(In-House) Author Spotlight with Rivkah Plume

On Hellebore Fields: A Dark Academia Hockey Romance

Margot Collins and Aber Stoat Authors & Guests

Apr 02, 2026

Dark Academia + Hockey Romance

Rivkah Plume, author of the gripping dark academia hockey romance Hellebore Fields (UC Wisteria Book #1 from Aber Stoat Publishing), sits down with us to discuss obsession, ambition, and the dangerous line between love and possession.

What early reviewers had to say:

“The power of these chapter endings is noteworthy; every ending statement is a perfectly placed hook ...” — BlueInk Review (starred review)

“Hellebore Fields is a propulsive romance novel about the paper-thin line between obsession and devotion.” — Foreword Clarion Reviews

“Devotees of dark romances will not be surprised to discover that the twists are plentiful and the characters are gray, though Plume invests them with vital prose, fresh conviction, and surges of feeling.” — Booklife

Q: Rivkah, congratulations on the release of Hellebore Fields! Can you tell us what the book is about without giving too much away?

Rivkah Plume: Thank you! Hellebore Fields is a dark academia hockey romance set at the elite UC Wisteria. It follows Tesni, a determined scholarship student who’s worked relentlessly for her fresh start; books, academic success, and the future she’s clawed her way toward. But her carefully built world collides with the intense, obsessive world of the university’s hockey star. The story explores the razor-thin line between love and dangerous obsession, where passion can quickly turn possessive, and the stakes are as high off the ice as they are on it.

Q: What inspired the unique blend of dark academia and hockey romance in this story?

Rivkah Plume: I’ve always been drawn to dark academia for its atmospheric tension; the ivy-covered buildings, hidden secrets, intellectual intensity, and underlying power struggles. Hockey romance is another one of my favorites, and it adds a raw, physical edge that contrasts beautifully with the scholarly setting. There’s something magnetic about athletes who channel aggression and precision on the ice, then carry that intensity into their personal lives. I wanted to explore what happens when a focused, ambitious heroine gets pulled into that high-stakes, obsessive world. The “dark” element came naturally from the blurred boundaries between devotion and danger.

Q: Your protagonist, Tesni, is a scholarship student fighting for her place. How much of her drive reflects your own experiences or observations?

Rivkah Plume: Tesni’s grit comes from watching people who’ve had to fight for every opportunity. I love characters who refuse to be defined by their circumstances. She’s smart, resilient, and determined not to let anyone, especially not a charismatic, borderline-obsessive hockey player, derail the future she’s earned. That said, her story is pure fiction, but the emotional core of earning your place in a privileged environment definitely resonates with many readers and me.

Obsession vs. Love

Q: The book has been described as “toeing the line between love and dangerous obsession.” Was it challenging to write a romance that walks that fine line?

Rivkah Plume: It was both challenging and incredibly fun. Dark romance thrives in moral gray areas, and I wanted the obsession to feel intoxicating rather than one-dimensional. Readers should feel the pull alongside Tesni, questioning what love is, what possession is, and where the line should be drawn. The dual perspectives help show how both characters experience the intensity differently.

Q: You’ve also released a prequel, Shattered Ice. How does it connect to Hellebore Fields, and should readers start there?

Rivkah Plume: Shattered Ice is a shorter prequel that gives readers a glimpse into Bran’s beginnings. It’s not strictly necessary to read before Hellebore Fields, but it adds context and answers a mystery that is mentioned in the main book. Think of it as a steamy, tension-filled appetizer that shows how quickly things can ignite, and how easily “love” can be mistaken for something far more dangerous and have a crash landing of an ending.

Q: As a new author in the dark romance space, what drew you to this genre?

Rivkah Plume: I’ve been a dark romance reader for years. I love stories that don’t shy away from complicated emotions, power dynamics, and characters who are beautifully flawed, to the extreme. Writing in the genre lets me explore intense psychological territory while still delivering the swoony, addictive romance. There’s a thrill in creating characters who push boundaries and force readers to root for them anyway.

Dual Perspectives

Q: You live in San Diego County with your husband, tween daughter, and two beloved pets. How does your everyday life influence your writing?

Rivkah Plume: Family life keeps me grounded and reminds me to find balance between the dark, twisty worlds in my head and real-life warmth. My daughter’s creativity inspires me daily, and living in beautiful Southern California gives me plenty of mental space to dream up atmospheric, high-tension stories, even if UC Wisteria feels a world away from sunny San Diego.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from Hellebore Fields?

Rivkah Plume: I hope they finish the book with racing hearts, lingering questions about love versus obsession, and feeling hopeful for Tesni and Branwen. More than anything, I want readers to feel seen in the messy, passionate, sometimes-uncomfortable realities of desire and power. And, of course, I hope they’re eager for more in the UC Wisteria series! Which I am working on book two now.

Q: Any hints about what’s next for the UC Wisteria world?

Rivkah Plume: There’s definitely more coming. UC Wisteria has plenty of secrets, taboo relationships, more murder, and intense romances waiting to be explored. Stay tuned; some of the side characters have stories that are begging to be told.

Thank you, Rivkah, for chatting with us! Hellebore Fields is available now from Aber Stoat Publishing at Aber Stoat Books or directly through the other’s website.

Book’s key points:

× dark academia + hockey romance

× obsession vs. love

× dual perspectives