Perfect for readers who love angels, devils, and demons but want a fresh take on their related fairy tales, myths, and legends. This series combines fierce females, paranormal romance and urban/contemporary fantasy.
The Dark Lands
Angelbound Origins #5
Christina Bauer
Publication date: September 1, 2018
Genres: YA Fantasy, Paranormal
Nineteen-year-old Myla Lewis is loving life–she’s now a wife, mother, and Queen of the Thrax. Oh yeah, and being a super-powerful demigoddess who moves souls into Heaven or Hell doesn’t suck, either. In fact, everything is pretty much awesome. Until something craptastic happens.
Her honorary older brother Walker enters the Dark Lands, home to the rule-loving ghouls, and vanishes without a trace.
Now it’s up to Myla to solve the mystery of Walker’s disappearance. Of course, Myla likes interacting with ghouls about as much as elective dental surgery. To make matters harder, everyone thinks that Walker is simply taking a well-deserved vacation. But Myla and her Angelbound love, Lincoln, both suspect that the ghoul Oligarchy took Walker in order to somehow release Lucifer, the ex-King of the Angels and an all around nut job who really needs to stay locked up.
Long story short, Myla and Lincoln have just two days to rescue their good friend and stop Lucifer from taking over the after-realms. Even for them, this may be a too-tall order, especially when Myla’s own father allows his past friendship with Lucifer to threaten Walker’s future.
Mom peeps through the doorway leading to Dad’s office. Lincoln and I steal up behind her. Fortunately, the angle of the threshold means that we can easily see Dad, but he can’t see us.
What I witness in his office is so sweet, my eyes start to water.
My father has reorganized the room to have a military briefing. All his mismatched chairs face one wall. And on that wall, Dad has taped up a bunch of images cut from magazines or hand-drawn on sheets of notebook paper.
Maxon sits front and center, his pudgy little legs hanging off the edge of Dad’s favorite suede chair. My son may only be six months old, but he’s as large and smart as a toddler. Right now, Maxon wears nothing but his diaper and a goofy smile. He always reminds me of a cherub, what with his brown hair, huge eyes, and bow shaped mouth. Right now, Maxon looks especially angelic since he’s out of his mind with joy. Why? In his left fist, my boy grips a full and peeled banana.
Uh-oh.
Clearly, my parents have no idea what kind of havoc my child can wreak with nothing but a raw banana. They’re about to find out.
I nibble my thumbnail and consider the options. Sure, I could warn Mom about the impending banana-pocalypse. That said, wasn’t she the one who told me to savor the moment?
Well, I’ll enjoy the Hell out of this.
My father paces a short line before Maxon. Dad wears a classic gray suit, blue tie, and starched white shirt. It sets off his cocoa-colored skin, brown hair, and bright blue eyes. Dad looks impeccable as he gestures to the various drawings on the wall.
Mom glances over her shoulder and winks. “Battle briefing,” she whispers. “Fourth try.”
I smile my face off. Dad is General of the Angelic Army. This is getting waaaaaaay good.
Pausing before Maxon, Xavier clasps his hands behind his back. “Now, soldiers, I mean, baby Maxon. Today’s target is a nap.” Dad turns to the wall of images. “Let’s review our plan of attack. First, we’ll finish our snack. That would be your banana.”
Maxon mushes some of said banana into his ear. “Pop Pops.”
“Second, we’ll read a book.” Turning away from Maxon, Dad points to various hand-dawn book covers taped to the wall. Our choices today are Goodnight Moon or Why We Poop. But our reading selection doesn’t need to be finalized at this time. That can be a field call. Are you still with me, Maxon?”
Dad turns back around. Maxon is now smooshing banana into his hair. And his diaper. And more deeply into the expensive chair.
Guilt finally gets the better of me. I tap Mom on the shoulder. “Sorry about your chair.”
Mom rolls her eyes. “Are you kidding?” she whispers. “I love this.”
Back at the briefing, Dad points to a cutout image of a rocking chair. “After we accomplish book time, you and I will rock while singing a song. This can be The Battle Hymn Of The Republic or Row, Row, Row, Your Boat. I don’t know other tunes. Although…” Dad taps his chin for a moment. “I do know Rock-A-Bye Baby. Maybe that’s been the missing part of our plan.” Pulling a pen from an inner pocket of his suit coat, Dad adds the words Rock-A-Bye Baby onto the sheet with other songs.
While my father’s scribbling away, Maxon slides off the chair yet again. This time, he toddles out a side door. My son hasn’t noticed me, Lincoln, or Mom yet. I figure I’ve got about twenty seconds before Lincoln or I need to chase after Maxon. My son has a gift for destroying things.
Dad finishes his writing. “Fourth and finally, you will go to sleep. Do we all understand the plan?” Dad turns around, but Maxon is long gone.
About the Author
Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers. It is now available as an audiobook on Audible and iTunes.
Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
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