Meet the Author
Zoe T. Conley writes character-driven fantasy and romance that explore resilience, identity, healing, and the courage it takes to become yourself.
Long before she became a novelist, Zoe was a storyteller in other forms. She began in ballet in Cleveland Ohio before pursuing acting and graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. She later spent nearly seven years working in entertainment costuming with Disney in Orlando Florida, helping bring beloved stories and characters to life.
Though the medium changed, storytelling remained the constant thread. Writing novels became a natural home for her love of character, emotion, and the transformative power of a well-told story.
Today, Zoe is the author of The Pledge Tale Series, including A Way With Darkness and Darkness Folding. Her work is known for its emotional depth, complex relationships, and a focus on healing, resilience, and finding the strength to take up space.
She can be found writing at all hours of the night with multiple drinks cluttering her desk while her cats Olivia Lu and Flynn sleep nearby to keep her company.
Fantasy, Romance & Character-Driven Fiction
Stories about resilience, redemption, and the courage to take up space.
Zoe writes character-driven stories that explore healing, identity, love, and the complicated choices that shape who we become. Whether set in dark academia halls, crumbling political systems, or worlds filled with impossible choices, her stories are ultimately about people finding the strength to reclaim their own voices.
The Pledge Tale Series follows two women, Adelaide Nightingale and Juliet Laremy, whose lives unfold years apart within the same magical society. As they navigate a world shaped by power, privilege, social expectations, and long-buried secrets, both are forced to question everything they have been taught and decide what they are willing to sacrifice for the truth.
-
“It’s truly refreshing to read a book bursting with healthy relationships. I will definitely read anything Zoe T. Conley publishes in the future.”
- Blog: Wine Cellar Library
“Zoe Conley has delivered a masterpiece with A Way With Darkness. It’s a dark, enchanting fantasy that keeps you guessing until the very end. With its rich world-building, complex characters, and unpredictable twists, this book is a must-read for any fantasy lover. I’m already anxiously awaiting what comes next in this series—because there is no way this story is done unraveling. If you haven’t picked this up yet, do yourself a favor and dive in. You won’t regret it.”
- Angie | The Simplest Nest
“Dark, yet somehow cozy, "A Way With Darkness" is both a comfort and a punch to the gut. Seriously, a must-read.”
-Korey Willis, Author of The Karma Project
-
“Darkness Folding is a rich, emotionally charged read with jaw-dropping twists, tension that leaves you breathless, and a cliffhanger that makes you desperate for more. Zoe Conley has crafted a story where every feeling, from desire to heartbreak to triumph, sticks with you even after you’ve finished it!”
- Vintagev_reads
“The political intrigue adds a whole extra layer of depth. Alliances shift like smoke, truths unravel at the worst possible moments, and just when you think you know where things are going… the story tilts, deliciously, into chaos. This book is dark, seductive, and emotionally gripping—a romantasy that doesn’t just tell a story, it claims you.”
-InkedSirenXO
-
“Don’t read this just for the romance. Read this for the political intrigue and the female rage. For the love and heartbreak that women go through and how they persevere. Zoe writes about corrupt leadership full of awful men, but also about men who love unconditionally. She also writes about women empowerment and resilience.”
-Chesly Sandel
“This book really said “patriarchy, control, trauma, and forbidden love” and then lit the whole system on fire?? Yeah… I was locked IN.”
- ARC Reader
“Darkness Released: The Aftermath is a solid continuation that blends action, emotion, and intrigue. It’s a story that will linger in your thoughts, leaving you eager to see what comes next while appreciating the journey along the way.”
- Lilith's_Library_
