Dark Matter

by Teresa Louise Johnson

There are five kingdoms in Beyond. Three exist in this tale without consequence or notice. Two become entwined in the story of a queen with no name.

Three people make up a the queen, Auren the wandering minstrel, and the king.

Two hunt for love, longing to claim it.

One cannot love but will hunt down what’s his if his ownership over it is threatened.

Will the queen’s heart survive?

Will the wandering minstrel make it out alive?

A Beyond Story with magic, hidden evil, and enchanting characters that will break your heart but make you believe in love.

133 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2025

About the author

Hello, you beautiful soul. I’m Canadian Choice Award winning fantasy author and yoga instructor Teresa Louise Johnson.

I weave sci fi and urban/dark fantasy elements into my work, along with hints of dark fairytale.

So far, I have published:

Fire Island

Boneyard Café Series:
Boneyard Café
Dark Matter (novella)
The Seven
Finding Gray (story)
Glum & Glee (novella-coming Fall 2026)

Anthology stories:
Dust City Inferno in When the Wind Howls
Sacrifice to the Deep in Bleed for Me Valentine

Reviews

[Janessa]

This is a gut wrenching novella! In the Beyond there are 5 kingdoms, to unite 2 of them the princess is set in an arranged marriage with King John the cruel. She had hopes of making positive changes but once she became Queen she found out how truly cruel her husband could be. She was taught to listen to her people, he was taught to rule with an iron fist. She was lucky enough to find solace in another place with another beautiful soul, Auren the minstrel. He helps the Queen in many different ways and they fall in love. This book is so well written, but sadly does not have a happily ever after hence why it is gut wrenching 😭.

[Tequila Oliver]

Dark Matter by Teresa Johnson is a quick fantasy read about a princess-turned-queen trying to protect her people from her dark and dangerous husband. The premise immediately drew me in — a cruel king, forbidden love, and a queen who doesn’t even have a name? That setup alone promises drama and heartbreak.

We get some good insight into the queen’s past and her motivations, but I did find parts of the world-building a little hard to follow. I’m guessing more will be expanded in the next installment, and I’m curious to see where the story goes.

Without giving anything away, this is definitely not your typical fairy tale ending. My heart was so sad by the final page — I just wanted more for these characters.

A solid setup with potential, but I’m hoping for more clarity and depth in the next book.

[Bookish._.Banter]

Way to destroy my feelings. That is what I told the author when I finished this advanced copy..

A queen with no name. A ruthless king. And a symphony of forbidden love that will sweep you away into the Beyond.

This novella is captivating and heart wrenching and beautifully written.

[xmanicpixiebookgirlx]

This was a wonderful short novel full of adventure, magic, and falling in love. Teresa Louise Johnson is truly talented in creating a character so engaging that the reader can’t put the book down. Reading as The Queen goes about her life was emotional and alluring. I kept wanting to know more about her. Not only were the characters captivating, but the world that the author has presented the reader with is vast and with every page I wanted to explore more. The magic of this book was beautiful and I devoured this book in one sitting. I was shocked at the end and I am quickly grabbing the next installment of this series.

[Alex Woolfe]

The concept of a nameless queen, a wandering minstrel, and a king entangled in a dangerous dance is intriguing, and the idea that each of these characters brings their own unique, often conflicting, desires adds a layer of depth to the story. The mystery surrounding the queen’s heart and the threats to her survival, alongside the minstrel’s journey, suggest a tale of love and sacrifice that will keep readers on edge.

The interplay between love, ownership, and power is compelling—one character cannot love but will fight to keep what he deems his, and the others are driven by desire and longing. The character are well rounded but would have loved a little more depth!

[K.G Bolingbroke]

I just finished this and I’m a bit of a mess…. This novella boasts of not only tragedy but of finding love and purpose even in the roughest of circumstances. I am not really a fan of fantasy, but I couldn’t help but devour this. I was really taken within the first few pages. And Teresa’s ability to craft descriptions was just awe-inspiring and I was profoundly impressed. Her descriptions were distinctively unique and clever with some lines that really stuck out to me. They will remain absolutely memorable and this novella will be worth a reread just to experience them again all over. I can’t wait to read Boneyard Cafe now and eventually the Seven when it comes out. This is definitely not the last I’ll be reading of Teresa’s work

[Tammy Scholten]

Loved it!! Kept me captivated and wanting to finish it in one sitting! "Sparks flew from her fingertips, and she giggled as they whirled around her hand." I also loved the explanations of some things (demon hound) from Boneyard Cafe. I'm so glad she found some happiness and a name💜
Awaiting The Seven now!!

[FictionHealsMe]

From the very first pages, the story captivates, a cruel king, a princess forced to marry him to save her people, and a forbidden love that blooms in the shadows. The queen’s loneliness and unhappiness are beautifully portrayed, and her journey toward finding true love amidst all the darkness feels both tragic and touching.

It’s not a happy or light read, which perfectly matches the dark, moody cover.
I only wish there had been a bit more depth and explanation in some parts, as a few moments were hard to follow. Still, it’s an intriguing and emotional short story that stays with you after the final page.

[Ladenia27]

Dark Matter was a wonderfully written story reminiscent of the old fairy tales.

I adored the love story and the FMC, her love and her courage, as well as the MMC, but be prepared, this story is not for readers who only read “happily ever after stories”.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shannon bagnall]

I’ve never read a book quite like this one, it was kind of like a dark fairytale

I loved the characters well most of them, the queen showed both strength and vulnerability, doing what she must to save those who she loves.

It was a heartbreakingly beautiful story. Overall a great book.

*full disclosure I was given this book by the author, Teresa Louise Johnson, in exchange for an honest review*

[Kara Zone]

This is a beautifully written and tragic story that left me angry at the author for making me feel so many things in such a short amount of time only to have it all end.

It's an amazing installment of the series. Creative, intelligent, and unique in a way that has me craving The Seven that much more.

[Rogère Buivan]

I wasn’t prepared for this one.
It’s so beautiful and still so emotional.
You get to love the characters and I have to confess that it was a long time ago that I was sad for a character like this.
It is connected to Boneyard Café, which is amazing, and we get to know the background.
I’m still emotional about this one.
It hurts but it was a beautiful story.

[Dana]

I don't normally read fantasy but I have been trying it now and then and let me tell you this novella did not disappoint. In 100 pages the author did a fantastic job world building and developing a solid plot. I don't want to give too much away, but this was an emotionally driven story. Get ready to bust out the tissues. Great short read!

[Aubany]

IMO, there's no happy ending and no one wins. The plot was a little confusing considering she has elemental powers and could just... unalive the king at her leisure? Like bro. The unnamed Queen lets his sh!t slide for waaaay too long. I left a much more detailed review on storygraph because it's hard to review this one without spoilers.

I do have to say that I picked this up at a local christmas market so I've been lucky enough to snag a signed copy with read along material! The "open at..." packets were so cute and a great addition to the book. Absolutely loved the annotations and everything it came with. Giving 2 because this book had a lot to give, but I felt like it was lacking. Maybe a bit too much world building for a short story?

[Crystal]

There are 5 Kingdoms Beyond, and 2 unite when an arranged marriage makes a Princess a Queen to a not so nice King, She wants what is best for her people and falls for Auren the Minstrel, they fall for each other and well, lets say...this fairytale doesn't have a happy ending. This novella was a romantasy that I found heartbreaking. How far and what would you do for love? And beyond that, what would you do to make sure what you've claimed as yours stays yours? I loved this heart-tormenting novella. Subscribe to Teresa's newsletter if you want a copy!

[Rebecca Horist]

Disclaimer: I was gifted this free for review

What a great novella.
While it took a minute to really get into the story, that is why persistence pays off.
It was so good- lovers meeting at the wrong time. Kingdoms and their deals.

I look forward to continuing on!

[Shannon Laurent]

A cruel king, a nameless queen and a dark fairytale that will run through your emotions like a lance through a knight. A fantastic quick read that is both fascinating and heart wrenching. Beautifully written with captivating characters, this is a must read for fantasy lovers.