Once Upon a Midnight Dreary

Series: Enchanted Realms, Book 5
Genre: Fantasy Romance – Inspired by Poe’s “The Raven”
Heat Level: Sweet Romance 🔥
Release Date: October 28, 2025
Available in: eBook, paperback, audiobook

2026 HOLT Medallion Contest Finalist – Speculative Category
2026 Prism Contest Finalist – Light Paranormal Category

This book is related to the Enchanted Realms series and can be read as a stand-alone.

Once Upon a Time… in the shadowy halls of Ravenfell Manor

A beautiful heiress seeking solace. A brooding mysterious caretaker burdened by shadows. And a forbidden love haunted by the echoes of the past.

When tragedy shatters her family, Victoria Ravenwood inherits the crumbling estate of Ravenfell Manor, a place she once called home but no longer recognizes. Hoping to escape her grief, she returns to its ivy-choked walls and forgotten rooms, determined to start anew. But Ravenfell is no sanctuary—it is a house of sorrow, steeped in secrets, and alive with something that should be dead.

Gabriel Allward, the manor’s reclusive caretaker, has remained at Ravenfell for years, his presence as rooted as the ancient stones. Cold and mysterious, he keeps to the shadows, guarding a truth he dares not reveal. Yet Victoria is drawn to him and to the darkness that clings to him like a second skin. 

As their fragile bond deepens, something awakens in the manor. A raven watches from the eaves. Whispers echo through the halls. And a long-buried secret claws its way to the surface. One that binds Gabriel’s soul to the estate…and could drag Victoria into the same eternal night. 

Can they uncover the truth behind Ravenfell’s curse before it claims them both? Or will their love become just another tragic tale whispered within its walls?

If you love heiresses reclaiming their haunted legacies, brooding caretakers bound by dark secrets, and crumbling manors where love must outlast restless ghosts—you’ll love this gothic reimagining inspired by Poe’s The Raven.

Find out what happens next! Read to the end for the BONUS chapter!

Audiobook narrated by Michelle Miles

★★★★★ “The writing is lush and atmospheric, with poetic descriptions that evoke suspense and longing typical of gothic romance. I loved this book for its compelling blend of paranormal suspense and emotional resonance—beautifully executed within the gothic fantasy genre.”

★★★★★ “This tale is suitably atmospheric, the tension builds nicely, and the main characters (Victoria & Gabriel) are just right. Excellent!”

★★★★★ “This is a beautiful story that I didn’t know I needed! Victoria and Gabriel have a delightfully slow-burn chemistry in the middle of a haunted house backdrop. No spice but with storytelling like this you don’t even miss it.”

★★★★★ “…a perfect gothic romantic read. The perfect blend between spooky, suspense and romance.”

★★★★★ “What a great book…great storytelling.”

★★★★★ “…another great entry in the Enchanted Realms series. I thought the use of gothic romance elements worked well…and was invested in what was happening…”