Us Dark Few
Khalani is a Prisoner
Takeshi is a Guard
Both are slaves to the Underground
Khalani Kanes has never stood on the surface of the earth. In the underground city of Apollo, faith and dreams are as absent as the sun. She longed to visit Genesis, the infamous Domed City and the final place where humanity lives aboveground. But when Khalani is given a life sentence and thrown into prison for a theft she didn't commit, those wishes shatter into oblivion.
In Braderhelm Prison, murderers are neighbors, ruthless and cold-blooded guards live to punish, and every second is a battle to survive. She thought the danger lay in befriending criminals and avoiding Takeshi Steele, the nefarious Captain who runs her cell block. But darker traps and secrets await her within the shadows of imprisonment. Khalani's blood will coat the walls in flaming silk before her enemies let her escape to the surface, a feat no one has successfully achieved. If the reclusive and callous Takeshi Steele won't kill Khalani, then the merciless prisoners and her fractured mind will.
Enter Braderhelm Prison, where only the Wicked remain.
Alexis Patton
Alexis Patton, emerging from DeLand, Florida, brings a fresh, introspective voice to speculative fiction. Her journey began in childhood, devouring books in every spare moment, even when it meant getting in trouble at school for reading too much. That early curiosity evolved into a love for complex worlds and layered characters, shaping the way she crafts stories today.
With a background in Biology from Stetson University and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Florida, Patton blends analytical precision with imaginative storytelling. This unique perspective informs her debut novel, Us Dark Few, which plunges readers into the subterranean city of Apollo and the perilous Braderhelm Prison. Through the eyes of Khalani Kanes, wrongfully imprisoned yet determined to survive, Patton explores themes of resilience, identity, and the human capacity to defy oppressive systems. Her world-building is meticulous, her characters deeply human, making each narrative both thrilling and emotionally resonant.
Us Dark Few
Beneath the city of Apollo, a world of shadows and secrets awaits in Us Dark Few. In this darkly imagined speculative fiction series, survival is never guaranteed, and freedom is a dangerous luxury. The story follows Khalani Kanes, a young woman condemned to life in Braderhelm Prison for a crime she did not commit, as she navigates a labyrinth of oppression, hidden alliances, and the raw edges of human resilience.
Us Dark Few consists of two books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
