Picture a Chicago storyteller weaving gritty urban fantasy with a sardonic twist—meet Christina Henry! Known for her bestselling Black Wings Series and the haunting Chronicles of Alice, Henry crafts worlds where angels, demons, and fractured fairy tales collide. Her knack for blending humor, horror, and heart has captivated readers, making her a standout in modern fantasy.
Born in New York in 1974, Christina Henry (a pseudonym for Tina Raffaele) now calls Chicago home, where she lives with her husband and son. A lifelong bookworm, she channels her love for zombies, samurai, and long-distance running into stories that pulse with energy and emotion.
The Making of Christina Henry
Raised in New York, Henry’s early life was steeped in stories. She devoured books, dreaming of becoming a writer from a young age. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, she worked in a comic-book store, amassing a collection of manga and anime that still fuels her imagination. Her passion for fantasy and horror, paired with Chicago’s vibrant urban backdrop, shaped her unique voice. Henry began writing novels in her spare time, balancing her creative pursuits with her love for running and family life.
Christina Henry’s Unforgettable Stories
Henry’s Black Wings Series, starting with Black Wings (2010), introduced readers to Madeline Black, an Agent of Death escorting souls to the afterlife in a magical Chicago. With seven books, including Black Night and Black Spring, the series blends urban fantasy with sharp humor, featuring a popcorn-loving gargoyle sidekick, Beezle, and complex supernatural politics. Fans praise its fast-paced plots and Maddy’s fierce independence.
In contrast, The Chronicles of Alice—comprising Alice (2015), Red Queen (2016), and Looking Glass (2020)—offers a dark, psychological retelling of Alice in Wonderland. Alice, trapped in a nightmarish asylum, navigates a brutal world with Hatcher, her equally broken companion. Henry’s vivid prose and morally gray characters redefine the classic tale, earning Alice a spot among Barnes & Noble’s bestselling fantasy novels in 2015.
Beyond these, Henry’s standalone works like Lost Boy (2017), a chilling Captain Hook origin story, and The Girl in Red (2019), a post-apocalyptic Red Riding Hood, showcase her versatility. Her historical fantasy The Mermaid (2018) explores P.T. Barnum’s Fiji Mermaid hoax, blending raw emotion with magical realism.
Why Christina Henry Matters
Christina Henry’s impact lies in her ability to reimagine familiar stories with a dark, modern edge, appealing to teens and adults alike. Her strong, flawed heroines like Maddy and Alice resonate with readers seeking authentic, complex characters. By rooting her tales in Chicago’s gritty streets, she grounds the fantastical in a relatable urban pulse. Her work has inspired a loyal fanbase, with Black Wings hitting national bestseller lists and Near the Bone (2021) earning a 2022 RUSA Horror Award nomination.
Henry’s influence extends to conventions like C2E2, where she shares writing advice alongside authors like Terry Brooks, fostering a new generation of storytellers. Her stories challenge genre boundaries, blending humor, horror, and hope in a way that lingers long after the final page.
- Born: 1974, New York, USA
- Key Works: Black Wings Series, The Chronicles of Alice, Lost Boy, The Girl in Red
- Notable Award: Near the Bone, 2022 RUSA Horror Award nominee
- Fun Fact: She’s a long-distance runner and manga enthusiast!
Snag Black Wings or Alice and dive into Christina Henry’s thrilling blend of fantasy and horror—you won’t put it down!