Astraea Long
WELCOME TO THE DAMNED (The Neon Hell #1)
All that’s left is what they stole; all that others see is the false skin that they’ve claimed as theirs.
Dyvris is a city of survivors. With the end of the world nearing, fires burn down schools, hurricanes devastate small towns, and rising oceans swallow up the coasts. Those without money to fall back on look to the sinister city that lies between the searing desert and the crumbling mountains, where a man named the Scavenger will make a deal with them. A place to stay and a new business to run, in exchange for any information that he asks for.
Dyvris is a city ruled by criminals. The Scavenger, a notorious killer and thief, runs an organization called the Aconites, which has power over every business in the city and its suburbs. The Scavenger has an equally deadly partner, whose metal claws never hesitate to break a neck or rip out an organ. The Scavenger also has a little spy, whose black heart will infect anyone that gets close to it.
They’ve been sinners since the first crimes they committed; they’ve been damned since the moment they were born. When the people in power made survival a game, the Aconites decided to win, starting with their monopoly on poison weaponry. They live in a secure mansion hidden in the mountains, never short on money or any luxuries they desire.
Until they discover that the government has been secretly experimenting on working class neighborhoods with the intention of developing mind-control drugs. Their failed attempts slaughter innocents all over the country with no warning or pattern.
It’s only a matter of time before the experiments creep into the mountains and find the Aconites.
REVIEWS
"Long's distinctive storytelling style and intricate plot will enthrall science fiction enthusiasts in this unique adventure that perfectly balances drama and action."
----- Readers' Favorite
"Welcome to the Damned is the perfect read for those who enjoy dark, complex stories with characters that linger long after the final page."
----- Literary Titan
"Riveting YA sci-fi with morally complex characters."
----- BookLife
WELCOME TO THE MAYHEM (The Neon Hell #2)
Such is the world they live in. Survive the game, or become nothing.
Three months after Zero’s treacherous secret was exposed and tore apart the core members of the Aconites, Dyvris is now a graveyard of shattered trust and pipe dreams. Haunted by the Agency’s experiments and the Purity Syndicate’s hate crimes, the streets flicker with neglected neon signs, broken glass glittering around abandoned buildings. Once conceited and brash, the criminals have lost their right to call themselves rulers of the city. They’re dregs, parasites, and not even worth the illusion of respect any longer.
The Scavenger hasn’t been sighted since the Syndicate’s attack on his city, and his deranged right-hand man seems to have disappeared from this urban wasteland entirely, leaving behind no bodies or echoes of laughter. Even the Ace of Crowns card hasn’t shown itself; Didier Whiston was the last person to receive one. In the eyes of the Damned, the Aconites are as good as the remains that vultures feast on in the desert. While they crumble, the Agency lurks in the shadows of their home, waiting for the killing strike.
REVIEWS
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