Where every lie hides a truth worth bleeding for

Enter the world of E.L. Deards, where magic deceives, love endangers, and survival rests on the sharpest lies. Her queer speculative fiction blurs the line between trickery and truth, shadow and flame.

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Lavender Blades Has Arrived

The trick has come undone. Performance and possession now spill freely into the dark.

Enter the world… if you dare.

The Lavender Blade

They’ve conned their way through every haunting. But when a real demon takes Lucian, the game is over.

Now, Colton must defy the rules of magic, risk his soul, and fight for the one thing that was never a lie— Love.

“The Lavender Blade by Emma Deards is your new queer fantasy obsession. Magical, funny, romantic, imaginative, and just a little spooky. What more could you want from two disaster con artists in over their heads?”

“Occasionally blood-drenched, fiercely hopeful, and quick as a blade in the dark. The passion in this book claws and burns and gleams—and writes one hell of a love letter.”

“The Lavender Blade by E.L. Deards is a dark, romantic, and thrilling adventure… For fans of steampunk fantasy with a gothic twist, I highly recommend The Lavender Blade as their next must-read.”

“E.L. Deards's novel The Lavender Blade is engaging and captivating, with riveting twists and turns. Love, passion, and humor blend seamlessly with elements of fear and horror. Highly recommended.”

“Emma Deards has written a brave, bold, and essential novel, one that both challenges our assumptions about love and forces us to a broader and deeper understanding of it. Unflinching and original. . . . A book whose effects will linger long after the final page is turned.”

“As much a tragic romance as it is a war drama, the historical novel Wild with All Regrets delves into sensitive topics with grace and tact . . . brilliant and sensory . . . a powerful novel in which a grieving man endures the shame of a lost love in a time and place when homophobia reigned.”

“Set in the era of World War One, Wild with All Regrets is a gripping page turner that takes an unflinchingly honest yet abidingly tender look at how we strive for hope and love despite the haunting violence—including poverty, bigotry, and warfare—this world can inflict. The characters of Lucas and Jamie will both fill and break your heart.

Choose Where to Begin

Whether you’re discovering E.L. Deards for the first time, returning for more, or looking for press materials — there’s a path for you.

New to E.L. Deards?

Explore her debut novella — a quiet, powerful story set in the trenches of WWI. It’s the perfect entry point into her world of emotionally rich, character-driven fiction.

Waiting for the New Release?

Get a first look at her upcoming queer historical fantasy, launching July 8, 2025. Read the blurb and learn more.

For Media & Booksellers

Download the official author bio and press kit for media use and bookseller inquiries.

Meet E.L. Deards

Emma Deards grew up in New York City and earned her undergraduate degree at Barnard College at Columbia University, where she studied Japanese literature and biology. She was then accepted to The University of Edinburgh, where she completed her veterinary degree. She remained in the UK afterward, and since then has split her time between her day job as a vet and her truest passion: writing.