Hi, readers and fellow authors,

What a journey it has been with these two characters—Dante Vyer and Mara Ellison.

I started writing Brutal with one simple thought: I wanted to capture the struggle of a person who believed himself to be void of emotions. Someone battling demons and monsters within, someone who carries a rage he doesn’t know how to express.

Because, in one way or another, everyone is fighting something. It could be anger, depression, anxiety, loneliness, fear—or something so small that nobody else even notices. Sometimes, our biggest battles are the ones we fight silently.

And that was Dante for me.

He found his release inside the cage. It became the place where he could unleash his rage, his anger, his pain, and everything he kept buried inside himself.

And then came Mara Ellison.

A petite, feisty girl who somehow stepped into his world and brought with her everything Dante thought he was incapable of feeling. She was warmth. She was care. She was alive in a way he wasn't. She carried an aliveness that completely intoxicated him.

And somehow, he found himself wanting her in his life.

Writing this story has been such a beautiful journey. These final chapters, especially, were incredibly emotional for me to write. It felt almost like watching a child grow up—you nurture them, spend so much time with them, watch them become who they are, and then suddenly, you reach the point where you have to let them go.

That is what Brutal has been for me.

I truly hope you enjoyed Dante and Mara's journey. I hope you felt their intensity, their chemistry, their pain, their love, and everything in between. Every part of this story is fictional, but the emotions behind it are something I hope you could connect with.

And so, this is where Brutal ends.

With a beautiful goodbye.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for staying with these characters. Thank you for becoming attached to their story and allowing me to take you along on this journey.

I'll see you in the next book—with a different plot, different characters, a different kind of love.

Maybe it will be dark. Maybe it will be fluffy. Maybe it will be something completely unexpected.

But one thing is certain: it will be filled with love, beautiful chaos, unsettling plots, and hooks that I hope keep you turning the pages.

Until then, please share Brutal with someone who might love this story. Tell me your thoughts in the comments, and if you enjoyed the book, show it some love.

And if there's a particular plot, character, trope, or genre you'd love to see me write next, tell me.

I'm always listening. In the meantime, Please hit the follow button, to stay tuned on the more beautiful creations.

Until we meet again,

With love,
Phoenix