Thank you for visiting my official home on the web! You’ll find information about my books and publications; reviews of anime, comics, and manga; posts about writing and publishing, and more. Pull up a chair, grab your drink of choice, and enjoy yourself!
THE DARKENING GATE TRILOGY
About The Darkening Gate
The Name and the Key
AVAILABLE NOW
An evil spirit haunts Lily in every reflection she sees, threatening her sanity if she cannot “open the door.” Her childhood friend Andresh, now a magician, holds the key to breaking the curse, but his own secrets may destroy them both.
The Step and the Walk
COMING OCTOBER 13, 2026.
Through a hidden journal, Lily uncovers Andresh’s past, where she learns Andresh left his university to make a deal with a demon he named Isabelle in order to unlock the secrets of alchemy that will lead to the end of death itself.
The Fear and the Flame
CURRENTLY DRAFTING.
Andresh is captive at Nigredo Gate, a shadow of his former human self. Armed with Andresh’s secrets and some magic of her own, it’s up to Lily to save her lover from his fate and to end the Magnum Opus once and for all.
What Readers Say About Kristina’s Writing
Rori
“It left me craving more, and believing that stories like this are why I fell in love with fantasy in the first place.”
September
“[…] crafts a beautifully layered story filled with enchanting worldbuilding, memorable characters, and emotional stakes that keep the pages turning from beginning to end.”
Elyse
“One thing I love about Butke’s writing is that every word feels like it needs to be there. Nothing feels unnecessary in her writing. And yet, she is still able to make everything fast pace, making it very difficult to put down..”
Kristina Elyse Butke 