A Dark Angel Rises: A Tale of Light, Shadow, and Self-Discovery
I can finally say it—Ophelia is here!
This is the first book in my Dark Angel ◈ Light Heart series, and also my first step into the world of Young Adult fantasy. Inspired by some of my longtime favorites like Twilight and City of Bones, this story began not with a plot, but with a single image that refused to leave me: A dark-winged Angel stepping out of fire.
She wasn’t fleeing the flames.
She was born in them.
That vision planted the seed for everything that followed—an entire world built on the fragile balance between light and shadow, and a girl caught in the middle of it.
The Heart of the Story
Though Ophelia is set in a celestial realm filled with angels and ancient prophecies, its emotional roots are very human.
At its core, this is a story about identity, isolation, and rising from the ashes of the versions of ourselves we thought we’d lost.
I’ve walked through some difficult chapters in my own life—periods where the world felt too heavy, and I felt invisible inside it. And I know firsthand that sometimes, what saves us isn’t just strength. It’s someone else’s light.
That kind of moment—when someone sees you, believes in you, and reaches through the darkness—became the heartbeat of this story.
You’ll see it reflected in Gabriel, a boy who grows up quietly carrying more than anyone knows. His journey is one of survival, but also of healing through connection. Of being pulled toward something greater… just when he was about to give up on himself.
Writing Ophelia helped me make peace with pieces of my past.
And my hope is that reading it helps others feel less alone in theirs.
What to Expect
In the radiant realm of Solara, angels are born to protect the balance of the universe. But when a fallen guardian named Malvoro shatters that balance, a forgotten prophecy begins to stir—one that speaks of an angel born of both darkness and light.
Her name is Ophelia.
Created in defiance of everything her world holds sacred, she is feared, misunderstood… and fated to stand between two worlds—one of darkness, one of light.
This book weaves together:
Celestial world-building and high-stakes fantasy
Emotionally raw journeys about identity, purpose, and hope
A thread of mystery and connection that bridges two realms
And a girl who learns that her greatest power lies in the parts she was told to hide
It’s Available Now!
Grab your copy of Ophelia on Amazon: Click here to order
Final Thoughts
This story means a lot to me—not just because it’s a launch or a series opener, but because it comes from a real place.
If you’ve ever felt broken, unseen, or like you were standing in the fire alone…
I hope Ophelia reminds you:
Sometimes we don’t rise alone.
Sometimes we are lifted—by light, by love, by someone who refuses to let us fall.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for reading.
And welcome to Dark Angel ◈ Light Heart.
— Steven Nicolas
