Melissa Mickelsen

Melissa Mickelsen is a writer, a hiker, and a collector of national park stickers. She holds a degree in Art History from the University of Georgia and a master’s in Technical Communication from Southern Polytechnic, both of which are proudly gathering dust in their frames on the wall.

As a military spouse, Melissa has lived in seven states and two countries. She currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area with her husband, two children, and...

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Books

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Tearfall

The Grays promised salvation. They brought Tearfall instead.

A woman surviving on spite and pork jerky.

An alien warrior honor-bound to atone for the mistakes of his people.

A secret that will destroy the last of humanity.

Captured and taken aboard the Grays’ warship, Cat wants nothing to do with the alien warriors who destroyed her planet. But when...

Nightingale (The Nightingale’s Song Book 1)

From the series: The Nightingale's Song

When Lorcen Caspon, a ruthless guildmaster, destroys her family in his relentless hunt for a rare halfblood, the girl loses everything. Rising from the ashes of her former life, she becomes the Nightingale—a deadly pawn in Caspon’s merciless quest for power over the guilds of Caesia.

Bound by a cruel enchantment, the Nightingale is trapped in a...

Bones of the Vale (The Nightingale’s Song Book 2)

From the series: The Nightingale's Song

Betrayed by those she hoped to aid, Tylidae finds herself trapped in the harrowing underbelly of the Crystal Vale, where the insatiable hunger of a mythical rukh threatens to consume the very essence of her being—a rare ether coursing through her halfblood veins.

In a desperate bid for freedom, Tylidae wages battle against the divine ruler of the...

Series

Nightingale (The Nightingale’s Song Book 1)

Bones of the Vale (The Nightingale’s Song Book 2)

The Nightingale's Song

Nightingale (The Nightingale’s Song Book 1), Bones of the Vale (The Nightingale’s Song Book 2), Queen of Stone (The Nightingale’s Song Book 3), and Crown of Stars (The Nightingale’s Song Book 4)

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Praise

"In a world where most humans have a superstitious fear of the elf-like, tree-dwelling anthelai, a half-anthela girl, a rarity considered a demon by the human population, survives the brutal destruction of her home only to be enslaved by the rapacious human Guildmaster Lorcen Caspon. As the mysterious assassin known as the Nightingale, she spreads death and terror until faced by a determined opponent of equal skill: Astin Talros, a general in service to the king. Her struggle to escape Caspon and avenge her family's death becomes a race against her relentless pursuit by Talros, who, unaware that she acts under compulsion, is sworn to destroy her. Effectively melding briskly-paced action with the internal struggles of both a traumatized young outcast forced into horrific deeds and the wily but honorable Talros. Debut author Mickelsen brings fresh twists and emotional depth to her tightly-written, compelling tale of mercantile politics, interracial conflict, and difficult choices."

– Publishers Weekly

One of the most well-written fantasy books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The author has a unique voice with an uncanny ability to paint vivid images in novel ways. As an author myself, I have tendency to read with an analytical mind in terms of mechanics, which is one of the leading causes of me failing to finish a book; however, the mechanics of this piece had me “fangirling” throughout. It is an impressive work, and the author does not hold back or coddle the reader. The story is engaging and intriguing, with relatable characters. Errors are minimal, and the narrative flows effortlessly. I’m beyond excited to read more of the series.

– Honey

Blog

February 13, 2026

ARC readers wanted!

I'm putting together an ARC review team for my new novel, TEARFALL, which is post-apocalypse/sci-fi with some romance. If you're interested, you can apply here: https://forms.gle/eVo5ZNkfEr1BK9Ac7

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The Grays promised salvation. They brought Tearfall instead.

A woman surviving on spite and pork jerky.

An alien warrior honor-bound to atone for the mistakes of his people.

A secret that will destroy the last of humanity.

Captured and taken aboard the Grays’ warship, Cat wants...