Angela Graves has a new FF fantasy romance out: Atlantis Dying.
Atlantis is a world of magic, inhabited by the descendants of gods. Descendants who’ve been cursed since the moment their ancestors defied orders to leave the mortal world two millennia ago.
Meanwhile on Earth, Alexa Delmon’s own magic awakens, allowing her to glimpse the lives of Atlantians. Unfamiliar with her roots, Alexa initially writes her visions off as nightmares fueled by the stresses of trying to finish her sophomore year of college. But dangerous truths surface as her gift develops. She was placed in hiding by an Atlantian resistance group because their immensely powerful queen—Alexa’s great-aunt—has always seen her existence as a threat.
The queen tracks Alexa’s emerging magic and sends a royal hunter right to her front door. Alexa barely escapes with the help of her sister and an unexpected ally—the queen’s only son.
How will this under-experienced trio elude the centuries-old system of oppression on Atlantis now that they’re actively being hunted? Their journey puts to test not only Alexa’s wit and heart, but also her core beliefs about herself.
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Excerpt
“SCREW IT. I’M TAKING the ridgeline home,” I told Hazel as I walked toward the glorified goat path of a shortcut. My plan was spontaneously brilliant but also likely to get me killed without her help.
Of course, Hazel would probably think I was being stupid, deviating from the Alexa-safe route. I wasn’t sure if it was stupid, but I knew I was desperate. Desperate to prove I could finally cross the ridge and even more desperate to get home and rest.
“Are you kidding me?” Hazel asked in one exhale as she ran to intercept me, eyes wide, voice shrill. It seemed she did think my plan was stupid.
I just shook my head and kept walking, determined.
Hazel had started using the shortcut over a decade ago when we were barely ten. Our parents had probably toddled across as babies if their current capabilities were any indication. It had only ever been me who’d been too clumsy and afraid.
“We’re out here to help you,” she said. “How’s that going to work if you fall down a cliff trying to cut an hour off a hike?”
When I finally stopped moving, half fearful she’d tackle me in her panic, Hazel regained her composure. She stopped in front of me and brushed a few stray hairs toward her braid.
As always, her pale brown skin in combination with earth toned hiking layers helped her blend into the tundra around us. She was made just for this place, or maybe it was made for her. Either way, our mountains were always there to catch her before a fall, and she knew the land like it was family. It was the same for our parents. Our whole village. Just not for me.
“Give me that yarrow, and we’ll go home the safe way.” She took it from my hand and expertly pulled it apart. The root, stem, and clusters of tiny white flowers each went into different pouches before she packed them in her bag. “We have what we need. Even the long way, you’ll be home in time to get a nap before Dad brings Gale and his houseguest over for dinner.”
“What?” I already hated whatever she was talking about. “Nocompany! Colored contacts feel like burning ash in tired eyes.”
“Don’t be so dramatic,” she said, barely containing her laughter. “And don’t wear your contacts then. It’s just Gale and some biology student Dad’s been guiding around the area.”
“The biology student would probably try to study me if they saw my eyes,” I said.
“You have nice eyes, Lex. You don’t have to hide them.”
Author Bio
Angela Graves is a fifth-generation Alaskan who spends her time skiing and horseback riding through the Interior wilds. When she’s not outside, she leads a classroom full of rambunctious elementary students. Angela enjoys supporting young writers in their creative journeys and singing with her local rainbow choir. In the evenings, you can find Angela playing rowdy board games with her wife, her partner, and her daughter and cuddling with her fur babies. Angela loves sharing queer stories from her beautiful community.