I get a lot of comments from my readers how conflicted they are towards Raum. He is the kind of evil that you cannot only accept, but forgive him for his wickedness. What makes Raum evil isn't just the fact that he is a demon, it's how manipulative and very human he can be.
Raum is modeled after every toxic relationship I've ever been in. That's not to say the men of my past are evil, but a lot of them were not good and truth be told, some of them have done terrible things. I see many people fall into similar relationships. Movies and books romanticize mental and physical abuse. Toxicity is not something to be sought after. And yet, we do. We crave it. There is something lush and dangerous about loving someone who has the power to hurt us.
Let me be clear that After the Bees is not a romance, though Raum tries time and again to make Leah believe she is in love with him. If Leah is in love, her need to be close to him will become dependency. He will be able to gaslight her more easily and manipulate her into believing his will is her own. He is easy to forgive because, for a demon, he is kind. It is unexpected and therefore, it must be genuine.
Raum is the one who breaks you down and kisses you sweetly, telling you how sorry he is for hurting you. He is the one that promises you it will never happen again. He is the one you cry to your friends about but turn around just as quickly to say "but he will change" and "when he is good he is so good". This is why Raum is so easy to hate and love at the same time. He is familiar to you. You have come across his kind at least once in your life. Despite the sickness in him there is something about him that demands love and attention. It is something that you crave despite his wrongness.
When you combine this with his intelligence it is a recipe for disaster. He is an immortal being full of infinite knowledge that is always three steps ahead of those around him. He can perform "miracles" and illusions that strike both awe and fear into humans and demons alike.
Raum is, in a sense, the perfect evil.
I am looking forward to sharing with you the way his character continues to evolve as The Revelation Series continues. Though ATB is my first published book, I have several manuscripts in the works. That being said, Raum is one of my favorite characters I've ever written. You never know what he is going to do next.