THE CRYSTAL IRIS SERIES

A mystical romance of cursed love, secret societies, and magic that demands sacrifice.

  • BOOK ONE

    Are you into spicy romance tangled with cursed objects?
    Characters who make bad decisions they can’t take back?
    Secret societies and magic that demand sacrifice?

    That’s Crystal Iris.
    Imagine dark, mystical academia colliding with the grit of a modern western.

    A whiskey glass full of longing.
    A black horse under a full moon.
    A silk dress stained in blood—
    and cufflinks slipping from a cowboy’s hand.

    This is the story of Iris De Loughery.
    Thirty. Engaged. Harvard professor.
    Perfectly put together—
    until she inherits a prism necklace she can’t remove.
    Until it connects her to a man she should never want.

    Hoyt Locklear.
    Wealthy. Cursed. With a prism of his own.
    And completely out of reach.

    Because every time she touches him, the magic burns him alive.
    And still, he says—try again.

    Now she’s spiraling.
    Because the closer they fall, the more the prism pulls—
    toward mirrors, secrets, and blood.

    And this is only the beginning.
    Seven prisms lie hidden across the world.
    Each with power. Each with a price.

  • BOOK TWO

    Welcome back to the Crystal Iris series.

    I hope you like your magic dirty—and your men even worse.
    Because The Solenscint in the Mirror is anything but light.

    Nightmares that bleed into daylight.
    Mirrors that show you more than your own reflection.
    A secret society watching from the shadows.
    And a craving she’ll do anything to satisfy.

    I ran to Paris to disappear. To keep him safe.
    But this isn’t an escape. Not really.
    It’s a sinking—the prism’s presence only growing stronger,
    a little less of me in control every day.

    And when I close my eyes—I see him.
    The dreams give and take in equal measure.
    And when I wake, there’s nothing left but to forget.

    How long can I outrun the lies I left behind
    before they reach through the dark and pull me under?

MEET THE CHARACTERS

IRIS DE LOUGHERY

HOYT LOCKLEAR

  • "THE PLOT MASTERFULLY BLENDS ELEMENTS OF ROMANCE, FANTASY, AND SUSPENSE..."

    — Kirkus

  • "A GRIPPING, ADDICTIVE, MYSTICAL FANTASY-AN EXPERTLY CRAFTED PAGE-TURNER FILLED WITH INTRIGUE, MAGIC, AND HOT ROMANCE."

    — READERS' FAVORITE

  • "After reading this book I immediately wanted to know when the next book comes out! I really wanted to know what comes next for Iris and Hoyt! The concept of the pendants was very interesting. Will they ever be able to touch each other? Are they really cursed? Is there a positive to the pendants? Where are the other pendants? I must know!"

    — Netgalley Reviewer

  • "The story's magic system, artistic motifs, and emotional depth make it a memorable read. Blair M. Shadows has crafted a world that invites readers to explore the delicate balance between duty and desire, comfort and adventure."

    — Literary Titan

“What do you think is the reason we can’t touch?”

“I’ll be damned if I know.

Probably because if we could,

I wouldn’t be able to pull myself away.”

BARNES & NOBLE

EXCLUSIVE HARDCOVER

🔥 Forbidden Touch
💔 Jealousy Games
🌧 Slow Burn, Rain Kiss
🩸 Betrayal
🤎 Cursed Magic
💀 Powerful, Flawed Man Who Would Burn for Her
Hidden Magic / Self-Discovery
💫 Longing, Obsession, Fate
🕯 Art History + Dark Academia
🔮 Magical Objects, Blood-Bound Prisms
🌹 Strong Heroine Breaking the Cage
🐎 Rugged Cowboy Energy

Bad Decisions Menu

Not your average curse.

Not your average love story.

GET THE AUDIOBOOK
  • Abandonment wounds & emotional isolation

  • Accidents with lasting physical and emotional consequences

  • Alcohol use & coping through intoxication

  • Death, grief and mentioning of ghosts

  • Classist power dynamics & societal elitism

  • Recreational drug exposure

  • Gaslighting & distorted reality

  • Manipulation disguised as protection

  • Mental health struggles (including depression & spiraling)

  • Panic attacks & dissociative episodes

  • Frequent profanity & harsh language

  • Screaming, shouting, and escalating confrontations

  • Shaming rooted in appearance, status, and choices

  • Verbal abuse & psychological intimidation

  • Discussion of suicide

  • Infidelity / emotional & physical cheating

  • On-page death

  • Graphic sexual content (penetration, oral, anal play, rough edges, intense language)

  • Hostage situations & forced confinement

  • Explicit threats of harm

  • Self-hate, destructive internal dialogue, and identity shame

  • Physical and emotional pain as consequence and currency

  • Child loss (referenced)

  • Cult-adjacent magic, ritual elements, and cursed objects

Content Warnings