The Burden and Responsibility of Writing Allegory: A Christian Dark Fantasy Author's Reflection

Last week, I had a conversation with a man whose words struck me deeply—he challenged me, inspired me, and made me laugh all at once. We talked about shadows, light, and the journey of writing The Black Gate—how it came to life, where it's headed, and everything in between.

Then, after I insisted several times that I don’t write allegory but rather parables and similes, he looked me dead in the eye and said, “Irina, what you write is allegory.”

I kid you not when I tell you that the “dum, dum, dum” that echoed in my head could have shaken the room. His words hit me hard, not just with a challenge but with a profound sense of responsibility. As a Christian dark fantasy author, I now carry this weight: to never forget the power and impact of the stories I tell.

Writing dark fantasy as a Christian is a delicate and humbling task. The genre, often steeped in shadows, moral ambiguity, and struggles against dark forces, demands a careful approach when it intersects with the truth and responsibilities of Christian doctrine. But what happens when I, grounded in my faith, set out to write allegories—stories with deeper spiritual meanings meant to point toward higher truths? It quickly becomes overwhelming, as I realize the weight of responsibility to represent truth in a way that’s both compelling and faithful to the message of divine scripture.

Allegory, by its nature, communicates deeper truths through symbols and metaphors. It allows me to explore themes like good versus evil, grace versus condemnation, and redemption through sacrifice, translating these ideas into worlds that may not mirror reality but still resonate with universal human struggles. As a Christian dark fantasy author, the responsibility of this craft is immense. Every word, every symbolic character, every shadowed world is not just a product of imagination—it’s a conduit for something deeper.

There’s always an undercurrent of knowing that these stories aren’t just entertainment; they’re reflections of divine truths that must be treated with reverence.

In grappling with this responsibility, I must first acknowledge the weight of portraying spiritual realities with integrity.

The Bible is filled with profound allegories—Christ’s parables, the prophetic visions of Daniel and Revelation, and narratives such as Exodus and the Passover, all brimming with symbolic meaning. It also contains warnings about misusing God’s word or leading others astray. For me, this is where the true burden lies: How do I craft a tale that doesn’t twist the truth, but magnifies it?

In dark fantasy, the themes of good and evil are often starkly contrasted. However, the challenge lies in how I explore these contrasts. It’s easy to create a simple dichotomy of good versus evil, but that approach can fall short of the moral complexities Christianity teaches. The struggle isn’t always between black and white, but often between shadow and light, truth and illusion, grace and condemnation. Crafting allegory within this spectrum is a delicate dance, ensuring that evil is not glorified but exposed for the emptiness and destruction it represents, while the good and redeeming grace are not trivialized.

As a Christian dark fantasy author, there’s also the temptation to create stories that are either too comfortable or too didactic. It’s easy to tell a story that neatly fits into Christian ideals, but it’s more challenging—and more faithful—to create a narrative that invites readers to wrestle with the complexities of faith. In dark fantasy, the presence of evil is almost a given. But how do I depict the victorious power of God and His redemptive love amidst despair, chaos, and suffering? How do I craft a story that resonates with the human experience of darkness, yet points to the eternal hope found in Christ?

The responsibility in this process is to ensure the allegory is worthy—not just of my personal convictions, but of the original scriptures. The Christian faith is anchored in divine truth, and any allegory I create must reflect that same reverence. The weight of this responsibility can feel overwhelming at times, and it requires me to constantly check my motivations, pray for guidance, and ensure that the stories I tell point toward Christ and His eternal victory over sin and death.

When writing Christian dark fantasy, I’m not just telling a story—I’m engaging in a profound act of reflection, prayer, and creation that serves as a testament to God’s truth. Every allegory, every character, every plot twist must be carefully considered, ensuring it is not only compelling but also faithful. The burden is heavy, but the responsibility isn’t mine alone—it's shared with the Creator who first gave me the imagination and heart to tell such stories.