Roz Maclaren

Teen Fiction with a Dark Twist

Roz MacLaren

Deal announcement

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I am so thrilled to announce Burning Skye, the second book in my Scottish YA romantasy trilogy, has been acquired by Evernight Teen.

They’ve done a really clever job of summing up the story without giving away the Utterly Massive Spoilers I included in the blurb.

And, of course, Forgotten Skye is due out this summer.

I have just submitted the second round of edits back to Evernight Teen, got my first look at the cover and it’ll be due out shortly. As usual, it will be published in eBook format first, with the paperback coming later.

I can’t wait for you to discover the Isle of Skye – like you’ve never seen it before. And, if you can’t wait, there’s good news. You can get a sneak peek at the first chapter by joining my Street Team.

UNLOCK THE FIRST CHAPTER

Are you going to hate the ending of Forgotten Skye?

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Spoiler: possibly.

Forgotten Skye isn’t a cosy romantasy read. Happy-ever-after is not in its vocabulary. And the ending is intended to feel more like a gut punch than a warm hug.

What you will get

Art by KatArt
  • A dramatic island setting (with real-life places you can go and visit!)
  • A strategic, relentlessly independent FMC
  • An isolated, smart MMC
  • Side characters with zero filter (Pep steals the show)
  • Twists and turns galore (you won’t see what’s coming next)
  • An ending that will rip your heart from your chest and stamp on it (you might need to stare at the wall for five minutes contemplating life)

Forgotten Skye is out THIS SUMMER

…and if you can’t wait for release day, then you don’t have to.

Ally yourselves with the Skyedivers, my loyal group of ARC readers – willing to dive headfirst into this dark world before everyone else.

SIGN UP

Remember to check the trigger warnings before diving in. You can find them here.

Want a free early copy of Forgotten Skye?

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⚔️ ARC READERS WANTED ⚔️

She wants to destroy his world.
He’s sent to destroy her.

Forgotten Skye, my YA dark romantasy, is available to ARC readers and reviewers.

Centuries after a radiation leak on the Isle of Skye wiped out thousands, the mutated survivors developed god-like powers. Led by power-hungry Queen Creyta, they’re determined to drive the few remaining humans to extinction.

Seventeen-year-old Vesper, one of the unmutated, is determined to go down fighting. Prince Hunter, the queen’s ridiculously handsome son, might just be the key to his mother’s undoing. But the closer Vesper gets to Hunter, the more she realises he’s just as trapped as she is. Now she’s torn between taking down Creyta and protecting the boy she’s grown dangerously close to.

One wrong move and she won’t just lose Hunter. She’ll lose everything.

Perfect for readers who love:

⚔️ enemies to allies to lovers
🧠 strategic FMCs
🖤 swoonworthy MMCs
💬 banter for days
🔥 high-stakes tension
✨ side characters who steal the show
👑 Hunger Games x Powerless vibes

If you like zero-spice romantasy with gut-punch endings, you may survive Forgotten Skye 👀

(Don’t forget to check out the content warnings first!)

APPLY HERE

What do you need to do?

All you need to do is fill in the form above to apply. Successful reviewers will be contacted no later than 15 June.

If you’re approved for a free review copy, you’re asked to leave an honest review. That means tell it like it really is! If you hated Forgotten Skye, don’t hold back. Your reviews will help other readers make informed decisions – and help me improve my craft. (One of my favourite reviews for Venom and Blaze is a one-star that came from a reader who clearly understood the book and what I was trying to say – it just simply wasn’t for them. I actually finished reading their review with a beaming smile because they really got the characters!)

Again, please remember to check the trigger warnings. Dark things happen. Make sure you take care of yourself, first and foremost.

When do you need to do it by?

Applications cut off on 15 June, so make sure to fill in the form before then if you’re interested.

Ideally, reviews need to be in by 31 August as the book comes out this summer (release date TBC, so there’s no hard and fast review-by date).

Character art reveal: Hunter and Vesper

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If you’re in the Street Team, you’ll have seen this already (and if you’re not, why aren’t you?!)

I’m thrilled to unveil Kat’s beautiful piece, created to go along with my upcoming YA dark romantasy series, The Ruined Skye Trilogy.

Here you go:

In my head, the art is meant to evoke how my main characters wanted their first meeting to be. In reality, they argue, threaten each other and one of them nearly dies. But both know that, if they didn’t live in a world where talking to the wrong person could kill them, perhaps they might be friends…

So while this scene isn’t actually from the book, think of it as as a kind of bonus scene. I love how Vesper holds her knife, not quite trusting Hunter (or herself) and never fully relaxing.

Blurb

Here’s a reminder of the blurb:

She wants to destroy his world. He’s sent to destroy her.

Centuries after a radiation leak on the Isle of Skye wiped out thousands, the mutated survivors developed god-like powers. Led by power-hungry Queen Creyta, they’re determined to drive the few remaining humans to extinction.

Seventeen-year-old Vesper, one of the unmutated, is determined to go down fighting. Prince Hunter, the queen’s ridiculously handsome son, might just be the key to his mother’s undoing. But the closer Vesper gets to Hunter, the more she realises he’s just as trapped as she is. Now she’s torn between taking down Creyta and protecting the boy she’s grown dangerously close to.

One wrong move and she won’t just lose Hunter. She’ll lose everything.

Forgotten Skye is out this summer with Evernight Teen. I can’t wait to share my fiesty, damaged, dangerous, flawed, fearless characters with you.

Book review: The Swarm by Anna February

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I was thrilled to get a message from the Chicken House teams giving me a free ARC of The Swarm by Anna February.

I was fortunate enough to get an uncorrected proof of The Hive, Anna’s previous book, and review it. So I was keen to get straight in to the sequel.

I tore through The Swarm in just a few days. The book sees Niko and Feldspar head off in a mission to a nearby colony – but that mission soon goes very wrong…

This book switched to Niko’s point of view, which took me a little while to get used to. I liked him as a mysterious figure and to access his inner monologue stripped him of some of the intrigue but it also gave us a chance to see the first book’s protagonist, Feldspar, from a new angle.

I found the twists easier to predict than the first book. This probably isn’t a reflection of the book, but I am serial predicter of twists – which was in no small part why I loved the first book so much. It really kept me guessing until the end.

Both both books are very intelligently written and thoughtful without ever feeling preachy. In their own way, they wryly comment on today’s political and social landscape.

I only hope there will be a third!

Character art sneak peek

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I’m delighted to announce a second collaboration with the very talented KatArt.

This time, I commissioned her to bring Hunter and Vesper, the two main characters from my upcoming YA dark romantasy series, The Ruined Skye Trilogy.

Kat’s work is phenomenal, complemented by her total professionalism. I never have to guess what’s happening – Kat keeps me updated every step of the way.

I can’t wait to reveal the whole piece. And you don’t have to wait to see it. My Street Team have already seen it – and you could too.

As well as getting a first look at any character art, you’ll also unlock the first chapter of Forgotten Skye. Tap below to apply for the Street Team and join a breath-taking new world.

APPLY FOR THE STREET TEAM

Artist Jessica Rollins on creating her dream projects

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Jessica Rollins is the creative behind the gorgeous Mirrordom sprayed edges collection – and she’s recently created a breathtaking piece of character art for my upcoming trilogy. Jess has recently opened her books for new character art clients, so it felt like the perfect time to sit her down and interview her about her amazing work.

You’re incredibly artistic. What’s your earliest memory of painting or drawing?

I have fuzzy memories of painting at play school age 3/4. I’ve always loved to draw. I used to dream of starting my own clothing line and studying art in Florence.  

You create character art and sprayed edges. What’s your dream project?

Oh!! I’d love to work with one of the big book box companies or publishers on edge designs or endpapers etc! 

What’s something people might not know about the process of spraying edges?

Fore edge painting is actually incredibly simple but VERY time consuming!! 

It’s generally recommended to lightly sand the edge and it makes it easier to paint the surface, but if you aren’t careful the paint can mix with the dust and form a crust, ruining the edge when cracked. 

Otherwise, watercolour paints in thin layers and a setting spray.  It really is that simple.

I always say you champion indie authors like it’s your day job. Have you any dream indie authors you’d like to work with? 

All of you! Haha! Really! Especially since starting my business, ARC reading has taken a little step back. I think I’ve created art for most of my personal favourite indies but there’s always room for more!

What’s your favourite thing about spraying edges and creating character art?

Designing them and seeing them finished. I actually detest the middle bit. Drawing and painting isn’t relaxing for me but it is satisfying.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently putting a lot of work into improving my digital drawing skills. Different courses, style and tools. 

EXPLORE JESS’ WORK

Thanks so much, Jess, for taking the time to answer my questions. Can’t wait to work on more projects together!

Come with me round the Isle of Skye’s newest bookshop

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The team behind Waystone Books reeled me in long before I set foot in the shop. I’d followed their journey on social media, watching in admiration as they renovated what was previously a cake shop.

Yesterday, I paid the Waystone Books a visit and was immediately hit with the reassuring smell of new books (markedly different from the reassuring smell of old books, but both equally relaxing in my opinion).

Waystone Books has an incredibly welcoming feel to it. Quirky items, sprinkled among the wall-to-wall books, add intrigue. I was very impressed with the amount of different book genres, including YA. The team also had a wall dedicated to books they recommend, accompanied by typed notes on what they liked.

Dunvegan is on the Isle of Skye (and it features heavily in my upcoming dark YA romantasy series), so it’s always nice to explore the village and try and imagine what my characters make of it. I love the fact it now has its very own bookshop – especially one run by a team who are determined to give back to their local community and plan fun events.

And, of course, I came home with a new book.

I read Graeme MacRae Burnet’s other book, His Bloody Project, and loved it – so bought this purely on the fact that it was written by him (and, having a quick flick through the opening page) seemed at first glance to be roughly along the same lines. I’ll have to wait until I can dive in as I’m doing my #IndieReads2026 challenge.

Have you any plans to visit the Isle of Skye? What’s your favourite bookshop that you’ve ever been in? Leave a comment and let me know.

If you’re new to the blog, I’m Roz MacLaren – a Scottish romantasy author who writes books for readers who crave emotional devastation and love gut-punch endings. My Isle of Skye romantasy, Forgotten Skye, is out now.

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