Magic, Mystery, and The Lost City of Atlantis Await in the New Fantasy Release THE IMMORTAL CITY by Amy Kuivalainen

LIVONIA, Mich. - Oct. 8, 2019 - PRLog -- The Magicians of Venice is a fresh and exciting new treasure hunt series featuring magic, mystery, and romance in an exhilarating blend of history and dark magic. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful city of Venice, fans of Indiana Jones and Robert Langdon will find a new favorite in Dr. Penelope Bryne, who is fascinated with the city of Atlantis, much to the chagrin of her father and the academic community, and has devoted her life's study to unlocking its secrets.

"I wanted to write a story that turned the adventurer archaeologist trope on its head. It was important to me to create a female character that wasn't an oversexualized, badass figure," says author Amy Kuivalainen. "My character, Penelope Bryne, is an anxiety-ridden academic refusing to give up on the impossible dream of discovering Atlantis and who continues to be brave despite her failings."

Amy Kuivalainen loosely based the series on her own personal experiences with the university/academia world. "In 2017, I began experiencing panic attacks, and I knew I had to make a change in my life. Suddenly, there was Penelope, filled with her own anxiety and in a dark place, urging me to write about her struggle and how she felt like a failure because she couldn't control her own mind or body."

As Ms. Kuivalainen started to write her novel, she felt if she could write about a character and how they dealt with anxiety, maybe she could figure out her own. "I'm not saying Penelope is a reflection of me, or that her triggers are the same, but writing her struggles as I went through my own was therapeutic. It still is. Most books don't have heroes who deal with anxiety that doesn't magically go away. I felt it was important to share that with my readers." A student of ancient history who loves exploring mythology and legends in her writing, she spent several months meticulously doing research in Venice.

In The Immortal City, book one in the series, an ancient and mysterious script is found at a murder site with possible clues to the lost city of Atlantis. Determined to learn more, she agrees to help the police before the killer strikes again, and she heads to Venice in search of answers. There she meets the enigmatic Alexis Donato, who challenges everything she thought she ever knew about Atlantis. As Alexis draws her into a dark and seductive world of magic and murder, Penelope must use her heart as well as her head to find the answers she seeks. With Carnivale in full swing and time running out, Alexis and Penelope must work together to stop the killer and prevent a dark magic from pulling Venice into the sea.

"If there was ever a place that is so impossible and beautiful that it could make you believe it was founded by magicians, it's Venice," continues Amy Kuivalainen. "Even though my Venice obviously has many fantastical elements, I wove current issues throughout the series, including global warming, the MOSE project, the issues they face with cruise ships, and the impact that tourism has had on the city."

The Magicians of Venice series will take readers across the world as Penelope explores other mysteries and searches for clues in order to save the world from a sinister, dark magic. In The Sea of the Dead, releasing fall 2020 from BHC Press, the thrilling story of Penelope and Alexis continues as they search for the Dead Sea Scrolls. The series culminates in a magical showdown fans won't want to miss in The King's Seal, scheduled for release in 2021.

The Immortal City is the perfect read for fans of Deborah Harkness's A Discovery of Witches, Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer, Magnus Flyte's City of Dark Magic or Emily Croy Barker's The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic.

Published by BHC Press, The Immortal City is available at fine retailers in hardcover (978-1-947727-77-9, $26.95, 324 pages, trade softcover (978-1-947727-79-3, 324 pages, $15.95), and ebook (978-1-947727-78-6, $7.99).

Retailers, booksellers, and libraries can purchase copies though Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Bertrams, and Overdrive. Download our merchandising display package to promote this book at your location.

BHC Press offers attractive discounts to independent booksellers. Visit their website to learn more about available retail/library partnership programs.

Praise for The Immortal City

"Fans of fantasy, murder mysteries, and romance will admire Kuivalainen's skill…" —Publishers Weekly

"Magic. Mystery. The Lost City of Atlantis. What more could you want? Amy Kuivalainen has truly impressed me with the amount of research that went into this book. Her approach to explaining the theory of Atlantis is unique and captivating." —The Book Lyst

"…a rapid-paced, suspenseful, gripping, well-written and perfectly executed fictional fantasy/thrilling murder mystery." —LuluinHollywood.com

"…an exciting and page turning novel which draws from many influences to create a new take on the Legend of Atlantis." —Crime Classics

"…combines both present day Venice and the myth of Atlantis flawlessly. Full of mystery, danger, intrigue, magic, and romance… I anxiously await the next installment." —Just Jaime's Reviews

"I loved this new take on the lost city [of Atlantis]. The addition of magicians was brilliant. The heroine was smart and strong…the book was filled with magic and took a legend and [turned it on its head] in a wonderful way." —The Book Dragon

"…diligently brings the real world into fantasy, in a breath-taking way."  —Radzy Writes and Reviews

About the author: Amy Kuivalainen is a Finnish-Australian writer who is obsessed with magical wardrobes, doors, auroras and burial mounds that might offer her a way into another realm. Until that happens, she plans to write about monsters, magic, mythology and fairy tales because that's the next best thing. She makes her home in Melbourne, Australia where she is currently writing her next adventure.

About  BHC Press: BHC Press is an award-winning independent publisher of general fiction and nonfiction hardcover, softcover, and ebooks for both YA and adults. To learn more, visit their website at www.bhcpress.com.