Kate Krake is an independent author of magical and otherworldly fiction. She writes three kinds of books: contemporary witchy fantasy set in quirky small towns, clean and sweet small-town shifter romance, and surreal, speculative short stories.
Across all of them you’ll find found-family communities, humour alongside the mystery and danger, and characters going through real personal transformation.
| Series or book | What kind of book it is | Books | Reading order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Witch Against Wicked | Witchy small-town fantasy mystery series | 7 novels | Read in order |
| The Elm Witch | Quirky witchy small-town fantasy | 1 novel | Standalone |
| Night Shift at the Shadow Bay Hotel | Spooky, funny paranormal fiction with a midlife heroine | 1 novel | Standalone |
| Shifter Mates of Fairbright Falls | Clean, sweet small-town shifter romance | 4 books | Any order; best in sequence |
| Familiar Shadows of the Strange | Surreal magic realism short stories | 1 collection | Any order |
| Creatures of the Liminal Wilds | Speculative short stories of cryptids and folklore | 10 stories, 1 illustrated collection | Any order |
Witch Against Wicked: witchy small-town fantasy mysteries
Witch Against Wicked is a seven-book witchy mystery series set in Blackthorn Springs, a quiet mountain town full of magic and secrets. Each book has its own self-contained mystery, but the larger story runs across the whole series, so read them in order.
The series follows Belinda Drake, a reluctant witch with a love of mysteries and chocolate, who starts over running a bookstore. When her neighbour dies from a deadly curse, she has to face the magic she’s been avoiding. Expect small-town charm, loyal supernatural friends, a slow-simmer romance, and a cantankerous talking cat who refuses to speak.
It’s for readers who love witchy mysteries, magical small towns, and a heroine who comes through hard times stronger.
The Witch Against Wicked series in reading order:
- A Maze of Magic (originally published as A Maze of Murder)
- A Mask of Chaos
- A Trial of Ghosts
- A Wreath of Ruin
- A Hex of Wolves
- A Trick of Bones (originally published as A Trick of Terror)
- A Coven of Ravens (originally published as A Coven of Demons)
The series is available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, large print paperback, and audiobook.
Standalone witchy fantasy novels
Kate’s standalone novels are complete stories in one book, with no series commitment. They share the witchy small-town feel of Witch Against Wicked, with more comedy and whimsy.
The Elm Witch
The Elm Witch is a quirky, witchy small-town fantasy about best friends Elin and Ava, who run a magical plant store in the town of Hollyash Grove. When magic disappears across town, they’re blamed, and their search for the truth leads beneath the roots of the town’s great elm tree, where something ancient is waking.
It’s for readers who love close-knit magical communities, warmth and humour, and witches who’d rather be drinking tea than saving the world. Available in ebook, print, and audiobook.
Night Shift at the Shadow Bay Hotel
Night Shift at the Shadow Bay Hotel is a spooky, funny paranormal novel about Shelley Frost, who finds herself broke, homeless, divorced, and middle-aged in the same year. Her new job on the night shift at a seaside hotel brings a dead body, ghosts, the discovery that magic is real, a vampire who wants to be her best friend, and a handsome groundskeeper.
It’s for readers who love quirky supernatural characters, weird little towns, and midlife women finding their power.
Shifter Mates of Fairbright Falls: clean and sweet shifter romance
Shifter Mates of Fairbright Falls is a clean, sweet paranormal romance series set in a small town that draws shifters looking for a fresh start. Every book is a fated-mates love story with a guaranteed happily ever after and no cliffhangers.
These romances are low angst and comforting, with moments of danger, mystery, and mild peril that bring the couple closer. There’s no alpha posturing and no dominance games, just kind, emotionally available shifters who fall hard and protect what matters.
Each book is a standalone love story. They can be read in any order, but are best enjoyed in sequence:
It’s for readers who love small-town paranormal romance, fated mates, sweet shifters, and guaranteed HEAs. Available in ebook, audiobook, paperback, and large print paperback.
Surreal and Speculative Short Stories
Kate’s short fiction wanders into stranger, dreamier territory than her novels: uncanny encounters, surreal moments, and creatures at the edges of reality.
Familiar Shadows of the Strange
Familiar Shadows of the Strange: Surreal Stories of Uncanny Magic is a collection of psychologically surreal short stories in the literary magic realism tradition. Each story finds the uncanny inside ordinary life, at the thresholds between who we are, who we’ve been, and who we’re becoming.
It’s for readers who love The Twilight Zone and other strange, thought-provoking tales. Available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
Creatures of the Liminal Wilds
Creatures of the Liminal Wilds: Speculative Stories of Bewildering Beasts is a series of ten short stories where cryptids, folklore, and the supernatural meet. The stories feature beasts of myth, spirits of the wilderness, and beings that blur the line between real and impossible.
All ten stories are gathered in a special illustrated collection, available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook. It’s for readers who enjoy strange folklore, mysterious encounters, and speculative fiction in bite-sized pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What genre does Kate Krake write?
Kate Krake writes magical and otherworldly fiction: contemporary witchy fantasy and mystery, clean small-town shifter romance, and surreal, speculative short stories.
Where should I start reading Kate Krake’s books?
For a witchy mystery series, start with A Maze of Magic, book 1 of Witch Against Wicked. For one complete story, try The Elm Witch. For sweet romance, start with Kissing Kitty. For something strange and short, pick up Familiar Shadows of the Strange or Creatures of the Liminal Wilds.
Do I need to read Witch Against Wicked in order?
Yes. Each book has its own mystery, but the overarching story runs in sequence from A Maze of Magic to A Coven of Ravens.
Is A Maze of Magic the same book as A Maze of Murder?
Yes. A Maze of Magic was originally published as A Maze of Murder. It is book 1 of the Witch Against Wicked series.
Are the Shifter Mates of Fairbright Falls books clean romance?
Yes. They are clean, sweet romances with fated mates, low angst, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Are Kate Krake’s books available as audiobooks?
Yes. Witch Against Wicked, The Elm Witch, Shifter Mates of Fairbright Falls, and both short story collections are available in audio.
Can I buy books directly from Kate Krake?
Yes. Ebooks and audiobooks are sold directly at the Kate Krake Book Store, and all books are also available from major online retailers.
Does Kate Krake write books for writers?
Yes. Kate also writes nonfiction for writers, found at The Creative Writing Life and Tarot Writers.