Two worlds, a broken bond, and an ally too good to be real
In modern Italy, the Real World and the world of folklore coexist, separated by a thin Veil, visible only to a few: the Intuitives.
Milo, disillusioned with life, has forgotten his connection to this invisible world... until an unexpected encounter reignites buried memories and ancient promises.
With the help of an enigmatic ally, Milo embarks on a magical journey through Venetian legends and forgotten truths, discovering himself and the fragile balance between two worlds in peril.
✨ Coming October 12, 2025! 🧡 Save the story so you don't miss any updates 🌈
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P r e f a c e
Thank you for being here! ✨
I've been thinking about this story for five years, and after a lot of procrastination, I finally decided to write and publish it. It's a personal challenge, and I'm having a blast! I hope reading it will be as fun for you as writing it has been for me. It's a story that mixes magic, Venetian legends, and a slow-burning queer romance.
The places you'll read about in these pages are real.
Yes, really—you can find them on Google Maps, visit them on a weekend trip, maybe even grab a pizza there if you're nearby. Only... they won't be exactly as you'd see them from your car window.
I took the Veneto I know—its cities, mountains, and lakes—and shook it up with legends, my grandmothers' tales, and local folklore quirks. Then I added my personal touch, because I've always been someone who daydreams with open eyes.
I was born and raised in Italy, and while English is not my native language, I wanted to share this story with a wider audience, hoping that my words and my culture reach you across borders. For years, I experienced my home region with a certain detachment, feeling confined and eager to explore elsewhere. I traveled extensively, even lived abroad, and perhaps that's why now I feel the need to tell my roots with a slightly different, more international perspective. The result is an alternate version of places you may recognize... with enough twists to make you think, "Wait, was that really there?"
So, a little heads-up: The Intuitives isn't a guidebook-perfect depiction of Veneto. But I hope it sparks your curiosity to notice details we often miss in everyday life, and to appreciate the world around us more deeply—just as I did while researching, exploring, and writing. In a way, The Intuitives is my personal peace treaty with the land I grew up in.
Finally, this is the first time I've written a romantic story, even though I've always been an avid reader of them (maybe my best-kept secret). So romance-lovers out there—please give me your feedback!
Although most of the places exist in real life, any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.
A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s
A special thanks to my husband, Claudio, for brainstorming with me during moments of block, reminding me that rest is not optional, and for pushing me every day to be my best self. You are my strength.
Thanks to Marta Zeta, who was the first person I timidly pitched this story to, back when it was just a seed in my head, and who encouraged me to bring it to life.
Thanks to Giacomo, Anna, and Tommy for reading the very first chapters and giving me valuable feedback.
Thanks to Lulu for her surgical eye on grammar, to my Sis for always being there, to my grandmothers for their incredible stories that sparked my imagination, and to my extended family.
Thanks to all my friends for their unconditional support and enthusiasm. I love you all so much.
Thanks also to Elena Righetto, Dino Coltro, and Paola Tellaroli for the invaluable information I found in their works: Folklore e Magia Popolare del Veneto, Leggende e Racconti Popolari del Veneto, and Misteri e Storie Insolite di Padova, respectively.
And of course, thank you, you, the reader. It's going to be a fun ride: magical, romantic, and sexyyyy.
Enjoy!
- Sara Emme