Drinking with Vikings Somebody bumped me, jolting me back to...
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Enter
the World
of the
Broken Dawn
The elves returned from the stars to save Earth...
...and broke everything.
2049.
Earth's megapolises are occupied by fabulous aliens. The countryside is a redcap-infested wasteland. And outside the city formerly known as Minneapolis, a half-elven conductor for the Underhill Railroad, will risk it all getting her Runners to safety.
Get the Original Version of Strangeling Before it's Gone
Series Relaunching Soon
Health problems kept me from writing for a couple years, and the book I published in 2022 isn’t quite the foundation I want the rest of the series to rest on. I’m adding chapters, changing the opening, line editing the whole thing, and generally polishing it up. Book 2 is half written and 2 prequel novellas are in the works, which will appear here as serial fiction here on Fridays. So if you want the original white deer cover, order now!
Subscribe to the newsletter, blog RSS, or social channels for updates – Kira Hagen, June 2025
Writing Blog & Serial Fiction
Valkyrie Chapter One, pt 1
Author’s Note: “Valkyrie” will be a weekly serial coming out...
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Writing, Photography, and Life
Well, it’s been a couple years since I had a...
Read MoreStrangeling
First Book of the Broken Dawn Series
2049: Elves returned from the stars to save Earth... from humanity.
The United State have fractured. Rural Minnesota is crawling with redcaps and the Twin Cities are occupied by fabulous aliens. Their magic wrecked tech and mutates people into “strangelings”, fae creatures hunted or imprisoned lest the Hunger take them.
Half-elven grad student Aisling hides her magic behind an illusion and a bass guitar. By day she passes as human. By night, she smuggles for the Underhill Railroad. Unfortunately, a certain antlered soldier in the Edgelands prison labor brigade has her scent – and blames her for his Change.
Meanwhile, drag queen and former elven prince Connor McMann is late for his show. Catfishmen are attacking Minneapolis, he should already be in makeup, and his favorite boots are covered in slime. But broken magic or not, Connor still intends to sparkle.
With fae monsters, found family, and deeply inconvenient feelings, Strangeling launches a disaster bi, genre-blending saga of dystopia, mythology, and hot messes saving the world.
"The worldbuilding is bonkers in the best way—Celtic and Norse myth meet dystopian sci-fi with a heavy dose of queer joy and punk energy. It’s messy, magical, and genuinely hilarious. Honestly, if you like your fantasy with heart, sass, and a drag show mid-battle, this one’s for you."
—Ashley G, Librarian
Netgalley Review
The world building and history that is going into this series is great and a wonderful setup for future books.
The ending had me squealing in frustration and I am clamoring for more!!! I feel like this whole series is going to be a roller coaster of emotion and I'm here for it. This debut novel by Kira Hagen hit the ball out of the park.
"The story is very well constructed, building and building to outcomes that you can't help but cheer for. The writing is magnificent, almost cinematic at times. Seriously, when the characters arrive at the beautiful Hall of the Matrons, time stood still."
— Maryanne Schuessler
Amazon Review
More Reviews at:
Main Characters
& Strangeling Sample Chapters
Arthur Hart
Incarcerated since he grew antlers, Captain Hart leads the prison labor group Strangeling Brigade, patrolling the haunted Edgelands around the stolen Twin Cities’ no-go zone. They hunt cryptids, aliens, and the elusive girl who Irradianced him. The worst monsters are the ones inside, though, and Hart is starting to lose control of his.
And he’s the steady, responsible one.
Aisling Lingren
Minnesota’s Iron Range is the last place you’d look for an elf, and that’s why Aisling’s mother hid there. Since her death, her disaster bi daughter has gone full Northland. Between breaking chainsaws, working on her Masters, and playing bass for the Lumber Punks, she moonshines as a monster hunter and Conducts for the Underhill Railroad.
She’s the wildcard.
Connor McMann
Once a prince of a fallen world, Connor woke up broken, years after his people reclaimed Earth without him. Since then, he’s abdicated, embraced drag, and pole-danced his way to a few shiny titles. By day, he’s with the Freeport Guard. By night, he’s a glamor-addicted star with intimacy issues and a tendency to flirt with everyone.
He’s the problem child.
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