The Darkness Beneath - by Valerie Norton (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

In this high-stakes fantasy inspired by The Mummy (1999), an explorer and a scholar team up to uncover an ancient city, unknowingly unleashing the evil within.

Explorer Aris Nycta is hell-bent on uncovering who killed her archaeologist father. After discovering the foreboding lost city of Nemethet thanks to her father's cryptic clues, Aris was betrayed by her ex-lover and framed for stealing a priceless artifact. Now she's imprisoned within Savros's scorching fighting pits, and her death is inevitable.

Wealthy scholar Killian Lance believes he can bring his parents back from the dead. He's certain the fabled Nemethet holds the key, and when he learns Aris knows the location, he'll buy her salvation--if she'll take him there.

Aris thinks he's a spoiled brat, and Killian thinks she's a brutish thief. But as Aris and Killian travel through harrowing jungles and dangerous waters with a ragtag crew, they may find more common ground than they expected.

But all is not what it seems in the city hidden beneath the sea. An ancient evil lurks within Nemethet, a darkness with a strange fixation on Aris, and if Aris and Killian can't find a way to thwart it, no one will get out of the city alive.

The Darkness Beneath is a thrilling debut perfect for fans of the action-packed magic of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi and the romance and intrigue of What the River Knows.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Darkness Beneath:

"I was overdue for a rewatch of The Mummy, and Norton's debut is the next best thing. The Darkness Beneath has a little something for every reader who enjoys living vicariously through such daring characters. A must-read treasure trove of thrilling action, mystery, and magical adventure."
--Elle Tesch, author of The Gods We Buried

About the Author

California native Valerie Norton graduated from University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts in 2013. She studied abroad in Greece, exploring ancient ruins Indiana Jones himself would envy. She's now president of the games PR agency Sandbox Strategies and has built her career working on a wealth of titles and genres, from fun mobile flicks to serious story-driven blockbusters. When she's not writing, Valerie spends her time traveling, crafting, reading, and getting lost in video games (literally and figuratively). She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, cats, and a very energetic golden retriever.