Hells Blessed

by Kay Hughes

Raya’s life has been shaped by shadows—both the ones she fled from and the ones that still linger deep within her. Haunted by a past she can’t forget, she has spent years trying to piece herself back together. But when fate draws her into a brewing war alongside Emory, her brother and their friends, Raya’s carefully constructed walls begin to crack. Forced into close quarters with Rhadis, her childhood friend turned enigmatic god of the underworld, she must confront not only the man he has become but also the weight of their shared history.

Rhadis, powerful and unyielding, is a constant reminder of the bond that ties them—one he has never forgotten but that Raya struggles to understand. With war looming on the horizon, their proximity stirs old emotions and awakens new tensions, leaving Raya to grapple with the unrelenting pull toward him, even as secrets and uncertainties swirl between them.

As the battle intensifies, Raya’s greatest challenge becomes more than just surviving the dangers ahead. She must face the scars of her past, navigate the new connection with Rhadis, and uncover truths that have the power to not only reshape her future but determine the fate of the realm itself.

237 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2025

About the author

Kay (Dwyer) Hughes has lived in Geneva, Nebraska, for over thirty years with her husband, Rick. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a World War II enthusiast, Kay is a mother of three and a grandmother. Her life revolves around family, their farming operation, friends, and community.

Harold E. Dwyer, a World War II B-17 combat pilot and retired home builder, resides in Hastings, Nebraska, with his wife, Darlene. Married sixty-five years, they are the parents of four daughters and are grandparents and great-grandparents.