Etched in Bone

SON OF A FALLEN ANGEL. FORGED IN VAMPIRE’S BLOOD. SWORN TO A MORTAL WOMAN. IF DANTE FALLS, THE WORLD FALLS WITH HIM. . . .

THREE LEGACIES ETCHED IN BONE

More beautiful and powerful than any creature the world has ever seen, Dante Baptiste has become the supreme target of the three worlds that spawned him. The mortal agents of the Shadow Branch have tried to control his mind through psychological torture. The vampire elders who guide nightkind society have plotted to use him in their bloodthirsty bid for power. And the Fallen have waited for millennia for Dante to claim his birthright as their Maker. But Dante belongs to no one—except the woman he loves. . . .

ONE PASSION SWORN IN BLOOD

Determined to face the Fallen and the world on his own terms, Dante hopes to piece together his shattered past and claim his future, with FBI agent Heather Wallace at his side. But in Heather’s human family awaits an unexpected enemy. One who could rip Heather from Dante’s heart and fill the holes with bullets. One who could force Dante to choose his darkest destiny—as the Great Destroyer. . . .

A Note from the Author

As the fourth book of The Maker’s Song, Etched in Bone, is about to be released, I thought it a good time to discuss the city Dante calls home—New Orleans. Dante’s New Orleans (and the city his love Heather is now calling home as well) is a little different from the New Orleans we know, but not by much.

Dante and Heather’s New Orleans pulses with an earthy and passionate rhythm, a city brimming with heart and shadows and dark possibilities. Anything can happen here. Nightkind in the French Quarter, moshing with mortals in Club Hell. A riverboat casino packed with glittering unearthly vampires (nightkind) who watch with hungry gazes as mortals gamble away much more than just money. And perched on top of tombs in the cities of the dead, fallen angels warble haunting songs into the night and searching for the next creawdwr, the only being who can restore a fading Gehenna and weave order out of chaos, a being that hasn’t existed for over two thousand years.

The first time I traveled to New Orleans, I scoured the French Quarter for the perfect place for Dante’s nightspot— Club Hell. Bourbon Street was too frenetic, too jam-packed with happy drunks, way too bright and shrill for a vampire. Royal Street was too high-end and neat, especially compared to the bead, spilled beer, and vomit-strewn pavement of Bourbon Street, and too touristy.

I finally stumbled across the perfect spot on St. Peter Street. A little distant from the madness on Bourbon and a tad shabby, dark. A few blocks down was Jackson Square with the Saint Louis Cathedral. Perfect.

I could just picture Club Hell on St. Peter as I studied the buildings with their wrought iron balconies and green shutters and long shadows.

My most recent trip to New Orleans was during Halloween—an awesome three-day event in that city!—and promptly returned to St. Peter. Still shabby and dark and full of long shadows. Still perfect. As I take the usual tours (again) and always imagine Dante doing the same and the amusement he must feel during the vampire tour. I look at a riverboat and imagine Guy Mauvais and his nightkind household gliding along its deck.

I love visiting New Orleans and hope to live there one day, but I also hope to cross a street there one day—maybe St. Peter—and realize that I’ve walked into Dante and Heather’s New Orleans, a city of mystery and endless possibilities.

--Adrian Phoenix

Adrian Phoenix lives in Oregon with three cats and travels to New Orleans whenever possible.