About Iris de Vree

Iris de Vree is a Belgian fantasy author and the creator of The Twelve Cities Saga. Her debut novel, Secrets on the Wall, was published on 21 March, a date that holds special meaning as it coincides with the birthday of her youngest dog, Teddie. The story marked the beginning of a fantasy world shaped by magic, sisterhood, and characters carrying secrets and sacrifice.

She continued the series with Lies in the Shadows, released on 11 October, further expanding the world of the Twelve Cities and deepening its emotional complexity. Iris’s writing is rooted in emotionally driven storytelling and found family themes. She is known for taking familiar tropes and refusing to play them straight, often reshaping them into something bolder and less predictable. For example, when it comes to the “sharing one bed” trope, chances are her protagonist would rather burn it down than give in so easily.

In April, Iris is set to launch her next novel, Mend to Be Broken, a new story that continues her focus on complex characters, emotional tension, and unconventional choices. When she is not writing, Iris can often be found editing in cosy coffee bars, attempting to survive pilates despite a severe lack of flexibility, or spending time with her dogs, who frequently inspire both her work and her writing routine.