Contemporary romantic fantasy has seen a resurgence in stories blending magical small-town settings with romantic comedy and supernatural intrigue, exemplified by the popular Witches of Thistle Grove series. Lana Harper gained widespread recognition as a New York Times bestselling author with the release of Payback's a Witch, introducing readers to cozy spellcraft, family rivalries, and romantic entanglement in a modern fantasy landscape.
Through her adult cozy fantasy romance novels and young adult fiction, Harper combines whimsical world-building with sharp interpersonal dynamics. Her books offer lighthearted escapism alongside deep family histories, spellcraft, and modern relationship drama.
Career & Background
Born in Serbia, Harper spent her early childhood in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania before immigrating to the United States. She pursued an extensive academic background, earning undergraduate degrees in psychology and literature from Yale University, a law degree from Boston University, and a master's degree in publishing and writing from Emerson College. She eventually settled in Chicago, where she writes full-time.
Harper initially published young adult fantasy under her birth name, Lana Popović. Her YA works include the duology Wicked Like a Wildfire and Fierce Like a Firestorm, as well as historical fantasy novels Blood Countess and Poison Priestess. She later transitioned into adult fiction under the pen name Lana Harper, publishing with Berkley Books. Her adult debut, Payback's a Witch, became a New York Times bestseller, leading to further books in the Witches of Thistle Grove world, including From Bad to Cursed, Back in a Spell, In Charm's Way, and Rise and Divine. She also co-authored Cards on the Table with Jilly Gagnon.
Writing Style & Themes
Harper's fiction is marked by a blend of cozy supernatural aesthetics, witty dialogue, and high-stakes magical competition. In her adult romance novels, she emphasizes small-town witch communities, family rivalries, and second-chance or enemies-to-lovers relationships. Her background in psychology and literature informs her focus on character motivations, emotional recovery, and identity.
Transitioning from dark YA historical fantasy to lighthearted adult rom-com fantasy allowed Harper to explore escapist storytelling while maintaining intricate magical systems. Across titles like Payback's a Witch and Rise and Divine, her narratives feature protagonist witches confronting past trauma, navigating complex town traditions, and balancing unexpected romantic bonds against municipal and magical responsibilities.
Major Works
- Payback's a Witch — A New York Times bestselling adult fantasy romance novel that introduces the magical town of Thistle Grove, following a witch who returns home and finds herself drawn into a revenge plot and an unexpected romance during a magical tournament.
- Rise and Divine — A novel in the Witches of Thistle Grove universe focusing on a witch haunted by loss who must reckon with her turbulent past and navigate forbidden feelings to save her town and the woman who loves her.
- From Bad to Cursed — An installment in the Thistle Grove series that pairs rival witches in an investigation of dark magical sabotage, blending enemies-to-lovers romance with cozy mystery.
- Back in a Spell — A fantasy romance in the Thistle Grove series following an unexpected bond and magical mishaps after a blind date gone wrong.
- In Charm's Way — A Thistle Grove novel centered on a witch who loses her memory and magic, casting a forbidden spell to regain her identity while uncovering unexpected truths.
- Wicked Like a Wildfire — Harper's debut YA novel, written under the name Lana Popović, about two sisters in Montenegro who manipulate magical beauty until a family tragedy forces them to uncover ancient secrets.
