Dear Reader,
Thank you for picking up Drugged. This story has been one of the most personal and emotional projects I’ve ever written, and I want to give you a little insight into it before you dive in.
When I began writing Maya’s story, my goal was to explore survival, trauma, and the fragile ways we learn to protect ourselves in a world that isn’t always safe. Maya’s journey isn’t easy to read, and it wasn’t easy to write. She’s faced abuse, neglect, and struggles with addiction—but she’s also fiercely resilient, creative, and human.
Because of the nature of this story, I want to give a content warning:
Drugged contains depictions of child abuse, neglect, trauma, and emotional manipulation.
Substance use, including alcohol and drugs, is explored as a coping mechanism.
There are themes of violence, threats, and sexual harassment (please note that while these are implied or referenced, they are handled carefully and not gratuitous).
I wrote this story in a way that is intended to be honest and emotional, not sensationalized. Maya’s experiences are difficult, but they are also a story of survival, hope, and finding light in darkness—even when it seems impossible.
A small heads-up: while this is the first book in the series, the events that truly shake Maya’s world—the kidnapping and murder—don’t happen until the very end of this book and are fully explored in the second installment. This book is about the build-up, her struggles, and the small sparks of hope that begin to appear in her life.
I hope you find Maya’s story meaningful, painful, and beautiful in turns. I hope it makes you feel, think, and care about the characters as much as I do. And most of all, I hope it reminds you that even when life is dark, finding someone—or something—to trust can make all the difference.
Thank you for letting me share this story with you.
With all my heart,
inkedbyobsession
