Chester, England, UK – Exorcise some demons (or pretend to) with Colton and Lucian in this frenemies-to-lovers paranormal romantasy from acclaimed author, E.L. Deards. “The Lavender Blade” (She Writes Press, July 8, 2025) follows two con artists that pair up as exorcists pretending to exorcise demonic possessions for handsome rewards. But when one of them is possessed by a real demon, the other must choose if he can save his friend and save his relationship.

In this dark romantic fantasy, E.L. Deards raises the stakes creating a steampunk world where villains desire world domination, pitting both Colton and Lucian against personal demons both literal and figurative. A witty exploration into themes of acceptance, identity, and resilience, fans of Gideon the Ninth and A Marvellous LIght will be asking: Will this pair be able to save each other from themselves?

More about the book: Colton and Lucian, a young pair of exorcist con artists, use sleight of hand and their natural charm to scam the nation’s wealthiest...until one of them becomes possessed for real. Colton has to act quickly to learn the real tricks of his trade and exorcise the demon before Lucian’s soul is snuffed out completely. As the creature becomes more and more powerful, Colton resorts to increasingly drastic measures to save the man he loves from annihilation.