Risen from Ashes

by Michael Alexander

When arson is needed to steal rare Babylonian artifacts revealing the location of an antediluvian treasure deep within one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Phoenix, Los Angeles’ most courageous fire fighter, is blackmailed into doing the job. But his unique gift of standing in fire and not getting burned wasn’t the only reason he was chosen. Not only does he discover an age-old secret society of thieves dedicated to, “keeping the world safe,” but his ties to the ancient Thieves Guild are much closer than he knows. The kidnapping of his daughter forces his wife to reveal her deepest kept secret endangering both their marriage and their lives. They must now traverse the globe with the aid of less than savory black-market scoundrels and infiltrate the underground city of Elysium, the thief guild’s sacred paradise. There, Phoenix discovers his family’s true heritage, and the reason why he cheats death again and again. But the magical city is on the verge of collapse as an ancient evil seeks to reclaim the power and riches that Elysium holds. Phoenix’s only concern is saving his family but uncontrollable events in Elysium forces him to confront his hidden past where reality and mythology are often one and the same.

Thieves of Elysium is an epic journey of mythological adventures, self-discovery and timeless romance as Phoenix must come to terms with his true identity and the temptation of unimaginable power and wealth, risking it all to save those he loves.

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2014

About the author

Michael Alexander knows firsthand the life of an action hero. Graduating at the top of his class, he served as a medic in the United States Air Force for eight years before leaving to become a fire fighter for a major metropolitan fire department. After ten years of fighting fires and emergency rescue, Michael left the department to pursue his lifelong passion for storytelling. Graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree with honors in Political Science, he went on to achieve a Master’s Degree in Diplomacy & International Conflict Management from Norwich University, the nation’s oldest private military college. Michael is currently a 32º Scottish Rite Freemason, A York Rite Knights Templar, and serves the fraternity as a Knight of Saint Andrew.

A hopeless romantic with an insatiable craving for adventure, Michael shares many of his experiences, real and imagined through storytelling. In addition to writing, he is also a theater actor often playing a knight in less than shining armor. His love for storytelling through writing and acting is built upon his colorful childhood, years of academic study, and real life adventures.

Michael and his loving wife, Katarzyna have been married for 16 years and live in Southern California with their two little daughters.


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Reviews

[Jan Bonner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Risen from Ashes/Thieves of Elysium in an early release from Amazon. From the first page I was drawn into the location and characters. Being a former emergency responder for the City of Los Angeles, I was impressed by the accuracy and precise description of how the main character responded to, donned his equipment and dealt with the conflagration of a structure fire. While this book is fiction, Michael Alexander, has woven a tapestry between our real world and the dark shadows of mystery in the world of the Guild. I did not have a Kindle at the time and my wife had purchased the book to begin reading. Out of curiosity, I started reading; and could not put it down. My wife got so frustrated that I took over her reading Kindle, she ran out and bought me one for my self. This book was thoroughly enjoyable; it combined action, adventure, mystery and romance and was a book you do not want to put down.

[Kasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Risen from Ashes is the most exciting book I’ve read in a long time. The novel is action packed with dynamic characters and colorful dialogue. Michael Alexander immerses the reader in the magical city of Elysium where a secret society of thieves and mythological creatures abound. He also reveals the land of Mythos, which we only got a small glimpse of but it’s clear it will take precedence in the following books.

I especially like the strong female lead, Lauren, who matches the hero Phoenix perfectly and together they make an amazing couple. I look forward to following them throughout the series. Thieves of Elysium is a fresh new adventure grounded in ancient magic and mythology. The hero’s journey is familiar but unlike anything I’ve read before. Great Read!

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came highly recommended to me and I wasn't disappointed! It was a fast paced ride from beginning to end, good character development, enough details to really get you into the plot line, and the ending really sets the series up for a great story arc. I don't want to say much more because I don't want to ruin any of the surprises this book has in store for you, but if you like fantasy, adventure, secret societies and a dose of ancient mythos thrown in, pick up this book and give it a try!

[Nathalia Palis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Alexander has created a wonderful world you want to immerse yourself in and never come out!!! I couldn't put this book down and I can't wait for the rest of the series to be complete so I can go back to Elysium!!!!
GREAT READ!!