We chat with author C.R. Jane about Shadows of Sparta, which is an MF dark romantasy featuring a strong heroine, morally gray heroes, forbidden magic, and an enemies-to-lovers love triangle.
Hi, C.R.! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m C.R. Jane, a USA Today bestselling romance author and lifelong lover of stories. I’ve always been fascinated by complicated characters, larger-than-life love stories, and the idea that there’s someone out there who would do absolutely anything for the person they love. I write across several romance subgenres, including dark romantasy, contemporary romance, dark romance, sports romance, and romantic suspense. These days, I spend most of my time creating obsessive heroes, strong heroines, and the kind of romance that keeps readers turning pages long past bedtime. When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me reading, hanging out with my family, or attending NFL or NHL games!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I fell in love with stories before I can even remember. I started reading when I was three years old, and books quickly became my favorite place to escape. I was the kid who always had a book in my hand and I would stay up all night reading in bed with a flashlight.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: honestly cannot remember
- The one that made you want to become an author: Ella Enchanted
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Plated Prisoner Series
Your latest novel, Shadows of Sparta, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Desire, destiny, gods, magic, betrayal
What can readers expect?
Shadows of Sparta is a dark, romantic fantasy inspired by Greek mythology and the legend of Helen of Troy—but this version is far more magical, brutal, and emotionally intense than the story most people think they know.
The novel follows Helena, a young woman raised in a cursed version of Sparta where the gods have vanished, the land is dying, and power is built on violence and sacrifice. After years of surviving under the control of a ruthless king, Helena is thrust into a series of deadly trials tied to ancient magic and forgotten prophecies. As political unrest grows and war looms on the horizon, she finds herself caught between duty, survival, and dangerous men who would burn kingdoms to possess her.
At its core, Shadows of Sparta is about power, obsession, fate, and what happens when a woman long treated as a prize realizes she may be something far more terrifying. It blends epic fantasy, romance, mythology, political tension, morally gray characters, and very high emotional stakes. Readers can expect intense relationships, forbidden attraction, betrayal, monsters, ancient magic, and a heroine forced to decide whether she will remain a pawn in someone else’s story—or become the thing kingdoms fear most.
Where did the inspiration for Shadows of Sparta come from?
The inspiration for Shadows of Sparta really goes back to my childhood. I was completely obsessed with Greek mythology growing up, devouring stories about gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, and epic wars. I loved how larger-than-life everything felt—the drama, the romance, the betrayals, and the idea that the fate of entire kingdoms could hinge on a single choice.
As I got older, that fascination never went away. I found myself constantly wondering about the people behind the myths and what their stories might have looked like if we could step beyond the legends. Shadows of Sparta gave me the chance to combine that lifelong love of Greek mythology with my passion for romance and fantasy. It was my opportunity to reimagine a world I have loved for as long as I can remember and fill it with magic, monsters, political intrigue, and unforgettable love stories.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Without question, Helena was my favorite character to explore. Growing up, I was fascinated by Helen of Troy, but I always felt like history and mythology reduced her to one thing—her beauty. She was often treated as an object that men fought over rather than a person with her own thoughts, fears, ambitions, and desires.
With Shadows of Sparta, I wanted to dig deeper and ask who Helena might have been beyond the legend. What did it feel like to have an entire world projecting its expectations onto you? What kind of strength would it take to survive in a society where your value is tied to how others see you? Helena’s journey became an exploration of power, identity, and resilience.
I loved writing a heroine who is strong not because she’s fearless or physically invincible, but because she endures. She questions the roles others have chosen for her, makes difficult choices, and gradually discovers her own power. More than anything, I wanted readers to see Helena as a complete person—a woman whose story is about far more than being beautiful.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
It was challenging in general to reimagine such iconic characters. Figures like Helen of Troy come with centuries of expectations attached to them, and I spent a lot of time thinking about how to stay true to the spirit of the myths while giving the characters their own voices and journeys. Helena, in particular, was important to me because I wanted readers to see her as more than the beautiful woman history remembers. I wanted to explore her strength, intelligence, fears, and resilience.
I overcame those challenges by constantly returning to the characters. Whenever I felt stuck, I focused less on the mythology and more on the people at the heart of the story. Once I understood what Helena wanted, what she feared, and what she was willing to fight for, the rest of the story began to fall into place.
Can you share a little teaser of what’s to come for the Spartan Flame trilogy?
Without giving too much away, readers can expect the stakes to get much, much higher. The world of Shadows of Sparta is only the beginning. As the trilogy continues, long-buried secrets will come to light, ancient powers will awaken, and the lines between friend and enemy will become increasingly blurred.
Helena’s journey is far from over. She’ll be forced to confront truths about herself, her destiny, and the people she loves. The relationships at the heart of the series will be tested in ways neither the characters nor the readers expect, and the choices Helena makes will have consequences that ripple across kingdoms.
Expect more mythology, more monsters, more magic, bigger battles, devastating betrayals, and romances that only become more complicated. Everything is building toward a conflict much larger than Sparta itself.
What’s next for you?
I have a lot of exciting projects coming up! Readers can look forward to Don’t Say Mafia, a dark mafia romance and an offshoot of my Pucking Wrong and Wrong Player worlds. It has all the obsession, possessive heroes, chaos, and twisted romance that readers have come to expect from me, while introducing a whole new corner of the universe. It’s dark, intense, and completely addictive.
I’m also incredibly excited about Dark Horse, which is probably one of the most unique projects I’ve ever worked on. It’s a dark cowboy romance with a serial killer twist, blending the rugged atmosphere of ranch life with mystery, danger, and some very morally gray characters. It’s eerie, suspenseful, obsessive, and feels like peak C.R. Jane.
And of course, I’ll be continuing the Spartan Flame trilogy. Between fantasy, dark mafia romance, serial killers, cowboys, and all the obsessive love stories in between, there’s a lot on the horizon that I can’t wait to share with readers.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
The book I’m most looking forward to reading is The Sweetest Fiend by Raven Kennedy. Raven is one of my closest friends, and I’ve had the privilege of beta reading early versions of the book. Even knowing the story, I’m incredibly excited to experience the final version the way readers will. She’s such a talented storyteller, and I can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions.
