They’re destined to save the preternatural world. But one of them is willing to let everyone die… Seattle, Washington. Garrett Larkin is terrified of failing. Chosen to cast a powerful spell, the ambitious mage feels the pressure to rescue the entire supernatural community from the city’s humans, who’d like nothing more than to annihilate them. But the shifter she needs to complete the mystical tryst and protect the city flat-out refuses. Alpha werewolf Parker Berenson is falling apart. A blood slave to the vampire Master who uses him for his own entertainment, Parker is plummeting into a self-destructive cycle of drunken escapades, wreaking havoc in Seattle’s bars and threatening to expose his true nature — an automatic death sentence. As for him, even if every last paranormal in the city perishes, there’s no way he’s working with the witch and the bloodsucker who abused him. With a series of grisly murders stoking the tension between bloodthirsty humans and preternatural creatures to the breaking point, Garrett resolves to bring the wounded lycanthrope to heel at any cost. But when Parker falls hard for a fierce alien warrior-queen, his eye turns away from the conflict around him and onto one in the stars. Can Garrett convince Parker to help her before the deepening crisis erupts into a full-scale massacre? The Underground is the gripping first book in The Underground urban fantasy science fiction romance mashup series. If you like savage heroes, brutal battles, and thoughtful looks at persecution, then you’ll love Roxanne Bland’s dark, steamy, and gritty drama. Warning: Contains profanity, violence, and graphic sex that may make some readers uncomfortable. Use caution. Buy The Underground to fight for survival today! "Masks the seeds of social debate behind fur and fangs marvelously well...a great read for adult fantasy and horror fans, [combining] mystery, adventure, romance, and horror into a compelling work of steamy, violent urban fantasy." -- Mindy Hood, SPR "Gritty and dark, The Underground is engrossing because of its unique takes within the supernatural genre." -- John M. Murray, Foreward Clarion "Its delight in bizarreness and depravity makes it fascinating...an off-the-rails ride that'll leave you with a story of your own to tell." -- Melissa Brinks, IndieReader "Gritty, streetwise...delve into the hidden worlds of these creatures of the night. They're vivid and engrossingly compelling in a tale highly recommended for sci-fi and urban fantasy readers looking for a story that's satisfyingly edgier than most." -- D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review "Roxanne Bland has crafted an intriguing plot that takes the reader into a literary forest. With an open mind and a thirst for excitement, you will enjoy this book." -- Literary Titan Long before The Underground story took shape in my head, I asked a simple question: What would it take for a werewolf to survive in the real world?While thinking through various scenarios--rural vs. urban settings--it struck me that a werewolf trying to lead as normal a life as possible in his world wouldn't be that much different from anyone trying to lead a life in our world where they are marginalized and hunted by those in power. People die every day because of skin color, sexual orientation and identity, belief systems, and whatever else the human tribes, being the xenophobic and murderous lot they are, find unacceptable. To live, a werewolf would have to spin a web of lies and keeping track of them all would be a Herculean task. A werewolf would have to live in a state of constant hyperawareness, knowing every person who crosses his path is a potential enemy. Surviving the human horde would be like walking a tightrope a hundred feet above the ground without a safety net. In many ways, a werewolf's life wouldn't be too different from his real-world counterparts--those who can't escape the closet, who can't break out of the egg, or who can't bear living their lives as second-class citizens. In other words, I didn't create a world for The Underground --it's OUR world.All of this, of course, leads to another question: What would happen in The Underground's world--or in this one--if the downtrodden reached their breaking point and decided they wouldn't take their lot anymore? History tells us the answer. Oppress people long and hard enough, they will eventually rise up. And the results won't be pretty. But that's just the backdrop. How do paranormals interact in their world? Do the different paranormal races get along with each other? The literature says no, and I agree. In America, for example, different groups of people of color often don't get along with each other, choosing to focus on their differences instead of their commonalities. Part of it is cultural, but reinforced by the bigotries of the mainstream majority. In The Underground's world, paranormals are shaped by the same societal forces that shape humans, so I didn't