What the Chrysalis Keeps
A Novel
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Pub Date Sep 30 2026 | Archive Date Aug 29 2026
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Description
Behind the name, beyond the gates, the blood on their hands is the same.
Hiding behind the name Red, Imogen works at an underground fight club at night and a condemned house by day, until she finds herself at the center of another murder.
An invitation to Swallowtail promises her safety in a diverse sisterhood, at a secluded estate miles away from anywhere. But behind the gilded gates, lush landscapes, and manicured smiles, is Sasha, a woman who has turned her own scars into a crown.
Two broken women. Two timelines. One sun-drenched descent into darkness. What becomes of women when pain is the only power? In Swallowtail, the transformation has already begun.
While Imogen seeks to bury her past, echoes of another woman emerge from a decade prior—one who learns that in this predator vs. prey world, the only way to survive is to become the most dangerous woman in the room. But after one sister goes missing, and another turns up dead, all eyes point back to Imogen. In her queendom, Sasha sees individuality as a liability, where one mistake will burn it all down, and Imogen must be punished.
Imogen has only one rule for herself: Don’t Tell and Run Like Hell. But in Swallowtail, there is nowhere to run, and the woman in power is watching, waiting for the one who will betray her.
Blending the atmospheric dread of Stacy Willingham and Gillian Flynn with the sunlit, ritualistic horror of Midsommar, What the Chrysalis Keeps is a harrowing psychological thriller that explores the dark side of sisterhood and the price of power.
A Note From the Publisher
This digital ARC is the uncorrected text of the upcoming physical release.
Content Warnings: This novel contains mature themes, psychological manipulation, and descriptions of violence (including violence against women), murder, drug and alcohol abuse, psychological manipulation, human trafficking themes, sexual assault, child molestation (recounted, not depicted), suicide (off page) and traumatic loss. Reader discretion is advised.
Reviewer Request: Reviews are the best gift any author can receive. If you enjoy this novel, please consider cross-posting your review to Goodreads (or The StoryGraph) and Amazon upon launch using the hashtag #whatthechrysaliskeeps.
Advance Praise
"The book is engaging, intriguing, and horrifying at once." - Goodreads ARC reviewer
"Mica Merrill Rice blew me away with her writing style. Lyrical and deeply psychological, "Chrysalis" wasn't afraid to venture into a dark and sinister place." - Goodreads ARC reviewer
Marketing Plan
Launch Overview & Media Outreach
• Release Date: September 30, 2026.
• Target Audience: Readers of literary psychological thrillers, dark suspense, and complex character-driven fiction who seek transformation over redemption.
• Media Campaign: Active media outreach campaign underway targeting specific literary, horror, and thriller podcasts, regional TV interviews, and independent bookstores for author appearances.
Advanced Review Copy (ARC) & Influencer Distribution
• Secured Influencer Campaigns: Strategic digital ARC distribution secured with prominent genre-specific Instagram influencers ensuring high-visibility coverage leading up to launch day.
• Community Engagement: Coordinated review push across Goodreads and StoryGraph via dedicated thriller reader networks.
Advertising & Promotional Strategy:
• Paid Ads: Targeted Amazon Ads campaign scheduled to run continuously from pre-order through 30 days post-launch to maximize visibility during the critical release window.
• Feature Deal Submissions: Submission strategy in place for a high-impact BookBub Featured Deal to capture maximum reader acquisition post-launch.
• Newsletter Swaps: Coordinated cross-promotional newsletter swaps and subscriber-growth campaigns actively underway to expand an existing base of over 1,000 engaged genre readers.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798991389136 |
| PRICE | $16.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 296 |
Available on NetGalley
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