An intimate, empathetic novel about two boys overcoming a deep, soul-wrenching depravity at the hands of their own teacher. Long after the crime is committed, they must contend with nightmares, disordered eating, and the permanent loss of their humanity.

Daegal Kirkland works hard to keep up with his peers despite his vision impairments and sensitive skin. He gets good grades, participates in his middle school’s book club, and has his brother, Lucien, to fall back on whenever things go awry.

On a day like any other, Daegal’s English teacher, Agatha Dunn, suddenly transforms him into an animalistic angel; scared and confused, he immediately runs to Lucien’s side, ultimately dragging them both into her trap.

Over the course of several months, Agatha attempts to strip both boys of everything that makes them human, torturing them through destructive diets and intermittent isolation, until Daegal manages to escape while her guard is down.

Irreversibly altered inside and out, both boys face a harrowing journey of recovery if they ever hope to find a new sense of normal.

Angel Cake is intended for mature audiences. Reader discretion is advised. For a list of content warnings, visit https://sithiaqueen.com.

Length – Angel Cake is only 40,000 words, so can be read in as little as two and a half hours (estimated based on a reading speed of 285 words per minute).

Series – Angel Cake is Book 2 in the Monster-Boy Bromance series, but can be read stand-alone; there are some returning concepts, but the vast majority of the important characters are brand new.

Genre – Angel Cake is a contemporary fantasy / literary fiction hybrid. This book is low concept and has an everyday slice-of-life format. This book is character-driven and dialogue-heavy. Despite the young characters, Angel Cake is not in the young adult or middle grade genre.