to gain unrivaled power in the underworld and beyond, all for a shot at transforming England into the social justice utopia of their dreams.
As the Darlings advance their mission in the guise of a fake marriage, Ruby worries that their real relationship is heading in the wrong direction. Nathan’s love for her is strictly forbidden, yet he keeps finding new qualities to adore about his partner in crime. How will he bear a separation after their pact ends?
To make matters worse, he's having trouble unlocking the secrets of aether. If he can't master the technology in time, their mission will fail—assuming Ruby doesn't abandon him first.
Meanwhile, Eleanor Marson and the League of Vigilance are still on the hunt to capture Nathan. Finding him in the vast underworld is no small feat. But even if Eleanor succeeds in recovering the stolen aether invention, Nathan's power-hungry uncle could use the technology to broaden his domination—making her question where her loyalty truly lies.
Then the Gang of Four, London’s reigning mob, offers Ruby an amazing business proposition. She ought to refuse, but this chance to increase her power is a siren’s call she can’t resist even as it lures her into unknown territory.
Here's a taste of what else The Wizard of Aether has to offer:
Cinnamon roll love interest. Tortured protagonist. Bodyguard crush. Unrequited love angst and more pining. Hurt/comfort. Meet the parents. Reading lessons with a very naughty book. Fashion glow-ups. Happy heist adventures. Rags to riches. Eating biscuits. Fake marriage woes. House hunting—villain edition. Robin Hood 2.0. The Forty Elephants is a right bricky lady gang.
Building a criminal empire 101. The Trouble With Aether. What happens at the carnival stays at the carnival. Treachery, intimidation, and blackballing, oh my. Risking it all in the name of love.
A Villainous Affair is a serial story in novel form with several point-of-view characters and best read in order. Books 1-3 end with a cliffhanger. Happily Ever After guaranteed.
Dark Queen Rising
(A Villainous Affair: Book Three)
The gripping adventure reaches dizzying heights as Ruby and Nathan Darling—a dynamic duo of fashionable Victorian supervillains—continue their journey to gain unrivaled power in the underworld and beyond, all for a shot at transforming England into the social justice utopia of their dreams.
After becoming queen of the underworld, Ruby sets her sights on the real prize—overthrowing the Crown. Toward that end, she recruits powerful allies, assembles her army, and performs daring heists while Nathan expands their arsenal with his superhuman aether abilities.
As Ruby’s friendship with Nathan deepens, she grapples with strange new feelings that threaten her carefully laid boundaries. Unbeknownst to her, Nathan is drowning in the angst of unrequited love. Tensions build amid thwarted desires and the sting of rejection. Then their relationship takes a shockingly unexpected turn.
At the worst possible moment, the Darlings’ enemies grow bolder—and a thousand times more vicious. When Queen Victoria unleashes her imperial forces to crush London's tidal wave of crime, Ruby faces a threat unlike any she's ever known.
Here's a taste of what else Dark Queen Rising has to offer:
Fighting the patriarchy. Battle automatons and brawling mobs. Criminal empire achievement unlocked. Female friendships. More fashion glow-ups. Slow burn romance. We Need To Talk About East India Company.
Ahoy, lady pirates! A masquerade ball heist and one of the guests is an adorable mutt. Angst turned up to 11. The grumpy one is so, so soft for the sunshine one. Mutual pining. Two old ladies + a daring burglary = entertainment worth its weight in gold. Found family. A grand romantic gesture. First love. Cross-class romance. The British Empire Strikes Back. Here there be a dark moment.
A Villainous Affair is a serial story in novel form with several point-of-view characters and best read in order. Books 1-3 end with a cliffhanger. Happily Ever After guaranteed.
Battle Royale
(A Villainous Affair: Book Four)
The final volume of A Villainous Affair races toward a spectacular finish as revolution-hungry supervillains Ruby and Nathan Darling reach the end of their journey to gain unrivaled power in the underworld and beyond, all for a shot at transforming England into the social justice utopia of their dreams.
After rising to the top of the underworld, a series of tragic losses sends Ruby tumbling down to rock bottom. Her enemies foil her attempt to seize the throne—crushing her dream of social reform—and her criminal empire is in tatters. Only a miracle can reverse her misfortune because Nathan is gone, and she has nothing left but overwhelming grief.
Having stopped the Darlings' reign of villainy, Eleanor Marson resumes her duties commanding the League of Vigilance. Life returns to normal—until Queen Victoria abruptly summons her to Buckingham Palace on the same day a mysterious rebellion flares to life in the city of London.
Here's a taste of what else Battle Royale has to offer:
All is lost. Female rage. When it takes a villain to stop a villain. Hurt/comfort. Reunited and it feels so good. Friends to lovers. Workplace romance. Far-out aether trips. They did what with an automaton sex doll??!!
Interrogating whiteness and white feminism. Rise of the social justice villains. Decolonization theme—it's in there. The gangs of London go cruisin' for a bruisin' at Buckingham Palace. God save the Queen—or not. Black girl magic. Eat the rich.
A Villainous Affair is a serial story in novel form with several point-of-view characters and best read in order. Books 1-3 end with a cliffhanger. Happily Ever After guaranteed.