Q&A: Tigest Girma, Author of ‘Eternal Ruin’

We chat with author Tigest Girma about Eternal Ruin, which is the second instalment in the deliciously dark, dangerously romantic black vampire trilogy.

Hi Tigest, thank you for joining us today! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and your latest book release, Eternal Ruin?

Hi, I’m Tigest, a black fantasy writer and Eternal Ruin is the second book in the Immortal Dark series. It follows Kidan Adane, a human girl forced to live with a violently unstable vampire while she pursues her studies in an arcane society. To free herself, Kidan turns to an arcane philosophy that promises power but will destroy all of her relationships. But severing ties with vampires is not so easy, and sometimes, it might even bring them closer to you.

If you could only use five words to describe Eternal Ruin, what would they be?

Control. Power. Family. Bloody. Romantic.

Immortal Dark had such a brilliant and explosive ending. How did it feel approaching its sequel?

Both thrilling and nerve-wracking! Sequels are notoriously hard for a reason unknown to most of us and this one made me dig really deep. Plotting out certain character arcs were especially tricky in the beginning. For instance, one key difference from the first book is the number of POVs we now see in the sequel. It did allow me to stretch my capabilities as a writer which I’m glad for.

Kidan and Susenyos are such fantastic, layered characters with secrets held close to their chests. Can you give us any hints about how they may evolve or their relationship may shift in this book?

Firstly, thank you. I always aspire to write complex characters that feel believable. In Eternal Ruin, Kidan and Susenyos both face the thing they hate most—giving up control. It’s a vulnerable spot to be in and they each have valid reasons to distrust the world. It’s going to take a lot of trust to take that essential step forward in their relationship from allies to maybe something more.

What sparked the idea for this series and also the impetus for the story explored in Eternal Ruin?

Immortal Dark was sparked by the question, “What if vampires originated from Africa?” after watching Twilight. Eternal Ruin explores my own curiosity around family inheritance and cultural belonging. Kidan comes from a family that’s spent generations living alongside vampires, and she has many questions about her deceased parents and whether or not she wants to continue such a legacy.

I love the way you use the fantastical elements to explore colonialism, hunger and vengeance. What other fantastical creatures would you love to offer a new story about?

Oh, witches would be quite interesting to explore. In many cultures across the world, there’s always a reference to an old cruel woman who likes to curse young children. There’s something there if I look at it closely.

This series is a mix of fantasy, Dark Academia, mystery and romance, so I would love to hear more about your plotting process and how you keep these elements balanced?

Through a lot of revision! My drafting process is very free, and explores everything interesting under the sun. The tough part is reading over it and choosing which elements to discard and which to keep. The rule is if I can make an element work at the plot and character level, I get to keep it. I worked really hard to keep both the dark academia element and the fantasy.

What songs would form the soundtrack to Eternal Ruin specifically and this series as a whole for you?

I wrote most of Eternal Ruin to Experience by Ludovico Einaudi, and I do think the rest of the series could fit into the swells and dips of this soundtrack. It reminds me of the structure of a good story, a great build up, a catharsis and a reflection.

What message would you like readers to take away from this story?

I want them to think about family and culture and the concept of belonging. Furthermore, I hope it makes them curious about seeking out more diverse fantasy stories.

If possible, can you share a little about what you are currently working on or any upcoming projects you have?

I’m currently working on the third and final instalment of the Immortal Dark series. I’ve been looking forward to this conclusion for some years so I’m excited to wrap that up.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up in 2026?

I read Kindred by Octavia E. Butler this year and that was absolutely incredible. In 2026, I’m looking forward to Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana and An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole.

Will you be picking up Eternal Ruin? Tell us in the comments below!