Risen from Ashes, the first in the Thieves of Elysium series, introduces Phoenix, a courageous firefighter and honorable family man, blackmailed into going against all he believes in.
After an age-old secret society known as The Guild forces him to steal Babylonian artifacts under the cover of arson in exchange for his family's safety, Phoenix discovers his own ties to the ancient order of thieves.
When the thieves' guild doesn't hold up its end of the bargain to keep his family safe, Phoenix's wife Lauren is forced to reveal buried secrets of her own as the two must traverse the globe to rescue their daughter. They infiltrate the fantastical thieves' paradise of Elysium deep within the earth, navigate a dangerous labyrinth beneath the Basilica of Saint Mark in Venice, and discover the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Iraq, uncovering long-hidden truths about his family along the way.
Despite his burning desire to expose the thieves, the Guild may hold the answers Phoenix is so desperately seeking. To have any hope of saving his family, Phoenix must go on an extraordinary journey across the world in a race to discover an antediluvian treasure that will change his life forever.
About the Author: Michael Alexander is a hopeless romantic with an insatiable craving for adventure.
After graduating with honors, he served as a medic in the US Air Force for eight years then gained ten years' experience in fighting fires and emergency rescue with a major metropolitan fire department.
Going on to pursue his lifelong passion for storytelling, he gained a bachelor's in political science, with honors, from the American Military University and a master's in diplomacy and international relations from Norwich University, as well as training in acting and screenwriting.
As an author and theater actor, he draws from his colorful childhood, his academic studies, his real-life adventures, his status as a 32 degree Scottish Rite Freemason and York Rite Knights Templar, and his service to the fraternity as a Knight of Saint Andrew.
He currently lives in Southern California with Katarzyna, his wife of eighteen years, and their two young daughters.
