Michaela Riley's Blog

A Night of Myth, Magic, and Mixology: The Witch’s Rebirth Takes Over the Fae Ball...well just one bar but we are so excited to be included in this event! May 30, 2026 – Kansas (yes, Kansas…‑the‑middle‑of‑nowhere‑but‑the‑perfect‑spot‑for‑fairies) When the invitation arrived for the Myth and Legend Fae Ball, my inner fan‑fiction nerd did a back‑flip. Not only do I get to rub shoulders with winged revelers and ancient deities, I’m also the proud sponsor of a bar that serves drinks straight from...

Awards for The Witch's Rebirth Trilogy Hey there, fellow book‑lover! I’m thrilled to pull back the curtain on what has been nothing short of an extraordinary twelve months for me, my stories, and all of you who have walked the winding paths of The Witch’s Rebirth series. ✨ From Semi‑Finalist to Star‑Bound When Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch’s Rebirth was announced as a semi‑finalist in the coveted Chanticleer Awards, my heart did a little levitation spell of its own. The competition is...

Unraveling the spell of The Witch's Rebirth Trilogy by award winning author Michaela Riley

The Weight of Destiny: A Gift or a Cage? Merona the Last Ember of Hope to Save Mankind Imagine being born with a predetermined path, a fate that has been etched into your very skin. A map of power and magic that glows with an otherworldly energy, connecting you to an ancient lineage and a prophecy that could change the course of history. Sounds like a dream come true, right? But what if this destiny is not a gift, but a cage? A constant reminder that your future was decided centuries ago,...

History is littered with shadows—Moments of collective fear that birthed injustice, only to vanish and reemerge in new forms. The witch hunts of the 16th and 17th centuries, in which thousands of women were accused of consorting with the devil and executed, are not just relics of the past. They are mirrors reflecting humanity’s recurring tendency to scapegoat the vulnerable in times of crisis. In Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch’s Rebirth Part I, author Anna Kolding’s execution and her rebirth...

If you’re a fan of historical fantasy that intertwines real-world settings with mythical elements, Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch’s Rebirth Part I by Michaela Riley might just be the next read on your list. This novel stands out for its rich tapestry of medieval European history, witchcraft, and reincarnation, all woven into an epic narrative. But how does it compare to other books that blend history with magic? Let’s explore how Labyrinth of Shadows both aligns with and diverges from...

The trees bow. Not in reverence, not in surrender—but under a burden too crystalline, too cruel to bear. Their boughs, once proud and reaching, now arch like the backs of elders worn thin by winters too long. Ice creeps along their limbs like a thief in the night—silent, insidious, claiming what was never offered. It wraps each branch in glass, turning wood to wire, strength to brittleness. The storm moved west to east, a creeping invasion, and left behind not snow, but a kind of armor—cold,...

The trees bow. Not in reverence, not in surrender—but under a burden too crystalline, too cruel to bear. Their boughs, once proud and reaching, now arch like the backs of elders worn thin by winters too long. Ice creeps along their limbs like a thief in the night—silent, insidious, claiming what was never offered. It wraps each branch in glass, turning wood to wire, strength to brittleness. The storm moved west to east, a creeping invasion, and left behind not snow, but a kind of armor—cold,...

17th Century Witch Hunter Matthew Hopkins The year was 1500. In Copenhagen, a young woman named Merona was tied to a stake. The accusers called her a witch, and her punishment was fire. This tragic event was not an isolated act of medieval brutality; it was the kindling for a fever that would sweep across Europe. It was the beginning of a contagion of fear, a paranoid hunt for the "other" that would stain the centuries to come. My book Labyrinth of Shadows: The Witch's Rebirth Part I ...

Five Uplifting Books to Read When Life Sucks or the Zombie Apocalypse Looms Let’s be honest—sometimes life feels like it’s straight out of a dystopian novel. Whether you’re navigating a rough patch, battling burnout, or just watching the news with a growing sense of dread, it’s easy to feel like the world is collapsing. And hey, it might not actually be zombies (yet), but if you’ve ever found yourself mentally rehearsing emergency supplies while stuck in traffic, you’re not alone. In times...